tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68108122371236510522024-03-05T14:00:50.258-06:00Be a Good One"Whatever you are, be a good one." - Abraham Lincoln Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07200636883464826941noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6810812237123651052.post-52571052740125980802016-02-02T15:37:00.000-06:002016-02-02T15:37:04.263-06:00Lounging AroundHello again! My, how time flies when you have a newborn baby! It has been more than five months since I took the time to write a blog post and right now the little guy is napping, so here I am! (I suspect he will be waking soon, so who knows when this will actually hit the interwebs . . . )<br />
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My last post was on my due date, and this post will take us back to the day after, August 28th. I had my 40 week appointment, and though Baby Smith was preparing to join the outside world, there was zero baby birthing action going on. My Mama had already been in town with us for a few days, and as usual, she was itching for a home improvement project. Together, she and Drew are a formidable team. I must have been loopy with hormones, because I agreed to let them refinish the parquet floor in our front room and entryway. Up until this point, the front room had served as a storage and staging area for the nursery project, and now that the Baby's room was ready, it was time for the front room to find meaning in life. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvmjiTXRyydch2BGsRlTgFnTLinxqCFt1f-na9BqDPuKipb0W-iXGfvnj6nBY02gAb67Kw3_tHsnlipsp7oULH7F3tLTNU4jQv5BEkOOMhqayMhcNwFMhPAJaxvW8ZL-CYGlUYuCjZ_OI/s1600/Front+Room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvmjiTXRyydch2BGsRlTgFnTLinxqCFt1f-na9BqDPuKipb0W-iXGfvnj6nBY02gAb67Kw3_tHsnlipsp7oULH7F3tLTNU4jQv5BEkOOMhqayMhcNwFMhPAJaxvW8ZL-CYGlUYuCjZ_OI/s400/Front+Room.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The floor was really worn and the dark stain dated the room by a few decades. </td></tr>
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Mind you, this would involve lots of sanding, which would make the house dusty, and lots of polyurethane, which would make the house inhospitable for pregnant me. Yet, I said, "okay." My sanity is obviously questionable. On D-Day Plus 1, the sanding began. Since I couldn't help, I set out to finish the new cushion covers for the glider we refinished for the nursery. To minimize dust in the house, Drew and Mama hung plastic tarps on the main level and shut off the air conditioning. There I was, nine months pregnant, sitting at a hot sewing machine on the second floor of a house in Texas in the afternoon at the end of August with no AC. And I wasn't even doing the hard work.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHnOYIj3wXI7ZeeTBYPVEROTyhIsV_x72lZOqCOVhKRjZqqFIP6rvH74_ajKqcdmOcBtJicdk41pbRHDAgnP1APiz1riZqCo_ynG7KIeHUWc7nVe73C1XDfFSVZg9uH_jcjLas7zTPQiQN/s1600/Glider.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHnOYIj3wXI7ZeeTBYPVEROTyhIsV_x72lZOqCOVhKRjZqqFIP6rvH74_ajKqcdmOcBtJicdk41pbRHDAgnP1APiz1riZqCo_ynG7KIeHUWc7nVe73C1XDfFSVZg9uH_jcjLas7zTPQiQN/s400/Glider.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We got it done the night before our Baby arrived - woohoo!</td></tr>
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The floor looked fantastic after several trips to Home Depot to rent and buy all the right tools. It was up to Drew to spend the next three days applying the polyurethane that would protect our beautiful floor. Since I couldn't be in the house while this happened (really, nobody should be in a house while varnish goes down - both Mama and Drew have said they will never refinish a floor themselves again), Mama walked me through every furniture store in Arlington, some of them more than once. Still, with all that walking, not a single contraction. And you know what? I am so glad the exercise didn't put me into labor, because I couldn't have even gone home! Fortunately, we were able to sleep at the house each night, and both the floor and the Baby's glider got done before I was 41 weeks pregnant, which is when we had to induce labor. Our stubborn little Smith wasn't going anywhere without the coercion of Pitocin.<br />
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Mama began the task of painting the front room, which we decided would be called, "The Lounge," while we were at the hospital, and she finished up after we got home. I felt bad that I couldn't help (not really), but it was fun listening to her and Drew work out the details of the room. Drew even built us two beautiful end tables. He came up with the design all by himself and they are just spectacular.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcDS8WIDRjotyuyTYmLk6F92KNQC5XDeBPnhTFP08izHsrn2QJjm4EwcbgwN7RT-P01tbMisbPswiGLJ9yyCQDk5Ma4_eLJtFh6xtFkzfygev9LPu1nhQRCJzKNJxpWFdKhmXKy-G0_66/s1600/Table+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcDS8WIDRjotyuyTYmLk6F92KNQC5XDeBPnhTFP08izHsrn2QJjm4EwcbgwN7RT-P01tbMisbPswiGLJ9yyCQDk5Ma4_eLJtFh6xtFkzfygev9LPu1nhQRCJzKNJxpWFdKhmXKy-G0_66/s400/Table+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isn't the table lovely? And check out that gorgeous floor!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPcC4B10as6jLwZuTYwpskwvE0p3lZvpwSLP6GujeoPlUDSdG_voqJ8wt-F9B55-D490PKMYaUo5nKGuOgUgP7jBm3w04vPZxIEolE6TCmS1-Z1RIN6dmavNP6NgOcV1kwJ8dS72Eyignd/s1600/Table+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPcC4B10as6jLwZuTYwpskwvE0p3lZvpwSLP6GujeoPlUDSdG_voqJ8wt-F9B55-D490PKMYaUo5nKGuOgUgP7jBm3w04vPZxIEolE6TCmS1-Z1RIN6dmavNP6NgOcV1kwJ8dS72Eyignd/s400/Table+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love the beautiful detail work.</td></tr>
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The Lounge creates such a welcoming entrance to our home, and the built in unit, which is now properly painted, allows us to show off our hobbies, personalities, and the important things in our lives.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDNPvoQtcbVY22-92COaIZajMu-ofQncq0nZHqecq05jzVj86JnHw_2R9SUKoX5Qv1N-QP9JNc0DAd0zI7-XPV0zd_j6aL70DoCwbYXt-RXbrq5-EpXLPw0-dI4sHxhyphenhyphenzntZGNpRNXiRJ/s1600/The+Lounge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDNPvoQtcbVY22-92COaIZajMu-ofQncq0nZHqecq05jzVj86JnHw_2R9SUKoX5Qv1N-QP9JNc0DAd0zI7-XPV0zd_j6aL70DoCwbYXt-RXbrq5-EpXLPw0-dI4sHxhyphenhyphenzntZGNpRNXiRJ/s400/The+Lounge.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All done!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYuS2kqBnDpRyxDXKYydKMAa5XYy_aS6IenKxp2AXQM8vrobMDMg6AYuonsXtIzv5O5GkvpyPjZITlqR3LueR52CQvTQXdeq7JioBJeIB0_GYHX_BvfYwgc6AReCP3tBwuOVl2D5P4vla/s1600/Mommy%2527s+Chair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYuS2kqBnDpRyxDXKYydKMAa5XYy_aS6IenKxp2AXQM8vrobMDMg6AYuonsXtIzv5O5GkvpyPjZITlqR3LueR52CQvTQXdeq7JioBJeIB0_GYHX_BvfYwgc6AReCP3tBwuOVl2D5P4vla/s400/Mommy%2527s+Chair.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I really the fabric we chose for "my" chair.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5eabA3BDrY69UtztdIrUkmHIdyci0GjHN10ZFWi2RhHn_uESNhE5G-d_ClejVn2JgpceIN6DF1kgaEq6bh-h4YTwd1DIzg-Vzb7QKf7SXu7Ztqe0oBbo0gZZWXDStZ1Lywys8rVx-Fv2/s1600/Orchid+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5eabA3BDrY69UtztdIrUkmHIdyci0GjHN10ZFWi2RhHn_uESNhE5G-d_ClejVn2JgpceIN6DF1kgaEq6bh-h4YTwd1DIzg-Vzb7QKf7SXu7Ztqe0oBbo0gZZWXDStZ1Lywys8rVx-Fv2/s400/Orchid+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our neighbors gave us this orchid. It is the perfect addition to the lounge. I hope I can keep it alive!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwXHlwSdi_s5cSsXIqh3wHLxTWDCmLCvcNUVGztgL7suDjZDQl917smdiz8I4mWOk9TOoPw7xsbJ1vepgnsnkspjBiUXYSSSAZP7uxkAI2y0mU-Y_1HX6oFGrSgWRW3SasdF_DzGRMTKW/s1600/Pegs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwXHlwSdi_s5cSsXIqh3wHLxTWDCmLCvcNUVGztgL7suDjZDQl917smdiz8I4mWOk9TOoPw7xsbJ1vepgnsnkspjBiUXYSSSAZP7uxkAI2y0mU-Y_1HX6oFGrSgWRW3SasdF_DzGRMTKW/s400/Pegs.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty pegs, all lined up.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWwUPNMaJ_jEmNorW8zNaEh-oiAOt0tyInmroqMtK0sQMC9GvfvmcygBfOUkR0kvfL2I2OX8zWCd6HS1Mp5ejqi2lac6A8sSyLiOpmNr-hZqM-H6bUPjnfyWdUjY7tVYInMCZjnlNFAoI/s1600/Wedding+Mementos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWwUPNMaJ_jEmNorW8zNaEh-oiAOt0tyInmroqMtK0sQMC9GvfvmcygBfOUkR0kvfL2I2OX8zWCd6HS1Mp5ejqi2lac6A8sSyLiOpmNr-hZqM-H6bUPjnfyWdUjY7tVYInMCZjnlNFAoI/s400/Wedding+Mementos.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wedding day mementos</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXnZsLZSWZvrWe3k-tlf94J_0J1o5qQZvkSb08pj9HlQiGa9N8zcf1jc-6yG0wF-N5WiQIQU8FZh8Qn9RNmbGEx0AOeIZkLNBYWDoqggYacXCzKWQAvsADpIuXxHrJL8ZlPwINORZXw02/s1600/Faith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXnZsLZSWZvrWe3k-tlf94J_0J1o5qQZvkSb08pj9HlQiGa9N8zcf1jc-6yG0wF-N5WiQIQU8FZh8Qn9RNmbGEx0AOeIZkLNBYWDoqggYacXCzKWQAvsADpIuXxHrJL8ZlPwINORZXw02/s400/Faith.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reminders of our faith</td></tr>
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I wonder what crazy project I will agree to the next time I am pregnant? Gosh, it feels so good to be writing again! I want to get back to regularly posting - stay tuned!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07200636883464826941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6810812237123651052.post-20347636496082373782015-08-27T17:21:00.000-05:002015-08-27T20:21:37.947-05:00A Nursery for Baby Smith<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ETdSeQArlGL6u4pKT9rI7VUILW6-nlEOompb1LU5Py-3KPz4S32znl12xJLvM_UBpbBfO8brlSalsl0t6lwyQnMocUe_QOt2PBWpF2uVFeFKNCkw9SCph-YIMPB_xsQx5MZ2mMsYWKdW/s1600/Nursery+Title+Pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ETdSeQArlGL6u4pKT9rI7VUILW6-nlEOompb1LU5Py-3KPz4S32znl12xJLvM_UBpbBfO8brlSalsl0t6lwyQnMocUe_QOt2PBWpF2uVFeFKNCkw9SCph-YIMPB_xsQx5MZ2mMsYWKdW/s400/Nursery+Title+Pic.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Today is Baby Smith's estimated due date, and so far, he or she has not made any effort to join the rest of us out here. So instead of showing off a baby, I will show off the little nest we have created for our bundle of joy! It has been a lot of fun to put it all together and I can't wait to share it with our baby.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHkqYtrGvB4wMDwWNiX0ER_Sg3TNb58EMsU651Hkl2uLc-KCKzoW1TNVTpqyeg7uGGvbRvLdaFWj-n-1JOcylxo1S_OjVL0WdqkoaeWnLmzOTAvEltsuw5CIJo9B9_CwCDl2h5vnQvgDa3/s1600/Bathroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHkqYtrGvB4wMDwWNiX0ER_Sg3TNb58EMsU651Hkl2uLc-KCKzoW1TNVTpqyeg7uGGvbRvLdaFWj-n-1JOcylxo1S_OjVL0WdqkoaeWnLmzOTAvEltsuw5CIJo9B9_CwCDl2h5vnQvgDa3/s400/Bathroom.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I found this shower curtain and the towels on clearance at Target and they became the inspiration for the color scheme in the nursery. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGYaI7dGGePTxe592qukqKNIZ98IVx2uwOPbmh2Nhw1Bdx6CkG3RZhQjJ5gnS2f-iFTFesasomBhg2jPRmKnj1xH0okGgIi1Zz4uKu6HhWPoMt55BRw052if7dawae6sKTc7zYB2sTW9q/s1600/Paint+Colors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGYaI7dGGePTxe592qukqKNIZ98IVx2uwOPbmh2Nhw1Bdx6CkG3RZhQjJ5gnS2f-iFTFesasomBhg2jPRmKnj1xH0okGgIi1Zz4uKu6HhWPoMt55BRw052if7dawae6sKTc7zYB2sTW9q/s400/Paint+Colors.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I liked the idea of gray walls and so we also chose a gray crib. All of those paint samples looked so similar on paper, we were surprised to see how different they appeared on the wall and up close to the crib. We chose a color called Pebble Gray, which I believe is the one all the way on the right. Coincidentally, my sister painted her nursery the same color! My Mama came to visit in June and, as usual, she couldn't help but paint something. She painted EVERYTHING in the nursery. The ceiling, baseboards, closets, walls, and four brand new doors. What a rock star she is. :)</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiptEsCVSBGqHEnGg_k8ikIiwQzRddPN-HU41UOFzSjBgvqcaYpHUczl724ZWMeB_JOksS0uxgIvTPy2VqxPqeDOXiuhs5j1z6dFlwr113LXP7_Mw3N2CfE3y0xc77UhRPd3oxfmvhz5zVU/s1600/Bulletin+Board.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiptEsCVSBGqHEnGg_k8ikIiwQzRddPN-HU41UOFzSjBgvqcaYpHUczl724ZWMeB_JOksS0uxgIvTPy2VqxPqeDOXiuhs5j1z6dFlwr113LXP7_Mw3N2CfE3y0xc77UhRPd3oxfmvhz5zVU/s400/Bulletin+Board.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmNa4CAqrsHDIERpQMi2g-cAXi_bxJeU0eN4OOUZVqeFD4UcOJcr1zK2AECtiQPLw7wUAKQL7MafC6qMNVhFZqDszrWgqS72wRXLvHgQNQlC9CRmNxyOUYStd0PPab72ydttRGykED4od/s1600/Clip+Boards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmNa4CAqrsHDIERpQMi2g-cAXi_bxJeU0eN4OOUZVqeFD4UcOJcr1zK2AECtiQPLw7wUAKQL7MafC6qMNVhFZqDszrWgqS72wRXLvHgQNQlC9CRmNxyOUYStd0PPab72ydttRGykED4od/s400/Clip+Boards.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj06GKN5ke8ailHVm4jHR8L1bytp9plSFaWB6brMj-wvgNKQBJj072H358Q5Tyj9D5rI5NoUF0RSxW0X-xkipCE_4j_-FMjbKzIOsg1acZQRIwvPcA6Y0rHIlUxwd8tgX5gCZPCtzXdUBM5/s1600/Bookshelf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj06GKN5ke8ailHVm4jHR8L1bytp9plSFaWB6brMj-wvgNKQBJj072H358Q5Tyj9D5rI5NoUF0RSxW0X-xkipCE_4j_-FMjbKzIOsg1acZQRIwvPcA6Y0rHIlUxwd8tgX5gCZPCtzXdUBM5/s400/Bookshelf.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am excited to read lots of books to Baby!</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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuKkhH7RDKNXBGSPyaMg_REf910lZtwxyOROzkNRwHEG1nGlhpoDEXr3Zt7w1Dz-hZL353SXjOb1T3sKVNOIPLeK2hkrkT8UGQom83yyE8StyPIlXcoCYt5zLZTlLphgKptl_q9xYr_qAT/s1600/Mr.+Fox+In+Socks+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuKkhH7RDKNXBGSPyaMg_REf910lZtwxyOROzkNRwHEG1nGlhpoDEXr3Zt7w1Dz-hZL353SXjOb1T3sKVNOIPLeK2hkrkT8UGQom83yyE8StyPIlXcoCYt5zLZTlLphgKptl_q9xYr_qAT/s400/Mr.+Fox+In+Socks+2.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Fox</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxy7vjEvtGzRqejuHzpeV8x8qxio3XDY92KPF160Cyr7WMDgIrX1N5lzwfmRA8Hn6Xa3EZl4bXThgCb-Fn_C1DYm0TTeXlz3Di8hht0RAUgwCw5fEvAG9g00XzsEG-EoMtgUWeci4X2gwh/s1600/Flowers1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxy7vjEvtGzRqejuHzpeV8x8qxio3XDY92KPF160Cyr7WMDgIrX1N5lzwfmRA8Hn6Xa3EZl4bXThgCb-Fn_C1DYm0TTeXlz3Di8hht0RAUgwCw5fEvAG9g00XzsEG-EoMtgUWeci4X2gwh/s400/Flowers1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jv1G7rOhsbg3InHs9x8TQ5ghrIztn_VkDu-6ggbksqHdyb-mL9EZAaAue7WU0LMXzCpI3cGHrgQplRzFLFyJAS31AyTSp9cOTUjEvUrMT3ODgvjFfzm4NXjce4dI3wMH-vCpONUIsYTT/s1600/Bloom+%2526+Grow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jv1G7rOhsbg3InHs9x8TQ5ghrIztn_VkDu-6ggbksqHdyb-mL9EZAaAue7WU0LMXzCpI3cGHrgQplRzFLFyJAS31AyTSp9cOTUjEvUrMT3ODgvjFfzm4NXjce4dI3wMH-vCpONUIsYTT/s1600/Bloom+%2526+Grow.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This piece of artwork was inspired by the invitation and decorations that my friends made for a baby shower they hosted, inspired by The Sound of Music. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKuEIWC4wHk8ukCiZM0-VX6V57-K8F84OZbt8Isy_OJIttJqOxTKliSlVnW6pY4N72Z6SO65_XU06S6N-hEaUC-EjcTFMjnDxMsm1DzMP4zbVeZLiof0uv_gg-RT2bBdXFUw4JeoPKEIv/s1600/Changing+Area.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKuEIWC4wHk8ukCiZM0-VX6V57-K8F84OZbt8Isy_OJIttJqOxTKliSlVnW6pY4N72Z6SO65_XU06S6N-hEaUC-EjcTFMjnDxMsm1DzMP4zbVeZLiof0uv_gg-RT2bBdXFUw4JeoPKEIv/s400/Changing+Area.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfXRjJIFdM6z8uEIA-UmXwCi6ddQv3tbkjbSONhyphenhyphenWrrSmBRM9emWaJE04Pvnm-0zUodp1qcAyAdIWQpbQMnM3fA8nrJk2n1K49DOCVMrE2aof-PG4utQDGQCp6nvJDpY3EUnn-uUGOZ0rx/s1600/Diapers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfXRjJIFdM6z8uEIA-UmXwCi6ddQv3tbkjbSONhyphenhyphenWrrSmBRM9emWaJE04Pvnm-0zUodp1qcAyAdIWQpbQMnM3fA8nrJk2n1K49DOCVMrE2aof-PG4utQDGQCp6nvJDpY3EUnn-uUGOZ0rx/s400/Diapers.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diapers for a small butt!</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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZw-AkGgy-H4elc7qPgJQIxsNX8bDsTUwffEhoS_m5tMBaji87y6VnG85pK-GexAdWSVrweuHaE1GEyH-zDrGdUgP20QThevjt6I7e-BF3Js-VreUpRl9erIfkMk4SuJdWQcXiVMeYhTJP/s1600/Accessories.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZw-AkGgy-H4elc7qPgJQIxsNX8bDsTUwffEhoS_m5tMBaji87y6VnG85pK-GexAdWSVrweuHaE1GEyH-zDrGdUgP20QThevjt6I7e-BF3Js-VreUpRl9erIfkMk4SuJdWQcXiVMeYhTJP/s400/Accessories.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So many tiny things!</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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjcYRquidVfUSPZdMHQEgEWxJ2psZwCD-zdoJ3O4ypX6Opr69KwHU9nRWpSIRpEEado91yRQh3JPpMVJx_xjiqCqecsdrJfCHvLT1B-EWKP2UJ8A4kSkS4cU_msQCsJy2cZQsGoQDkgMeV/s1600/First+Mass+Outfits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjcYRquidVfUSPZdMHQEgEWxJ2psZwCD-zdoJ3O4ypX6Opr69KwHU9nRWpSIRpEEado91yRQh3JPpMVJx_xjiqCqecsdrJfCHvLT1B-EWKP2UJ8A4kSkS4cU_msQCsJy2cZQsGoQDkgMeV/s400/First+Mass+Outfits.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We are ready for Baby Smith's first Sunday Mass, we just need to know which outfit to choose.</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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYX-yaGaeV5TkiEZSwv03rwoT4nARomGIIMXMrqosV_8YoIYOoIRF6wnmS00gDt7iMu7f2jnC4cDRSxEQWIXfvEqORq-uhv4oUV4R9p5PV887WCZAO0JdfQeDrELzH0gH_mHEPN4y2KBE/s1600/Nursery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYX-yaGaeV5TkiEZSwv03rwoT4nARomGIIMXMrqosV_8YoIYOoIRF6wnmS00gDt7iMu7f2jnC4cDRSxEQWIXfvEqORq-uhv4oUV4R9p5PV887WCZAO0JdfQeDrELzH0gH_mHEPN4y2KBE/s400/Nursery.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The chair in the corner is Drew's office chair. Eventually it will be replaced by the glider we are refinishing. And by "we," I mean that he is doing 98% of the work. Because he is wonderful.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Okay, Baby, we are ready for you! You can come on out, now!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07200636883464826941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6810812237123651052.post-13280073169567119242015-05-15T11:52:00.000-05:002015-05-15T11:58:49.982-05:00Laundry Makeover Series - Part Two: Lessen the Load<style>
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<i>If I could have one super power, I would just say the word
and all the dirty clothes and dirty towels and dirty bed sheets would be
cleaned and folded and put away in an instant. With many other chores I can set
myself up for success the whole way through. For example, when the dishwasher
is efficiently loaded, putting clean plates and cups away takes only a few
minutes. If you regularly clean up small messes in the bathroom, a deep
cleaning takes less time. There is nothing you can do to make folding laundry
any easier, because no matter what you do, those clothes are going to get all
tossed around and mixed up in the dryer. It also takes time to wait for the
washer and the dryer to do their thing, leaving plenty of opportunity to lose
your groove by getting distracted by something else, and before you know it, it
is Thursday and you have been air-fluffing the clothes in the dryer since
Monday. And there is still a load in the washer that is starting to smell bad.
The line-up of laundry is never ending and the piles grow so fast. There are
only two of us right now and soon there will be three – something must be done
to streamline the process, because laundry is a chore that is here to stay. </i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br />
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<b>Part Two: Lessen the Load</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have the best husband in the whole world. I am on a
mission to streamline our laundry process and he is being completely supportive. Part
of our laundry problem is that we each have enough clothes to last us a LONG
TIME before truly needing to wash something, which can result in days of
running load after load and never feeling caught up. It gets frustrating. When
I <a href="http://be-a-good-1.blogspot.com/2015/04/laundry-makeover-series-part-one-love.html" target="_blank">made-over the laundry room</a> (with the help of my amazing Mama), I replaced our two large hampers in the bedroom
with one small one to force us to bring the dirty clothes downstairs more
frequently, and so far it is actually helping. I thought a good Step Two in the
process would be to lessen the load by whittling down our wardrobes. The fewer clothes you have, the smaller your largest laundry mess can be. At work I
have learned that most Americans wear 20% of their wardrobe 80% of the time, so
I thought we should narrow down our choices so that what we have is what we
regularly wear. Obviously, special occasions call for pieces that are only worn
once in a while, but that is okay. Overall, I want us to really like the
clothes that we have, to choose quality over quantity, and to focus on what we
need rather than keeping too many clothes simply because they aren’t
threadbare. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKhq59f7RhTnznSaeeM4aefoVp8JNaBjbr9W1_9TBNsHb-Jx_3VDPa-sDAf6qEonq2u2vugjGRTq5LKTOseyVLk_kPcgRp77eU2Z7VxYH1apdt6LquxRzIHhFO6lEiiTGyxqWL4aQH2uO/s1600/Angie's+Closet+Before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKhq59f7RhTnznSaeeM4aefoVp8JNaBjbr9W1_9TBNsHb-Jx_3VDPa-sDAf6qEonq2u2vugjGRTq5LKTOseyVLk_kPcgRp77eU2Z7VxYH1apdt6LquxRzIHhFO6lEiiTGyxqWL4aQH2uO/s400/Angie's%2BCloset%2BBefore.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't know if this really looks that bad, but I felt like my closet was feeling a little bit stuffed. And I had to leave several pairs of shoes on the floor, which I did not like.</td></tr>
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Having made up my mind, I approached Drew and told him that for one of our
Monday date nights I had been planning a sort of working, organizational date
and asked if he would be interested in a bit of a challenge. “We’re throwing
stuff away, aren’t we?” he asked. “Nope!” I reassured him, and being the
wonderful man that he is, he agreed to be surprised by my plan for our date. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Let me lay this out for you, all teacher-like in lesson-plan style:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<b>Objectives: </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To simplify our wardrobe to assist in streamlining our
laundry process. </div>
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To get organized and so that we truly appreciate what we do
have. Less is more!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Procedure:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We will each evaluate and trim down our wardrobes by trying
to limit ourselves to the following number of items. Some of the numbers are
somewhat unrealistic, but that is the point; this is supposed to make you think
about what you really like and need in your closet and dresser. We can adjust
the numbers as needed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
DREW</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5 nice t-shirts, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5 fun t-shirts (sports team related shirts and jerseys do
not count towards this category)</div>
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5 grungy work-on-the-car shirts</div>
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5 under shirts</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
7 dress shirts</div>
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5 sweaters</div>
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5 jeans/other pants</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4 shorts</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4 dress pants</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2 suits</div>
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4 pj pants</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4 pj shirts</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"></span>Evaluate and pare down undergarments, socks, ties, and shoes.</div>
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When finished, add any 10 additional articles of clothing.
</div>
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAreXt9ECOBAbxdvDsALYz3HIF4bl-3_BXjlIXA4oov5Z57tD_sPR1X76goJXv3fRGcwFjOEyEbjAylFa3gAKCtIXMOSKuUYnjkCxmhJdLKjm1ns-8k1zq3uGxME8oSlRfxnzHT6KTgnz/s1600/Drew's+Piles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAreXt9ECOBAbxdvDsALYz3HIF4bl-3_BXjlIXA4oov5Z57tD_sPR1X76goJXv3fRGcwFjOEyEbjAylFa3gAKCtIXMOSKuUYnjkCxmhJdLKjm1ns-8k1zq3uGxME8oSlRfxnzHT6KTgnz/s400/Drew's%2BPiles.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drew's piles-in-progress of clothes to keep.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
ANGIE<br />
(does not include maternity clothes)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5 t-shirts</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5 fun t-shirts (sports team related shirts and jerseys do
not count towards this category)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
7 dress shirts</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
7 dresses</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5 skirts</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5 sweaters</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5 cardigans</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4 jeans/other pants</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4 shorts</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4 dress pants</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2 pj pants</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2 pj shorts</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4 pj shirts</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3 work out shorts</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3 work out shirts</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
20 shoes</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Evaluate and pare down undergarments, socks, dress socks,
scarves, and purses.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When finished, add any 10 additional articles of clothing.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKbbkbFMFjK-FlJZSiHnIGKcgz9R5-L7lCs0r2JrMFSom10mbp7fwH6MMUmAcl4bo6Kkog-aiZhDMtL7Ez-o1ZiQ7Tt3D1Yy41YK0wwa14XGTA7q1UU_PeG2XLccdoybJKxVRHZH4m0yY/s1600/Angie's+Piles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKbbkbFMFjK-FlJZSiHnIGKcgz9R5-L7lCs0r2JrMFSom10mbp7fwH6MMUmAcl4bo6Kkog-aiZhDMtL7Ez-o1ZiQ7Tt3D1Yy41YK0wwa14XGTA7q1UU_PeG2XLccdoybJKxVRHZH4m0yY/s400/Angie's%2BPiles.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angie's piles to keep (plus a couple of Drew's).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Put all extra clothing into bags/boxes/hampers and store in
another room. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZkYtRUJQn-gQsnYSSCfyVmTWAeKXoEc-og165rlnx8EZkpT_69Fpt0s2z1RD56Bj2loUD7VxKwbZ06SoA1JWqb45t2aTy8r8TcfObPv9fdE2h3RxHs5kXe8LEUVIyvwyaC9Kyk_NOYWn/s1600/Giveaway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZkYtRUJQn-gQsnYSSCfyVmTWAeKXoEc-og165rlnx8EZkpT_69Fpt0s2z1RD56Bj2loUD7VxKwbZ06SoA1JWqb45t2aTy8r8TcfObPv9fdE2h3RxHs5kXe8LEUVIyvwyaC9Kyk_NOYWn/s400/Giveaway.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clothes to donate!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEHABaVHNIr5-E5_jBhIto1D6COBYQe6-Ex8y_5KYHq8isGvVeDzdFKM5vLl5k3qI4nZuubyHnTYyzu1ezAO3sLP6BIkHd2sZ5aK_HSba_R7gqV865Ht9NW3ZuxHdiFE2cQNKmmdlKVxs/s1600/Angie's+Hamper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEHABaVHNIr5-E5_jBhIto1D6COBYQe6-Ex8y_5KYHq8isGvVeDzdFKM5vLl5k3qI4nZuubyHnTYyzu1ezAO3sLP6BIkHd2sZ5aK_HSba_R7gqV865Ht9NW3ZuxHdiFE2cQNKmmdlKVxs/s400/Angie's%2BHamper.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angie's clothes to store.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUovEoW6GdBINe7Ox62G3StK4tpgWGyxqGNaAHxPKnBdfds5gju5JFgny1rrqqoF7dSPTZTl8wrUfElAMMfuM8vL0wvfxcYuUk9EMPkUGksA3IF76PFMiBekU7h2rendvJya80zTwtOaH/s1600/Drew's+Hamper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUovEoW6GdBINe7Ox62G3StK4tpgWGyxqGNaAHxPKnBdfds5gju5JFgny1rrqqoF7dSPTZTl8wrUfElAMMfuM8vL0wvfxcYuUk9EMPkUGksA3IF76PFMiBekU7h2rendvJya80zTwtOaH/s400/Drew's%2BHamper.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drew's clothes to store.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Evaluation:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In a month or two we will revisit our existing wardrobes and
reflect upon the decisions we made. We will also look at the clothes we put
away in the other room to determine what to keep and what to donate.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Reflection:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was fun being able to help and support each other in this
process. Although a few of the categories were hard for Drew to limit, I don’t think
my numbers were really that far off in most cases. He ended up keeping many
more than 7 dress shirts, but he wears them to work and church, and since he did
choose to store several of them, that was fine. For me, I ended up keeping most
of my dresses and skirts, but I did take the time to think about which ones I
haven’t worn in a while and I put a few in the storage hamper. I also prematurely stored away my tank tops, and I ended up needing to grab a couple of them from my hamper. Also, 20 shoes was a
little too low a number for me. I kept more like 25 pairs, I think. This is
impressive, though, because a few months ago I think I had close to 40 pairs of
shoes and since then I had already gotten rid of eight pairs. My shoes now fit
much better in my hanging shoe organizers and I don't feel guilty when I see things that I rarely wear. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5o7qaK5-oAqYbUdgk3BkfBO6SGnhpmcVJpmYzCJuMDtledxN_JurwJ5is4suyyWmYWHcFwwy-2zeBCLUAijW8c6NCw0UBDji5qzHjZtXyQ0rCM7WZLEyPsFkogo_kvvb34Q1z5qZLqY4L/s1600/Organized+Shoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5o7qaK5-oAqYbUdgk3BkfBO6SGnhpmcVJpmYzCJuMDtledxN_JurwJ5is4suyyWmYWHcFwwy-2zeBCLUAijW8c6NCw0UBDji5qzHjZtXyQ0rCM7WZLEyPsFkogo_kvvb34Q1z5qZLqY4L/s400/Organized+Shoes.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No doubled-up shoes! And clothes that were previously in piles on shelves now fit in my hanging organizer. Much better!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We put an impressive amount of clothing into our storage
hampers. Between the two hampers and the bag of items to donate, I would estimate we removed four washing machines full of laundry from our potential load! Drew and I were each able to spread out our clothes more in our
dressers and clothes aren’t trying to bust out each time a drawer is
opened. I am looking forward to seeing how this experiment goes over the next few weeks!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FiozMnda25sCXK5gJRHlmrJo2UhXI0PvV95S4TBPzbaA6BI8pW-giAVy1-dkxlxZ3TK0xkjvEe0Kp5k1oDk3gnA4irxLMHmzsspx7q0qbzhMDCKf8_O5ZSWEE3SjxNratxKwkwLpoEyd/s1600/Angie+After.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FiozMnda25sCXK5gJRHlmrJo2UhXI0PvV95S4TBPzbaA6BI8pW-giAVy1-dkxlxZ3TK0xkjvEe0Kp5k1oDk3gnA4irxLMHmzsspx7q0qbzhMDCKf8_O5ZSWEE3SjxNratxKwkwLpoEyd/s400/Angie+After.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This probably doesn't look much different than the "before" picture, but I promise, this is a great improvement. Cleaning up my closet now means that someday when I get to totally re-do it, the hardest part will already be done.</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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRmZd3cnN4KNZw45gpl3F1noma1jWce4A2nM1V6EeB2pv-dbWOyCriiXfLoqPLRtJb76_WK08Wk0LoM2w5_0CUuqsZfWE1x9ss0sYPDkb4D-RiYuoiyYNZHK-6c-1Nt2l0tPWCMVSaQJnZ/s1600/Drew's+Closet+After.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRmZd3cnN4KNZw45gpl3F1noma1jWce4A2nM1V6EeB2pv-dbWOyCriiXfLoqPLRtJb76_WK08Wk0LoM2w5_0CUuqsZfWE1x9ss0sYPDkb4D-RiYuoiyYNZHK-6c-1Nt2l0tPWCMVSaQJnZ/s400/Drew's%2BCloset%2BAfter.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clutter gone from the hanger bars and, most importantly, from the floor!</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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAucjGzhnuuytc05B8Tvxo5p7LS1uwbLhJVEpTyFUl-RAKeEaXoxV1B3seYtiWUoe9gY5d3r_TFnNXYV-snZ9KiE7GzDjdyQ_rKDVx9-ZsuS5CjZ78gY3dDDX4TVwGSJ_Q5bLdIzszAFI/s1600/Neat+Drawers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAucjGzhnuuytc05B8Tvxo5p7LS1uwbLhJVEpTyFUl-RAKeEaXoxV1B3seYtiWUoe9gY5d3r_TFnNXYV-snZ9KiE7GzDjdyQ_rKDVx9-ZsuS5CjZ78gY3dDDX4TVwGSJ_Q5bLdIzszAFI/s400/Neat+Drawers.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is plenty of space for the items I chose to keep! Even though I could fit more in there, I don't want to.</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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUC1haPvVdm1LtnjJgkdjGwNbHDHK2aS6Ks-Mj72f0zjHSFRm5cWHq75EeDuotwiI9soSMoIUdzj8NxsAgUwvf9OehifRUFRXg0ae4zsO8cRNyawnztd5fWdAsO9A9xaKB_M6pJeQzWIa/s1600/Nice+and+Neat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUC1haPvVdm1LtnjJgkdjGwNbHDHK2aS6Ks-Mj72f0zjHSFRm5cWHq75EeDuotwiI9soSMoIUdzj8NxsAgUwvf9OehifRUFRXg0ae4zsO8cRNyawnztd5fWdAsO9A9xaKB_M6pJeQzWIa/s400/Nice+and+Neat.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neat drawers make me happy. :)</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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMha6O3AUwhO6vwN0HyGsYl0BKzKkiZrRmzqgaqhXMIsCE9pYZRF9Go5VDha7CG0l73CrIV-aj3j8h2O1D0HYZDJeOyl0q68V-fx5vXf2QyFFZDcUwzlfuuMBi6IrA1HZzhDoNggE_pX-x/s1600/Right+Side+After.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMha6O3AUwhO6vwN0HyGsYl0BKzKkiZrRmzqgaqhXMIsCE9pYZRF9Go5VDha7CG0l73CrIV-aj3j8h2O1D0HYZDJeOyl0q68V-fx5vXf2QyFFZDcUwzlfuuMBi6IrA1HZzhDoNggE_pX-x/s400/Right+Side+After.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My clothes are nicely grouped by season and purpose. One thing that helped reduce clutter was getting bulky coats and jackets out of there.<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Spring cleaning season is here - what are you waiting for?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07200636883464826941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6810812237123651052.post-40513432695459359322015-04-10T11:35:00.001-05:002015-04-10T11:42:40.742-05:00 Laundry Makeover Series - Part One: Love Your Laundry Room<style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>If I could have one super power, I would just say the word
and all the dirty clothes and dirty towels and dirty bed sheets would be
cleaned and folded and put away in an instant. There is nothing you can do to make folding laundry
any easier, because no matter what you do, those clothes are going to get all
tossed around and mixed up in the dryer. Waiting for the
washer and the dryer to do their thing leaves plenty of opportunity to lose
your groove by getting distracted by something else, and before you know it, it
is Thursday and you have been air-fluffing the clothes in the dryer since
Monday. And there is still a load in the washer that is starting to smell bad. The
line-up of laundry is never ending and the piles grow so fast. There are only
two of us right now and soon there will be three – something must be done to
streamline the process, because laundry is a chore that is here to stay. </i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntYx2pU5EkrNaALCg62cYMopZdTXdq7aDD5Je_fLX2cyYMos0hhccjYlpceMxzOF2llSarMyS3alQ7Ms0hh0fjp35Sf11k_OYV3M4NFnZpK5cxv9CS6sf4lrYEA_ug6YBOzis0yiefbuz/s1600/Before+and+After.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntYx2pU5EkrNaALCg62cYMopZdTXdq7aDD5Je_fLX2cyYMos0hhccjYlpceMxzOF2llSarMyS3alQ7Ms0hh0fjp35Sf11k_OYV3M4NFnZpK5cxv9CS6sf4lrYEA_ug6YBOzis0yiefbuz/s1600/Before+and+After.jpg" height="277" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<b>Part One: Love Your Laundry Room</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fact: When we moved into our house our laundry room was
ugly. Everything in there was painted the same color. Its redeeming qualities
are that it is inside the house (so many laundry rooms in older homes are in
the garage) and it is a decent sized room. Our laundry room is downstairs and
the bedrooms are upstairs, and for me, that is an added obstacle to staying on
top of things. For my attitude towards this never-ceasing chore to change, I
need the laundry room to be a pleasant destination. It is right off of our
beautiful kitchen and so it has to both coordinate and stand out at the same
time.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00PbdAIuQyU3lDst5MOj2MA8n7geNFlFeXSLkUOsceBFIofZaGkaTliHQGAHigAOarm_CR-jgdCs_b711N2CouGWfFe8awVw4RQuheMlm3saQkmm4IA80nTKBXFXM8hc8bpgHIycPGkpt/s1600/Before+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00PbdAIuQyU3lDst5MOj2MA8n7geNFlFeXSLkUOsceBFIofZaGkaTliHQGAHigAOarm_CR-jgdCs_b711N2CouGWfFe8awVw4RQuheMlm3saQkmm4IA80nTKBXFXM8hc8bpgHIycPGkpt/s1600/Before+1.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blech!</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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1w-bm_tUH7cOAbyPjKObcE9rsDf81_pmWHac7HkD54f2q_8rfqFRtNAyNscteg9nZjAKT9atDfD_DugT1Mrx20QyLabnzZp1ojrdU0CftTUyrF4NWw3k7aA8MrZ5tDTH44OGSYUtq994m/s1600/Before+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1w-bm_tUH7cOAbyPjKObcE9rsDf81_pmWHac7HkD54f2q_8rfqFRtNAyNscteg9nZjAKT9atDfD_DugT1Mrx20QyLabnzZp1ojrdU0CftTUyrF4NWw3k7aA8MrZ5tDTH44OGSYUtq994m/s1600/Before+4.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have said it before and I will say it over and over again: Who paints a color like this all over everything in the house?!?!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBVfcbgwM4qpFqrSIeAZGUUZfpbjoNL7m-KQePNt-aHcfFVvm_9grKPzre0a87KVts5NQxlg6-c9FsvRUr3RCXAffiCZIVwRg6PdC45sj_9N9yTydVmDHP4aBk7lJVD3QEBoKYzFgTJX3Z/s1600/Before+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBVfcbgwM4qpFqrSIeAZGUUZfpbjoNL7m-KQePNt-aHcfFVvm_9grKPzre0a87KVts5NQxlg6-c9FsvRUr3RCXAffiCZIVwRg6PdC45sj_9N9yTydVmDHP4aBk7lJVD3QEBoKYzFgTJX3Z/s1600/Before+2.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can't even tell how dingy looking that door is by this picture. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZsTmP8mhCzy9wzGYGu4zTHXNNI0HzabUVogag8g6bOn2_zgCzPFyBVst7VcyzFz-SvgFR8cioDqeikU5jpwHplAw_Syx0crvMxkNuCSaHqF4e9_-iMRAiTiGgio0kq3Dnz8zvhsqYgImY/s1600/Before+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZsTmP8mhCzy9wzGYGu4zTHXNNI0HzabUVogag8g6bOn2_zgCzPFyBVst7VcyzFz-SvgFR8cioDqeikU5jpwHplAw_Syx0crvMxkNuCSaHqF4e9_-iMRAiTiGgio0kq3Dnz8zvhsqYgImY/s1600/Before+3.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We hide a lot of things behind the door in here. </td></tr>
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Enter, my Mama: She visited us at the end of March. Yay! She
gets all the credit for our wonderfully painted kitchen and so when she offered
to paint another room in the house, I leapt at the idea of doing the laundry
room. And unlike the green paint color debacle I experienced with the kitchen,
I had settled on a serene shade of blue for the laundry room months ago.
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV90ZedIlDvihjHNjSsuqVKg7dYZsUf4yzxQw3Z_8-v0NNcTs9OYeur8nvl1EzgOh6NyEN4I00xEIqnnfvmef-UIkbeAHgKZhyphenhyphenj8epbdXrGZ2X5YDxayFrMUKadBW754Uk9Jhow8tx8c1z/s1600/After.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV90ZedIlDvihjHNjSsuqVKg7dYZsUf4yzxQw3Z_8-v0NNcTs9OYeur8nvl1EzgOh6NyEN4I00xEIqnnfvmef-UIkbeAHgKZhyphenhyphenj8epbdXrGZ2X5YDxayFrMUKadBW754Uk9Jhow8tx8c1z/s1600/After.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isn't it gorgeous?</td></tr>
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I am thrilled with the way the color looks on the walls! It
is soothing and just lovely. It transformed the color of the cabinets from
hideous to acceptable and it goes great with the black and white appliances. I
have to say, though, that I think the biggest impact came from painting all the
trim white. The door in front of the water heater looks 100 times better and,
to me, totally cleaned up the look of the room. </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_JzkDjwYOiHs_-OSfVWsHxUQnTR0wUsVPVQQY4PTW2m48udhc30DUf4Wke3z2lLUuB4N-zVwHYg87qGNTKi_cYqoz11AXLzpKib-zPrGzdJ0W-sFvUu4-8oiIsmF9iekIPRi9dK9FjENy/s1600/Fresh+Door.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_JzkDjwYOiHs_-OSfVWsHxUQnTR0wUsVPVQQY4PTW2m48udhc30DUf4Wke3z2lLUuB4N-zVwHYg87qGNTKi_cYqoz11AXLzpKib-zPrGzdJ0W-sFvUu4-8oiIsmF9iekIPRi9dK9FjENy/s1600/Fresh+Door.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></div>
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Finishing Touches:</div>
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Accent rug – Initially I was hoping to find a black and
white rug in a geometric print for this room, but when Mama and I were walking
through Target, I saw this one and when I unfolded it I was surprised that I
liked it! I am not usually into floral patterns, but I feel like it is more of
a picture than a pattern, since the print is so large. Mama and I both agreed
the colors were perfect – the blue of the laundry room, the green of the
kitchen, and yellow for the pantry – they are all there! It adds a ton of life to
the room and will keep my feet warm in the winter when the floor is cold as
ice. Plus, it is machine washable. Score!</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJLdyXrZJmDk4Laa8R_zLUrhYbmBgCInpGYJrL07JEjrH2x_CndjYDhpfw8RQOo-SlG60DHaXLBB4Tr3SV8qOPrdv3O9JZei7Howu2vxKPd-QT_hcoMZPmBG0qUKfkofYAbjB0MabLiiY/s1600/Accent+Rug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJLdyXrZJmDk4Laa8R_zLUrhYbmBgCInpGYJrL07JEjrH2x_CndjYDhpfw8RQOo-SlG60DHaXLBB4Tr3SV8qOPrdv3O9JZei7Howu2vxKPd-QT_hcoMZPmBG0qUKfkofYAbjB0MabLiiY/s1600/Accent+Rug.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></div>
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Laundry sorter – We have a problem called, “our laundry
piles up in these huge hampers in our room until the mountain starts falling
over and then we do laundry but it takes forever because the load was so huge.”
Here is what I hope will be our solution: We will keep a small hamper in our
room and every morning/every other morning we will bring it downstairs and sort
it into our brand new laundry sorter. This will force us to do laundry more
often, because even though each side theoretically holds two full loads, it
will appear to be full faster. Also, having to look at the laundry on a nearly
daily basis when I sort it will give me more awareness of when the clothes need
to go into the washer. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9JFCrfrrJvoDeKSfaTx2ltZ_XQbOpWzukqaiPdWOhKH5McDGB5wNaYcsZQU5nrAJO4kd3ihD1grKbBwp4_O_0X5N9Cu6Qxx2opnMP4CrM6_A-tTDSbOaoD6dkDyqR0ZnX46yiPfvwxxzx/s1600/Laundry+Sorter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9JFCrfrrJvoDeKSfaTx2ltZ_XQbOpWzukqaiPdWOhKH5McDGB5wNaYcsZQU5nrAJO4kd3ihD1grKbBwp4_O_0X5N9Cu6Qxx2opnMP4CrM6_A-tTDSbOaoD6dkDyqR0ZnX46yiPfvwxxzx/s1600/Laundry+Sorter.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A big thank you to my husband for helping me put this together. I have learned that I don't really do that well with picture instructions and I really was struggling with this one. The written instructions weren't fabulous either, though. </td></tr>
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Drying rack – This is pretty simple. The drying rack we were
using was just too large for this space and I do not want to have clothes
hanging to dry in any other room but this one. I think this new drying rack
will hold just as many clothes even though it takes up less space. I also like
the mesh topper that can be used to dry sweaters.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDqlXXn2-VHg85STcN_HvYvJ-lfMYA-Apq0eODZQdSi5J8RfsNJFFnfC6wPl5RVfezem7be5mYuHCOh_K1-mO4as9Mk-alN4EayHApKpDM2-4a4n-C86afuza9v6JjogBD79_h8O9mjx6/s1600/Drying+Rack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDqlXXn2-VHg85STcN_HvYvJ-lfMYA-Apq0eODZQdSi5J8RfsNJFFnfC6wPl5RVfezem7be5mYuHCOh_K1-mO4as9Mk-alN4EayHApKpDM2-4a4n-C86afuza9v6JjogBD79_h8O9mjx6/s1600/Drying+Rack.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></div>
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Cleaning supplies – We replaced the dry erase board with a
set of hooks to hold floor cleaning implements. This is pretty much where we
were keeping them before, except now they won’t fall over or take up floor
space. I like how much more orderly it looks, and the way the white hooks pop
against the blue wall. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFdi0x93pZia8SiTWoBYaW-t8ocioUL-b70G-dr1AzBZyQPv-YW2X3wqV96mxKAieDlNUp3O5_22GcgY4pGGhd_f4qKEdgR3rH5bcYo1NHivUAsGp0XitfQV-8hyphenhyphenW3p8y-Oc5YdDZteQhP/s1600/Floor+Care.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFdi0x93pZia8SiTWoBYaW-t8ocioUL-b70G-dr1AzBZyQPv-YW2X3wqV96mxKAieDlNUp3O5_22GcgY4pGGhd_f4qKEdgR3rH5bcYo1NHivUAsGp0XitfQV-8hyphenhyphenW3p8y-Oc5YdDZteQhP/s1600/Floor+Care.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank you, Drew!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSLfkw1iHrbZ1eS4e8i8MZEvx-QoRwbNBTbCxr6U5KulHzL6IlISj1FXtFbMAuGMLVFq3QRn3nBo8Sq8LYDgU724Qth8hvIGpkXR2NTgIBAotdNpGF6Hv57ymRfgjVoiCN5fIq6CpDjDD7/s1600/Broomtastic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSLfkw1iHrbZ1eS4e8i8MZEvx-QoRwbNBTbCxr6U5KulHzL6IlISj1FXtFbMAuGMLVFq3QRn3nBo8Sq8LYDgU724Qth8hvIGpkXR2NTgIBAotdNpGF6Hv57ymRfgjVoiCN5fIq6CpDjDD7/s1600/Broomtastic.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></div>
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Now, indulge me for a moment while I tell you about <a href="http://www.containerstore.com/shop/cleaning/broomsMops?productId=11000948" target="_blank">this broom</a>. This broom has achieved a level of broominess to which all other brooms
should aspire. It. Is. Awesome. Broom, how do I love thee? Let me count the
ways: You are height adjustable. Your soft bristles gather all kinds of dust
and crumbs while gliding over my tile floors as smoothly as Kristi Yamaguchi on a freshly resurfaced ice rink.
You are wider than my previous broom, which means I accomplish more in less
time. You have a removable whisk for sweeping debris into the dustpan. And oh,
the dustpan! EVERYTHING goes into the dustpan without my having to do that thing where
you keep backing up to get that last line of dust swept up. And the dustpan has
teeth on the back to make sure everything is removed from the broom. This is
the start of a great broomance. </div>
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Seriously, though, this is what I said the first time I used
this broomtastic creation:</div>
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“Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, no way! Drew! Come look at the line
of dust left by this broom and dustpan. Oh, wait. You CAN’T, because THERE
ISN’T ONE! WOOHOO! This is the best. Broom. EVER!”</div>
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A beautiful laundry room and an epic broom. It takes so little to make me so happy. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">:)</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07200636883464826941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6810812237123651052.post-43265483668474689332015-03-26T18:05:00.000-05:002015-03-26T18:05:02.903-05:00Our Savannah Souvenir<style>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD2SD9vds0yc_WRpBon0rnDQt2MbvE-q2QnZYJe-1wO7USRupAKNCe0eEUM-vMVNRKq4G-zzSu6-txctmZhyHj2FJlifKCNE1TRZO7h8oQYiBxO3ZL1Pav8t-QDKjgbluW5nu9aDg4ST4z/s1600/Our+Savannah+Souvenir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD2SD9vds0yc_WRpBon0rnDQt2MbvE-q2QnZYJe-1wO7USRupAKNCe0eEUM-vMVNRKq4G-zzSu6-txctmZhyHj2FJlifKCNE1TRZO7h8oQYiBxO3ZL1Pav8t-QDKjgbluW5nu9aDg4ST4z/s1600/Our+Savannah+Souvenir.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Back in December, I told you that Drew successfully completed
basic training and safely made it home. Hooray! What I did not tell you is that
between his graduation and our return to Texas we took a trip to Savannah,
Georgia. If you aren’t familiar with this beautiful gem of a city, then you absolutely
need to add a visit to your to-do list. I had been once before, on a week-long
trip with a fun group of social studies teachers, but Drew had never visited, even though he had lived in Georgia for several years. I was so excited to plan our trip so I could show him why I had
immediately fallen in love with Savannah, and since we would be there just
before Christmas, I knew there would be an extra sense of excitement in the
air. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6dxtm7gXmgqVsLmU2YJgOWisxuka0tJmKBZa0ori3yOaKNNegzFGLv2YV-aW71hslwAPY6bnjbIkr-zKTVqfzZnir58JU2454gQ9izmfiJGsL8B35PxPEffpHFOO9_jPrahJC_4pIjEQ3/s1600/White+Lights+Selfie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6dxtm7gXmgqVsLmU2YJgOWisxuka0tJmKBZa0ori3yOaKNNegzFGLv2YV-aW71hslwAPY6bnjbIkr-zKTVqfzZnir58JU2454gQ9izmfiJGsL8B35PxPEffpHFOO9_jPrahJC_4pIjEQ3/s1600/White+Lights+Selfie.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The holiday decorations and atmosphere were exactly what I had hoped they would be; they made the evenings that much more beautiful.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5wuG5ca3fP2tDIWZRU2RH4P7XJzLZwsQXPMJSrCU3nUPk5ctZv0hLgSZjJdN-DWUs3cFsUP_me_zTp3xj-aQbsxg6NBRz8LveGNgLogOwHlyf9XjHRrg3LtfCvhfET1k-_IYnuoMqHxL/s1600/White+Lights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5wuG5ca3fP2tDIWZRU2RH4P7XJzLZwsQXPMJSrCU3nUPk5ctZv0hLgSZjJdN-DWUs3cFsUP_me_zTp3xj-aQbsxg6NBRz8LveGNgLogOwHlyf9XjHRrg3LtfCvhfET1k-_IYnuoMqHxL/s1600/White+Lights.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love white lights, and these were strung across the street for blocks in each direction. It was gorgeous. </td></tr>
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After Drew’s graduation ceremony on Fort Benning, we enjoyed lunch with his
parents and then departed for the opposite side of the state, arriving at our
hotel just before dinnertime. I spent a somewhat ridiculous amount of time
researching and choosing the hotel for our long weekend and I am glad that I
did. We were on the western edge of the historic district, not on busy Bay
Street, but within easy walking distance of everything. It was THE perfect
location for us. Plus, we paid a little less than what we would have for one of the Bay
Street hotels, but we got much more for our money.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGCcj7V1rLsCtaI5T45xctPAoCj9KvwQU5p2JARwaNRQ49zQVLiNBWCucrWEMx069qQ2AWCVjCX0TkzDmRE0Gm_vwu1mRPZvLekqHUhkj91p2ImOuCxlPUvayto1ZH_M3NBrdqEg5idfa/s1600/B+Historic+Hotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGCcj7V1rLsCtaI5T45xctPAoCj9KvwQU5p2JARwaNRQ49zQVLiNBWCucrWEMx069qQ2AWCVjCX0TkzDmRE0Gm_vwu1mRPZvLekqHUhkj91p2ImOuCxlPUvayto1ZH_M3NBrdqEg5idfa/s1600/B+Historic+Hotel.jpg" height="320" nopin="nopin" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">B Historic Savannah Hotel</td></tr>
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For our first evening in Savannah I wanted to get Drew down
to see the river as soon as possible, so I made a reservation for dinner at
River House Seafood. We got a little bit lost while finding the restaurant, but
we had fun along the way. Since Drew was still wearing his uniform, a street
performer played the U.S. Army Song as we walked down the street; I was
pretty proud to be on the arm of my soldier.
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The entire weekend was amazing and so pleasant. The city was
adorned with white lights and Christmas decorations. The weather was beautiful
and, although the pre-holiday season is a peak time for tourism, it didn’t feel
too crowded or busy. As we browsed through shops and tourist attractions, we
hoped that we would find some special souvenir by which we could remember our
trip. We contemplated Christmas ornaments, art prints, coffee mugs, and other
trinkets, but nothing seemed to excite us. Instead, we took lots of pictures, walked
miles back and forth across town, indulged in delicious lunches and dinners,
and enjoyed being back together again. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgst23Jald7TWOSE_LI8hkXl7cFEW-pWXoGWE1Eg47LCx5uKGlRadZusupeiF87dSRa3AufXSjQAVE1mTZpx2PTeUSKc5ORqg6dlV0x7iis2ktVkygZn_O2dyISKyn7iKqK5TbdFfKivi5C/s1600/Container+Ship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgst23Jald7TWOSE_LI8hkXl7cFEW-pWXoGWE1Eg47LCx5uKGlRadZusupeiF87dSRa3AufXSjQAVE1mTZpx2PTeUSKc5ORqg6dlV0x7iis2ktVkygZn_O2dyISKyn7iKqK5TbdFfKivi5C/s1600/Container+Ship.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We loved watching the container ships go up and down the river. They are quite an impressive sight. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9viHQuvtnSoIIGx5Q0BcVIX9yQvCH4gwAlS4Ybaz6JpawsUOpDle4rRE8HCuVStUAhbJ_Yt-s0lnYmBp9YF0DKJp0PTvvWl1FnJWukB1f84uAB9lqPVihWX0gIv9UB9q8otsbhoBKOiDw/s1600/St.+John+the+Baptist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9viHQuvtnSoIIGx5Q0BcVIX9yQvCH4gwAlS4Ybaz6JpawsUOpDle4rRE8HCuVStUAhbJ_Yt-s0lnYmBp9YF0DKJp0PTvvWl1FnJWukB1f84uAB9lqPVihWX0gIv9UB9q8otsbhoBKOiDw/s1600/St.+John+the+Baptist.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist was beautiful.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05mykqYy94J3Woh3QF63sLn3pvDyNVbRwVdtDeVegyaza0qjDqLo5jo37fntwbClks9l2ekl0CawZYWChkIwHgeKJng1lDGqnJfr94MeQeC1FcMdrMJVhFILh56IUltKApkFvNKLWO5qH/s1600/Forsyth+Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05mykqYy94J3Woh3QF63sLn3pvDyNVbRwVdtDeVegyaza0qjDqLo5jo37fntwbClks9l2ekl0CawZYWChkIwHgeKJng1lDGqnJfr94MeQeC1FcMdrMJVhFILh56IUltKApkFvNKLWO5qH/s1600/Forsyth+Park.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We enjoyed a peaceful stroll through Forsyth Park after Saturday evening Mass and before going to dinner.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKghX5RMrhxsXSLWPixtdkPha0awAfS3JhYo2Tyd55s550L8DmecPZVBZAIqHZuH7ZzORfzDNb5gR9wuDVJb2uUuGT_BbnV-GS4cmDBWFHxv91tj7Es1a0CgzgoeOP7L_VwDXWrauDhxr2/s1600/Old+Fort+Jackson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKghX5RMrhxsXSLWPixtdkPha0awAfS3JhYo2Tyd55s550L8DmecPZVBZAIqHZuH7ZzORfzDNb5gR9wuDVJb2uUuGT_BbnV-GS4cmDBWFHxv91tj7Es1a0CgzgoeOP7L_VwDXWrauDhxr2/s1600/Old+Fort+Jackson.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wonder if the army is looking for super models?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xMe_9IoVYa5a6I_iStMT7FtFB-kOsKRIh-RZ9JawVrbcsfwvm5OYZq-EHzMJJfxuSy_qnuVz769cUlW7lcJgu7abj1hoZEw4rwt_PXIXKh2E3Q9Xd1mjduR8vTHdaPZVcH9b3zkfmOCY/s1600/Savannah+Selfie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xMe_9IoVYa5a6I_iStMT7FtFB-kOsKRIh-RZ9JawVrbcsfwvm5OYZq-EHzMJJfxuSy_qnuVz769cUlW7lcJgu7abj1hoZEw4rwt_PXIXKh2E3Q9Xd1mjduR8vTHdaPZVcH9b3zkfmOCY/s1600/Savannah+Selfie.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for our walking tour to begin. We highly recommend Free Savannah Walking Tours.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQofPnyXUVG-3m86iM4HzBUK70eDFzV2c33dqpZOk8GRKNW2H7wVs16KWR374tpyK9Q_Zk11u4SCw2ARTuxsWm4bl0kfT8vySvNwxNdEd-cdMP5-nm-yK6DJ46id3tAsOTtKs53T6OuRA/s1600/Wavng+Girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQofPnyXUVG-3m86iM4HzBUK70eDFzV2c33dqpZOk8GRKNW2H7wVs16KWR374tpyK9Q_Zk11u4SCw2ARTuxsWm4bl0kfT8vySvNwxNdEd-cdMP5-nm-yK6DJ46id3tAsOTtKs53T6OuRA/s1600/Wavng+Girl.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Posing with the statue of the Waving Girl.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGIzSqAI2tUL23a_YOQ2cJaluRRDymFmvxd5Dvw7W8DYyT7rLja884XOHUWT8vsGKx_EfLHUXcJaeFNhmxXHNPz1AM6YuPGlkVYAeZduu_7mjxirul-BN_qlF5JYT4EPn_wTaSoNdYdIm/s1600/Pink+House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGIzSqAI2tUL23a_YOQ2cJaluRRDymFmvxd5Dvw7W8DYyT7rLja884XOHUWT8vsGKx_EfLHUXcJaeFNhmxXHNPz1AM6YuPGlkVYAeZduu_7mjxirul-BN_qlF5JYT4EPn_wTaSoNdYdIm/s1600/Pink+House.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone recommended that we dine at The Olde Pink House and we are so glad we did. It was one of my favorite parts of the trip because the food was incredible and the staff went above and beyond our expectations. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRK1stSv3pKjHMJLkYDF8a8x23cK4-hJQLbC7_jeltvYFvkfK_J6nyqVVVw7nGLfP8zsf11TDLBOP845idZ4KrpJOCSSdaCRYWcIH87nh621PL-6uDxtahRPOmNFVHov52tO57T08ecYsK/s1600/Congratulations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRK1stSv3pKjHMJLkYDF8a8x23cK4-hJQLbC7_jeltvYFvkfK_J6nyqVVVw7nGLfP8zsf11TDLBOP845idZ4KrpJOCSSdaCRYWcIH87nh621PL-6uDxtahRPOmNFVHov52tO57T08ecYsK/s1600/Congratulations.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An unforgettable memory: Drew's plate of congratulatory strawberries courtesy of The Olde Pink House. He would probably like for me to note that he now has a full head of hair. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziVL028daHxXnUtO3oGe5eoRYQSpkY0n6Mz4_wR4TG0e0rJOdPkR28753mKHpu4IS9bB0319Hvif8iAbVPxBBuquCywh_PSZ268RbpIIHsgTHaupKlN3S2vxpXEnSvKEPZHXx270KRxWH/s1600/Rainbow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziVL028daHxXnUtO3oGe5eoRYQSpkY0n6Mz4_wR4TG0e0rJOdPkR28753mKHpu4IS9bB0319Hvif8iAbVPxBBuquCywh_PSZ268RbpIIHsgTHaupKlN3S2vxpXEnSvKEPZHXx270KRxWH/s1600/Rainbow.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On our drive home we were lucky to see this fragment of a rainbow - a beautiful reminder of the many blessings in our lives.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We left Savannah feeling happy and rested, wishing we could
have stayed longer, and already wondering when we would return. Stopping in
Birmingham to visit Drew’s parents broke up the journey home, and we pulled
into our driveway less than one week after leaving Fort Benning. Since we were
immediately thrown back into real life, it took us a while to get completely
unpacked and nearly three months later I feel like we have yet to catch a break from
piles laundry. Anyway, being back under one roof again was great
but also stressful. I found myself more easily irritated and I wondered if I
was just having a hard time readjusting; it can be tough to transition from
being a team, to having to be a one woman show, and then going back to the team
again. My husband is unbelievably patient and understanding, but I know my moodiness
was affecting him, and I was even annoying myself!
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Don't
get me wrong, I certainly have my cranky days here and there (who doesn't?),
but perpetual irritability was not normal for me and as the days wore on, I had
a sneaking suspicion that I knew the cause. S</span>o, after my morning shift
on December 22<sup>nd</sup>, I went home and took a pregnancy test. The
instructions on the package said to wait at least two minutes, and up to ten,
for results. I swear to you, not thirty seconds later, there it was: PREGNANT!
Just to be sure and to help the shock wear off, I took another test, even
though it was expired and, once again, POSITIVE!<br />
<br />
I was positively pregnant.<br />
<br />
No
wonder we had struggled to find the perfect souvenir when we were in Savannah;
we had the best souvenir with us the whole time, we just did not know it. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">:)</span></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHLSP9UJDZ8MvTd_isqepD_l-KWAwf1aTY8qiuicV7rOVN0-RgiZLlF91oWS7__ip4JdAAaurIP9paeIK5qqpCGJu_2mphgYc7TuTNviRYJw-zFGl2yeHaWIyDh_I9Prh10T8vc2AHg1wu/s1600/Pregnancy+Test.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHLSP9UJDZ8MvTd_isqepD_l-KWAwf1aTY8qiuicV7rOVN0-RgiZLlF91oWS7__ip4JdAAaurIP9paeIK5qqpCGJu_2mphgYc7TuTNviRYJw-zFGl2yeHaWIyDh_I9Prh10T8vc2AHg1wu/s1600/Pregnancy+Test.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proof positive! (Pun intended.)</td></tr>
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Introducing Baby Smith, due August 27th!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZmCy5h5g8uvzi21Yg2EhIqU3WQMek9gkYtHJ6mHYsALIBAHeO_B5CXiKOIUBLc8UsTPvrLQpDwNMD4WpUM2kA4zmXB2-bTzxnqjswHldVeeGZbJagpvVFg70_xFLE8iBujtrCMJqlbhI/s1600/Baby+Smith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZmCy5h5g8uvzi21Yg2EhIqU3WQMek9gkYtHJ6mHYsALIBAHeO_B5CXiKOIUBLc8UsTPvrLQpDwNMD4WpUM2kA4zmXB2-bTzxnqjswHldVeeGZbJagpvVFg70_xFLE8iBujtrCMJqlbhI/s1600/Baby+Smith.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our 9 week ultrasound photo<br />
:D :D :D :D :D :D :D</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07200636883464826941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6810812237123651052.post-81077263192297111992015-03-03T14:50:00.001-06:002015-03-04T13:18:14.362-06:00Craft Closet Makeover<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnnuhvlxefHbNeTqywJJvGVZSJws3XG2Ulu_VaQHTJW1u0T2q7FiZsBjCNaSHigF2BLZZtu6gMjCIQO2vMY0pCP7mAzaxawGVh3kmFNmyH-LYOjFKmU6_pzSY90AGzFp9M5-QKEtYklGZw/s1600/A+Crafty+Makeover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnnuhvlxefHbNeTqywJJvGVZSJws3XG2Ulu_VaQHTJW1u0T2q7FiZsBjCNaSHigF2BLZZtu6gMjCIQO2vMY0pCP7mAzaxawGVh3kmFNmyH-LYOjFKmU6_pzSY90AGzFp9M5-QKEtYklGZw/s1600/A+Crafty+Makeover.jpg" height="201" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When I initially interviewed at The Container Store I was assigned the
task of choosing an area in my home that needed organization and
selecting a product from the store to solve the problem. I chose the
craft area of our apartment and now, one year later and in our house, I have
finally gotten it done! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a data-pin-color="red" data-pin-config="beside" data-pin-do="buttonPin" href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbe-a-good-1.blogspot.com%2F2015%2F03%2Fcraft-closet.html&media=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-KyQ7Q-Ct1V4%2FVPYbCj-kOuI%2FAAAAAAAABeo%2FqN46TqNRzVc%2Fs1600%2FA%2BCrafty%2BMakeover.jpg&description=I%20took%20my%20craft%20closet%20from%20messy%20to%20organized%20with%20new%20shelves%2C%20clear%20shoeboxes%2C%20and%20chalkboard%20labels.%20So%20easy!"><img src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pinit_fg_en_rect_red_20.png" /></a>
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<br />
<br />
You know I love to be crafty. I am happiest when I am painting pegs or crocheting a blanket or scarf. It is hard for me to just sit still without also working on a project of some sort. This innate craftiness manifests itself by the many supplies that sometimes get out of control. Felt, paint, paper, markers, wood, fabric, and yarn everywhere. Here at the house, I am lucky enough to have an entire closet that we have devoted to craft supplies. Sadly, it isn't large enough to fit everything, but I knew it had the potential to hold quite a lot. Once it got to the point where the door couldn't really be closed and boxes of supplies were scattered about the floor, I knew I had to get to work.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRz3pVpm_P5zgaVCVKjBhFc1_1jAoe1g03jTf82n8jRxHwcBh5h81GK-TCjxdpTXq99nP1WLP-Wumzf6Bk26E3EsfqelyPg1TnnKVaUchYiQYWLaCErszHCwfNBvVrW63hnZsMR1QeIp-r/s1600/Craft+Closet+Before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRz3pVpm_P5zgaVCVKjBhFc1_1jAoe1g03jTf82n8jRxHwcBh5h81GK-TCjxdpTXq99nP1WLP-Wumzf6Bk26E3EsfqelyPg1TnnKVaUchYiQYWLaCErszHCwfNBvVrW63hnZsMR1QeIp-r/s1600/Craft+Closet+Before.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, the shame! Yvette and Drew, I don't know how you put up with this for so long.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I had initially planned to tackle this challenge in November, but instead I <a href="http://be-a-good-1.blogspot.com/2014/12/welcome-home-drew.html" target="_blank">redid Drew's clothes closet</a>, because I am awesome like that. However, I had already removed the only existing shelf from the craft closet and that served to exacerbate the overflow problem. Drew is two months into restarting his quest to complete his bachelor's degree, and since the "office" and the "craft room" are one and the same, I needed to get organized for his sake.<br />
<br />
Off to The Container Store I went for some shelving! I planned to sort and organize all of my supplies into clear shoe boxes and stack them on the shelves. Upon realizing that some of the shoe boxes would be quite heavy and that I wanted easier access to them, I determined that adding three more shelves would be ideal. I also had the brilliant idea to install a very short shelf at the bottom where we could store broken down boxes for mailing gifts to family throughout the year; they take up so much less space this way!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SKTc9qJDa-ZGBp3J2uqWTQrIdivo_Ih-3Fllc_nIG_itzREYU_Dx4JkOQgDoXkUaciyqdeVUKK6cr-nCYgZTIoAvdfQhvrIk5Dl4HSQQBrIzLsRbW2sKuQfwoUgOQCEVkGgX9feg2ChX/s1600/Five+Shelves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SKTc9qJDa-ZGBp3J2uqWTQrIdivo_Ih-3Fllc_nIG_itzREYU_Dx4JkOQgDoXkUaciyqdeVUKK6cr-nCYgZTIoAvdfQhvrIk5Dl4HSQQBrIzLsRbW2sKuQfwoUgOQCEVkGgX9feg2ChX/s1600/Five+Shelves.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Five shelves was the initial plan.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEL1K8SEM3YGX4xC2126lYbcbffYsRggB0TyijKmvmJLchPqme1OsvogOXAmvJ3-2VgM9zrzer_7T02AgyCf44HWzLub4d-M5505RiGEme3Pk9DsRjjAwhwa0GPS0Lw-xmPVnQWYaAVhj0/s1600/Eight+Shelves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEL1K8SEM3YGX4xC2126lYbcbffYsRggB0TyijKmvmJLchPqme1OsvogOXAmvJ3-2VgM9zrzer_7T02AgyCf44HWzLub4d-M5505RiGEme3Pk9DsRjjAwhwa0GPS0Lw-xmPVnQWYaAVhj0/s1600/Eight+Shelves.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eight shelves made for a much better solution.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Some of the shoe boxes needed a little bit more help getting organized
than others. The Like-It Bricks were a great choice to get our office
supplies all tidy. The bricks can be divided and, when stacked, the top
brick can slide back and forth. These shoe boxes make me happy. :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuffm8KveHpNBApjC6wmqNeL7X-4zE35kClRp4odTsW1kfMmHY972lS6Qs1cnn_VsVng_aa7GhGL8ZEImGukkmdzVm9NIS0_bxLcOnNO2lcuJE0MCTlHQ-LpKTj1T8iS74u3XaIRz5K5at/s1600/Like+It+Markers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuffm8KveHpNBApjC6wmqNeL7X-4zE35kClRp4odTsW1kfMmHY972lS6Qs1cnn_VsVng_aa7GhGL8ZEImGukkmdzVm9NIS0_bxLcOnNO2lcuJE0MCTlHQ-LpKTj1T8iS74u3XaIRz5K5at/s1600/Like+It+Markers.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSI8e07mZIwAbQ1wS_kp3lnY5go25SCyzd2tQiTy6BQ31XOfHOVhKnJUsN_sKnqiykwqbCjlWorc9XqJfbLT4NExpUUu36GYkNzTjj2f0yGXa3EG3c35UQqbQHPBF0Kb3lCzp1-ZOsRYcF/s1600/Like+It+Office+Supplies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSI8e07mZIwAbQ1wS_kp3lnY5go25SCyzd2tQiTy6BQ31XOfHOVhKnJUsN_sKnqiykwqbCjlWorc9XqJfbLT4NExpUUu36GYkNzTjj2f0yGXa3EG3c35UQqbQHPBF0Kb3lCzp1-ZOsRYcF/s1600/Like+It+Office+Supplies.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1fFxdOpkVpYqKIjaxoUqXTf5qYwM6EIrRRJXkztmWDZ1s7ETWsAW9wAiLX88htysnpePkzQ21PMuJoOSflkSD5pFA_J5Cfpcc9110RViEIiTG_lnPQqcp8CycAAj6esq79OSorjB3-K0/s1600/Like+It+Slide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1fFxdOpkVpYqKIjaxoUqXTf5qYwM6EIrRRJXkztmWDZ1s7ETWsAW9wAiLX88htysnpePkzQ21PMuJoOSflkSD5pFA_J5Cfpcc9110RViEIiTG_lnPQqcp8CycAAj6esq79OSorjB3-K0/s1600/Like+It+Slide.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
I also LOVE the gift wrap door rack that I installed. I frequently sell wall and door racks to customers and, although they are quite popular, I was skeptical about whether I would like it. Our gift wrap and ribbon had no organization whatsoever before this, and since they were stored in several different places, this is a tremendous improvement. Now everything is together and I have room for even more supplies!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaEoGeCNvTKpSG2vqJxJgJbuEBH1vTdPM8BHQdE8FkG1uD-8zZg8QmG0yZkCZvo8WGyiPtObVyCqXMBNQiD0uNICGNgvwTWsN9WfI4lj1U34FJpIi4dHI-j8UzYd5WRL8fNgf54F1e-fb_/s1600/Gift+Wrap+Door+Rack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaEoGeCNvTKpSG2vqJxJgJbuEBH1vTdPM8BHQdE8FkG1uD-8zZg8QmG0yZkCZvo8WGyiPtObVyCqXMBNQiD0uNICGNgvwTWsN9WfI4lj1U34FJpIi4dHI-j8UzYd5WRL8fNgf54F1e-fb_/s1600/Gift+Wrap+Door+Rack.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Over Door Gift Wrap Organizer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The clear boxes make it fairly easy to see what is inside each one, but for the sake of convenience, I bought chalkboard labels and chalk ink pens so that I could label each box. They are erasable, so I can rewrite the labels in the likely event that my crafty interests change in the future. The closet looks packed, but it is orderly and I like it that way. Everything has its place and I now have two empty drawers in the dresser I use as a workspace - perfect for yarn and fabric and works in progress.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbq3N2HxdnTaVPYqOPJo2zkjxvWf6Pu6a2PToS8CUcGWKeDYgNsjPGA97giVYcdqWPXv9QjYmBNkgnjfMHLISumX7wL9UGomC6FgayCvkBHkVwiAxemK3Okr0FMb8PjIxOjPXkcppTsSMO/s1600/Chalk+Ink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbq3N2HxdnTaVPYqOPJo2zkjxvWf6Pu6a2PToS8CUcGWKeDYgNsjPGA97giVYcdqWPXv9QjYmBNkgnjfMHLISumX7wL9UGomC6FgayCvkBHkVwiAxemK3Okr0FMb8PjIxOjPXkcppTsSMO/s1600/Chalk+Ink.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv7QuemkrT6hGSBii5-L_uMFB-ikcwoVhi-SsagxGktMbyRvjT7KhpcvZthsNza4Jgr_ZY7XxyqiN1SyLhh0jT4sF6AIu6Oadd1vVj_ZkeNbKmq3-3KjYMgULfLu4fJLiPIjUd-EaBx4EL/s1600/Labels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv7QuemkrT6hGSBii5-L_uMFB-ikcwoVhi-SsagxGktMbyRvjT7KhpcvZthsNza4Jgr_ZY7XxyqiN1SyLhh0jT4sF6AIu6Oadd1vVj_ZkeNbKmq3-3KjYMgULfLu4fJLiPIjUd-EaBx4EL/s1600/Labels.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFYJbnA8Hf70gcIzTBL2ylpwiPdOPebAWBNvteYveAdSbmgNTIA3lD4Skf7p4vh_6Yve-pr-4qnT9lhyphenhyphenKtjk4BSFiC-iRELtGDCJMfaqnzMbRMYcsaMp7jZy9L3n4YPSJFLJRo4edCqZPF/s1600/All+Done.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFYJbnA8Hf70gcIzTBL2ylpwiPdOPebAWBNvteYveAdSbmgNTIA3lD4Skf7p4vh_6Yve-pr-4qnT9lhyphenhyphenKtjk4BSFiC-iRELtGDCJMfaqnzMbRMYcsaMp7jZy9L3n4YPSJFLJRo4edCqZPF/s1600/All+Done.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All things crafty are easy to see and easy to find!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I am a happy crafty camper!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbmXXb9EN_h7tRrlFjbpOE3WKS6CYQLKJnJCahK9fAd8GMa_QAOkDbFwtP8SrhZQPZg-6-l0d8LdHvawmJPmUeqHcdt5gtU82bDO_KJ3KEH-SUEW_hNBMmhyphenhyphenIPIJdDxGItNJFXrW4sz-X/s1600/Proud+Crafter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbmXXb9EN_h7tRrlFjbpOE3WKS6CYQLKJnJCahK9fAd8GMa_QAOkDbFwtP8SrhZQPZg-6-l0d8LdHvawmJPmUeqHcdt5gtU82bDO_KJ3KEH-SUEW_hNBMmhyphenhyphenIPIJdDxGItNJFXrW4sz-X/s1600/Proud+Crafter.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Disclaimer, because you never know when people will freak out over nothing: I do work for The Container Store, however, I receive no
benefit for talking about my job or the store's products on this blog. Unless you consider getting great joy out of sharing something I love a benefit.</span></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07200636883464826941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6810812237123651052.post-49041339805270919452014-12-15T08:07:00.004-06:002014-12-15T08:07:42.521-06:00Welcome Home, Drew!<style>
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Keeping up with the blog has been really difficult for the
last four months for a very important reason: </div>
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Last December, Drew enlisted in the National Guard and began
attending once-a-month weekend drill exercises here in Arlington while he
waited to be sent off to Basic Training. On the morning of this past August
4th, I dropped Drew off at the airport and we began a four-month adventure. He
would have a week and a half of in-processing, followed by ten weeks of Basic
Training, followed by six weeks of Advanced Individual Training. I would be trying
to stay busy at home and keep our house from falling apart. </div>
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It was so tough to write posts for the blog because I did
not want to announce that he was gone. I felt like that would have been the
equivalent of standing on the roof shouting, “Hello, creepy people of the
Internet! The man of the house is away from home! Come on over!” Maybe I am
paranoid, but better safe than sorry, I guess. I will share more about my
experience in later posts, but for now I will spoil the ending by announcing
that my incredible husband is now home again, he is an Army National Guard
Cavalry Scout (Hooah!), and our house is still standing (Victory!).</div>
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You may have seen some of the projects I did around the
house while he was gone; I <a href="http://be-a-good-1.blogspot.com/2014/08/my-dream-pantry.html" target="_blank">finished the pantry</a> and I recently <a href="http://be-a-good-1.blogspot.com/2014/11/a-fireplace-facelift.html" target="_blank">painted the fireplace</a>. I also <a href="http://be-a-good-1.blogspot.com/2014/10/the-big-storm.html" target="_blank">cleaned up after that huge storm</a>. I didn’t want to change TOO
much before Drew returned, but I had one more trick up my
sleeve prior to his homecoming. I got an elfa shelving coupon at work and I
originally planned on redoing my craft closet because it is an atrocious mess.
After I got that closet designed, I decided to see what it would cost to redo
Drew’s closet. In a moment of TOTAL SELFLESSNESS and pure WIFELY AWESOMENESS, I
splurged and purchased Drew’s closet and am saving the craft closet for a later
time. </div>
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The shelving in Drew’s closet was broken and wobbly and I
didn’t want him to have to come home to such a junky space. I had so much fun
with the demolition of the shelving, patching a giant gash in the wall, painting
the walls, and installing the shelving that I pretty much designed myself. When
I open his closet door I feel proud and accomplished and, quite frankly, a little impressed. I learned in the last four
months that I am capable of much more than I would have previously given
myself credit for. I would never have attempted something like this on my own before Drew left. Drew taught me a lot about basic drywall construction when we did the pantry and I was trained on elfa design and installation in August, so the
actual tasks themselves weren’t all that daunting to me anymore. Having the motivation
and the drive and the ability to do these things was awesome. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSZ07KwiiFZ8XwVx0HN7wvsUQ8EFbRVO2cp-3iVJkdH6CqJLwHpUMKCFVTbM81145MVDCWJ7WNqScV1l3PqUtB3j7CYCIL4hLIzvxpxPsM0Ur2LP3LrAbJsN1TZjKSKGbwEEvEIlSMOeK/s1600/Drew's+Closet+Before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSZ07KwiiFZ8XwVx0HN7wvsUQ8EFbRVO2cp-3iVJkdH6CqJLwHpUMKCFVTbM81145MVDCWJ7WNqScV1l3PqUtB3j7CYCIL4hLIzvxpxPsM0Ur2LP3LrAbJsN1TZjKSKGbwEEvEIlSMOeK/s1600/Drew's%2BCloset%2BBefore.jpg" height="400" width="400" nopin="nopin"/></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BEFORE<br />
</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0rQ5GUmynJh7njkG862M05eqcssAlXfE-TxF6XT45DkYrCb6WnJJLAmZUrlsUXy1rfI4Qhk84i10FRmRpBa-F0p6CLD4kiQLz6k2drsOD504DXG-3hLM-4Gq7V4oSoKD-ahEALvOTVPbw/s1600/Demolition.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0rQ5GUmynJh7njkG862M05eqcssAlXfE-TxF6XT45DkYrCb6WnJJLAmZUrlsUXy1rfI4Qhk84i10FRmRpBa-F0p6CLD4kiQLz6k2drsOD504DXG-3hLM-4Gq7V4oSoKD-ahEALvOTVPbw/s1600/Demolition.jpg" height="135" width="400" nopin="nopin"/></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Demolition! How does someone even get a gash that large into the wall? The only explanation I can come up with is that someone must have dragged the pole that hung across there against the drywall during installation.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkEg5JvfOaL0xdexhx_8kexh4B9CQCNe2lw_aeLo4lDIX8knP_-izXHHMO1C92YlbU8i4D_G8sbUJk7HR6b0YNRJ37A160j3G8aoNx_gVt3I6cJa2aDK2cdNjMDcidlDo5yGikKM715t3/s1600/Patched+Wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkEg5JvfOaL0xdexhx_8kexh4B9CQCNe2lw_aeLo4lDIX8knP_-izXHHMO1C92YlbU8i4D_G8sbUJk7HR6b0YNRJ37A160j3G8aoNx_gVt3I6cJa2aDK2cdNjMDcidlDo5yGikKM715t3/s1600/Patched+Wall.jpg" height="300" width="400" nopin="nopin"/></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's not perfect, but I think I patched that hole up pretty well!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shelving installed!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLAKw8URTnp3KwjCWKZmECLJ_PpYAf8i7xafkoEP1GvjuA5RVzTwfGtwjm6pmuOZEyYyIdEZLo2UPfs1QzogK9CgEp-1iZDGlgn23EF_sn7xIrD3u2VQ7mGpVZDFljCgFu44Od2iQdbFp/s1600/Lower+Closet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLAKw8URTnp3KwjCWKZmECLJ_PpYAf8i7xafkoEP1GvjuA5RVzTwfGtwjm6pmuOZEyYyIdEZLo2UPfs1QzogK9CgEp-1iZDGlgn23EF_sn7xIrD3u2VQ7mGpVZDFljCgFu44Od2iQdbFp/s1600/Lower+Closet.jpg" height="300" width="400" nopin="nopin"/></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lower half</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWb2Tha3osS2AqinkjOCjBrCFdRs7u84VUGsc364GgxxBAlN6tj8uWzaTiZrilhyphenhyphen3rCImPOs7uOkj8xBaTzeRr3tTVZcDFEtx_OKaephrakxVYWqlUkkY0piacjEgPOXYMe4j25F67sKsh/s1600/Drawers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWb2Tha3osS2AqinkjOCjBrCFdRs7u84VUGsc364GgxxBAlN6tj8uWzaTiZrilhyphenhyphen3rCImPOs7uOkj8xBaTzeRr3tTVZcDFEtx_OKaephrakxVYWqlUkkY0piacjEgPOXYMe4j25F67sKsh/s1600/Drawers.jpg" height="135" width="400" nopin="nopin"/></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plenty of room for accessories!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upper half</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWYT3Qr-MwYtiG09i-xPIl1U6XxrqUQTYGC57UbZQYAptBAiEbuMvZA_vnf3P5nUMW5jVdzgKuwlrm-nYt_KURbrM9LB_1aGbV6EsvmQslQ2Dw5JxPJNoUJz9QCUOhF4vO2Aye_NxKsYg/s1600/Closet+Shelves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWYT3Qr-MwYtiG09i-xPIl1U6XxrqUQTYGC57UbZQYAptBAiEbuMvZA_vnf3P5nUMW5jVdzgKuwlrm-nYt_KURbrM9LB_1aGbV6EsvmQslQ2Dw5JxPJNoUJz9QCUOhF4vO2Aye_NxKsYg/s1600/Closet+Shelves.jpg" height="400" width="300" nopin="nopin"/></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shelves</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVs9Pl5yvqkxn1EovsDAtmppz2VbWGyi-ZSDvsLeixvTLm5l_7ZGlCv4hxHkhDp_KcEwXTXpzzRkUnuVydWvRpl9jZXW_J_zDFdptVcvtdU8GvxDredniJKTI8crNemwVlwjHC9rHepqe5/s1600/Hooks+Left.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVs9Pl5yvqkxn1EovsDAtmppz2VbWGyi-ZSDvsLeixvTLm5l_7ZGlCv4hxHkhDp_KcEwXTXpzzRkUnuVydWvRpl9jZXW_J_zDFdptVcvtdU8GvxDredniJKTI8crNemwVlwjHC9rHepqe5/s1600/Hooks+Left.jpg" height="300" width="400" nopin="nopin"/></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pain-in-the-butt-to-install-hook-rack #1</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span id="goog_124387979"></span><span id="goog_124387980"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3nQu1a2QBB1NQTxnRvAE2Mo9pkPqUKpccwCi5MmQMm3PcaqziPvskBLlSmOASeXUhzv8DHJ8ox1fhYAMl6qz5BN_qk21qCBQCbwFJnkzSzzs6TZ5olLII9rT6GEsb9_ZaKzu0l9nL8Tzo/s1600/Hooks+Right.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3nQu1a2QBB1NQTxnRvAE2Mo9pkPqUKpccwCi5MmQMm3PcaqziPvskBLlSmOASeXUhzv8DHJ8ox1fhYAMl6qz5BN_qk21qCBQCbwFJnkzSzzs6TZ5olLII9rT6GEsb9_ZaKzu0l9nL8Tzo/s1600/Hooks+Right.jpg" height="300" width="400" nopin="nopin"/></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pain-in-the-butt-to-install-hook-rack #2</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></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPALNj6TlfqW9XlNeuZ2FEadIgpYuNS-ds3jToFRPPa5RErbqA7iTPuyQZajfXNTH-y-TZs8qqkTGJ_18dVSLZACBPSZ7GqGTiHtTBxZA3R6bfnM_jqcv78Tee4isuKizF4-0aNApM8Mur/s1600/Closet+After.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPALNj6TlfqW9XlNeuZ2FEadIgpYuNS-ds3jToFRPPa5RErbqA7iTPuyQZajfXNTH-y-TZs8qqkTGJ_18dVSLZACBPSZ7GqGTiHtTBxZA3R6bfnM_jqcv78Tee4isuKizF4-0aNApM8Mur/s1600/Closet+After.jpg" height="400" width="300" nopin="nopin"/></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AFTER</td></tr>
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On a more profound level, I had not fully realized just how great
Drew has been for me until he left. For three years he has done nothing but
build me up, and although I have always noticed and appreciated that about him,
I finally got a chance to deeply feel the impact he has had on me. I think I
exuded a new level of confidence that my family and friends noticed; I hope it
came across as happiness and joy (and not arrogance). Amazingly, even though he
was away, Drew still made me believe in myself and I think this project was a
great way to wrap up my time at home alone before leaving to retrieve him. Drew
loves his new closet and all I have left to say is, “Welcome home!”</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9j4_FdT97ZnIbyurQe9l6ameSwD5VmTSQPyrseA1PsFxLD7PGugT49mXgw8UNvKf_wMINQfFHLoa-NWTNAKJ069EiUkw6ULuxARNDC8RFsXrW6PlUIOdMewjtHGLKny5a0SPOzmjmSF8i/s1600/Wrapped+Up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9j4_FdT97ZnIbyurQe9l6ameSwD5VmTSQPyrseA1PsFxLD7PGugT49mXgw8UNvKf_wMINQfFHLoa-NWTNAKJ069EiUkw6ULuxARNDC8RFsXrW6PlUIOdMewjtHGLKny5a0SPOzmjmSF8i/s1600/Wrapped+Up.jpg" height="400" width="300" nopin="nopin"/></a></div>
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<i>Disclaimer: I do work for The Container Store, however, I receive no benefit for talking about my job or the store's products on this blog. All opinions expressed on this blog are my own and not those of The Container Store or any of its employees. </i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07200636883464826941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6810812237123651052.post-10247978352435895422014-11-24T21:55:00.000-06:002014-11-24T21:55:20.052-06:00A Fireplace FaceliftIt has been over a month since<a href="http://be-a-good-1.blogspot.com/2014/10/the-big-storm.html" target="_blank"> The Big Storm </a>rolled through here. There are still some big branches in the backyard that need to be cut up and bundled and put out by the curb, but that will get done one of these days. The time I spent cleaning up the yard filled up my house work quota for a while, but in the last couple of weeks I have been feeling the urge to get some more projects done around here.<br />
<br />
From the moment I first stepped foot in our house, one of the things that bothered me the most was the paint color on the walls in the first floor living spaces. And it isn't just the fact that it is an epically boring shade of khaki, but that it was indiscriminately painted on everything that wasn't the ceiling. Did the built in cabinets really need to match the walls? Were you really too lazy to paint the doors a different color than the walls? Did the fireplace really need to blend in to the terribly painted wood paneling in the family room? Yuck. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKTKWTRocxU5zARyAAmdVlqUger37Qy03cwhzrv_E8Qwh6wKwGXpF2CuFAqs9MyVLbGyv4rSY1_IQBgW_QGnm1UmqssSkPAdHsSosHxZkIx_24zjkagTKFfPwE9Y8n0L4HGlzCKJiZUuK/s1600/Family+Room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKTKWTRocxU5zARyAAmdVlqUger37Qy03cwhzrv_E8Qwh6wKwGXpF2CuFAqs9MyVLbGyv4rSY1_IQBgW_QGnm1UmqssSkPAdHsSosHxZkIx_24zjkagTKFfPwE9Y8n0L4HGlzCKJiZUuK/s1600/Family+Room.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where is the fireplace? I can't see it because someone painted it the same color as the walls. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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As Drew and I prepared to buy the house we daydreamed about our
future there, inspiring Drew to take a picture from the listing and transform it through Photo Shop
to show me how wonderful the room would look with the changes I
envisioned. Personally, I think the white fireplace, which is NOT the same color as the walls (can I get a "DUH!"?), makes the room look taller and more open and is a great focal point. Hopefully someday we can make that flooring happen, too.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYBrhHh1ElAb3JPra12E7gheUt6qEcoB_gfxzPHxGQoPtmcHc-S8LhScW-hJ1Rgnqpc8Hj8IIc8NoEuMJGAgtNYM-aUIH_900TLpOFIP7cAfsm10mpcJd7A3_prKRiJHRD-qk9A2V3V2n/s1600/Photo+Shopped+Living+Room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYBrhHh1ElAb3JPra12E7gheUt6qEcoB_gfxzPHxGQoPtmcHc-S8LhScW-hJ1Rgnqpc8Hj8IIc8NoEuMJGAgtNYM-aUIH_900TLpOFIP7cAfsm10mpcJd7A3_prKRiJHRD-qk9A2V3V2n/s1600/Photo+Shopped+Living+Room.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, the magic that is Photo Shop!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So, after months of procrastination, I decided that having a whole day off of work was a sign that I was supposed to paint the fireplace today. One of my former coworkers coached me by telling me that if the existing paint came off with nail polish remover that it was acrylic based and I would be good to go painting over it without primer. I used paint with primer already in it anyway, but it was nice to not have to do too much extra prep work. I cleaned the brick really well, taped off the edges (which I realized I didn't do so well after I removed the tape. Oops! I am choosing to blame the yucky wood panel walls), and got to work!<br />
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FIREPLACE BEFORE:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKA36zM5LZVX-pypXSIGklTlgAkZTjezjy4g5JdA7duz5NmxPvzKV_5WndnGfgNEY6A9pmeAshJ3pZ_J71c_4fdybWSESxaxCIdsKmE3LY-kg-POROcSGtGTprkztGe9Ptza9ynCENEZRp/s1600/Fireplace+Before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKA36zM5LZVX-pypXSIGklTlgAkZTjezjy4g5JdA7duz5NmxPvzKV_5WndnGfgNEY6A9pmeAshJ3pZ_J71c_4fdybWSESxaxCIdsKmE3LY-kg-POROcSGtGTprkztGe9Ptza9ynCENEZRp/s1600/Fireplace+Before.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></div>
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FIREPLACE AFTER:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmpjh23NOLS0iWVbIy6y6jy-VCZmg11E4d9fHsrEt-cER4o8oRJW1RqSRaOcv2tf1rOIdr0uKk5uvypqc-EOlUvLC3qHC2FU1TaiZ2ewzVhc928OyrmyvpIozisf9vu_k3Eye15zh6XS7C/s1600/Fireplace+After.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmpjh23NOLS0iWVbIy6y6jy-VCZmg11E4d9fHsrEt-cER4o8oRJW1RqSRaOcv2tf1rOIdr0uKk5uvypqc-EOlUvLC3qHC2FU1TaiZ2ewzVhc928OyrmyvpIozisf9vu_k3Eye15zh6XS7C/s1600/Fireplace+After.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_K8g6Fxc5A5bdcImh8a9b8HNJDzLMUFNiSAw636BLZBkLvBUTZLqvVfEcsF5hiCpBIR7DiHUuh5ohbhzvM8XhJCRYc4qmoF1j8fbfD4r3l7Gs0AHUDM9IusADZUYm2rzGDgLIF2Wo-WBq/s1600/Fireplace+Selfie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_K8g6Fxc5A5bdcImh8a9b8HNJDzLMUFNiSAw636BLZBkLvBUTZLqvVfEcsF5hiCpBIR7DiHUuh5ohbhzvM8XhJCRYc4qmoF1j8fbfD4r3l7Gs0AHUDM9IusADZUYm2rzGDgLIF2Wo-WBq/s1600/Fireplace+Selfie.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dear fireplace, I am going to let you dry for a few days and then I am going to decorate you for Christmas and you are going to be GORGEOUS! Love, Angie</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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What do you think?<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07200636883464826941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6810812237123651052.post-29378639705147086462014-10-11T19:53:00.006-05:002014-10-11T19:53:48.758-05:00The Big Storm
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Loooong time, no blogging. In the last month and a half I stained
a bookshelf, got some great training at work, took a trip to visit my nieces and Sister-in-law in
San Antonio, celebrated my birthday by buying a pair of cowgirl boots, went to the
wedding of one of my best friends in Maryland, got more great training at work,
and began attending the young adult group at my church. I also learned how to
crochet, and I am a wee bit addicted. You can understand, then, how I may have
been distracted and slacking in the blogging department. </div>
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Not much has changed around the house since I finished the
pantry, until recently, and it wasn’t by choice. Maybe you heard about the big
storm that came through Texas? If not, let me just tell you that it was one of
the scariest storms I have ever experienced because it came on so fast and it was
so strong. A college campus a mile from my house lost half of the roof on a huge building. One of my coworkers has a flag pole in her front yard - it was bent in half. Basically, I expected to see a tornado coming towards my house. We were without power for 64 hours which, although it was a totally new experience for me, really wasn't bad, it was just unexpected.</div>
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Spoiler alert;
the house is just fine, but some of our tree branches didn’t fare as well. I
have spent many hours in the last week raking the yard and braking down tree
limbs and branches. 23 garbage bags later, the yard is almost clear. Anyway, as
I went into potential survival mode that afternoon, about a thousand thoughts
ran through my mind. I tried to replicate them in real-time style and, for your entertainment, here they are:</div>
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Last Thursday afternoon I was upstairs, being all crafty,
when the wind picked up out of nowhere, swirling leaves all around the house.
In the few remaining moments I had with the Internet, I checked the weather
reports: severe thunderstorm, hail, wind, and possible tornadoes. My favorite!</div>
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsPv42mekZEU7Y_pzdguvJGJ_5PhZ_Xm8Hb5M9lIQxt7PCLjB6K5dKnEHtwkohhxHLlRrlWkhvk8FQQzq6Qpp3LP-DTLIDnhIZV127UuJMf1xVtbsW86ud0glQALd_ATPSm1kHvRsAzhNM/s1600/Smith+Rapids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsPv42mekZEU7Y_pzdguvJGJ_5PhZ_Xm8Hb5M9lIQxt7PCLjB6K5dKnEHtwkohhxHLlRrlWkhvk8FQQzq6Qpp3LP-DTLIDnhIZV127UuJMf1xVtbsW86ud0glQALd_ATPSm1kHvRsAzhNM/s1600/Smith+Rapids.jpg" height="300" width="400" nopin="nopin"/></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When it pours down rain here, our driveway turns into rapids that rip dirt, grass, and plants out of our yard.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia1ae8CmA0W_TV_IEO4y-n1Q2OyWariPhwp6rK-Smt75I0EpZuUIIRZs0o82IJZ_bs0ODG2lYdlx9lg5Lgj-NQPGV1NUHaMq58DbkbbJNFRKBLKwY0ymF2DUdSqwAd0caPat9wE-91tEBd/s1600/Lake+Smith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia1ae8CmA0W_TV_IEO4y-n1Q2OyWariPhwp6rK-Smt75I0EpZuUIIRZs0o82IJZ_bs0ODG2lYdlx9lg5Lgj-NQPGV1NUHaMq58DbkbbJNFRKBLKwY0ymF2DUdSqwAd0caPat9wE-91tEBd/s1600/Lake+Smith.jpg" height="300" width="400" nopin="nopin"/></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption</td></tr>
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Electricity? Forget about it. It was out within minutes of the storms arrival. Being someone who loves
weather updates during storms, I was not happy about this. </div>
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<br /></div>
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“Dear God, please don’t let anything happen to the house
while Drew isn't here. Or to me.”</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Text Daddy, because he is even more obsessed with weather
reports than I am.</div>
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<br /></div>
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“I really need to get that weather emergency box together,
with our radios that get weather reports. Where is the only cheap flashlight
that we own? Found it. Whew!”</div>
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<br /></div>
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It was the first time in my life that I really thought there
might be a tornado in my midst. The wind tore down tree limbs and dropped them
in the backyard, only feet away from the house. </div>
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYYZT6eYTx9AKqobPjCqN7BiBsYDrt7LqmGMmgiGyGNbGLpqsWUC41io8DQ1LkUnA4WocR0oIo4Piw_phKUvvF3hH_Hc_ft3Sl5yopQR3-4M1ZThthm0tpztuR5s9LRJX6euOKxEsS0Ql/s1600/Tree+Limbs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYYZT6eYTx9AKqobPjCqN7BiBsYDrt7LqmGMmgiGyGNbGLpqsWUC41io8DQ1LkUnA4WocR0oIo4Piw_phKUvvF3hH_Hc_ft3Sl5yopQR3-4M1ZThthm0tpztuR5s9LRJX6euOKxEsS0Ql/s1600/Tree+Limbs.jpg" height="300" width="400" nopin="nopin"/></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The backyard aftermath</td></tr>
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“Do I feel like going out there to get the car into the
garage with the door that needs to be opened and closed manually? Probably not.
The hail isn’t that big. Thank goodness.”
</div>
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Grab purse, grab water bottles. Go to the bathroom. Grab
dog. Head to pantry, put snacks into purse and leave it there, just in case.
It’s kind of awesome that the pantry is the “safe room.” We need more snacks.</div>
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<br /></div>
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“It has been so long since I have experienced a power outage
. . . MANY years . . . if we ever lose the ability to generate and distribute
electricity, life is not gonna be fun.”</div>
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrqyshcd7c7H7NBs0cNja66N4BRfrZQZkl0YmD3SJMwXVkEin6osYBjRkmz3j8SeuVBszGvJhT-wMcvoFVlkC-Iiy9wHCcxNUEVss4Vft6On6oOwr1GQzVGV366rF_6MqtF0gJ-8yNvcL/s1600/Tuna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrqyshcd7c7H7NBs0cNja66N4BRfrZQZkl0YmD3SJMwXVkEin6osYBjRkmz3j8SeuVBszGvJhT-wMcvoFVlkC-Iiy9wHCcxNUEVss4Vft6On6oOwr1GQzVGV366rF_6MqtF0gJ-8yNvcL/s1600/Tuna.jpg" height="300" width="400" nopin="nopin"/></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When you lose electricity, you eat canned tuna for dinner and you prepare it by candlelight. Very classy.</td></tr>
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Walk laps inside the house, look out every window and
pray the storm stays under control. Hold my friend's shaking dog, tell him it will be
okay, it calms me down, too. Wipe rain water off the stove because, yes, it
rained so hard that it rained through the exhaust fan vent.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The wind died down, the tiny hail melted, and eventually the
pouring rain turned to a drizzle and then gave way to gorgeous sunshine. I thanked God and
high-fived the dog because hey, we don’t have power and I don’t know what I am
going to do about the small jungle that fell into my backyard, but we are
alright and it could have been so much worse.</div>
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOb9XPS1-keqPJAuYLrwULJoUIXjslER3_cWLXxDimB15X0_AMaxqdLu9ft7afM_2jfJKb-Y9dxXZKFvxl65kLsMzBB9czH0CVcr7Hjroz2G_QuG47zzgDpdM5YVxh2GZbjnbSZHrAw6s/s1600/Backyard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOb9XPS1-keqPJAuYLrwULJoUIXjslER3_cWLXxDimB15X0_AMaxqdLu9ft7afM_2jfJKb-Y9dxXZKFvxl65kLsMzBB9czH0CVcr7Hjroz2G_QuG47zzgDpdM5YVxh2GZbjnbSZHrAw6s/s1600/Backyard.jpg" height="300" width="400" nopin="nopin"/></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can't begin to express how lucky we are that the branches only fell on the grass. They all missed power lines, the house, and the grill.</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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxiQ1Ryys4byfTFwqJETvJSa83J_pbF5JdbC-QGvXGLWaIlfTAty73zxb0mRK7Xipc2gEjucrTqOKKwc2gSWv4Xdpa0gupPlUVxXNz1cW4pHbA7MG1U1YpcN2aYIBrKnZk7RchDQ7OmY9e/s1600/My+mess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxiQ1Ryys4byfTFwqJETvJSa83J_pbF5JdbC-QGvXGLWaIlfTAty73zxb0mRK7Xipc2gEjucrTqOKKwc2gSWv4Xdpa0gupPlUVxXNz1cW4pHbA7MG1U1YpcN2aYIBrKnZk7RchDQ7OmY9e/s1600/My+mess.jpg" height="300" width="400" nopin="nopin"/></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I 'get' to clean up this mess!" (It was actually great exercise.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9K5JnP-57L7X6JtDQpxYMqI3iYsO4pP9oGgkTtt3UwisXKka5Nspc5CSEeTkIaq0tDi28z1Fjw7u1JTRubhclNTiH9_vb5bE7R-GLHY4sVmiUiwT0EZmn32v9OyutISq5c4_835TEuN-0/s1600/Branch+with+leaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9K5JnP-57L7X6JtDQpxYMqI3iYsO4pP9oGgkTtt3UwisXKka5Nspc5CSEeTkIaq0tDi28z1Fjw7u1JTRubhclNTiH9_vb5bE7R-GLHY4sVmiUiwT0EZmn32v9OyutISq5c4_835TEuN-0/s1600/Branch+with+leaves.jpg" height="400" width="300" nopin="nopin"/></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I couldn't let those branches sit there without giving them a photo shoot first. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkanKegTxg37ub0awCqi2lky1c10iWeVzZWQ_JgxyZJsXWyg5QQzBViNW5yAibdXxJJ2tCGW9s-YAf-2Q6UUdTuKrKVNlKE0dD02DAUzsTl4-iXeedsXcjE2p8xxqULWPWTKjGVj9Ct21Z/s1600/Branch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkanKegTxg37ub0awCqi2lky1c10iWeVzZWQ_JgxyZJsXWyg5QQzBViNW5yAibdXxJJ2tCGW9s-YAf-2Q6UUdTuKrKVNlKE0dD02DAUzsTl4-iXeedsXcjE2p8xxqULWPWTKjGVj9Ct21Z/s1600/Branch.jpg" height="300" width="400" nopin="nopin"/></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZU0glLBgwy66KniDluEgvqMaIIwNAzvkW9_EVnJ73pBTZyIhIWpkLEgrxUazSBhvYzUUqQSQgaqU8DqSXB0PkeLlH5enIxlgUMJpF0LaSZF-tuAqCENhxuPj34jz_mRCws-gePDoW7vN/s1600/Fallen+Branch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZU0glLBgwy66KniDluEgvqMaIIwNAzvkW9_EVnJ73pBTZyIhIWpkLEgrxUazSBhvYzUUqQSQgaqU8DqSXB0PkeLlH5enIxlgUMJpF0LaSZF-tuAqCENhxuPj34jz_mRCws-gePDoW7vN/s1600/Fallen+Branch.jpg" height="400" width="300" nopin="nopin"/></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07200636883464826941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6810812237123651052.post-66064426579027501702014-09-05T18:42:00.003-05:002014-09-05T18:43:43.927-05:00Dallas Arboretum & Botanical GardensI love living in Arlington. We are right in between Dallas and Fort Worth and all the amazing opportunities and entertainment they have to offer. One benefit of living in the Metroplex is having double the fun from which to choose; two zoos, two botanical gardens, more museums than you can count, sports teams galore, and every very small town has its own festival or trademark event that they promote throughout the year. Everyone wants to attract attention and attendees, so often times things are free or admission prices are reduced! Yay for us!<br />
<br />
In January, Drew and I checked out the Dallas Zoo during "Penguin Days" (not sure why I didn't write a post about it). Since January and February are cooler months and people are less likely to think of spending a day at the zoo, tickets are only $5.00! It was a great visit and the weather was perfect on the day we went. At the other end of the spectrum, August is quite hot and so the Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens hosts Dollar Days. So, for $14.16, my friend and I were able to pay for parking, admission, and two smoothies! <br />
<br />
We arrived early on the last Saturday of the event, expecting the place to be packed; it was busy, but not as crowded as I anticipated. The sky was cloudy and the air was a bit humid, but the fog burned off and the sun was blazing by the time we left. We only planned to stay for about two hours, but we could have been there all day! If you like walking slowly and taking macro photos, the arboretum is the place to be. I can't wait to take Drew - he'll go camera crazy! Plus, the plants are all labeled, which will make him very happy, because he believes it should be the law to display the names of flowers and plants in public places. We'll have to go back to research what types of flowers to plant come springtime. Part of me wishes I had brought one of my fancier cameras with me, but I am honestly astounded at how well my pocket-sized point and shoot performed. I hope you enjoy some of the pictures I took!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQpEbCHc4LlpB2hjUVrRGygIObCOhJY4L05hEbby7qVrYx1fivd9jy3hJY2Jr9yP0ITLrChsjWnUi-hsQlez_vxh0t-ywOYmPuWAUmGAxoUDzNOxH7VEmZbKU5GJSqwyssFzmLD8BSrOWM/s1600/Butterfly+bush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQpEbCHc4LlpB2hjUVrRGygIObCOhJY4L05hEbby7qVrYx1fivd9jy3hJY2Jr9yP0ITLrChsjWnUi-hsQlez_vxh0t-ywOYmPuWAUmGAxoUDzNOxH7VEmZbKU5GJSqwyssFzmLD8BSrOWM/s1600/Butterfly+bush.jpg" height="300" width="400" nopin="nopin" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This butterfly bush was covered with bees! I think the trick to avoiding bees and wasps at home will be to have lots of flowers. Those insects didn't even care that we were there.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYG-jLoBRcLRr3rVyb-Y6C6ykL6AC-ohNgekD4KNoMwUe_qqHaQYmo25sJJ3NCmDhrD0Jhx_5xk8VPJ1HnPbSt6y8uEiFnVqc50OFpnygm-RvOceRoJx1yMS0pg4K0mGKpu7TMy4jgv-V/s1600/Purple+gnomes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYG-jLoBRcLRr3rVyb-Y6C6ykL6AC-ohNgekD4KNoMwUe_qqHaQYmo25sJJ3NCmDhrD0Jhx_5xk8VPJ1HnPbSt6y8uEiFnVqc50OFpnygm-RvOceRoJx1yMS0pg4K0mGKpu7TMy4jgv-V/s1600/Purple+gnomes.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These purple gnomes are just like the ones in our front yard. I am glad that ours look as good as the arboretum's!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsyBQEpdLQyev4RxSZafjSAxC-GSDdWyyceS4qHaQYedrq96-NA79gEne7OMm8w1r9fGeVHLaZjNAjZwkM1CWTwm_yFIzSImNCaz1fgc_6o4hIED8Pc90BqL56YKob2auhtjHm-sGRYNZs/s1600/Spider.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsyBQEpdLQyev4RxSZafjSAxC-GSDdWyyceS4qHaQYedrq96-NA79gEne7OMm8w1r9fGeVHLaZjNAjZwkM1CWTwm_yFIzSImNCaz1fgc_6o4hIED8Pc90BqL56YKob2auhtjHm-sGRYNZs/s1600/Spider.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are 4 conditions that make spiders an acceptable part of my life. 1) They must be outside, 2) They must be far away from my house, 3) They must be small and cute, 4) They must pose for pictures. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfU01SM3i2AsdAAlwt4sTArlbcAmnhhHdv4_KtblOx9Rboe46-lrOdBjo4uh7cZi9DgXWvv7bZhTRaBaLvpoj-ATOSmiqpXKU4I0sxJNjtewB-03upFI6CqCkDJsGwqVKkP5vkYrVg0xUE/s1600/Water+Lily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfU01SM3i2AsdAAlwt4sTArlbcAmnhhHdv4_KtblOx9Rboe46-lrOdBjo4uh7cZi9DgXWvv7bZhTRaBaLvpoj-ATOSmiqpXKU4I0sxJNjtewB-03upFI6CqCkDJsGwqVKkP5vkYrVg0xUE/s1600/Water+Lily.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only thing missing from this pond was frogs on the lily pads.</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07200636883464826941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6810812237123651052.post-29238913266837808332014-08-13T07:28:00.001-05:002014-09-05T18:49:38.315-05:00My Dream Pantry!!!!!!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWLgnwg7o0GtI-nBNyibddDJ_Pifwhn66r-ZmsAHI5Zw_dxcBcSGkWthAkTGhfa6BDVGo3tmspRjLCe8qrVNUxIzooBjXQigL5Jpl4EDuTOgspwQdi_HkAY0NCPOwMciel1PVY2l-L4G3/s1600/My+Dream+Pantry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWLgnwg7o0GtI-nBNyibddDJ_Pifwhn66r-ZmsAHI5Zw_dxcBcSGkWthAkTGhfa6BDVGo3tmspRjLCe8qrVNUxIzooBjXQigL5Jpl4EDuTOgspwQdi_HkAY0NCPOwMciel1PVY2l-L4G3/s1600/My+Dream+Pantry.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How do you like this little teaser?</td></tr>
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Disclaimer: My reasons for posting these pictures of my pantry are selfish. I want everyone to be jealous of the gorgeous space I have created, but, I also want you to know that it is POSSIBLE and DOABLE and not even all that bad to take on a challenge like this one. Go for it! <br />
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Have you ever imagined something in your head and then made it come into real life existence? It has happened to me before with the <a href="http://be-a-good-1.blogspot.com/2014/02/peg-people-tips-and-tricks.html" target="_blank">peg people </a>that I have painted and some of the sewing projects I have completed. I have also experienced the imagination-to-reality phenomenon with some of the lessons I planned for my students. What a great feeling it is to take an idea and make it come to life! The biggest project I have ever dreamed up is now a REAL THING thanks to some amazing teamwork on the part of my husband and me and some of our supporters (namely, Kayla and Mom and Dad). Not to brag (except that I am actually bragging), but what you are about to witness is the epic transformation of a sad, disgusting room under the stairs into a beautiful and sunshiny pantry. <br />
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The moment that we first toured the house that is now our home, before we even closed on it, the wheels in my head were already turning- "What am I going to do about that pantry?" Here is what I had to work with:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxrsvCFlOOeewy0WTQljL8-7UYwdJaswsqs6y60jtY8WilpQWzgMps3a6s7Tmr-eZGAm9s6ZMI5WBAeGp3JoK5hvDRSXALStLq7w34LKGbASjAX-_yTDXByxJywgbGSOdak1YdcaGMzNQ/s1600/Pantry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxrsvCFlOOeewy0WTQljL8-7UYwdJaswsqs6y60jtY8WilpQWzgMps3a6s7Tmr-eZGAm9s6ZMI5WBAeGp3JoK5hvDRSXALStLq7w34LKGbASjAX-_yTDXByxJywgbGSOdak1YdcaGMzNQ/s1600/Pantry.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This space had so much potential, but it was being used very inefficiently. Plus it smelled so bad, I couldn't imagine putting food in there. </td></tr>
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I found some inspiration on Pinterest and, because I know Drew is scared of colorful walls, I even did a mock-up of my dream pantry in PowerPoint. Now, just to clarify, when I call this my dream pantry, I quite literally had dreams about black and white tile floors and yellow walls. Knowing that the pantry would be behind a closed door, my wonderful husband accepted my dream and let me run with it. We were a great team throughout the process and I learned a lot. I wasn't really happy that it took two and half months to wrap it all up, but the feeling of success, however delayed, is gratifying. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCW1CbVHErcehouTEj2OFBqnxj3VgJ5_W-R7zh44JW837epwN6_EKyfE5GlGo1JT23wG2Eq7ALiGd5nv-1darDEoXV5Mf-emlfqjU5UP2SX-QrvLGd8pREQ0ZFAy1AwVIOjzMduNC7SBT/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-08-12+at+9.37.40+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCW1CbVHErcehouTEj2OFBqnxj3VgJ5_W-R7zh44JW837epwN6_EKyfE5GlGo1JT23wG2Eq7ALiGd5nv-1darDEoXV5Mf-emlfqjU5UP2SX-QrvLGd8pREQ0ZFAy1AwVIOjzMduNC7SBT/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-08-12+at+9.37.40+PM.png" height="275" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The inspiration for my dream pantry!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVgJzqWaDY-60twqHIUSuQ9eqdCfZfiIxafAUHwAw6f46cviGc1ys1PS0nJ8hgX41DgCEvoxQ8IX0_7L3Ia0z9SsN-cEUfg93pQkPxacNPtKfnd7H4DyutAGairCaYB_Wa2RK96hORdeD/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-08-12+at+9.38.16+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVgJzqWaDY-60twqHIUSuQ9eqdCfZfiIxafAUHwAw6f46cviGc1ys1PS0nJ8hgX41DgCEvoxQ8IX0_7L3Ia0z9SsN-cEUfg93pQkPxacNPtKfnd7H4DyutAGairCaYB_Wa2RK96hORdeD/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-08-12+at+9.38.16+PM.png" height="272" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I know this is super nerdy, but I had a lot of fun making this. </td></tr>
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The first thing we had to do was demolish the foul, nasty, gross room under the stairs. The cats had peed in there, the carpet was straight up yucky, and the shelves were super duper lame. I was surprised at how fun demo was and how quickly we did it. We even had time to make a run to the dump that afternoon. At this point I was thinking I would have a pantry in no time at all. Um, not so much. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEy2fkg_mfhMYUWilOTJyoDxEJwuwJ1WMx_wVxlv12M-yIBdEiJeMhBCXqZmngfGjmeO598nI6EBoxbRsW2OGBT_BUAvDlXmJbzoi1Y_K93jA_3rGiIha1r-QkjHJnZ72IbXjT5goC-U7H/s1600/Demolition.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEy2fkg_mfhMYUWilOTJyoDxEJwuwJ1WMx_wVxlv12M-yIBdEiJeMhBCXqZmngfGjmeO598nI6EBoxbRsW2OGBT_BUAvDlXmJbzoi1Y_K93jA_3rGiIha1r-QkjHJnZ72IbXjT5goC-U7H/s1600/Demolition.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buh-bye, you filthy walls!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgrO50cWJCqlRhrGblrzXtDw7DAU4yKwhlrqAEIJ56C4q_1F2qUG86BnjA_-4BVdPy0i4AqRyyHOs-r19WdUjI71C_XcMuISiRwK3DSTE4KMPcK__XhpJsk_bjAHmrTbgtuuPdFr8Ucp2l/s1600/Gutted+Pantry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgrO50cWJCqlRhrGblrzXtDw7DAU4yKwhlrqAEIJ56C4q_1F2qUG86BnjA_-4BVdPy0i4AqRyyHOs-r19WdUjI71C_XcMuISiRwK3DSTE4KMPcK__XhpJsk_bjAHmrTbgtuuPdFr8Ucp2l/s1600/Gutted+Pantry.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was so much hair and dust and fur in these walls . . . icky!!!!!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggXvMBb7gWr079jRFxS___Uob-MxC5TB5lle6rHrnXuV5IEguufmAvarW9hgHHs9Zd1kI4CvuYe9LjeRft1lLfF8WlzINEK1kyXSQA_fiOCROkSXqIVz4kJx8_0dNn0W98VMINuv54tiTV/s1600/Strength+Test.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggXvMBb7gWr079jRFxS___Uob-MxC5TB5lle6rHrnXuV5IEguufmAvarW9hgHHs9Zd1kI4CvuYe9LjeRft1lLfF8WlzINEK1kyXSQA_fiOCROkSXqIVz4kJx8_0dNn0W98VMINuv54tiTV/s1600/Strength+Test.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drew liked having the opportunity to admire the construction of the house. We might not like every small detail left by previous owners, but the bones of this place are solid; they stood up to the test of Drew climbing all over them.</td></tr>
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Over the next few weeks, Drew worked on hanging new drywall. When he initially told me he wanted to replace the drywall, he assured me that it would be an easy project. Well, I have learned that just because a project is easy, it is not necessarily quickly completed. Cutting, taping, mudding, sanding, repeating. I'll admit that at times I was frustrated when other projects around the house took precedence over my pantry, but having a working HVAC is important, too, so I just had suck it up buttercup.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimJVB54hkBjavGmiBdsArTXSDBGdd5N6uejPwMPmUneMxUMuIs8OSn22ZFa2YpVEsY0c1xn1Vqj5zw9jj5FgRZD-0D6_3cnLrxh-3Uf1MGoBy4DzHaAAu8DZLPUfFCu1NaZBF5UMRkEqDZ/s1600/Puckered+Screws.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimJVB54hkBjavGmiBdsArTXSDBGdd5N6uejPwMPmUneMxUMuIs8OSn22ZFa2YpVEsY0c1xn1Vqj5zw9jj5FgRZD-0D6_3cnLrxh-3Uf1MGoBy4DzHaAAu8DZLPUfFCu1NaZBF5UMRkEqDZ/s1600/Puckered+Screws.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what properly puckered drywall screws look like. I did at least one of these! Probably the one on the right. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Q5znm91dN5HiT95wdn8JZKfBnBqI_lBUOiQ3SB90A4H6ojPP03-44Yl_KSXHimzJZLwrmsBLNI5TmyyOkzOYyOvoTpvggzCUqC9I2N_zZmkC7EA5RyTxvFV_gU5k5iD4rpfxJYYqH9A4/s1600/Drywall+Mud.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Q5znm91dN5HiT95wdn8JZKfBnBqI_lBUOiQ3SB90A4H6ojPP03-44Yl_KSXHimzJZLwrmsBLNI5TmyyOkzOYyOvoTpvggzCUqC9I2N_zZmkC7EA5RyTxvFV_gU5k5iD4rpfxJYYqH9A4/s1600/Drywall+Mud.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drywall mud is so cool! I think it looks like nougat, but it just wouldn't taste the same. </td></tr>
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We were terribly busy during the month of July, and not much work got done in the pantry or elsewhere in the house. The most important thing we did was design our shelving! It's the most important part of the pantry, and I was most eager to get that detail all squared away. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTocr5OIQqDjjQhuJ4IENYGmGCT_r8LHJsPW29aIUbnkfP3Jb1NbBWT72LA_RGZw3yE1nWehgPvN6DKCtTXEeCu4G0BZJDO3Fyp3A62yZ3ARjjJP8MjDl4M8RmtKcCotgg1WhzBYSBJIh_/s1600/elfa+Plan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTocr5OIQqDjjQhuJ4IENYGmGCT_r8LHJsPW29aIUbnkfP3Jb1NbBWT72LA_RGZw3yE1nWehgPvN6DKCtTXEeCu4G0BZJDO3Fyp3A62yZ3ARjjJP8MjDl4M8RmtKcCotgg1WhzBYSBJIh_/s1600/elfa+Plan.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SO EXCITING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</td></tr>
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Once we had a few moments of spare time, we laid down the beautiful black and white tile floor. The process of laying the tiles was much faster than I imagined it would be. The worst part was cleaning the grout off of the tiles.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCiCUG5UJvkaKG1hY9zI9bfHz01uEqAxnhJFJhDwQe_LTQGwPnbi_soWpeGyf94lATaoJIzPF4VMA1gLyy80lNZNZOUltuXgtxCDQwtrYO6jAoop0WZkMGQW1s10DjrnllpKDvN-500Gon/s1600/Tiling+Away.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCiCUG5UJvkaKG1hY9zI9bfHz01uEqAxnhJFJhDwQe_LTQGwPnbi_soWpeGyf94lATaoJIzPF4VMA1gLyy80lNZNZOUltuXgtxCDQwtrYO6jAoop0WZkMGQW1s10DjrnllpKDvN-500Gon/s1600/Tiling+Away.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><3</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-y0q6ohXIVqVTaRsKjcKUXzaOXUVhO3SjpzOM1S1jNNIKMc3wh6Mg1ewN1BMQx0ui0ml_8f4frdIQlJwh8cPk1kNjkGrQzGSyKAVt-USlPg25Fl02iy6mClvpycghw_-OaVs8xM-P933/s1600/Tile+Spacers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-y0q6ohXIVqVTaRsKjcKUXzaOXUVhO3SjpzOM1S1jNNIKMc3wh6Mg1ewN1BMQx0ui0ml_8f4frdIQlJwh8cPk1kNjkGrQzGSyKAVt-USlPg25Fl02iy6mClvpycghw_-OaVs8xM-P933/s1600/Tile+Spacers.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The spacers hanging out amongst the tiles reminded me of a chess game. </td></tr>
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And THEN, thanks to a fantastic friend who gave me a Lowe's gift card, I was able to paint the walls! The paint color I chose is called Fuzzy Navel by Olympic and it is an intense yellow. Note to all DIY-ers: even if you buy paint with primer in it, PRIME YOUR DRYWALL. I painted one wall with five coats of paint before I sent Drew to get primer before I continued with the rest. Painting in such a small space was a nice workout, too; I did a lot of squats without even realizing it as I made floor to ceiling paint strokes with my roller. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ZKNKh4C8THf7TqxlUuD0BV_Xbpg83jeYn1ueBIA4ZidwtzEpzXPdva7WUrnYXKDUP6omlp49w5BYJ4IorQ4mYtZfVbxpkb9y24l64wVr4aeQ7NVzEJc_j3K3bmscCYKIrJhOaq_f5-Ck/s1600/Ready+to+Go.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ZKNKh4C8THf7TqxlUuD0BV_Xbpg83jeYn1ueBIA4ZidwtzEpzXPdva7WUrnYXKDUP6omlp49w5BYJ4IorQ4mYtZfVbxpkb9y24l64wVr4aeQ7NVzEJc_j3K3bmscCYKIrJhOaq_f5-Ck/s1600/Ready+to+Go.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black and white tiles and yellow walls! I can hardly stand it, it is so beautiful!</td></tr>
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When the walls had dried, I decided to tackle the tile baseboard on my own. My mindset was positive at the start, ready to breeze right through it. It was all good until I had to break one of the tiles to make it fit the empty space on the wall. Drew had shown me how to score and break ceramic tiles when we did the floor tile. He made it look as easy as snapping a chocolate chip cookie in half. I felt like I was trying to break a diamond in my hands, leaving me feeling defeated and helpless. Many tears were shed. And not the cute kind, where you can still talk and function as you cry. These were the ugly you-know-you-are-crying-for-a-stupid-reason-but-you-haven't-cried-in-a-while-and-it-feels-sort-of-good-so-you-just-go-with-it-because-what-is-the-point-in-stopping-now?-and-then-you-start-laughing-because-you-are-crying-and-then-you-start-crying-again-because-you-are-so-frustrated kind of tears. After I was done with that special moment, I pulled up my big girl pants and tried again. If I am nothing else when I set out to do something, I am persistent. A YouTube video saved my frazzled nerves and I gave it another go, this time with success! I bought five extra tiles for the parts that would need to be cut, and I returned three of them to Home Depot, so that makes me feel proud. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JZD_527txk4r90NtEemCWAalWL4k4SgNQpmVEqJBlakGSX1836I0_BM94YW3fVlbFfvQCDS4abEba99t-McX7TSH88mYyLcI3ydjH2MJ8WlFJcH-9ZU5hh2O6c5ug2QBMUCc4IrfFZef/s1600/Caulk+Gun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JZD_527txk4r90NtEemCWAalWL4k4SgNQpmVEqJBlakGSX1836I0_BM94YW3fVlbFfvQCDS4abEba99t-McX7TSH88mYyLcI3ydjH2MJ8WlFJcH-9ZU5hh2O6c5ug2QBMUCc4IrfFZef/s1600/Caulk+Gun.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bringing out the big guns for this project. Please make sure you know all the tricks to using a caulk gun BEFORE you do your project. My hands still hurt because I didn't take the time to learn the helpful tips first. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgM7cuVK6bZ4AyGu5oj9CWfknwooKTzutFWBOxykpMBGohtEXKa9ofzOcfH5g5qUBXDIrzDQyhOKzENpWphjk0PrshUXKr0Ami05k7kOrU-dr9rg77JDHCuZs3EAf5k4RCBpn5nLwdK9ON/s1600/Clean+Cut+Tile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgM7cuVK6bZ4AyGu5oj9CWfknwooKTzutFWBOxykpMBGohtEXKa9ofzOcfH5g5qUBXDIrzDQyhOKzENpWphjk0PrshUXKr0Ami05k7kOrU-dr9rg77JDHCuZs3EAf5k4RCBpn5nLwdK9ON/s1600/Clean+Cut+Tile.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The key to breaking the tile cleanly was to place something thin underneath the scored line. The video I watched recommended a wire hanger. Since I don't have any of those, I used a metal skewer. I still had to stand on the tiles to break them, but it actually worked, and that is all that mattered to me.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9WPPUhvu40bY5ujIPZKivTREokVPQaj5Xpfid7Vfv0dphJhDd_pMWn8SoSPI0GhUEF5LIV-ygotsI6bOyORefl4s2bjccVeIIOhDnCN8gJ0alTco8caP_crAoRCSvolMT6ifKC7nELVD/s1600/Small+Corner+Tile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9WPPUhvu40bY5ujIPZKivTREokVPQaj5Xpfid7Vfv0dphJhDd_pMWn8SoSPI0GhUEF5LIV-ygotsI6bOyORefl4s2bjccVeIIOhDnCN8gJ0alTco8caP_crAoRCSvolMT6ifKC7nELVD/s1600/Small+Corner+Tile.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dear small tile, You were a pain in the butt to create, and although I am happy that you exist, if you were a person walking down the street, I would have to try really hard to not punch you in the face. Love, Angie</td></tr>
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<br />
Everything happened really quickly after I had the tiles placed on the wall. Grouting and caulking were a breeze, and then I was ready to install the shelves! Drew and my Dad did an incredible job of installing the top tracks that provide the horizontal support for the shelves. Normally, a design doesn't have more than one track to support the same shelves across both, but in the case of our oddly shaped pantry, we were rebels. When I placed a level on each shelf today, it was darn near perfect, and I love them so much for doing the one part of the installation that intimidated me the most.<br />
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And now, are you ready to see my picture perfect dream pantry?! Honestly, my only regret is that these pictures don't truly convey how beautiful it is. So, if you need to see it in real life, come by for a visit. :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8gdLaGMGtq8Yex0fekt_OaX__jqNcZZocozkuLaogyqKyAa1bIl3QiBnL3EyhOmpEnKqrE-1pj8sxNEWDiznbqEizsFA7QOm02QZAVcvX7Dosn8b3ougYTrC9d4hacyRHa5Hg5HaRKej/s1600/Empty+Shelves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8gdLaGMGtq8Yex0fekt_OaX__jqNcZZocozkuLaogyqKyAa1bIl3QiBnL3EyhOmpEnKqrE-1pj8sxNEWDiznbqEizsFA7QOm02QZAVcvX7Dosn8b3ougYTrC9d4hacyRHa5Hg5HaRKej/s1600/Empty+Shelves.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shelving that makes sense!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27Rbt0_QOKmyJatU9pCK5lGcfDj_BNe0pZw-0CNDyPaF9oZU1xu5eCyQXkLE6CQ3xlbJUR5PZpIIi85gTjyQ0n3-4kTkKeqG6aDf6oxfraPq31mgwhUavt8srsPJ2wqMwAGdzxiZW1Z-v/s1600/Inside+View.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27Rbt0_QOKmyJatU9pCK5lGcfDj_BNe0pZw-0CNDyPaF9oZU1xu5eCyQXkLE6CQ3xlbJUR5PZpIIi85gTjyQ0n3-4kTkKeqG6aDf6oxfraPq31mgwhUavt8srsPJ2wqMwAGdzxiZW1Z-v/s1600/Inside+View.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think this picture gives the best representation of the wall color.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgciWExtFNVsSIHEtecwKbQfse1TJa3OrKxHHTGP6zx-EdCdKzlGrA_Qb9NhaPey9RuUiUm42C92fUCrCWy9jCWplzQ7rJ-O-kioOBdPP_9MAPOJxFKQ93l6K_OH0zilhXGcGqlgdJAOC/s1600/Done+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgciWExtFNVsSIHEtecwKbQfse1TJa3OrKxHHTGP6zx-EdCdKzlGrA_Qb9NhaPey9RuUiUm42C92fUCrCWy9jCWplzQ7rJ-O-kioOBdPP_9MAPOJxFKQ93l6K_OH0zilhXGcGqlgdJAOC/s1600/Done+1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is so much space in this pantry that I don't even have it all filled up yet!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimB8oFtaKV9vZPd7tvcT3f45-v1onX5g7-bJHRrIzcFt572zAq8FuPPjcQ2hpeAXgy_GOJaCTN9GzaYnzYdVevFq9u1MN_CmnCrYOqrHbobvu6ZEMx79DT5xAAgecNOkdfnhFneSypln8L/s1600/Pantry+Vertical.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimB8oFtaKV9vZPd7tvcT3f45-v1onX5g7-bJHRrIzcFt572zAq8FuPPjcQ2hpeAXgy_GOJaCTN9GzaYnzYdVevFq9u1MN_CmnCrYOqrHbobvu6ZEMx79DT5xAAgecNOkdfnhFneSypln8L/s1600/Pantry+Vertical.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The magazine files that are holding my cookbooks are yellow on the inside, just like my walls!</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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zi0DJQlOJ9LJDDGCHRQ1vXdgasgpu0ygdWyFzREBq97VpD6kJwk4dTZy3WI9QHbAOB0ab4TPbOB7gi8u3JZx7PdvA6oEGo9kRaP-WTP96h1mwX9ssiUZobepVWAAmyE-fkTIzWFznw5y/s1600/Done+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zi0DJQlOJ9LJDDGCHRQ1vXdgasgpu0ygdWyFzREBq97VpD6kJwk4dTZy3WI9QHbAOB0ab4TPbOB7gi8u3JZx7PdvA6oEGo9kRaP-WTP96h1mwX9ssiUZobepVWAAmyE-fkTIzWFznw5y/s1600/Done+2.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keep Calm and Cook On</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Thus far, I have a green kitchen and a yellow pantry. What's next?! I am thinking a blue laundry room sounds good. <br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07200636883464826941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6810812237123651052.post-49605956185015744782014-07-21T16:03:00.001-05:002014-07-21T16:21:35.136-05:00Catholic Match Success!<style>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>As you probably well know by now, Drew and I met on CatholicMatch.com - an amazing dating site for Catholics around the world. They are always looking for success stories to share, and so I finally submitted ours a few weeks ago. Having read many success stories before, I knew that the grammar and editing would likely butcher the perfectly fine write-up on which I spent a great deal of time. However, I was still shocked to see it for real (you can read it <a href="http://www.catholicmatch.com/about/breaking-out-of-a-comfort-zone-and-into-lifetime-happiness" target="_blank">here</a>), and I don't know if it is the fault of my browser or the software they use, or human error, but the mistakes seemed even more glaring, since it is my story on the line here. For real, it made my insides feel icky as I counted every missing comma, apostrophe, and pair of quotation marks. SO, for my sanity, and your ability to compare, here is MY submission:</i></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i> </i> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
February of 2011, Angela (Angie to her friends and family) was 23 years old and
living in a small town in Florida, where the average resident's age is in the
mid-50s. Single, with little hope of finding any eligible local prospects, she
braved the world of online dating and created a CatholicMatch.com profile. The
first few days of online dating were exhausting, but since joining Catholic
Match had been pressing on her heart for many months, she was determined to
give it a fighting chance.<br />
<br />
Drew was 27 years old and about to move from Texas to Miami, Florida, a big
city full of strangers. His twin sister had already married a man whom she had
met on Catholic Match and she encouraged Drew to join. Wondering if his dream
girl could be waiting for him in Florida, he searched for ladies within 500
miles of Miami. When he saw Angie's picture, he immediately fell in love. In
fact, his sister jokingly warned him, "If you don't marry her, I'll kill
you."<br />
<br />
He spent hours composing the first, brief message to send Angie, and when she
read it, she knew that Drew was different from the other men with whom she had
chatted. After feeling overwhelmed in her first days on Catholic Match, Angie
had prayed that her deceased grandfather would pray for her experience with online
dating and that she would be guided in the right direction. God must have heard
those intercessions, because Drew is so much like Angie's Grandpa, it is
uncanny. The power of prayer was truly revealed to Angie and her family as they
got to know Drew better. <br />
<br />
Angie and Drew both admit to having felt rather broken-hearted when they joined
Catholic Match. As the two got to know each other via email and chat, they
became friends, helped each other heal from past hurts, and fell in love. After
six weeks, Drew made the four and a half hour drive from Miami to Inverness on
a Saturday morning. He took Angie out to lunch and then dinner that evening.
The next morning he picked her up for Mass and then they went to Tampa to meet
Angie's family. <br />
<br />
They knew from the start that they would get married someday. The long distance
relationship was a challenge, but video chatting daily made them feel closer
together. Drew sent Angie an email every morning, asking her both fun and
thought-provoking questions to help him get to know her better. They planned
dates to watch movies, cook the same meals, and play Scrabble together, all via
video chats. They made saying the Divine Mercy Chaplet part of their evening
routine, and this helped them to keep God at the heart of their relationship.
Drew's regular trips to visit Angie were a clear sign of his determination to
show her just how strongly he loved her. <br />
<br />
On the one-year anniversary of the day Angie received Drew’s first message,
Drew planned an entire day of surprises based on the themes of Faith, Hope, and
Charity. The day began with a lakeside sunrise breakfast, and continued as they
wrote letters to their future selves and ate lunch where they had first dined
one year earlier. Angie was stunned when Drew took her to church for an hour of
Adoration that he had arranged just for the two of them - what an amazing gift!
After a delicious dinner at a French restaurant, Drew took Angie to the lake
where her profile picture had been taken and he gave her a book full of all the
questions he had asked in the emails he wrote to her. Much to Angie's surprise,
the last page of the book posed a new question: "Angela, will you marry
me?" She emphatically said, “Yeah!” but Drew isn’t ever going to let her
forget that she said didn't say, “Yes.”<br />
<br />
Sixteen months later, Angie and Drew married in her family's parish in Tarpon
Springs, Florida. They moved to Texas a bit more than a month later, where they
have thoroughly enjoyed getting to spend each day together without needing
computers to connect them. When they walked into the church where they are now
parishioners, they immediately noticed the image of Divine Mercy above the
altar, a comforting sign that they had found their new church home. <br />
<br />
The whole Catholic Match experience seems so miraculous, from meeting when they
were 1500 miles apart to successfully dating long distance and getting married,
that Angie and Drew can still hardly believe that they even know each other.
"It all feels like a dream sometimes," Angie says. "We believe that
God obviously wanted us to be together, and he used the circumstances in our
respective lives to help us realize that. It took a lot of courage to join
Catholic Match and a massive amount of trust in God's plan, and it was so worth
letting go and getting out of my comfort zone." <br />
<br />
Angie and Drew recently celebrated their one-year anniversary and purchased
their first house with plans to start a family in the near future.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07200636883464826941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6810812237123651052.post-29856899990099514612014-07-13T15:01:00.002-05:002014-07-13T15:02:43.477-05:00One Year In Texas & A Kitchen Update!<a data-pin-color="red" data-pin-config="beside" data-pin-do="buttonPin" href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbe-a-good-1.blogspot.com%2F2014%2F07%2Fone-year-in-texas-kitchen-update.html&media=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-rKNVYRV_FlE%2FU8LfWu9XbFI%2FAAAAAAAABK4%2FoLbglb0w2N4%2Fs1600%2FKitchen%2BReveal%2521.jpg&description=It%20took%20a%20while%20to%20find%20the%20right%20green%20paint%20color%2C%20but%20the%20finished%20result%20is%20perfect!%20(We%20chose%20Grass%20Cloth%20by%20Behr)"><img src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pinit_fg_en_rect_red_20.png" /></a>
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Today marks one year since Drew and I arrived in Texas! We
drove into Dallas late last year to head to the hotel that would be our
temporary home while we apartment hunted. The lit-up skyline still holds great
nostalgia for me since it was really the first glimpse I had of our future life
here. Dallas/Fort Worth, or “The Metroplex,” as it is known here, is always
busy and bustling with big city events and small town festivals. We have slowly
taken advantage of all that the area has to offer, and living in the
“mid-cities” means that we are never far from something fun to do!</div>
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I am happy to report that I really like living here. Aside
from being hours away from a real beach, and having only scattered instances of
palm trees, it isn’t too unlike Florida. 100 degrees and 40% humidity in
Arlington feels a lot like 92 degrees and 70% humidity in Tampa; I get a good
chuckle when people complain about the humidity here in DFW. Really? Puh-lease.
Go hang out in Gainesville or Orlando in August. </div>
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One quirk I am still getting used to is the way Texans pronounce
things. I studied Spanish for six and a half years, and I have been speaking
English for almost 27, and I take pronunciation of both languages very
seriously. So, it always throws me off to hear traffic, weather, and news
reports, and realize that I have been saying city names “wrong” in my head,
because people here just do what they want. It is Texas, after all.<br />
<br />
Examples (forgive my attempt at phonetic spelling):<br />
Celina – should be pronounced ce-LEEN-ah, Texans say
ce-LINE-ah<br />
Salado – should be sa-LAH-doh, Texans say sa-LAY-doh<br />
Alvarado – should be al-va-RAH-doh, Texans say al-va-RAY-doh<br />
McKinney – I feel like this doesn’t even need a “should be”
explanation, but Texans say McKenny, and it REALLY bothers me. Kind of like how
nobody says Whataburger, but rather, Wattaburger. UURRRRGHH!<br />
White Settlement – Nothing strange about pronunciation here,
just weird that a town with this name even exists.<br />
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I am also incredibly thankful for the brief period that I
resided in Miami before moving to Texas. I didn’t do much driving there, but the little road time I
got taught me how to use the horn of my car. Thank goodness, because although I
have encountered some of the most considerate and respectful drivers here in
Texas, I have also come THIS CLOSE to dying many times because of careless
drivers. I now find great stress release in laying on the horn when necessary.
Proud moments. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">:)</span></span></div>
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We have also been really busy around the house, of course
(one year ago I hadn’t the faintest imaginings that I’d be writing this from my
own home). Drew has taken to landscaping like a fish to water and it is amazing
what he has done already for our lawn and flower beds. It is really hard for
him to go to Home Depot without returning with a plant that some tender, loving
care.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqbL36BRpFqrGci6SyoY_S6VXDPTUcYH59JfCGOXHfu4MVjZKhUyB-ipkcAeXLuXpH3KW5UyU95jQFxot7q4qq_RXOOHKBtJhmb7g7Z_DrdHwFkPH0UVtYYLh2o-B7B8YsJtQIGdq0b8B/s1600/Angelface.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqbL36BRpFqrGci6SyoY_S6VXDPTUcYH59JfCGOXHfu4MVjZKhUyB-ipkcAeXLuXpH3KW5UyU95jQFxot7q4qq_RXOOHKBtJhmb7g7Z_DrdHwFkPH0UVtYYLh2o-B7B8YsJtQIGdq0b8B/s1600/Angelface.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had to buy these because they are called "angelface," and that was a nickname my dad had for me when I was little.</td></tr>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2ZG3vHhJA189Y21qA0mW7sozu0qi7ZM0pXxrOdRj7qhBi3vjiC9LET5xvSID-J87G0MNClH24al-FegbgrhylxkaZ5YDE_LKWjhh8QwByNJjwN7DZ1l4eMQ4UlE0vM8d0f47cNgeDfmX/s1600/Coxcomb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2ZG3vHhJA189Y21qA0mW7sozu0qi7ZM0pXxrOdRj7qhBi3vjiC9LET5xvSID-J87G0MNClH24al-FegbgrhylxkaZ5YDE_LKWjhh8QwByNJjwN7DZ1l4eMQ4UlE0vM8d0f47cNgeDfmX/s1600/Coxcomb.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The angelface and these coxcombs are planted on both sides of our mailbox.</td></tr>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgSr6XceiSetUXeLy9R2vB3xLznSxtkA40qS0zI5JEnuay_aclCk0aAkX26mE8-oJX-NvTQ7lthvMr8LiakkamHSbmni7rjp01vmWn2h1TXP0xnEMF1Qf2-cuSl-NFeLJLqPY3QFeklr1/s1600/Purple+Gnomes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgSr6XceiSetUXeLy9R2vB3xLznSxtkA40qS0zI5JEnuay_aclCk0aAkX26mE8-oJX-NvTQ7lthvMr8LiakkamHSbmni7rjp01vmWn2h1TXP0xnEMF1Qf2-cuSl-NFeLJLqPY3QFeklr1/s1600/Purple+Gnomes.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't really like the color purple much, except for flowers. These are gorgeous!</td></tr>
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AND, my mom visited us for a long Independence Day weekend,
which was spectacular since I hadn’t seen her in ELEVEN MONTHS! She has been
bitten by the painting bug and she has been busy freshening up her house in
Florida, so when she offered to paint during her visit, I immediately went to The
H.D. to grab some paint samples. We put five colors on the wall in a few places
to gauge how they would look in different lighting, and I hate to say that
after a week, I didn’t really love any of the colors and I was constantly
changing my mind about them. I even read other blogs about the difficulty of
choosing green paint and I thought, “Surely I can more easily choose green
paint. I have been dreaming about a green kitchen for a long time and I will
know what I want when I see it, because I love the color green.” THAT’S THE
DADGUM PROBLEM, PEOPLE! Selecting a green paint color can drive you mad! There
are so many different shades of green, and I love them all, but which one do I
want on my walls?! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz341764QZfr-xUhWeD56b_k00zonR0UOE_OUlbJoJZQGKmx4WkLSkb55c599HXPsvMc5A3wxu-YT9q3p6iOaOCmvXn-lRA0UDjunzazIXdlozMZvGtKZYxhcZAEVVnSYS944HqI5KJKJw/s1600/paint+colors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz341764QZfr-xUhWeD56b_k00zonR0UOE_OUlbJoJZQGKmx4WkLSkb55c599HXPsvMc5A3wxu-YT9q3p6iOaOCmvXn-lRA0UDjunzazIXdlozMZvGtKZYxhcZAEVVnSYS944HqI5KJKJw/s1600/paint+colors.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="216" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The top picture is in natural lighting and the bottom is fluorescent; it is crazy what a difference the light source makes! From left to right these colors are: Asparagus, Fresh Artichoke, and Riesling Grape by Behr, and Safari Green and Spanish Olive by Glidden.</td></tr>
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<br />
Fortunately, my mom went back to Home Depot with me and we
chose a color that was kind of in between the two I was going back and forth
between during my bouts of indecisiveness (I liked the Asparagus and Fresh Artichoke the best, depending on the time of day and the lighting and my mood). The color we picked is called Grass Cloth (Behr
400D-5). It has just enough yellow in it to be interesting, while still
definitely being green. The color is bright yet calming, will look wonderful
all year round in every season, and I loooooooooooooove it!
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwpYyjJapSE4NJGYDNOyibrpwkCHnz3AqcWDysURMfyxEMvIPgQeUEaY4L_SiWAQfRC0BAMP5SpaTV367IB3bajQnZagFe0eQCMkfKhNGp5J5buM0n86mY_5bik_oMkjbwjzORFCUZBoXQ/s1600/Grass+Cloth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwpYyjJapSE4NJGYDNOyibrpwkCHnz3AqcWDysURMfyxEMvIPgQeUEaY4L_SiWAQfRC0BAMP5SpaTV367IB3bajQnZagFe0eQCMkfKhNGp5J5buM0n86mY_5bik_oMkjbwjzORFCUZBoXQ/s1600/Grass+Cloth.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a winner!</td></tr>
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<br />
The coolest thing about this project was that I didn’t have
to do any of the work. Just kidding!! (But kind of not really.) In all honesty,
I wish I could have been part of the painting effort, but I had to work all
day, and coming home to a transformed kitchen was like my own Trading Spaces
experience. Plus, since my Mama painted it as a labor of love, being in the
kitchen is like a great big hug from her. I did get to do some taping and touch
ups, though, so although my contribution was minimal, I DID, in fact, help. Freshening
up the white trim, adding a new laundry room door, and hanging sheer, airy
curtains completed the kitchen and now it feel like a real room. Sitting here
in the eat-in nook just feels so nice and relaxing. I. LOVE. IT! I wish you all
had moms as awesome as mine. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">:)</span></span></div>
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Having seen how much the paint and a couple accessories
changed the kitchen into OUR kitchen (er, *cough* MY *cough* kitchen . . . ), I
can’t wait to tackle more rooms in the house! Next up are the pantry and then
the laundry room, and then the entryway and front room! And the fireplace!
Eeek! I am pumped!</div>
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Now, raise your hand if you are ready for some befores &
afters! </div>
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That’s what I thought. And now, for your viewing pleasure, I present to you:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFkhI7jqk0AWOcNriX9ZfIolngpQxG7cCm2rfBL7DjCdO4tp-O_JRazZICNg43_aVeovCy62o_xYR9lpdFiZuvk3vSjvAk49aOc2Q4vLLPSJrGamwiuD1AhX5GF_pl1hmxpnAbiwIKklT/s1600/Kitchen+Reveal%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFkhI7jqk0AWOcNriX9ZfIolngpQxG7cCm2rfBL7DjCdO4tp-O_JRazZICNg43_aVeovCy62o_xYR9lpdFiZuvk3vSjvAk49aOc2Q4vLLPSJrGamwiuD1AhX5GF_pl1hmxpnAbiwIKklT/s1600/Kitchen+Reveal%2521.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /> </a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNp6Lr2UJKx-L8M-6QOtIKfAvoZHLcUWStcI-yEcU9mhaYWipkR63LcVAuKaImiBYxGcpW-j_muVxD5FhnZqhxUGScc2XK0oiCNUjqoke_8Z5koaj-anNyGk5LTTNp9oqXG1OKQMDalqrr/s1600/Eat-in+nook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNp6Lr2UJKx-L8M-6QOtIKfAvoZHLcUWStcI-yEcU9mhaYWipkR63LcVAuKaImiBYxGcpW-j_muVxD5FhnZqhxUGScc2XK0oiCNUjqoke_8Z5koaj-anNyGk5LTTNp9oqXG1OKQMDalqrr/s1600/Eat-in+nook.jpg" height="145" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In my opinion, this area was most drastically changed, and it is perfect. Doesn't the space look so much bigger?</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQm12hZgcd_Kak89EGrHZlCi85a3efb2QpsGadfPd54RqvhvNsqftWJjBiKDSIwOklQwQpdkfmx6YSHn21P8rzPYXQFdtk8Ulr24iaTPwMSrzkHEaw59_QTGv5xlUVXA985JWEskOeGCG/s1600/China.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQm12hZgcd_Kak89EGrHZlCi85a3efb2QpsGadfPd54RqvhvNsqftWJjBiKDSIwOklQwQpdkfmx6YSHn21P8rzPYXQFdtk8Ulr24iaTPwMSrzkHEaw59_QTGv5xlUVXA985JWEskOeGCG/s1600/China.jpg" height="333" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No, the table is not always set, but we finally have TWO settings of our china and it is so beautiful, I had to show it off. I think we'll use it tonight for dinner to celebrate one year in Texas!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3XTIIREZUvu-XucF9Yu5gl1qCvTH6kQsgABJsBdoacfGVi_6hFcHSIvxD4JM0gF-ZRNzrRiy5SoAwbsSb1ix3fQ7IZ9XxYcnLvzuoYKE2Xq4TSRHxOadzcXhHVnsdxq6uj5p53Il9K9xc/s1600/baker%2527s+rack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3XTIIREZUvu-XucF9Yu5gl1qCvTH6kQsgABJsBdoacfGVi_6hFcHSIvxD4JM0gF-ZRNzrRiy5SoAwbsSb1ix3fQ7IZ9XxYcnLvzuoYKE2Xq4TSRHxOadzcXhHVnsdxq6uj5p53Il9K9xc/s1600/baker%2527s+rack.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My attempt at an organized "dropzone" for my purse, keys, mail, etc.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3HJ0yQkPu-5GVJoA2JsTpG857cOY3ccH22DU7xG_dDHKECG5lbCCjQVOhzslf2GN5Fm93rFyUcVssqxple9iStE9oeMgco0o9Ak7gmdxNLwEBCBo3F2SZioZphQVD-f7iqNuFA0JXnjF/s1600/sink+area.jpg" height="188" nopin="nopin" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is one little corner up high that needs to be finished, but I was too excited to show off the kitchen to wait. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3HJ0yQkPu-5GVJoA2JsTpG857cOY3ccH22DU7xG_dDHKECG5lbCCjQVOhzslf2GN5Fm93rFyUcVssqxple9iStE9oeMgco0o9Ak7gmdxNLwEBCBo3F2SZioZphQVD-f7iqNuFA0JXnjF/s1600/sink+area.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CsM1MoRq-C_8ka9WBROaYdlFSiO8aa5GaAW4dKCdCCEIJ8_ZVzFXEzAgAFQFVJ20yXkuoW5SkEXTz452JP_zWyRIAAR34fBVGBgi6R8EncyYnF45TckovzZEr5sV51dQLdIismERGg0G/s1600/kitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CsM1MoRq-C_8ka9WBROaYdlFSiO8aa5GaAW4dKCdCCEIJ8_ZVzFXEzAgAFQFVJ20yXkuoW5SkEXTz452JP_zWyRIAAR34fBVGBgi6R8EncyYnF45TckovzZEr5sV51dQLdIismERGg0G/s1600/kitchen.jpg" height="202" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love cooking in my pretty green kitchen!</td></tr>
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</a></div>
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Hopefully I will have some more updates in not too long. For now, the kitchen is the neatest part of the house and I have a lot of cleaning up to do in the rest of the downstairs! Time to go move more boxes!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07200636883464826941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6810812237123651052.post-27228620746020883822014-06-22T14:19:00.000-05:002014-06-22T14:19:05.791-05:00Far Away<style>
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In June 2005, less than two weeks after my high school
graduation, my family made a big move from Maryland to Florida. I can’t believe
that so much time has gone by already! The decision to move was made just weeks before I
began my senior year of high school, and so I shifted my impending college search and application process to the
southeast to consider universities I had hardly ever heard of. I still applied
to my dream school, the University of Maryland, but ultimately decided to
attend the University of Florida, because it seemed to be my Maryland in the
Sunshine State. It was imperative to me that I be close to my family, because
at the time, my brother was only 7 years old and I didn’t want to be that older
sister who leaves home, moves away, and doesn’t even know her siblings.
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I am only realizing now, nine years later, how smart I was at
the time, to make the decision to stay close to home. I had the tremendous privilege to be a Gator (and who in their right mind doesn't want that?!?!), and for five years I was two
and a half hours from my family. I then worked for three years in a town
only seventy miles away from my parents’ house. I lived so close that I did my
laundry there, because I didn’t have a washer and dryer in the place I rented.
I was able to be home for birthdays and holidays and long weekends. I could
even drive home in the middle of the week if I had to.
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1,500 miles makes a big difference. I haven’t been back to
Florida since the day Drew and I left to move to Texas. I haven’t hugged my
parents since August. I have missed weddings of close friends. A year of family
birthdays and holidays has gone by. The beach is so far away! Most recently, I
was unable to watch my baby sister walk across the stage at her own high school
graduation. We are blessed to be able to use Face Time to “see” each other and
phone conversations and Facebook keep us all updated on daily goings-on, but it
has been a new and difficult sensation to feel like I am missing out from all
the way over here. I love life here in Texas, but sometimes I feel so isolated
from my family and friends. </div>
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I was really blessed earlier this week when my sister called
and asked, “What are you doing this weekend? Can we come visit?” Drew and I
visited her and her husband for Thanksgiving, which feels like forever ago, so
our immediate response was, “YESPLEASECOMERIGHTNOW!” It was a short reunion,
but very wonderful and full of laughs. It made our new house feel more like
home to have some family here. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">:)</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGm1vnznU_L8dsbg6wCds-mjY-wLOJRHLqXVLsnXH_wrRYq5dFZtY6rjT3tlFyW0oY1EeZ7YnE7xhXJzTvbGEKrNjH8lNzCup0Vx9dBxU5J27QvrPw_VHoSDTFQpuBBXy-mjNRcI5gQfI/s1600/Group+Selfie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGm1vnznU_L8dsbg6wCds-mjY-wLOJRHLqXVLsnXH_wrRYq5dFZtY6rjT3tlFyW0oY1EeZ7YnE7xhXJzTvbGEKrNjH8lNzCup0Vx9dBxU5J27QvrPw_VHoSDTFQpuBBXy-mjNRcI5gQfI/s1600/Group+Selfie.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group selfie at the park. Miracle of miracles, it only took one try.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsv4uUJNKq8NDFXZR5WqVVeEGVk6ZrNpjNAVlamZ5T0P-THCNeXwgdu5fQJHfqrqg_eIqYxEWeFbJ24MrdJTj4t5gPWSNNBxj2aIr2zcKCXRiuFntx7ygmRdfhxD9VnSw8rLE1JAldsdty/s1600/Huge+Ant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsv4uUJNKq8NDFXZR5WqVVeEGVk6ZrNpjNAVlamZ5T0P-THCNeXwgdu5fQJHfqrqg_eIqYxEWeFbJ24MrdJTj4t5gPWSNNBxj2aIr2zcKCXRiuFntx7ygmRdfhxD9VnSw8rLE1JAldsdty/s1600/Huge+Ant.jpg" height="193" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That ant was probably one inch long. But we think he had a broken leg. :(</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEYRxcIc1bMGta0ZczmU1c126E4LDr9MeftgTfscnO5SGkWYOtrsozeO0Zi_23Iy6Tp-ZkeWGpdwyPKWKs4TQ6Rby9BOFPwBAUNvaAb0GL3rHaAvjr2hD67vZYBKfU3RsPxaS6BdmwM417/s1600/Yellow+Flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEYRxcIc1bMGta0ZczmU1c126E4LDr9MeftgTfscnO5SGkWYOtrsozeO0Zi_23Iy6Tp-ZkeWGpdwyPKWKs4TQ6Rby9BOFPwBAUNvaAb0GL3rHaAvjr2hD67vZYBKfU3RsPxaS6BdmwM417/s1600/Yellow+Flower.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes weeds are the prettiest flowers.</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07200636883464826941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6810812237123651052.post-21281106343633408982014-06-13T10:13:00.001-05:002014-06-13T10:13:24.688-05:00Early Morning Musical MusingsA funny thing happened Thursday morning as I was driving into work while most normal people are settling into their last REM cycle before the alarm goes off. It was 4:30am, and maybe that added to the humor, but I promise that I did actually laugh out loud when Sara Bareilles’s song, “I Choose You,” was immediately followed on the radio by “Gives You Hell” by The All-American Rejects. Laugh. Out. Loud! Can you think of a more diametrically opposed lyrical duo? As I sat at a red light, awkwardly cracking up in the drivers seat, the honest thought that came to mind (as I enthusiastically sang along) was that I can truly relate to both songs.<br />
<br />
I would imagine that for most people, at least one person quickly comes to mind when they hear “Gives You Hell.” I know that the sentiment is neither very Christian, nor charitable, nor forgiving in nature, but singing along is kind of a lovely, super-passive-aggressive means of getting out any pent up frustration towards the said individual(s) with whom you associate the song. Plus, when the instruments drop out at the end of the song and all to be heard are many voices are belting out the chorus, I just can’t help but get caught up in joining.<br />
<br />
For me, “Gives You Hell” now just brings up memories of a time that I felt let down and heartbroken as I worked on healing my aching soul. In a weird way, it is a nostalgic feeling, because I do not look back on it with sadness or resentment, but rather, gratitude that I managed to thrive through the hurt feelings and because I now have so much joy and happiness in my heart.<br />
<br />
Today, “I Choose You” is far more relevant to my life, especially since Drew and I just celebrated our One Year Wedding Anniversary! Although we do believe that God used the many events and experiences in our lives to bring us together, we also know that it was by our own free-will that we sought out a relationship with the other and chose to marry and journey through life together.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6cwCfaI-KtWjcJ-Ya52qtg3RCr60ofGsqmAOOJ_VKRheJFPCNtRLpEI_XMqoaQ91RYopauFoefTPDct6DxQSo1qdjQFjBZptR09W7QUD86_XVJ1uoh5pKedqvtxYxa1oANk9DPv8KsSWz/s1600/Pre-dinner+Selfie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6cwCfaI-KtWjcJ-Ya52qtg3RCr60ofGsqmAOOJ_VKRheJFPCNtRLpEI_XMqoaQ91RYopauFoefTPDct6DxQSo1qdjQFjBZptR09W7QUD86_XVJ1uoh5pKedqvtxYxa1oANk9DPv8KsSWz/s1600/Pre-dinner+Selfie.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pre-anniversary-dinner selfie</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkgzYzb4gSA7ejxY05E9v1Qau4ZsGzqnCRiwHQooEIGcIgSV-s6vuubNQH1KoDfUSUxYXt8vuJ60XnavCuFZ87Eyazl-aNHYqrZpaD51kYNh8EUN0VTg-1BPdkmvXs4v_wn3e1SJ5-qomf/s1600/One+Year+Toast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkgzYzb4gSA7ejxY05E9v1Qau4ZsGzqnCRiwHQooEIGcIgSV-s6vuubNQH1KoDfUSUxYXt8vuJ60XnavCuFZ87Eyazl-aNHYqrZpaD51kYNh8EUN0VTg-1BPdkmvXs4v_wn3e1SJ5-qomf/s1600/One+Year+Toast.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post-anniversary-dinner toast with the champagne flutes from our wedding. :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN66e8Fw7LkpCaUNbKntAm8YVdrkbYGd7iuPgyEY8gz6-5DkDV_ZIP5QEHgs_2Fg2DBS2BOna61eqtrT7adnM8eW_yjF6kmjMpGIP15Snv3QwVGLmY1WKffbjElDImuO5xthLU8yAcMi5C/s1600/A+Little+Bubbly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN66e8Fw7LkpCaUNbKntAm8YVdrkbYGd7iuPgyEY8gz6-5DkDV_ZIP5QEHgs_2Fg2DBS2BOna61eqtrT7adnM8eW_yjF6kmjMpGIP15Snv3QwVGLmY1WKffbjElDImuO5xthLU8yAcMi5C/s1600/A+Little+Bubbly.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How do we celebrate our anniversary? By taking artsy-fartsy photos of the condensation on the wine bottle. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I know many people who are in the “I Choose You” phase of life; some are experiencing “Gives You Hell,” and others go back and forth between the two. I just found it so strangely appropriate that these two songs were played back to back. It reminded me of another song, “This,” by Darius Rucker, because I am eternally grateful that all the events in my life, both wonderful and difficult, have led me to where I am today. In conclusion, I am constantly amazed by how much a song can strike a chord with me and become so attached to certain periods of my life (bonus points for those of you who caught the very intentional pun in there).<br />
<br />
What songs do you feel describe your life now or in the past? Or what you want in the future? Leave a comment below!
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07200636883464826941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6810812237123651052.post-39960732739210824182014-05-30T12:42:00.005-05:002014-05-30T12:42:40.901-05:00The Current State of Things<div class="MsoNormal">
Hello, folks! It has been a hectic two weeks around here! On
May 11<sup>th</sup> we officially took possession of our house and slowly began
moving in. It was wonderful to hear many words of encouragement from you all and I look forward to sharing this home ownership experience with you! I learned in college that the public aspect of keeping a blog really pushes me to present my best, honest, creative self. I already am, and know I will continue to be, proud of all the improvements we will make over the course of our time in this home.</div>
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Anyway, we had 12 days before we needed to be out of the apartment. I was hoping to take a couple of trips between the apartment and the
house each day to move things and clean before we started living in the house
full-time. But, various appointments and other errands limited me usually to
one trip per day. However, Drew and I made a rule: If you go from the apartment
to the house, you have to take a full load of stuff with you. Smart decision on our part. Our first
truckload contained our heaviest boxes that were full of books.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFfFr2evpuVvmvCXHXZ9ayP7sEmGt7204LYv3na7jqsDDzyqsP0zUtsqlXsLM6ucM-NkgyPUJA7UOkogUOA4UNPcOs2aO3d9HnU4lvDTof-QgfbYJEqSv97BtQ4j7nKlb69A0RvDOybG5/s1600/first+truckload.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFfFr2evpuVvmvCXHXZ9ayP7sEmGt7204LYv3na7jqsDDzyqsP0zUtsqlXsLM6ucM-NkgyPUJA7UOkogUOA4UNPcOs2aO3d9HnU4lvDTof-QgfbYJEqSv97BtQ4j7nKlb69A0RvDOybG5/s1600/first+truckload.jpg" height="300" width="400" nopin="nopin"/></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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On May 14<sup>th</sup> I had a carpet cleaning company come
out because, as you know from my <a href="http://be-a-good-1.blogspot.com/2014/05/its-ours-our-own-our-prrrecioussss-our.html" target="_blank">last post</a>, the carpet was super stinky thanks
to all the cats and dogs that had been living in the house before us.
Initially, the carpet cleaning seemed to result in an improvement. At the very
least, the wet animal smell was unnoticeable to me from downstairs. Sadly,
halfway up the stairs the smell became noticeable again and some of the
bedrooms seemed to get worse. We even found cat litter in “the cat room,” so how
clean were the carpets, really? After waiting on it for a week to see if the
smell would improve as the carpet fully dried, we had to make a big decision. I
asked Drew, “Will you be able to sleep in a bedroom that smells like this?”
Evidently, the answer was “no,” and the day before we moved our furniture, we
had new carpeting installed in the three bedrooms. It was tough to bite the
bullet, so to speak, but it really was necessary, and there was no more
convenient time to do it than when the upstairs was empty. What a difference
that carpet made! The animal smell in those rooms has been nearly eliminated
and walking into them is like stepping into a totally different home.<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNae7b74HlgHciz3S5zqEISyuPTAfxuG2Dc93lfEnWErfIzGgIqfbc3EG2O1I6rzxSME3oIB3YuybKrBjnpumOZmqRKXnYklUP3VRIIZAANDqFTqgUOwSLlCi2jZxzLUrg2Evpf7Y_MUvp/s1600/New+Carpet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNae7b74HlgHciz3S5zqEISyuPTAfxuG2Dc93lfEnWErfIzGgIqfbc3EG2O1I6rzxSME3oIB3YuybKrBjnpumOZmqRKXnYklUP3VRIIZAANDqFTqgUOwSLlCi2jZxzLUrg2Evpf7Y_MUvp/s1600/New+Carpet.jpg" height="300" width="400" nopin="nopin"/></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love the name of this carpet color: Cuddle!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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In the middle of our two-week moving time frame I began
training for my new job and we attended Drew’s sister’s college graduation.
They provided a nice break from moving, but once we returned, we had to push the
pedal to the metal to finish moving. I moved so much stuff on that last day that Drew described me as "a beast." Darn right! We ended up turning in our keys 30 minutes
before closing time on the last day of our lease. Success!
</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8lnMcBnIvsPNTvFijp0oCpsS2LhdgGIokq-AykifBlX2VlJXQ1R-WSXfNmNROHbMvpTKZLg4udfNT38cJ21QDxLvKol-kPQvRWub3LmAjtfKDNCWv1MRxR5Mdi9hK01N-uoTHK41NPUTH/s1600/905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8lnMcBnIvsPNTvFijp0oCpsS2LhdgGIokq-AykifBlX2VlJXQ1R-WSXfNmNROHbMvpTKZLg4udfNT38cJ21QDxLvKol-kPQvRWub3LmAjtfKDNCWv1MRxR5Mdi9hK01N-uoTHK41NPUTH/s1600/905.jpg" height="300" width="400" nopin="nopin"/></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Locked up for the last time!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8KGcktfT3bh9obrOhX95KYjnREDg0tvAUTA20pgPLqFRKe40zQnudJBvbw18DGXDiA4G6rhP2DljV3MuUbCQSq7-ixEw4AoRbN_tYdBaeSFj2w1N5P3eOrUiuxkzq-wLrqbL8gVkFLwre/s1600/salmon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8KGcktfT3bh9obrOhX95KYjnREDg0tvAUTA20pgPLqFRKe40zQnudJBvbw18DGXDiA4G6rhP2DljV3MuUbCQSq7-ixEw4AoRbN_tYdBaeSFj2w1N5P3eOrUiuxkzq-wLrqbL8gVkFLwre/s1600/salmon.jpg" height="400" width="300" nopin="nopin"/></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not the first meal I cooked at the house, but the first time we ate there when it was our only home! Yummy salmon!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Boxes, bags, tools, and pieces of furniture are strewn about the whole place and no room feels completely unpacked yet, but we are slowly getting there. We plan to tackle many large projects in the near
future, but one of the easiest, fastest, ways to make this house <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">our </i>home has been to focus on the little
details that were missing or neglected when we moved in. I am so lucky to have married a very handy man who is not at all intimidated by the challenges that come along with the character and charm of a fifty year old house.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDttLO_X7N1JAAr3CEtM5woFLTtNS4UALmaqdKgSaodog9oDhcVn0HnKuKveJP-dVHWmLdMFCho0_zOOIFY7VfP8Qu0G4vKnXI_FxWuWvLlhk2Qk3DQ4ysDJk3KZ6slwmk5jwsVqhPYsb/s1600/green+grass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDttLO_X7N1JAAr3CEtM5woFLTtNS4UALmaqdKgSaodog9oDhcVn0HnKuKveJP-dVHWmLdMFCho0_zOOIFY7VfP8Qu0G4vKnXI_FxWuWvLlhk2Qk3DQ4ysDJk3KZ6slwmk5jwsVqhPYsb/s1600/green+grass.jpg" height="300" width="400" nopin="nopin"/></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our grass is now many shades greener and there is more of it, thanks to my awesome husband!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0qwyzg20jYt4Z423Q2QKCv7DiwRnybPDVJC-YG0l9Zov5mLhRtOHksQO_foxa9EGtEPwF8yJarGt1yR_Jo_a3QefkdIpvdtMyGQwgqkkxnyEh7g_3E8T0JxFPJkiFnGw3dbxq8R2fb_Qh/s1600/purple+flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0qwyzg20jYt4Z423Q2QKCv7DiwRnybPDVJC-YG0l9Zov5mLhRtOHksQO_foxa9EGtEPwF8yJarGt1yR_Jo_a3QefkdIpvdtMyGQwgqkkxnyEh7g_3E8T0JxFPJkiFnGw3dbxq8R2fb_Qh/s1600/purple+flowers.jpg" height="300" width="400" nopin="nopin"/></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are still other things growing in our lawn that aren't grass, like these beautiful flowers. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirg1VqFHfEJyK2UXgmEv7glf3VNoYENl6CwU37-2-b4K7ulTseAb4AgnEwNm7Oh1m5rdo4snn4O58N5zMtpmikMqF0i-m7_d17Fz6FSWPSeuDSXAL0c4-bDBND2HfJ8FiXkUweKHNwCjNk/s1600/ugly+doorknobs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirg1VqFHfEJyK2UXgmEv7glf3VNoYENl6CwU37-2-b4K7ulTseAb4AgnEwNm7Oh1m5rdo4snn4O58N5zMtpmikMqF0i-m7_d17Fz6FSWPSeuDSXAL0c4-bDBND2HfJ8FiXkUweKHNwCjNk/s1600/ugly+doorknobs.jpg" height="300" width="400" nopin="nopin"/></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We are systematically replacing these ugly door knobs with darker, classier, door knobs.</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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ei2uw9GRXtekotKvLb0Od95TN472xraDGIyB1naAc8Qy-EUfTdgE8sP7squzIuLDa7Wdtw_8-f1D6WS2O_yhihCUx6xwFxHG4bkVqYj8uNVj3rxMEy0JnYgFNWiaa8HyW3vX3Rq-oarm/s1600/White+Outlets%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ei2uw9GRXtekotKvLb0Od95TN472xraDGIyB1naAc8Qy-EUfTdgE8sP7squzIuLDa7Wdtw_8-f1D6WS2O_yhihCUx6xwFxHG4bkVqYj8uNVj3rxMEy0JnYgFNWiaa8HyW3vX3Rq-oarm/s1600/White+Outlets%2521.jpg" height="400" width="300" nopin="nopin"/></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My wonderful husband agreed to install white outlets for me! So far they are in the master bedroom, and eventually we'll get to the whole house and then work on light switches. </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>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTfbybYLINFiqavNZ7fwpTPLeEWMH29wWebMKCY15UrbR8_YvDGXIFfaJEeF_KjLcw53L8j2R7h-KC2i_XmkT-h9AwrVqobR2FuidcuQ3hn-f1zGcLgI3Dy8lnAdmGmH1AsR2ssgOWTo5/s1600/new+showerhead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTfbybYLINFiqavNZ7fwpTPLeEWMH29wWebMKCY15UrbR8_YvDGXIFfaJEeF_KjLcw53L8j2R7h-KC2i_XmkT-h9AwrVqobR2FuidcuQ3hn-f1zGcLgI3Dy8lnAdmGmH1AsR2ssgOWTo5/s1600/new+showerhead.jpg" height="400" width="300" nopin="nopin"/></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The one plumbing job with which I have experience: changing out shower heads.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJqqis5KrF0wNop13ltYgpky_L0EnmryCLLNji_WvPXVLLFC3JwZiCvasfjYGs0v4V0UjOhP0doHVHPYRqdPrcsX48lNVexdTBIBn40zLO4FUhAYSkbh458Yjb2XwCdlIzD3bFQ5cfTZT/s1600/old+showerhead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJqqis5KrF0wNop13ltYgpky_L0EnmryCLLNji_WvPXVLLFC3JwZiCvasfjYGs0v4V0UjOhP0doHVHPYRqdPrcsX48lNVexdTBIBn40zLO4FUhAYSkbh458Yjb2XwCdlIzD3bFQ5cfTZT/s1600/old+showerhead.jpg" height="300" width="400" nopin="nopin"/></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old and nasty.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7W-McbOEToDWdqGRzZl4LN59g1UI-9KijhomQRQJ_PKkpgg5JlbGOu2K56H1n3tvHhbIx6f3q8wAJHw9EvhcSkdPnTVkWMNFGBr9Kf3zZTy6f64VeYzWzjTXHEeObddGExwg-hZRy_8aa/s1600/showehead+installed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7W-McbOEToDWdqGRzZl4LN59g1UI-9KijhomQRQJ_PKkpgg5JlbGOu2K56H1n3tvHhbIx6f3q8wAJHw9EvhcSkdPnTVkWMNFGBr9Kf3zZTy6f64VeYzWzjTXHEeObddGExwg-hZRy_8aa/s1600/showehead+installed.jpg" height="300" width="400" nopin="nopin"/></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New, clean, and awesome!</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>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQBpuQjYb2f3IQ77nllPBm81uxhUUELgp4TgVOnDj2fUUtLA6hSXW04U_kIKf5MVbCadzsTfbXAYMcnYwBv9bNXIjZ471cQzrPCbOVWFGJKN97HYtE8MdBxfj0CAAw0Kae182dYDz3Iut1/s1600/rubber+duckies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQBpuQjYb2f3IQ77nllPBm81uxhUUELgp4TgVOnDj2fUUtLA6hSXW04U_kIKf5MVbCadzsTfbXAYMcnYwBv9bNXIjZ471cQzrPCbOVWFGJKN97HYtE8MdBxfj0CAAw0Kae182dYDz3Iut1/s1600/rubber+duckies.jpg" height="300" width="400" nopin="nopin"/></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our rubber duckies look great in the master bathroom.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKc9FOlf1MiX1XwlkcEw_dH11w4s-K-9lUPwO2kgZYzdIWfboOxKHl_GU7AAXM8ZNqMv14tuyaaOq9yh8iiH_phw22DsD-YPQx9GY-MfKniDN1CocBt6EkEjfSzIIHBjkygQxrL-00GJ_/s1600/shower+curtain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKc9FOlf1MiX1XwlkcEw_dH11w4s-K-9lUPwO2kgZYzdIWfboOxKHl_GU7AAXM8ZNqMv14tuyaaOq9yh8iiH_phw22DsD-YPQx9GY-MfKniDN1CocBt6EkEjfSzIIHBjkygQxrL-00GJ_/s1600/shower+curtain.jpg" height="300" width="400" nopin="nopin"/></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting all the right tools to install the shower curtain rod was a multi-day process, but we are very happy with the end result. It is one of those curved shower rods - we highly recommend them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHAQ2D6ByoGAXyUixd-OJHAv40pOxJHmumjIA46tHHp3VUT-aF_rdSSbYXbTP9IhcycUm37Kik7S5iIOBD95UNIKlKbU82jzyJhojPGgEKT4VAl_8KunwplfVwRnBjeSwbbta5hXF3gqi/s1600/new+knobs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHAQ2D6ByoGAXyUixd-OJHAv40pOxJHmumjIA46tHHp3VUT-aF_rdSSbYXbTP9IhcycUm37Kik7S5iIOBD95UNIKlKbU82jzyJhojPGgEKT4VAl_8KunwplfVwRnBjeSwbbta5hXF3gqi/s1600/new+knobs.jpg" height="400" width="300" nopin="nopin"/></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our linen closet is more like a linen cabinet and the knobs on the doors injured my fingers and finger nails, so I ousted them and replaced them with these beauties that won't hurt me! Hopefully they grow on Drew in the coming months. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxnfIa_oajk04DggkiWX1jrGRZtPHbueBgXAnwkITuEYQBFC6mZmPBIPDXdOYsZkGA1ergmNYCYvnwPGecX0h96fgHZbkicfb2AS4CT3nVTcaAHZyNyljjMUXp-ieuLsygC4BWKXfrXQck/s1600/peg+people.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxnfIa_oajk04DggkiWX1jrGRZtPHbueBgXAnwkITuEYQBFC6mZmPBIPDXdOYsZkGA1ergmNYCYvnwPGecX0h96fgHZbkicfb2AS4CT3nVTcaAHZyNyljjMUXp-ieuLsygC4BWKXfrXQck/s1600/peg+people.jpg" height="300" width="400" nopin="nopin"/></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have a feeling this will be one of my favorite spots in the house. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5Z3HY0SXexYO1XgNmxZQvrK53ucUY-96TwqqGHZDwKNNT77mSGpaaxmsqVil7-60AEyw-6q6uzbwxdtTWvz5ClRZvwfWT411gj_Kp69AShyphenhyphenUNc7Sx2JnyZ3imJCSI_o12O-Kup3SGHHI/s1600/wreath+spot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5Z3HY0SXexYO1XgNmxZQvrK53ucUY-96TwqqGHZDwKNNT77mSGpaaxmsqVil7-60AEyw-6q6uzbwxdtTWvz5ClRZvwfWT411gj_Kp69AShyphenhyphenUNc7Sx2JnyZ3imJCSI_o12O-Kup3SGHHI/s1600/wreath+spot.jpg" height="400" width="300" nopin="nopin"/></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can't wait to hang lots of wreaths on the coat closet door! The flowers on this one are from our wedding.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDixGjHPR2zGPcqKQb8CmTD1ZMl5WJnvUM2ESZTaR3u9LwcPmhpc8kfKgvzlTxwSL7sAlVvMiEnKFjqJhb9uTh4C06hyphenhyphenaV1dp4JUUppwwUh_Y3CiOQkStzY9WghZDNqJhsRkctZd0m9KKS/s1600/ant+on+the+bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDixGjHPR2zGPcqKQb8CmTD1ZMl5WJnvUM2ESZTaR3u9LwcPmhpc8kfKgvzlTxwSL7sAlVvMiEnKFjqJhb9uTh4C06hyphenhyphenaV1dp4JUUppwwUh_Y3CiOQkStzY9WghZDNqJhsRkctZd0m9KKS/s1600/ant+on+the+bed.jpg" height="300" width="400" nopin="nopin"/></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had a pest control treatment recently, and apparently the bugs are getting driven out of their hiding places. So, when I saw a carpenter ant on our bed, I naturally pulled out my camera.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWyfCoZGkXFVVqcmqkBzqb2mQABCwJxW1N4MoAMBVAqjRLsWHXxW3syU9zXwF_-Oc2H67Tv7nbkDu1929YrEi0zmYpGOrEHhyYBCPl5ruVFBv-ko5XItM8hFbLLWqF90O56-6JyWi153Sc/s1600/Drew+and+the+ant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWyfCoZGkXFVVqcmqkBzqb2mQABCwJxW1N4MoAMBVAqjRLsWHXxW3syU9zXwF_-Oc2H67Tv7nbkDu1929YrEi0zmYpGOrEHhyYBCPl5ruVFBv-ko5XItM8hFbLLWqF90O56-6JyWi153Sc/s1600/Drew+and+the+ant.jpg" height="300" width="400" nopin="nopin"/></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That little guy was really fast!</td></tr>
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Since I spent all morning working on this post, I guess I should probably get my butt off the chair I am sitting in and start unpacking some more boxes!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07200636883464826941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6810812237123651052.post-35147510050676805312014-05-12T10:30:00.000-05:002014-05-12T10:33:10.599-05:00It's ours . . . Our own . . . our prrrecioussss! OUR HOME!<br />
Well, it'll be ours in about 30 years, but that's beside the point. <br />
<br />
It is official! The seller's leaseback period is over, he is moved out, and WE can begin moving in! The reality that we are homeowners, complete with all the financial and maintenance responsibilities is slowly hitting us, but we are thrilled. And praying that the house doesn't hit us with too much drama all at once. Spread it out, please. <br />
<br />
Many of you have mentioned that you can't wait to see pictures, so I am here to satisfy your curiosity. And in keeping with the "Be A Good One" theme of this blog, I will demonstrate to you all the ways in which the house is, indeed, a good one, and some of the ways the ball has been dropped (not by us, mind you).<br />
<br />
Here we go!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pr-SacaSPjC_iHoyBXCrsE_vs6jiwESRGOO4qfJZR_b-ZusEjh4DClkhoIsVWxaLaAXqASxC0leT6wdzPLPKuZH8a6_OeyxDwxvANabfMoOv-2zzGvPkQYeN2x1L_jbZTAivSJSn-j54/s1600/Front+of+House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pr-SacaSPjC_iHoyBXCrsE_vs6jiwESRGOO4qfJZR_b-ZusEjh4DClkhoIsVWxaLaAXqASxC0leT6wdzPLPKuZH8a6_OeyxDwxvANabfMoOv-2zzGvPkQYeN2x1L_jbZTAivSJSn-j54/s1600/Front+of+House.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There she is! Pretty much a blank slate. She was built in 1964, so this year is its semi-centennial anniversary! Without the protection of gutters, the beds around the house have been pretty much decimated. As you can see, the yard is basically dead, too. Reviving the landscaping is high on our to-do list. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizwc1yl0RL-W014giuSuK_AZeTA2w3ZzNvlbMSznDnXbCA7gtlrDSHW2TBZtXbQr0gR-N_EiSg8bOWktBe9_TH_12mtSpwkIAfssCaBcveW6rCg3GOOM6XOGiZfgA0WIHITXNMHATow5M/s1600/Front+Door.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizwc1yl0RL-W014giuSuK_AZeTA2w3ZzNvlbMSznDnXbCA7gtlrDSHW2TBZtXbQr0gR-N_EiSg8bOWktBe9_TH_12mtSpwkIAfssCaBcveW6rCg3GOOM6XOGiZfgA0WIHITXNMHATow5M/s1600/Front+Door.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the front door and hall closet from inside the house. I don't know why, but I really like this photo.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4H7u2cevX4Z3o6U1J1FxsXcWh5MxUtaTAhCGhFchTIczR9bS9bcBu1COo6YWFKYGC8g3w4SuMA31HiKntHrFcp_y5cXz-dThhocFZVmWqVTWbuuLeq0mmHfl3SJrrseVVgGoO4DIyxJso/s1600/Front+Room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4H7u2cevX4Z3o6U1J1FxsXcWh5MxUtaTAhCGhFchTIczR9bS9bcBu1COo6YWFKYGC8g3w4SuMA31HiKntHrFcp_y5cXz-dThhocFZVmWqVTWbuuLeq0mmHfl3SJrrseVVgGoO4DIyxJso/s1600/Front+Room.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To the right of the front door is what we are calling the "front room." It has a huge window and an awesome built-in situation; I am going to have to learn how to properly style display shelving. The floor hasn't been well-taken care of, but I don't like it anyway, and someday we plan to upgrade to more contemporary wood floors. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWj93AIZwAPbrmIiMrymcBCQMezsRszXvZaTvgkniAlCWmBeFpvGFXLd-nMPJHAPYLwTbHPpcc5mdm_SjgStsdkIVgOcEUVCnO4LPa-lYiIsBOZhsWDuyNaqbIJedaBCtBJbABqbzUiXP/s1600/Paint+Fail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWj93AIZwAPbrmIiMrymcBCQMezsRszXvZaTvgkniAlCWmBeFpvGFXLd-nMPJHAPYLwTbHPpcc5mdm_SjgStsdkIVgOcEUVCnO4LPa-lYiIsBOZhsWDuyNaqbIJedaBCtBJbABqbzUiXP/s1600/Paint+Fail.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Built-in fail: The back of the shelving is mirrored, but they didn't paint the inside of the unit, which CLEARLY reflects in the mirror. I hate the color and plan to repaint the whole thing anyway, but FOR THE LOVE OF DUH, paint the parts that can be seen in the mirror, people! How do you not notice that, not have it drive you crazy, and not fix it?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkd9A-Uj8zu7Dx9iLzRWkGPWkfYXLZBwIm8btjgLzD-btkjPvnSH5DMt_R37crexa3aUetnKR2wOOslzDlXtQmIpwZxQXeUwzq9Du32pB6KOl2rbnxKRzDGCMXaxCf4rBe11YB0w4NLHwY/s1600/Family+Room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkd9A-Uj8zu7Dx9iLzRWkGPWkfYXLZBwIm8btjgLzD-btkjPvnSH5DMt_R37crexa3aUetnKR2wOOslzDlXtQmIpwZxQXeUwzq9Du32pB6KOl2rbnxKRzDGCMXaxCf4rBe11YB0w4NLHwY/s1600/Family+Room.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is the living/family room. It is pretty big and we love that we'll have ceiling fans and overhead lighting all over the place in this house. HOWEVER. The walls in there are terrible painted paneling and the color of the walls in the house are, as you can see, BORING khaki. It is EVERYWHERE and it needs to be covered up as soon as we can afford gallon after gallon of paint. I can feel Drew wanting to attack the walls with a sledge hammer, so I could be in for a surprise project one of these days. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyY4YAC1-x4QnzbvI0Cd01Mh8-XX4GKJmNtqMFbKlTxlZ_LDh94TwnSZOqEEejr36hZ6aFh_9wMGyqgpWlLfGfxln-LKq7Jm2jSoJBHhycPJu_9rQDuXT7U4aQi-e7-thrfc6nx8WmkZYT/s1600/Family+Room+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyY4YAC1-x4QnzbvI0Cd01Mh8-XX4GKJmNtqMFbKlTxlZ_LDh94TwnSZOqEEejr36hZ6aFh_9wMGyqgpWlLfGfxln-LKq7Jm2jSoJBHhycPJu_9rQDuXT7U4aQi-e7-thrfc6nx8WmkZYT/s1600/Family+Room+2.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View opposite from the one above. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhOYBc6B95t68XZvkEFqXOLHBHQGtAKsxNHrudY5DS3g-hQaLaQ-ZAUZTgXRflvAQQ0gpRlieUG75J8XFS8Pkd6gQ2KpNi7ZtTLeQ1GJibJWxX9WRh08SLMsC8yrZf7fJyem2bTZedlMaK/s1600/Almond+Outlets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhOYBc6B95t68XZvkEFqXOLHBHQGtAKsxNHrudY5DS3g-hQaLaQ-ZAUZTgXRflvAQQ0gpRlieUG75J8XFS8Pkd6gQ2KpNi7ZtTLeQ1GJibJWxX9WRh08SLMsC8yrZf7fJyem2bTZedlMaK/s1600/Almond+Outlets.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I. Hate. Almond. Outlets. It's like they only exist to remind us that the '60s happened. Does anybody choose these on purpose anymore? They gotta go.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Zi1C_YwNETPuKabIpCfuZlkTfJz6spckdkXedgqRM2AElAjbcUAWIMjP2W5PTTf4q6Mdb8vzKvUdDZzuTHHbl2Q4D92eoG36mKTRkLqEYbM6H2d8ybK-6rDwSk6FIhmwjq7zB4kVVgIq/s1600/Kitchen+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Zi1C_YwNETPuKabIpCfuZlkTfJz6spckdkXedgqRM2AElAjbcUAWIMjP2W5PTTf4q6Mdb8vzKvUdDZzuTHHbl2Q4D92eoG36mKTRkLqEYbM6H2d8ybK-6rDwSk6FIhmwjq7zB4kVVgIq/s1600/Kitchen+.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The seller was really proud of his "updated" kitchen. The counter-tops and sink are awesome. I am going to have to take a while to get used to that style fridge/freezer. The cabinets are ancient and have a hard time closing and could really have stood to be upgraded with the counter-tops, but remodeling the kitchen is at the way bottom of our to-do list. We'll be making the best of what we've got. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhby37GZpGelPb-61IPR2-NEIWH3sZNwJEH4FcliKFIYBoJaiMFQ1M_YGp0cYssdnASIvPMYmeXeW6scLNhZ8HBoWg45zljMXvTzyGi7XiFv7kRrhfeinLNuE_UKVVfQUyS8Cdign55vKzP/s1600/Kitchen+Sink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhby37GZpGelPb-61IPR2-NEIWH3sZNwJEH4FcliKFIYBoJaiMFQ1M_YGp0cYssdnASIvPMYmeXeW6scLNhZ8HBoWg45zljMXvTzyGi7XiFv7kRrhfeinLNuE_UKVVfQUyS8Cdign55vKzP/s1600/Kitchen+Sink.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Already littered with junk mail. But, I can turn on that sink with my elbow! No more salmonella hands on the faucet!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnrxfxPlTjEQ-MkzjQ6U5lRn5t8HXVeWP8Oz8riP3EcKOLFeCcsOaM7QELvEKu8yrbmDsT1sAH-DEq6t84craEVmxY2PH00hwHRJzwxVGMijqFAkpYQ-Y19-WojjX1qNKmb7RQjGDv0gLj/s1600/Stove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnrxfxPlTjEQ-MkzjQ6U5lRn5t8HXVeWP8Oz8riP3EcKOLFeCcsOaM7QELvEKu8yrbmDsT1sAH-DEq6t84craEVmxY2PH00hwHRJzwxVGMijqFAkpYQ-Y19-WojjX1qNKmb7RQjGDv0gLj/s1600/Stove.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not sure how I feel about the cooktop yet. Time will tell.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Qxlzpi5KeZxFaaZVxmEAyF8flULj5XM-QToF8Nw48neQ-f6pdaBdb8TbIx_hnft2BneUbpFOk3JfTRYfmnpPkhAuL7a4xw2-5DVAP6Pa5XSdx_H8d3ll4IT1VctFxlAVZqZLlncb6MNR/s1600/Small+Oven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Qxlzpi5KeZxFaaZVxmEAyF8flULj5XM-QToF8Nw48neQ-f6pdaBdb8TbIx_hnft2BneUbpFOk3JfTRYfmnpPkhAuL7a4xw2-5DVAP6Pa5XSdx_H8d3ll4IT1VctFxlAVZqZLlncb6MNR/s1600/Small+Oven.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the only thing that truly bothers me about the kitchen. That oven is only 17 inches wide and 15 inches deep. My cookie sheet won't even fit in there. I doubt I could even safely roast a chicken. Drew has been scheming up solutions for accomodating a larger oven.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwZqnv6yZGMqo4vjmAZ-PWklWNW0e0T4AKFhuyhm8ijPn3sWQhvu3Q362vWpvKsjjhK7wnXmYSv6jPdDxOoDJ52DLxUy2wH2Kqdylhtk56Wv9-U7iIZoZZPaE9WaV2xkTO4vbekKMcE4k/s1600/Pantry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwZqnv6yZGMqo4vjmAZ-PWklWNW0e0T4AKFhuyhm8ijPn3sWQhvu3Q362vWpvKsjjhK7wnXmYSv6jPdDxOoDJ52DLxUy2wH2Kqdylhtk56Wv9-U7iIZoZZPaE9WaV2xkTO4vbekKMcE4k/s1600/Pantry.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kitchen might be smaller than my ultimate dream kitchen, but when I get through with it, this pantry is going to be UHMAYZING! I have plans for black and white tile floors, yellow walls, and epic shelving. This is also probably the best place to hide in the event of a tornado.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPhjT0hJdMaHUmoCFLXNicH5izbSPa-BkqIzTm-LX7kkr_b21uDimwGmyE1TV1lCCQ2tlkugOkDnLx7W9e99319Mz6YYuejzdO0acF2vY6qDbjyQ8EInjeclLXmCvSSTGsa9zQcM0oRzd/s1600/Eating+Area.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPhjT0hJdMaHUmoCFLXNicH5izbSPa-BkqIzTm-LX7kkr_b21uDimwGmyE1TV1lCCQ2tlkugOkDnLx7W9e99319Mz6YYuejzdO0acF2vY6qDbjyQ8EInjeclLXmCvSSTGsa9zQcM0oRzd/s1600/Eating+Area.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eat-in section of the kitchen. It is larger than it looks and I think we can fit a sizable party around a table in there. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-4WU-V4FR4lPPrqZuGlGGV9n7z3vQWA7HBrq4R8b_-A3ybb2VhrHCsiM8-VhnpwSPyhxLb7fzy0GbdbzoULZ7ZNMQU2sMkFIYqtw7oTVUw722X81hEfV4hHCK7C-D7opysCDdvKSHx4l/s1600/Powder+Room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-4WU-V4FR4lPPrqZuGlGGV9n7z3vQWA7HBrq4R8b_-A3ybb2VhrHCsiM8-VhnpwSPyhxLb7fzy0GbdbzoULZ7ZNMQU2sMkFIYqtw7oTVUw722X81hEfV4hHCK7C-D7opysCDdvKSHx4l/s1600/Powder+Room.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This bathroom sink is probably the object in the house most far removed from the 1960s. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemi5S6yVtMug4Byr9sXop2liCR2VsqOMK_nHE7Yk7rSH06HsCCFNGAI5cyYWbu5g9C3_HHNqnRZm4vVDMLQXuBdRdsSDqLmLMrcbMHk1L_I7gTad1QfU2i4uoOjXdL4hBSjG01q_ABpI9/s1600/Laundry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemi5S6yVtMug4Byr9sXop2liCR2VsqOMK_nHE7Yk7rSH06HsCCFNGAI5cyYWbu5g9C3_HHNqnRZm4vVDMLQXuBdRdsSDqLmLMrcbMHk1L_I7gTad1QfU2i4uoOjXdL4hBSjG01q_ABpI9/s1600/Laundry.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A whole room for laundry!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGfKA7n2BYf45x3Fl2tdVx2ePitnjaxtGVIBHNLEHxAV4AuFhRS3SwKhdc6YD4ZJ6tRztU39jcv6JH4kkKXmjvpGF33hcRu-l7hvYLYMsccGE8daqzXynsQlpLSqOJbolfWj4gNCvR2wl/s1600/Stairs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGfKA7n2BYf45x3Fl2tdVx2ePitnjaxtGVIBHNLEHxAV4AuFhRS3SwKhdc6YD4ZJ6tRztU39jcv6JH4kkKXmjvpGF33hcRu-l7hvYLYMsccGE8daqzXynsQlpLSqOJbolfWj4gNCvR2wl/s1600/Stairs.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to go upstairs? It's a little scarier up there. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9_WgEv7L88FRF5YIlLUhJqp9mkY6585tiYYg9wF137Czw5iRYoKCT_zR0be4PP2zVRa-bPiElhwjBFRBoHOE-mRMepj5mwybwcuuBLUkBKttwE3cowrFcuzjYvoOsHE8zSlDI7a9JZZq/s1600/Carpet+Fail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9_WgEv7L88FRF5YIlLUhJqp9mkY6585tiYYg9wF137Czw5iRYoKCT_zR0be4PP2zVRa-bPiElhwjBFRBoHOE-mRMepj5mwybwcuuBLUkBKttwE3cowrFcuzjYvoOsHE8zSlDI7a9JZZq/s1600/Carpet+Fail.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Four dogs, two cats, and who knows what else have been living in the house for about a year. This is what happens when you lock your cats in one room while you show your house to prospective buyers. Needless to say, the carpet looks bad and smells AWFUL. We have carpet cleaners coming tomorrow, but we CAN NOT wait to rip it out and replace it. Let the months of penny-pinching begin. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJuhW5Zjz4aWAQnlFx-297Ph0iyHh43p8BkYmUDVZrpzUARPtM4nILSBndABnMym8Eiztl4q1fjQ1BWWMRXgASk_l9j2t-AW1qYWFKqJiEp1iZbCDndS1ih_3O15DMD-t120YmnpjIbYN/s1600/Hallway+Closet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJuhW5Zjz4aWAQnlFx-297Ph0iyHh43p8BkYmUDVZrpzUARPtM4nILSBndABnMym8Eiztl4q1fjQ1BWWMRXgASk_l9j2t-AW1qYWFKqJiEp1iZbCDndS1ih_3O15DMD-t120YmnpjIbYN/s1600/Hallway+Closet.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One shockingly great feature of this home is the amount of closet space. This is the built in hallway closet upstairs. It is so big I could not get a full picture of it. Once we get some sliding drawers installed, this might become one of the best features of the place. Second only to the pantry, of course. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFOr1KSsJ-hpV5EXCBLkJwzELokL1AgGkW09OexcH4SBVKbXo37bWFISvJl5q8wfFxiqigu7us5gubcZeG-bF60zR0bWGPmvyg6mDtx4bMarh2_yN3YjCck-KeWftrDhcWTESKv-RjsV_/s1600/Master+Bath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFOr1KSsJ-hpV5EXCBLkJwzELokL1AgGkW09OexcH4SBVKbXo37bWFISvJl5q8wfFxiqigu7us5gubcZeG-bF60zR0bWGPmvyg6mDtx4bMarh2_yN3YjCck-KeWftrDhcWTESKv-RjsV_/s1600/Master+Bath.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Master bath - I don't even know where to begin. We have been dreaming about how to re-do this for a while. It is going to involve some demolition and reconstruction and a lot of time and effort, because everything about it is pretty awful. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjfnrGQrwRs6RKTXipmy_PkEO11TX_EFSJgWMT1feEGWrHNqJ7jGaPJGHWsXbuiHjPjj372Ao3daaMVhA7qvaGBpsatkTo5wy98UBVTCuf3FgRkUD3WAQFwqe9xzMTKGdghi2b2Uk1D1H/s1600/Master+Vanity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjfnrGQrwRs6RKTXipmy_PkEO11TX_EFSJgWMT1feEGWrHNqJ7jGaPJGHWsXbuiHjPjj372Ao3daaMVhA7qvaGBpsatkTo5wy98UBVTCuf3FgRkUD3WAQFwqe9xzMTKGdghi2b2Uk1D1H/s1600/Master+Vanity.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Master Vanity, complete with the same atrocious walls as the shower/toilet room, and a broken light fixture. Eventually we want to push that wall back into the bedroom and make this a double vanity. Because we are just that vain. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUlKFTisohSBS2OnMsYesm0Y4Rkn7Q4hwpC5xa_Uzjk2_Jot8GxXFZin4yFMy5VGqBsRqOrbsgZkNHGvBvOb17GpoapiLaPL6sdvE6Cg9_pbLyt1IWPaow2G_asYy_BHQ3NxAcCpH5nn4h/s1600/Master+Bedroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUlKFTisohSBS2OnMsYesm0Y4Rkn7Q4hwpC5xa_Uzjk2_Jot8GxXFZin4yFMy5VGqBsRqOrbsgZkNHGvBvOb17GpoapiLaPL6sdvE6Cg9_pbLyt1IWPaow2G_asYy_BHQ3NxAcCpH5nn4h/s1600/Master+Bedroom.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bedrooms in this house are big! This is the master. Guess where they had their bed? We also have two walk-in closets. Can't wait to take care of those!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOEFtdUug9Ne0iEHmEGWoU7Sbl0YFvI1_ul0OAlaFz6ujx2r414Vhyphenhyphennhox9-hb60q7V_YQFwHlzRqY_6qwi27EVVbB_oI6cWGfzYW3z0SSFZ7MudDP4BXPJDWN8uT8sWRVoxhcaDM2uOrH/s1600/Chair+Rail+Fail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOEFtdUug9Ne0iEHmEGWoU7Sbl0YFvI1_ul0OAlaFz6ujx2r414Vhyphenhyphennhox9-hb60q7V_YQFwHlzRqY_6qwi27EVVbB_oI6cWGfzYW3z0SSFZ7MudDP4BXPJDWN8uT8sWRVoxhcaDM2uOrH/s1600/Chair+Rail+Fail.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some genius decided to install this chair rail upside down so that it catches loads of dust and dirt! Hopefully it can be taken down and gotten rid of, or at least replaced by something that doesn't make me feel gross.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIjMZY5dwDKscOFOlWcj0PBpyFjdhubq6UrKqArh4BGyLYn7_-adk0_FfGZ6VvcAj9ysWfnmuldUzvDpknuksc3rViwBVQqgeWiuPErN-gZIxe6YVPLDJtK-DeKsgCV1kOJWKbqVEiVzi-/s1600/Bedroom+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIjMZY5dwDKscOFOlWcj0PBpyFjdhubq6UrKqArh4BGyLYn7_-adk0_FfGZ6VvcAj9ysWfnmuldUzvDpknuksc3rViwBVQqgeWiuPErN-gZIxe6YVPLDJtK-DeKsgCV1kOJWKbqVEiVzi-/s1600/Bedroom+3.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This bedroom will initially serve as an office/craft room for Drew. We assume that we'll eventually be kicked out by children. That closet is huge, and on the opposite wall is a linen-style closet (that's going to become my craft closet!).</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIFTdX3GdpKz0_090k1Eh9voKo0B6uACP9Lkr9gU5JfNDLwuBz8-cs7urWN9hrLhcrZ0CCHriMlw19gFrYgAe3mby344PJ743tgn-64aXouynchzUjyN7ajhyibD5uN-NKifwcFLooerM-/s1600/Bedroom+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIFTdX3GdpKz0_090k1Eh9voKo0B6uACP9Lkr9gU5JfNDLwuBz8-cs7urWN9hrLhcrZ0CCHriMlw19gFrYgAe3mby344PJ743tgn-64aXouynchzUjyN7ajhyibD5uN-NKifwcFLooerM-/s1600/Bedroom+2.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is bedroom #2 with a built-in dresser and two sort of walk-in closets. It is a big room and will be our guestroom at first and eventually a room for our children. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmhPI5QnEhXmwCG1QrSvNMTakrsGRL-IA1jThvTE5kJJsOsjG_YRAoNPOqRMP-65776v6PNXYo9GNQkGrDZjsvYgYMeQDiznGHbPI5G_mRUU8cvzOBh3xKb2Wf5FIlBy_WT1ushBipJcW/s1600/Second+Bathroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmhPI5QnEhXmwCG1QrSvNMTakrsGRL-IA1jThvTE5kJJsOsjG_YRAoNPOqRMP-65776v6PNXYo9GNQkGrDZjsvYgYMeQDiznGHbPI5G_mRUU8cvzOBh3xKb2Wf5FIlBy_WT1ushBipJcW/s1600/Second+Bathroom.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This bathroom is connected to bedroom #2 and we'd love to Jack-and-Jill it to the office so that we can someday close off and create a truly master bathroom. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_ldYwQehyFgQQN_5-mUsVwSH8M3WplsghAyjggjhnZWZfxZDXA9-Sx2MQd-X2ZoJi5QgC8AEv5osC-1G1qDR9ca084hZtVwDy5_PBO91uC7hyGFB-kJusOAiPiU04zpr7Z3VAvD1r-kM/s1600/Second+Bath+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_ldYwQehyFgQQN_5-mUsVwSH8M3WplsghAyjggjhnZWZfxZDXA9-Sx2MQd-X2ZoJi5QgC8AEv5osC-1G1qDR9ca084hZtVwDy5_PBO91uC7hyGFB-kJusOAiPiU04zpr7Z3VAvD1r-kM/s1600/Second+Bath+2.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More ugly bathroom tile! Yay! In the house-hunting process I realized that I am really picky about bathrooms. I hate anything that even remotely looks pink. Clean and simple is my preference. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO42WjG3nd_wTINouxtDgOjg33bGmn6TkxWk8FhZn9ViUQPictNmTpni5SEvNTsYLlTU9oQC-iElyv0BKginkPxhprZzImzCwylBsfm_hOX1JABuCpplK3egzmAlp6moc4PJMHHZYabvZ8/s1600/Backyard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO42WjG3nd_wTINouxtDgOjg33bGmn6TkxWk8FhZn9ViUQPictNmTpni5SEvNTsYLlTU9oQC-iElyv0BKginkPxhprZzImzCwylBsfm_hOX1JABuCpplK3egzmAlp6moc4PJMHHZYabvZ8/s1600/Backyard.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is the view of the back of the house. This is likely to be an on-going project. There is so much we want to do back here, it hurts my head to think about it. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYI-DzUqcMz6dW_Wf79LpU8kPQ0NtAU4D_DrFUA5nyZ_kAjyIF3vLJoA72p0gRGSx7oukb2b5FiW0b_zwg9YciUfoqq7kEfAFmkcgJBtMtfWxPdk4lnIL2uE0fokLFFEs0S2WJ8JRYYeo/s1600/Big+Bruce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYI-DzUqcMz6dW_Wf79LpU8kPQ0NtAU4D_DrFUA5nyZ_kAjyIF3vLJoA72p0gRGSx7oukb2b5FiW0b_zwg9YciUfoqq7kEfAFmkcgJBtMtfWxPdk4lnIL2uE0fokLFFEs0S2WJ8JRYYeo/s1600/Big+Bruce.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor Bruce is probably never going to fit in the garage. At least he is clean, though! Look how shiny he is when he isn't covered in mud!</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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3gY9Qu8MkUamauzEt57_HDg0nCkhiNonDKdgApLbN2thHCw2OLBgrGnhHxAuPv2J9dXzhKbGxLimCNWnDfXZAIJSzkFHMXboWiKx8-FmqU6RokFycTbolJyyFTyhQq6iOxfYetagR4Tm/s1600/Dime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3gY9Qu8MkUamauzEt57_HDg0nCkhiNonDKdgApLbN2thHCw2OLBgrGnhHxAuPv2J9dXzhKbGxLimCNWnDfXZAIJSzkFHMXboWiKx8-FmqU6RokFycTbolJyyFTyhQq6iOxfYetagR4Tm/s1600/Dime.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The house is already helping us make our first mortgage payment. :)</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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSjFYWNpBDJlDhc5OHQ9CaGP_E1cde5_8D4prsSp_RaNsycmj-vjqVkx1SB8sGdxWgjHVL5On4G5mP3zP7zrIAO5U3Ad_R4snX0P94T78K3lRoQyLfAdjRuFMqQzvO1agD-5i2uGPHoTp/s1600/Uh+Oh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSjFYWNpBDJlDhc5OHQ9CaGP_E1cde5_8D4prsSp_RaNsycmj-vjqVkx1SB8sGdxWgjHVL5On4G5mP3zP7zrIAO5U3Ad_R4snX0P94T78K3lRoQyLfAdjRuFMqQzvO1agD-5i2uGPHoTp/s1600/Uh+Oh.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what happens when you don't have proper drainage for the condensation from the A/C unit. Fortunately, Drew feels good about being able to come up with a fix for this.</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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIrJjTSf0zuGgMpVtvF6QSD7smPILLmdYXm-0sKlvhzFTm-Evt-AIhTU8fouVDCQ44bLKNzrqWfL5nYYkBc80GEkYJs2kLSXUU8qGKEoG9anZAZ1jZOY6p-D1dVeKhYDm5piB8Uv5pHGbe/s1600/Gerbera+Daisy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIrJjTSf0zuGgMpVtvF6QSD7smPILLmdYXm-0sKlvhzFTm-Evt-AIhTU8fouVDCQ44bLKNzrqWfL5nYYkBc80GEkYJs2kLSXUU8qGKEoG9anZAZ1jZOY6p-D1dVeKhYDm5piB8Uv5pHGbe/s1600/Gerbera+Daisy.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is hard for us to leave Home Depot without a plant, so here is our first flower for the new house. We just have to figure out where to plant this little beauty!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I fear that I may have come across as a bit negative in this post, but I am just so grateful to be moving into a house and really excited to put the "Angie & Drew" touch on it that will make it our home. Now, I need to get over there and work on cleaning and getting ready to move box after box after box after box . . .<br />
Stay tuned for what I am sure will be more posts about our house projects than you care to read. :)<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.lords-prayer-words.com/prayers_before/house_blessing_prayer.html#irish" target="_blank"><br /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In the meantime:</div>
<div class="para_larger_dark_grey" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.lords-prayer-words.com/prayers_before/house_blessing_prayer.html#irish" target="_blank"><b>Irish House Blessing</b></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="para_larger_dark_grey" style="text-align: center;">
God Bless the Corners of this House<br />
and be the Lintel Blessed<br />
And Bless the Hearth<br />
And Bless the Board<br />
And Bless Each Place of Rest<br />
Bless Each Door That Opens Wide To Strangers and to Kin<br />
And Bless Each Crystal Windowpane<br />
that lets the Sunshine In <br />
And Bless the Rooftree Overhead<br />
And Every Sturdy Wall <br />
The Peace of Man<br />
The Peace of God<br />
The Peace of Love to All</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07200636883464826941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6810812237123651052.post-18859849177341708482014-05-09T13:12:00.001-05:002014-05-09T13:18:25.965-05:00Teacher Appreciation<style>
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As you probably know if you have read most of my blog posts,
I decided not to immediately look for a teaching job when Drew and I moved to
Texas. There were a variety of reasons behind that choice and sometimes I
wonder if it was the right or best thing to do, but I can undeniably say that we
have been happy to have the flexibility to travel to visit family, I have
enjoyed exploring my crafty interests, and we love getting to spend time together each
day that is not interrupted or overtaken by lesson planning and grading.
Teaching is a special kind of stressful (open up any newspaper in America and
find nearly any article about teachers or schools and you can understand why),
and I can honestly say that the break has been very, very nice, and certainly
welcome during this first year of marriage.</div>
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Now, it’s that time of year when we here in these United
States are encouraged to show teachers our appreciation. This year it is
throwing me into a tiny bit of an identity crisis. And when I say
tiny, I really do mean tiny. This is not one of my sarcastic litotic moments, so don’t
get too worried about me. However, I do feel a little sad when I think about
Teacher Appreciation Week, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">especially</i>
when I see the Chipotle buy-one-get-one ads and I remember all the free food we
used to get at school. Isn't that why people get into teaching? Just kidding! I mean, I still have a teacher I.D. in my car, but using
it to get discounts would be akin to lying and I just can’t bring myself to do
it. Plus, using a Florida teacher I.D. here in Texas would be weird
and awkward.</div>
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I still enjoy thinking about my three years with my high
school students. Unlocking my classroom door every day was a privilege, and I
couldn’t believe that, at such a young age, I was entrusted with educating those
teenagers. I really miss being able to post on Facebook all the crazy things
they said and did. <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now,
when I talk to people about my experiences, my brain stumbles to find the right
words to convey who I was then compared to who I am now. We live in a culture
where many people define themselves, at least in large part, by their job
title, so I often find myself saying things like: “When I was teaching,” “When
I was in the classroom,” “When I was with my students.” I can’t bear uttering
the phrase, “When I WAS a teacher.” It is so final and definitive.</span> </div>
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There are some jobs that you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">do</i>, and some that you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">are</i>.
True teachers are called to their career as a vocation.<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I spent five years studying and working very hard to be
able to be a teacher. I sometimes do still think about lesson plans and miss
“my kids,” as I called them. Am I doing myself a disservice by having not
taught this year? Some might say that I am neglecting that vocation right now,
but I don’t really think so. I might not be in a classroom today, and maybe not tomorrow either, but who knows? It's not like I have abandoned the career altogether, I am just doing something different for now. Besides, a formal classroom setting does not define a
teacher (although it does provide a paycheck). Just ask anyone who has ever
wanted a short answer from me, or better yet, anyone for whom I have answered a
question with a guiding question of my own. It doesn’t get more teacher-y than
that. I love spending time with my young nieces, counting, naming letters,
talking about colors and animals, reading books, and teaching them what the fox
says (if you are wondering, they say “wa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pow”). And someday I
will have children of my own and I’ll do the same things with them. And I am very
excited that soon I am going to be working part time in a job where I
think/hope that my instincts and experiences as a teacher will be useful- it is
a great opportunity! </span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So,
although I feel kind of awkward and, at times, perhaps even guilty during this
Teacher Appreciation Week, I remember that the most important thing I did as a
teacher was teach myself. Not just the American history content, but I learned to exude
confidence, how to interact with all sorts of people, how to roll with the
punches, and how to show enthusiasm and excitement despite being exhausted and stressed
out. And the patience- I learned that there is a boatload of it inside me,
sometimes too much in my opinion, but I think I would rather have too much than
too little. So, this week I am Teacher Appreciating myself by celebrating the
things that I learned during those three years. For now, I may be a teacher
without a traditional classroom, but I will never stop teaching. I will never
stop <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">being</i> a teacher.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>I would like to note how grateful I am that nobody has ever criticized or questioned my choice to take a break from teaching. My husband, family, and friends have all been incredibly supportive and encouraging. So, please know that none of this "internal conversation" was caused by anyone, I have just been thinking about it, because that's what my brain does, whether I want it to or not. </i></div>
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And to all the men and women who ever taught me, from
pre-school through college, and those who I am proud to have called my
colleagues, thank you so much for all of your hard work, dedication, and
loyalty to your field and to your students. I would not be who I am today
without you. And to my first teachers, my parents, you are the best I could
have ever asked for. Though you did help me with my homework, you also taught
me the things that will never be found in a textbook but are the most important
parts of life – faith, hope, and love. </div>
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Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-sDJAQ1CD3kvXuBwsDiIbw1l0abQoik7ReyKFE7JffVwTnFSUIapcsG8NfYrmxYlKEGA8xNwTlPQgdXVL_nwopWyIP9Qv6YS06WSNXrH3RuGIQKQLMOh_jwDhRKg1srSBO2OVFkeXegDr/s1600/Angie+at+desk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-sDJAQ1CD3kvXuBwsDiIbw1l0abQoik7ReyKFE7JffVwTnFSUIapcsG8NfYrmxYlKEGA8xNwTlPQgdXVL_nwopWyIP9Qv6YS06WSNXrH3RuGIQKQLMOh_jwDhRKg1srSBO2OVFkeXegDr/s1600/Angie+at+desk.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gosh! There is so much to say about this picture:<b> 1)</b> This was my classroom and the second or third way that I arranged my desk. I liked to change it up and throw the kids off their guard. <b>2)</b> This was THE day that I met Drew in real life. Woot Woot! <b>3)</b> The blue card on the front of my desk says, "Whatever you are, be a good one," and was the inspiration for the title of this blog. <b>4)</b> That R2D2 coffee mug is no longer with us because a student broke it by accident at the beginning of the next school year. It was a sad day. My C3PO PEZ dispenser was distraught. <b>5)</b> The pile of papers on a teacher's desk never gets smaller. I am appalled by that stack in the back corner. <b>6)</b> There is a family Christmas card on the board just behind my computer and several of my male students became obsessed with my sisters. It was the first time I realized that my youngest sister was a high schooler and theoretically could have been friends with students. And now she is about to go to college. NOT OKAY. <b>7)</b> That is all. Thank you for reading!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07200636883464826941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6810812237123651052.post-42013128622608358012014-04-24T11:54:00.001-05:002014-04-24T13:03:39.904-05:00Spring Cleaning<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As I mentioned all sneaky-like in my last post, Drew and I recently closed on our first house and we
will be moving in just a few weeks! Thank goodness, because we are busting the seams of this apartment,
which has had me in “purge-the-junk” mode for many months now, but I want to
feel very small in the new house, so my de-cluttering instincts have jumped into
hyper-drive. Oh, my poor husband - just remember that I do love you, Drew!</span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This
intense onset of pre-moving-spring-cleaning led me to do something really
difficult the other day. Here’s the thing: I have always loved school,
learning, going to class, taking notes, studying, and even taking tests just to
see how I would perform on them. I am a super nerd, and proud of it. </span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One
of my weaknesses as a lover of learning is that I have tended to hang on to every
piece of paper from the courses I took that I felt would be relevant in the
future – namely social studies and education courses. Especially in college, my
thought process was, “Someday when I am a teacher, I might need this!” I did
refer to many of my old notes during graduate school, and for the record, I
used notes from my college American history course (thank goodness for those!),
a book from my college course about imperialism, and an excerpt from an article
from my high school AP European history course, but little else during the
three years I taught US history. Still, I hung on to the notes and syllabi and
blue books. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Indeed,
it WAS helpful to be able to show my students what a college syllabus looks
like or how a typical history test is structured, and I took great pride in
making sure they would go into their collegiate careers already knowing what a blue
book is, even though the one I showed them was green. "Don't be the freshman who has to ask what a blue book is," I said, "Be the cool kid who already knows. You're welcome." I took advantage of every
opportunity to use the materials I had collected during high school and
college, even if it was only to shame my students into realizing how spoiled
they were, “See! I took notes WITHOUT an outline! I have spoiled you rotten, so
don’t even complain to me!”</span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Although
I did utilize these materials as much as possible, there was still far more that
sat in boxes shoved under my bed (please note that over the years I had already
gotten rid of many things and was not a terrible hoarder– I took great pleasure
in discarding my math notes each year). Somewhere in the back of my mind I
believe my intention was to someday type up my notes to digitally archive them
and then get rid of the notebooks. Looking through the notes, though, I
realized that my brain no longer contains the context to help them make sense and I no longer have the desire to spend hours transcribing the notes.
If I wanted to remind myself about Brazilian history, I would be better off
looking in one of the books my professor assigned or running a Google search;
my own notes were pretty pointless without an index or the detail that I would
need to make sense of them years later. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
sat down the other day determined to turn my two boxes of schoolwork into one
box. There are awards and certificates in those boxes from before I was even in
kindergarten that I can’t get rid of, even if they are only for completing a
two week swimming class. Someday that stack of achievements will come in handy
when I lord it over my children’s heads (Just kidding. Maybe.). I also have
many of the essays and stories that I wrote throughout all of grade school.
Those from when I was little are adorable and those from high school and
college are usually pretty good and I am proud of them. So, I knew I could
never get rid of everything; paring it down would be my challenge. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Early
on in the process, I had two realizations that made the endeavor a lot easier.
1) the notebooks I used to take notes in college were colorful and pretty and
on some days my handwriting was really good. REALITY CHECK: those are not good
enough reasons to keep a notebook. 2) the notebooks contained a lot of
information, but I treasured them because they reminded me of the experience of
going to class, studying for hours with friends, and soaking in the college
environment. REALITY CHECK: although the tangible cue for a memory is nice, I
don’t need a notebook to trigger those happy recollections of my college years. </span><br />
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUsIneHAzPEPUToLWFxkhgJnvO4daWmRFqSYU3D_cJiKyDGoaOL_BldOGy9pe9oeSVtzuNrAi5bhffYPH7whLpzH9nUfDY8bk0OkaX9_-1_3yxO_9mPVg16H4G17gkGwDTSgPzJb4V1kd/s1600/Notebooks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUsIneHAzPEPUToLWFxkhgJnvO4daWmRFqSYU3D_cJiKyDGoaOL_BldOGy9pe9oeSVtzuNrAi5bhffYPH7whLpzH9nUfDY8bk0OkaX9_-1_3yxO_9mPVg16H4G17gkGwDTSgPzJb4V1kd/s1600/Notebooks.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So beautiful! </td></tr>
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It was still tough to
part with the notebooks, though. Other than my transcripts, they are proof that I did
actual work in college! They also reveal a lot about my life at the time; I
doodled on the days that I was tired and I wrote myself notes and
reminders in the margins. I also loved writing down the silly things my
professor would say, so I made sure to type them up and take pictures of a few,
so I would still have a small piece of the notebooks. After that, it was rather
easy to shrink my pile of course work. I kept essays, papers, and tests, and
that was pretty much it. I got rid of study guides that I know are saved electronically
somewhere and accepted the fact that I don’t actually need those articles or
homework assignments from all those education classes. Granted, it was fun to
look back and read some of my work, but it was freeing to say, “I don’t need it
no mo’.”
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQsL4UR55AtWy22Ax88lZkczoGN78k85ZVaeHXpFWyivWrbM7VS1XbboHTgEVoTfuZ2Ps5WAOPnJuS_tT4iC0VzmeVqarHojY7g1PdM6_iVAfGRV0iE7uIuRHW2atG1xlMoOVNQARoGQe/s1600/History+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQsL4UR55AtWy22Ax88lZkczoGN78k85ZVaeHXpFWyivWrbM7VS1XbboHTgEVoTfuZ2Ps5WAOPnJuS_tT4iC0VzmeVqarHojY7g1PdM6_iVAfGRV0iE7uIuRHW2atG1xlMoOVNQARoGQe/s1600/History+.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhui6pv6GFpR0MCE9rtGJRs8I9RiCGBNvWnxIpGizJg1k6W2RYGzy63ZRjoRpmlnqRGNeHfBLfAIDCc0_yiI6d80WcvxqQwPzbuX5HfmLTCgEWH-GNFSQY9_RuuDaAulZmDZrtOtP-oAQyx/s1600/PhD+quote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhui6pv6GFpR0MCE9rtGJRs8I9RiCGBNvWnxIpGizJg1k6W2RYGzy63ZRjoRpmlnqRGNeHfBLfAIDCc0_yiI6d80WcvxqQwPzbuX5HfmLTCgEWH-GNFSQY9_RuuDaAulZmDZrtOtP-oAQyx/s1600/PhD+quote.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is probably only funny to me, but I took four classes with my Latin American history professor, and little gems like these were my favorite parts of his classes. His dry and serious delivery of sarcastic humor was right up my alley.</td></tr>
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I am now satisfied and content that I have one box of
awards, notes, tests, and proof that I worked for my education. It did take
many days for me to actually get around to carrying it all to the dumpster (I was just a wee bit distracted by the Mother Trucking Mudpocalypse), but I didn’t
hesitate to throw it in there. It is too late to retrieve it now anyway, even
if I had changed my mind. My next goal is to organize what remains, maybe into
a binder or two.
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I made a small dent in the clutter, but I checked off an
item that has been on my to-do list for years, and that makes me feel good!</div>
</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrV6wSEnlq18FjH1Tulp2vqFNjWz1ouaYfNFDUiiiKOz3y0RHCY4zUhYOymc-u3QB5URpaOtfJicpKrm6WRlVp1MUkrDR9bfUBfpEzwuQy30UIcckAJ6HCGIuc8gEOEvvP4-PGMOfxXN6Z/s1600/FIve+and+One+Half+Inches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrV6wSEnlq18FjH1Tulp2vqFNjWz1ouaYfNFDUiiiKOz3y0RHCY4zUhYOymc-u3QB5URpaOtfJicpKrm6WRlVp1MUkrDR9bfUBfpEzwuQy30UIcckAJ6HCGIuc8gEOEvvP4-PGMOfxXN6Z/s1600/FIve+and+One+Half+Inches.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That is five and a half inches of work I parted with. Yes, I measure work in inches. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipuwiqneW3rOAu4b6qOTLKFo71xxnXOEJnNsoBjmwLS_IHxg0ZJSsUeedqCZhUfy44y1VMAsU1Ayw1fXwmgiUm8ZAvjxpSyvhxrZeRfkA_N46h_0NtuwKs7HPoIGNWLenbbCL_ZwGr8MBQ/s1600/Keepers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipuwiqneW3rOAu4b6qOTLKFo71xxnXOEJnNsoBjmwLS_IHxg0ZJSsUeedqCZhUfy44y1VMAsU1Ayw1fXwmgiUm8ZAvjxpSyvhxrZeRfkA_N46h_0NtuwKs7HPoIGNWLenbbCL_ZwGr8MBQ/s1600/Keepers.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pile of keepers. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFFZ2eO9iHRKzM1YwDKLPB1PzXwUAhWoFxYwZygTAGOum4oydygXwbmMnxVnizmvhYcjZTnHnlXBzOKtHLE4X7CU6GGyYMABo5TkZ6FXsSbx3JL_wtjfhix-zYvtH8fJNTvmzMJmvCoeR/s1600/Two+Piles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFFZ2eO9iHRKzM1YwDKLPB1PzXwUAhWoFxYwZygTAGOum4oydygXwbmMnxVnizmvhYcjZTnHnlXBzOKtHLE4X7CU6GGyYMABo5TkZ6FXsSbx3JL_wtjfhix-zYvtH8fJNTvmzMJmvCoeR/s1600/Two+Piles.jpg" height="257" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The trash pile on the left is taller than the keeper pile on the right. I'd call that success!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Happy spring-cleaning to you all!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07200636883464826941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6810812237123651052.post-43507739714642013592014-04-14T15:46:00.002-05:002014-04-14T16:10:41.048-05:00The Mother Trucking Mudpocalypse, PART 4: The Power of Prayer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Mother Trucking
Mudpocalypse, PART 4: The Power of Prayer</span></b></div>
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When the alarms rang Tuesday morning, we popped out of bed,
eager to get our truck recovery on. Speaking of truck recovery, Drew mentioned
on Monday that since I had already named the whole disaster the Mother Trucking
Mudpocalypse, that we needed a name for our rescue efforts. I thought for a
while and tossed around several simple, boring names, and then . . . it hit me.
This would be “Operation Brucectomy.” BOOM. Clever, right? Drew loved it, I
loved it, Izak loved it. We were ready to roll.</div>
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Izak arrived around 8am and I greeted him with coffee (I
don’t know what we would have done without his help that day!). After packing
up some snacks, gathering water bottles, and picking out some tools, we set out
for the Home Depot. Again. This time we were in the market for a wheelbarrow
and plywood. We hoped the plywood would serve as a wide track to spread out the
weight of the truck over the mud as we guided it out of the pit. Thanks to the
brilliant folks at the Home Depot, we were able to rent a truck to bring
everything out to the pit. We left our supplies unattended, drove back to the
H. D., and drove Ella back out. She did great on the much drier dirt road,
which we felt was a great sign of imminent success. There was a brisk breeze,
the sun was shining, and there was hardly a cloud in the sky – WE. FELT. GOOD!</div>
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The men took the wheelbarrow and headed out to find rocks
and gravel that they could use to fill the space underneath Bruce’s wheels.
Since I am useless for lifting heavy rocks and dragging a wheelbarrow through
the mud, I stayed back at the car. Earlier that morning, in an effort to
mentally prepare myself for the day, I had looked through all of my holy cards
(imagine baseball cards for Catholic kids, but much cooler) and if there was a
prayer on the back of the card, I prayed it. Saint Joseph, Saint Anthony, Saint
Michael, Saint Raphael, Saint George, The Immaculate Heart of Mary – I
shamelessly solicited the intercession of everyone to pray for the recovery of
our stuck truck. Sitting in the car at the top of the pit with the Mudpocalypse
just out of view, I decided to top off my pleas for divine intervention with a
Rosary. </div>
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When I finished up my prayers, I had a photo shoot with some
ladybugs I noticed wandering around, and then I decided to check on Drew and
Izak. I started carefully making my way down the hill. That should have been my
first sign that things weren’t going so well. The literal downhill turned into
a realization that the men had not appeared to make much progress other than
getting very muddy. </div>
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The problem was that, although much of the ground around and
in the pit had dried a lot, the truck was in the bottom of it all and the mud
and water ran deep. Drew was finding it nearly impossible to create a level,
stable base for the high-lift jack. Every time he raised the jack another
notch, it pushed the rocks and wood he used as a base down into the mud as well
as back and away from the truck. CLICK. SQUSIH. SCOOT. Give up. Try again. CLICK.
SQUISH. SCOOT. Sigh. Toss high-lift jack aside. Grab more rocks. CLICK. SQUISH.
SCOOT. Rinse. Repeat. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8b_e8_vB5UrD0hiosueffWUnCEh8Qi494kUG7wM0Mfz73fKfZFHDGmRWccvnb6fl_n_zXdQ4A1TNSWs2mb5XSvD6PUJvftnQCowX91vR42PzFEBj0Qoc7YRktYatQZlf2lMSoR4zAmEUv/s1600/Big+Rocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8b_e8_vB5UrD0hiosueffWUnCEh8Qi494kUG7wM0Mfz73fKfZFHDGmRWccvnb6fl_n_zXdQ4A1TNSWs2mb5XSvD6PUJvftnQCowX91vR42PzFEBj0Qoc7YRktYatQZlf2lMSoR4zAmEUv/s1600/Big+Rocks.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
I could see the wheels turning in Izak’s engineering mind;
he knew our strategy was not working well, and Drew’s body language clearly
broadcast extreme frustration. Daring to speak the truth, I stated the obvious,
“Maybe we need to wait for the mud to dry up a little bit more.”
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“No. This truck needs to get out today. The longer it stays
here, the more likely it is going to get vandalized and the more likely it will
stay stuck.” Drew had a point.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKZvlFlb43JG5h2FvcPwe4W3Gs5GOItFHfMSX2tlfWPwuA9I3L-1osJkj23ihpzisHu8zB0rvIxRT78_xypW8EAhrke7hucpayguVdJ6fMbzQA_n5uEwQegwjMT6yUOb7VmgSSx3Nctxa/s1600/SO+Stuck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKZvlFlb43JG5h2FvcPwe4W3Gs5GOItFHfMSX2tlfWPwuA9I3L-1osJkj23ihpzisHu8zB0rvIxRT78_xypW8EAhrke7hucpayguVdJ6fMbzQA_n5uEwQegwjMT6yUOb7VmgSSx3Nctxa/s1600/SO+Stuck.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Izak pointed out one of the most important things about the
situation. That mud literally sucked. The huge rocks that Drew was using to
give the jack any sort of leverage had only sunk deeper into the ground. And
according to Izak, the watery mud/clay was not showing any signs of bottoming
out. Admittedly, it has been kind of fun to type the phrase “stuck truck” over
and over again these past few days, but let me tell you that if we were the
cursing types, I guarantee that all three of us would have found another word
to add to the “stuck truck” poem. At that moment we felt very defeated. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When the going gets tough, the tough take a lunch break. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we were heading up the hill we saw a Ford
Explorer sitting near my car. It was the first sign of human activity we had
seen in the area since the day Bruce entrenched himself in mud. Nobody got out of
the vehicle and it didn’t drive away. Upon approaching my car I heard the
driver say into his cell phone, “No, but he’s walking towards me now.” Great, these
guys are talking about us. That could be either fabulous or terrible. Drew went
over to the driver’s window and explained himself: The truck down there was his
and he hadn’t come out here to mess around like so many local hooligans do. As
it turns out, one of the men in the Explorer is the steward of the undeveloped
land that will someday become part of the neighborhood that is under
construction in the area. His appearance on the scene had, indeed, been a
blessing. He told us one of his guys who had access to some equipment might be
able to help us and he would come out and take a look at things. It pays to be
nice, honest, and friendly when you are desperate for help. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Back within the wind–free safety of Ella we divvied out
sandwiches, MREs, carrots, and water bottles for our lunch. The food served as
a good distraction from our predicament and before we even had time to really
consider devising a plan B, I saw a truck approaching on the dirt road. We put
away our food and got out of the car, hoping this was the guy sent to help us. Lo
and behold, it was our Knight in Shining Armor!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskGGWiTU9_yMpJctWxetIXT8pdNYA7jQeDN6qlB9Q4uo3xGwtynHJ44ZOzWgtXtud9jlooXoj6_le4V5PCbmLTpoKSMdpIt9AeSv9aZyDvsmXTXxADY9hoiRt0RyLuJPLNIPnKnmAZLQD/s1600/Knight+in+Shining+Armor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskGGWiTU9_yMpJctWxetIXT8pdNYA7jQeDN6qlB9Q4uo3xGwtynHJ44ZOzWgtXtud9jlooXoj6_le4V5PCbmLTpoKSMdpIt9AeSv9aZyDvsmXTXxADY9hoiRt0RyLuJPLNIPnKnmAZLQD/s1600/Knight+in+Shining+Armor.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As Drew described it, the Knight in Shining Armor, named
Cody, moved like a mountain goat down into the pit towards the truck. Upon examining
the situation and pondering his options, he decided that our best bet would be
a bulldozer. That’s right – A BULLDOZER. The very thing we had joked and
dreamed and PRAYED about having available to us! Drew and Izak left to help
Cody retrieve the buldozer, and since Drew left his keys to the truck at home, I
had to go get them. I was glad to have something to do, since I had felt rather
useless so far, and I appreciated the opportunity to use a restroom after a
couple of hours in the middle of nowhere. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcbthboave8cfZMBnZgtURXKBuEikUOUsi3y3SfziuIIwnYgttlB2m6ZUk90o0Lolg1BkzsJ0Vug7aimvrL8_UYSc7Lenn_PWDaTso8gYzOguOytQYXktoyp7K7C6UyB0IOAkf7AsYh3j/s1600/Decision+Time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcbthboave8cfZMBnZgtURXKBuEikUOUsi3y3SfziuIIwnYgttlB2m6ZUk90o0Lolg1BkzsJ0Vug7aimvrL8_UYSc7Lenn_PWDaTso8gYzOguOytQYXktoyp7K7C6UyB0IOAkf7AsYh3j/s1600/Decision+Time.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I returned to the pit, the only things there were our
abandoned supplies and a white SUV (Drew didn’t see it and since I know squat
about cars, I can’t tell you exactly what kind it was). I called Drew, who
confirmed that they were on their way with the bulldozer (I still didn’t really
believe it at this point). The white car drove over to me and I had a
conversation with a nice man who may or may not own/run/be high up in one of
the companies that is developing the area. He wished us luck and drove off down
the dirt road. You know, the amazing thing about all of this is how nice every
single person we encountered was. I think their curiosity about the stuck truck
partially motivated them to see it get unstuck. Whatever their reasons, they
were all true examples of kindness, patience, and graciousness.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was getting tired of eagerly waiting for Drew and Izak to
return when a couple of guys on a cart-like vehicle drove up. They knew what
was going on and I think they wanted to see the show. Not long after that, I
looked down the dirt road and could see a growing cloud of dirt. Closer to me
was Cody’s truck, being driven by Drew and Izak, and behind it was the most
beautiful sight I beheld in all the days of the Mother Trucking Mudpocalypse. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfSZctFs4Pz1Y_3MfLrLmj5ZHYVNhVyn2ynxoxA2tEN1pbkqhO8PyYkgger6TH-6if5-7L2huoCHzx9Gi3ccOjHo-9lSvF3XwhXWcpB_zEDOtvsWmG11iip8iUIzIAUGmIHo7L5VBc5pCk/s1600/Hello+Beautiful.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfSZctFs4Pz1Y_3MfLrLmj5ZHYVNhVyn2ynxoxA2tEN1pbkqhO8PyYkgger6TH-6if5-7L2huoCHzx9Gi3ccOjHo-9lSvF3XwhXWcpB_zEDOtvsWmG11iip8iUIzIAUGmIHo7L5VBc5pCk/s1600/Hello+Beautiful.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I. Love. This. Photo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">A
FREAKING BULLDOZER WAS COMING TO HELP US. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was huge and yellow and dirty and
AWESOME. MAGNIFICENT. THE BEST THING EVER. The font sizes in the editor of this
blog do not get large enough to illustrate how <i>utterly stupendous</i> that
bulldozer was and will always be to me. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_FHBEcThoIv-EvV-ylZY6IwKSmfl8Kw-L434Tuy28hKoGPObnpNST1N1ukLhzwzbsVZ1l0TQB4Aol9TFqazO5wzbE-whg_0qysJdKR69eohnjqkwg3HOU9VNYK2tz2MDsGDxPH2y9KN8/s1600/Bulldozer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_FHBEcThoIv-EvV-ylZY6IwKSmfl8Kw-L434Tuy28hKoGPObnpNST1N1ukLhzwzbsVZ1l0TQB4Aol9TFqazO5wzbE-whg_0qysJdKR69eohnjqkwg3HOU9VNYK2tz2MDsGDxPH2y9KN8/s1600/Bulldozer.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitSE3NlNIMmIBerRKbcGiM8I-VvlW9leWFFGskmRCKx3xAF6O6j659GLJbMThJiL7Ysz0W1ou6_OWrn88vQN8UVgFtnVjRttjfiZ4z1u5oen4xZ6WbYezepKoI90V-oTWxfUncWe8l8Eky/s1600/Bring+in+the+Big+Guns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitSE3NlNIMmIBerRKbcGiM8I-VvlW9leWFFGskmRCKx3xAF6O6j659GLJbMThJiL7Ysz0W1ou6_OWrn88vQN8UVgFtnVjRttjfiZ4z1u5oen4xZ6WbYezepKoI90V-oTWxfUncWe8l8Eky/s1600/Bring+in+the+Big+Guns.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So much beautiful, heavy, strong, construction equipment. :)</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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYK6p-YnTdAhOb0LoAh6Hgn7AaRKKGmJgKy1a-gyB-pMJlo80dQPnW291nIDKzMzJ3CcpVTnsInOni-oR5Xw_YuB4m375Vzobs-bWVgtaEUe1BDgIyWthhAQVCh_ge_6rSstLkFMlKzN2/s1600/Moving+the+Bulldozer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYK6p-YnTdAhOb0LoAh6Hgn7AaRKKGmJgKy1a-gyB-pMJlo80dQPnW291nIDKzMzJ3CcpVTnsInOni-oR5Xw_YuB4m375Vzobs-bWVgtaEUe1BDgIyWthhAQVCh_ge_6rSstLkFMlKzN2/s1600/Moving+the+Bulldozer.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bulldozer has to travel on tires in order to not break the concrete. Drew and Izak got to do a lot of manual labor moving the tires around to get it on its way!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And let me tell you, that bulldozer just scooted down into
the pit like it was climbing into a child’s sandbox. It dwarfed the sunken
truck and we all knew we were about to witness the kind of thing that you only
see in YouTube videos but never in real life. Drew and one of the guys from the cart hooked up the
bulldozer’s winch to the tow hitch on Bruce’s backside, and then we waited with
baited breath, cell phones and cameras in hand like any decent modern-day
American, to document what would happen next.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq0zaylLzddVE6BeTW4qK2m-n9CkFMMmxlavMt_vVxsOoBG0Fwe69kYnpgmS6mYuVptE3Swzz-NZBnNLc9l_AvYZLm57PNi7Aeppycgov5QC8DxgHpYaAkZRiVMWvXNTw5FEey5ZHjROMa/s1600/Winch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq0zaylLzddVE6BeTW4qK2m-n9CkFMMmxlavMt_vVxsOoBG0Fwe69kYnpgmS6mYuVptE3Swzz-NZBnNLc9l_AvYZLm57PNi7Aeppycgov5QC8DxgHpYaAkZRiVMWvXNTw5FEey5ZHjROMa/s1600/Winch.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winch it! Winch it good!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAY1IUvc8QGugLFm14r20j_n1qUj1Qg-kU-5UJCj078seDiW6zz4mgLsKdQFEHPomuJuaTtmPx-qecPoKOslMt1z7hcg2BxkjtiyaCb2twSHHaOBSyG1ROqxuQqyHuzuL5ee0LdEibrm25/s1600/Angie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAY1IUvc8QGugLFm14r20j_n1qUj1Qg-kU-5UJCj078seDiW6zz4mgLsKdQFEHPomuJuaTtmPx-qecPoKOslMt1z7hcg2BxkjtiyaCb2twSHHaOBSyG1ROqxuQqyHuzuL5ee0LdEibrm25/s1600/Angie.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Standing by with recovery straps, just in case, but more worried about the camera and not falling in the mud.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We learned Saturday night that the
yank-the-truck-out-of-the-mud-as-harshly-as-possible method is both painfully
loud and destructive to the vehicles, so watching the bulldozer work was
refreshing. Cody pulled the winch taught and then slowly but surely began to
inch forward. Drew was standing closest to Bruce and says that except for one
moment right when the truck first moved, there was no sound from Bruce (which, based by Drew's amazement, I assume was a good thing). As the
rear tires gradually made their way out of the mud I could not help but cry
tears of joy and relief. Something that had been impossible for many men to
achieve Saturday night, and would continue to be impossible for us to do on our
own, was happening right before my eyes. Bruce was coming free!</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKdHkijY6z5VP-E-WhyDeOjpCiPVK8Ojta3YNn-DxzW-ApmjCbVtmdBV7Pg43a5nft5uCpFUMAJeSwrd3ScIucpInRja0EK0BMMI3htXHSPM09Nt5Ny-wrz4hvKPm4y-JA1SgSS1vEaQoK/s1600/Ready+to+Go.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKdHkijY6z5VP-E-WhyDeOjpCiPVK8Ojta3YNn-DxzW-ApmjCbVtmdBV7Pg43a5nft5uCpFUMAJeSwrd3ScIucpInRja0EK0BMMI3htXHSPM09Nt5Ny-wrz4hvKPm4y-JA1SgSS1vEaQoK/s1600/Ready+to+Go.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqCJsHyiNeY2ZD4b7wGZQYAJR6ZHwY2WYsXxOB4Xf2tb9GQ0c_VUj_lfYY_sBrSlIBiIxm-Zy-v0V0CcbXoS_fhG4SIwiSz9D3IwQ1hlfDUfaGhIUPAzRaFz8X2n_SdPtpoahz3ZUjw-v/s1600/Moving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqCJsHyiNeY2ZD4b7wGZQYAJR6ZHwY2WYsXxOB4Xf2tb9GQ0c_VUj_lfYY_sBrSlIBiIxm-Zy-v0V0CcbXoS_fhG4SIwiSz9D3IwQ1hlfDUfaGhIUPAzRaFz8X2n_SdPtpoahz3ZUjw-v/s1600/Moving.jpg" height="98" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FREEDOM!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuhfUHSSfFlWsWUnVP8JfpAUcGqmbKOFQnrVr40KGsbMe2AaMYo6a7hqr8niysDdmHsMCd5O10QdSmBeMO5DqfhcUB2wGm8wNOHyfNY4aYZTwWIc7uXFj8f1-_QZ5PB-SXL984EIgXHQfm/s1600/Moving+Out.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuhfUHSSfFlWsWUnVP8JfpAUcGqmbKOFQnrVr40KGsbMe2AaMYo6a7hqr8niysDdmHsMCd5O10QdSmBeMO5DqfhcUB2wGm8wNOHyfNY4aYZTwWIc7uXFj8f1-_QZ5PB-SXL984EIgXHQfm/s1600/Moving+Out.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6DhJ0g_GjZxojtwI3HLh0Idd6CujH615hukem7bV9p5YISjyPgPApnSygyHu0glfw5Qjq4kfpjZKAqq-AGN62ul_jF9Qx8ppnwBqjfbJDK5qjX5RQ38XzA-FdnTnZlioU5PmLFGVnPzKI/s1600/Almost+There.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6DhJ0g_GjZxojtwI3HLh0Idd6CujH615hukem7bV9p5YISjyPgPApnSygyHu0glfw5Qjq4kfpjZKAqq-AGN62ul_jF9Qx8ppnwBqjfbJDK5qjX5RQ38XzA-FdnTnZlioU5PmLFGVnPzKI/s1600/Almost+There.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz180ksBCCDRP6tX-vyliIJfww6-Fb1iWlxRnyo16CGPd6bx5UOu16egM1gSSJQgOzbhvHIbpgTxMm8jdtCkA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That bulldozer cut across the mud like a hot knife through
butter, and it brought the truck (along with a lot of mud) with it. The ride
was so smooth that a water bottle stayed upright on top of the tailgate for
most of the journey out of the pit. Since we were apparently going to be successful and I knew I'd be able to blog about all of this, I raced to the top so that I could take
pictures of the bulldozer and Bruce emerging from the mud like butterflies from
a cocoon. It was quite a run up the soft mud, and I was breathless at the end
of my sprint, but I got the pictures I wanted. You’re welcome. </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMU8OR1YXYuy-j5ZmI2ZgvvVJq_izIwO1DCR3JKgb5XvT_tjX7ek5scYn2k_OWK5Me7g29u9v9XeD6ErlFfC9Ck8jnbs9kXAKPJy4eK5dk44DiD2O0MARFoDMV1pl2ixnBkBx6Duu15wIx/s1600/Emerging+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMU8OR1YXYuy-j5ZmI2ZgvvVJq_izIwO1DCR3JKgb5XvT_tjX7ek5scYn2k_OWK5Me7g29u9v9XeD6ErlFfC9Ck8jnbs9kXAKPJy4eK5dk44DiD2O0MARFoDMV1pl2ixnBkBx6Duu15wIx/s1600/Emerging+1.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></div>
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I walked over to Drew, threw my arms around him, and as you
have probably guessed by now – cried. A weight had been lifted off our
shoulders. Well, the weight had actually been lifted out of the mud pit, but at
least now we could move it around ourselves. Brucectomy success!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
THE MOTHER TRUCKING MUDPOCALYPSE
WAS OVER, BABY!</div>
</div>
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBFpDvXUXJmMQReFOawxJBvSDWpr-eG5TR8YpH0rQrzyVoo5uTFj83MsBUb3Td7uTwgK-g3BdlZtPlZmYqwkB1rkujysjMftLqpZHBi11Bz7iEOkIUATnyCZrtkmyG9FeP7saeLL36k9_/s1600/Freedom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBFpDvXUXJmMQReFOawxJBvSDWpr-eG5TR8YpH0rQrzyVoo5uTFj83MsBUb3Td7uTwgK-g3BdlZtPlZmYqwkB1rkujysjMftLqpZHBi11Bz7iEOkIUATnyCZrtkmyG9FeP7saeLL36k9_/s1600/Freedom.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proud truck owner and Bruce.</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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURjgVKFUeuZX-d0gXo03AfLJYzA0WlazTNaydSy1QCQQjL1Jg9Ghn3kctn5YNWc5C8H6zK5XfEtvO7sxzVRTI4DEW1yR3zrl3wbR9jbv2FLCmT7_9mV9kW5kNLEbkcGMFP44UU9aQrb9b/s1600/Muddy+Tire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURjgVKFUeuZX-d0gXo03AfLJYzA0WlazTNaydSy1QCQQjL1Jg9Ghn3kctn5YNWc5C8H6zK5XfEtvO7sxzVRTI4DEW1yR3zrl3wbR9jbv2FLCmT7_9mV9kW5kNLEbkcGMFP44UU9aQrb9b/s1600/Muddy+Tire.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Someone needs a b-a-t-h.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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We couldn’t say enough “thank yous” to our Knight in Shining
Armor, but he insisted that it was no big deal. I mean, in the grand scheme of
building houses day in and day out, the Brucectomy HAD to be a lot more fun and
exciting, right? To us, Cody was exactly what we had prayed for: someone with a
large enough vehicle that had a winch on it who would find our situation a
challenge worth tackling. When I had exhausted my prayer cards and said the
Rosary that morning, I felt like I was praying for a miracle, and since we literally got what we prayed for, I'd say that we got one. Some people may
argue that this was fate, or a set of circumstances that would have happened
anyway, but once I pray, coincidence gets thrown out the window. It ceases to
exist. God answered our prayers with a resounding “Yes!” that happened to be
shaped like a bulldozer and I won't ever be convinced otherwise. </div>
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We eventually packed everything into Drew’s truck (Because
it was out of the mud! Woot! Woot!), returned some unused supplies to Home
Depot, and went home to plan our victory celebration. Drew and I invited Izak
and Kris to join us for dinner at P.F. Chang’s to celebrate Bruce’s freedom. It
also happened to be our ten month wedding anniversary and we decided, that
since two reasons to celebrate weren’t enough, we would treat dinner as a
pre-house-closing congratulatory dinner. THAT’S RIGHT - after four days of
truck-stuckness, we hardly remembered that we were days away from purchasing
our first home! Well, as of this past Friday, it is ours! And, lucky you, I am
sure you’ll be hearing about it a lot on here. We move in about six weeks!</div>
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZImR_fjlXDr2Z6Kfw-SuzZu0lJHSCIPACJSNQgllK9TbBrwGOxr9arjHggZWxbwEK1s9hU0CCSdAnAr4kwhaVc5HJ9c4M_oOMp8deeTLXsKeqp6UKijAyPNuE-5HG6UlSB-HCjqG0vCoh/s1600/PF+Changs+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZImR_fjlXDr2Z6Kfw-SuzZu0lJHSCIPACJSNQgllK9TbBrwGOxr9arjHggZWxbwEK1s9hU0CCSdAnAr4kwhaVc5HJ9c4M_oOMp8deeTLXsKeqp6UKijAyPNuE-5HG6UlSB-HCjqG0vCoh/s1600/PF+Changs+2.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks for the photo, Kris! You and Izak are the best. :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Anyway, we couldn’t have had better company with whom to
celebrate than Kris and Izak; they were there to encourage and sympathize with
us the whole way through the Mudpocalypse. We are blessed in so many ways –
with great friends, a muddy but functional truck, and a house just waiting for
us to live in it! Thanks for “sticking” with me through the Mother Trucking
Mudpocalypse story telling. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
If you learned nothing else from these four posts, allow me
to leave you with this lesson: As one of the guys said to us Saturday night,<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> “Four wheel drive is good for one thing –
getting you stuck.”</b> And if you do decide to get yourself stuck, do make sure you
are very nearby a paved road or a construction site being developed by
sympathetic people. </div>
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-HV9zKvnZK3p0BD-LuQSFG5kgtKf7K_EajvPo4ua6ji6kEGCkkeyouHE7Uaz61tYqle73TxggkIS0geb6H55TgpJi68KWgnie34SfxtAYbjsFD-u9HfGPuukEGT-aqyaXX9WOLapVGuL/s1600/Tracks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-HV9zKvnZK3p0BD-LuQSFG5kgtKf7K_EajvPo4ua6ji6kEGCkkeyouHE7Uaz61tYqle73TxggkIS0geb6H55TgpJi68KWgnie34SfxtAYbjsFD-u9HfGPuukEGT-aqyaXX9WOLapVGuL/s1600/Tracks.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DO NOT go into the mud unless this is your vehicle. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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THE END.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07200636883464826941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6810812237123651052.post-53515828696787070612014-04-11T13:47:00.000-05:002014-04-11T13:50:09.662-05:00The Mother Trucking Mudpocalypse, PART 3: It Is What It Is<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLW3ggRoMl_PMz5xSkdzfOs0taJMCayFj4C1tvuvZyObBgf4kTyrW10gjlLjqoC0cPGpEb9GSEoA42__71nQtZZoO9JrQpHewhT0ua6IbMnPfWWLjkcy0oVA62oQqMfRP2yNpLEr-LBa6b/s1600/MTM+Part+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLW3ggRoMl_PMz5xSkdzfOs0taJMCayFj4C1tvuvZyObBgf4kTyrW10gjlLjqoC0cPGpEb9GSEoA42__71nQtZZoO9JrQpHewhT0ua6IbMnPfWWLjkcy0oVA62oQqMfRP2yNpLEr-LBa6b/s1600/MTM+Part+3.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Mother Trucking
Mudpocalypse, PART 3: It Is What It Is</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Monday
morning brought with it, Praise God, a dry, albeit cloudy sky. We woke up with
our emotions in check after Sunday’s cry-fest and figured the best thing we
could do would be to go inspect the damage and gather some more tools for the
hopeful truck rescue. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We donned
our mud-appropriate clothing, put on our game faces, and drove out toward the
mud pit. We did not trust my car, Ella, to make it through the muddy road, so
we parked her in some grass and walked, or more like schlepped, our way through
the squishy hundred yards or so of wet ground to the edge of the pit, stopping
every now and again to shake off the mud that was accumulating on our boots.
Upon arriving at the edge of the pit, we breathed sighs of relief. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbbcVyvP69oD2qqxQWTwKKFltb1ooK8JVdKY6ILo6C-efq5Ect-LmWDEJP2eLsc7CNb_3dWHGY64Kzvesdy1epA_BleXfKVpvU8C4xK2DdQvjUkPAkbVcy2ksJcpvZ6vUUM3dB4aJ_uYo/s1600/Wide+View+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbbcVyvP69oD2qqxQWTwKKFltb1ooK8JVdKY6ILo6C-efq5Ect-LmWDEJP2eLsc7CNb_3dWHGY64Kzvesdy1epA_BleXfKVpvU8C4xK2DdQvjUkPAkbVcy2ksJcpvZ6vUUM3dB4aJ_uYo/s1600/Wide+View+2.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's Bruce! Waaaaaaay down there. And good and stuck.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For
the past two days, vandalism had been one of Drew’s biggest concerns. He heard
over and over again Saturday night that vehicles left in the mud pit are
quickly vandalized – windows bashed in, tires slashed, etc. He had REALLY not
wanted to leave the truck out there alone for two days. Thankfully, even from
up on the ridge of the pit we could see that Bruce had been completely
untouched, even though he was still sitting in some very intense mud. As long
as we knew where the truck was located, there was hope for recovering it;
potentially having to make major repairs to damages done was a major stress factor
for Drew, but we didn’t have to worry about that (yet). We figure that the
weather was so bad that no vandals were willing to trek down there to do Bruce
harm. And we are also thinking that we have some very hardcore guardian angels.
</span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
took a lot of pictures of the truck and the landscape of the pit while Drew
checked out the truck and the mud around it. He felt optimistic that we could
figure something out, so we schlepped back to Ella so we could head home and
work on our plan. </span></div>
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhH3MYiJADkHBMLWHtffKY1yRk-cRKzROuO_9fClIraJZ3CrdwiUyT-TWX1Vocl6G4bVU1fJwppBLjuv_B-o9RlvB576sjE09IUpXOA8rojnoFeTY3on0_ehR2L4VMqsVelZl-lsdsjjH/s1600/Bruce+is+stuck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhH3MYiJADkHBMLWHtffKY1yRk-cRKzROuO_9fClIraJZ3CrdwiUyT-TWX1Vocl6G4bVU1fJwppBLjuv_B-o9RlvB576sjE09IUpXOA8rojnoFeTY3on0_ehR2L4VMqsVelZl-lsdsjjH/s1600/Bruce+is+stuck.jpg" height="146" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bruce was "sledding," which means that the under carriage was sitting on top of the mud. Not good.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKmX42-_UwdMAsc3D8CKap8_9hs3bHZOBewYjr8ymwiZsQfnJKyshasjmif_1JoPDEYmRWj7baOLon-pYsTXysHneY5fHmKVyjOSLyRlh5N5Xd5qgoRpVAj4hXPW_81dRgeaw-YjolYyy/s1600/Dried+Flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKmX42-_UwdMAsc3D8CKap8_9hs3bHZOBewYjr8ymwiZsQfnJKyshasjmif_1JoPDEYmRWj7baOLon-pYsTXysHneY5fHmKVyjOSLyRlh5N5Xd5qgoRpVAj4hXPW_81dRgeaw-YjolYyy/s1600/Dried+Flowers.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I enjoyed fitting the truck into the background of pictures. The pop of red adds a nice touch.</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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCncES3n704iOUHwD3QrPZ6MLYqN2aC_7N_NYqH_9pqzsWbgmTvAKrSEXzLtf8mmhb-MdtU85Byn4GAGGmnZ95xi75bltEyorv35RynvEF5jthCf1xkAdv4qNUejU6-FZXgBQMLQ-D1pe/s1600/Pawprints.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCncES3n704iOUHwD3QrPZ6MLYqN2aC_7N_NYqH_9pqzsWbgmTvAKrSEXzLtf8mmhb-MdtU85Byn4GAGGmnZ95xi75bltEyorv35RynvEF5jthCf1xkAdv4qNUejU6-FZXgBQMLQ-D1pe/s1600/Pawprints.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, hello, raccoon or coyote prints. </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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEysReueCK6sgBHNmB6wzILsC8ZqRdTlqmcFGNbQZe8B9xHf1NYB7E4eZ6EQB6kMlOsljbPz_G3T4OH7-aLRyqrs5NorChyphenhyphenGHIaNrlrzdYRFwNRZeABfHg4zQbLpgDDa8T7_c4nmv8Bir/s1600/The+Pit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEysReueCK6sgBHNmB6wzILsC8ZqRdTlqmcFGNbQZe8B9xHf1NYB7E4eZ6EQB6kMlOsljbPz_G3T4OH7-aLRyqrs5NorChyphenhyphenGHIaNrlrzdYRFwNRZeABfHg4zQbLpgDDa8T7_c4nmv8Bir/s1600/The+Pit.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I mean, really, crop out the truck and this is beautiful!</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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7BwLw0df3k9kVGhh6WTqV1CFRovjLNl4YZQkCePRRoyQbrrfowiDNHwhZbSMAf5EcxLfN5E9Fkvci66jpN0IR0fDD3H4VD0D8SJqz7bdtwzN3twZ0wfw7oTgVF4FeKVzq8tyj799NKsmU/s1600/Selfie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7BwLw0df3k9kVGhh6WTqV1CFRovjLNl4YZQkCePRRoyQbrrfowiDNHwhZbSMAf5EcxLfN5E9Fkvci66jpN0IR0fDD3H4VD0D8SJqz7bdtwzN3twZ0wfw7oTgVF4FeKVzq8tyj799NKsmU/s1600/Selfie.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This shot pretty much says it all. Does it look a little green-screenish to anyone else?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZeko3N8levQ32Gvt9yOEHDnwkDTYqr-2CKf_BSbAkdcHazVaAhLOltdCR3CZ0JeGPGc5DgyBhylyZ6bLBxo88VZ_hwSVVQUi6tnOmYRrZpjVJkWFIdpK_E0ynGIYTtPBzwKokv0wXD9t_/s1600/Blue+Bonnet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZeko3N8levQ32Gvt9yOEHDnwkDTYqr-2CKf_BSbAkdcHazVaAhLOltdCR3CZ0JeGPGc5DgyBhylyZ6bLBxo88VZ_hwSVVQUi6tnOmYRrZpjVJkWFIdpK_E0ynGIYTtPBzwKokv0wXD9t_/s1600/Blue+Bonnet.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got to see my first blue bonnets! They are very lovely. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Drew
decided that in addition to the recovery straps we already had, we would be
better off getting a high-lift jack so that we could get rocks and gravel
underneath the tires in order to get Bruce a more level footing before trying
to pull him to safety. We went to an off road shop in Fort Worth for the jack
and we solicited the employees for any help they might be able to offer – they
gave us advice (and lots of sympathy), attempted to contact anyone who might
have a big enough truck with a winch, and wished us luck. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At
home, Drew ran his idea past Izak, who would be giving Drew a hand with his
plan the next day. Then, Drew spent the evening thoroughly researching how to
safely use a high-lift jack and being encouraged by successful stuck-truck recoveries
documented on YouTube. It is always nice to realize that many people have
gotten themselves into worse trouble than you! Some people out there have done
serious damage to their vehicles by getting them stuck and then not being smart
about how they recovered them. We kept wishing circumstances were different or
that we had access to different equipment and tools, or that the pit was closer
to trees and paved roads, but there was nothing we could change, and the phrase
, “it is what it is” became our mantra.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As
optimistic as Drew was, in my mind I was preparing for the worst. I dreaded the
idea of leaving Bruce stuck in the mud, doomed to abuse and vandalism, while we
spent two and a half more years paying off a car we couldn’t drive. At the same
time, if that was the worst I could imagine, then I figure we weren’t that bad
off. Sure, the scenario I envisioned would be ROYALLY AWFUL, but at least we
would be safe and healthy and in possession of one not-stuck car. Silver
linings, people. SILVER. LININGS. We had optimism, we had hope, and we had a
plan. It was time to pray for a rain-free night and attempt to get a good night
of sleep in preparation for what was sure to be a long day ahead of us. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
conclusion to the Mother Trucking Mudpocalypse is coming up soon! Get
excited!</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKuND0_TnuXFP-jZyNfd4aujFUDtEksY2DgAqjnmfRAhMnMEUAa_ARAErEEpb02T4UngXaKhyphenhyphenqSvILzAauSYXiL8iK_vRmT4lQB9DpCOOPZZJ2qa3_z3ABReI0EB78cyRCJjFWcbnEaPv/s1600/Yellow+Flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKuND0_TnuXFP-jZyNfd4aujFUDtEksY2DgAqjnmfRAhMnMEUAa_ARAErEEpb02T4UngXaKhyphenhyphenqSvILzAauSYXiL8iK_vRmT4lQB9DpCOOPZZJ2qa3_z3ABReI0EB78cyRCJjFWcbnEaPv/s1600/Yellow+Flowers.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is probably my favorite photo from the entire Mudpocalypse. Maybe it'll get framed and hung on the wall. Is that okay, Drew?</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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5z57A5WrDEUtN6CB_36SvRN3ftUdCP7pjbQxGTUuuhnun_GKkCTwHALmOC63BR8HsAqADz04GSztuLTLfBhvfdzwVybNEaoZv12POGPnBBZPYlL7aKD9RCUc4dLcBgl7STGb0jkvJev0V/s1600/Panorama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5z57A5WrDEUtN6CB_36SvRN3ftUdCP7pjbQxGTUuuhnun_GKkCTwHALmOC63BR8HsAqADz04GSztuLTLfBhvfdzwVybNEaoZv12POGPnBBZPYlL7aKD9RCUc4dLcBgl7STGb0jkvJev0V/s1600/Panorama.jpg" height="100" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We'll get you outta there, Bruce!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07200636883464826941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6810812237123651052.post-41957800757317917052014-04-10T12:40:00.002-05:002014-04-27T12:08:35.342-05:00The Mother Trucking Mudpocalypse, PART 2: Love Wins<style>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Mother Trucking
Mudpocalypse, PART 2: Love Wins</span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
<a href="http://be-a-good-1.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-mother-trucking-mudpocalypse-part-1.html" target="_blank">first day of the Mother Trucking Mudpocalypse </a>had been frustrating, tiring, and
surreal. Growing up in D.C. suburbia with mini-vans and sedans, I never
expected to ever be dealing with a truck stuck in the mud. Welcome to Texas,
Angie! Drew and I went to sleep at around 5:15am Sunday morning and planned to
wake up around 8:00am to assess the situation and plan our next move. Thunder
and rain woke us early, and our spirits were dampened (pun intended) by the
knowledge that water was accumulating around our already muddy Bruce. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Drew
spent some time researching and watching videos trying to figure out what strategy
would provide our best chance for getting Bruce unstuck. It would not be
feasible to get another truck down into the pit and risk getting it stuck, so
we headed to Home Depot and purchased a pair of Come-Alongs and over 200 feet
of recovery straps. Our hope was that when the rain stopped we would be able to
get a truck to tow Bruce out of the mud from a safe distance. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
don’t know if I am going to be able to adequately explain to you what happened on
Sunday, but I believe it was a direct effect of my choice the night before to
be understanding and supportive of Drew. Let me preface it by saying that I do
not cry very often. Especially not when other people are around. My friends
from college used to call me “the ice queen,” much to my chagrin. I do indeed
feel emotion; I just don’t share all of it with everyone. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When
we got back from Home Depot, I laid down on the bed, tired from having gotten too
little sleep and feeling very helpless. Drew was frustrated, the truck was
stuck, the clouds were dumping rain down upon us, and there was nothing I could
do about any of it; I was fighting back tears. Drew sensed this and came over
to me, asking if I was crying. I told him I was trying not to. He sat down, put
my head on his lap, and asked how I was feeling. I replied, “Helpless,” and he
told me he was feeling the same way and that he was amazed at how understanding
I was being. I sat up and he looked at me and said, “I love you.”</span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
looked back at him and my mouth formed the words, “I love you,” but I don’t
think any sound came out because I burst into tears and fell into Drew’s arms. (I
feel teary-eyed just typing this now.) When I regained the use of my vocal
chords I tried to smile and said weepily to my husband, “I love you so much it
is leaking out of my eyeballs!” I searched my heart to find any sign of
resentment, disappointment, or anger, but there was none. Those tears were made
of genuine, pure love. I truly believe that when I chose to be patient with my
husband, God poured so much love into my heart that there was no room for
anything else. This made me feel overwhelmingly blessed, but it did result in a
very emotional morning. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We
knew it would be pointless to go out to check on Bruce and we doubted we’d be
able to get out there through rain soaked dirt roads anyway. We had not heard
from any of the guys who had helped the night before, so Drew contemplated
taking a nap and then going to evening Mass. I am terrible at taking naps and I
knew we’d still be exhausted even if we went to Mass late in the day and so I
insisted that we try to make it to church at 1:00 that afternoon. “I need Jesus
now,” I had said. I drove us to church through the rain, working hard to keep
more love from dripping down my face. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am
so thankful that we went this particular Mass. I knew it was a good choice when
I opened my missal and began reading the summary of the week’s readings. Drew
had told me in the car that he felt like part of his youth died when his truck
got stuck, and he would “never do something so stupid again.” Funny enough, the
following words were on the pages I was reading: </span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“There
are people who try to live without restraints. They follow the epicurean
philosophy of the pagan Romans: ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we may
die.’ But we could also look at life in the following way: In order to
transcend life, I must die to my old, immature, egotistic self. If I want to
become a mature and grown-up person, I must leave my youth behind me.” (From
the New Saint Joseph Sunday Missal, Complete Edition)</span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
showed this passage to Drew and we smiled and chuckled, realizing that we were
probably in for a very enlightening and emotional Mass experience. And what a
doozy it was. It is like Fr. Jim <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">knew </i>what
we were experiencing. <a href="http://www.smgparishmedia.org/homilies/2014/5th%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%20-%20Fr.%20Jim.mp3" target="_blank">His homily</a> emphasized the importance of our reactions to
life’s situations -<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Yep! We are learning
that lesson right now!</i> THEN, he went on to explain that although the Gospel
reading about Jesus and Lazarus says, “Jesus wept,” the more original
translation read, “Jesus burst into tears.” Father wanted us to think about a
time when we felt that much emotion and how bursting into tears was often a
sign of love and shock and overwhelming feelings – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Yep! Been there, done that, two hours ago! Trying not to burst into
tears right now!</i> Needless to say, at this point I was fumbling around my
purse looking for tissues and hoping people around me weren’t bothered by my
sniffles. Father’s homily was exactly what we needed to hear, and the comfort
of Communion with Jesus in the Eucharist provided the peace for which my soul
longed. I am amazed at how often the lessons of the Mass align with the
goings-on of my life. It would probably be a little bit scary if it weren’t actually so
awe-inspiring. </span></div>
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We left Mass feeling very in love with each other and very
loved and blessed by God. It became so easy to realize the important aspects of
our dilemma: Drew was safe and healthy and we had people around us who were
willing to help us find a solution to our problem. We didn’t know what the
solution would be or when we would find it, but we felt a little more
optimistic. After consulting our friends and realizing all we could do was
wait, we went home and had a relatively relaxing evening.</div>
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Of all the silver linings to be found in the Mudpocalypse,
it is the overwhelming feeling of love from this day that I appreciate the
most. It is easy to say that you will love someone “in good times and in bad,”
but it is harder to do it in real life. In the grand scheme of "bad" things that can happen to a married couple, our problem was pretty low on the totem pole, although it felt very large at the time. We aren't dealing with many of the awful situations people all over the world face everyday, but as far as <i>our </i>daily lives go, we had been thrown into a tizzy. If I can love Drew this much when
things are tough, how much better can I love him when life is running
smoothly? I know my words here cannot have come close to conveying the profound
stirring that occurred within my soul, but I hope I have given you a glimpse of
it. Choosing love is worth it, and when you do you will be rewarded beyond
measure. Love wins!</div>
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I just read this post to edit it and now I am crying again. Geez,
Louise, I can feel my "stone cold" reputation slipping away.<br />
Come back tomorrow to see pictures of Bruce stuck in the mud and read
about the continuation of the Mudpocalypse! I promise it will NOT be as touchy-feely as this post was. :)<br />
<br />
<i>4/27/2014 UPDATE: If you want to listen to Father Jim's homily, <a href="http://www.smgparishmedia.org/homilies/2014/5th%20Sunday%20of%20Lent%20-%20Fr.%20Jim.mp3" target="_blank">click here</a>.</i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07200636883464826941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6810812237123651052.post-33917819634099565202014-04-09T14:21:00.001-05:002014-04-09T14:37:16.479-05:00The Mother Trucking Mudpocalypse, Part 1: Choices<style>
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Hello there! I have a true story to tell you. You should know
that it is full of silver linings and it has a happy ending, because if it had
not turned out well I would be keeping this tale to myself. It will probably take a
few posts for me to get through the whole thing, but even if nobody reads them, I
will feel it was worth it to get out my thoughts in writing so that I can look back
on this past week and smile. And maybe laugh. </div>
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I have dubbed April 5<sup>th</sup> through April 8<sup>th</sup>
of the year 2014 the Mother Trucking Mudpocalypse. </div>
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Here is why:</div>
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<b>The Mother Trucking Mudpocalypse, Part 1: Choices</b></div>
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April 5, 2014 was going to be a fun day. My husband, Drew,
had planned a remedial Land Navigation course for some of the guys in his
National Guard unit and was going to be spending the morning and afternoon out
at a local park. He invited our friend Izak to join him. Meanwhile, Izak’s
wife, Kris, and I planned to prepare lunch for the guys and then do a few
spring/Easter themed craft projects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kris and I were at my apartment with dinner in the crock pot
and dessert cooling in the refrigerator when I got a phone call from Drew
around 3:30 pm.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Hi! We are done with Land Nav, but . . . the truck is a
little bit . . . stuck, so we’ll be home as soon as we can.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He and Izak had been scouting out future sites for more Land Nav courses and got bad directions on how to get from point A to point B. Okay, fine. Trucks get stuck all the time. No big deal. Kris
and I settled in to watch the UF/UConn basketball game when the boys still
weren’t home at 5:00. We got another call.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Um, can you ask Kris if she knows anyone in the Arlington
area with a truck? We are really stuck and we need some help.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I began to worry a little bit. Because of where they were
located, no towing company would even entertain the idea of going out there to
help with Drew’s truck, which is named Bruce, by the way. Kris started calling people she knew from work, and we were able to get in touch with one guy who had a truck and could help out. And then we waited.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Every time I heard a vehicle in the parking lot, I ran to
the window to see if it was Bruce and the guys pulling up to the building. My anxiety reminded me of how I used to wait for what felt like forever for friends and family to arrive at my house for childhood birthday parties and holidays. It got dark
and Kris and I decided to play cards, hoping our husbands would be home
soon. The phone rang again. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Well, one truck came out here to help us and got stuck.
Then another guy came out here and got stuck. And now someone else is coming to
help.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At this point, Kris and I couldn’t bear the thought of
waiting at home any longer, so we ordered three large pizzas and planned to pick up some
beer for the stuck truck crew; it was almost 9:00pm and we knew they would be
starving. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
NOW, you might be wondering how I reacted to all of this.
Among the list of things a wife doesn’t want to hear over the phone is, “Our
very expensive vehicle is stuck in an unsecure location in very thick mud and we can't get it out.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I will admit that several less than charitable thoughts ran
through my mind at first, but since I was removed from the situation, I had
many hours to contemplate how I would react to all of this in Drew’s presence.
Thank goodness I had Kris with me all day, too, because I was able to talk through
my thoughts and feelings with her before we headed out to check on Bruce and the boys.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since getting married, I have realized that, although I tend to give other people the benefit of the doubt (unless they seriously disrespect me in traffic), I jump to
criticism and judgment very quickly when it comes to Drew. I am not proud of
this fact, but hey, at least I am aware of my weakness and willing to improve
myself. It helps to have examples of good wives after whom I can model my
behavior, and I know many women who are tremendous inspirations to me. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In this
particular moment, though, I found myself thinking about a fictional woman:
Cora Crawley from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Downton Abbey. </i>I'll be honest in saying that sometimes her character really annoys me, especially because of the tone of her voice, and I surprised myself when I had this moment of revelation about her. Let me explain: there is a scene where she finds out that her husband has lost all of her money
in an investment that went kaput. They have certainly had contentious moments in their marriage and I expected her to be upset and reprimand him,
but instead, I watched in awe as she considered only the feelings of her
husband as she lovingly stated, “This must be so hard for you!” She knew he
was already beating himself up over his poor choice and so she chose to simply
show him love. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Channeling Lady Crawley, I went with Kris to gather
sustenance for the men and we headed out to the scene of the stuck trucks. There
were five trucks down in a muddy pit and I think three or four of them were
trapped in the muck when we arrived. It was amazing that so many guys had wanted to help out, but frustrating that trucks kept getting stuck and unstuck and then stuck again. Drew had not been goofing around when he got stuck and none of the ensuing truck stuckness had been intended on his part. He clearly understood the consequences of his actions and I knew without asking him that he felt bad that all of this trouble was happening on his account. After surveying the scene and passing out beer and pizza
slices, I took a moment to embrace Drew and tell him, “I love you.” I am proud
to say that it took him by surprise to observe me being so understanding (I
figured leaving him to wonder what I might be thinking would be torture
enough.)</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-lUEexN4ON6ZEytjgRvOTwvJZ6FdpoH2BZ0exOo31sefegs7fMwME7wjw_UXfhadSUS32M_G1eFuB53u6VMCenkO1Qn7xdT7vzSdQXAU0X9XbhDOz8YCuqiFQkXyM7T_gLyd18YGNUnTw/s1600/Stuck+Trucks+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-lUEexN4ON6ZEytjgRvOTwvJZ6FdpoH2BZ0exOo31sefegs7fMwME7wjw_UXfhadSUS32M_G1eFuB53u6VMCenkO1Qn7xdT7vzSdQXAU0X9XbhDOz8YCuqiFQkXyM7T_gLyd18YGNUnTw/s1600/Stuck+Trucks+1.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see some of the trucks and jeeps that came to try helping out. None of these are Drew's truck. Thanks for the picture, Kris!</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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGi203ql1m6z1gX6VbRDT87QQqvBXHdk0AM303Wig1BsNl1c3Pldel-0Pngp_aop3z84jwyBik75dl8aL0lQj8BaN082FIoIvUesu1gdpNo8oW4GMvsu9tXI1UHg3sYi87gmldFSQLj_G/s1600/Stuck+Trucks+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGi203ql1m6z1gX6VbRDT87QQqvBXHdk0AM303Wig1BsNl1c3Pldel-0Pngp_aop3z84jwyBik75dl8aL0lQj8BaN082FIoIvUesu1gdpNo8oW4GMvsu9tXI1UHg3sYi87gmldFSQLj_G/s1600/Stuck+Trucks+2.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The truck in the foreground was stuck for quite a while. The red truck behind it spent a long time trying to get it out. Thanks for the picture, Kris!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Choosing to be understanding and supportive made hanging out
in that mud pit for a few hours tolerable and even fun at times. Drew did not get home until 4:30am, and his truck was the only one still stuck in the mud with a day full of rain ahead in the forecast. I hugged him again and said, "I love you." I was glad he was home safely and hoped he would be able to get some much needed sleep. I could tell
that Drew really appreciated my attitude (believe me, I had chosen to act against my own instinct and it took a lot of strength to do so), but it wasn’t until the next morning
that I realized how I would personally be affected by my choice. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Come back tomorrow to read the next part of our adventure! Sign up for email updates and you won't miss a thing. :)</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07200636883464826941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6810812237123651052.post-88346726682514676482014-03-31T13:37:00.001-05:002014-04-09T14:33:58.991-05:00Pistachio Ice Cream<style>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgePVh1s-SW7ZTTcWexge78HJWoLQUkbaAcqSG5YjG3CYAuVNK3LV5_FFXLMjUeJjhurfQNmEAOtVnQr2WXvMWCnNOE2TtDCInzU4DQRIom5pJPfFvmmkEWeyaPrVRVYobuA-okQKv4znIV/s1600/Pistachio+Ice+Cream+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgePVh1s-SW7ZTTcWexge78HJWoLQUkbaAcqSG5YjG3CYAuVNK3LV5_FFXLMjUeJjhurfQNmEAOtVnQr2WXvMWCnNOE2TtDCInzU4DQRIom5pJPfFvmmkEWeyaPrVRVYobuA-okQKv4znIV/s1600/Pistachio+Ice+Cream+Cover.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a data-pin-color="red" data-pin-config="beside" data-pin-do="buttonPin" href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbe-a-good-1.blogspot.com%2F2014%2F03%2Fpistachio-ice-cream.html&media=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-22oYprY5t4s%2FUzmveveHp3I%2FAAAAAAAAAzo%2Fr4nD06NQul4%2Fs1600%2FPistachio%2BIce%2BCream%2BCover.jpg&description=From%20Be%20A%20Good%20One%3A%20Pistachio%20Ice%20Cream%20Recipe-%20A%20MUST%20try%20for%20anyone%20who%20enjoys%20pistachios!"><img src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pinit_fg_en_rect_red_20.png" /></a>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Pistachios are awesome. Raise your hand if you agree. Woohoo! (You may lower your hand now, if you like)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am by no means obsessed with pistachios. In fact, I rarely eat them, but they have popped up in my life in special ways so that I think of them as an indulgence rather than a mere common snack. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I remember pistachios being a perpetual snack at most family
gatherings when I was a small girl. Though it could be
frustrating to remove the shells, there was always an uncle around to help me
out. And even if I couldn't get a shell opened, the roasted, salty shell tasted good enough to suck on for a minute anyway (just be sure to put the slobbery shell in the bowl of shells, not the bowl of uneaten pistachios). Win, win! Snacks that take the most work to eat always seem to taste the best, don’t
they?</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another popular pistachio-ed treat among my family was Watergate Salad,
whose ingredients include cool whip, pineapple, marshmallows, and pistachio pudding. It wasn't present at every family party, but when it was, boy was I excited! I remember taking leftovers to school in my lunch only to hear my friends ask suspiciously, "What is that?!" The salad's green
coloring always intrigued me and it was just ridiculously
delicious. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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It should have come as no surprise, then, that my first taste
of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pistazien-eis</i> (translation:
pistachio ice) outside of a gelateria in Salzburg, Austria would be a
resounding success. I fell in love with the pistachio gelato and although I did
commit myself to trying a handful of other flavors while I was there, I often ordered a
scoop of one flavor along with a scoop of pistazien to make sure I got enough of it before the end of my six week study abroad session.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjATQesiwMQtFHHE09B23A0eh484Efu2jWRI3OERCqmN6zXdHC3qFWV0RJ9rgW94DZq04rwl9k31w6tq-sFyDwXtrvIGrwdQDmmDy2kORHaI6Hww9Wx_4VPfdFbrgYEN6iD8MFYQiF2WOGV/s1600/Getreidegasse+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjATQesiwMQtFHHE09B23A0eh484Efu2jWRI3OERCqmN6zXdHC3qFWV0RJ9rgW94DZq04rwl9k31w6tq-sFyDwXtrvIGrwdQDmmDy2kORHaI6Hww9Wx_4VPfdFbrgYEN6iD8MFYQiF2WOGV/s1600/Getreidegasse+3.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you guess what this store sells?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Fast-forward several years later and I met the man who would become my
husband. Early on in our dating relationship, Drew moved to Miami and mentioned
that the city life at twilight reminded him of evening strolls to get gelato
when he lived in Italy. I asked him his favorite flavor (one of the few
questions that I am proud to say I actually initiated) and told him mine was
pistachio. Here was his response: “<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Holy
cow! <span class="il">pistachio</span>!? I have met NO ONE that shares my love of
<span class="il">pistachio</span> gelato.” As you can see, the two of us were
meant to be. We even ended up naming one of the tables at our wedding reception
“pistachio,” so this particular nut is obviously special to us. I know you’re
thinking, “Wow. They are weird.” You are right, and we have no qualms about
admitting it.</span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMUMkdXDFHHmqsEfFe4Onozo42S19-8WCT9HDCZeDVJtP6XKOpOuFWT171IkRpRpEntN-2yf_skCmDcrnX3tE_3XXGDmNXTdgAbAQZG6CsczSrquwQWJyc5EL6KgLSa5tVEsyRikQogJ1v/s1600/Pistachio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMUMkdXDFHHmqsEfFe4Onozo42S19-8WCT9HDCZeDVJtP6XKOpOuFWT171IkRpRpEntN-2yf_skCmDcrnX3tE_3XXGDmNXTdgAbAQZG6CsczSrquwQWJyc5EL6KgLSa5tVEsyRikQogJ1v/s1600/Pistachio.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="342" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now
it is time for me to tell you why I have been a little nutty today. I made
Pistachio Ice Cream yesterday evening and it was PERFECT. Not too sweet and just
pistachio-y enough. The recipe is almost exactly like the Strawberry Ice Cream
I wrote about a few days ago, but with one key ingredient changed. You guessed
it – replace strawberries with pistachios. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here
are the details:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">INGREDIENTS</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1
can of regular coconut milk</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2
cups half and half (or whipping cream)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1½ tablespoons
vanilla extract</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">½
cup granulated sugar</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">12
oz bag of pistachios with shells on</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Liquid
Stevia to taste</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
PROCEDURE </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First, shell the pistachios. I suppose you could buy them
pre-shelled, but I don’t know how much you would need. Maybe a cup? I bought
the kind with the shell on because they were less expensive. Pour the coconut
milk, half and half, vanilla extract, sugar, and pistachios into a blender to
mix the ingredients and break down the pistachios. Next, I added about 20 drops of
liquid stevia to mine, but you can add stevia or sugar or another sweetener according to your taste.
Then, follow the directions for your ice cream maker and freeze it in a sealed
container until you are ready to eat it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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We have eaten ours with chocolate syrup and whipped cream,
but I think next time I will also add fresh strawberries and banana. Yummers!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07200636883464826941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6810812237123651052.post-86872666357590598432014-03-27T22:02:00.003-05:002014-04-09T14:33:58.989-05:00Strawberry Ice Cream Recipe<style>
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I have been a slacker. It has been more than a month since I
last posted, and I am sorry. A lot has been going on around here, but I will
fill you in on that in some future posts. (No, I am not pregnant, in case you got excited for a second). :)<br />
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Also, as part of my chosen Lenten
penance I have not been getting on the computer until after noon, and since I
usually worked on blog posts in the morning, my groove has been disrupted. Being disconnected for a few hours is actually nice and I have enjoyed these quiet computer-less and
television-free mornings. </div>
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Anyway, I HAD to get my act together, because spring is
here! Sort of. Well, the calendar says it is here but the real thing is still working on being here in
practice. Soon we’ll get off of this weathery roller coaster and take a walk in
some sunshine. One of the only ways I know it is springtime is that I can go to
the grocery store and not feel guilty about buying strawberries. Everyone and
their mother in Florida is going to strawberry festivals and since I am out here in Texas,
I will instead enjoy the fruits of the strawberry farmers' labor by eating strawberry ice cream! </div>
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One of the best gifts Drew and I received for our wedding
was a Cuisinart ice cream maker. I absolutely love it. I haven’t bought ice
cream since we unpacked it in August. Cost-wise, I don’t think making your own ice cream
is less expensive than purchasing it. I didn’t do the math, but I am pretty
sure it would be cheaper (ounce for ounce) to buy a half gallon of ice cream at the store.
HOWEVER, pints of the good stuff – Ben & Jerry’s, Starbucks, SO Delicious –
you know what I am talking about – can cost you five or six dollars, and the
homemade goods are definitely less expensive and oftentimes way more scrumptious!</div>
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I have had some misses in my ice cream experimentation thus
far, but I think I have now found an ice cream base that works for me, a combination of coconut and cream. I just add
different ingredients to change the overall flavor. I plan to share many of
these creations with you, but for now I will start with my most recent recipe:
Strawberry Ice Cream</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQpN9HG29G540LabiqnC6sFRcDxtvVMHBx3DvZsIbYbUfol2KWinm34zfvEQ6E7f22n-cwTzWqMy4hTb1ByQdidVV2DBvgPNROu423ePsXfPu2S6lr-k1wZImvXTUYlT16oKcUwHKkUeR/s1600/Frozen+Strawberries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQpN9HG29G540LabiqnC6sFRcDxtvVMHBx3DvZsIbYbUfol2KWinm34zfvEQ6E7f22n-cwTzWqMy4hTb1ByQdidVV2DBvgPNROu423ePsXfPu2S6lr-k1wZImvXTUYlT16oKcUwHKkUeR/s1600/Frozen+Strawberries.jpg" height="320" nopin="nopin" width="240" /></a></div>
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INGREDIENTS:</div>
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1 can of regular coconut milk</div>
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2 cups whipping cream</div>
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1 tablespoon vanilla extract</div>
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1/3 – ½ cup granulated sugar</div>
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2 cups sliced strawberries</div>
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Add liquid Stevia to taste</div>
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Put the first five ingredients into a blender to mix all the
liquids and to break down the strawberries. My strawberries were frozen, which shouldn't really matter, but it helps to make ice cream with cold ingredients. Taste the blended mixture and add liquid stevia or more sugar
until your desired sweetness is reached (I personally do not like sweets that are
too sweet). Follow the instructions on your ice cream maker to finish up. </div>
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For me, it took about 15 minutes in the ice cream maker. I
actually had too much in the blender to fit in the 1.5 quart machine, so I poured
the extra into a cup and popped it in the freezer before we ate it for dessert,
and it was delicious. The real point of the ice cream maker is to add air into
the mixture to give it that light, ice-creamy texture.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKejGK56kIv4Pw2mniKZrjLmZMh0jle1f5YJ9k1hHWQzV5QugWCyAT2G6ml0ZVbm9utDxq2FR6sXXfAj-DlGySIT01uFG0zitA8wICJx1zHkKHVBDr-WtO2_LRXBULQfH4F1-7nqzH6gcW/s1600/Ninja.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKejGK56kIv4Pw2mniKZrjLmZMh0jle1f5YJ9k1hHWQzV5QugWCyAT2G6ml0ZVbm9utDxq2FR6sXXfAj-DlGySIT01uFG0zitA8wICJx1zHkKHVBDr-WtO2_LRXBULQfH4F1-7nqzH6gcW/s1600/Ninja.jpg" height="400" nopin="nopin" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blend it up!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7p8mGMm5iWEvgCLLLKzLv-GY5FD9OIkcvBUPyu1XoHZN0TG57EXEpmKUrkXmtFwXpvx-4lseybSRc9c6nEB8XneLYwf4fFeKsmnRuTRBFW563YHW-aREwZZIOSnKjWi_DJNYNQnxI-7O7/s1600/Ice+Cream+Maker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7p8mGMm5iWEvgCLLLKzLv-GY5FD9OIkcvBUPyu1XoHZN0TG57EXEpmKUrkXmtFwXpvx-4lseybSRc9c6nEB8XneLYwf4fFeKsmnRuTRBFW563YHW-aREwZZIOSnKjWi_DJNYNQnxI-7O7/s1600/Ice+Cream+Maker.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let the ice cream maker do its thing. (Shh! Don't tell, but I always think at this point that it looks like a butt . . . )</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11EiqEhjUgBdVKtjtFdbNWAj0QncCVKB2jevku70tlX1mzNVJ8D8q8NsBewp7Owg_gowhddlYPg4623RbMDEZ9I4HkDz3JfsM5bX0IU_fMdsi5m3ac-pOImqwEYfMgjBkBSuOM9NDtcaw/s1600/Finishes+Ice+Cream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11EiqEhjUgBdVKtjtFdbNWAj0QncCVKB2jevku70tlX1mzNVJ8D8q8NsBewp7Owg_gowhddlYPg4623RbMDEZ9I4HkDz3JfsM5bX0IU_fMdsi5m3ac-pOImqwEYfMgjBkBSuOM9NDtcaw/s1600/Finishes+Ice+Cream.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The machine adds air to the ice cream and practically pushes it up and out of the machine. </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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl700QL9h5uBqW7zdyC9VFkTGmbb4GpRx-oCROy_I8d7lDWE8xDVFYYqr0KX1rPezhps5REkfxV6nUHhTNM_p4WShDiPyrxsedS_kyEUHbjPP07OFcteo6tDbjAyZ3cFD8ZeDEVstAt3WE/s1600/So+Much+Ice+Cream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl700QL9h5uBqW7zdyC9VFkTGmbb4GpRx-oCROy_I8d7lDWE8xDVFYYqr0KX1rPezhps5REkfxV6nUHhTNM_p4WShDiPyrxsedS_kyEUHbjPP07OFcteo6tDbjAyZ3cFD8ZeDEVstAt3WE/s1600/So+Much+Ice+Cream.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SO MUCH ICE CREAM! HOORAY!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBqWsdToeqicv3SEKMvE_3_So7jUwmKW6RXzGPdCoGKZrtBDKcuYk3nMQOYarvhf7F3DaZvWhKIY4wM-kyaK1VzeFY9uskZxw74ntoNsnaUxDMMh7KiImAhgPVwLKdsP-IxyKjgxTX32T/s1600/Ice+Cream+Sundae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBqWsdToeqicv3SEKMvE_3_So7jUwmKW6RXzGPdCoGKZrtBDKcuYk3nMQOYarvhf7F3DaZvWhKIY4wM-kyaK1VzeFY9uskZxw74ntoNsnaUxDMMh7KiImAhgPVwLKdsP-IxyKjgxTX32T/s1600/Ice+Cream+Sundae.jpg" height="300" nopin="nopin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top your Strawberry Sundae with fresh chopped strawberries and chocolate sauce and then enjoy your homemade treat!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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