tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36339861649415171692024-03-12T20:37:38.961-07:00Mr. and Mrs. WeldonLindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060722548732450692noreply@blogger.comBlogger226125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633986164941517169.post-14399993832577877712015-07-20T23:32:00.000-07:002015-07-20T23:32:12.775-07:00I have my Dream Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here's my social media birthday message:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0tIu-Vx62ofTlIUTrjr1ah7hQ6nOgh0mVDn9DKQEI1zhuGdRNz-AdxjxqqtKSIcfy6I4b7GDaTmFlvElZuZZVxWtqUzwbfUYA4DMXhBRDz9tfBbXgl36eQpKJHbvjVQInxjKl3mafk84/s1600/IMG_20150720_141825904_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0tIu-Vx62ofTlIUTrjr1ah7hQ6nOgh0mVDn9DKQEI1zhuGdRNz-AdxjxqqtKSIcfy6I4b7GDaTmFlvElZuZZVxWtqUzwbfUYA4DMXhBRDz9tfBbXgl36eQpKJHbvjVQInxjKl3mafk84/s320/IMG_20150720_141825904_HDR.jpg" width="180" /></a><div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" style="display: inline;">
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I'm really happy today as I reflect on my life... And what I've made it through and have been blessed with. <b>I'm 32 and living the dream life I always wanted! </b>(And I'm not talking about money and cars.. And trips...because that's not what my mean.)<br /><br />I'm pleasantly overwhelmed with how much joy I have daily with a mentall<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">y stronger family than I had growing up. I feel loved, safe, and respected. I am happy to have a strong marriage with open communication.... and great kids who are healthy and able to tell me when I'm mean...or pretty much their favorite.<br /><br />Today, I am grateful for a living Heavenly Father and the Savoir, Jesus Christ, who love me openly when I forget I'm not alone. I'm grateful that I (and anyone) can get answers to questions and direction as I ponder the word of God, pray, and act in faith upon promptings from the Holy Ghost.<br /><br />Have a great July 20th! I'd have you all over for dinner if I could, really!!!! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />My aged advice: <a name='more'></a>1) embrace your opportunities each day to draw closer to God;<br />2) don't waste time eating fake cheese; &<br />3) leave people better than you found them.</span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWF8z_Kja0tQaaH_vh2mZ04XCh6J2biEAf7rj4T1jCdU0RSxfmxJB4kXNuILnbQaxtF3KTHfkfcs4RD3-N8owQENhUiyiLIqs-I1E9OZn6TnuyO7ojTG4L-ptTcnaJdYQEiSsBgm7klWU/s1600/IMG_20150720_165937939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWF8z_Kja0tQaaH_vh2mZ04XCh6J2biEAf7rj4T1jCdU0RSxfmxJB4kXNuILnbQaxtF3KTHfkfcs4RD3-N8owQENhUiyiLIqs-I1E9OZn6TnuyO7ojTG4L-ptTcnaJdYQEiSsBgm7klWU/s400/IMG_20150720_165937939.jpg" width="225" /></a><br />
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For my birthday, I made Jamie Oliver's <a href="http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/chicken-recipes/chicken-tikka-masala/#2ACZeagtTpBPt9Ts.97" target="_blank">Chicken Tikka Masala</a> & <a href="http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/bread-recipes/incredible-naan-breads/" target="_blank">Naan Bread</a>. These are AMAZING recipes. I highly recommend them!<br />
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FYI Today: I hung out at the house with my kids while my husband was a work...cooked...ate birthday cake...and in the evening, we took our 2 boys to the park. It was a great day! I am satisfied!<br />
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Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060722548732450692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633986164941517169.post-46404505830753664012015-07-02T15:30:00.001-07:002015-07-02T15:35:02.803-07:00How I Got the Courage to Wear Red Lipstick<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJfdthqWW5vWYgCsJUkUyuJq8DSA91qNQ_uo7WzTliVHtiRu2oVu8OJRpeNz2TrjmIGkHnEqNM7RMUYwrBy6e8ECb9UCFd9KyKjRuOnm_3SwOy1eI1HIqPuG1R6mvNGuLCAPaQFp430Q/s1600/IMG_20150628_154000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJfdthqWW5vWYgCsJUkUyuJq8DSA91qNQ_uo7WzTliVHtiRu2oVu8OJRpeNz2TrjmIGkHnEqNM7RMUYwrBy6e8ECb9UCFd9KyKjRuOnm_3SwOy1eI1HIqPuG1R6mvNGuLCAPaQFp430Q/s400/IMG_20150628_154000.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Up until last Sunday, I'd never worn red lipstick in my life. I've had plenty of time...but I've put it off. Last month, I went into Nordstrom and asked a lady at the Mac counter to help me find a red lipstick I might actually look good in. After about 15 minutes and 5 or 6 colors, I felt defeated and ran away, having my lips wiped clean with a makeup wipe (a cleverly re-named baby wipe). I did take one thing from this experience, lip liner makes a big difference.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, a few weeks later, I was walking through Target--as women love to do--and found myself staring at the red lipstick display by Revlon. I spent maybe 20 minutes staring at these little tubes of bright red color wondering if I cold pull them off. The $5 price was what made me grab three sticks of potential success and one lip liner, throwing them into my basket intentionally. I walked away, refusing to re-think about what I was purchasing. I figured that I didn't have as much money to loose as I might at the Mac counter and I was ready to take a chance. </span><br />
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<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After getting home, it turned out 2 of my three colors looked basically identical. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0eGEBMxeWXmBr7YQamtRIeCycJZ0qTpYCIPrVidlAoRhrcKSO-ybHaqHVn_nk3Wb-LEM8B9iisSGs1mIcRL86p-w6VFjdvtSaslkeTaWhwxlzqp9k_cF77RCoSAQ1WiJfNLQXSxaDZA4/s1600/lipstick+on+hand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0eGEBMxeWXmBr7YQamtRIeCycJZ0qTpYCIPrVidlAoRhrcKSO-ybHaqHVn_nk3Wb-LEM8B9iisSGs1mIcRL86p-w6VFjdvtSaslkeTaWhwxlzqp9k_cF77RCoSAQ1WiJfNLQXSxaDZA4/s640/lipstick+on+hand.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv4LDi1O7-TiT8mVDaS8IklH0ny2k0_hrJIGBITMQB_LwXdlYGbTZuQQhyW_EamDPJJ4XWExDg-bVGaAtTfMaf9JZ5BGCa2aApWywO-C3O_quNgCEcC58_t9HMohiiXRGrpdZKv4fZ33Q/s1600/lipstick+labels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv4LDi1O7-TiT8mVDaS8IklH0ny2k0_hrJIGBITMQB_LwXdlYGbTZuQQhyW_EamDPJJ4XWExDg-bVGaAtTfMaf9JZ5BGCa2aApWywO-C3O_quNgCEcC58_t9HMohiiXRGrpdZKv4fZ33Q/s640/lipstick+labels.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSi422DMmNxBgCxanH8iwyW0RAogopDqqsO0Ecya2ZzliK11LUKrpVUh9ghuFla5ewxvLHmlX9wNfBBfeobAgYqqR87qKcEbBmGbo-0rGQu3PzqpHIbkFHvabU1JyS6QqdnXL_yvs7fA/s640/lipstick+laying+down.jpg" width="360" /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEienZw_SNpcEtoyHd9ELf_f24Sm16r0uD5oENtXqoHw-t_dYXYZ8TOY0rsYqUusZVKw7neNYVzkCiHf5go6ENBqmJMOm2NBfZ8kqOYS8gsFkUKjEaMjHkqnpWxx8kK3DuL0GdiFU-gPaVw/s1600/IMG_20150628_095755072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEienZw_SNpcEtoyHd9ELf_f24Sm16r0uD5oENtXqoHw-t_dYXYZ8TOY0rsYqUusZVKw7neNYVzkCiHf5go6ENBqmJMOm2NBfZ8kqOYS8gsFkUKjEaMjHkqnpWxx8kK3DuL0GdiFU-gPaVw/s640/IMG_20150628_095755072.jpg" width="360" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Red lipstick does not look good on me without any other makeup...or end of the day makeup that is melting off my face. So, finally the day arrived. I was getting dressed up for church and decided to try wearing my red-er lipstick of the colors-- Revlon's "Love That Red" & "Gladious". (These are the two that looked the same) I left one at home with my makeup and put the other in my purse. I headed to church...and in the car...I couldn't stand it. I wiped the red lipstick off with a baby wipe and abandoned my dream of trying something bold for the day. I quickly applied my regular chapstick and pretended nothing had happened.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THEN....the next Sunday came (June 28, 2015) and I applied my makeup as normal. It came to paint the lipstick on my lips. I did. Then I just stared at myself in the mirror. I took pictures and psyched myself up! I smiled and decided to commit to keeping it on.While riding in the passenger seat on the way to church, I resisted the temptation to wipe my lips. Well, I got through 3 hours of a lovely church day and even reapplied!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Luckily, my husband and kids liked the red lips...and I even got compliments from other people. Pushing past the fear of bold makeup, I had a little victory for myself. It's really silly what I still get fearful about. So, if you are feeling fearful red lipstick...coach yourself through it, and remember, it comes off...and other people don't worry about it as much as you worry.</span>Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060722548732450692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633986164941517169.post-30417570446774500612015-03-16T21:56:00.004-07:002015-03-17T08:43:03.341-07:0011 Things I Wish I Learned Earlier<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m 31 and am learning new lessons each year. Some simple, some profound...and some mediocre. As I thought about them, there were some I wished I had learned earlier in life. That is what this list is about. So, here’s my list of stuff I wished I’d learned earlier in life...but am happy I know about it now! If you don’t know some of these, I’ll be glad to share them</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3m7X-6PVa2X_yxbo9OxvJmDFO51omPSLZgs1FzZEJp101D-wgVSP5waxqiO-_C9CxaHbSWS-8T5zSX6ZOtUhVNr2fqqY-5PU_BLq5fwQfCCjkh6Qn5PAZpH2vXkhoUbnP-k4chRQONDw/s1600/11+things+I+wish+I+learned+Earlier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3m7X-6PVa2X_yxbo9OxvJmDFO51omPSLZgs1FzZEJp101D-wgVSP5waxqiO-_C9CxaHbSWS-8T5zSX6ZOtUhVNr2fqqY-5PU_BLq5fwQfCCjkh6Qn5PAZpH2vXkhoUbnP-k4chRQONDw/s1600/11+things+I+wish+I+learned+Earlier.jpg" height="450" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. How to get bobby pins to stay in my hair.</span></div>
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<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/w3-QZZR4qUa7ZXwfuo1fytwIBjCEdP-P8wNLAScLuplg07Xt_L3yltS5RQw3TPf_X-7tyTWq7frpGIGIzGN0S_R75eex4K2Cw3Y-7xZ9gXGlGboFBjOYzx1-gPDyD9CZXux-0aCb3g" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="bobby-pins.jpg" border="0" height="248px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/w3-QZZR4qUa7ZXwfuo1fytwIBjCEdP-P8wNLAScLuplg07Xt_L3yltS5RQw3TPf_X-7tyTWq7frpGIGIzGN0S_R75eex4K2Cw3Y-7xZ9gXGlGboFBjOYzx1-gPDyD9CZXux-0aCb3g" style="line-height: 1.38;" width="282px;" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Answer- Apply hairspray first to give the pins to grab onto and use more than one bobby pin. Finish with more hairspray if needed. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My mother was a red head, and she had coarse dry hair. She was also adopted when she was 5. I grew up being told she wasn’t able to do my hair because her mother never knew how to do hers. Anyway, thanks to my wonderful new acting friend, Brandon, whom I was honored to act beside in October 2014, I have a better idea on what’s what when it comes to styling my own hair. Brandon did my 50’s style hair for the play, and in real life--he’s a hairdresser and college student. He used professional (cosmetology store level) bobby pins too...which were so so so much better than the ones I could purchase at Target. So, now I have a chance in styling my own future hair. It’s a miracle! (<a href="https://youtu.be/GNjXXbj-F58" target="_blank">Here's a video tutorial on using bobby pins.</a>)</span></div>
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<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/NHQArdpqCLL8ElLjq25J6sWOHe0o1olJPrsuipwymeoGEYQ0wfQbdMiiX5qUPf8-fa7OApnsfDVu5NCaG2Hz3-J0_FmYpehgesVVXsDRoS8bNp05s3dOwyBIngfnz_MyMSng2RIO8w" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="GNA_4-4.jpg" border="0" height="230px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/NHQArdpqCLL8ElLjq25J6sWOHe0o1olJPrsuipwymeoGEYQ0wfQbdMiiX5qUPf8-fa7OApnsfDVu5NCaG2Hz3-J0_FmYpehgesVVXsDRoS8bNp05s3dOwyBIngfnz_MyMSng2RIO8w" style="line-height: 1.38;" width="282px;" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I never used to care about my nails. But, I started caring last fall when I bought an <a href="http://www.essie.com/" target="_blank">Essie brand nail polish</a>, after watching a YouTube Video regarding someone’s favorite products. I was amazed at how much longer it lasted! In prior attempts to paint my nails, even in salons, the nail polish made me crazy because it would start to peel off within 15 minutes of leaving the salon. I hated wasting my money, so, I just didn’t invest in that part of the beauty industry until recently. Now, I just love painting my nails and having different colors that will stay on for a few days before I want to change things up again. </span></div>
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/2habgD8uAvo7_c12uNLaRA5EYKASYP1ToLIupY2ytrV0VUdzNS2A6pnq6WctREU1OKv4OkTEv4jpjrEBk8FOV90j58TTfULwhF6yAU-KlZUM1XkaPhSTt43J6SdM2bL09NRjz7UV6A" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="perfume-coco-mademoiselle-eau-de-parfum-chanel-de-100-ml_MLC-F-37704566_8863.jpg" border="0" height="248px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/2habgD8uAvo7_c12uNLaRA5EYKASYP1ToLIupY2ytrV0VUdzNS2A6pnq6WctREU1OKv4OkTEv4jpjrEBk8FOV90j58TTfULwhF6yAU-KlZUM1XkaPhSTt43J6SdM2bL09NRjz7UV6A" style="line-height: 1.38;" width="248px;" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I must be going through a “lady” transition because I now delight in picking out a perfume and feeling fancy all day. I know that in the BIG scheme of things--perfume isn’t going to make or break me, but I feel more like a grown up. Besides, I like having my husband get close and smell my neck after a long day of mothering. My favorite scents so far are <a href="http://www.sephora.com/coco-mademoiselle-P12495" target="_blank">Coco Chanel Mademoiselle</a>, <a href="http://www.sephora.com/miss-dior-eau-de-parfum-P133401?skuId=885046" target="_blank">Ms. Dior</a>, and <a href="http://www.sephora.com/miss-dior-blooming-bouquet-P385477?skuId=1599877" target="_blank">Ms. Dior-Blooming Bouquet</a>. As of now, I do not have the money to invest in purchasing the real bottles, so, I keep getting samples from Sephora and Macy’s. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. “How can my body can tell if I’ve eaten a Snicker’s bar before bed?”</span></div>
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<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/sNJTU5YFUt5NRQGbpPcNJACR8xqGTu8jq1yNBBu4gnInQKoGxcFY_qtQwM9BKUPq0oOFRpS13OERWJNxU8RbtcPil4hoMf3oc52kXIIlHxmC3Wf6Ulk5AlD2b63sSCzSyPCWLUolMA" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Snickers-broken.JPG" border="0" height="131px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/sNJTU5YFUt5NRQGbpPcNJACR8xqGTu8jq1yNBBu4gnInQKoGxcFY_qtQwM9BKUPq0oOFRpS13OERWJNxU8RbtcPil4hoMf3oc52kXIIlHxmC3Wf6Ulk5AlD2b63sSCzSyPCWLUolMA" style="line-height: 1.38;" width="333px;" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">This was something I asked my father one day as a child, when he tried to take a Snicker’s Bar away from me. He told me it was a good question but he never answered it. So, I went my whole life hearing about health, but not understanding how to get results in my life. Any weight loss was luck. My doctors told me I didn’t have anything wrong with my body- like thyroid problem...but I think they were too nervous to offend me with anything really helpful. But, with a lot of desire, I committed to trying some things...and found out how calorie intake works. Move more...eat less….and if you eat more...move more. I don’t think I have this down perfectly yet, but I feel like I have control over my body now. I finally know the answer to my Snickers before bed question. </span></div>
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/uVRHjxdvxcFrM84b-TqSX8_dR5-bvbPDQ69MiKBa2zfy2njq5STFljvl1zejLCMEwlRQxCNcsPHh7aHvOPhHF1S51ZNOieq1A6fS_YLE5fee2CXRnlsGd2xh58lmnNGvLfIed3zsAg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="x.jpg" border="0" height="200" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/uVRHjxdvxcFrM84b-TqSX8_dR5-bvbPDQ69MiKBa2zfy2njq5STFljvl1zejLCMEwlRQxCNcsPHh7aHvOPhHF1S51ZNOieq1A6fS_YLE5fee2CXRnlsGd2xh58lmnNGvLfIed3zsAg" style="line-height: 1.38;" width="141" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now that I’ve gotten into better shape, I want to hike and get out and do things that sounded uncomfortable before. I have more energy and feel more comfortable in my body to bend and move in more diverse ways. I just thought it was a “type” of person--outdoorsy--who liked doing all the things REI provides the products for, but it turned out I became that person when I felt better about myself in my own skin.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. Homemade Ricotta Cheese tastes so much BETTER than the dairy case ricotta and is EASY to make.</span></div>
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/HOxdUnsLc3oO-TOIvBC6mx6SLGX0NBbNU9oIEL3h3FlRDC1L8usZXxyaulZtv63rMigBH8lAtTgzwGbZOR80-JgGULq6GCodaFgXvfPCA4PCx3wqkw_CY4yb-av-GRLSymk4ZxnFEg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Homemade+ricotta+cheese+2+117+-+Copy+(1024x683).jpg" border="0" height="160px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/HOxdUnsLc3oO-TOIvBC6mx6SLGX0NBbNU9oIEL3h3FlRDC1L8usZXxyaulZtv63rMigBH8lAtTgzwGbZOR80-JgGULq6GCodaFgXvfPCA4PCx3wqkw_CY4yb-av-GRLSymk4ZxnFEg" style="line-height: 1.38;" width="239px;" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">I tried some fancy expensive ricotta from a fancy expensive grocery store early in my marriage and it changed my views on what Ricotta Cheese could be. It was creamy but still had a slight texture….and it tasted so pure and good and simple and I wanted to eat it for dessert with honey. Prior to that day, I had only eaten regular grocery store ricotta that kind of tastes like the fridge’s collective flavors. It was boring and only really good covered in cheese and in between layers in a lasagna. I thought it was really hard to spend the extra money on such a over rated product. But in reality, it is so much more! When I made my own, I was blown away about how I could now base a meal around the ricotta...to highlight it’s perfect simplicity and beauty. You simply boil some milk and cream, add an acid--like lemon juice or vinegar to curdle the milk, and then dump the curds into some cheese cloth, add salt....and eat. </span><a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2011/06/rich-homemade-ricotta/" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Here’s the recipe I started with.</a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7. Forgiveness can take time.</span></div>
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/7Pb00fXq4PU9Ag2eSKt44TpAThHTUZGlP8nr7A8v6bhh7R_hOwGzFPiTWjGslnYS_-1n43zH07ycNQhHW8h24HLN5kUiea94qQ3yQhRZc9t7y1SZeqhM7LkZG7ukKhYET3GA-07Sog" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="galvanized-wall-clock.jpg" border="0" height="201px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/7Pb00fXq4PU9Ag2eSKt44TpAThHTUZGlP8nr7A8v6bhh7R_hOwGzFPiTWjGslnYS_-1n43zH07ycNQhHW8h24HLN5kUiea94qQ3yQhRZc9t7y1SZeqhM7LkZG7ukKhYET3GA-07Sog" style="line-height: 1.38;" width="201px;" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have always been able to get over things quickly. I could forgive and forget and move on without looking back. But, that wasn't true with one thing in my life. I was emotionally ruined and hurt over and over again by someone in my family with whom I believe had many undiagnosed mental illnesses. I couldn't get away from them and their behavior until I went to college. But it continued and still I was being battered by this person from a distance. After a lot of careful consideration, in January 2014, I stopped all communication with them because it was so unhealthy for us to keep talking. Then in July 2014, after about 20 years of feeling agonizingly unhappy about this person’s actions, I happened to be speaking with my father who said some things to me about this family member’s past. All the sudden, I felt empathy for them. I felt sorry for them. The anger I was carrying around and praying to be taken away finally faded and I experienced forgiveness. I felt peace. I knew I still couldn't talk to this person because they hadn't changed, but I could forgive them and love them and let go of the years of anger and frustration. I got what I was looking for and have been able to enter a new stage in my life, not living with the anger of the past. Forgiveness really can take time. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8. Healthy Romantic Relationships Can Be Achieved--even by Me.</span></div>
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/8QC5Ach2UkFUScYecM4nRAZgV-RAo8lbFp2yiw_uWZtVnGmP2DM8rD1wJER71d9zZKXIxB7dSoUvk2jrBdahy4818YxOsPAZKmpf_SJJIzet2xP6IX8yW1dZhxZ5IJBH_0FTLgmgbw" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="heart_PNG685.png" border="0" height="185px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/8QC5Ach2UkFUScYecM4nRAZgV-RAo8lbFp2yiw_uWZtVnGmP2DM8rD1wJER71d9zZKXIxB7dSoUvk2jrBdahy4818YxOsPAZKmpf_SJJIzet2xP6IX8yW1dZhxZ5IJBH_0FTLgmgbw" style="line-height: 1.38;" width="201px;" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">My parents did not have a good relationship and got divorced in my senior year of high school. They were just shy of 19 years of marriage when the whole thing imploded. At the same time, I was going off to college having never been on a real date. I was curious to see what romance awaited me. Not much happened. So, I went on mission for my church, and took the time to really focus on my relationship with my Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ. I was able to meet a lot of different people. I met some amazing families...and individuals, some in my church, some not...who had great relationships. I started to see what a healthy relationship could be. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I got off my mission, I was a hot commodity and dated a lot. But, the relationships were full of “games” and I hated that. I didn't respect the men I dated because they seemed to say what they thought I wanted them to say. I couldn't trust them. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then I met my now husband, Mr. Weldon, one day at a church BBQ. He was himself. We talked and made plans to talk more. We got to know each other’s accomplishments and weaknesses over long evening conversations. All of it was legit. No lies. No games. I said what I thought and he was bold enough to disagree with me (and vica versa). I know it sounds insane, but after some amazingly direct personal prayers...we were engaged after 3 weeks. I brought it up...and he went with it. (Phew!) Then we got married 3 months later. We moved away and I finished my last year of college. He started back at college once I had finished...and we have had 2 children together. I can honestly say, we've never had a serious fight. We've disagreed or said mean things when we were hungry, but it’s amazing how perfectly we match each other. I am most pleased to give our children the loving home I didn't have growing up. I think the communication and trust we have is what makes it so easy for love to flourish and feel safe to be vulnerable. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9. Learn from passionate people who talk about what they study and know.</span></div>
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/E859AKqXpdZbAIYNuHKCRNZWMvMAdSVhmrJ0kzlgSxuliln6mAdpyEOX53tzLxIgdN8YQhuspVts6aGyvemd2ArgVX01Ic0TaI9UMxQkW3v6ByxLoVq-CQb09_FY8jpbwJVrg2q1sw" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="public-speaking-hacks-podium.jpg" border="0" height="263px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/E859AKqXpdZbAIYNuHKCRNZWMvMAdSVhmrJ0kzlgSxuliln6mAdpyEOX53tzLxIgdN8YQhuspVts6aGyvemd2ArgVX01Ic0TaI9UMxQkW3v6ByxLoVq-CQb09_FY8jpbwJVrg2q1sw" style="line-height: 1.38;" width="130px;" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maybe this is part of being an adult, but I love learning more than ever before. I love listening to </span><a href="https://www.ted.com/talks" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">TED talks </a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">,</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"> interesting conferences (etc), reviewing my college notes from my favorite professors, and generally hearing people talk about things they know passionately. It doesn't really matter what, the speaker’s own enthusiasm and knowledge of the topic makes it worth listening to. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It has taught me how important it is to support my children’s teachers in school and church. I want them to be able to show their passion for teaching. A burnt out teacher is no longer teaching correctly. They are not passing on the love for learning. They can’t be persuasive when they hate what they’re doing. Now that I’m in my 30’s, I enjoy seeing my friends doing things they love and become more competent and knowledgeable. It’s a transition into adulthood I never considered. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10. There is difference between searching and passively experiencing.</span></div>
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pIgl9icJw9fqULHxbnDGJRqheDdQP0fC0MmYwb1KfooQRHVF1LGKPCXsIg0RjpaCN8Hi3RA3d8vixHILWvPNwyF0GKUtMsxS1Y5Kz4ty1SPRfit3dlQSoGUOjz3Er2i-w6AIaFpoBA" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Power-Search.jpg" border="0" height="201px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pIgl9icJw9fqULHxbnDGJRqheDdQP0fC0MmYwb1KfooQRHVF1LGKPCXsIg0RjpaCN8Hi3RA3d8vixHILWvPNwyF0GKUtMsxS1Y5Kz4ty1SPRfit3dlQSoGUOjz3Er2i-w6AIaFpoBA" style="line-height: 1.38;" width="207px;" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are many ways to realize how effective searching can be, but I didn't learn about this until I started keeping a scripture study journal as a missionary at age 21. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I decided I would pray before my daily reading of the scriptures, and then whatever question came to my mind, I would write that down in my study journal. (Examples: How can I be a better friend?, What traits does a leader have? How does faith help people to endure?) Then I would read a chapter or two and search for the answers to the question I had prayerfully written down. I could always find answers. I also felt the most enlightenment in this process because I wasn't reading scriptures that were prime examples of the answers….but there still was much to learn in between the lines. My attitude was different...I wasn't passively reading for content, but actively trying to find answers. Searching is an exciting way to living life. Searching a city for peaceful settings or the streets for people doing acts of service is a different way of getting to know a community than just walking through. I wish I’d learned this earlier...but I know it now, and am glad.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">11. Being part of a community feels good.</span></div>
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<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/7Izc7xwpNdxVqOMbOwmRXXJyYEhMOEx5dMonrlF8N8sHrYC_jp0fO7Hg_Q5ug2wApYzmw_vLrKtLqfGPBqK8-bi2wIVq1yFDZJUUoNXRuko2HlejeZT7fgAQVNZ6PJTLRsmzKLwTig" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="25208059-Hand-drawn-vintage-homes-Old-town-Stock-Vector.jpg" border="0" height="248px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/7Izc7xwpNdxVqOMbOwmRXXJyYEhMOEx5dMonrlF8N8sHrYC_jp0fO7Hg_Q5ug2wApYzmw_vLrKtLqfGPBqK8-bi2wIVq1yFDZJUUoNXRuko2HlejeZT7fgAQVNZ6PJTLRsmzKLwTig" style="line-height: 1.38;" width="365px;" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">I moved a lot growing up. My parents were introverts. We rented homes. My parents didn't participate in community events. I started to understand community when I was a legal assistant after college. I met lots of business owners, talked to people in the community, worked with local government, and saw the good people did through fundraising and service. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nowadays, I am a PTA member! Whoa! I am volunteering in my son’s school, teaching after school drama classes, and doing stuff in his classroom to help out. I am meeting parents and students who I've never met before. I value the connection and the energy greatly.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-------- . ---------- . ---------</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That's all from me...for now. I am who I am because of my experiences and opportunities to learn and grow. I don't regret that. I just want to make sure my children know these way before me...if they're applicable. (</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>I don't think my boys will care about how to put bobby pins in their hair</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.) What lesson's have you learned that you wish you'd learned earlier? If you don't share it with me, make sure you write it down or tell someone you care about.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have a great week!</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Lindsay</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px;"> </span><i style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px;">(aka Mrs. Weldon)</i></span></div>
Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060722548732450692noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633986164941517169.post-35776666034816550972015-03-14T14:39:00.000-07:002015-07-02T15:38:41.632-07:00Moscow Co-Op’s Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/54ac4314e4b00f7c5fc6881e/t/54bd5416e4b0685687264661/1421693977341/logoforweb.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/54ac4314e4b00f7c5fc6881e/t/54bd5416e4b0685687264661/1421693977341/logoforweb.png" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pullman, WA, is 8 miles from Moscow, ID, and the Moscow Food Co-Op. It smells like the co-op in Bellingham, WA, where we lived for the first 6 years of our married life. So, I love it even more because it reconnects me with memories. In fact, the first time we went into the co-op we saw a box marked, "Lost and Found". It contained the typical hippie things...various BPA free water bottles, Birkenstock saddles, bike locks, t-shirts made of hemp, and to our delight--a recorder (the kind you play music on in 5th grade). It made me grin. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6P0pVLdM-CdCFsuyRYSc9EkEPyjHRDUtPaDJ1IR-w8J7Y1AcXvbs-MeEbFOJzT9ZOVYDjQGkv3TwXIrrkMeGXyN9WbsfnIgx1Bz-g3S2Lp2rHR6g_Vag3Cu4-hLLaOq5x21JnaSpvgnc/s1600/cookie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6P0pVLdM-CdCFsuyRYSc9EkEPyjHRDUtPaDJ1IR-w8J7Y1AcXvbs-MeEbFOJzT9ZOVYDjQGkv3TwXIrrkMeGXyN9WbsfnIgx1Bz-g3S2Lp2rHR6g_Vag3Cu4-hLLaOq5x21JnaSpvgnc/s1600/cookie.jpg" width="180" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, they make some awesome cookies! My favorite cookie is their moist, nutty, and chewy Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies. When I found the co-op's PDF cookbook on their website <span style="font-size: x-small;">(<i>which is <u>NO LONGER THERE NOW!!</u></i>)</span>, I quickly skimmed it for this dessert...and FOUND THEM! I danced around my living room like a young girl on Christmas morning. I put off making them since I knew it would be dangerous for my waistline...but the day came yesterday and I bought the whole wheat pastry flour at Winco in the bulk foods section. (I know it's not exactly co-op organic...but its cheaper and tastes the same.) Max, my 2-year-old, helped me to make these and he couldn't stop eating the chocolate chips out of the dough.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today, I'll share with you the recipe. The whole wheat pastry flour gives them a different slightly earthy flavor (healthy-ish) which I really enjoy. But, these are not healthy.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Moscow Co-Op’s Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 lb unsalted butter, softened (2 sticks-- 1 cup)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 1/2 cups peanut butter, fresh ground is best (smooth or </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 11.8285722732544px; white-space: pre-wrap;">crunchy</span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">--either works)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 cups brown sugar, packed</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tsp vanilla extract</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 tsp sea salt</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">11/2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips (or more if you love chocolate)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Directions:</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. In a large mixing bowl cream the sugar, butter, and peanut</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Add eggs and vanilla and mix well.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. In a separate bowl combine the flour, salt and baking soda.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix until fully</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">incorporated.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. Fold in the chocolate chips.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. Scoop cookies onto ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 10</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">minutes.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tip: We have found that fresh ground peanut butter works the </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">best for these cookies as it seems to be less oily, if you are using </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">peanut butter from a jar you may need to add up to 1/2 extra </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">flour. If the cookie dough seems really oily, try baking just a </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">few cookies at a time to see how they turn out, and add more </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">flour if needed. (Or just mix up peanut butter really well if it's separated and get it to a consistent texture--that's what I did and it worked perfectly.)</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These cookies are wonderful warm! </span>Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060722548732450692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633986164941517169.post-91869757903156031022015-03-09T23:36:00.000-07:002015-03-10T13:43:21.582-07:00Book Review: “Don’t Put Lipstick on the Cat-- Humorous Tales of Motherhood” by Kersten Campbell<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are many things that cross over a mother’s lips which she never predicted would be necessary prior to having children. Mother and author <a href="http://www.authorkerstencampbell.com/" target="_blank">Kersten Campbell</a> memorializes one of those statements in the title of her second book, “<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Put-Lipstick-Cat-Motherhood/dp/1462115578/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425397849&sr=8-1&keywords=kersten+campbell" target="_blank">Don’t Put Lipstick on the Cat-- Humorous Tales of Motherhood</a>”. Last week, I had the opportunity to sit back on my couch and enjoy the relatable content between planned and emerging mommy duties, which was easy due to it’s format. Kersten has curated a playful collection of short stories taken from her own life and even some from her family's. I felt like I was sitting in a room with my friend listening to her entertain, delight, and frighten me all at the same time. I know every mom has lots of funny stories to tell, but this author has the talent to write them down with brave sincerity, wit, and greatly appreciated brevity.</span></div>
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<a href="http://booksandthings.com/resize/Shared/Images/Product/PRE-ORDER-Don-t-Put-Lipstick-on-the-Cat-Humorous-Tales-of-Motherhood/Dont-Put-Lipstick-on-Cat_9781426115570.jpg?lr=t&bw=500&bh=500" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://booksandthings.com/resize/Shared/Images/Product/PRE-ORDER-Don-t-Put-Lipstick-on-the-Cat-Humorous-Tales-of-Motherhood/Dont-Put-Lipstick-on-Cat_9781426115570.jpg?lr=t&bw=500&bh=500" height="320" width="234" /></span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, I mentioned that Kersten’s stories frighten me. I’ll explain. I have only two children-boys; one is 5 and the other is 2. (They’re still small enough to pick up and put in bed.) I’m putting on a brave face, but after reading the stories in “Don’t Put Lipstick on the Cat-- Humorous Tales of Motherhood”, inside I'm terrified for my boys to become teenagers. There’s so much more to learn...and experience. It just sounds exhausting! Her stories describe the things her five children--who span teens to toddlers-- do to each other and herself without holding back the embarrassing details. Kersten’s parenting style is loving but her fatigue is apparent when nobody listens to her…. for the hundredth time! (Who can’t relate to that?) Anyway, I decided early on in the book, that these were not stories I would read aloud to my children. Instead, I would recommend hiding the book from any children who can read. Otherwise, children could get ingenious ideas on how to irritate and torture their mother...or heaven forbid, grandmother!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I really appreciated getting to laugh while reading! I felt like I got to know another mother and felt less insane myself. Mrs. Campbell has a knack for drawing you into her stories and describing her likable characters making very funny unlikable choices. I found myself thinking, “Yes! My kids do stuff like that!” Any mother or grandmother could appreciate the lighthearted read as a gift….kind of to say….”Yeah, I might not get what you’re going through, but i support you even though you are totally showing signs of crazy!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the Afterword of “Don’t Put Lipstick on the Cat”, Kersten explained that prior to writing the book, a woman had told Kersten that she wished she was more like her. Kersten considered writing a book would show that woman what it was really like to have a “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">perfect</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” home. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Even though I’m not the person whom Kersten is literally describing, I know so many women who have struggled with being “perfect”. In fact, as a teenager, I started looking for good motherhood examples when my own mother couldn't be my example anymore. In my search for what a mom could be, I found that my favorite examples had toys all over the front yard, overflowing kitchen trash cans, and toddlers without clothes on running up to the dinner table in diapers. They were real moms. They loved hard. They lived and experiences so much without quitting and pushing away their kiddos. I can tell Kersten is one of those awesome moms who loves </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">hard</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, for a light, fast, enjoyably funny read, I’d recommend Kersten Campbell’s new book, “Don’t Put Lipstick on the Cat-- Humorous Tales of Motherhood”. It’s like listening to your playful mom friend! </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Published by </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.plainsightbooks.com/dont-put-lipstick-on-the-cat-kersten-campbell/" target="_blank">Plain Sight</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.plainsightbooks.com/dont-put-lipstick-on-the-cat-kersten-campbell/" target="_blank"> Publishing</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">***Note: I was not compensated in anyway for this review. These are my own thoughts and opinions.</span></span></span></div>
Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060722548732450692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633986164941517169.post-53286116015004297832015-01-09T19:07:00.000-08:002015-01-10T23:10:23.177-08:00The Gift of Salad: My Salad Recipe Collection<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxGwMMS1c277-bgHHSzKQYnUCinDYPcA5oQPHFxOcxeiGPsweZ4Ghz5HzozvFwc8XMwf5awnyXOqHaTvwOzoa014VC9A8pwmSNsh0Wucj6xy_UHCRXXpCJCiXsykpsIbGTfc-P1CRtlo/s1600/Lindsay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxGwMMS1c277-bgHHSzKQYnUCinDYPcA5oQPHFxOcxeiGPsweZ4Ghz5HzozvFwc8XMwf5awnyXOqHaTvwOzoa014VC9A8pwmSNsh0Wucj6xy_UHCRXXpCJCiXsykpsIbGTfc-P1CRtlo/s1600/Lindsay.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was day dreaming about salads today and I realized I had a huge list of ones I love. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two nights ago I went to the Moscow CoOp just so I could have deli case salads for dinner. I got 4 kinds of salads because I couldn't pick just one or even two (and had leftovers for the next day)! I got a new one called Chickpea Turkish Apricot Salad and it was SOOO good. It seemed like a weird combination, but it worked so well. It has kalamata olives, dried apricots, a red wine vinaigrette...and I think they added basil instead of parsley that night. It was so delicious. I went internet searching for recipes and found a few! I haven't made them yet, but I'm super excited. The CoOp has a PDF cookbook online, which had a few of my favorite salads (and cookies) already put together in an orderly authentic recipe, such as Kale Slaw. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is ONE salad (I think I basically found online) that I ADORE at the CoOp and it's going to be my next big recipe to try-- CURRY TOFU SALAD. I love curry and I love the texture of the pan cooked tofu wrapped in this veganeese-ish curry sauce. FYI: I don't love to eat mayo based salads...so, most of these are mayo-free or low mayo. But--I believe there is a place for mayo in life. I'm not insane.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, without further wait... here's my list of salads!!!!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://fitandfed.net/2012/08/04/turkish-summer-garbanzo-chickpea-salad-apricots/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="chickpea salad in a large white serving plate" src="http://t2.pottersaylor.com/wp-content/uploads/chickpea-apricot-salad-1.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.8571424484253px; line-height: 9.85714244842529px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://fitandfed.net/2012/08/04/turkish-summer-garbanzo-chickpea-salad-apricots/" target="_blank">Chickpea Turkish Apricot Salad </a></b></td></tr>
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<a href="http://fitandfed.net/2012/08/04/turkish-summer-garbanzo-chickpea-salad-apricots/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mrandmrsweldon.blogspot.com/2012/03/3-great-salads-we-love.html" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6yK06f2mPeRdpAG3sPZ9EgVBrwOKIbeYADIgG0cQdDjpgn3SAP15GXce_ZGGJyll9hhYt0TGLKEFOnEuE5pTlMoWgHWjUaFa_dtc-cI_B1ANqZIfwbR7W_WdfSnPlAI4FzS76ZgmZqPJ/s200/Chinese+Chicken+Salad.jpg" height="180" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.8571424484253px; line-height: 9.85714244842529px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.mrandmrsweldon.blogspot.com/2012/03/3-great-salads-we-love.html" target="_blank">Chinese Chicken Salad</a></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mrandmrsweldon.blogspot.com/2012/03/3-great-salads-we-love.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-ROL6Urq6S4F8foGJOab3envso_81Uz9X_B-9OSrxaZEXjbMu1e4fHs1tkTkowABGWmqytXaRibCNjqTAXZmXUMbCoW6km2aesLcTsI1Z499kYhNFHLpCbHVITtZPEkfjBZwK9ysODC6/s200/Orzo+Shrimp+Salad.jpg" height="189" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.8571424484253px; line-height: 9.85714244842529px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.mrandmrsweldon.blogspot.com/2012/03/3-great-salads-we-love.html" target="_blank">Shrimp Orzo Salad</a>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mrandmrsweldon.blogspot.com/2012/03/3-great-salads-we-love.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4w9QqNN4IRKtIArRQT7UsqPtp5XaF55fSrAABYYHbG7yxUhvQgAXNEEZ6ET-YRtpPCixxJgeDxq9mfzslQCMRGLVzi-VAUeuhQrXvn03bLuktDAVap_Q75DkSkhrTVtwohYfnzRVP203/s200/IMG_1246.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.8571424484253px; line-height: 9.85714244842529px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.mrandmrsweldon.blogspot.com/2012/03/3-great-salads-we-love.html" target="_blank">Mediterranean Chop Chop Salad</a></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://janetandgreta.com/recipe/greek-lentil-salad/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="GreekLentil1. copy" src="http://janetandgreta.com/wp-content/uploads/GreekLentil1.-copy2-e1400591296962.jpg" height="149" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.8571424484253px; line-height: 9.85714244842529px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://janetandgreta.com/recipe/greek-lentil-salad/" target="_blank">Greek Lentil Salad </a></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lexieskitchen.com/lexies_kitchen/2010/10/2/outback-steakhouse-wedge-salad.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img height="200" src="https://static.squarespace.com/static/5473ccc8e4b00af9382164f5/5473e8a2e4b09b3d41299257/5473e8a4e4b09b3d4129ad2c/1286066820363/1000w/outback_wedge_salad_02_96.jpg" width="151" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.8571424484253px; line-height: 9.85714244842529px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.lexieskitchen.com/lexies_kitchen/2010/10/2/outback-steakhouse-wedge-salad.html" target="_blank">Wedge Salad with Blue Cheese,
Bacon; Balsamic Glaze </a></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDtlGcaBHVQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Curried Tuna Salad" src="http://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CurriedTunaSalad_thumb.jpg" height="134" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDtlGcaBHVQ" target="_blank">Tuna Mixture/ Salad </a></b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">I like to add some curry powder</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">...this links to a video about how to make it.)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://moscowfood.coop/mfc/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/CoopCookbook.pdf" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.choosingraw.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG_3671.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.8571424484253px; line-height: 9.85714244842529px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://moscowfood.coop/mfc/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/CoopCookbook.pdf" target="_blank">Kale Slaw</a></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://moscowfood.coop/mfc/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/CoopCookbook.pdf" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img src="http://myveryveganlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/2012-01-06-bok-choy-salad-1-of-1.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.8571424484253px; line-height: 9.85714244842529px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://moscowfood.coop/mfc/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/CoopCookbook.pdf" target="_blank">Bok Choy Salad</a></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://moscowfood.coop/mfc/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/CoopCookbook.pdf" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.crumbsandchaos.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/cranberry+tortellini+salad+3.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.8571424484253px; line-height: 9.85714244842529px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://moscowfood.coop/mfc/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/CoopCookbook.pdf" target="_blank">Pesto Tortellini with Pesto
and Cranberries/ Walnuts</a></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://moscowfood.coop/mfc/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/CoopCookbook.pdf" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img src="http://0.tqn.com/y/busycooks/1/S/_/Y/1/Cabbage-Tortellini-Salad.jpg" height="142" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.8571424484253px; line-height: 9.85714244842529px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://moscowfood.coop/mfc/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/CoopCookbook.pdf" target="_blank">Italian Garden Tortellini Salad </a></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/main-courses/crock-pot-pulled-pork-and-coleslaw-sandwiches/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.topsecretrecipes.com/images/P/cracker_barrel_cole_slaw-01.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.8571424484253px; line-height: 9.85714244842529px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/main-courses/crock-pot-pulled-pork-and-coleslaw-sandwiches/" target="_blank">Classic Coleslaw </a></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://abc.go.com/shows/the-chew/recipes/Summer-Garden-Pasta-Ina-Garten" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9p6ZFnBGo2tcUpf5wsIXPoZz7bQhG42yzwXNQjGoRZhDY1RajGDpDpwySEJoueMt1MTzNsXydbGRnfOMokzSBipP8CVryytmAuOEiKrtXS08L2ehfZEkgPN9b6sQOoOPSSsraZBU7HzOq/s200/sweet-and-spicy-marinated-tomatoes-1.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><a href="http://abc.go.com/shows/the-chew/recipes/Summer-Garden-Pasta-Ina-Garten" target="_blank">Marinated Cherry Tomato </a></b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><a href="http://abc.go.com/shows/the-chew/recipes/Summer-Garden-Pasta-Ina-Garten" target="_blank">with Garlic and Fresh Basil </a> </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(This recipe adds pasta-- </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I skip that when I just want the tomatoes. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They're great on a burger too!)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/06/caprese-salad/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img src="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2011/06/caprese.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.8571424484253px; line-height: 9.85714244842529px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/06/caprese-salad/" target="_blank">Caprese Salad </a></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fortheloveofcooking.net/2008/10/shredded-beef-taco-salad.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZsUXVC9rolz-n6QVgToHFFB2_bdXlKmuB5R_lD-Y-NH3zKTfgILKQBnbijgFHMnebG2Z9V21rKNiYvWjo4IWVJ02q0HwAV4oc3Lrt-PtKpvBmepbnAM6a-9tWem3l3OPDTVXHJTIziko/s200/IMG_9801.JPG" height="195" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.8571424484253px; line-height: 9.85714244842529px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.fortheloveofcooking.net/2008/10/shredded-beef-taco-salad.html" target="_blank">Taco Salad </a></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.laurenslatest.com/crunchy-thai-chicken-salad/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="IMG_0061" src="http://www.laurenslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/IMG_0061.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.8571424484253px; line-height: 9.85714244842529px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.laurenslatest.com/crunchy-thai-chicken-salad/" target="_blank">Thai Peanut Salad </a></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Tabbouleh-1000083183" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.simplyrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/tabbouleh.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><a href="http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Tabbouleh-1000083183" target="_blank">Tabbouleh </a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Or try <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/tabbouleh-recipe.html" target="_blank">THIS </a>recipe </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(minus some salt)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://damndelicious.net/2012/10/22/chicken-pesto-sandwich/" target="_blank"><img alt="Chicken Pesto Sandwich - Lightened up with Greek yogurt, this hearty sandwich is one of the quickest, most tastiest meals you'll ever have!" src="http://damndelicious.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG_6871.jpg" height="159" width="200" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><a href="http://damndelicious.net/2012/10/22/chicken-pesto-sandwich/" target="_blank">Chicken Pesto Salad </a></b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mrandmrsweldon.blogspot.com/2011/05/secret-murray-family-recipe-revealed.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjioef00i2YpxE9ZR7neuvSWkRdMpqxmw-tRuConv8zr4TGiSwJbElHBNxcGglVHdbfFYI8INJVjGvvAek_nCAy-3BbAy-0idboI25NeXDi0XM7ai_Ft82k2timC5tRrMrYQ2YppQenajfR/s200/Mango+Chutney+salad.jpg" height="81" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.8571424484253px; line-height: 9.85714244842529px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://mrandmrsweldon.blogspot.com/2011/05/secret-murray-family-recipe-revealed.html" target="_blank">Mango Chutney Salad </a></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/german-potato-salad-recipe.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img src="http://foodnetwork.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/food/fullset/2011/6/8/0/GL1B09_german-potato-salad_s4x3.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.8571424484253px; line-height: 9.85714244842529px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/german-potato-salad-recipe.html" target="_blank">German Potato Salad </a></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fourclankitchen.wordpress.com/2012/11/17/curried-tofu-salad/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img height="150" src="https://fourclankitchen.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/photo-4.jpg?w=1215&h=915" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(It looks like this-- without as much carrot...</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">and recipe--seems to use celery rather than onion)</span></i></span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-29aee9f4-d126-216d-80a5-bb24770882c9"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><a href="https://fourclankitchen.wordpress.com/2012/11/17/curried-tofu-salad/" style="font-size: 15px;" target="_blank">CURRY TOFU Salad</a></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you have any AMAZING salad recipes? Let me know. :) Until then, enjoy these!</span>Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060722548732450692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633986164941517169.post-61779232541692451672014-11-06T11:39:00.001-08:002014-11-06T12:44:42.473-08:00"Russian" Gnocchi (remake of Russian Dumplings)<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I lived in Bellingham, WA, for many years while my husband and I went to school. Bellingham has great food because the city is full of organic hippy foodies. Things grow well for local farmers and I am spoiled to have lived there. One restaurant that exists is a hole in the wall- no frills- Russian dumpling place called </span><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/88/816306/restaurant/Pelmeni-Restaurant-Bellingham" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Pel'meni</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. (1211 State Street, Bellingham, WA 98225) (SIDE NOTE: You can listen to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMiBZ6s4SjY" target="_blank">THIS song</a> about Bellingham and here the "Hot Russian Dumplings" mentioned.)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhEHBwhDVdrNsTfScjsLRavgZnhdSArEdIB-CQt5TvKDDc4MRIs2-lGU-d67vrrz3sQwomCjXdO_kwCKKALObFuDyCh3P7pGrxLLbiNjQ1iAPx6zb3YoDTVWHoIlJmVtFv8xZyDdfMCk/s1600/perogies+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhEHBwhDVdrNsTfScjsLRavgZnhdSArEdIB-CQt5TvKDDc4MRIs2-lGU-d67vrrz3sQwomCjXdO_kwCKKALObFuDyCh3P7pGrxLLbiNjQ1iAPx6zb3YoDTVWHoIlJmVtFv8xZyDdfMCk/s1600/perogies+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhEHBwhDVdrNsTfScjsLRavgZnhdSArEdIB-CQt5TvKDDc4MRIs2-lGU-d67vrrz3sQwomCjXdO_kwCKKALObFuDyCh3P7pGrxLLbiNjQ1iAPx6zb3YoDTVWHoIlJmVtFv8xZyDdfMCk/s1600/perogies+3.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All you can order is meat (ground beef) or potato pelmeni (aka </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">dumplings). (They're a little smaller that a traditional perogy.)</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> They are made locally, and frozen. Once you order, they pull the selected </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">dumplings </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">out of the freezer and boil them in either the meat water pot or the potato pot. When they're cooked through, they put them in a little box, add melted butter, a sauce made of Sriracha hot sauce--watered down with some white vinegar and water, sprinkled with dry curry powder, cilantro, and served with a side of sour cream--oh, and a slice of rye bread (a weak version). It's $7. You can buy canned soda if you want to splurge but that's all the options (as of now). It tastes so good. I prefer the potato. It's just perfect easy uncomplicated food. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="Nuq8o4sm0pcmpt-180" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/w/s/Z4/Nuq8o4sM0pcMPT-640m.jpg" height="297" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Outside the restaurant.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In August, we went on a trip to Bellingham, and ate at the dumpling restaurant and were soooo happy. We sounded like crazy people with all the "mmmm"s and "ahhhhh"s we let out as we ate it slowly. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last week, I was sorely missing my favorite Russian dumplings and noticed a package of pre-made gnocchi at the grocery store. Knowing that they're made largely out of potatoes, I pondered over the replacement potential the gnocchi could have if standing in for the dumplings. Well, I did it and it was perfect. It tasted the same as the potato dumplings from Bellingham. Here's what I came up with as the "recipe" below. It's flexible to changes for preference. If you like more or less of something, play around with the amount you top the gnocchi with until you get your perfect bowl.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: white;">"Russian" Gnocchi </b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Serves 4</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXexW3R93RRXfS0Xh4UC0eIdJzWElvBMTJhCN7HyhqBemQ5LTHo1RBnedEtR_YfCDSXCvX2fqEnGl4OVH-mihWiWBHmhQcYRRACAU4PlKz870xd2y3dHmMf8qZ-x4RKBygLN5-bZmipJc/s1600/Homemade+Gnocchi+Meal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXexW3R93RRXfS0Xh4UC0eIdJzWElvBMTJhCN7HyhqBemQ5LTHo1RBnedEtR_YfCDSXCvX2fqEnGl4OVH-mihWiWBHmhQcYRRACAU4PlKz870xd2y3dHmMf8qZ-x4RKBygLN5-bZmipJc/s1600/Homemade+Gnocchi+Meal.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 cup <b>Butter</b>, melted</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 TBPN <b>Sriracha Hot Sauce</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 1/4 TBSN <b>White Vinegar</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 -2 teaspoons <b>warm water</b> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 cup <b>Cilantro,</b> chopped</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Curry Powder</b>, as desired (about 2 big shakes--2 teaspoons or more per serving)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Gnocchi</b>, 2 16 oz. packages of prepared</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 cup <b>Sour Cream</b> (or more if desired)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 slices <b>Rye bread</b> (optional)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Boil a pot of water to cook your gnocchi as package directs. Drain when done.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mix Sriracha, white vinegar, and water together. Set aside. (To make it spicier, add less water or more Sriracha.)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To serve: Put gnocchi in a bowl. Spoon about a tablespoon of melted butter over gnocchi. Spoon hot sauce/vinegar/water mixture over the gnocchi. Then shake about 2 teaspoons of curry powder over gnocchi. Top with cilantro and serve with sour cream (about 2 tablespoons--more if desired) on the side to dip your gnocchi into. Traditionally, it comes with a slice of rye bread to soak up any leftover butter and curry powder in the bowl.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eat immediately while warm.</span></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNg7MEd1athh6ua4Vhn0OH-H7GzAfo0D85v9wJhtZqby-nWDBnjzAClblumm8EiVCcPndJtVUqrKrW6UFMMv6NkqqTkTsTx75nNxN62ayUJRlDngnQYjYVfR4lkRyThImpctlhaWUftaE/s1600/IMG_5177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNg7MEd1athh6ua4Vhn0OH-H7GzAfo0D85v9wJhtZqby-nWDBnjzAClblumm8EiVCcPndJtVUqrKrW6UFMMv6NkqqTkTsTx75nNxN62ayUJRlDngnQYjYVfR4lkRyThImpctlhaWUftaE/s1600/IMG_5177.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">April 2014- Easter Sunday</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've never really talked online about my weight. I guess I don't want to jinx any success nor feel bad if I fail. BUT...I thought I'd talk about it since I've getting asked more and more if I've lost weight. (That feels nice.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, last summer-ish time (2013) I attempted to loose some weight...after having my second child. I had started noticing my ankles getting larger--and my hand was going numb when I slept on my side (and other reasons) really made me want to take control over my body's physical future as much as possible. I was 210 pounds to start. I lost 20 pounds pretty quickly by just <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPcfRmnJfTFMO9ZeAndLrQ2YacTy-M_i9kzEwMUXSuYjgaF7UUN_fSqzdUZ5H1Lp6OTVNXXuIvbEHPOygzx5PVQKw_uLC7tDNRZo2IoLTVO60dlKvDPeRikeHDn2coKyJUkAS5ieNyy0/s1600/IMG_20140909_113955_360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPcfRmnJfTFMO9ZeAndLrQ2YacTy-M_i9kzEwMUXSuYjgaF7UUN_fSqzdUZ5H1Lp6OTVNXXuIvbEHPOygzx5PVQKw_uLC7tDNRZo2IoLTVO60dlKvDPeRikeHDn2coKyJUkAS5ieNyy0/s1600/IMG_20140909_113955_360.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">September 2014</td></tr>
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jumping on my elliptical for 30 minutes a day and eating a little better. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BUT by fall, after packing and moving to another home--I got out of my routine...and at the same time had stopped nursing my baby. Within a month or 2, I gained back 10 pounds. I was feeling dissapointed and realized I still didn't know what I was doing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By January 2014, I was working out regualarly again and eating healthy...but wasn't loosing weight. My nursing had given me magical weight loss abilities that I couldn't seem to compensate for. I was left feeling frustrated and out of control. My body seemed to have a mind of it's own...if IT wanted to gain weight, IT was going to and I was a compelled to follow along. I was 200 pounds and feeling helpless when it came to weight loss. There was NO WAY I was going to pay money to loose weight-- especially if I didn't know what I was doing. (Not interested in commercial plans--or supplements, etc.) </span><br />
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<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Luckily, I managed to loose 5 pounds but remained at 195 for 4 months without budging. On the first Sunday in June 2014, I was preparing for my monthly religious fast for 2 meals and as I was praying to open my fast with my Heavenly Father, I was mentioning my struggle with my weight loss. I felt prompted to include this purpose in my fast that day-- asking for clarity on what I could do personally to make myself healthier. My prayer was answered quickly as a thought came into my mind--something I had never considered before about how I was calculating my calories. I had received personal revelation from the Holy Ghost from my Heavenly Father on what to do...and I felt like I wasn't doing it alone anymore. I don't know why I hadn't thought to pray about it before...but was really glad when I did. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Other ideas came to my mind as I sought out the right goals and weight loss tactics in eating that I then meshed together to make MY plan with. So far, I've lost 35 pounds since I started this at the beginning of the summer. I weigh 162 pounds today and I'm not done yet. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's some progress pictures I started taking July 1st, 2014 at 189.9 pounds-- Saturday, September 21st at 162.5 pounds.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrBx2Ei6uEJiOPSd3QvMeR_wjs9x0ivOxxbHclKGRUy2QFUJ70stNi8QYnnkCU-RnNFIVQpI94rnJQ1uVltoFiRsXJ3MEt07GnVUbUgif7BsF8F6NCfinrzd_4QznVVQ7P0Gxwe107hs/s1600/Weight+Loss+so+far-+Side+View-+09-20-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrBx2Ei6uEJiOPSd3QvMeR_wjs9x0ivOxxbHclKGRUy2QFUJ70stNi8QYnnkCU-RnNFIVQpI94rnJQ1uVltoFiRsXJ3MEt07GnVUbUgif7BsF8F6NCfinrzd_4QznVVQ7P0Gxwe107hs/s1600/Weight+Loss+so+far-+Side+View-+09-20-14.jpg" height="280" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wasn't aware of how much booty I had. (PS...I'm totally sucking in my stomach in all this pictures.)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgN_58USgglHy8dmmsdngyz9ZcVceEn2bXwwDyyjK2R2FxtPeVXlv-NGrRmbCtO6ayJYoBj47DsZq5CFQjcuc-ZOhxMwPYLm1MLlAZkSlI0IHnkxJCxLJQT5wUtKCfibF4DmSHxN3rSo/s1600/Weight+Loss+so+far-+FRONT+View-+09-20-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgN_58USgglHy8dmmsdngyz9ZcVceEn2bXwwDyyjK2R2FxtPeVXlv-NGrRmbCtO6ayJYoBj47DsZq5CFQjcuc-ZOhxMwPYLm1MLlAZkSlI0IHnkxJCxLJQT5wUtKCfibF4DmSHxN3rSo/s1600/Weight+Loss+so+far-+FRONT+View-+09-20-14.jpg" height="266" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's not very apparant from the FRONT VIEW I think...that I've lost any weight. Oh well...I've lost 7 inches around my waist.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I get it all the time, so, h</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ere's a few things I do to loose weight:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 1) I eat only 1,200 calories a day. I don't get more if I work out.</span><br />
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2) Eating losts of protien for breakfast (which usually translated to cottage cheese for me)...and eating yogurt (which is supposed to get rid of belly fat). I try to eat it within 30 minutes of waking up...if I can.</span><br />
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3) I then jump on my elliptical and work out--not very hard-- for 2 hours 6 days a week (Mon- Sat.-- Sunday being my day of rest.) The lenght of work out was a big change for me, but neccessary I thought to make up for any calories I missed and still loose weight....and keep me motivated to still eat 1200 calories and work out for a long time.</span><br />
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4) After I work out, I stretch on the floor and then do crunches, push ups, and 60 seconds of planking. (I haven't wanted to increase it yet... its just so hard.)</span><br />
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5) I don't eat after 8 pm.</span><br />
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6) I eat carbs...but try to limit them...and tend not to eat them at dinner time if I can avoid it. (Saved for earlier in the day when I can burn off the sugar etc.)</span><br />
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7) I still eat cake and chocolate...but account for it...and eat lower calorie foods that day. I try NOT to eat it every day too.</span><br />
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8) I cook stuff at home as much as I can....because at a resturant they have WAY more calories...and I look at the calories on the resturant website when I consider it...and it helps me to make the best choice for the moment in my day.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 9) I don't eat recreationally...and if I do, I am aware of it and calcutate it into my daily/weekly calories so I can come out on top. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's it I think. I'm not a pro or nutritionist...but I just wanted to share with you the progress I've made to date. I'm still going...trying to get to my healthiest weight. I'm not reccommending you do what I'm doing...as I'm not a doctor. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Believe it or not, I've enjoyed the time I've had to work on myself through excercising and eating well. I am blessed to have a body that can excercise and I don't have dietary restrictions (like gluten, sugar, sodium, etc) to worry about. So, anyway--- this is all I wanted to share. </span>Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060722548732450692noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633986164941517169.post-48718617971709122822014-09-08T17:19:00.002-07:002014-09-08T17:29:12.318-07:00Family Photos 2014<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The dreamy photographer, Mrs. <a href="http://www.courtneypricephotography.com/" target="_blank">Courtney Price</a>, has done it AGAIN! (You can read about the prior time <a href="http://mrandmrsweldon.blogspot.com/2011/01/family-photos-with-courtney-price.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> and <a href="http://mrandmrsweldon.blogspot.com/2011/02/more-family-photos.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.) She captured our family in digital form on a visit to Lynden on August 16, 2014 and I was so happy with how they turned out! It reminds me of how important it is to get GOOD family photos done. We really didn't have any photos of Max (our almost 2 year old) up on the wall, especially none with all of us in the same photo.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wanted to share some of the results that now grace our walls. Enjoy!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ObxDwq5Ej1Lm0yYYoX0k48vtylZk8MFTSEjt-lvYhoabJn2m8KYIPk-PcN1zrY_KYSVbiua5Mneb5E_GBmcghpicWhr7pCHnPGqr8vY80ARPFeQPxjRWMm2EViKqelRnlDYCqaS8BPg/s1600/WEBIMG_5391.jpg" height="640" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="425" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is our one of the BIG WINNERS--we hung at our house.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ObxDwq5Ej1Lm0yYYoX0k48vtylZk8MFTSEjt-lvYhoabJn2m8KYIPk-PcN1zrY_KYSVbiua5Mneb5E_GBmcghpicWhr7pCHnPGqr8vY80ARPFeQPxjRWMm2EViKqelRnlDYCqaS8BPg/s1600/WEBIMG_5391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivR6nOa1gixy5rpePjyHc9NBQtGAPPkpSAmwFcpcEvov6Ogs5kNDU0vtxC3Xvec1q07FCEN3s9H5a4vYITh1hnee5sz3ZYS025bbCoMYOfQremytc2demc5dmXj9ZOUZqPzXTCMKbgF6A/s1600/WEBIMG_5421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivR6nOa1gixy5rpePjyHc9NBQtGAPPkpSAmwFcpcEvov6Ogs5kNDU0vtxC3Xvec1q07FCEN3s9H5a4vYITh1hnee5sz3ZYS025bbCoMYOfQremytc2demc5dmXj9ZOUZqPzXTCMKbgF6A/s1600/WEBIMG_5421.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lovely walk up the field's man-made road. Max kept saying we were going up the mountain. (a small hill in the distance) Also, regarding this picture, Max stopped wanting to hold hands and really wanted to walk independently...hence the focus of the picture.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg101d2J1XVgZUHn5XYuDnfLig-IOtfBgGMuGOnul1wAmkaDuq8cw2GaHiWlHhZkRtPa8_UI4QAebU4NKQ8E0uHqNcfAOHyxqpsyRxBeqnrnd7bpcc_B2SRgAsXuCiqnluR1Yn3UD80ws/s1600/WEBIMG_5414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg101d2J1XVgZUHn5XYuDnfLig-IOtfBgGMuGOnul1wAmkaDuq8cw2GaHiWlHhZkRtPa8_UI4QAebU4NKQ8E0uHqNcfAOHyxqpsyRxBeqnrnd7bpcc_B2SRgAsXuCiqnluR1Yn3UD80ws/s1600/WEBIMG_5414.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One where we're all holding hands.... it's like heaven. Right?!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yg233d5YgyXu_9jwLNNNALO4s-MHeGHfs315nOWFlil-pMG_VZspVQcNSAJWkmU-u4OIRq79Uhivxsg8tkGsnfN3MPsR6zom5F-qmLUI6kkfi4O29HEev4cdhu2m2Mt-oEJr_wO3Zdo/s1600/WEBIMG_5418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yg233d5YgyXu_9jwLNNNALO4s-MHeGHfs315nOWFlil-pMG_VZspVQcNSAJWkmU-u4OIRq79Uhivxsg8tkGsnfN3MPsR6zom5F-qmLUI6kkfi4O29HEev4cdhu2m2Mt-oEJr_wO3Zdo/s1600/WEBIMG_5418.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like how this picture reminds me of the adventure our family takes...out alone together each day...rather happily.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKhUctONABsUeQ-vvI_EJ5Uygcjrcy62u-sTZOGfbVws09HjBg-kvCkWJbmZS0G8Am39GhaQaDAjLUyaM3SwTt0HDqskP4noVU-gNti98VJ1mgcdQUKc1EEOq-tXj5xuyrSeGHbnKJaGI/s1600/WEBIMG_5429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKhUctONABsUeQ-vvI_EJ5Uygcjrcy62u-sTZOGfbVws09HjBg-kvCkWJbmZS0G8Am39GhaQaDAjLUyaM3SwTt0HDqskP4noVU-gNti98VJ1mgcdQUKc1EEOq-tXj5xuyrSeGHbnKJaGI/s1600/WEBIMG_5429.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enoch suggested he'd sit up on this wheel (of a boat trailer?). He was quite the poser at age 5.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFySRWCOM2db7fYhMfqzEhmyVCkVwzAsaM2m-Qr_YeYjRF214MoCYdDLvU2dRfhyphenhyphenx25rkT1NRMKmkkCp40o7_FFGIl5221U35dUv2QFaI2gqra-gQ8HacWGZlv_E5KQn8pBediwXI3KY/s1600/WEBIMG_5432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFySRWCOM2db7fYhMfqzEhmyVCkVwzAsaM2m-Qr_YeYjRF214MoCYdDLvU2dRfhyphenhyphenx25rkT1NRMKmkkCp40o7_FFGIl5221U35dUv2QFaI2gqra-gQ8HacWGZlv_E5KQn8pBediwXI3KY/s1600/WEBIMG_5432.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enoch loves to be silly, even for Courtney.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSl2KAkfCOStda9Be7RV_3q7A-UhM9QCtoje_-Q5NTRdpSd4XlQCPrvQcLG-5wbU4FiWfqeqOzMt-zcVg7PL1sIUoOxvXkEnFOjrSTA61FLwKN3Ha0VLOq53UQ-Pt8rZ-JRyXiggrwjwE/s1600/WEBIMG_5437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSl2KAkfCOStda9Be7RV_3q7A-UhM9QCtoje_-Q5NTRdpSd4XlQCPrvQcLG-5wbU4FiWfqeqOzMt-zcVg7PL1sIUoOxvXkEnFOjrSTA61FLwKN3Ha0VLOq53UQ-Pt8rZ-JRyXiggrwjwE/s1600/WEBIMG_5437.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Max has great thoughts, I'm sure. He just looks for wonderful. That's my hand on his hip holding him steady...as he wanted to get on the boat trailer tire for a picture, just like his brother.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufnFHjtoHvTsS3bGLWs8pP0FETFGI3TxoJgNGzsRKxFaaxF_OJjbfdarOvmXvZzFLCAvDHIp2zXMsusyCk8qiuOtFYzdFvUopFCmHrys8X4i7WXp9UBbTh5sy26616j6c7JeJDAZVLs0/s1600/WEBIMG_5441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufnFHjtoHvTsS3bGLWs8pP0FETFGI3TxoJgNGzsRKxFaaxF_OJjbfdarOvmXvZzFLCAvDHIp2zXMsusyCk8qiuOtFYzdFvUopFCmHrys8X4i7WXp9UBbTh5sy26616j6c7JeJDAZVLs0/s1600/WEBIMG_5441.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Max could NOT stay still... and was difficult to get a smile from for the first 45 minutes. Here he quickly starts to leave formation to check out the river.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6V33N_pcz3qDIUZlR0n2Xko_8WKSQlss9VDjqrlxnaxLqB3w9r5rewtGsgWmOK5yOW5dLCcgHqgasB0wiHop-y9zeh4khjRBrkAQ91qmvWGuEDPWgoysTShFBkFAJe3121deZH9ugbU/s1600/WEBIMG_5444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6V33N_pcz3qDIUZlR0n2Xko_8WKSQlss9VDjqrlxnaxLqB3w9r5rewtGsgWmOK5yOW5dLCcgHqgasB0wiHop-y9zeh4khjRBrkAQ91qmvWGuEDPWgoysTShFBkFAJe3121deZH9ugbU/s1600/WEBIMG_5444.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Max finds stuff to throw in the river...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKUWW2YKoKcKQL9WPHFBOhT6RzWmDG8yuaycDp2DyzPjzTbw5G9en7n7OoswKUo5op1UDGTFkwEcS0cj85YvP4ENhKgXticiD2KDB-X7vZAxai0_KwyO_EvjMlnmA09C16-iA0dxmGDUc/s1600/WEBIMG_5446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKUWW2YKoKcKQL9WPHFBOhT6RzWmDG8yuaycDp2DyzPjzTbw5G9en7n7OoswKUo5op1UDGTFkwEcS0cj85YvP4ENhKgXticiD2KDB-X7vZAxai0_KwyO_EvjMlnmA09C16-iA0dxmGDUc/s1600/WEBIMG_5446.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And gets closer for the big throw.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4dAHzU0GuJ6opcsxeVXxYNJlSMVoowecUVoCat6RkGeonO8l4pb_Hy8-gR9aM4Bed_Vb6OfTeg8nfnvzvrwh0z8y1vGdGXUe02ZcpXf0Dst9wemWHlKWC4j0Fu0mrVOmZqh94eRxTFw/s1600/WEBIMG_5447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4dAHzU0GuJ6opcsxeVXxYNJlSMVoowecUVoCat6RkGeonO8l4pb_Hy8-gR9aM4Bed_Vb6OfTeg8nfnvzvrwh0z8y1vGdGXUe02ZcpXf0Dst9wemWHlKWC4j0Fu0mrVOmZqh94eRxTFw/s1600/WEBIMG_5447.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So cool to watch the stuff you hurled over the end hit more stuff and then the water.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2za648jvReUxgyIBW2LExfqlfPEqEX17duZJWt9Ldqgmnkr9WGxENLLdNcydQm9EC8IqrI2_H6eLdBhbDU7TKpNXSVs8PhjocXtFthXJzM-q2IRIDmd0LYWuYacruCqD-AYYDpFwp7A/s1600/WEBIMG_5448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2za648jvReUxgyIBW2LExfqlfPEqEX17duZJWt9Ldqgmnkr9WGxENLLdNcydQm9EC8IqrI2_H6eLdBhbDU7TKpNXSVs8PhjocXtFthXJzM-q2IRIDmd0LYWuYacruCqD-AYYDpFwp7A/s1600/WEBIMG_5448.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys all join in the classic game of "Throw Everything Into the River".</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhY_AgdCMubZ3L_sJZXbbXdPkeWLt4SDbTDPqze0rTwUa28jJccJxAU16jh9OaYgTIjsoEcgNOrwDqhpVybZs__UXmVi_IvO49FdVeRtSsoW76x34yva4SI6F8q6hRkB8ZICiJcZGo9c/s1600/WEBIMG_5453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhY_AgdCMubZ3L_sJZXbbXdPkeWLt4SDbTDPqze0rTwUa28jJccJxAU16jh9OaYgTIjsoEcgNOrwDqhpVybZs__UXmVi_IvO49FdVeRtSsoW76x34yva4SI6F8q6hRkB8ZICiJcZGo9c/s1600/WEBIMG_5453.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daddy and son...so precious!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAtr11UfGM0SEzB1vJ8yfoqGPYBoqA8bQc2mJqC1mVjlrDPkCpIY-7_sB2O93qECepGQ-KzHoDh3EYNVfb4saoo4FAqB9ZvM5lKaYxMYWwjpKQY_N6z6emyAdlfxjvPgVmzCZ1BXXqjA/s1600/WEBIMG_5460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAtr11UfGM0SEzB1vJ8yfoqGPYBoqA8bQc2mJqC1mVjlrDPkCpIY-7_sB2O93qECepGQ-KzHoDh3EYNVfb4saoo4FAqB9ZvM5lKaYxMYWwjpKQY_N6z6emyAdlfxjvPgVmzCZ1BXXqjA/s1600/WEBIMG_5460.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Max proclaiming, "I did it!!!" (After throwing stuff in the river of course.)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0gxMSyaDQHc-bY7pwke3Finb65sBJXnFP_QzHsR3IROoRufzqK6aP_agm5kbLU8tD4wZ2KIWwClljvV0qOIBNa2TfJVqi4_Uirvmdim79284YnHo_DFkSSecO5q1sknX-1r3BWDbYpeM/s1600/WEBIMG_5462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0gxMSyaDQHc-bY7pwke3Finb65sBJXnFP_QzHsR3IROoRufzqK6aP_agm5kbLU8tD4wZ2KIWwClljvV0qOIBNa2TfJVqi4_Uirvmdim79284YnHo_DFkSSecO5q1sknX-1r3BWDbYpeM/s1600/WEBIMG_5462.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Natural and perfect Enoch in life moment.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7JqkvhE1AFtLmCnkp_nJMxUkSsh5UrGaM9FyeCRvQRE8tIL8N2f2PQrtFMxSOvW_ymWEF7J67TUxEC-UUgx4cS1VnguaVDylfVC_Fb5XyCyvT28g98JqSX42vRBORtPGX_A7uEgTp4U/s1600/WEBIMG_5463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7JqkvhE1AFtLmCnkp_nJMxUkSsh5UrGaM9FyeCRvQRE8tIL8N2f2PQrtFMxSOvW_ymWEF7J67TUxEC-UUgx4cS1VnguaVDylfVC_Fb5XyCyvT28g98JqSX42vRBORtPGX_A7uEgTp4U/s1600/WEBIMG_5463.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enoch trying to hard to pose...but its still so cute... and I love the photo framing Courtney did-- getting the river in the shot.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nZvMHRnInvBJWtYBto9tPJXfajZMO2RxMVryhupbrLsmHslUi4J-6HjhV9Js4YjQSgum0Z1eGGyQ621ZiTwbFpU6UfRjnqfvHEUMfLYH1A4FI6pUyk6ZsuYaYGg_zdf0jHbBDpTjTxk/s1600/WEBIMG_5464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nZvMHRnInvBJWtYBto9tPJXfajZMO2RxMVryhupbrLsmHslUi4J-6HjhV9Js4YjQSgum0Z1eGGyQ621ZiTwbFpU6UfRjnqfvHEUMfLYH1A4FI6pUyk6ZsuYaYGg_zdf0jHbBDpTjTxk/s1600/WEBIMG_5464.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh look, Enoch "DID IT" too!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMTORK8M-fok46uoIMdeRHKXXHL5D8ITuvOBvE2TqC9h6CPsovaMVYyzRTJI1hCOIv7sivtSxRbNq8_VJsS9FExf5ZsBWG2T5UemwIX-OzZ-sfi6l7rM6fkUNp9a8RqhZsrQW-IOCMSw/s1600/WEBIMG_5465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMTORK8M-fok46uoIMdeRHKXXHL5D8ITuvOBvE2TqC9h6CPsovaMVYyzRTJI1hCOIv7sivtSxRbNq8_VJsS9FExf5ZsBWG2T5UemwIX-OzZ-sfi6l7rM6fkUNp9a8RqhZsrQW-IOCMSw/s1600/WEBIMG_5465.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This lone shot of Enoch reminds us he'll grow up someday...we love it and cringe at it's foretelling meaning when we look at it.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIL2TELmzqEzEvTuG_apzVD6CXlhoFSmENAeeKv9sLhdHwahW-jlgA_2zbEKzDiNm6Y0aNey1bJA_nlTtiih-Rpq4m6p0m_sH5pBJv02jCScSmUsw-INI_SSbQTXA1vLnHup6jotMNik/s1600/WEBIMG_5471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIL2TELmzqEzEvTuG_apzVD6CXlhoFSmENAeeKv9sLhdHwahW-jlgA_2zbEKzDiNm6Y0aNey1bJA_nlTtiih-Rpq4m6p0m_sH5pBJv02jCScSmUsw-INI_SSbQTXA1vLnHup6jotMNik/s1600/WEBIMG_5471.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another family shot...and Max is at least LOOKING at the camera.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74Q5XGHS5oe78Cyrf2dkCT0WGX1qVUmiGNC0tZ5-Qh0tLCNg7nIdEML4KfGI64hUp1n76trIH7BP4ZFrrL9Qp5w3QVNXBO6jBMtnoatEycfNJRJOM-BHGKma41bS64fbc98sJ5ihXkwU/s1600/WEBIMG_5475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74Q5XGHS5oe78Cyrf2dkCT0WGX1qVUmiGNC0tZ5-Qh0tLCNg7nIdEML4KfGI64hUp1n76trIH7BP4ZFrrL9Qp5w3QVNXBO6jBMtnoatEycfNJRJOM-BHGKma41bS64fbc98sJ5ihXkwU/s1600/WEBIMG_5475.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When holding hands becomes a "tug-a-war" game.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdw_kpIwrnM9STZaGk6fRMnulqZg7SAAo1Ch7gOmKchuXSVhIPqekms2vHlriLeX-oK64otdXMmKUEiaI8Yi9dpPy8XqxHM8uTaq9GTHbKioyC859yOErHJptF-5N-1jCmD16iQRkWUE/s1600/WEBIMG_5482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdw_kpIwrnM9STZaGk6fRMnulqZg7SAAo1Ch7gOmKchuXSVhIPqekms2vHlriLeX-oK64otdXMmKUEiaI8Yi9dpPy8XqxHM8uTaq9GTHbKioyC859yOErHJptF-5N-1jCmD16iQRkWUE/s1600/WEBIMG_5482.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Off again to throw stuff...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ra18LRTj_yWp1Te4IrZOBWWtxC5dTNluCHrAxiYveLjhoVLeeMA6yOXHftfXqI0d2_ELf3efaErsThvc-Hd45XZUrBtY0TKyF1AH7rAuUOmNqOv3FeZkNhnP-7RP9oPuelXAgam-DGs/s1600/WEBIMG_5494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ra18LRTj_yWp1Te4IrZOBWWtxC5dTNluCHrAxiYveLjhoVLeeMA6yOXHftfXqI0d2_ELf3efaErsThvc-Hd45XZUrBtY0TKyF1AH7rAuUOmNqOv3FeZkNhnP-7RP9oPuelXAgam-DGs/s1600/WEBIMG_5494.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtney came up with the brilliant idea to sing the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse "Hot Dog" song to get Max to smile. We ran back and forth with them...moving their arms and they smiled...finally!</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/AVvXsEhprc7-4OYUXQdlxJlkGd_gUf6fxufOi6WHaf1kZb6ZcLvmCVBfeV-_2NoVjXw0JDAapf4XwVCk_5DhjpnTMh1MxoCzzW48FI3xWEsIT8mqWTYlFn6JxIUKENgxNYb_0jDiRSVNrZvfPqY/s1600/WEBIMG_5496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprc7-4OYUXQdlxJlkGd_gUf6fxufOi6WHaf1kZb6ZcLvmCVBfeV-_2NoVjXw0JDAapf4XwVCk_5DhjpnTMh1MxoCzzW48FI3xWEsIT8mqWTYlFn6JxIUKENgxNYb_0jDiRSVNrZvfPqY/s1600/WEBIMG_5496.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't know...just an in-between moment.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUPFAQUEONOx69h5M-BvJZE0Onj4NyFT_1qgP8qiaIrplas0LS9iYhr_-9nyFzGfXx5t7QLoxmsbwkgHXrnQxKfKVJ-kRb-UR5ZDHHPWTabH2x40cck60jJwLmlAxFuIZrRoZapBuS9c/s1600/WEBIMG_5500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUPFAQUEONOx69h5M-BvJZE0Onj4NyFT_1qgP8qiaIrplas0LS9iYhr_-9nyFzGfXx5t7QLoxmsbwkgHXrnQxKfKVJ-kRb-UR5ZDHHPWTabH2x40cck60jJwLmlAxFuIZrRoZapBuS9c/s1600/WEBIMG_5500.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family togetherness...a wonderful thing.</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/AVvXsEgJgZBh5RZRNWj9BVnjrfkNYUmPiMf1vjXmQbQb3H8CW4d_w2SyNMW8Hym0npUT3cbnCmRp3Mny9x8HGNw3-fM3d2kYyGOVUkaqCIma3FxMzfSKSn2VdjQ2WPQFacJGY4VP8IKGeJfH78Q/s1600/WEBIMG_5502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJgZBh5RZRNWj9BVnjrfkNYUmPiMf1vjXmQbQb3H8CW4d_w2SyNMW8Hym0npUT3cbnCmRp3Mny9x8HGNw3-fM3d2kYyGOVUkaqCIma3FxMzfSKSn2VdjQ2WPQFacJGY4VP8IKGeJfH78Q/s1600/WEBIMG_5502.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Hot dog, hot dog, hot diggity-dog!....."</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsoCjW-0d_NIbG-K_7or1pASCe9WrgYKjV6DUPO5n15ZgIhSfD_dgpUGW-_hig7op8QeQShSCZw_8w3v7nZ96Mg9mhAVkT0jhslID7vxsMGSSwQIlG4v4HtCuUZg1Meii4tqRdLDaZSsQ/s1600/WEBIMG_5506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsoCjW-0d_NIbG-K_7or1pASCe9WrgYKjV6DUPO5n15ZgIhSfD_dgpUGW-_hig7op8QeQShSCZw_8w3v7nZ96Mg9mhAVkT0jhslID7vxsMGSSwQIlG4v4HtCuUZg1Meii4tqRdLDaZSsQ/s1600/WEBIMG_5506.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"...It's a brand new day, what ya waiting for....?!"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDpTeK2mrQupdJI8sqXor7Zz4jGcC8Yhjdq2s5-g3O3o3IPRno-xmn4jJrhuLcFMHqsNzEXFSzOuvPhVOcy6WE0oWn994ALlXgWztFBmYONOH9TRgF-pWf92OG0OYP5dkAJZ13lOssOc/s1600/WEBIMG_5507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDpTeK2mrQupdJI8sqXor7Zz4jGcC8Yhjdq2s5-g3O3o3IPRno-xmn4jJrhuLcFMHqsNzEXFSzOuvPhVOcy6WE0oWn994ALlXgWztFBmYONOH9TRgF-pWf92OG0OYP5dkAJZ13lOssOc/s1600/WEBIMG_5507.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"...Get up, sit down (??), get on the floooooooorr.....!"</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/AVvXsEjxIP0HAUWdIm35g0pjLPbuwxPw80GNXti6eY0n5YMOQy7T2JwdzUu0rHcbvZQLT4r0UJTVtVywQkkHMLC3Tt3WHpSMVVCBC8Gh74MseYU-DkRopzRM6SqV7Fw_7nW_vnwitzwaOoYuXhk/s1600/WEBIMG_5516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIP0HAUWdIm35g0pjLPbuwxPw80GNXti6eY0n5YMOQy7T2JwdzUu0rHcbvZQLT4r0UJTVtVywQkkHMLC3Tt3WHpSMVVCBC8Gh74MseYU-DkRopzRM6SqV7Fw_7nW_vnwitzwaOoYuXhk/s1600/WEBIMG_5516.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gotta love my hair... 'cause I do!</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/AVvXsEiy0GLhZdSu7wK7ft_ZWdBw3DQIX6BbugAuJFJEvyjCw_OkNHKuiZTt2whwkrbl58GNDK8Y3f9ykPUe1iKmax6jNnn6mFzIYfJA-yDA1ruYAFZzybStALLy5S_PwkFTIJxIz_XMT0HL7yE/s1600/WEBIMG_5531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0GLhZdSu7wK7ft_ZWdBw3DQIX6BbugAuJFJEvyjCw_OkNHKuiZTt2whwkrbl58GNDK8Y3f9ykPUe1iKmax6jNnn6mFzIYfJA-yDA1ruYAFZzybStALLy5S_PwkFTIJxIz_XMT0HL7yE/s1600/WEBIMG_5531.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We love the sincerity of these smiles!</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/AVvXsEivO4uL7irTviiafKU0QbHTze57fr5WiF66OP2kD-NU7Qu3Se9duhChWw5x4WNivJaJBE5wkdLZP6fy6TPxYsyAbfEmGUnaYw8oysdt7dUisIvdyQVaeSe3q-p7_RUD9Y5m14WNdNvxEoI/s1600/WEBIMG_5541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivO4uL7irTviiafKU0QbHTze57fr5WiF66OP2kD-NU7Qu3Se9duhChWw5x4WNivJaJBE5wkdLZP6fy6TPxYsyAbfEmGUnaYw8oysdt7dUisIvdyQVaeSe3q-p7_RUD9Y5m14WNdNvxEoI/s1600/WEBIMG_5541.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Run back to the barn....</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDlZJGAp_LKGPsi4yVaw5Med5Nz0Mb-ms59NYclL90MTwb7eGKw9-zT3YYScy52zruGrhJ7GvLEv0c1jTtKW4WHcAW2sUVJiMucENbiT1xa7fnSROvVAH2u5UIle0Eh3LRgfAOn7fAMo/s1600/WEBIMG_5551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDlZJGAp_LKGPsi4yVaw5Med5Nz0Mb-ms59NYclL90MTwb7eGKw9-zT3YYScy52zruGrhJ7GvLEv0c1jTtKW4WHcAW2sUVJiMucENbiT1xa7fnSROvVAH2u5UIle0Eh3LRgfAOn7fAMo/s1600/WEBIMG_5551.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShccJaqddXg5aHFaMprdQoW5hIOVTIcpsccshGjF5tjkExfSuEEFfAfVEWpt5udHisMMABsc0Ivp5TARlXJkreylPwVeRKZdgq-l-THJG_RJe8CT8cTITzHUWtiehxQxITal_RDr-AwU/s1600/WEBIMG_5538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShccJaqddXg5aHFaMprdQoW5hIOVTIcpsccshGjF5tjkExfSuEEFfAfVEWpt5udHisMMABsc0Ivp5TARlXJkreylPwVeRKZdgq-l-THJG_RJe8CT8cTITzHUWtiehxQxITal_RDr-AwU/s1600/WEBIMG_5538.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeUTsfiCktt_gm4vxyLXcXBPfssOTuG_P08IdpSpIDzdiN7ueXLToekgGuVJEVpm56NUFcljtWDzC1pN3mWYvcZCSWklyQDUz7ohJ6q4fgPvU_ANYXoeiv-62lChN3loHRFrEwseCq-jU/s1600/WEBIMG_5547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeUTsfiCktt_gm4vxyLXcXBPfssOTuG_P08IdpSpIDzdiN7ueXLToekgGuVJEVpm56NUFcljtWDzC1pN3mWYvcZCSWklyQDUz7ohJ6q4fgPvU_ANYXoeiv-62lChN3loHRFrEwseCq-jU/s1600/WEBIMG_5547.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute boy!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg498GskygZSqbJ6O09SJ9h4-J315td9CJ9qJ-WRBbMdY-slU8Nb2E81KwwIvsaPnCnKKTGNzPKEqSmDY6eaazyU5alzRPP1ZAAIUVuelLWLuyEROaHlvm9fvk1NS-5JbcLr9r6fHjFo80/s1600/WEBIMG_5559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg498GskygZSqbJ6O09SJ9h4-J315td9CJ9qJ-WRBbMdY-slU8Nb2E81KwwIvsaPnCnKKTGNzPKEqSmDY6eaazyU5alzRPP1ZAAIUVuelLWLuyEROaHlvm9fvk1NS-5JbcLr9r6fHjFo80/s1600/WEBIMG_5559.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey, look I'm holding my husband's hand!</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/AVvXsEgS0Xzk05nXLVY8azvdhzZBDPSV7CBWhIgdibaN4fRZUPNsYsa45r3vjq6wkTf_ax2BhwOcrlHQK0ZFdOBxOVGlvhnyeq9TBrGWGraowuwUYMSIU2d06PRSVoGl6ob_Cgs1DPVV-Zs_H58/s1600/WEBIMG_5566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS0Xzk05nXLVY8azvdhzZBDPSV7CBWhIgdibaN4fRZUPNsYsa45r3vjq6wkTf_ax2BhwOcrlHQK0ZFdOBxOVGlvhnyeq9TBrGWGraowuwUYMSIU2d06PRSVoGl6ob_Cgs1DPVV-Zs_H58/s1600/WEBIMG_5566.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys' bliss is captured as they run through the field looking for dandelions.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTySn7ZmH2rRwH37-8mY15InibQwxsojZMLYVF5B8cj52QvTzw17iqepYJYxRtFejMlDQ_Vl6ftCA2e3mYlkl7Pi59XWiK_LPdzQqQj7PRovnPJwFLRQ02gwgHZqbXEcyGFu12UKI-5tY/s1600/WEBIMG_5568.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTySn7ZmH2rRwH37-8mY15InibQwxsojZMLYVF5B8cj52QvTzw17iqepYJYxRtFejMlDQ_Vl6ftCA2e3mYlkl7Pi59XWiK_LPdzQqQj7PRovnPJwFLRQ02gwgHZqbXEcyGFu12UKI-5tY/s1600/WEBIMG_5568.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Captured movement by one of my favorite kids.</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/AVvXsEgmxjNUFBG5ykLp79BgakPkMRjcYNIr4s7Z5wEcCpKqhT8Sz8KWVbAjYk81G7JeW6Sy5ckgA-AYQVv8hZqPsE-ZB4qR94fhMsd0DfAptQQma0T0CicMuSFyom-BGlXQWsjcs9dlue8u_pk/s1600/WEBIMG_5576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxjNUFBG5ykLp79BgakPkMRjcYNIr4s7Z5wEcCpKqhT8Sz8KWVbAjYk81G7JeW6Sy5ckgA-AYQVv8hZqPsE-ZB4qR94fhMsd0DfAptQQma0T0CicMuSFyom-BGlXQWsjcs9dlue8u_pk/s1600/WEBIMG_5576.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Max found one...or so he proclaimed!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5PRNIpAXrXX6_jmDtdyXX8OlLN1vodvfc5nOnXK_k9G_2ieYsYLFYGKWrIfLefE-NXcY9I7LN2EanPKIAT8SXuzOV39LZU4lg82A3izt10m5AAZBG4W5raJtVHhjCwrP6NOC7WhjREbU/s1600/WEBIMG_5582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5PRNIpAXrXX6_jmDtdyXX8OlLN1vodvfc5nOnXK_k9G_2ieYsYLFYGKWrIfLefE-NXcY9I7LN2EanPKIAT8SXuzOV39LZU4lg82A3izt10m5AAZBG4W5raJtVHhjCwrP6NOC7WhjREbU/s1600/WEBIMG_5582.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLrxnEAm0r4QGHFo4_KIlaMeADVtsEJXy8jF2EEOOo__1WYfEfyG1BjaHj6C_hTEMMGa5tVqHaw6WqkizV5-ZH0G8Uc-ub547p_ff4tOVxWnrJqslxX1KSknkZJsHrCAoszc88UuNHwg/s1600/WEBIMG_5585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLrxnEAm0r4QGHFo4_KIlaMeADVtsEJXy8jF2EEOOo__1WYfEfyG1BjaHj6C_hTEMMGa5tVqHaw6WqkizV5-ZH0G8Uc-ub547p_ff4tOVxWnrJqslxX1KSknkZJsHrCAoszc88UuNHwg/s1600/WEBIMG_5585.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheIE7KD4IAnRJYBEwOxuuTG58zGY6BtUOAhrvBmB0DHRbDtqBxA-gYDKaX7QTyx5ZYIwF3gFNnKhyphenhyphenQT1CsaSEauQEtD7WYhDoMtH11LVRA__m70iCrr23FwX8kGgvK6tAJ-ep8l-rxV2k/s1600/WEBIMG_5589.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheIE7KD4IAnRJYBEwOxuuTG58zGY6BtUOAhrvBmB0DHRbDtqBxA-gYDKaX7QTyx5ZYIwF3gFNnKhyphenhyphenQT1CsaSEauQEtD7WYhDoMtH11LVRA__m70iCrr23FwX8kGgvK6tAJ-ep8l-rxV2k/s1600/WEBIMG_5589.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WE LOVE this too... Max is having a moment with the camera...which he now loves.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-NI-PgE8JMKyfTo7pi4BESr0Df66CMdJQaneU8jRuoUn4L1ZVS4Ph99DwViipcP_-YjEFpvrPyqYaHiP-RoRRKjLStxxUrSXWF8mL54DqqVsntwdP0NEM0ANuaynMB2zn_Thdsj4V2s/s1600/WEBIMG_5593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-NI-PgE8JMKyfTo7pi4BESr0Df66CMdJQaneU8jRuoUn4L1ZVS4Ph99DwViipcP_-YjEFpvrPyqYaHiP-RoRRKjLStxxUrSXWF8mL54DqqVsntwdP0NEM0ANuaynMB2zn_Thdsj4V2s/s1600/WEBIMG_5593.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In between eating grass and pulling clover...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdiGXIym3z2H7BFUYXAlWuPOKOO7295KBRavYBsdZsCiV13_kFWFunyV3AQUGMK_M6A1LYn1daf9zOvJfYSM2Xc2-Qqnsg5SZEXTIl4Bnh_Y515mkLFfnwfRbRSF7W2P8EPmwlJt6dhDE/s1600/WEBIMG_5594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdiGXIym3z2H7BFUYXAlWuPOKOO7295KBRavYBsdZsCiV13_kFWFunyV3AQUGMK_M6A1LYn1daf9zOvJfYSM2Xc2-Qqnsg5SZEXTIl4Bnh_Y515mkLFfnwfRbRSF7W2P8EPmwlJt6dhDE/s1600/WEBIMG_5594.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So happy...looking at mommy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCst8kKfUYP0JwX0wH0OQGZb3auUsfLneSH1F71NAM-qOSPUARYw-hWC1uvUhDYYC5pUYDZ5TsmybCWQMMTRp2INqSdyPdayv5pRvWPf8WaoQVdWSHGkJrZrBBg4C1_-_aCL6TcP-T1Y/s1600/WEBIMG_5596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCst8kKfUYP0JwX0wH0OQGZb3auUsfLneSH1F71NAM-qOSPUARYw-hWC1uvUhDYYC5pUYDZ5TsmybCWQMMTRp2INqSdyPdayv5pRvWPf8WaoQVdWSHGkJrZrBBg4C1_-_aCL6TcP-T1Y/s1600/WEBIMG_5596.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Totally enjoying the moist grass and the attention of the camera.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUMtzparGTgZON_dkoulHOXPTN9V6e5depubL9wsa7yCBZsHv1nVBc_9o9aw5_2vuf-JA2P8u5oap9nBlz3PffDoBKLSoKf535ZGYwgfStETbw6G8UVKV7H2qoQDJcVJnn5r-TZzRTMQ/s1600/WEBIMG_5601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUMtzparGTgZON_dkoulHOXPTN9V6e5depubL9wsa7yCBZsHv1nVBc_9o9aw5_2vuf-JA2P8u5oap9nBlz3PffDoBKLSoKf535ZGYwgfStETbw6G8UVKV7H2qoQDJcVJnn5r-TZzRTMQ/s1600/WEBIMG_5601.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A final family shot to wrap up a great session with Courtney!</td></tr>
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Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060722548732450692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633986164941517169.post-71504916982574148142014-09-07T22:07:00.000-07:002014-09-07T22:07:03.946-07:00Sports Bras (G-rated)<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't mean to start out sounding scandalous by titling my post "Sports Bras", but I really do want to talk about 2 of my 3 sports bras. Not a review or interest in other <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-xxvnZzDUpZafgOBIJ0-RkNVN7GHOAn6rhHjttrrqHJY0Nzurgk83XxAXs5QpkbubHRzlRdE9FBIRcA57yMLnY7XjODYdU4J7WtwaJgYIjOfUrdjQy5-7NEhe3CSuKi5HBGT-LNCrTI/s1600/CIMG1823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-xxvnZzDUpZafgOBIJ0-RkNVN7GHOAn6rhHjttrrqHJY0Nzurgk83XxAXs5QpkbubHRzlRdE9FBIRcA57yMLnY7XjODYdU4J7WtwaJgYIjOfUrdjQy5-7NEhe3CSuKi5HBGT-LNCrTI/s1600/CIMG1823.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young Lindsay on her Honeymoon (2006)</td></tr>
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people's reviews, rather how I acquired them because its so unusual.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Acquisition History of 2 sports bras:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> When I got married to my husband, it was his 2nd marriage (and last folks). He had been married to another woman, and it didn't work out. This was cool for me because I got a man who really appreciated me....and the stuff that prior-married people seem to have-- like a dinning room table and cutting boards. So, one day about a month after we had gotten married and moved into our first apartment, we were unpacking a box of his "old-stuff". Inside it there were random things from his mission in Japan, pens, and photos...but there were two things that caught my attention-- brand new- tags on- sports bras. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One grey and one white. I probably smiled and rolled my eyes before I said, "Who are these?" Shaun, my husband, didn't blush the way I had hoped but picked them up and threw them towards the trash. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLGNfTxTwzWeuEZ4aOHyx3w3vRkl4sIY2X3Ia8-5_0CAdKk-h5JhOsD5LCfWAuMNzWPZ7AZi0UjE14-x-6HV9-IAMmre820RqwQgKMGGzUCJCI2yW1nrNW8ZxmhGe5J1HfDjhnvqTeWak/s1600/IMG_20140817_121000_870.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLGNfTxTwzWeuEZ4aOHyx3w3vRkl4sIY2X3Ia8-5_0CAdKk-h5JhOsD5LCfWAuMNzWPZ7AZi0UjE14-x-6HV9-IAMmre820RqwQgKMGGzUCJCI2yW1nrNW8ZxmhGe5J1HfDjhnvqTeWak/s1600/IMG_20140817_121000_870.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lindsay Now... & Shaun n' Max (2014)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I asked why he had them-- obviously his ex wife's bras. He explained that his ex had purchased them, then decided she didn't want them at the end of their marriage. When he was moving out, she told him to return them (to Walmart) and ... he didn't want to. She threw them in his box and somehow they ended up in my newlywed palace. Young Lindsay (me) thought, "I need a new sports bra...I'm poor... and I wonder if these will fit." So, I shrugged my shoulders and tried them on, knowing how odd I felt being in a garment that Shaun's ex wife had likely worn in a dressing room. Perfect fit...as far as a general sports bra fit can be. I ripped off the tags and decided to acquire these until one day when I would be rich. Guess what.... I've never gotten rich. I still wear these sports bras, especially now, since I've been working out 6 days a week since the beginning of summer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've waited for the perfect set up at a party game to sneak this tid-bit about myself into over the years, but it's never been the right time. I'm not a big bra-talker. With this online story, I have let out a story I don't think I've told anyone, first because of embarrassment, then because I didn't work out much and forgot, then because couldn't tell you at a party. Lucky you to hear the news now! The merging of stuff at the beginning of a marriage can take curious turns-- deciding what to keep and what to throw out. This was my weird choice in the merge.</span>Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060722548732450692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633986164941517169.post-11518892818431094152014-07-05T15:16:00.002-07:002014-07-05T15:16:42.997-07:00Interview With My 5 Year Old<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPBRFaIBKXoEHniHeUJJlvyyKsfPISCWIfJjwHIBDAtt8o9UybNIMr611YSv4nyH8z3DvObqXqdNQbeooLieKk3iCbciYXZH3riye_TtUAKbDVmz1SivUcSHYtp8OS01LktlnNTHuvDg/s1600/IMG_20140705_143815_206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPBRFaIBKXoEHniHeUJJlvyyKsfPISCWIfJjwHIBDAtt8o9UybNIMr611YSv4nyH8z3DvObqXqdNQbeooLieKk3iCbciYXZH3riye_TtUAKbDVmz1SivUcSHYtp8OS01LktlnNTHuvDg/s1600/IMG_20140705_143815_206.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today, I asked my newly turned 5 year old son to sit down and let me ask him a few questions. He had just come inside (after practicing his casting with his fishing pole). His mind was still very focused on his previous activity when he answered these this afternoon. I think you will notice this as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Q: What's your name?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A: Enoch</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Q: How old are you?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A: Uummmm, 5.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Q: What's your favorite thing to do?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A: Fish because fishing is so much fun and I love to go.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Q: Have you ever been fishing before?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A: I don't know. Ummm... and tonight I'm gonna go.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Q: Who are you going fishing with?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A: Daddy and Seth and Gray.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Q: Do you think you'll catch any fish?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A: Yeah. I think I'll catch fish. I think I would. I think I would.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Q: Do you like to eat fish?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A: Yeah.</span><br />
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<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Q: How do you like your fish prepared?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A: Cooked.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Q: How do you like it cooked?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">>>>Daddy interjection Q: Do you like it with bread on it?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A: Yeah, with bread on it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Q: If you were in charge of our family for a day, what you do?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A: Not be the boss.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRYNydjB53nb6J6KvjuinnLCz9JGJSg2uGBnpH47lTlNsGDbXF8eGaJZ9TP5QVpmt0f52aCzzLiaJ4Y5xeTYxVohxM4dRRiY0PPwxgX90O3UR9jI5f2vPDSCGIG0Zosdv9nb37Z3r-AWU/s1600/IMG_20140703_145722_219.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/AVvXsEiRYNydjB53nb6J6KvjuinnLCz9JGJSg2uGBnpH47lTlNsGDbXF8eGaJZ9TP5QVpmt0f52aCzzLiaJ4Y5xeTYxVohxM4dRRiY0PPwxgX90O3UR9jI5f2vPDSCGIG0Zosdv9nb37Z3r-AWU/s1600/IMG_20140703_145722_219.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Q: Why?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A: Cause I just....mommy and daddy are in charge. And I think I'll go fishing on a boat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Q: Where would you like to go on vacation and why?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A: The beach 'cause it's so relaxing there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Q: Are you stressed?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A: No.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Q: Do you need to relax?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A: Yeah.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Q: What's your favorite food?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A: Chicken.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Q: What's the best kind of ice cream?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A: Chocolate and Vanilla.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqV9ZyvCm33TMY6wLJ750fCMDK38kdZ4DJICeZywc6QJnVyFZMIaRDUHohaihS0MGcuyoYiFDlFBcKVVDzXrqv7FgqPCyK2rwRe6aUURBLKt_RsCIfoe1vM6hyphenhyphencD6e1FfJ-j3js9IMNs/s1600/IMG_20140705_143837_540.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/AVvXsEgoqV9ZyvCm33TMY6wLJ750fCMDK38kdZ4DJICeZywc6QJnVyFZMIaRDUHohaihS0MGcuyoYiFDlFBcKVVDzXrqv7FgqPCyK2rwRe6aUURBLKt_RsCIfoe1vM6hyphenhyphencD6e1FfJ-j3js9IMNs/s1600/IMG_20140705_143837_540.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Q: When you grow up, what want to be?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A: An astronaut and construction worker and diver. I wanna have big air tanks. And I'll go to Pluto when I'm an astronaut. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Q: How long to school do you have to go to school to get those jobs?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A: Really long.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Q: If you had a million dollars, what would you buy?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A: A toy boat. A big boat with a huge mast with a peddle in the back and a motor. A new refrigerator that's bigger than ours.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Q: Tell me about an invention idea you have.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A: I think I'll make a huge sandwich machine. With soup you can put on it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Q: Why would I need this?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A: I'm done. I'm tired.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">----THE END---</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060722548732450692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633986164941517169.post-24596831582472349382014-06-24T08:14:00.000-07:002014-06-24T08:15:00.046-07:00Enoch's Jake and the Neverland Pirates Cake<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last year, I made Enoch a Jake and the Neverland Pirates Cake(s) for his 4th birthday. The larger boat is a ship named "Buckey" from the show. The smaller cake was a gluten free cake representing the "Jolly Rodger", which is Captian Hook's ship. I used tissue to represent water...and it came out delicious and really cool to look at. My 4 year old was thrilled! I made 2 cakes and then cut out pieces, shaping them with a seraded knife until I got the right look. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Z3w_NKMMVowIGr-I91xoTW-lcz1jkG9XU3SHtpXM5RcnhOIJfs9HyQsK4CNUl0W818TYCGCTzqkybJZyvAWQl5eknrgqO1Zs4ljFJV5l6UI1UprS9sLGv68ruRYrRFuBzNKQQJ5Vg3I/s1600/IMG_3820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Z3w_NKMMVowIGr-I91xoTW-lcz1jkG9XU3SHtpXM5RcnhOIJfs9HyQsK4CNUl0W818TYCGCTzqkybJZyvAWQl5eknrgqO1Zs4ljFJV5l6UI1UprS9sLGv68ruRYrRFuBzNKQQJ5Vg3I/s1600/IMG_3820.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Buckey"</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/AVvXsEjK7wOgPSxejuBM7zBBhc6IqwenUVYoKWeqhqhhVrDmlnBGPIzM7mGbmBZ4FJf7AGtSUMAA0OUh90jr6fLW9-giguudfiwmopwqYgng_y4rPV7xtuFZNznyVDanWuR9aya-AhYFI21rum0/s1600/IMG_3822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK7wOgPSxejuBM7zBBhc6IqwenUVYoKWeqhqhhVrDmlnBGPIzM7mGbmBZ4FJf7AGtSUMAA0OUh90jr6fLW9-giguudfiwmopwqYgng_y4rPV7xtuFZNznyVDanWuR9aya-AhYFI21rum0/s1600/IMG_3822.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back of "Buckey"</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/AVvXsEisnR_ZUuVa30TFaUEfbGk1HnRjoPv8bdBsf0Hw-Xm9Qm_kU99RKKwz4AEYBisk0lASm7Gc8HwgeOHJj88mdr1mGUMcvehxo9xUukRY5KwoC9F0w5FQxKVbrjln44rsHDv3F7E_VSOlNJk/s1600/IMG_3821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnR_ZUuVa30TFaUEfbGk1HnRjoPv8bdBsf0Hw-Xm9Qm_kU99RKKwz4AEYBisk0lASm7Gc8HwgeOHJj88mdr1mGUMcvehxo9xUukRY5KwoC9F0w5FQxKVbrjln44rsHDv3F7E_VSOlNJk/s1600/IMG_3821.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Side of "Buckey"</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/AVvXsEiRf8s8GphEa2KIyMU3aD7OzjF-YXo1VqpnraAuWD3i0M8sgewieKy2w5Sv_bSMpJo0D5_DY30uzOZyZz_-MRiAukQhrsSvJP5bI0-NH_18-4MawKjYM6RFhvxwyiFXYC4ZzSsAqKqArbY/s1600/IMG_3818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRf8s8GphEa2KIyMU3aD7OzjF-YXo1VqpnraAuWD3i0M8sgewieKy2w5Sv_bSMpJo0D5_DY30uzOZyZz_-MRiAukQhrsSvJP5bI0-NH_18-4MawKjYM6RFhvxwyiFXYC4ZzSsAqKqArbY/s1600/IMG_3818.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "Jolly Rodger"</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/AVvXsEhjsooNaIURl2fEmmswKkdlUwYlB9R9fND9-bfjC8z780g17QJdxBrk5jpqhNfgiaQSSouTVQdJrQyFns-U4PUY3VVI_5IrMZy4dIw_0injG375RaDyvU0p2ECOo0XB5aEZbFptzkofjVo/s1600/IMG_3823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjsooNaIURl2fEmmswKkdlUwYlB9R9fND9-bfjC8z780g17QJdxBrk5jpqhNfgiaQSSouTVQdJrQyFns-U4PUY3VVI_5IrMZy4dIw_0injG375RaDyvU0p2ECOo0XB5aEZbFptzkofjVo/s1600/IMG_3823.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "Jolly Rodger" from the back</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The cake and frosting was made with the <a href="http://www.hersheys.com/pure-recipes/details.aspx?id=184&name=HERSHEY%27S+%22PERFECTLY+CHOCOLATE%22+Chocolate+Cake" target="_blank">Hershey's Recipe</a>. It had an amazing <a href="http://www.sweetlavenderbakeshoppe.com/2013/06/fluffy-vanilla-frosting.html" target="_blank">light & fluffy vanilla filling frosting</a> too. (It wasn't overly sweet and was a great contrast to the deep chocolate cake and frosting. The gluten free cake was made from a mix, but the same frosting was used.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year...I need to do a cake, but am not sure what direction to go. Enoch's said he'd like a </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">train cake (I've done that before), Jake cake (done), and a few other ideas. Currenlty, I'm thinking of a map with mountains that represent different places in the house to go find presents. Hummm...???? Wish me luck!</span>Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060722548732450692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633986164941517169.post-19822339995253267552014-06-23T10:20:00.000-07:002014-06-23T17:51:21.533-07:00Traditions<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tradition" target="_blank">Traditions</a> are a good thing in our home.</span><br />
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; padding-right: 15px;">Full Definition of TRADITION</span></h2>
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1</div>
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<span class="ssens"><span class="sn" style="font-weight: bold;">a</span> <strong>:</strong> an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (as a religious practice or a social custom)</span><span class="ssens"></span><br />
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<span class="sn" style="font-weight: bold;">b</span> <strong>:</strong> a belief or story or a body of beliefs or stories relating to the past that are commonly accepted as historical though not verifiable</span></div>
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2</div>
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<span class="ssens"><strong>:</strong> the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction</span></div>
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3</div>
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<span class="ssens"><strong>:</strong> cultural continuity in social attitudes, customs, and institutions</span></div>
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4</div>
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<span class="ssens"><strong>:</strong> characteristic manner, method, or style </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'd like to focus on number 2 from this definition regarding the customs for this post. There's a great article about family taditions, called <a href="https://www.lds.org/ensign/1986/03/traditions-worth-keeping?lang=eng" target="_blank">Traditions Worth Keeping</a>. It breaks traditions into 3 categories:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Ji-HD4pYGLG98rDNlmNAl3r0jeAk4QT8IOsrRfjOUGC6BKxjjsY0bA30dkBXqCuUC2KoWPZ4XbD142zZusXhPQOOpJVrzAeROQoq1IsjGlg1erbDVDxlM21KYLyVyI2FIyz-_zCMhgI/s1600/10329862_535773393197680_5417846098321472817_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Ji-HD4pYGLG98rDNlmNAl3r0jeAk4QT8IOsrRfjOUGC6BKxjjsY0bA30dkBXqCuUC2KoWPZ4XbD142zZusXhPQOOpJVrzAeROQoq1IsjGlg1erbDVDxlM21KYLyVyI2FIyz-_zCMhgI/s1600/10329862_535773393197680_5417846098321472817_o.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1) Traditions that bring spiritual understanding;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2) Tradition that bring cultural understanding; and</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3) Traditions that bring family understanding.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It states:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><i>Family traditions are like <b>spiritual and emotional cement</b> in the foundation of a happy home. They create fond memories, and these memories bond us together as nothing else can.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><i>Traditions influence the way we <b>live and the way we look at life</b>. They may be practices or beliefs handed down from generation to generation, or new habits or patterns we establish in our own families.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love the word they used, "CEMENT". This caused me to reflect upon my own traditions. Growing up, my family had a few traditions such as:</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Christmas PJ's on Christmas Eve</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Unwritten Tradition-- My Christmas PJ's could never fit me after age 12. They had to be purchased in the wrong size. </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Kids could get into their Christmas Stocking at any point after my parents went to sleep. (So, lots of kids eating candy at 1 am.)</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* While my grandpa was alive, Summer Trip to Idaho to visit my grandparents in McCall.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Get $1 for each tooth we lost--but just gave it to our mom. No toothfairy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can't think of any others. Is it a tradition to move a lot? If so, then there's one more. My parents got divorced when I was about to graduate high school. Everything went to complete and utter chaos at that point in my family. Traditions were tossed to the side.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One day, 5 years later, I got married and everything changed. I had a new family to create traditions with. My husband and I were really happy and excited to start traditions of our own. Here's a few we started:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1tVdZ0UBYvmmrF4mrCK6bU_7VW7Ho-p0Kr9HkxQNPrW1aFK39ONWtMEKNKhXNqG3get_o5LHNZmsfdOVKPBsW3MPMnr74ngT0hRuxQULKDGy_HRM7XumJwNDMQHBvaX0BrjZEVHYSqA/s1600/10247349_535773383197681_6866829714348208683_n.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/AVvXsEhv1tVdZ0UBYvmmrF4mrCK6bU_7VW7Ho-p0Kr9HkxQNPrW1aFK39ONWtMEKNKhXNqG3get_o5LHNZmsfdOVKPBsW3MPMnr74ngT0hRuxQULKDGy_HRM7XumJwNDMQHBvaX0BrjZEVHYSqA/s1600/10247349_535773383197681_6866829714348208683_n.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Whenever we go to an LDS Temple, we whisper to each other 5 reasons we love eachother in the most beautiful room of the temple, called the Celestrial Room--which represents heaven. </span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* We get a Christmas Tree, or if that's not affordable, we make one on the wall.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* We hang Christmas ornaments we made that represent different things we are grateful for.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* We get or I make a new "family" ornament each year with the year written on it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* The kids get a photo with Santa every year, even though we've told them he's not real.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvK9NocIZWvlHBTzQNlFHkPOWHuriHX3D3qv4QvHNhCTLVhehzga5T2JYngayzaD2hrWdALoFnoomRVkPZNuGLfog40psa8KAzWnK5RqRE5tn7EUhOJbasG4RLzC9COsS5R5ChAxFA6Y/s1600/santa-176+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: purple;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvK9NocIZWvlHBTzQNlFHkPOWHuriHX3D3qv4QvHNhCTLVhehzga5T2JYngayzaD2hrWdALoFnoomRVkPZNuGLfog40psa8KAzWnK5RqRE5tn7EUhOJbasG4RLzC9COsS5R5ChAxFA6Y/s1600/santa-176+(1).jpg" height="213" width="320" /></span></a><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*When we had children, we adapted one tradition from my past, giving our kid(s) Christmas Eve PJ's--that fit. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But we have a few new ones.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* On our children's birthdays, they get one balloon for each year they have been alive.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* You get to pick your birthday cake flavor, and mom (me) makes it--except on your 1st birthday--when it's tradition to get a pile of whipped cream on your highchair table.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Sunday is the <a href="https://www.lds.org/youth/for-the-strength-of-youth/sabbath-day-observance?lang=eng" target="_blank">Sabbath</a>. We go to church and talk about what we did.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* We eat <a href="https://www.lds.org/new-era/2014/05/time-out-for-dinner?lang=eng" target="_blank">dinner</a> at the table most of the time.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* We have <a href="https://www.lds.org/ensign/1987/09/family-scripture-study?lang=eng" target="_blank">family scripture study</a> every day.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* We have <a href="https://www.lds.org/topics/family-home-evening" target="_blank">family home evening</a> once a week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Skip to today, and my first born child is turning 5 at the end of the week (and I've been married almost 8 years). I am reflecting on traditions that we have and how they've come to be. I realize that being a mom is about making a child feel loved and special. I've used traditions as a resource to consisently unite our family memories at differnt points in the year, to remind us all that we are indeed a group of people called a family and build the bonds, and lastly, to teach our children how to take care of eachother and their future families by spending time together.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I'm grateful for good traditions. I look forward to new ones, evolving ones, and for opportunities to share in other's too. I think my next one will involve a no TV week this summer. Good luck with yours! </span></div>
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Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060722548732450692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633986164941517169.post-13116477901319327922014-05-23T11:56:00.001-07:002014-05-23T11:56:27.054-07:00I am Gold -- Alex Boye<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/TxEmak8_t24" width="480"></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a man named Alex Boye. He just retired from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (<a href="http://www.mormontabernaclechoir.org/videos/i-want-jesus-to-walk-with-me?lang=eng" target="_blank">including solos</a>), after singing for 7 years (for free) and having a side solo career, which I just found out about. I saw an article about him in the <a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865603584/Alex-Boye-retired-from-Mormon-Tabernacle-Choir.html?pg=all" target="_blank">Deseret News</a> and looked him up. I love this song. I love the story/ message behind it. I enjoy his voice and positive attitude. He has a great <a href="http://www.mormon.org/alex" target="_blank">"I'm a Mormon" profile</a>. Enjoy!</span>Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060722548732450692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633986164941517169.post-83669979826123142652014-05-14T21:39:00.001-07:002014-05-14T21:39:07.879-07:00My Favorite Pinterest Pins: Tested and Proved<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I joined FB, just so I could join <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/lindsaymu/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> (a FB profile is a requirement to join) because it simplified something I was already doing with "computer bookmarks" and printing things out. I enjoy the Pinterest space every week at some point. I like that there's some inferred personal advice/ preference with a pin on any subject. Of course, like advice, not all pins are worth my time. BUT, I decided to share a few that have made me very happy. I only have 2 sections here, Food-- and Other. (I try a lot of recipes from Pinterest.) Without further waiting--in no particular order--my FAVORITE PINS!</span><br />
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<a href="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/af/6d/57/af6d57cb0410380bf86f03a579de5e81.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/af/6d/57/af6d57cb0410380bf86f03a579de5e81.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/red-enchilada-sauce/" target="_blank"><b>Red Enchilada Sauce</b></a>- I never thought to make my own before, and now, I can't imagine buying it after seeing how easy it is to make in 10 minutes of minimal effort. So, it's clean happy food and a wonderful way to top my pork enchiladas.</span><br />
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<a href="http://toriavey.com/images/2011/01/Falafel-10-640x480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://toriavey.com/images/2011/01/Falafel-10-640x480.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://toriavey.com/toris-kitchen/2011/01/falafel/" target="_blank"><b>Falafel</b></a>- I've tried a few different recipes for falafel, and this one is my favorite so far. You soak garbanzo beans overnight, then grind them up without cooking them to give them a better texture. They tasted so good that my 4 year old cried when we ran out of leftovers the next day. </span><br />
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<a href="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/a5/e7/9e/a5e79edb6dfd9b85e5f53b0aaa4ebb82.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/a5/e7/9e/a5e79edb6dfd9b85e5f53b0aaa4ebb82.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2011/06/rich-homemade-ricotta/" target="_blank"><b>Ricotta</b></a>- I don't know why it took me until I was 30 to finally think to make my own ricotta, but I'm so happy I did. Prior to making ricotta at home, I didn't even want to buy ricotta because I couldn't afford the really good ricotta. The good store bought stuff in Seattle brought harmony to my taste buds and I kept mentioning how smooth the lipids in the fat were.... "MMmmm these lipids make my mouth sing." Make it, but be warned, you may become a ricotta snob.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://abc.go.com/shows/the-chew/recipes/Summer-Garden-Pasta-Ina-Garten" target="_blank"><b>Ina Gartner's Summer Garden Pasta</b></a>- If you love fresh basil, fresh tomatoes, garlic, EVOO, and Parmesan cheese, then you'll love this delicate pasta dish. I used to hate angel hair, but realized in my adulthood that I had only been given it overcooked. So, I cook the pasta 1 minute under the directions, and then rinse my angel hair with cold water in a it comes out to ensure it doesn't overcook and ruin my day.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/coconut-crusted-french-toast1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/coconut-crusted-french-toast1.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/coconut-crusted-french-toast/" target="_blank">Coconut Crusted French Toast</a>-</b> Stop it! Stop it! I can't take it! This is so good I can hardly look at it without wanting to go to the store and buy white bread! A friend of ours made this for us when we visited and said we should be prepared to have our minds' blown. When breakfast came around, I was drooling and sure enough, our friend was absolutely correct-- our minds were blown! If you love coconut, try this ASAP. You dip the bread in a coconut milk/egg mixture-- and cover it in shredded coconut before you cook it....so, you get a little crust. The house smells heavenly and you might cry happily with each bite. I recommend complimenting your french toast by making some bacon or sausage to serve on the side. It will cut through the sweetness. </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/wp-content/uploads/blogger/-IV7Mn9fg8dE/TwO8fiUTzfI/AAAAAAAAH2A/o-eJXjA3lOE/s400/chicken-gyros-wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/wp-content/uploads/blogger/-IV7Mn9fg8dE/TwO8fiUTzfI/AAAAAAAAH2A/o-eJXjA3lOE/s400/chicken-gyros-wm.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/2010/01/chicken-gyros-opa.html" target="_blank">Chicken Gyro</a>-</b> This is a darn good way to enjoy a gyro outside a Greek Restaurant. I think the key is the marinating. She also makes a balanced Tzatziki sauce that satisfies me. If you're looking for fresh pita, I have used <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/pita-bread-recipe0.html" target="_blank">this recipe at Food Network</a> and loved the result, cooking the bread on my pizza stone.</span><br />
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<a href="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/18/65/43/186543508d9b7c2a0dfc4485d420df80.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/18/65/43/186543508d9b7c2a0dfc4485d420df80.jpg" height="171" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.fortheloveofcooking.net/2009/02/chicken-noodle-soup-with-homemade.html" target="_blank"><b>Chicken Noodle Soup with homemade noodles</b></a>- This recipe has a great simple foundation of carrots, celery, and onion. The best part are the homemade noodles. I actually make a double recipe of the noodles so I can overcrowd my bowl with perfect noodles of deliciousness. Try it next time you need soup and you won't be disappointed.</span><br />
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<a href="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/e5/87/0a/e5870a03f94cc13bd17b353f0bec3933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/e5/87/0a/e5870a03f94cc13bd17b353f0bec3933.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://abc.go.com/shows/the-chew/recipes/Chicken-Shrimp-Dumplings-Clinton-Kelly?cid=pinteres_chw" target="_blank"><b>Chicken and Shrimp Dumplings</b></a>- These are so easy to make and a more exciting way to eat a chicken breast (low fat, high protein). We make these and dumplings and talk about the kids. Then we steam them and EAT THEM all!! We love the shrimp inside because it adds texture and flavor. This is a very kid friendly meal too. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMV3uM2Vswsb4qFRqmb27imlnWw8nvqpSxfv76htSFf1XnaIacDCvW6Kwy31AW_pCDZpxLHeiQPlebqNevRa-Cakec_kvJIdeP69Agc9k1Tn5MbKKNNIhc3BTY6itGyDG_72DqSzIn2yo/s640/mug+brownie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMV3uM2Vswsb4qFRqmb27imlnWw8nvqpSxfv76htSFf1XnaIacDCvW6Kwy31AW_pCDZpxLHeiQPlebqNevRa-Cakec_kvJIdeP69Agc9k1Tn5MbKKNNIhc3BTY6itGyDG_72DqSzIn2yo/s640/mug+brownie.jpg" height="200" width="168" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://thecraftpatch.blogspot.com/2013/02/pinterest-tested-microwave-mug-brownie.html#.U3Q04oFdU40" target="_blank"><b>Chocolate Mug Cake</b></a>- This was found on another pinner's tested list, so, I listened to her. I'd never made a mug cake prior, and now I find myself in love. It really needs a scoop of vanilla ice cream or at least some whipped cream to make it out of this world. There's something about eating hot fudgy cake with cold melting vanilla ice cream that makes me feel like I have to go faster before the kids wake up and catch me. Luckily, your kids assume it's peppermint tea or something boring when they see the mug. Try it. It will take the edge off any gooey-chocolate craving.</span><br />
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<a href="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/6f/bd/42/6fbd42ef315205aba91e14f017486173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/6f/bd/42/6fbd42ef315205aba91e14f017486173.jpg" height="142" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.abrightandbeautifullife.com/best-pizza-sauce/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:+abrightandbeautifullife/kvUC+(A+Bright+and+Beautiful+Life)" target="_blank"><b>Best Pizza Sauce</b></a>- I am surprised when I meet a person who thinks the making of a pizza sauce is abstract and out of their wheelhouse. This is a great sauce I found this year that is super easy to make- with a rich flavor. Can of diced tomatoes, can of tomato paste, and some spices--all crushed up in a food processor. That's it. SOOO easy and so tasty.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiElax4EkvEJ-05uTkNsetKkRgySxU9TJ6-ctwkhyF4f2qeEBtySzlvLwSwu86JIdBflfFURx9lONyyeWU5_7A7uRYaZpVGw4ACeL0TuKb9g7Tml3kiWt8d1oVtfQl70I_J-qDqyNX5MxeD/s1600/Close+Up+Fluffy+Vanilla+Frosting+on+Cupcake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiElax4EkvEJ-05uTkNsetKkRgySxU9TJ6-ctwkhyF4f2qeEBtySzlvLwSwu86JIdBflfFURx9lONyyeWU5_7A7uRYaZpVGw4ACeL0TuKb9g7Tml3kiWt8d1oVtfQl70I_J-qDqyNX5MxeD/s1600/Close+Up+Fluffy+Vanilla+Frosting+on+Cupcake.jpg" height="200" width="165" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.sweetlavenderbakeshoppe.com/2013/06/fluffy-vanilla-frosting.html" target="_blank"><b>Fluffy Vanilla Frosting</b></a>- I happened upon this recipe last summer when I was trying to find a frosting to act as a filling for a chocolate cake...and this one knocked me off my feet. It was so light and perfectly sweet...that I started licking the bowl of frosting and closing my eyes swooning. I suppose, just like in all cooking, it's the butter that makes the magic happen. (Happy happy Lipids...right!?)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>OTHER STUFF</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.biggirlssmallkitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/make-it_tomatoes_red_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.biggirlssmallkitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/make-it_tomatoes_red_edited-1.jpg" height="200" width="193" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.biggirlssmallkitchen.com/2012/06/streamlining-tomato-halves.html" target="_blank"><b>Cut Cherry Tomatoes</b></a>- Watch out folks! If you're not doing this now, you should be soon. This tip is awesome. Use 2 lids to hold them still, press down, and cut through with a serrated knife. You can cut so quickly--to make Ina Gartner's Tomato Basil Pasta-- or brushetta. I love things that save me serious time and energy. Also, I feel like a genius each time I do it...like I belong in MENSA or something.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.howdoesshe.com/wp-content/uploads/Laundry-Soap-Supplies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.howdoesshe.com/wp-content/uploads/Laundry-Soap-Supplies.jpg" height="132" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.howdoesshe.com/cheaper-and-better-diy-laundry-detergent/" target="_blank"><b>DIY Laundry Detergent</b></a>- LOVE IT! I was tired of buying expensive Eco Friendly liquid detergent that ran out all the time. So, I tried this pin out and made my own laundry detergent. I used the recommended Purex Crystals and my clothes smell lovely for much longer than ever before. I haven't had problems with clumping powder, like I have in the past with powdered brand detergents.</span><br />
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<a href="http://happymoneysaver.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/poop-spray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://happymoneysaver.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/poop-spray.jpg" height="118" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://happymoneysaver.com/whats-smell-diy-poo-pourri-pennies/" target="_blank"><b>DIY Poop Spray</b></a>- I saw the commercials for the name brand stuff and didn't pay a lot of attention to it, but this week, I thought about it. I looked up how to make our own, and was pleased at the low cost and ease. If you want to have one more beautiful smell in your life, drop some essential oils in the water before. Love it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think that about sums up my favorite pins for now. Share with me some of your favorite pins. I'd LOVE to know about what's worked for you.</span>Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060722548732450692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633986164941517169.post-8977040052217965872014-04-27T22:53:00.000-07:002014-04-27T22:54:37.950-07:00My Nomination Was Dr. Deb Currier <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a Bachelors of Arts in Theater from <a href="http://www.wwu.edu/theatredance/" target="_blank">Western Washington University</a>, focusing on Acting and Theater Education. (For those who know me....Shocking, right?!) Well, Last December, I took some time out to nominate a former college professor of mine, <a href="http://www.wwu.edu/theatredance/faculty.shtml#DCurrier" target="_blank">Deborah Currier</a>, for the <a href="http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/awards/sondheim/include/nominees13.html" target="_blank">Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher </a>Award. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unfortunately, Deb (as I called her) didn't win this time, but I wanted to share my entry publicly in honor of her dedicated work. This is only a itsy-bitsy part of what I loved about her. I owe my sanity and much of my confidence to my many teachers (K- college) who gave me opportunities to learn theories, workshop new ideas, and meet people I would have never known had I not gotten an education in the arts. </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.wwu.edu/ee/youth/images/instructors/Deb.Currier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.wwu.edu/ee/youth/images/instructors/Deb.Currier.jpg" /></a><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">People Who Can</span></b></div>
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<b>Nominee: Deborah
Currier<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Nominated by:
Lindsay Weldon<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Many new mothers hope their children will be healthy and
happy. Sure, I wanted those, but I also wanted my babies to do theater exercises
and improv for fun! So, the moment I gave birth to my first son, was the day I
founded the “Weldon Youth Theater Troupe”. The troupe’s motto came from my college
Theater Professor and Advisor, Dr. Deb Currier, who while never having birthed
any children of her own, knew a lot about them. I’m not even sure this
particular instruction was part of her lesson plan for the day, but her words,
which seemed to be written in the air with a glue stick, quickly stuck to my ears
and worked their way inside my brain, to the treasure chest I keep of real
pearls--and open only for special conversations: “Children can do anything.
Never tell a child they can’t do something that they can.” She expanded, “When
telling a child they need to have their lines memorized by tomorrow, don’t
apologize or say it’s hard. Say it nonchalantly; believe in them…and they will
learn their lines, they will read a play, analyze a script, they will do it
because they <i>don’t know they can’t</i>.” Deb’s
insight has informed my role as a supportive mother and as a teacher working
with children in the community today.<br />
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Despite not being able to read music myself, for over a
year, I have volunteered in my tiny town in Eastern Washington as a singing
teacher to about 50 children once a week, serving girls and boys ages 3-11,
including my own 4 year old. While this isn’t exactly where I thought my BA in
Theater would be useful, I have been proven wrong. My unofficial Weldon Youth Troupe
has expanded 50 members, encompassing these singing children, who grant me
their attention and let me shape their minds with musical- theater exercises
and improv! I can still hear Deb’s voice every time I ask the kids to “mill and
seed” around the room. Since Deb’s pearl of wisdom took up residence in my
head, the way I view my students’ capacity to learn, including my biological children’s,
has been with great expectation. Deb was the whisper that caught my attention,
reminding me that I never want to be the person who tells a child <i>you can’t</i>; I will always be the one who
says <i>you <u>can</u></i>. My singing
“troupe” doesn’t have to be a gang of perfect vocalists-out for the kill, but
they know they can sing, learn the words, and melt hearts. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I want my former teacher, and mentor, to be able to
continue inspiring future theater educators who challenge their students to be
do-ers of things, people who can. Please consider her in your search for The
Kennedy Center Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Award, because she’s not
only inspired me, but certainly will influence many of your <i>future</i> Stephen Sondheim Inspirational
Teacher nominees.</div>
Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060722548732450692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633986164941517169.post-57170119483242696802014-04-22T23:36:00.000-07:002014-04-22T23:36:01.441-07:00Poop Crib<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"What can we do?" I asked my husband, Mr. Weldon. "We can't take away his ability to poop?" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He stared at the little balls of poop sprawled across the carpet of our 2 year old son's bedroom, and replied, "I don't know. We could put duct-tape around his diaper." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"No, we can't do that! How are we going to have the babysitter change his diapers? With scissors?" I spouted out immediately.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwbpXOltvgEV9TarC6YPzM6xBKHXLAiu6Ut4jfmu39qfbacYgRVBSQVpd35cCK7cIy43BqDZgL9SoLOiAyi_xwOqbaqON6z0xZuYWbpFw8sSE4S8CVj7XumnALrRLykpYD2fN_D6g90bE/s1600/Enoch+--June+1,+2nd+2010+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwbpXOltvgEV9TarC6YPzM6xBKHXLAiu6Ut4jfmu39qfbacYgRVBSQVpd35cCK7cIy43BqDZgL9SoLOiAyi_xwOqbaqON6z0xZuYWbpFw8sSE4S8CVj7XumnALrRLykpYD2fN_D6g90bE/s1600/Enoch+--June+1,+2nd+2010+020.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the crib before it had it's side removed...age 1<br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I carefully tip-toed through the maze of poop to retrieve our only child from his crib and take him to the bathroom for a impromptu bath after his eventful nap. Mr. Weldon was stuck with the job of cleaning it all up. By the time the bath was over, he was still cleaning. I took our son to the living room and had him play with some toys. That's when I heard my husband say, "OH NOOOOO...." I hurried back to the bedroom to see what had happened. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"It's in the peg holes! There's poop molded--like play-doh into the holes of the crib!" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A month prior, we had removed one side of the crib, converting it into a toddler bed, after our son fell out while trying to escape during a nap. When we took off the side of the crib, we removed wooden pegs/ and screws. This left the corner posts with small screw sized<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLaubTRkliYxQdJi-4mgtdY3sgXNPotOmGSTDg4ybVXsajAuBNlJSOMzUXrsZfc5J7AmP2RvigTfo1OUvq7R5RvCro8EgyJQXX1NJ8WlA8ZUKBfQLrC0H5We14db8Xq6G-UJpYDR9wiOk/s1600/6-29-11+025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLaubTRkliYxQdJi-4mgtdY3sgXNPotOmGSTDg4ybVXsajAuBNlJSOMzUXrsZfc5J7AmP2RvigTfo1OUvq7R5RvCro8EgyJQXX1NJ8WlA8ZUKBfQLrC0H5We14db8Xq6G-UJpYDR9wiOk/s1600/6-29-11+025.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Age 2</td></tr>
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holes in them. THESE VERY HOLES had been converted into poop holders by our son. Our dark brown crib had disguised the poop for a long time from Mr. Weldon's view--but the familar unpleasant smell of baby poop had gotten his attention once all the other poop pebbles had been removed. "So sneaky," he said, " it blends in perfectly, disguised as wood putty." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"No. No. Noooo!", I said.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"It's disgusting! How do we get it out and clean it?" Mr. Weldon replied with horror.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We started a journey around the house to look for the perfect poop cleaning tools. We tried chopsticks, screws, nails, baby wipes, cotton swabs, but finally ended up with a screwdriver that we could push through the holes. We caught the crumbles of poop at the hole's exit point and then ran a baby wipe through the hole to get the tinier bits. But, the baby wipe didn't clean well. We still smelled POOP. We were so sick of poop. We put bleach on the baby wipes and used the screwdriver to push them through the small holes. It WORKED! It was finally over! The poop smell and actual was gone! Hooray! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Until he did it again the next day, and the day after that. THEN it really was over. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kids know how to shock and amaze. I'm sure their resumes clearly represent their magical skill-sets. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieoR0A5k3CTlO5ipsyPRac2U2tRBZa6k9hX00YduL6MB8ukvt4qfoTH8yjagp5X-iRKW-lkZwPehnCEWlikRS02hovPc9Au1ry92rVF1xfhZAij9ciWODYpwfTc4k0kydvknQxhxHC7wc/s1600/6-29-11+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieoR0A5k3CTlO5ipsyPRac2U2tRBZa6k9hX00YduL6MB8ukvt4qfoTH8yjagp5X-iRKW-lkZwPehnCEWlikRS02hovPc9Au1ry92rVF1xfhZAij9ciWODYpwfTc4k0kydvknQxhxHC7wc/s1600/6-29-11+007.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Age 2</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>CUTEST LITTLE BABY</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>20 Penny Lane, Pullman, WA 99163/ (509) 555-5555</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Skills: </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Can make things disappear and reappear</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Advanced gross & fine motor skills </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Play-Doh and Poop Molding / Artwork Expert</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Adorable laugh</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Good at innocently pointing to mistakes and acting like I didn't do it</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Real Life Experience:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Birth- Present-- 1st Born BABY in FAMILY</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Learning and loving it! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Pushing poop into unthinkable places.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Throwing poop like rice at a wedding.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Getting other people to clean up poop for hours, over and over again without pay.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Being a little angel. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks for letting me share the Weldon Poop Crib Story. It's one of many "WHAT!" Moments of parenthood. (BUT somehow we still love it.)</span>Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060722548732450692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633986164941517169.post-63928133778473830032014-04-11T17:01:00.003-07:002014-04-11T20:18:17.400-07:00Middle School: "At least they got out of my way so I'm not late."<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Middle" is often the less popular option. People like to be first (place, born, string, in line, edition, etc.), or last (born = baby of the family, piece, day of school, appointment, etc.). There are good middles (of life, of truffle, grilled cheese sandwich), but all too often there is one middle that is hard to face, and that is middle school. Today, I would like to share with you a bit about my middle school social experience and hope it can uplift others who may feel stuck in the middle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I moved to Wenatchee, WA, at the end of 6th grade. I found myself being thrown into middle school and becoming a "Foothills Falcon". My previous school had 6th grade as part of the elementary experience, so, I was nervous to change classes ever hour, worried I be late everyday. Nobody ever told me that middle school was looked at by adults as a torturous state of being for transitioning youth from childhood to adolescents. So, I was very optimistic as I started my first day of middle school in the last month of the school year. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Things seemed to come together. I figured out how to get to all my classes. (<i>Side note: I still have nightmares of this particular middle school's halls as an adult, rushing around not being able to find any of my classes.</i>) My teachers introduced me to everyone on the first days of class. I started riding the bus everyday. I was the first stop and the last stop of each day, so, it was a long 45 minute trip each morning and afternoon. But, things started to get difficult soon after that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I noticed that people started getting out of my way as I walked through the halls and would whisper something to each other and then eventually, they said it loud enough to catch my ear as I raced to my next class. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "You smell!" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "Do you wear deodorant?!" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "Do you smell that?"<br /> "Pee-eww!" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was really embarrassing as the WHOLE school seemed to gotten on board with the teasing, but I acted like it didn't bother me and ignored them. I remember specifically thinking, "<b><span style="font-size: large;">At least they get out of my way so I'm not late</span></b>." By the end of the month/ school year, I was happy to get out of school and enjoy my summer. I just didn't really have a lot of friends, other than a few people who would talk to me on the bus and who would sometimes let me sit with them in the cafeteria at lunch. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the summer, I turned 12. At church (<a href="http://www.mormon.org/" target="_blank">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints</a>), I graduated from Primary and started in the Young Women' Program (ages 12-17). <b><span style="font-size: large;">I was surprised when everyone was so nice to me.</span></b> None of my new church friends went to my school, but I saw them for a weekly activity and on Sundays. I was actually one of 2 students in my middle school who were a Mormon, the other was a boy, so, no help there for 12 year old me. Soon I was asked to help out in Young Womens and called to be a class secretary (take roll, take notes in class presidency meetings, make agendas, etc.). I attended some leadership training classes with my Young Women Adult Leaders. It was an eye-opening opportunity to learn about serving others. I was challenged to be the first to say "Hello" and notice when people in my class were missing & let them know I was thinking of them. I learned how to plan activities to highlight my peers interests, talents, and skills. This gave me a lot of confidence and I felt so much joy being with the girls in my church. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipcfYfGoCmTjPMRvo1_Yx5DfS51MvezkSG90TRmJskFcF6qBbl5IEr_hNlRGBEShMOkJIal71LHB5yICsidhyTGcHCIgOt2xeMG_inBnKhLPt_YRjFxHtB7v6PkS92oLApmQZuy8nEBNY/s1600/YW+necklaces.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipcfYfGoCmTjPMRvo1_Yx5DfS51MvezkSG90TRmJskFcF6qBbl5IEr_hNlRGBEShMOkJIal71LHB5yICsidhyTGcHCIgOt2xeMG_inBnKhLPt_YRjFxHtB7v6PkS92oLApmQZuy8nEBNY/s1600/YW+necklaces.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young Women Necklaces (Far Left, YW Torch- Basic, the<br />
gold ones were earned by completing <br />
YW Personal Progress Program.)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When the new school year started, I went back to middle school to begin 7th grade. I felt like I had a good handle on the school layout and wasn't worried about getting lost anymore. Unfortunately, the student body had not forgotten how much they loved making fun of me over the summer. I still tried to ignored them. Attempting to fix the "you smell" teasing problem, I purchased seven different deodorants--all different scents, and none of them got me a better reaction. I had bus friends pull me aside in the lunch room, saying "Can I ask you a question?" Internally, I was soooo excited to have someone talk to me, I said, "Sure!" Then they would proceed to shame me and ask, "Are you wearing any deodorant?" A group of girls closely watching nearby would laugh at me, because my bus-friend obviously had volunteered to make fun of me for the group. Feeling discouraged, I would logically explain to her that of course I wore deodorant. They'd say, "What kind?...'Cause it's not working!" (hahaha) This sequence of events started happening a lot. After a while it evolved into-- "What boy do you like?" I just started walking away and not answering the questions. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One day, I sat down to eat my lunch with some bus friends (the closest thing to friends I had) and they all stood up without talking (highly organized) and went to another table together. This bothered me, so, I followed them...for 3 tables as they continued to switch back and forth...until one girl finally said, "Stop following us! Can't you tell we're trying to get away from you!" I told her and the others that we were supposed to be my friends, and they looked ridiculous running away from me." I finally left and ate by myself. One of those girls, I would see in the lunch line while I got a salad from the salad bar. She wouldn't ever say "hi" back. She just ignored me. After a few months, she exclaimed, "You don't need to say hi to me! I'm not going to say hi to you." I told her I was just being nice. We were friends once. I didn't do it to make her say hi to me. She rolled her eyes and walked off. (<i>NOTE: A few months later, her friends exiled her and she eventually said "hi" back and half-smiled.</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Middle school continued to have many opportunities to test my resolve. I had my shirt stolen one day. HOW? Well, I was in a classroom play and the teacher told me that all the students leave their clothes in the hall bathroom while in costume. So, I left them in the bathroom with the other students' clothes. Well, when I got back, my shirt was no longer in my pile of folded clothes. It was a plain JC Penny Boys T-shirt in a muted color. Nothing awesome. I looked in the garbage, toilets, all over in my costume....but it was gone. I couldn't act like it bothered me, so, I called my mom and had her bring me a new shirt. She asked if I wanted to go home, and I told her no. That would make the lurking theif feel like they'd won...like they'd gotten to me...or make me miss my school work! I put on my best happy face and finished out the day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another day, I had a former bus friend inform me that someone had put a note in my locker, but she wouldn't say who. I was suspicious. I was scared of what it would be. When I finally opened my locker, I found a fake "love" note about how much an secret admirer admired my "rolls". I didn't understand the term "rolls". The former friend said it was about fat rolls. "Great...." I thought to myself sarcastically. I walked away with the note, careful not to rip it up in front of anyone. Once I was out of sight, I tore it up into little pieces. (<i>I had anxiety about opening up my locker the rest of the year.</i>) I told myself to just be strong....and remember that it could be far worse. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-GunPmduaukqejr1BVhvjBNd7ZgdEDzRjs6KgyUQju1YLmvVCdxcNIHWcTJ59C3gXK_recgWqVp91BnFkBzFcc37IfciQ91qafnbxXIQKpf8ZIEbZB0CVH8GrLyuE-ALbJ6YVI_PcedM/s1600/IMG_20140408_145232_206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-GunPmduaukqejr1BVhvjBNd7ZgdEDzRjs6KgyUQju1YLmvVCdxcNIHWcTJ59C3gXK_recgWqVp91BnFkBzFcc37IfciQ91qafnbxXIQKpf8ZIEbZB0CVH8GrLyuE-ALbJ6YVI_PcedM/s1600/IMG_20140408_145232_206.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drawn in Middle School.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One Sunday, I went to church and heard a lesson on the Savior and how he's always near. My teacher posed the question, "<b><span style="font-size: large;">How would you live your life if the Savior was walking right next to you?</span></b>" I thought about that a lot that day, long after class was over. I decided,<b> I would make it a goal to always have the corners of my mouth turned up into a slight smile, especially as I walked through the halls of my school.</b> The next day at school, I felt stronger as I pictured Jesus Christ right next to me. I didn't feel alone and wanted to be kinder. It didn't change how others acted, but it gave me the needed gratitude to be happy in the situation I was in, despite the challenges. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">About a month later, out of the blue, my science teacher saw me in the hall and started walking with me. He said, "I've noticed you're always smiling. Why is that?" I told him, I was just happy. He asked, "why?" I told him, "It could always be worse. When I spill food on my shirt in the cafeteria, I try to think, 'Well, at least it wasn't a whole gallon of ketchup.' Perspective helps me to be grateful for what I have." He said, that was "awesome" and "inspiring". He then asked if he could share what I do with his class (that I was in). I said, "Sure" since my peers already made fun of me, I didn't have anything to loose. I was happy to have someone notice me and give me positive feedback. The whole announcement went well. Some kids said that it was nice, but mostly, I felt noticed for something positive. It felt great.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Towards the end of the year, my confidence was helping me to stick up for myself when needed. For example, a boy in my health class (actually he was in 5 out of 6 of my classes) stared to make inappropriate comments --sexual comments about my body. I told him to stop many times during the class. I warned him one last time that he was harassing me and I would report him to the teacher if he did not stop. He tested me--and made another comment. I quickly called over my teacher and used the phrase "sexual harassment" and I got immediate relief from the disgusting words this student wanted to hurt me with. It never happened again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In my math class, there was a girl-bully. She was really scary--tight high pony tail, angry eyes, if she smiled--something bad was going to happen--that kind of scary. This particular day, she was sitting in front of me. She wanted to give me a hard time while I was working on a worksheet/homework assignment. I don't recall what happened exactly, but she decided she'd put her index finger on my paper, pressing down as hard as she could so I couldn't move my paper out...and I'd have to deal with her. (Trying to intimidate me.) I told her to move her finger. She wouldn't, and without thinking, I took my pointer finger and thumb surrounded the top of her finger which she was holding down my page with, and without thinking, I scratched her finger.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I KNEW she was going to try and hit my pencil out of my hand, so, I tightened my grip and kept my head down. Sure enough, she did try to hit the pencil out of my hand. She turned around and never was a problem for me again. I don't know if that was the best thing I could have done (hurting her), but it was minimal effort... to make the bullying go away. I felt safer after that.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoW-MZhZ5eev4wafIk6tnz1NZSCWbSiGh6Nvda8AMah4Q0GU08LE4FoqoGKGxDoLk7j263Ka0HFOugaws0Km-_KpX2A8LNzEcI2mgm05OnSnp9Zxp7bRZ6DCVxZHY2yGioHeXwlyxK_jk/s1600/IMG_20140408_122300_833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoW-MZhZ5eev4wafIk6tnz1NZSCWbSiGh6Nvda8AMah4Q0GU08LE4FoqoGKGxDoLk7j263Ka0HFOugaws0Km-_KpX2A8LNzEcI2mgm05OnSnp9Zxp7bRZ6DCVxZHY2yGioHeXwlyxK_jk/s1600/IMG_20140408_122300_833.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CTR = Choose the Right<br />
A reminderr on my hand.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You might be wondering what I told my parents about all this. The truth is, I didn't really tell them anything. I felt my father was too busy working and my mom would make things far worse by embarrassing me more than she could ever help. (Really! At one point she became the janitor for 6 months at my school--and it was obvious neither of us was cool.) I did ask for different clothes, more than JC Penney boy shirts...but since we were poor, it wasn't a realistic expectation. (My mom would probably tell you I wanted the boy shirts.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, summer came!! Aaahhhhh! Every student's dream! I had more chances to be with my church friends and play outside. A little piece of heaven for a youth, especially girl's camp. It went by quickly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When 8th grade rolled around, I felt like I knew what to expect. I was ready for the unwelcoming reception of former years. But what followed was very unexpected!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I walked through the school doors and I was suddenly one of the COOLEST people in school, without doing a thing.</b></span> People said "Hey, how was your summer?" I was looking behind me to see who people were waving at...but it was me! </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had to stop their conversations with me to get to my next class.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "What happened?", I thought. "I didn't have cooler clothes, I didn't have money.... people just were nicer." It was the beginning of a very different year for me in middle school. I still tried to get good grades, I still wore the same clothes, I still tried to smile all the time, I still rode the bus, did plays in drama, I was still the last person in gym class to complete the mile run. <b><span style="font-size: large;">I hadn't changed. Everyone else had. </span></b>I made friends with some people, and got crushes on two nice boys who hadn't ever made fun of me. Then about 6 weeks before the end of the year, my dad got a new job and was moving. I was in the height of my middle school social status...without doing a thing. I was sad to leave, especially my church friends who didn't go to my school. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On my last day of middle school in Wenatchee, I had <b>5 surprise going-away parties thrown for me by my teachers and fellow students. </b>I was given a few cakes, small gifts, and many cards, including a <span style="font-size: large;">gigantic homemade card that everyone in the 8th grade had signed</span>. The boys I had crushes on signed it....and I sighed with delight. I was so happy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I ended up not having to finish out the last 6 weeks of 8th grade in my new town, Woodinville, since I had straight A's in Wenatchee. In the fall I started JUNIOR high school... as a 9th grader. (basically middle school all over again) BUT I had it down. <b>The key to life my life is to ignore, ignore, ignore the bad thoughts and tightly embrace the best people around me, remembering the Savior is always near, ready to comfort.</b> I don't always remember my own advice, but when I do, I am happiest. My time in the "middle" was a much needed time for my personal growth. The lessons I learned about myself laid the foundation for much harder trials in my future, including family chaos and rejection. I am grateful I was blessed by a loving Heavenly Father to be happy in the midst of a challenge. It wasn't until I left middle school that I ever looked back and said, "That was hard." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One thing I love about my church is General Conference, twice a year. It's a big meeting for 2 days (10-12 hours of content---LOTS, huh?!) where leaders of the church speak, including the prophet and apostles. On Sunday morning, last weekend, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/grateful-in-any-circumstances?lang=eng" target="_blank">President Dieter F. Uchtdorf</a>, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Second Counselor in the First Presidency (one of the prophet's counselors) said this on gratitude:</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Everyone’s situation is different, and the details of each life are unique. Nevertheless, I have learned that there is something that would take away the bitterness that may come into our lives. There is one thing we can do to make life sweeter, more joyful, even glorious.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We can be grateful!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It might sound contrary to the wisdom of the world to suggest that one who is burdened with sorrow should give thanks to God. But those who set aside the bottle of bitterness and lift instead the goblet of gratitude can find a purifying drink of healing, peace, and understanding."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He also said:</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"It is easy to be grateful for things when life seems to be going our way. But what then of those times when what we wish for seems to be far out of reach?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Could I suggest that we see gratitude as a disposition, a way of life that stands independent of our current situation? In other words, I’m suggesting that instead of being thankful for things, we focus on being thankful in our circumstances—whatever they may be."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love that part, "</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>gratitude is a disposition, a way of life that stands independent of our current situation</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">". I know that Heavenly Father's has a plan that is eternal in nature. If you are feeling in the "middle" of one of those types of situations right now, hang in there, see how you can grow, and be true to yourself.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2NvP6aUMmRqh1mC5uXAGB2cXI6vTeAR7s3D3KUmesba6RhWZZMqwol3YnbZE9u23XgdaBl9YZ6rve_YeVF3_A6PPAt0tL1WRgGqChkV0B7AA48yOKaVs8z5vY0WIc8kLcBcdinRnb5cU/s1600/IMG_20140408_141651_675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2NvP6aUMmRqh1mC5uXAGB2cXI6vTeAR7s3D3KUmesba6RhWZZMqwol3YnbZE9u23XgdaBl9YZ6rve_YeVF3_A6PPAt0tL1WRgGqChkV0B7AA48yOKaVs8z5vY0WIc8kLcBcdinRnb5cU/s1600/IMG_20140408_141651_675.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I found this quote written on a piece of scrap paper in my scripture bag. <br />
It's written with my young handwriting...I'm not sure what age I recorded it.<br />
<a href="http://scriptures.byu.edu/gettalk.php?ID=590" target="_blank">LINK TO THE TALK</a> this is from.... </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks for letting me share my story. It was therapeutic for me, if nothing else!</span>Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060722548732450692noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633986164941517169.post-36349705951717084652014-04-02T14:52:00.002-07:002014-04-02T15:00:59.280-07:00Winco Bulk Food Price List<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgob1m9kZzqLqgalac35TqoWGQY0dQTEl0LvOkhYP1lvBKunU0-qIOE-FIC3YATjBTxKZK9in1-H0rXWRBh9D-d3PHPig_n7Nvwrat8GNhsXLVtU0avYERScSALhzEIHt3TAy9vzEQ4HX0/s1600/IMG_20140327_205128_460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgob1m9kZzqLqgalac35TqoWGQY0dQTEl0LvOkhYP1lvBKunU0-qIOE-FIC3YATjBTxKZK9in1-H0rXWRBh9D-d3PHPig_n7Nvwrat8GNhsXLVtU0avYERScSALhzEIHt3TAy9vzEQ4HX0/s1600/IMG_20140327_205128_460.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went to Winco in Moscow, Idaho, last week to buy many items from their extensive bulk department. It was 8:30 pm on a Thursday...and not very busy. I love the prices in bulk, especially for baking.The prices seem to be cheaper or equal in most instances I've done a price comparison on items. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I asked an employee, wearing a tag that stated he was the Bulk Foods Manager, if I could get a copy of the list of the items they currently carry with the price. The man surprised me by stating that their pricing was a secret. I pointed at the items behind him and I said, but all the prices are right there. It saves me time. It's all in your store computer. He said it didn't matter. At least I would have to take the time to write them all down....like it was a punishment. I told him I wasn't interested in any formulas or algorithms for how they priced items....just the price next to the food item. Nope... he said they would never do that. I told him that all the items in bulk are g<a href="http://wincofoods.com/departments/bulk-foods/items/" target="_blank">enerally listed on Winco's website</a> --but not each item was in this particular store....and I just got shut down. This bothered me...so, I proceeded to take pictures of all the items I would ever be interested in on a regular basis. (<i>Not candy, pet food, processed foods, pre-made mixes, granola mixes...since I could make my own if needed. --I don't have a pet either.)</i> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8HQwB_x89RY41NPx7wpJWV4oNf-sh2sGYAIwmLBcqXCaZ1s1ZTrQAP8Q66adWq7UIPhIVI1RGR22NiJV9VnVywj9zS_ZAA6Ckwfxdb_EM91ABqGV5OYjsRS4c1VgzQhKhTeJKlFB-FmE/s1600/IMG_20140327_210439_458.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/AVvXsEi8HQwB_x89RY41NPx7wpJWV4oNf-sh2sGYAIwmLBcqXCaZ1s1ZTrQAP8Q66adWq7UIPhIVI1RGR22NiJV9VnVywj9zS_ZAA6Ckwfxdb_EM91ABqGV5OYjsRS4c1VgzQhKhTeJKlFB-FmE/s1600/IMG_20140327_210439_458.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I put together a list of all the items using their list of items on their website and an Excel Spreadsheet. It wasn't that hard, but a boring task. For my fellow NW Winco go-ers, I want to share my list to avoid loosing out on the best deal. I've stood at Costco in front of the All Purpose Flour...wondering if it was cheaper at Winco. (It turns out there the same....32 cents a pound.) I hope this can aid comparision shopping and knowing what products are available to you in bulk.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can view the list below, or go to the file I saved online (on Google Drive), <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByikBP_juHVSbG1NR1N4aVoyVDg/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM3c2B42gwH1X6zHhV3wC1KWxWh5AKhDJt_2Xg_YmKV7wxs_xySISRjvPctH_VsCYov2jVQMEsRkxB5xs-lvqpryhnka_nHbh9b7fxlD3JXzzD0O4TpMWG-ONre5TS0ff9Ne2LeRkyKnE/s1600/IMG_20140327_210635_041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM3c2B42gwH1X6zHhV3wC1KWxWh5AKhDJt_2Xg_YmKV7wxs_xySISRjvPctH_VsCYov2jVQMEsRkxB5xs-lvqpryhnka_nHbh9b7fxlD3JXzzD0O4TpMWG-ONre5TS0ff9Ne2LeRkyKnE/s1600/IMG_20140327_210635_041.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">powdered cheese mix</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's not on my price list (because it's not what I would buy), but you can buy Cheese Powder, which I suspect is the stuff in the Kraft Mac and Cheese boxes. If you were a real boxed mac and cheese fan, I'd say this is a cheap way to get lots and lots of it.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzRlHaGJ1iZyG5pgkVw1oPlSgwAmCkBiUQdJLbYoSzuZry3MYgM5zkzH96Kd_bfUucW-7IJwVuofDUSJMBjoQx39xkKS9oVnSBk8WDrEv3MPMf184hvNKlQzH9DQSJlWXK41FpDdoQ2o/s1600/IMG_20140327_212400_216.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/AVvXsEgLzRlHaGJ1iZyG5pgkVw1oPlSgwAmCkBiUQdJLbYoSzuZry3MYgM5zkzH96Kd_bfUucW-7IJwVuofDUSJMBjoQx39xkKS9oVnSBk8WDrEv3MPMf184hvNKlQzH9DQSJlWXK41FpDdoQ2o/s1600/IMG_20140327_212400_216.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">FYI: You can buy a case of any bulk item (the size Winco gets to fill up it's containers) for 5% discount. If you're into food storage, this is one resource to use!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope this is a helpful and you can save money! </span>Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060722548732450692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633986164941517169.post-5713527984115136762014-03-19T16:16:00.001-07:002014-03-20T09:49:47.729-07:00My Arty Side<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCUAxQ7cG_crlocM44Oac50WEDu8WPAlGn62bYKT5ZNSqfxUrisEB60he15vMbRYFzJy-aHPjw402R1m_VVJpA8Z_pxxQf6YEbdkVEczieKCknYE8eZ_mB_acC-Gg2tahIMEFILJBJt0/s1600/LW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCUAxQ7cG_crlocM44Oac50WEDu8WPAlGn62bYKT5ZNSqfxUrisEB60he15vMbRYFzJy-aHPjw402R1m_VVJpA8Z_pxxQf6YEbdkVEczieKCknYE8eZ_mB_acC-Gg2tahIMEFILJBJt0/s1600/LW.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In elementary school, I loved going to art class. I loved it because I liked learning new techniques and making something that was all my own. When I went to middle school, I had to choose what type of "art" I wanted to take a class in, since they wouldn't let a student take more than one art type, so I chose theater. I never got to take another art class again. Sad...sad...sad. But, I majored in theater in college and have gotten pleanty of use out of the creative skills I learned even though I ended up being a paralegal for 5 years and a stay at home mommy now. Luckily, drawing-ish art has still been something I've been able to do in my spare time for fun.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't have a budget for art, so, I use old paints and paper I got for Christmas and birthdays when I was in high school still. I don't mind that my art isn't done with perfect technique...because I'm releasing a need to create something by drawing and painting. I recall being 10 years old, at my grandma's house sitting in the dinning room with a pad of paper and a pencil drawing cartoons. For many years prior, I had collected books on how to draw--hording them in my room, and watched TV shows on Saturday morning programing aimed at teaching kids to draw cartoons. I liked drawing silly simple shapes and faces, but struggling to find my own style in my art, rather than mimicing the books, etc. Back to my sotry, I showed my grandma what I was doing and asked if she liked it. She didn't! (What! I thought grandmas had to like stuff their grandkids made as children.) She thought I was wasting my time on cartoons and said I should do real art. She then walked into the kitchen and came back with a bowl of fruit. She said, "Draw this as it is with detail and shading." I felt deflated, but drew the fruit. I showed her and she still wasn't happy with what I'd done. I then decided I didn't really care what my grandma thought of my art...I would rather do something I was interested that seek her art approval. Afterall, I hardly saw her...she couldn't keep track. So, I stopped showing her my art...and that was that. (Sad...sad...sad.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While I practiced shading later in life, I hated how dirty my fingers got as I rubbed and smeared the pencil lead on the paper. I always went back to my cartoon images. I liked that they weren't over worked, they could be sad or serious, and children responded to them well. I also loved that they didn't have to look real...they were not meant to be parallel representations of life...more imaginary. Looking back, I think I gravitated to cartoons because they also supplied escapism from my reality--bringing me joy when I felt sad..sad...sad.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To share some of my hobby with you, here's some of my art....</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwhjaVXdrirjM9xjFCSX_2P-KBpftp0Q2pxDkenjNk3cXTLF_0akIoWMd1OtTCwCfky4obpcUz0dUWR_Gv6eE89QkOzoeVlG1PsFO7c4jDsIWZze1goMx34dLlfXQTPkn85JS3YPkKhs/s1600/LW+Art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwhjaVXdrirjM9xjFCSX_2P-KBpftp0Q2pxDkenjNk3cXTLF_0akIoWMd1OtTCwCfky4obpcUz0dUWR_Gv6eE89QkOzoeVlG1PsFO7c4jDsIWZze1goMx34dLlfXQTPkn85JS3YPkKhs/s1600/LW+Art.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top: Family Portrait- in field with flowers while raining.<br />
Bottom: "Good Samaritain" Shadow Box with characters <br />
and props I used to teach a Primary Lesson 4 years ago.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jnC1M3OYHn38qdy0S-E3rgbxMVwdt2SECmpZceaPWPaDUoog3axHNySX898f4DZhzXciyFZXH6lUM8MYrT0W-nMXVRI1Rri9K9O_TuYS7L-c_ze7Skw02h_3VhsSd-D-w8FEn8h-RFM/s1600/Weldon+2013+Christmas+Art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jnC1M3OYHn38qdy0S-E3rgbxMVwdt2SECmpZceaPWPaDUoog3axHNySX898f4DZhzXciyFZXH6lUM8MYrT0W-nMXVRI1Rri9K9O_TuYS7L-c_ze7Skw02h_3VhsSd-D-w8FEn8h-RFM/s1600/Weldon+2013+Christmas+Art.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I make a Christmas Ornament each year, this was the <br />
Weldon 2013 ornament--a family picture. <br />
It's watercolors, with a fine point black sharpie <br />
drawn over the watercolor.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I did a few ornaments for some special friends this year, that I visit taught (LDS slang for women I'm assigned to make sure they're loved and cared for).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwrQ-0MxoqhdODY5Gbu4oUSCT3M2cZ_oHz8tUniNrzdT06VPDXejhey4KRfHidFiNSKxED1WWTp7aqGEY4pXqwUWUT_Oo07_HqnvIyXl7hRPccuMIvE5IAZ9PoDzBDg7n5jmuPscrPm6E/s1600/IMG_20131209_232716_768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwrQ-0MxoqhdODY5Gbu4oUSCT3M2cZ_oHz8tUniNrzdT06VPDXejhey4KRfHidFiNSKxED1WWTp7aqGEY4pXqwUWUT_Oo07_HqnvIyXl7hRPccuMIvE5IAZ9PoDzBDg7n5jmuPscrPm6E/s1600/IMG_20131209_232716_768.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some other things...</span><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/AVvXsEj-eQynLg5WnzHAsOwJHrRHRaHtTd932MxKM34tdkARQuCuQyqbUDkh6-rWvb7800BvF8EImr2uHvBK21SxlO3lPkWVr3rNhbpcsr3BTzTkEkkR7QTIf2wAySfhdsx0BEx7oO-sD27io1c/s1600/IMG_20140221_124514_018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-eQynLg5WnzHAsOwJHrRHRaHtTd932MxKM34tdkARQuCuQyqbUDkh6-rWvb7800BvF8EImr2uHvBK21SxlO3lPkWVr3rNhbpcsr3BTzTkEkkR7QTIf2wAySfhdsx0BEx7oO-sD27io1c/s1600/IMG_20140221_124514_018.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was made for my husband for his birthday. I drew it and my sons and I colored it in. <br />
"Things Daddy Likes" is full of little simple doodles that makes an interesting poster to look at.</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/AVvXsEgRi7GwZHSAMl2-RG5tNPTUyqjhxCnitF7MIAbLYHoyADlc8rvOJ66D5A-gBZmyB0Ua0d4BOGMegJiOc-C3BSba2w1iy0rXQHVnG10VpTwIyj3OKOHG5YRWef-z5UIcne5izWsb4aQM-E8/s1600/IMG_20140221_124528_693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRi7GwZHSAMl2-RG5tNPTUyqjhxCnitF7MIAbLYHoyADlc8rvOJ66D5A-gBZmyB0Ua0d4BOGMegJiOc-C3BSba2w1iy0rXQHVnG10VpTwIyj3OKOHG5YRWef-z5UIcne5izWsb4aQM-E8/s1600/IMG_20140221_124528_693.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see some up close images from the Things Daddy Likes Poster.</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/AVvXsEjINWbJ9APMmGaQesBkWWDLDqVVVcAauih3epZtNYnZwo176LVrAeWje1q75qIFCbvETPGlA0JMPCiUgqMm-0dgqIyDQO8Y8nzypWdih5ITkEkFxSwwvQClJ9s0MrA6cPItx_PGd39KdJ0/s1600/IMG_20131224_015109_261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjINWbJ9APMmGaQesBkWWDLDqVVVcAauih3epZtNYnZwo176LVrAeWje1q75qIFCbvETPGlA0JMPCiUgqMm-0dgqIyDQO8Y8nzypWdih5ITkEkFxSwwvQClJ9s0MrA6cPItx_PGd39KdJ0/s1600/IMG_20131224_015109_261.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playmat I made for my sons for Christmas 2013. It's on a blue waterproof canvas fabric.</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/AVvXsEipH4p35RDyYHhyDJc9z_lkYfwvA5vb1xlXlKGuP6txcggL2iti86g7W6cSUmmqgnr0V8LYdSqf1F-eMxo-5VL_Md82zLfePsFYD3hBmlLByS2-VOaoCoo4AsSlrWXv1gNHkInyGkdU25o/s1600/lehi's+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipH4p35RDyYHhyDJc9z_lkYfwvA5vb1xlXlKGuP6txcggL2iti86g7W6cSUmmqgnr0V8LYdSqf1F-eMxo-5VL_Md82zLfePsFYD3hBmlLByS2-VOaoCoo4AsSlrWXv1gNHkInyGkdU25o/s1600/lehi's+tree.jpg" height="280" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a set I designed for a church youth activity/ play I scripted. It's "The Tree of Life" from the Book of Mormon story recalling Lehi's dream in November 2013. It's a lot of paper and string, and Christmas lights. It was very large and took up the majority of the room and I had another talented woman helping me to bring this idea to life.</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/AVvXsEiT3k7EP6IyadxYLDN7gSaVjPUc1-YHfmuKo3k-8tnTDXNHx-vMeTbBS4fIfxmCgRrJ6CpWhPVqaydnF4eIrwTsIpLtjSn3flcb86QiPfnVlEg3lS63v5kqkB5AIqyb1KJdN96berjJFiU/s1600/lehi's+tree+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3k7EP6IyadxYLDN7gSaVjPUc1-YHfmuKo3k-8tnTDXNHx-vMeTbBS4fIfxmCgRrJ6CpWhPVqaydnF4eIrwTsIpLtjSn3flcb86QiPfnVlEg3lS63v5kqkB5AIqyb1KJdN96berjJFiU/s1600/lehi's+tree+2.jpg" height="322" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Tree of Life. You can better see the many leaves cut out of paper and attached <br />
to string to represent the tree limbs/branches.</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/AVvXsEj5_EW5GDQKKIvhcC4qqZ81Kmjl2k2_0lJZSOExQTHmGuhyphenhypheno54C0l6eDOuFeG71xlmc9kW7xOAqXZTlr_Dvv79LM3KDqSSjOwJbd5F4Hu3y8fxRVoWzO6enNruhLWQ-g4Zxa8m13itdEj0/s1600/dino.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_EW5GDQKKIvhcC4qqZ81Kmjl2k2_0lJZSOExQTHmGuhyphenhypheno54C0l6eDOuFeG71xlmc9kW7xOAqXZTlr_Dvv79LM3KDqSSjOwJbd5F4Hu3y8fxRVoWzO6enNruhLWQ-g4Zxa8m13itdEj0/s1600/dino.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a dinosaur I drew in college (age 19) when hanging out with my new best friend, Emily Fox. She was an art major, and she had an old jewlery-ish box that was broken. She gave me teh top half and she took the bottom. She told me to paint what I saw in the wood. I saw a dinosaur. As I watched her painitng evolve I added the two people in the dino's claws. They were the people she was painting...who seemed to be looking up. (See below)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfLbnRkuTxiH0qtlC_2KTaZWaPpnlyyubqf90a45rjURZC5sqP5cz22o4glFjITG5KMoXhklPJpjnwplvNTFn2rqlNWw80EOPN2GG1ZSN6mdpl13SAnO572LYRiyGNHMkunmrWBc-DliQ/s1600/emily+art+people.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfLbnRkuTxiH0qtlC_2KTaZWaPpnlyyubqf90a45rjURZC5sqP5cz22o4glFjITG5KMoXhklPJpjnwplvNTFn2rqlNWw80EOPN2GG1ZSN6mdpl13SAnO572LYRiyGNHMkunmrWBc-DliQ/s1600/emily+art+people.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was painted by <a href="http://hermanfox.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">EMILY FOX (King)</a>. Notice the upward glance of the people. <br />
She gifted me the art after our painting session. It's only fair since they go so well together, I think.</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/AVvXsEjN5BM5iq35KQchzon62wPC1jCABx22K2ZHw2fVsQwxzANrFcPfxMnQ0izHUnVhkTMfRP3Bxxjw5ZlBSi1FacUaTZD1eWTuqWlTdhwdCEKVRYz_kUd3snrtmOzycWrMvrPXqwHhUAK2ymY/s1600/IMG_20140319_153649_469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN5BM5iq35KQchzon62wPC1jCABx22K2ZHw2fVsQwxzANrFcPfxMnQ0izHUnVhkTMfRP3Bxxjw5ZlBSi1FacUaTZD1eWTuqWlTdhwdCEKVRYz_kUd3snrtmOzycWrMvrPXqwHhUAK2ymY/s1600/IMG_20140319_153649_469.jpg" height="640" width="361" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I hang them so the people are looking up at the dinosaur...always. It's Before & After art.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqek5AyGjw27dkUB93xxabBgRZrwNsiKz71y9G_vO4AZl3Ok828Xkm3w8oxCS1kQBmGgEqF7-EiGgLN8OR5kxaBsYLb_QrEwQtBl0FGfAaXWfqAfhAEnmK-yhrYfXUNfDIfvnzqfxJG-c/s1600/dino+up+close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqek5AyGjw27dkUB93xxabBgRZrwNsiKz71y9G_vO4AZl3Ok828Xkm3w8oxCS1kQBmGgEqF7-EiGgLN8OR5kxaBsYLb_QrEwQtBl0FGfAaXWfqAfhAEnmK-yhrYfXUNfDIfvnzqfxJG-c/s1600/dino+up+close.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gruesome but funny.</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/AVvXsEiXBzHxXkgWxK3GTVut8SodBrBMwazDkOAwYqfbsUp-zb57oYddW0Xa27EvTsI3Q9lSpxZuU9M9XY1_rOzx869q2oqjUyKRcsOqzAc2Apwqm4km5lKvEebgyMHG6iuPzSrWI2mhVu6GxYg/s1600/Embroidary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBzHxXkgWxK3GTVut8SodBrBMwazDkOAwYqfbsUp-zb57oYddW0Xa27EvTsI3Q9lSpxZuU9M9XY1_rOzx869q2oqjUyKRcsOqzAc2Apwqm4km5lKvEebgyMHG6iuPzSrWI2mhVu6GxYg/s1600/Embroidary.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is some embrodairy I made for Enoch for his 4th birthday. <br />
It's the Seattle LDS Temple. It was my first try at the medium.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpiNLjTmvgnXH4V0oPWKilxdjcP6DjUt7Th3mN9QfMLRbEUbzzcrw277MTetWb152t4kQMdzY8dG6j1u4IkaueZp_eh4864OohVcatsexKXjvRT4jGPeq_X81YKsjKlNpGwzfhr0D69uM/s1600/IMG_20140319_153127_675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpiNLjTmvgnXH4V0oPWKilxdjcP6DjUt7Th3mN9QfMLRbEUbzzcrw277MTetWb152t4kQMdzY8dG6j1u4IkaueZp_eh4864OohVcatsexKXjvRT4jGPeq_X81YKsjKlNpGwzfhr0D69uM/s1600/IMG_20140319_153127_675.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is another family potrait I did. I made it with fabric paint the day before Thanksgiving 2013.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5S1tXNYLTTHijc5jM7N-neO6ZxijxDKACgnaNPFYfrSAEekvJ_sw4kR7VgF8lnU8TOK2c5C3tOwT8OCI_CzRo4QbndYv9vfJtpbTaaOSO99_ZJbUyHCrvcL_-26dvPpXrkUwi0pIFlFs/s1600/IMG_20140319_153138_670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5S1tXNYLTTHijc5jM7N-neO6ZxijxDKACgnaNPFYfrSAEekvJ_sw4kR7VgF8lnU8TOK2c5C3tOwT8OCI_CzRo4QbndYv9vfJtpbTaaOSO99_ZJbUyHCrvcL_-26dvPpXrkUwi0pIFlFs/s1600/IMG_20140319_153138_670.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I always make myself thin and without glasses...without really thinking about it.</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/AVvXsEjxKDz0X-WfP03pltVBi1pd8y_kQ-m4bHOSjITZKsmVe0KH4faIHN-sQOXae3n9rKNNkgF7TKG1r-h8Ot_oLi-uTqumZLDAgOYH0hCGsgSbFfWtmiqqrE3PNSutqZTflzHmiZxzq8qzMXQ/s1600/IMG_20140319_153538_816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxKDz0X-WfP03pltVBi1pd8y_kQ-m4bHOSjITZKsmVe0KH4faIHN-sQOXae3n9rKNNkgF7TKG1r-h8Ot_oLi-uTqumZLDAgOYH0hCGsgSbFfWtmiqqrE3PNSutqZTflzHmiZxzq8qzMXQ/s1600/IMG_20140319_153538_816.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a throwback piece from when I was 13 years old. I was in 8th grade and was doing a skit for US History on the signing of the Constitution. This served as an audience for the acting out of the signing. Hence starring looks. My teacher asked if he could keep it. I would have thrown it away if he hadn't said that. I told him no, and now it's in the kids' playroom on the wall.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6saQKVYOS9QlrfhIo0sSg6aKls7FsrIg2Vtp4HDybXQaIeJnWS9OUQGkVuQDq2WKjVsk2dkkQj8qiBD6oXCQXLSp451UBTbyQ5KTL51EijDlEGp4PMFM9VBbr_WaiWOCIjapQXkzPac/s1600/IMG_20140319_153553_239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6saQKVYOS9QlrfhIo0sSg6aKls7FsrIg2Vtp4HDybXQaIeJnWS9OUQGkVuQDq2WKjVsk2dkkQj8qiBD6oXCQXLSp451UBTbyQ5KTL51EijDlEGp4PMFM9VBbr_WaiWOCIjapQXkzPac/s1600/IMG_20140319_153553_239.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I used up a lot of washable markers making this. Marker on Bucher Paper.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Someday it would be nice to hang out with more trained artists and watch them...and learn some new techniques. But, for now, this is one thing I do for fun.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Thanks for letting me share.</span>Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060722548732450692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633986164941517169.post-30886718890083980652014-03-18T14:39:00.000-07:002015-04-04T19:34:14.301-07:00The Best Salmon I've Ever Had<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 14.4375px;">
I posted about this Salmon back in <a href="http://www.mrandmrsweldon.blogspot.com/2012/02/one-year-older-and-wiser-too.html" target="_blank">2012</a> but thought it was worth re-posting because it was the best Salmon I've ever had!!! At the time I first made this, I was trying to duplicate a meal I had at <a href="http://saltys.com/seattle/" target="_blank">Salty's on Alki Point</a> in Seattle. The restaurant has a few recipes online, but not exactly what I had eaten in the restaurant. So, I took elements from 2 or 3 recipes and merged them into what I thought I had ordered. The result was spectacular! Shaun and I happily oohh-ed and blissfully mmmmm-ed after every single bite.<br />
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The key to making most perfect restaurant food, other than technique and superior ingredient quality, is FAT. This recipe has lots of fat but its all worth it. So, if you happen upon some fresh (wild-caught) salmon this year, consider giving this recipe a try. It's Salmon baked in the oven--covered in a basil-garlic butter, then served aside are some garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus, covered in a pesto-butter sauce called <span style="background-color: transparent;">Pesto Beurre Blanc.</span><br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJNvejtkR1qUrvPuIK6BpNyAqY3BgKY9J1uFDK6U0m5UHEd9R4meGeOPinFL5JUioNxQPJ50J33zFnBZenZbvmjKewNCD3k6n_IAyYf-fpn7pAxQW_rtPT2kzdCjlkWoruBKZ-Vm_QY2EQ/s400/Shaun's+32+birthday+2012+024.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></div>
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<b>Baked Basil-Garlic Wild Salmon<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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1.14 lb wild salmon fillet (half a salmon) (pull put pinbones with plyers) </div>
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(Different Salmon weight will adjust cooking time and you may need to increase the amount of butter you prepare)<br />
3 tablespoons basil-garlic butter (See recipe below), softened but not completely melted<br />
½ teaspoon salt and pepper mix (80% salt and 20% pepper)<br />
1½ ounces Pesto Beurre Blanc (See recipe below)<br />
5 spears per serving- asparagus spears - blanched and reheated with some of the basil-garlic butter<br />
1½ cups garlic mashed potatoes (See recipe below)<o:p></o:p></div>
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2 teaspoons parsley (for garnish)</div>
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<b>Basil-Garlic Butter</b><br />
<i>Yield 4 ounces<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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4 tablespoons butter, unsalted, whipped<br />
2 teaspoons garlic, minced<br />
1 teaspoon onion, minced<br />
1 tablespoon olive oil<br />
½ teaspoon salt and pepper mix (80% salt and 20% pepper)<br />
2 teaspoons dried parsley<br />
1 tablespoon fresh basil, fine chopped<o:p></o:p></div>
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Slowly whip oil into soft whipped, mix all remaining ingredients.<br />
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<b>Pesto Beurre Blanc</b><br />
<i>Yield 6 ounces</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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1½ teaspoons onion, minced<br />
2 teaspoons vinegar<br />
3 tablespoons white wine<br />
½ cup heavy cream<br />
4 tablespoons butter<br />
1 pinch Kosher salt<br />
½ teaspoon dried thyme (or marjoram)<br />
¼ teaspoon black peppercorns<br />
1 tablespoons pesto (your favorite recipe or buy prepared)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Mix shallots, thyme, black peppercorns, kosher salt, vinegar and wine in a small pot and reduce over medium heat until liquid is almost evaporated. Turn heat to low, add heavy cream and reduce slightly. Using a small whip slowly incorporate butter to sauce consistency, add pesto and mix well.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Garlic Mashed Potatoes</b></div>
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<i>(enough for 3 servings)</i></div>
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5 Yukon gold potatoes</div>
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Boil potatoes in water (whole), when done, remove and peel off skin. Then mash until smooth. </div>
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Add the following:</div>
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1/3 c. cream </div>
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3 tablespoons butter </div>
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Salt (to taste)</div>
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Pepper (to taste) </div>
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Dash of Garlic Powder.</div>
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Mix until incorporated. (Do not over mix.)</div>
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<u><b>Putting it all together:</b><o:p></o:p></u></div>
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Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Prepare a metal pan (with short edges) by lining with a piece of parchment. Then spray parchment with Pam (or brush lightly with oil). Then place salmon fillet on pan, skin side down.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Brush salmon fillet with basil-garlic butter and season with salt and pepper mix. Bake to desired doneness (be sure to not overcook the salmon*) while basting the salmon with remaining basil-garlic butter. Check after 15 minutes. Mine was done at 20 minutes. (When done, the fish will flake apart.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Place mashed potatoes at the center of a serving plate and arrange asparagus spears leaning on the mashed potatoes. Pour pesto beurre blanc over the hill of asparagus, and place salmon fillet on the asparagus and garnish with chopped parsley.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eat immediatley. ENJOY!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>*Note on How to Tell if Salmon is Cooked:</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.68000030517578px;">1. When baking or grilling, cook the salmon just until it flakes. This is about 10 minutes for each inch of thickness (on the grill, that’s about 5 minutes per side). It does not have to be opaque all the way through to be cooked — it will probably be dry if you wait that long.</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.68000030517578px;"> - From <a href="http://saltys.com/recipes/salmon" target="_blank">Salty's Website </a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">2. Here’s how to tell it’s done:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">~</span> The top is slightly brown and/or tiny bits sticking up get a little charred</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">~</span> A little whiteness appears at the sides from the fat</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">~</span> When a wooden spoon pressed on top gives back a little resistance but not too much</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">~</span> And the MOST IMPORTANT: cut into the thickest part. At the bottom, you should have some translucent, raw-looking fish. BUT! This fish is easily parted with a butter knife. If there’s raw-looking salmon that can’t be teased apart with a butter knife, it needs another moment. If it can, DO NOT cook the salmon any longer! The fish is moistest and most delicious when you leave this translucent area as so.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">-<a href="http://seattlelocalfood.com/2010/09/21/how-to-cook-salmon-perfectly/" target="_blank">From SeattleLocalFood.com</a></span></div>
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Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060722548732450692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633986164941517169.post-63166977215506827842013-12-31T14:41:00.001-08:002013-12-31T14:41:06.632-08:00What's Your 2014 New Year Resolution?<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/7hFEe4r1nt0" width="480"></iframe>Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060722548732450692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633986164941517169.post-43869523746911100452013-12-30T13:28:00.002-08:002013-12-30T13:28:15.563-08:00Enoch's Sunday Quote- On Nephi<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday, Enoch's primary school teacher and church told me that the quote of the class was from Enoch who said, "Nephi was good because he didn't go into time out." When asked about Nephi's brothers, Laman and Lemuel, Enoch said, "Laman and Lemuel when into timeout a lot!" </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lds.org/media-library/images/gospel-art/book-of-mormon?lang=eng#nephi-subdues-rebellious-brothers-39641" target="_blank"><img src="http://media.ldscdn.org/images/media-library/gospel-art/book-of-mormon/nephi-subdues-rebellious-brothers-39641-gallery.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lds.org/media-library/images/gospel-art/book-of-mormon?lang=eng#nephi-subdues-rebellious-brothers-39641" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: #f9f6ed; color: #707274; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14px; text-align: start;">Nephi Subdues His Rebellious Brothers (</span><i style="background-color: #f9f6ed; border: 0px; color: #707274; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">Gospel Art Book</i><span style="background-color: #f9f6ed; color: #707274; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14px; text-align: start;"> [2009], no. 70) - </span><span style="color: #486fae; font-family: Lucida Grande, Lucida Sans Unicode, Lucida Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9f6ed; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14px; text-align: start;">1 Ne. 17:15–55</span></span><span style="background-color: #f9f6ed; color: #707274; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14px; text-align: start;"> </span></a></td></tr>
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Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060722548732450692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633986164941517169.post-68483684558181216412013-12-21T23:55:00.000-08:002013-12-21T23:55:36.123-08:00Top 6 Songs to Describe Our Relationship...cause I'm tired and can't do 10<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shaun and I had quick courtship...3 weeks...and then a short engagement....3 months...and now we've been married 7 years and are quite blessed to say they have been very happy years. Tonight, after watching a lot of YouTube music videos with Shaun, I asked him if he would be game to put together a list of songs that would describe our relationship. Thankfully, he was willing. So, without any further delay here's....OUR TOP 6 SONGS TO DESCRIBE OUR RELATIONSHIP!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SONGS....</span>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Must Have Done Something Right/ Relient K</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As with most things...life seems to lead up to chance happenings, but somehow they evolve into lasting relationships. For Shaun and I, it was love...and this song was one Shaun found early in our marriage and would play for me...and reminds us of how lucky we each feel to be married to eachother. In fact, one anniversary-- I did make jerseys.)</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Kiss the Girl/ Little Mermaid</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This song is related to how Shaun and I had our first kiss....I may or may not have acted out this scene to get him to kiss me for the first time. That's all I can say.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Quando Quando Quando/ </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Michael Buble</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's a lot of Quandos in our life. Quando to kiss (1st week), Quando to Say<b> </b>the "L" word (2nd week), Quando to get engaged (3rd week), etc....The Quandos never stop, especially being parents.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. On Top of the World/ </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Imagine Dragons </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a happy song...an anthem of hoorah...and a dancin' song. We get energy from the happy days to push on through the more mundane and sad ones. We dance as a family in the living room...like we're doing a group floor routine in an earthquake. Shaun and I dance MORE just to get the kids to dance...because they are adorable.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>5. Bellingham State of Mind / Nathan Cox feat. Rashawn Scott</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We lived in Bellingham the first 6 years of our marriage...and nearly everything in this video reminds us of a million memories in the City we both went to college in and even had our first child. (Also, I co-directed the guy, Nathan, in a play (who sings this) from my theater department days at Western WA University....so even he is a memory.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>6. "Carol Brown" (Choir of Ex Girlfriends) - Flight of the Conchordst </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We chose this video because not only was Shaun married once before marrying me (Lindsay), but because it represents our dry sense of humor...(even though we'd NEVER say "shut up").</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>EXTRA (Not a song)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>7. It's Not About the Nail</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am a "communicater"...so, sometimes thats all I want to do. Everyday Shaun is a "listener". Over time, he has developed a keen ear for when he needs to say something helpful. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know there's more we could describe ourselvs with...to be a bit deeper...but this is the internet and I'm tired. (Goodnight.)</span></div>
Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060722548732450692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633986164941517169.post-15844287612263662392013-11-02T09:37:00.002-07:002014-09-08T16:05:47.411-07:00Great Spaghetti Sauce and Homemade Ricotta<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">HOMEMADE SPAGHETTI SAUCE</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(A recipe I found
on the internet—that I improved the process/technique of for my tastes) </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">By no means is this an authentic Italian style sauce. An suspect an Italian would be horrified. BUT-- I have not been to Italy, and it tastes great to me.</span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs0q0eUHmwelRgy81zxUhkAJfyVXGTjcRlJ-TkdOV-JGCZ1IKMKOGhasMsYb7rxSW2dFpNpqwdiq0HEa1ZRAbX9I1SLHFehaIuND2DuovC5JXjRPpD-AQItB9wm4OmwuNY8mKjvJM2IqI/s1600/IMG_20140525_180013_142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs0q0eUHmwelRgy81zxUhkAJfyVXGTjcRlJ-TkdOV-JGCZ1IKMKOGhasMsYb7rxSW2dFpNpqwdiq0HEa1ZRAbX9I1SLHFehaIuND2DuovC5JXjRPpD-AQItB9wm4OmwuNY8mKjvJM2IqI/s1600/IMG_20140525_180013_142.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
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2 tablespoons olive oil<o:p></o:p></div>
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1 cup onion, minced<o:p></o:p></div>
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2 cloves garlic, minced (to taste)<o:p></o:p></div>
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½ cup celery, minced<o:p></o:p></div>
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¼ cup green bell pepper, chopped fine<o:p></o:p></div>
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2 Tablespoons butter<o:p></o:p></div>
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2 bay leaves<o:p></o:p></div>
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1 1/2 lbs sausage (like a roll of Jimmy Dean) or ground
beef (80/20 mix)<o:p></o:p></div>
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½ teaspoon white sugar<o:p></o:p></div>
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1 teaspoon salt<o:p></o:p></div>
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½ teaspoon pepper (more to taste)<o:p></o:p></div>
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6 oz mushrooms (fresh), chopped fine<o:p></o:p></div>
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1 (6 oz) can of tomato paste<o:p></o:p></div>
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1 (28 oz) can of diced tomatoes <o:p></o:p></div>
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2 (10.5 oz) cans of beef broth<o:p></o:p></div>
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2 teaspoons oregano<o:p></o:p></div>
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2 teaspoons dried basil<o:p></o:p></div>
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1 teaspoon ground thyme<o:p></o:p></div>
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1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Directions:<o:p></o:p></div>
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In large skillet, brown the sausage or ground beef and
break into small pieces as cooking. If needed (depending on fat released by
meat), add olive oil, onion, garlic, green pepper, and celery until onion is transparent.
Add bay leaves, oregano, basil, salt and pepper.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Add tomato paste. Mix it into the ingredients and cook
until it turns into a rust/deep brick color. Add mushrooms, mix in. Then add
diced tomatoes, sugar (to neutralize acid in tomatoes), & beef broth.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Stir well. Simmer over low heat for 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally.
I leave the lid partially off so it stops a lot of splatter, but allows the
evaporating water to escape—and therefore thickens the sauce. Adjust seasonings
to taste, sometimes I add more spices. <o:p></o:p></div>
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When it tastes awesome, it’s done. It really does get
better as it cooks longer. (Sausage makes this sauce AMAZING. It makes it “special”.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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JARRED SAUCE</div>
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****If you're not into making spaghetti sauce, I like using <a href="http://www.barilla.com/content/product/marinara-sauce" target="_blank">Barilla's Marinara</a>. It has a clean pure flavor and it's not expensive...but not the cheapest on the shelf either.</div>
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HOMEMADE RICOTTA</div>
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I recently made my own Ricotta and it was soooo good. I love fancy/expensive store bought ricotta but can't pay the price....or find it in my little town anyway. So, if you're feeling like learning something easy that yeilds huge returns, make your own Ricotta...cheaper, easy, tasty... I use <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2011/06/rich-homemade-ricotta/" target="_blank">this recipe from Smitten Kitchen</a>. Just be careful of the amount of lemon you use to curd the milk. Mine was very lemony--which was fine for adding spices and stuffing shells, or a dessert, but it may be too much in a lasanga. Also, double the recipe if making lasanga. One batch doesn't make much. </div>
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Hope this favorites are of helpful! I always love hearing about good recipes to try.</div>
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Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07060722548732450692noreply@blogger.com0