tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17501281899866740392024-02-20T23:48:32.767-05:00Never a Plain JaneNever A Plain Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00663921921684385606noreply@blogger.comBlogger478125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750128189986674039.post-35452792869264360562019-04-10T00:43:00.003-04:002019-04-10T00:43:41.200-04:00It's tradition! Apparently.Because of Ben's job we tend to move frequently. Case in point: we've been married ten years and have lived in five different cities together. Sometimes this means we choose our next new home under less than ideal conditions. And that means we sometimes have to deal with less than ideal house-related issues.<br />
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Our yellow-clad, turquoise-doored, porch-wrapped house is absolutely adorable. And it must be changed in at least 47 different ways. In fact, we started making changes (<strike>mentally</strike> on <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/janicebear/mastering-my-domain/missouri/">Pinterest</a>) before we even saw the house in person. And once we actually closed and "moved" in...<br />
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It took us less than three weeks to<br />
<ol>
<li>Confirm that yes, the carpet <i>had</i> to go</li>
<li>Decide on the type of replacement flooring(something <i>not</i> <i>carpet)</i></li>
<li>Select said flooring (engineered hardwoods)</li>
<li>And start ripping things apart</li>
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And then I realized (okay, Ben pointed it out) that this has become a moving tradition for us! Observe:<br />
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Not too long after moving into our rental home in Florida we felt the undeniable desire to fix the <a href="http://neveraplainjane.blogspot.com/2010/09/making-house-our-home-family-room.html">fireplace</a> in the family room. With the landlords' permission, of course.<br />
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Three years and a million offers later we snagged a house in Virginia. And proceeded to demolish the kitchen.<br />
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In 2016 we moved to Italy. We lived in hotels for more than two months while we struggled to find a house. Residential construction norms are wildly different overseas so we didn't do much. There was a cabinet mounted directly above the kitchen sink that we absolutely <i>had</i> to get rid of. It literally rested atop the faucet. I am sure I have a photo somewhere...<br />
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And now, here we are in Missouri. Ripping and tearing and making a mess.<br />
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Because, it is tradition. Never A Plain Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00663921921684385606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750128189986674039.post-58368383230445440672019-04-07T12:43:00.000-04:002019-04-07T12:43:05.421-04:00New old adorable thingHey! How's it going?! It's been a minute since we last caught up, but we're old friends so let's just skip all the "we went to this place and did that thing and grew as people," etc. Instead we'll pick up and move on like no time has passed. Cool?<br />
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Good! Because I am dying to show you this adorable thing Ben and I just got!<br />
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For the next 18-ish months we'll be referring to a small town just outside Kansas City, MO as "home." And this Victorian-esque gem is where Ben and I will practice putting together our dream house!<br />
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Also, we'll sit on our GIANT WRAP-AROUND PORCH and drink wine!<br />
<br />Never A Plain Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00663921921684385606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750128189986674039.post-58800622640528794332016-02-04T23:20:00.002-05:002016-02-04T23:20:22.988-05:00Jane takes a hikeMy "Discover Virginia" project got off to a bit of a rocky start.<br />
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Immediately after my <a href="http://neveraplainjane.blogspot.com/2015/11/jane-opts-out.html">last post</a> I eagerly scoured the <a href="http://www.rei.com/learn.html">Outdoor School</a> website for classes to help me check off my list. I signed up for an Outdoor Rock Climbing for Beginners course. Then fall happened and my class was cancelled due to rain.<br />
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I was sad for like a second. Then, someone said "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Goat_Trail">Billy Goat Trail</a>" and I was all "sign me up!" After all, if you can't rock climb you may as well scramble.<br />
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Turns out, I had exactly the right attitude. See, I assumed "rock scramble" translated to "move quickly so as to not fall down an incline covered in <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scree_slopes_above_Pont_Gromlech_-_geograph.org.uk_-_445657.jpg">scree</a>." I thought I would have to literally scramble up certain parts of the trail. Makes complete sense, right?<br />
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Yeah, well, I was wrong. A scramble is sort of like the bunny slope of rock climbing. You have to pick your way up, over, and around some pretty sizable rocks.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3whiHmfESklZ7E5nuKWq1LEvxW8fyrwwUU9VzfzugTjojmAU-GRk-Xn9yoY549n0RcpessSVF7dsj_AMtzeiNqpZ2UDurKr-E7AYuHZKpsQHOASkENzT_UZC9l5L-oneBauvr_skcnU8/s1600/making+way.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3whiHmfESklZ7E5nuKWq1LEvxW8fyrwwUU9VzfzugTjojmAU-GRk-Xn9yoY549n0RcpessSVF7dsj_AMtzeiNqpZ2UDurKr-E7AYuHZKpsQHOASkENzT_UZC9l5L-oneBauvr_skcnU8/s640/making+way.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Following in the footsteps of Brandon and Zac.</td></tr>
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My fellow hikers were super kind about helping me navigate the best path, and they were always quick to offer a steadying hand or a boost. However, like a petulant toddler I insisted I wanted "to do it myself." But, because I can find ways to fall down on perfectly flat ground there was always one experienced hiker in front of me and one behind. Just in case<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-AqXN2yq0y4HxbPhn7uGyy58GdrD0U-fiv2yVdcsdaZuaXF5REk2vF1OdNhPMdDEZGDkjlfgGTnVtsaQ6tJiQUH3G1BhohBJ6c6EVsYEHCXLSu25KJX1cZ9X73F5pctAsJ_aDA5bzY9k/s1600/20151109_122523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-AqXN2yq0y4HxbPhn7uGyy58GdrD0U-fiv2yVdcsdaZuaXF5REk2vF1OdNhPMdDEZGDkjlfgGTnVtsaQ6tJiQUH3G1BhohBJ6c6EVsYEHCXLSu25KJX1cZ9X73F5pctAsJ_aDA5bzY9k/s640/20151109_122523.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How could you not trust those faces?</td></tr>
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No special climbing shoes or ropes were required, but there was a bit of hand-over-hand hoisting.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisupSx-qBAEGxsYT7VW6Eucis8IVHtIDZPWjTnbpzfKKJAGinC_Zt51hBeBpVymI1n9CdguPE53BnFpsyNXS1Ex4zQtdGArplWhTtwvcyUtOdXQkKxQJw75qlxhAb3W-ukmOamC7W5M3k/s1600/20151109_142403+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisupSx-qBAEGxsYT7VW6Eucis8IVHtIDZPWjTnbpzfKKJAGinC_Zt51hBeBpVymI1n9CdguPE53BnFpsyNXS1Ex4zQtdGArplWhTtwvcyUtOdXQkKxQJw75qlxhAb3W-ukmOamC7W5M3k/s640/20151109_142403+crop.jpg" width="384" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See Zac climb</td></tr>
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Okay, fine, Some members of our party climbed and hoisted and scrambled. I opted for something resembling more of a crawl.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipE-BeqnxpIAaqUnxIPBk0J_syO3UmLYv_BP6nKlcmKpjp_RoUB-VbJH_TV1S6RpKfjhHB1VPhiO-ikF_Gg-63CMpOhzhvpAQG531kLhXXw4W0P7u4sgS_C9YkTfJKXYP6QpeeJqF5GBI/s1600/climbing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipE-BeqnxpIAaqUnxIPBk0J_syO3UmLYv_BP6nKlcmKpjp_RoUB-VbJH_TV1S6RpKfjhHB1VPhiO-ikF_Gg-63CMpOhzhvpAQG531kLhXXw4W0P7u4sgS_C9YkTfJKXYP6QpeeJqF5GBI/s640/climbing.jpg" width="438" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See Jane crawl</td></tr>
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Athena did a little bit of climbing and a little bit of crawling, but I think the crawling was just to keep me from feeling lame.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's nice knowing your friends have your back</td></tr>
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I was absolutely fascinated with what I have dubbed "the Venus rocks."<br />
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It looks like two different rocks got smushed together, but I have no idea if that's really what was going on here or if different parts of one rock reacted differently to elements of erosion. Surely somebody reading this can give me an explanation.<br />
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The Commodore - oh yes, The Commodore absolutely <i>had</i> to come along - was so over the stupid two-toned rocks. He preferred the scenery from the flat rocks closer to the water.<br />
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Actually, internet, there are no bad views at Great Falls*.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifoMkyfib-i6EJemCcs0nK9VA7_5TXbKfR7WIxaPH1LikxeToitrC3F_KRbj8yUi6fv4OmPKWQAEgDzaxx4lHMfWiFMmMnN2GkouJVH_zXw5Ijk4NdOBVYsj0Ctrpxjb6FeDsA_wd7wBo/s1600/20151109_122458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifoMkyfib-i6EJemCcs0nK9VA7_5TXbKfR7WIxaPH1LikxeToitrC3F_KRbj8yUi6fv4OmPKWQAEgDzaxx4lHMfWiFMmMnN2GkouJVH_zXw5Ijk4NdOBVYsj0Ctrpxjb6FeDsA_wd7wBo/s640/20151109_122458.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzD4wN2WlGIjQSAcP-DxigDkByjwAmvbZldvd3FXthZdkL_z6DoAikCc7Uy0LuOk2NpRkNy5Xo_QDv1jBdYP3-8tVqiJEB7kJJwTVsN8pJOO6Ofoy_IN3rn2SjsUKAmVcQSSsrX7qD8Ko/s1600/20151109_122602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzD4wN2WlGIjQSAcP-DxigDkByjwAmvbZldvd3FXthZdkL_z6DoAikCc7Uy0LuOk2NpRkNy5Xo_QDv1jBdYP3-8tVqiJEB7kJJwTVsN8pJOO6Ofoy_IN3rn2SjsUKAmVcQSSsrX7qD8Ko/s640/20151109_122602.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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*Okay, Athena <i>might</i> have been stuck with a less than stellar view a few times throughout the day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBy573yUqeNGve4IvaRXNcDcFEoQXqWU72WcWHzlF_-4QT1vGUN7f9kw3A2s746B-aqSI-kquldAP4Klh2CJJvEoA057kr2Wyb6qSWRid9WeQXLsS5kjGmyeQoyyQ_W5zvuHJHcuomoJs/s1600/12240010_10153944030716677_1737113007531944854_n+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBy573yUqeNGve4IvaRXNcDcFEoQXqWU72WcWHzlF_-4QT1vGUN7f9kw3A2s746B-aqSI-kquldAP4Klh2CJJvEoA057kr2Wyb6qSWRid9WeQXLsS5kjGmyeQoyyQ_W5zvuHJHcuomoJs/s640/12240010_10153944030716677_1737113007531944854_n+%25282%2529.jpg" width="514" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See Jane's butt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Putting aside Athena's possible trauma, it was an excellent hike with excellent people, and an excellent way to cross off number 2 on my Opt Out list.Never A Plain Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00663921921684385606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750128189986674039.post-43012685145018685562015-11-12T16:27:00.001-05:002016-01-19T19:40:43.362-05:00Jane Opts OutRemember when the fam and I <a href="http://www.neveraplainjane.blogspot.com/2013/07/my-life-in-photos.html">relocated from Tampa, Florida to Springfield, Virginia</a> on account of Ben's job and the general awesomeness of the greater DC area? That was almost two-and-a-half years ago! Two. And a half. <i>Years</i>.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And, recent events have led me to believe we have less than a year before we're marveling at the general awesomeness of a completely different region.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But, wait! I don't feel as though I've really <i>done</i> Virginia yet. Yeah, I've covered the museums. And I've graced The Kennedy Center with my presence for a few productions. Many clothing stores, several antique shoppes, and a good number of restaurants have endured my patronage. But the actual state of Virginia has all but escaped my attentions.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This is especially sad because I work for <a href="http://www.rei.com/">REI </a>(yeah, who would've thunk it?).<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXxgEx_Ta_t_4Yrsy2acsPGhPudkoFHLP3tW3KLrrT33TKXJykjZLkAx7sroN5YiZVb1OoPRBN0artSwQc-99O9uoR4_A9Zcxyz-W5lwqrY5hEUbqiSflmAJZ13GerNwXNtj6CmpiLicw/s1600/10428617_1393405947646245_6348113381381797301_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXxgEx_Ta_t_4Yrsy2acsPGhPudkoFHLP3tW3KLrrT33TKXJykjZLkAx7sroN5YiZVb1OoPRBN0artSwQc-99O9uoR4_A9Zcxyz-W5lwqrY5hEUbqiSflmAJZ13GerNwXNtj6CmpiLicw/s320/10428617_1393405947646245_6348113381381797301_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">REI Woodbridge, VA</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Also, Virginia is gorgeous.<br />
<br />
So it's about time I embrace the culture of REI Woodbridge (and everybody - <i>EVERYBODY - </i>I work with) and adopt the latest trend to Opt Out(side).<br />
<br />
I'm making a list, which will probably be revised, of activities I just <i>have</i> to do before I vacate the state. So far, I have 10 activities penciled in:<br />
<ol>
<li>Play disc golf</li>
<li>Go on a hike that includes a rock scramble</li>
<li>Go camping</li>
<li>Participate in a local stewardship project</li>
<li>Try Stand Up Paddle-boarding</li>
<li>Kayak</li>
<li>Rock climb</li>
<li>Learn to navigate with a map and compass</li>
<li>Repel</li>
<li>Plant an edible garden</li>
</ol>
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Obviously, some of these will have to wait for spring. Luckily, our fall has been temperate thus far so I can jump right into the outdoors. I'm open to any suggestions and recommendations too.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
I am also open to you wishing me luck. My biography contains quite the list of injuries I sustained when <i>not</i> being adventurous.</div>
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Never A Plain Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00663921921684385606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750128189986674039.post-84101273795372378272014-06-09T17:09:00.000-04:002014-07-03T09:45:32.979-04:00Secrets are no funRemember back in <a href="http://neveraplainjane.blogspot.com/2014/01/and-suddenlyit-was-done.html">January</a> when I alluded to a big change coming in 2014? Well, I suppose it is time to 'fess up.<br />
<br />
Emily is moving.<br />
<br />
I know I don't owe you all an explanation, but I hope you understand that we feel it is in her best interest for her to live with her father. It was a hard decision, as I'm sure you can imagine, and it has been followed by many difficult steps to prepare us all for this change.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Making the decision to have a child - it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. ~ Elizabeth Stone</b></span></blockquote>
<br />
At summer's end Ben and I will have to take on an entirely different parenting role - a long distance one. Luckily, we live in the age of the internet so we'll be able to "see" and talk to each other regularly. We plan to have some fun finding creative ways to say "we love you" across the miles. Of course, there will also be visits and family vacations. Those are some of the silver linings.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A mother's love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity, it dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path. ~ Agatha Christie</span></b></blockquote>
<br />
My personal journey will be a search for my new place in the world. Who am I outside of "mommy;" what do I like, how do I act? I suppose some excitement can be found in the prospect of looking for myself...but I'm not there yet. I'm still struggling a bit with accepting this whole scenario. I imagine this is a lot what parents sending their kids off to college, or those in the armed forces preparing for deployment feel like. It is a strong cocktail of grief, apprehension, and anxiety, with a spritz of excitement and a sour lemon twist.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>It's not only children who grow. Parents do too. As much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives, they are watching us to see what we do with ours. I can't tell my children to reach for the sun. All I can do is reach for it myself. ~ Joyce Maynard </b></span></blockquote>
<br />
As in all things, We can only do our best with the time we have left of Emily living here full time, and with the time that follows. And with whatever time comes after that.<br />
<br />Never A Plain Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00663921921684385606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750128189986674039.post-59193702415333632272014-03-24T17:06:00.003-04:002014-03-24T17:06:41.811-04:00Good as GoldWhen it comes to jewelry - either for me or for my house - I've always favored silver tones. My wedding ring is platinum, my belts all have silver buckles, and all my bathroom fixtures are either chrome or brushed nickel.<br />
<br />
Over the past few years, however, gold has crept its way onto my radar. Apparently I'm not alone. Thanks to cinematic prowess of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1343092/">The Great Gatsby</a> opulence is in and gold is expected to be a huge trend in <a href="http://www.denverpost.com/lifestyles/ci_25184592/wedding-trends-2014-unusual-venues-food-trucks-colorful">weddings</a> this year.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxj2v8xuTuJYDmkXrvBlAdVZgPdVwHI7TyAxjGZV2dhbA4ono0LKi8CbhNM3xooEe1i6dyNGTvPhdre1cMVkcsR4aA2Ypna_V71aa9__0DYKu3I6g_fGzI3239xTRidj8-1bDJktX1KSw2/s1600/gatsby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxj2v8xuTuJYDmkXrvBlAdVZgPdVwHI7TyAxjGZV2dhbA4ono0LKi8CbhNM3xooEe1i6dyNGTvPhdre1cMVkcsR4aA2Ypna_V71aa9__0DYKu3I6g_fGzI3239xTRidj8-1bDJktX1KSw2/s1600/gatsby.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1286252032/tt1343092?ref_=ttmi_mi_all_sf_62">via</a></td></tr>
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I wouldn't say I've become obsessed, but I have amassed quite a collection (<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/janicebear/lily-mirror/">pins</a>) of ways I could gild the lily.<br />
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
On the homefront</h4>
<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/AVvXsEhzPJz70nkBW3MpmWQ-TUiBLDQWLaPCA4HAOvwF7agTZs8dLHJHrOErYgIweL43TFT_CTL7MQ3GvC_nWuhOf1FQBLm8wa-5se8nb-GPvf-8PFsZMVXN8NB1hi3oSW9T-aytxL_NzMkUZIu6/s1600/knob.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Anthropologie" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPJz70nkBW3MpmWQ-TUiBLDQWLaPCA4HAOvwF7agTZs8dLHJHrOErYgIweL43TFT_CTL7MQ3GvC_nWuhOf1FQBLm8wa-5se8nb-GPvf-8PFsZMVXN8NB1hi3oSW9T-aytxL_NzMkUZIu6/s1600/knob.jpg" title="Flora Forever Doorknob" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?navAction=jump&id=973284">Anthropologie</a></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/AVvXsEhSCfMe5h9dMJ8ZJlOyyluxBHjz1FZuCh3He7CVMNrZL8wYmXT1PujVQxxK9H_nMm6BcMnh3XcCRrr1MPtusGDVbjlIY2lm7MpppFblxn8F6e-XxVjcJmGi28SbEeJHWmACfEX7bdeqvfPg/s1600/bowl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCfMe5h9dMJ8ZJlOyyluxBHjz1FZuCh3He7CVMNrZL8wYmXT1PujVQxxK9H_nMm6BcMnh3XcCRrr1MPtusGDVbjlIY2lm7MpppFblxn8F6e-XxVjcJmGi28SbEeJHWmACfEX7bdeqvfPg/s1600/bowl.jpg" height="640" width="477" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://witanddelight.com/2012/01/make-it-clay-bowls/">Wit & Delight</a></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/AVvXsEjziHdHagxXaGc_JHcu8gna_Kl5g6JS7YGCbqRRLmPSzQRroN4OLsfXe9OfHYsLLxYYMFSgncdkvSGAJqOgyoObjjatE5qucmQEqXUUOd1yGTNuDs7Kt4IWmiFekyN4inyR0eKWVaLEocTB/s1600/table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjziHdHagxXaGc_JHcu8gna_Kl5g6JS7YGCbqRRLmPSzQRroN4OLsfXe9OfHYsLLxYYMFSgncdkvSGAJqOgyoObjjatE5qucmQEqXUUOd1yGTNuDs7Kt4IWmiFekyN4inyR0eKWVaLEocTB/s1600/table.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=960008&catId=HOME-FURNITURE-TABLES&pushId=HOME-FURNITURE-TABLES&popId=HOME-FURNITURE&navAction=middle&navCount=246&color=cpp&isProduct=true&fromCategoryPage=true&templateType=D">Anthropolgie</a></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/AVvXsEgg85R8HzbCeSGLyv8JriCnqJwtIeraAsirMZHYquvxu_tqJBE50hIVztij1Wi9LJIuKVHkhOlPGBN6kb-O7FWSE90OAJ7iGzaQRJfpLB7VrtIfGkYhPMxQ_U_epsdLrGh6SiuIIiqexmJS/s1600/box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg85R8HzbCeSGLyv8JriCnqJwtIeraAsirMZHYquvxu_tqJBE50hIVztij1Wi9LJIuKVHkhOlPGBN6kb-O7FWSE90OAJ7iGzaQRJfpLB7VrtIfGkYhPMxQ_U_epsdLrGh6SiuIIiqexmJS/s1600/box.jpg" height="504" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://nancy-lorenz.com/images/other-works/">Nancy Lorenz</a></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/AVvXsEhZUaD_T_yyPEPQgJ_cdEm_BCzAZB4BaeX5tAY3FIBnO_1WfConqHj-65Sjqi9f-oh6uQ4ow4QHo9DXE-mHgDonmr-oPGwnlUxSrIGnzASUkHsrH98qu3QW-y4Vg8Tk898Fzzpw-Lec1EPN/s1600/gold+white+china+coffee+cups+cococozy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUaD_T_yyPEPQgJ_cdEm_BCzAZB4BaeX5tAY3FIBnO_1WfConqHj-65Sjqi9f-oh6uQ4ow4QHo9DXE-mHgDonmr-oPGwnlUxSrIGnzASUkHsrH98qu3QW-y4Vg8Tk898Fzzpw-Lec1EPN/s1600/gold+white+china+coffee+cups+cococozy.png" height="640" width="624" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shopbop.com/reiko-kaneko-drip-tease-cup/vp/v=1/1501572367.htm?folderID=2534374302198480&colorId=10784&extid=affprg-4441350">ShopBop</a> via <a href="http://www.cococozy.com/2014/02/metallic-musings-random-stuff-im-liking.html">COCOCOZY</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Golden Girl<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/AVvXsEgX6iHmQ_4aygNy_tnWg5l_ZdAUq4osZ_VbwgizgcdLvrtM8BOHYFt8YlrTgrDRa0QHTGNoo5Is5WGqPeL8wO6_AFYaqF_8-zEC42EIR_OpAw4QDXaimFt70J5NxZksezCuWx3KE3ggeRrq/s1600/dress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX6iHmQ_4aygNy_tnWg5l_ZdAUq4osZ_VbwgizgcdLvrtM8BOHYFt8YlrTgrDRa0QHTGNoo5Is5WGqPeL8wO6_AFYaqF_8-zEC42EIR_OpAw4QDXaimFt70J5NxZksezCuWx3KE3ggeRrq/s1600/dress.jpg" height="640" width="327" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.modcloth.com/shop/dresses/twinkling-at-twilight-dress?SSAID=687298&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=sas&utm_campaign=687298&utm_content=422771&gate=false">ModCloth</a></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/AVvXsEi7bkUENi7-CNeboNzWnUQO17dV_CSYMgniIkfo-Sb6hSyHkA-NibfUA9bJk8_v_X6krkNL8gyhdIJnKPV10CHyK1_ZO5P9vGlOa_Fl5_jJ6peoO_eIfm_JqqfNNy1PnZV2Pb_PtfjpjnlU/s1600/lariet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bkUENi7-CNeboNzWnUQO17dV_CSYMgniIkfo-Sb6hSyHkA-NibfUA9bJk8_v_X6krkNL8gyhdIJnKPV10CHyK1_ZO5P9vGlOa_Fl5_jJ6peoO_eIfm_JqqfNNy1PnZV2Pb_PtfjpjnlU/s1600/lariet.jpg" height="640" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shophallelu.com/gallery/detail.aspx?id=432708">Hellelu</a></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/AVvXsEj8NVsga0x8cnkUTv4-mrGD2MurbeqJ0-322oaBiqFTejXtgTlXze6OyV_yZP0UVoxpGSm4ZF3Tvm5FD_iSDfMuSCdMqrXQQiiFKqgF0DF6XpPTaeXRhHWMVnK3xjR63i4VaPy2yoIb345E/s1600/polish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8NVsga0x8cnkUTv4-mrGD2MurbeqJ0-322oaBiqFTejXtgTlXze6OyV_yZP0UVoxpGSm4ZF3Tvm5FD_iSDfMuSCdMqrXQQiiFKqgF0DF6XpPTaeXRhHWMVnK3xjR63i4VaPy2yoIb345E/s1600/polish.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/ciate-party-shoes-paint-pot/3385783?origin=coordinating-3385783-0-0-1&PageCategoryId=PP&cm_ven=Linkshare&cm_cat=partner&cm_pla=15&cm_ite=1&siteId=QFGLnEolOWg-b_1V40zyAvUYO9GBBK_JTg">Nordstrom</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZwPRdA7s37k7RdHNE_2yZVcE2GT5MWG7n-uHGmoUK5eCKTErAcn5AeX8k8rnnv_3E7strTA-0i4LCwOjzNPXQpI8GAb94is6ldrXUab-wE6TycFgR2cvc3KKUlbCUv121iZ6q63A04cZI/s1600/purse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZwPRdA7s37k7RdHNE_2yZVcE2GT5MWG7n-uHGmoUK5eCKTErAcn5AeX8k8rnnv_3E7strTA-0i4LCwOjzNPXQpI8GAb94is6ldrXUab-wE6TycFgR2cvc3KKUlbCUv121iZ6q63A04cZI/s1600/purse.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bhldn.com/shop-new/gold-leaf-clutch">BHDLN</a></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/AVvXsEiiDZiXtrLXzDxQISi7TnzwvWWtMR6G1Y62Q1HPlrraljz73LXqrjauypRdaUEMurydJRUPzCFVFc6uzBFxXqv_C3Fk0YZ5DrYuFwkTEdE6Zv4WpLkar5xoFO_lOszDtEj5Vtrei0rpO7dJ/s1600/shoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDZiXtrLXzDxQISi7TnzwvWWtMR6G1Y62Q1HPlrraljz73LXqrjauypRdaUEMurydJRUPzCFVFc6uzBFxXqv_C3Fk0YZ5DrYuFwkTEdE6Zv4WpLkar5xoFO_lOszDtEj5Vtrei0rpO7dJ/s1600/shoes.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=23087794&catId=SHOES-HEELS&pushId=SHOES-HEELS&popId=SHOES&navCount=7&color=046&isProduct=true&fromCategoryPage=true&templateType=D">Anthropologie</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
What do you think? Can you see yourself sporting a little gold leaf this spring?</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843284116203462805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750128189986674039.post-1010955051099322992014-02-11T16:53:00.003-05:002014-02-11T16:53:52.567-05:00Baby, it is cold outsideLike really cold. I apparently should have been training for this sort of weather because my body is not conditioned for the cold. Nope.<br />
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We got our first snow in December; an early winter in DC terms.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiue6Z4PSmScBoV4k4UBHrSH9_eEBrtUXBdaNtS11kzviEdud9FrdCIDqlCppXcuPnA-_EFtdWkLGfjTjNFLeF9PQLDoKy4fOo0EMU9BYLCA5zkBuiMh6HTt_NabrESr2mLtT7oyxqxxUsa/s1600/snowfall+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiue6Z4PSmScBoV4k4UBHrSH9_eEBrtUXBdaNtS11kzviEdud9FrdCIDqlCppXcuPnA-_EFtdWkLGfjTjNFLeF9PQLDoKy4fOo0EMU9BYLCA5zkBuiMh6HTt_NabrESr2mLtT7oyxqxxUsa/s1600/snowfall+2.jpg" height="640" width="512" /></a></div>
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Some of us were more excited about it than others.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjse714NUd3bhOlwcGo3AUJrekb8QQhf2VHLeCvo14xdl7jDzvsiPV7YDnhGsMUgP4TO1DBhS5CC41Eo3ExyxmZh0CmHMWUUoxu88i4_we0bBzRG1BPrrqil81PBIhJMntnNtk5djJd5x3W/s1600/IMG_5628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjse714NUd3bhOlwcGo3AUJrekb8QQhf2VHLeCvo14xdl7jDzvsiPV7YDnhGsMUgP4TO1DBhS5CC41Eo3ExyxmZh0CmHMWUUoxu88i4_we0bBzRG1BPrrqil81PBIhJMntnNtk5djJd5x3W/s1600/IMG_5628.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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By the end of January we'd had more than 7 seven inches of snow and maxed out the allotted number of snow days for our school district. Internet,snow days are only fun one day at a time. Four consecutive days of school closures equals too many hours of a stir crazy child. I hit my limit about three days before she did.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_P2umHZByvj1U2JAUJbEZAhqRjqdey3yV6RgndjNXj9JRARwrGyxtuJPd9s1l4NxntlpE2PVmOGKLO2EHyEbkhGd_eyylyzf_H6yYe3Pokqm2eb1ADk-C8urpo7bT1sDKLxZcJW21qfqC/s1600/IMG_20131217_095659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_P2umHZByvj1U2JAUJbEZAhqRjqdey3yV6RgndjNXj9JRARwrGyxtuJPd9s1l4NxntlpE2PVmOGKLO2EHyEbkhGd_eyylyzf_H6yYe3Pokqm2eb1ADk-C8urpo7bT1sDKLxZcJW21qfqC/s1600/IMG_20131217_095659.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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Sure, it looks all beautiful and romantic, but really it is cold and wet. And more cold. With a side of ice. It looks like Narnia up in here!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeb4BhDpsWG0Xi0uaSqef9lEBqfv6kX-MCiLybtGPe-2iKsrgpkcaX2g8-_HrCEHPkTAQa7IEneCisYHgCtJYihiNH9nEblvZlkzxO7xI7CkvQ6TQThQ42PeQOoBuBFb66BI3a103COm5e/s1600/20131209_101024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeb4BhDpsWG0Xi0uaSqef9lEBqfv6kX-MCiLybtGPe-2iKsrgpkcaX2g8-_HrCEHPkTAQa7IEneCisYHgCtJYihiNH9nEblvZlkzxO7xI7CkvQ6TQThQ42PeQOoBuBFb66BI3a103COm5e/s1600/20131209_101024.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4ftI6jguNoO2MUiRl2KEP1bgeZ-1P9eGoe2IHJ0HiA6EEUv6dsTAgdCWYtNmyH7npFwl-kMx1a0dQU1Q3kUKb4OGxIAFUOFEsTGJlObGasUy_B30l5ZtM9jBcs-3C1JW4F7J2ZylBGD_/s1600/frozen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4ftI6jguNoO2MUiRl2KEP1bgeZ-1P9eGoe2IHJ0HiA6EEUv6dsTAgdCWYtNmyH7npFwl-kMx1a0dQU1Q3kUKb4OGxIAFUOFEsTGJlObGasUy_B30l5ZtM9jBcs-3C1JW4F7J2ZylBGD_/s1600/frozen.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSenUNtErg1ktBgjqqjRbgjMbAaU90TGJxAVFVkgY_Rf9y4WBiZYg026WlFe6En4Hemas_7h11QF7hOEEezMG6sCak3tONRFatI3qDChIcKcpSNAQ8p1zyilQVA6kp9xP_3p7inLBtApp/s1600/frozen+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSenUNtErg1ktBgjqqjRbgjMbAaU90TGJxAVFVkgY_Rf9y4WBiZYg026WlFe6En4Hemas_7h11QF7hOEEezMG6sCak3tONRFatI3qDChIcKcpSNAQ8p1zyilQVA6kp9xP_3p7inLBtApp/s1600/frozen+2.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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And now <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2014/02/11/first-snowfall-projection-5-14-inches-for-metro-region-less-southern-maryland/">The Washington Post</a> is projecting another 5 to 14 (14!!!!!) inches before the end of this week. Good thing Emily thinks shoveling snow is a type of fun.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4y8igpmVVK5sxICavGZuDQV_mgkfAIVbjY_2nXnrZ9g0EaRCvFcjOO9F_ENgKxYRQ6dL_QagMKIEkW_a87C9HQZuiev0rRIetgoNnHTNbOGmwxIcrsOMzOeW92arob4UK-bIHvpkD_8Wa/s1600/shoveling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4y8igpmVVK5sxICavGZuDQV_mgkfAIVbjY_2nXnrZ9g0EaRCvFcjOO9F_ENgKxYRQ6dL_QagMKIEkW_a87C9HQZuiev0rRIetgoNnHTNbOGmwxIcrsOMzOeW92arob4UK-bIHvpkD_8Wa/s1600/shoveling.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Also, she acquired this really awesome hat.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPzmE8xiOZEOTpPDNcWKLBi4yoRFLbaVBo3mM91U-RQU-X6VWJ-GFXakb9ltLozouHYwgn10g8oF7riXRCmUKz2FY0xDorI2hgY0Z1iy5D34WUZwih92lCm4Dsk4ht7C7T5buigJzvNnn/s1600/fur+hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPzmE8xiOZEOTpPDNcWKLBi4yoRFLbaVBo3mM91U-RQU-X6VWJ-GFXakb9ltLozouHYwgn10g8oF7riXRCmUKz2FY0xDorI2hgY0Z1iy5D34WUZwih92lCm4Dsk4ht7C7T5buigJzvNnn/s1600/fur+hat.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Smiles make everything awesome. Even snow days.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843284116203462805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750128189986674039.post-29503117169336214762014-01-27T15:54:00.004-05:002014-01-27T21:26:42.041-05:00Quote to Consider<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsc5bbiY0WynyXkiEwcFMu4-aWO72vBOUVIl27cdARPwoS0rhAubfbJhwSeO2SpIS5OfrmeKO7IzUDLgUoc3u0uhKxzcm-PnqlGp-v7asnT5J0thqWrwmQFhDdY5LiucB0myPyecIG12Zi/s1600/snowy+road+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsc5bbiY0WynyXkiEwcFMu4-aWO72vBOUVIl27cdARPwoS0rhAubfbJhwSeO2SpIS5OfrmeKO7IzUDLgUoc3u0uhKxzcm-PnqlGp-v7asnT5J0thqWrwmQFhDdY5LiucB0myPyecIG12Zi/s1600/snowy+road+copy.jpg" height="512" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
The background photo was taken at an amazing conference center 60 miles south of Walden Pond. Yes, <i>that</i> Walden pond.</div>
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Inspired by <a href="http://www.daveursillo.com/reshape-reality/">Dave Ursillo</a>. Think about it.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843284116203462805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750128189986674039.post-15070412256783689312014-01-12T21:09:00.000-05:002014-01-12T21:09:40.016-05:00Then and NowI've been on <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/janicebear/">Pinterest</a> forever. Okay, not forever, but since its inception more than three years ago. Just skimming through, some of my pins came from early spring of 2010. Today I boast 95 boards and more than 7,000 pins.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokOXVbqa_QGkjV79g8orDa78MJI8OKvCrXkcfuztMhKTWQitWvxU5XCfANY-Uo8cH8PP-VVnir6JbTmir_whI2nWGXbgLcX99Tzxmj-cZURbl1ZKffojyQElaCuUJnsmWwmp0dYAcByVg/s1600/pins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokOXVbqa_QGkjV79g8orDa78MJI8OKvCrXkcfuztMhKTWQitWvxU5XCfANY-Uo8cH8PP-VVnir6JbTmir_whI2nWGXbgLcX99Tzxmj-cZURbl1ZKffojyQElaCuUJnsmWwmp0dYAcByVg/s1600/pins.jpg" height="327" width="640" /></a></div>
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I occasionally go through my pins to make sure they have a proper link and hash tags. It's a side effect of the crazy. Lately I've also become intimate with my "<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/janicebear/decor-to-adore/">Decor to Adore</a>" and "<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/janicebear/mastering-my-domain/">Mastering my Domain</a>" boards because, you know, I'm a <a href="http://neveraplainjane.blogspot.com/2013_07_01_archive.html">homeowner now</a>. It cracks me up to see how my tastes have changed in just three short years. Let's do some then and now comparison.<br />
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Once upon a time, this kitchen looked ideal.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7cWUWM0a8qVFObWfWM0Aho1HO8BmF9yx5Drr0m0g9ExOcjX6r99GMEsxd2HjajPcx4TLgh5cWLUtzlkmRRPkw4U-tlm6jeia5D9xWT0tQhnPCWF1QAE7P7mykMXP1KDZLxkm-7WASLvS/s1600/black+kitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7cWUWM0a8qVFObWfWM0Aho1HO8BmF9yx5Drr0m0g9ExOcjX6r99GMEsxd2HjajPcx4TLgh5cWLUtzlkmRRPkw4U-tlm6jeia5D9xWT0tQhnPCWF1QAE7P7mykMXP1KDZLxkm-7WASLvS/s1600/black+kitchen.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from <a href="http://www.skonahem.com/inspiration/Inspirerandehem/Industriell-personlig-mix">shona hem</a> via <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/181762534931120082/">pinterest</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Now, this is what makes me swoon.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi4YcM7zuHHBcKFRV1iMZbk-CaDtnc1CR9VfoidKoyocdekp8ZHml5dlHbXERLrJRM9XxWlXbRMcVDT1DD8zY4ZXj_cHUurtAZ9pwlGula3-syRZdILPG_2ELdGKsWvn8DUxLs8jXTwoqI/s1600/kitchen.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from <a href="http://smallplacestyle.blogspot.com/2011/07/pretty-rooms.html">Small Place Style</a> via <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/181762534930752495/">Pinterest</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There was a time when I would walked 1000 in these shoes.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0_aYG6nyX5mJSgEnHEtRA9qm0c2gRZfdrTwzLBD4LtH1Y5zGjv86LBbKCKvCzd4oHqON4lYfRc3e9BUyncNIICRT903tgmchmRY2JIpO7xiQ4rbjkxkNizDO9cmu09IqWP4cvaCh4-By/s1600/pink+pump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0_aYG6nyX5mJSgEnHEtRA9qm0c2gRZfdrTwzLBD4LtH1Y5zGjv86LBbKCKvCzd4oHqON4lYfRc3e9BUyncNIICRT903tgmchmRY2JIpO7xiQ4rbjkxkNizDO9cmu09IqWP4cvaCh4-By/s1600/pink+pump.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/irregular_choice_womens_patty_heels/thing?id=30945997">Polyvore</a> via <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/181762534930385206/">Pinterest</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Today's choice would be almost as precious, but not nearly as cloying.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQc1enVdSr_kVZ1Dip-2fkr9cfuzGm1lVNhSIh6lCfo1ZYjnTr7Pzzhjcx9aFaEptgwlmRy_Mducjl5hhk7L09drLhPrNGynCQF96S0rpvwdzy10rksG8d5CKCI92T0NLt9spcW0T36kB/s1600/pump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQc1enVdSr_kVZ1Dip-2fkr9cfuzGm1lVNhSIh6lCfo1ZYjnTr7Pzzhjcx9aFaEptgwlmRy_Mducjl5hhk7L09drLhPrNGynCQF96S0rpvwdzy10rksG8d5CKCI92T0NLt9spcW0T36kB/s1600/pump.jpg" height="640" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wheredidugetthat.com/2012/04/when-you-hang-on-to-things-you-love.html">Where did you Get That </a>via <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/181762534930385206/">Pinterest</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This would've been just the right amount of sparkle.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkC0Lma2wfznFJimD9UCwAj5IOfUaNL99K0_iJeb4hw2eMMQgL9wgfmU2OGxegngwiOtcbuTJn1HP7Yo2mXQvqWmLgsiuVH1GcbqSULRG4lnj7UZD5ZZ0c4oXZnuhEYlezH_p_FD8oPPuh/s1600/bracelet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkC0Lma2wfznFJimD9UCwAj5IOfUaNL99K0_iJeb4hw2eMMQgL9wgfmU2OGxegngwiOtcbuTJn1HP7Yo2mXQvqWmLgsiuVH1GcbqSULRG4lnj7UZD5ZZ0c4oXZnuhEYlezH_p_FD8oPPuh/s1600/bracelet.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fashion is Poison via <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/181762534930388198/">Pinterest</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
These days, less is more.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8y9banaz6W_QgWaCGjJ5mW6Hx3NVfHbrPcNAALPP9nGy6KSMr7NTGrbX3Fwnpu6UcF0SdfAJX3p8LrcRmuavmQkwPQUm70kKa8Z4z4bWXBJFZU6EIRezBgQSyFfajm7GoAiYemzbEYMEH/s1600/antique.jpg" height="459" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.1stdibs.com/jewelry/bracelets/bangles/antique-bracelet-ring-set/id-j_2034/">1st Dibs</a> via <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/181762534930502679/">Pinterest</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I haven't painted my finger nails in years - probably close to a decade - but I almost considered doing this.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRmeWohElx-hR3fOeQmyB50QKqhopmSY8fNrsK4993f8i8emkcKgMw13le8ulMkueK0lPfUaNZRpIIKRRqf0q69Nad2I56t3rz3CkKlAg-QaFcniojw_WYk3EfiSds95kpyaNoZUJeUQy/s1600/toile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRmeWohElx-hR3fOeQmyB50QKqhopmSY8fNrsK4993f8i8emkcKgMw13le8ulMkueK0lPfUaNZRpIIKRRqf0q69Nad2I56t3rz3CkKlAg-QaFcniojw_WYk3EfiSds95kpyaNoZUJeUQy/s1600/toile.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://attackedastoria.tumblr.com/post/2539804206/based-on-a-ming-dynasty-vase">Hitchhiking on the Howling Road</a> via <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/181762534930384570/">Pinterest</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Now, I'd more likely entertain this manicure.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxeW2NvhSdQW2v4YF17sGfXsmGYt2ULbXepEWrHVQMzbinKwSZpV3PDvuXWUKOnl3X_uFgswJo85QzPnjZllXXd4mkibIxMb4oHEJMBaDlU5mwnynxWKIdKcP1nL8UCzKKY_Al8MaTnND/s1600/manicure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxeW2NvhSdQW2v4YF17sGfXsmGYt2ULbXepEWrHVQMzbinKwSZpV3PDvuXWUKOnl3X_uFgswJo85QzPnjZllXXd4mkibIxMb4oHEJMBaDlU5mwnynxWKIdKcP1nL8UCzKKY_Al8MaTnND/s1600/manicure.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bloom.com/trends/?content=64035#_a5y_p=997412">Bloom </a>via <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/181762534934440151/">Pinterest</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I'll never doubt Karen Millen's sense of design and tailoring.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlOGTeb-OE52eU31WRqYOeHF1qsk8-1d3hQdcDoyPXVhCl_r0h3-YjlCkfq3St94kdEqUpmWkQM2jIm84q1jlwLOSVUig4QkCc3SNa85xoeMSzzfxxDHRvbXhSHSH1mY-xnOmf_B7G-WW/s1600/zigzag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlOGTeb-OE52eU31WRqYOeHF1qsk8-1d3hQdcDoyPXVhCl_r0h3-YjlCkfq3St94kdEqUpmWkQM2jIm84q1jlwLOSVUig4QkCc3SNa85xoeMSzzfxxDHRvbXhSHSH1mY-xnOmf_B7G-WW/s1600/zigzag.jpg" height="640" width="411" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karenmillen.com/Lace-trim-tailored-dress/Garments/karenmillen/fcp-product/903000055105?cm_mmc=EMAIL-_-MAIN-_-2010wk31a-_-TailoredDresse?lng=&ctry=null">Karen Millen</a> via <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/181762534930389585/">Pinterest</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
But I think I'll don something a bit more playful while I still can.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiokVI4Vmnmr2y7qgn5jvFKjSViW0OHC9oeV4NRFCHMd07wdcd1dawDimppr-RktqEeGqTfdbULWjuPrnnEbsmg4K_bATPP7LRz9igG_WYyu_PceiPZ4RmrnuSVkP3TS3EXZNVr_FNq1eat/s1600/tank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiokVI4Vmnmr2y7qgn5jvFKjSViW0OHC9oeV4NRFCHMd07wdcd1dawDimppr-RktqEeGqTfdbULWjuPrnnEbsmg4K_bATPP7LRz9igG_WYyu_PceiPZ4RmrnuSVkP3TS3EXZNVr_FNq1eat/s1600/tank.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.1stdibs.com/fashion/clothing/day-dresses/alaia/id-v_68172/">1st Dibs</a> via <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/181762534932917188/">Pinterest</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I have always had unreal expectations about how much I can get done so you can imagine how long some pins have been sitting on my Make Me This board just waiting for me to actually make them. Among my early ambitions was this ruffled cardigan.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBp8lIDsDcZfWu9pnT3l3ziwaQmiDSa5RjOIJ6JnQK9eO8t_TGjuJouIVIrNnEv4Nol-61z0vbdXBTKlVnHLt6x65c-lFTONCiyhge-BzRDWEezYJXzzt1CFvR009JGvkOoA5bKYsipTPF/s1600/blog11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBp8lIDsDcZfWu9pnT3l3ziwaQmiDSa5RjOIJ6JnQK9eO8t_TGjuJouIVIrNnEv4Nol-61z0vbdXBTKlVnHLt6x65c-lFTONCiyhge-BzRDWEezYJXzzt1CFvR009JGvkOoA5bKYsipTPF/s1600/blog11.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ourlifeisbeautiful.com/2010/09/anthro-one-after-another-cardi-diy.html">Life is Beautiful</a> via <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/181762534930393785/">Pinterest</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
However,since there are only 24 hours in a day I'd rather spend my time on this more tailored refashion.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqyBymxzpXk7-FDOULOHpCku9ousucqJZ121W-9qNukWcLlbB-9YlPA2-7L9YQuZLqTqGApJgublbAq9AVllB6rBjxyoAXlGuc7SsKVvcBcIdCYg4PZxVEbcxbsmGJkfCNLvC7zaRtjTq/s1600/refashion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqyBymxzpXk7-FDOULOHpCku9ousucqJZ121W-9qNukWcLlbB-9YlPA2-7L9YQuZLqTqGApJgublbAq9AVllB6rBjxyoAXlGuc7SsKVvcBcIdCYg4PZxVEbcxbsmGJkfCNLvC7zaRtjTq/s1600/refashion.jpg" height="481" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://zszywka.pl/p/bluzka-481895.html">Z</a> via <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/181762534934901025/">Pinterest</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Speaking of that odd universal lack of time, you don't even want to know how many things have been pinned with the greatest intentions and absolutely no follow through. Whoops.<br />
<br />
New Year's Resolution, anyone?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843284116203462805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750128189986674039.post-32834710238338605292014-01-04T17:23:00.000-05:002014-01-04T17:23:57.027-05:00And suddenly...it was done2013 arrived with a visit to the hospital. Whoops.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6OGMEbRra5McYMj1uCaGBD9s_PIuabHTx75_xqxZfTJd7qMAkUUmUCRSpC5Bl5zPYZ2U3TmMlnPTeWXv8ebVU2-uNxVGmq9TW2H5kB8kAK_hneXrGbmD8fM4YcuL6BTn0J3Ohbm8iMPz/s1600/cast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6OGMEbRra5McYMj1uCaGBD9s_PIuabHTx75_xqxZfTJd7qMAkUUmUCRSpC5Bl5zPYZ2U3TmMlnPTeWXv8ebVU2-uNxVGmq9TW2H5kB8kAK_hneXrGbmD8fM4YcuL6BTn0J3Ohbm8iMPz/s1600/cast.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Then I decided to give up sugar. Why?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8eBjzhqi35xfaHYu4Pw2478NCLs4YxKdWOvCjEYUO18IGodXEy4F2fzHOpRHb6KpWDmLpEh87AWyAwwHOMLoHYc6MSpG2QB49YWC0dDizZcD2P2qeBigJlu2YSbbetR4U8GiYPCQcfYv8/s1600/sugar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8eBjzhqi35xfaHYu4Pw2478NCLs4YxKdWOvCjEYUO18IGodXEy4F2fzHOpRHb6KpWDmLpEh87AWyAwwHOMLoHYc6MSpG2QB49YWC0dDizZcD2P2qeBigJlu2YSbbetR4U8GiYPCQcfYv8/s1600/sugar.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
We welcomed spring by starting our house hunt. Stressful.<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://www.etsy.com/listing/170132208/washington-dc-map-print?ref=listing-shop-header-2"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEysr4TGOJcaxXnMO_aFKaKwdvQ6EG3ATSlbtSeh58nMd7xPVvJ7c32JENMF_QVK0BQi1wm8vJxPEdZDLyjjb8XaJoFwpwsjqXQm618rSsAfqho9VWsW_gGXDNyoTy_FE8e_2xmEu7QoF4/s640/DC+map.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/170132208/washington-dc-map-print?ref=listing-shop-header-2">via Evelyn Henson</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In April we took a time out. Whew!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2yvlIl9FtqNDUJHYKK6ew-w2o7IBdy_CtWeflPi7c1EzDbsf8EVSYdMo0Rxh9UntcZAx7H8ewH3Ugtv57X5r5eeZj5t3D0YzPSOseq4PoQBt88lm1BIa13rI9XfLxSKDK_FEpHvIf6qsX/s1600/IMG_4858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2yvlIl9FtqNDUJHYKK6ew-w2o7IBdy_CtWeflPi7c1EzDbsf8EVSYdMo0Rxh9UntcZAx7H8ewH3Ugtv57X5r5eeZj5t3D0YzPSOseq4PoQBt88lm1BIa13rI9XfLxSKDK_FEpHvIf6qsX/s640/IMG_4858.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Along with the May flowers came a baby shower. Yea!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GI61otYBea_AFPxetvvVTkeAzGOAzl9kHj0s9NT0m6XI94dUyhMLjaCVKeQvcTU6hAamy2B0Si1BffEgGtcxSdzJp0UphH19tdYbhcsr8ret1uoBqzxnXfqqP2IWsxZe2Til-tMmAJmT/s1600/preggo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GI61otYBea_AFPxetvvVTkeAzGOAzl9kHj0s9NT0m6XI94dUyhMLjaCVKeQvcTU6hAamy2B0Si1BffEgGtcxSdzJp0UphH19tdYbhcsr8ret1uoBqzxnXfqqP2IWsxZe2Til-tMmAJmT/s640/preggo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Then we hit the road. Exhausting.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7yQ5AtF5t34PpgAXi7S9-6eRZWQb7gXAi4eu5ZhIIKml7_DHj-yEtmuPHiojRSUIPc2GtBWEYUeKmtfJ9QBHiDTZpvWkKoENhMwbc_A6JWVqvu46OT-AoVc-ferXQ7YPsX-xrP1r32-4/s1600/moved.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7yQ5AtF5t34PpgAXi7S9-6eRZWQb7gXAi4eu5ZhIIKml7_DHj-yEtmuPHiojRSUIPc2GtBWEYUeKmtfJ9QBHiDTZpvWkKoENhMwbc_A6JWVqvu46OT-AoVc-ferXQ7YPsX-xrP1r32-4/s640/moved.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/people/dodelinedesign">Designed by Sarah Reed</a></td></tr>
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We began to make ourselves comfortable. Sort of.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIy-9fAmGXZ3wUpKO8O2Xbkho2g9qntwYIQpwL_nJhdIWeySq6XHvltIIibPY3naeLannRoksqpBD6SXzLN9zTUa8JIjhDD-NgsTEl3d8R8HpSf92ibNpCQqXSo9KFiQchPCzpp_nwYDj5/s1600/Kitchen+wall+early+demo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIy-9fAmGXZ3wUpKO8O2Xbkho2g9qntwYIQpwL_nJhdIWeySq6XHvltIIibPY3naeLannRoksqpBD6SXzLN9zTUa8JIjhDD-NgsTEl3d8R8HpSf92ibNpCQqXSo9KFiQchPCzpp_nwYDj5/s1600/Kitchen+wall+early+demo.jpg" /></a></div>
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August brought our first house guest. Good times!<br />
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Suddenly, we had a fourth grader! Say What?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14ARDmvH1sBVut17m6pgencCZLB8Csd79sNvjBhhLI86j2jtt8Qs-zJCOXKX61frQBFnbvzM3un6EEom_33sX4XpVYcw_LlViuNUZQACgRZZOqxQhHn07ip6zdfbtSV-_Jb4igi60oRqY/s1600/first+day+of+school.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14ARDmvH1sBVut17m6pgencCZLB8Csd79sNvjBhhLI86j2jtt8Qs-zJCOXKX61frQBFnbvzM3un6EEom_33sX4XpVYcw_LlViuNUZQACgRZZOqxQhHn07ip6zdfbtSV-_Jb4igi60oRqY/s640/first+day+of+school.jpg" width="456" /></a></div>
<br />
Then, I ate dirt. Hard.<br />
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<br />
In November I was thankful to find this guy still wants me around after five years. Insane.<br />
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December 24 Em lost a tooth and waited up to see the meeting between Santa and the Tooth Fairy. Fail.<br />
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The next week we welcomed the new year along with my parents in New Mexico. Actually, we greeted the new year when we woke up New Year's day because we are all either too old or too young to make it to midnight. Whoops.<br />
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I hate being a downer, but I'm approaching 2014 with a bit of apprehension. First, I'm only starting year two of my I-broke-a-mirror-and-now-have-seven-years-bad-luck. We've also got a major change in the works later this year, but things haven't developed enough for me to talk about it yet.<br />
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I'm sure the year will come with a fair share of exciting and wonderful things too, and those I intend to milk completely!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843284116203462805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750128189986674039.post-35209007500972241962013-12-06T12:20:00.003-05:002013-12-06T12:20:56.231-05:00Recent Infatuation: Gunne SaxI don't know where it started - I suspect Etsy - but at some point I began to long for a <a href="http://vintagefashionguild.org/label-resource/gunne-sax/">Gunne Sax</a> dress. To be specific, I adore the coquettish, prairie designs of the 1970s.<br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/127833772/gunne-sax-dress-70s-maxi-dress-jessica?ref=favs_view_4"><img alt="LittleNetties" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5-lQ4sGTqzezdkAtn0OftHLoaso3frMta4B1uMfU8KN6qNHG4p4FPWEYVniT1-7rI3Z56aPt6xU7dMHf5WJzeIV-yt6DLR_-k8pMFkR5JM5E5ZplzRr4g4y-mDdYeR47AKHdmUxFkFPwE/s640/Gunne+Sax.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<b>Gunne Sax</b>, so named for the "gunny sack" or burlap trim used on some of the earlier dresses,was founded in the 1960s. In 1969 it was purchased by Jessica McClintock. Yes, the very Jessica McClintock who made your coveted homecoming dress in 1995.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliiOOSbHAmqOsrAf1LfhLO7SyQKLTX_RzHhmnqiQ4MGu52SdkMgVJZLWgayEbrkKPa8xGgdGGmBWRDe2Mi7TpINDNq7wF6X8LSuwuHdVTFddjRo0S5Yoves564Air4w2jGO0KwdGnbKxg/s1600/mcclintock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliiOOSbHAmqOsrAf1LfhLO7SyQKLTX_RzHhmnqiQ4MGu52SdkMgVJZLWgayEbrkKPa8xGgdGGmBWRDe2Mi7TpINDNq7wF6X8LSuwuHdVTFddjRo0S5Yoves564Air4w2jGO0KwdGnbKxg/s640/mcclintock.JPG" width="388" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://the-dusty-dog-vintage-boutique.blogspot.com/2010/07/vintage-jessica-mcclintock-dresses.html">via The Dusty Dog Vintage</a><br />
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The brand is often associated with its 1970s prairie designs with
Victorian and Edwardian details.I adore how the designs took classic elements such as lace, gingham, and calico, and combined them in a way that turned late-19th and early-20th century American fashion on its head.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCK8_aerArr88zo4eoh34zRTL38t997OmCh1ieSZgrwYpWODBP8yiIlPgAYqIqyhZQG85vXrFizIVBjS4J6AXPd00HdKguUQwXOcvLFbBj6EbRD3GKW6jxldwZk1KVI4pjBIUpbu2jygPL/s1600/gunne+sax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCK8_aerArr88zo4eoh34zRTL38t997OmCh1ieSZgrwYpWODBP8yiIlPgAYqIqyhZQG85vXrFizIVBjS4J6AXPd00HdKguUQwXOcvLFbBj6EbRD3GKW6jxldwZk1KVI4pjBIUpbu2jygPL/s1600/gunne+sax.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://rosebudvintage.wordpress.com/2011/08/01/of-and-pertaining-to-gunne-sax-part-i/">via Rosebud Vintage</a></td></tr>
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Gunne Sax also manufactured renaissance- and medieval-inspired designs, with empire waistlines and middle plackets, and used other historical costume elements such as corset-like laced bodices.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4X-fkmBsaAcstxXse33BG0ejCCBq563FfMiXY7e70ZklRBdc5dWquBqCteL6E4YLAEtqXQyvj5x_KKTy3xiIEXKggNpLK8FMBlTVW2kzL3esUc_dsGTyubuKBqP3eUqJpSY5Q0-NjJM9u/s1600/blue+gunne+sax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4X-fkmBsaAcstxXse33BG0ejCCBq563FfMiXY7e70ZklRBdc5dWquBqCteL6E4YLAEtqXQyvj5x_KKTy3xiIEXKggNpLK8FMBlTVW2kzL3esUc_dsGTyubuKBqP3eUqJpSY5Q0-NjJM9u/s640/blue+gunne+sax.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thevintagebazaar.com/blog/2012/03/16/roundup-gunne-sax-dresses/">via The Vintage Bazaar</a> and possibly my personal favorite</td></tr>
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Despite all the Victorian-ness these babies are actually rather sexy. Everything is (mostly) covered up, but designs with decolletage-baring necklines, corset lacing, and tailored bodices are, as I said above, coquettish. The body-skimming tailoring doesn't hurt either.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPhr_ZXj0VuwpvQN07IIVYxv3GShu-Q8Mr9yElUoCNJSdGHUpOYpncPpWQNpIZ12MC-F0YgTg9Er9oiSQyE1T9KrEmIe_NF-FBSDVKWYrcE2oFVEjg_lbbKowqOMX-EaZbO5fyxxgTUd1R/s1600/brown+gunne+sax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPhr_ZXj0VuwpvQN07IIVYxv3GShu-Q8Mr9yElUoCNJSdGHUpOYpncPpWQNpIZ12MC-F0YgTg9Er9oiSQyE1T9KrEmIe_NF-FBSDVKWYrcE2oFVEjg_lbbKowqOMX-EaZbO5fyxxgTUd1R/s1600/brown+gunne+sax.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/90463318/vintage-70s-gunne-sax-lace-chocolate?utm_campaign=Share&utm_medium=PageTools&utm_source=Pinterest">via Hellhound Vintage Clothing</a></td></tr>
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Sign. Me. Up.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843284116203462805noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750128189986674039.post-68120215958342520762013-11-19T09:54:00.000-05:002013-11-19T09:54:37.188-05:00GraceWell, here I am again. They - you know, the blogging professionals - say you shouldn't apologize for blogging absences, but I just cannot help it. It feels as though I've cut my friends out of my life for a few months, and that I've let my future self down by leaving bits of my history unrecorded. Although, let's face it, I'm not exactly making biography-worthy history over here.<br />
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That said, let me present my excuse. No wait, let me preface my excuse.<br />
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Remember me doing Tough Mudder last December and getting these souvenirs?<br />
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Then I started 2013 by losing some weight. The doctors managed to put it all back on me that same day.<br />
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A few months later I left Florida. You might think I moved for health reasons considering the above. But no. We moved for Ben's job and to prove it I went and did this in October.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1RePtG4dLaHuFnhfDaKC1O2b9mlTSoD3mVkH1nBcPxtoAe_AevvtMzWO_E1IdyMHHMFNUPz1U03O5B38EjWFSIPAIRx4fn8Vn22j2qgPtrylKqKKdfRW6ds4nkWUdHZVwV3Xx-PfvLZ7k/s1600/Knee+brace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1RePtG4dLaHuFnhfDaKC1O2b9mlTSoD3mVkH1nBcPxtoAe_AevvtMzWO_E1IdyMHHMFNUPz1U03O5B38EjWFSIPAIRx4fn8Vn22j2qgPtrylKqKKdfRW6ds4nkWUdHZVwV3Xx-PfvLZ7k/s640/Knee+brace.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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That, my friends, is the third knee brace I was prescribed after I fell while running and broke my patella. <br />
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The doctors tells me a horizontal break in one's knee cap is rare. It apparently happens so infrequently the ER doctor confidently told me I hadn't broke it; there was no way I could break it; not by just falling. Then he looked at my x-ray and declared I had fallen really hard. How did he know this? He felt the clear fracture shown on my x-ray offered excellent proof.<br />
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It has been several weeks and I'm doing very well so don't worry. Earlier, Ben bought me a nifty antique cane which was pretty boss. I'm now walking on my own and can can bend my knee 90 degrees.<br />
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There you have it. Do you think this knee deal is related to me breaking that mirror in January? I'm not sure I can survive six more years of this particular brand of bad luck.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843284116203462805noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750128189986674039.post-5698797032574778072013-09-05T11:35:00.002-04:002013-09-05T11:35:40.656-04:00Welcome to VirginiaDear Internet, <br />
I guess I took an unexpected blog hiatus. I had given myself permission to slack off on blogging on account of the move. Then, I got behind - so behind I didn't even know where to start. So, I just never started. Whoops. It has been implied, however, that curious minds want to know.<br />
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I'll try to catch you up.<br />
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It was a week before we actually closed and moved into our house so we chilled at a pretty nice Residence Inn for a week. Admittedly, the cats were able to settle in more quickly than Ben and me.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYO-BdqfKIJus8Ip0Mx6ufei4-iI2wjiFJn2yE1CxwbEuARIcAxKmGnbdeZR6uKdEsp8onh_lgobSziakdoT4TFy2MM-tAxFKyd-Pyr62OLT0rj97T9w-ym94QEUscqyRskl7h8T2DlXE/s1600/20130621_102449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYO-BdqfKIJus8Ip0Mx6ufei4-iI2wjiFJn2yE1CxwbEuARIcAxKmGnbdeZR6uKdEsp8onh_lgobSziakdoT4TFy2MM-tAxFKyd-Pyr62OLT0rj97T9w-ym94QEUscqyRskl7h8T2DlXE/s400/20130621_102449.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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When I say we moved into the house what I really mean is "camped out." It was another three weeks before our stuff was delivered. Hence the photo <a href="http://neveraplainjane.blogspot.com/2013/07/my-life-in-photos.html">here</a> of our classy evenings together. Ben took his frustration out on our kitchen wall.<br />
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Does this remind you of <a href="http://neveraplainjane.blogspot.com/2010/09/making-house-our-home-family-room.html">anything</a>?<br />
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I continue to struggle with the idea of doing one thing at a time so...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZOpScJJVxRvDctTwuLtf3fj60qktF2AasXIsH5Q1UMWKqSf77FzEV5-mxiEPSp6x4wDDdS7CvNVI1QtF4rH7cDmH4Nb-rI_hvMfI2l4xKh8bXVrXmuNl6C4Y9hBIiXcypIZ-4gzBFxq4/s1600/IMG_5015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZOpScJJVxRvDctTwuLtf3fj60qktF2AasXIsH5Q1UMWKqSf77FzEV5-mxiEPSp6x4wDDdS7CvNVI1QtF4rH7cDmH4Nb-rI_hvMfI2l4xKh8bXVrXmuNl6C4Y9hBIiXcypIZ-4gzBFxq4/s640/IMG_5015.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I <i>had</i> to do it, Internet. I mean, the master bathroom was <i>brown. </i>I'm actually quite fond of brown, but this particular shade in this particular room was a bit...off-putting. Perhaps a different angle will help you to better understand.<br />
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Sadly, neither the bathroom nor the kitchen has been finished.<br />
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After all, why spend time in a bathroom or kitchen when every inch of your neighborhood is begging me to come outdoors?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDh2mYeqmaZ6bMTIJ-5gnzU0SBdXmzcL3yeXJskTWYhyjyS5o5s4pGR9xM49E12H5xrLF0scNlZzhaTiwzn4XUT_FTEXrgLj2opCLBNWi9Up_aIR5PE1vnKQEPaRL9eiZSQj6g2K3DEBTD/s1600/IMG_5048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDh2mYeqmaZ6bMTIJ-5gnzU0SBdXmzcL3yeXJskTWYhyjyS5o5s4pGR9xM49E12H5xrLF0scNlZzhaTiwzn4XUT_FTEXrgLj2opCLBNWi9Up_aIR5PE1vnKQEPaRL9eiZSQj6g2K3DEBTD/s640/IMG_5048.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivICaKMrc-il0PeFNFNSxQnqximph-eGWGesds5qzfnNMSlnm4dSy2ZjD5yIsK1yDrNrHc1jYF1ZJypQjF71d2dxfcbaw3J9rSqlcCKCyNnpZxCjg91O5to7KzQvPgRNCmmIHC-YyZXKMh/s1600/IMG_5135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivICaKMrc-il0PeFNFNSxQnqximph-eGWGesds5qzfnNMSlnm4dSy2ZjD5yIsK1yDrNrHc1jYF1ZJypQjF71d2dxfcbaw3J9rSqlcCKCyNnpZxCjg91O5to7KzQvPgRNCmmIHC-YyZXKMh/s640/IMG_5135.JPG" title="white hydrangea" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3Rayug30lNqp5h8aQ7nSXfd1pq6KpYclGwaiyADRiO1BUlAt18JGYhHn4YWyqSJP75ToFQhiIYtz0uQ9b7ib_n2ZoPRp3fgtHI5Vqu8pW3d6s10f546VQsBLNDXQBP6G4n8YzOVXihrY/s1600/IMG_5235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3Rayug30lNqp5h8aQ7nSXfd1pq6KpYclGwaiyADRiO1BUlAt18JGYhHn4YWyqSJP75ToFQhiIYtz0uQ9b7ib_n2ZoPRp3fgtHI5Vqu8pW3d6s10f546VQsBLNDXQBP6G4n8YzOVXihrY/s640/IMG_5235.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiizAHaEYtiQx32UHgLUlG5Bw42DIm0Mdw9_YIwPhhaVJ-HnwKbV6W5i5qiIsuQBsMAQahAgbuLpTz3e5t13L6yjqxc5yQ1Zs7j_ex3K_YAnJLwwwz1iFBxaTpf5bE6mGF9IQOP7MdNZrF/s1600/IMG_5241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiizAHaEYtiQx32UHgLUlG5Bw42DIm0Mdw9_YIwPhhaVJ-HnwKbV6W5i5qiIsuQBsMAQahAgbuLpTz3e5t13L6yjqxc5yQ1Zs7j_ex3K_YAnJLwwwz1iFBxaTpf5bE6mGF9IQOP7MdNZrF/s640/IMG_5241.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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That's right, I took those photos in my neighborhood. Where I live. Don't be jeal.<br />
Yeah right; you should <i>totally</i> be jeal. It is <i>gorgeous</i> here.<br />
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That's a snippet of my life the last few months. If you are very good I'll give you more snippets again soon!<br />
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Love,<br />
J-Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843284116203462805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750128189986674039.post-81633224263827944282013-07-09T12:44:00.000-04:002013-07-09T12:44:33.303-04:00My life in photosThe past month and a half have been nuts for the husband and me! Nuts, I tell you! The written history would be rather boring, so you get a photo essay instead.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCQTw3Ww081HuBXtZ8N2chE9Bmh1weLg1_g-khlJYdB6VqxfQTwDjf-LTBXA7YmT9X1gpuI8tgWBhWYkR6u7JxHzXMKtkMUZe30i85ThM5ilQ2Xo9_2QZTrg24q9dTQTbHlYDzHPqvSg/s1600/pineapple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCQTw3Ww081HuBXtZ8N2chE9Bmh1weLg1_g-khlJYdB6VqxfQTwDjf-LTBXA7YmT9X1gpuI8tgWBhWYkR6u7JxHzXMKtkMUZe30i85ThM5ilQ2Xo9_2QZTrg24q9dTQTbHlYDzHPqvSg/s1600/pineapple.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The awesome-sauce pineapple knocker on our new front door. Which we OWN!</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/AVvXsEglKOQriGK-CCzWWL2LO8WzpojR738V3BP0LYymT8LNA21gy88EmJlizhbQxUamCVw0hcOQwJMb09UmL68HvbrIYiP4R2yhGkKUhwmn5kAlAOQPV6UtTDtVZX6mcNRDdQe01hYaaUmvX7o/s1600/commodore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKOQriGK-CCzWWL2LO8WzpojR738V3BP0LYymT8LNA21gy88EmJlizhbQxUamCVw0hcOQwJMb09UmL68HvbrIYiP4R2yhGkKUhwmn5kAlAOQPV6UtTDtVZX6mcNRDdQe01hYaaUmvX7o/s1600/commodore.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A gas range at last! The Commodore demands to know what the hell took so long. </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/AVvXsEjhoIWS0w7LSOJ0k5SEsGMCHtjy5e-VJTftNm5GHfbsE83-EwNXyj2tLLt2VYKk_CYq8KHTl492mkAz5zqJNu_JSKi65AcCcMl7hCaKLjw1FOpKX4tHk6LlUsIthtbd4zqDldo6MAPUamQ/s1600/living+large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhoIWS0w7LSOJ0k5SEsGMCHtjy5e-VJTftNm5GHfbsE83-EwNXyj2tLLt2VYKk_CYq8KHTl492mkAz5zqJNu_JSKi65AcCcMl7hCaKLjw1FOpKX4tHk6LlUsIthtbd4zqDldo6MAPUamQ/s640/living+large.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Livin' it up. 'Cause lawn chairs in the living room and a TV atop a box are part of living the high 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/AVvXsEh7TzZ8vdnHfWqhJEnvIMdBQ-S6FmfDSBhV0yLjktgvsIDrVWJBf_Yaxkuafhc0sNId3vlbU4tG38nEYOowt0RKH3qkwDetlKNPI2rVXGNQsljJN6Sc-wvaA5YZKcXWvc2zHqVA4UDw6Hs/s1600/paint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7TzZ8vdnHfWqhJEnvIMdBQ-S6FmfDSBhV0yLjktgvsIDrVWJBf_Yaxkuafhc0sNId3vlbU4tG38nEYOowt0RKH3qkwDetlKNPI2rVXGNQsljJN6Sc-wvaA5YZKcXWvc2zHqVA4UDw6Hs/s1600/paint.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colors for the master bath.</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/AVvXsEidQEsOxAngGgAZjQ1UDHICRVTFuOVkN4dIGj8nMW2Iaat5m1dKZLXH6IlV0bXHVjyXuQObMEHH5LVcjikq8tmEs-TDzPbDpH0qKipZWH0lnG_IV2vB-Fa7ZgFYkUS0SkPWE_P0ycmxkHw/s1600/sun+cats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidQEsOxAngGgAZjQ1UDHICRVTFuOVkN4dIGj8nMW2Iaat5m1dKZLXH6IlV0bXHVjyXuQObMEHH5LVcjikq8tmEs-TDzPbDpH0qKipZWH0lnG_IV2vB-Fa7ZgFYkUS0SkPWE_P0ycmxkHw/s640/sun+cats.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These two hate each other. So obviously they must both be in this one of the five sunlit patches available.</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/AVvXsEg_VBjqJ-gk4974tRKVjGaNodXW4LyRlOKh1P8ZHSLl3wgrmkTz_KapnMpcRxp7W45j2z0TLApFMD75upb5KDHU8N981Ml3PBZmjCHL8dIgT-Xuq4k4HOdO326g4BFS0L0gSJqq6XGRNUs/s1600/sittin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VBjqJ-gk4974tRKVjGaNodXW4LyRlOKh1P8ZHSLl3wgrmkTz_KapnMpcRxp7W45j2z0TLApFMD75upb5KDHU8N981Ml3PBZmjCHL8dIgT-Xuq4k4HOdO326g4BFS0L0gSJqq6XGRNUs/s1600/sittin.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sittin' pretty on our sexy new sofa.</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/AVvXsEiR4S111KDOGTJUlS9BhcKjJASUIumgOiQUErkIlyHsso-TELk7IpNP-EEVrvia1I4bF57fwlE-FFgs2fbnzUW_xpTXLCIR0Io3g4S2AKYmtV4c1hF3Xku3fI2yNA1UhW4VLYHRRXtyxUw/s1600/1171BERWICK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4S111KDOGTJUlS9BhcKjJASUIumgOiQUErkIlyHsso-TELk7IpNP-EEVrvia1I4bF57fwlE-FFgs2fbnzUW_xpTXLCIR0Io3g4S2AKYmtV4c1hF3Xku3fI2yNA1UhW4VLYHRRXtyxUw/s640/1171BERWICK.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.arhaus.com/furniture/living-room-furniture/berwick-leather-sofa/berwick-leather-sofa/">The actual sofa.</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></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/AVvXsEgM0osez2gTjy6gval7LmkKomFDrRY1aK84yCe4qr_Yx_TkVL-v-pwBdyGbY1_muvTgQsnNXxGlmCa9MCyYnxIsZ0KZKnQkvBxJSTOUaSC_ntQdVF5ktSnqvIu-35ZtyMntroKnc38OJZU/s1600/laundry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM0osez2gTjy6gval7LmkKomFDrRY1aK84yCe4qr_Yx_TkVL-v-pwBdyGbY1_muvTgQsnNXxGlmCa9MCyYnxIsZ0KZKnQkvBxJSTOUaSC_ntQdVF5ktSnqvIu-35ZtyMntroKnc38OJZU/s1600/laundry.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hypnotized by drying laundry.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></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/AVvXsEjO5C_o6qoFQSh1QN7i6-IVkzeuz9o3nzv9iT3sXSyC-c91mtZXJiyNi73vmgMieeGc3acn174sxfuiA65uVfrXklkN-CdnmAXDncL3KTWRipHwLTeln-9fXFeZDDAFZubc2MckvAoTo5I/s1600/at+Mike%2527s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5C_o6qoFQSh1QN7i6-IVkzeuz9o3nzv9iT3sXSyC-c91mtZXJiyNi73vmgMieeGc3acn174sxfuiA65uVfrXklkN-CdnmAXDncL3KTWRipHwLTeln-9fXFeZDDAFZubc2MckvAoTo5I/s1600/at+Mike%2527s.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.greatamericanrestaurants.com/">Eat at Mike's</a>. Their food is even better than their restrooms.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Feel up to speed? Good.<br />
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Never A Plain Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00663921921684385606noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750128189986674039.post-58011495367576117252013-06-03T11:59:00.000-04:002013-06-04T20:34:55.307-04:00Suits meWe have a pool (for now). I love the beach. It may surprise you, then, to know how rarely I actually get into the water. As a result I only own two bathing suits. Well that and I can never find anything that fits right. There's either not enough suit (no bikinis for me), not enough support, or too much suit (who are these women with such long torsos?).<br />
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Suddenly, however, I am inexplicably gripped by the desire to buy a new swim suit. And, oh, some of the ones I seen online...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ID-7KSeus0JQCtuuaPvxSuyRIj9QGuMpvWDW166wl7Cyduh87oqKZGAhO8fnljaZ-WJBskY5L0f43eSYOFvezFTNVvTWDWacXA9XJpXV28HbzJeZ18iEQYzCsKIc0kLZKQYqqdrIfNLF/s1600/wildfox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ID-7KSeus0JQCtuuaPvxSuyRIj9QGuMpvWDW166wl7Cyduh87oqKZGAhO8fnljaZ-WJBskY5L0f43eSYOFvezFTNVvTWDWacXA9XJpXV28HbzJeZ18iEQYzCsKIc0kLZKQYqqdrIfNLF/s640/wildfox.jpg" width="404" /></a></div>
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The husband isn't a fan, but this ruffled one piece from <a href="http://www.wildfoxcouture.com/FRENCH-FLOWERS-KITTY-LOVELOCK-PID42738-SNS312V03.aspx">Wildfox </a>is calling out to my whimsical side.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht8FeZRPczZHQvY4-WxX-czhHpgiV5IU1XBTZlL_Px5cfE76d2R2rwsy3VkMXsBMATuaBa_aOxeSv_kKQnFne8kRn7LL0DSUtl1QwcvsZXsRl24hQjRfVJfZOcIVhUeV8fLp86dhDNbFEB/s1600/jcrew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht8FeZRPczZHQvY4-WxX-czhHpgiV5IU1XBTZlL_Px5cfE76d2R2rwsy3VkMXsBMATuaBa_aOxeSv_kKQnFne8kRn7LL0DSUtl1QwcvsZXsRl24hQjRfVJfZOcIVhUeV8fLp86dhDNbFEB/s1600/jcrew.jpg" /></a></div>
This beauty from <a href="http://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/swim/luxetullecollection/PRDOVR%7E27763/27763.jsp">J. Crew's Luxe Tulle</a> line just went on sale. Look at the support that thing has! And ruching hides a multitude of sins often all too visible amongst beach goers. Sadly, the "regular" torso measurement is almost eight inches longer than my torso. Dear J.Crew, add swimwear to your selection for petites. Thanks.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2J_Vbbs8EalQ7GAIYv_bb7DO6vpzCrZYsBYGaMV1Nd3DoK4R_13trQ1QN92M1Yfg_se1NrBfFUxRflC3MDM2ZuWEQOSzg8aUMqArwfc4tii9IeNsT7ssCeepcF2IbftOx_UsB14d7zyd3/s1600/betsy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2J_Vbbs8EalQ7GAIYv_bb7DO6vpzCrZYsBYGaMV1Nd3DoK4R_13trQ1QN92M1Yfg_se1NrBfFUxRflC3MDM2ZuWEQOSzg8aUMqArwfc4tii9IeNsT7ssCeepcF2IbftOx_UsB14d7zyd3/s1600/betsy.jpg" /></a></div>
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Betsey Johnson calls this raspberry confection "<a href="http://www.betseyjohnson.com/Item.aspx?id=97876&np=968">Shortcake</a>." Doesn't it sound perfect for me? I love that it has the feel of a strapless but still has the very thing needed for keeping your suit where it should be even in rough waters.<br />
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Now if I <i>could</i> rock a two-piece I'd seriously consider doing it in one of these.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoUgGNUYxd9AWjh_rrMHc6jocSsrbWualoPqNt77yJZ7IXAuA5_MP6s8nvr2EiDKoBbAMT5YDyOKym9ntpoHPZ7IVlPbj3yrjj917XOV5J9E8A-bUh38LnUPb_Jx75W6DUOL4aF_Yv-4B/s1600/chloe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="556" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoUgGNUYxd9AWjh_rrMHc6jocSsrbWualoPqNt77yJZ7IXAuA5_MP6s8nvr2EiDKoBbAMT5YDyOKym9ntpoHPZ7IVlPbj3yrjj917XOV5J9E8A-bUh38LnUPb_Jx75W6DUOL4aF_Yv-4B/s640/chloe.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h1 style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">
</h1>
<a href="http://www.outblush.com/women/fashion/swimwear/chloe-scalloped-halterneck-bikini/"> ChloeScalloped Halterneck</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhacO14K18akXGgOELpCRBg3er2q1gteg9zquN0saUSt8w-6JZXbD-fD8GixAXbo0TT2qolCFrEiH63l8RlnGitPI9H82hYTIVELdEGY6RIx7FSCi8BbuSx0W2Y8bwgCpNueIdElnF77via/s1600/classic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhacO14K18akXGgOELpCRBg3er2q1gteg9zquN0saUSt8w-6JZXbD-fD8GixAXbo0TT2qolCFrEiH63l8RlnGitPI9H82hYTIVELdEGY6RIx7FSCi8BbuSx0W2Y8bwgCpNueIdElnF77via/s640/classic.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/85509547/classic-navy-high-waisted-retro-bikini?ref=usr_faveitems&atr_uid=26571338">Classic retro bikini in navy from BeBops</a></td></tr>
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Why is bathing suit shopping so hard?!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843284116203462805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750128189986674039.post-78232908895793633832013-05-21T16:17:00.000-04:002013-05-21T16:17:34.634-04:00Busy Busy BusyI haven't written in a bit of a while, but don't think it's because I have nothing to write about; I think we can all agree I rarely run out of things to say. It's just that I've been doing, going, making so much lately I haven't found the time to tell you all about it. Here's the summary (mostly) in photographs.<br />
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My friend, Jim, graduated from college earlier this month.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7dTNoCd3qKSs_r4PtWM8WkR_8-0gZS6yBLYEl76AZDUn2nqzpPQXaqzoJKFDAVDGKFdAT22V9YmPd0uwtOQ_Fveq_PTlV3qnWncCJ50DWSSi9k1VYIs7nHOIuXXisTjZALE3Qk0UhVA0/s1600/966990_10200383272922921_1847850781_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7dTNoCd3qKSs_r4PtWM8WkR_8-0gZS6yBLYEl76AZDUn2nqzpPQXaqzoJKFDAVDGKFdAT22V9YmPd0uwtOQ_Fveq_PTlV3qnWncCJ50DWSSi9k1VYIs7nHOIuXXisTjZALE3Qk0UhVA0/s640/966990_10200383272922921_1847850781_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guess which one is Jim.</td></tr>
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Jim is something of a teddy bear wrapped in a bad ass, tattooed, bald-and-I-own-it shell. In honor of that I accompanied Emily to a nearby ceramics studio and painted Jim a pretty pot.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzx3kFoR6DPffs3XursSB-i8zb2EyjhqfS_2LBkx0tVHPGnSyDM88E6NAWw390288s4Tjv1LCbktKj8AQMurDrIMuY2h9jf3Sp0iaLeIpEntpuq12L7ooaQQlj1ZUxMVsz0mvDCnvNSZG/s1600/jim+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzx3kFoR6DPffs3XursSB-i8zb2EyjhqfS_2LBkx0tVHPGnSyDM88E6NAWw390288s4Tjv1LCbktKj8AQMurDrIMuY2h9jf3Sp0iaLeIpEntpuq12L7ooaQQlj1ZUxMVsz0mvDCnvNSZG/s640/jim+2.jpg" width="512" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5upWfNifF76nX8SZ5m8_dXrn85ukzE8wmtCF7WVLZ_1NnObCWIqzFZRkL7KI-cMqG7F_5LlY-0ej0owoEw_EumcZupyK3oVMCrUZMrdN8yY55nghw4c7jlz9o5fq4W5chC04-ZkHMz8xf/s1600/jim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5upWfNifF76nX8SZ5m8_dXrn85ukzE8wmtCF7WVLZ_1NnObCWIqzFZRkL7KI-cMqG7F_5LlY-0ej0owoEw_EumcZupyK3oVMCrUZMrdN8yY55nghw4c7jlz9o5fq4W5chC04-ZkHMz8xf/s640/jim.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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It's impossible to tell, but I wrote "Ashes of Passed Exams" atop my painted flames. I have no idea what will actually go in his jar,but he seemed pleased with it.<br />
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I actually missed the giving of Jim's gift (his wife kindly delivered it) because I was in San Antonio at Hava's baby shower! And oh what a shower. I wish I'd taken photos, but, alas, I'll have to wait for them to appear on Facebook. In any case, Hava and Ryan have chosen to do Baby Caleb's room in a Dr. Seuss theme and the shower took that idea to highest possible level. I did my part via my gift: a tummy time swanky blankie.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXXtc6ljqedk6YYEl-osweRYbE41KPpq14pP4uwLsk7lLyua6gkgYOnmrZcgc7UVh4rx-lwHN3t2IOMs795cX8wo4-3sF25asjI4jt7S4-13f8Gm1fcOyC6Ek6fPWNMrZBYmfR7i5tdVv/s1600/swanky+blanky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXXtc6ljqedk6YYEl-osweRYbE41KPpq14pP4uwLsk7lLyua6gkgYOnmrZcgc7UVh4rx-lwHN3t2IOMs795cX8wo4-3sF25asjI4jt7S4-13f8Gm1fcOyC6Ek6fPWNMrZBYmfR7i5tdVv/s640/swanky+blanky.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I suspected I wouldn't have time to photograph the finished product so I took some snaps midway through the making. Babies learn so much about the world through touch so I chose a variety of fabrics and embellishments, each with a different texture and all in a common Seuss color.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpPm8FI4whcGNCOQsC2b38MZH-Fk1NuBzNKjPsLtNIDXS-U7B7bl-LuBUU7YNNyoyG4mAapzSZsNlCXKEIiM8EEFiIgyvhG9FsmTT2r9kjMGUK6Egtc68nLm1KNb-pdmEDGFDpsrFLheo/s1600/swanky+blanky+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpPm8FI4whcGNCOQsC2b38MZH-Fk1NuBzNKjPsLtNIDXS-U7B7bl-LuBUU7YNNyoyG4mAapzSZsNlCXKEIiM8EEFiIgyvhG9FsmTT2r9kjMGUK6Egtc68nLm1KNb-pdmEDGFDpsrFLheo/s640/swanky+blanky+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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On the flip side I went with a black and white color scheme. For the first few months babies are unable to see colors, but I wanted Baby Caleb to start enjoying tummy time to the fullest right from the start; well, as much as any baby ever enjoys tummy time.<br />
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Speaking of black and white...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6y1jD09Zyw3IrHgvodBBa87qnIuUZXKyFcM5S-C0uz6-ouu6kqVYhMmf7x8VSQIYAz5md3yjbZytIVdHmX-OMTzY11jKIaAFyLAZRh_41b_T_c8EIpslLMXzwib3-M6QrKPyexzSLhYh/s1600/court.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6y1jD09Zyw3IrHgvodBBa87qnIuUZXKyFcM5S-C0uz6-ouu6kqVYhMmf7x8VSQIYAz5md3yjbZytIVdHmX-OMTzY11jKIaAFyLAZRh_41b_T_c8EIpslLMXzwib3-M6QrKPyexzSLhYh/s640/court.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Okay, black and white <i>and</i> pink. Those are the favorite colors of my favorite high school graduate, a darling girl called Courtney. She just got her dorm room assignment and I cannot wait to show her the memo board I put together. You might recognize the <a href="http://neveraplainjane.blogspot.com/2013/03/bag-lady.html">fabric</a>... Since the wall was getting some jewelry I didn't want the bed to feel left out so I made a little something for that too.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJGLnjln1Op-tviLrbx3ib4FZ2j1Z2KSiHYZHuVBph1CKCPE-UKSN9KZ-Np0Bsk9gLxCTyEYzfbWCtLhbyzVw4SUYe07Tnm2xYyxxlxk7VilT4bkumqnE-CWOpsa4HCBDCMF_cBOeF0xt/s1600/court+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJGLnjln1Op-tviLrbx3ib4FZ2j1Z2KSiHYZHuVBph1CKCPE-UKSN9KZ-Np0Bsk9gLxCTyEYzfbWCtLhbyzVw4SUYe07Tnm2xYyxxlxk7VilT4bkumqnE-CWOpsa4HCBDCMF_cBOeF0xt/s640/court+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Hopefully, she's as keen on monograms as I am.<br />
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I've got a few other things in the works: a shirt for Ben (because I like to punish myself) and some placements for a neighbor. I may even do a tutorial for the mats. Ooooo. Aaaaah. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843284116203462805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750128189986674039.post-2875315064407124872013-04-29T15:05:00.001-04:002013-04-29T15:05:08.127-04:00Beachy KeenA few weekends ago went to the beach because, you know, we do that sort of thing in Florida. We decided to check out <a href="http://www.indianrocksbch.com/cgi/gof.pl?t=ir&src=http://www.IslandTime.com/gulf-beaches/">Indian Rocks</a>, a new-to-us spot recommended by my dear friend Michelle. So. Nice.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHzKMr7LwEP0M49eLYBh75rOXp22EzWXLdjq_QaVmvU_LCAODKCJjZwm1dfMuqAYzUU5vQRXtgMVpoUbtThcYdl6xaWaEY1e3BB7VpLpUSX9k9IQ0HpmVk2MnkmFdK-9MmhYYZYsD8yo/s1600/IMG_4856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHzKMr7LwEP0M49eLYBh75rOXp22EzWXLdjq_QaVmvU_LCAODKCJjZwm1dfMuqAYzUU5vQRXtgMVpoUbtThcYdl6xaWaEY1e3BB7VpLpUSX9k9IQ0HpmVk2MnkmFdK-9MmhYYZYsD8yo/s640/IMG_4856.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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It was a bit overcast which made for an amazingly temperate day (and amazingly cold water. no thank you.).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5gDCchWy4ku50WYzUMLzZeBKCeXSsTZ-99ub0U5fAmdMNvugb9VELkHZrMuIz-lgep1HLukRxGv3K3Q9hj4cs2uX9KCtkQfocyAMOxWim0Lud65ulkPHrWu4a3Xn1cpi4V3QqPA7EPEA/s1600/IMG_4858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5gDCchWy4ku50WYzUMLzZeBKCeXSsTZ-99ub0U5fAmdMNvugb9VELkHZrMuIz-lgep1HLukRxGv3K3Q9hj4cs2uX9KCtkQfocyAMOxWim0Lud65ulkPHrWu4a3Xn1cpi4V3QqPA7EPEA/s640/IMG_4858.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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But oh, the beach treasures! I found so many cool things I found myself curious to find out more about them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1VOr684NTB7Kql7aw-N7w18QmOQzy1RATScp2bC9uy3GfLAgDLTCtUcnM73648s0vNcr2kmIyWi4r288g_0WgHHwDKiFhKTN5kHO0qHlH_HPJh8Rsx5BOOMD8bcwUL0pWq3N4iMofZc/s1600/IMG_4871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1VOr684NTB7Kql7aw-N7w18QmOQzy1RATScp2bC9uy3GfLAgDLTCtUcnM73648s0vNcr2kmIyWi4r288g_0WgHHwDKiFhKTN5kHO0qHlH_HPJh8Rsx5BOOMD8bcwUL0pWq3N4iMofZc/s640/IMG_4871.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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This, I think, is a tiny piece of bleached <a href="http://marinesciencetoday.com/2012/10/13/low-tech-management-benefits-local-and-coral-communities/">Staghorn Coral.</a> I love the look, but bleaching is actually a sign of malnourished reefs off the Florida coast.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rttSpFvey3RzYeXCEi5ScmijLJ7K7oj1Ex1k3F2fEbYdiV9N87qoJYaxyuSEdtmjKsnzRiUx67WAy6tGPbyekJM-Jt56mls043_pP0x9YK52DBe3BRwdgrDu5fivkfF8jR_S6xNB_R0/s1600/IMG_4882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rttSpFvey3RzYeXCEi5ScmijLJ7K7oj1Ex1k3F2fEbYdiV9N87qoJYaxyuSEdtmjKsnzRiUx67WAy6tGPbyekJM-Jt56mls043_pP0x9YK52DBe3BRwdgrDu5fivkfF8jR_S6xNB_R0/s640/IMG_4882.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Ben's copy of the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Golden-Guide-Seashores-herbert-zim/dp/B007ZTOFXM">1955 Golden Guide "Seashores"</a> tells me this little guys are Royal Terns. You can't imagine how those orange beaks stood out against the grey sand and sky.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cE1c6sLt97bFDKcF1SQ7lnuGTC5yxQQaB78PtEIab5XpQpvxfsxXhwDnbFsf_nyTxzAQI5k3XMHGSfPVRQvObtN_ePkmWV3G1QfUoo65oj4CTDVbDrcYfX9rc7V149lOIrU6qjcn2ko/s1600/IMG_4915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cE1c6sLt97bFDKcF1SQ7lnuGTC5yxQQaB78PtEIab5XpQpvxfsxXhwDnbFsf_nyTxzAQI5k3XMHGSfPVRQvObtN_ePkmWV3G1QfUoo65oj4CTDVbDrcYfX9rc7V149lOIrU6qjcn2ko/s640/IMG_4915.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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This crazy-looking thing is a portion of the <a href="http://www.iloveshelling.com/blog/2012/05/07/breaking-the-case-of-lightning-whelk-eggs/">egg sac from a Lightening Whelk</a>. Each of those cases can contain 99 tiny eggs! I tore one open after Ben teased me about committing infanticide, but it was empty so I think all the babies are off exploring their new ocean world.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgFQrD9mWKBWKHNEUXH-vlSMFKcSQP8WtGy6hhuHFhYvYp4owe-ibf5QVK0fgsb3CP0_c1lVaIWDIKhrPBt4_zh8SL4cBMtk0r5peuaOhhFuKhgqPDFhmK5SP6UXvCjaJsG-Tq7TAnJAg/s1600/IMG_4903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgFQrD9mWKBWKHNEUXH-vlSMFKcSQP8WtGy6hhuHFhYvYp4owe-ibf5QVK0fgsb3CP0_c1lVaIWDIKhrPBt4_zh8SL4cBMtk0r5peuaOhhFuKhgqPDFhmK5SP6UXvCjaJsG-Tq7TAnJAg/s640/IMG_4903.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I believe these spiraled shells are actually the former homes of Lightning Whelks - maybe adolescents. I was so thrilled to find unbroken shells like these because I'd always been told that they never make it to the shore without being crushed by the waves. I left behind a few dozen for the other beach-goers, but I snatched these up right quick just in case their presence was some sort of fluke.<br />
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But above all, I the most important thing I learned that day is one cannot never get bored at the beach so long as there's room to dig.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQLfRw7oadxM5DhGC9B1Htno7Bw-SJ64TsIiQoF5GmCs1FbJrXcqgHRa42DrnEBlW4i3yIkw8h-qvFOvM9Sc4lMlccUZRdjgoUxU9jP8q2dLhqH9lfo-la9__uutfeHlAzIgPI1NBTJa4/s1600/IMG_4867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQLfRw7oadxM5DhGC9B1Htno7Bw-SJ64TsIiQoF5GmCs1FbJrXcqgHRa42DrnEBlW4i3yIkw8h-qvFOvM9Sc4lMlccUZRdjgoUxU9jP8q2dLhqH9lfo-la9__uutfeHlAzIgPI1NBTJa4/s640/IMG_4867.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilk4vAmDs65WW6WAEPZOB1xsbmWYVIoHfjio-Ux2eYwTgvk7qn8Ayox38giVBispg3EYznmaPe3KJ71xt0PKR3n8gaZuPtJY5FPNt-6hyphenhyphenOBg5zMGcEP7RKZ5iNOTUarWrxtSduduJYK5w/s1600/IMG_4899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilk4vAmDs65WW6WAEPZOB1xsbmWYVIoHfjio-Ux2eYwTgvk7qn8Ayox38giVBispg3EYznmaPe3KJ71xt0PKR3n8gaZuPtJY5FPNt-6hyphenhyphenOBg5zMGcEP7RKZ5iNOTUarWrxtSduduJYK5w/s640/IMG_4899.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hannah's beach chair</td></tr>
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Good to know.Never A Plain Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00663921921684385606noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750128189986674039.post-48960748041565243502013-04-22T15:41:00.002-04:002019-04-08T23:43:39.732-04:00The Finally-Finished Powder RoomApparently I never told you guys, but late last year I started to re-do our downstairs powder room. I blogged about it in a guest post for <a href="http://www.atypicaltypea.com/2013/01/03/pinspired-projects-part-2/">Alicia</a>. Well, after a bout with <a href="http://neveraplainjane.blogspot.com/2012/12/day-10-allllllmost-better.html">pneumonia</a>, then nearly taking a <a href="http://neveraplainjane.blogspot.com/2013/01/stuff-i-found-while-looking-around.html">third of my finger off</a>, the powder room is as finished as it's going to get.<br />
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In the beginning...there was yellow.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeymhOXSsIuIIKkd8TUcCc1E6gByEHC3kKKowlukWClVZ1C3tE1JI9uN3_zzGrrBFXzNeCiPj1OXPKlbVq_p0U2AXrx41NOAEmn3is8cVEE4NrxQ7aV_Kas5OEkwXuKdVEe9mVxeoXpQI/s1600/powder+room+before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeymhOXSsIuIIKkd8TUcCc1E6gByEHC3kKKowlukWClVZ1C3tE1JI9uN3_zzGrrBFXzNeCiPj1OXPKlbVq_p0U2AXrx41NOAEmn3is8cVEE4NrxQ7aV_Kas5OEkwXuKdVEe9mVxeoXpQI/s640/powder+room+before.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLXqb91mLQxEb2ak0Y16dMJLaKjTtRdTAURLeT_x5aH_mVz8K1pmTUgDFjq0qaGayWEMpMuP8WRy3F-mxlO94QZzvLcMthNsV0n7I1U_agP_1-O-eMqSlAL0KAk2mq1jluc7oFJVXdgQ/s1600/powder+room+before+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLXqb91mLQxEb2ak0Y16dMJLaKjTtRdTAURLeT_x5aH_mVz8K1pmTUgDFjq0qaGayWEMpMuP8WRy3F-mxlO94QZzvLcMthNsV0n7I1U_agP_1-O-eMqSlAL0KAk2mq1jluc7oFJVXdgQ/s640/powder+room+before+2.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>
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The bathroom is really tiny, making it difficult to photograph. If you look at the family room wall you can see the buttery/lemony yellow gracing the powder room.<br />
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Next, came <a href="http://pinterest.com/janicebear/decor-to-adore/">Pinterest</a>, where I pinned this fantastic paint job by <a href="http://www.adventuresindressmaking.com/2012/10/house-project-update-painting.html#.UXWO8fVjdD8">Susannah</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.adventuresindressmaking.com/2012/10/house-project-update-painting.html#.UXWO8fVjdD8" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyi2AM9ZIpZHrM7gh66EQi6WCdHkS15Oz3Bi0uRBwy6OQ8-_ah2Ul4K2IRse22WXzJmdWZ5kE1WIk8-noir67yQX7U3dJlAgUphyphenhyphenWdYXTlFpudH2Z2Us2-oNcxidDC9xUM5CU3c-hmNcU/s1600/bathroom.jpg" /></a></div>
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Then, the taping and striping began...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OCfBzSyZAL1PbAjsOhhGWKyw0t4JsZv0W87Ss77mb03jURjzPJoE6QDykXZSjG0cmxqJ5kF0T4_apzFzLorAa6DVwNmjJ09-ruR4QTKWTVx-VVPKzYvPkUUGnRSs4zBtCV9GVuI4KX0/s1600/x+for+gray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OCfBzSyZAL1PbAjsOhhGWKyw0t4JsZv0W87Ss77mb03jURjzPJoE6QDykXZSjG0cmxqJ5kF0T4_apzFzLorAa6DVwNmjJ09-ruR4QTKWTVx-VVPKzYvPkUUGnRSs4zBtCV9GVuI4KX0/s640/x+for+gray.jpg" width="456" /></a></div>
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Followed by sickness and other mayhem (see above). Actually, the mirror you see just peeking around the door frame in photo two is the finger-injury culprit.<br />
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And now..THIS!<br />
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I'm no longer allowed to hang things without supervision so rest assured this mirror went up under a watchful eye.<br />
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There has been absolutely no place to hang a towel in this bathroom since the second week after we moved in. Oh how I love that towel rack. I hung it <i>before</i> the finger fiasco.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH4DDo7zgI70RX4ph5NvR-c-zTtbhawBvf1FgC6Qhy6ggqtQwsUmDjPOy5Yk1YqiYXn0eibfKaS9giVhvmSsrm52RNVagA60Kq7Bv1ytCSO5Lsphr66rU-t_Z5jysZNZCV5VVjlgwFQew/s1600/IMG_4747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH4DDo7zgI70RX4ph5NvR-c-zTtbhawBvf1FgC6Qhy6ggqtQwsUmDjPOy5Yk1YqiYXn0eibfKaS9giVhvmSsrm52RNVagA60Kq7Bv1ytCSO5Lsphr66rU-t_Z5jysZNZCV5VVjlgwFQew/s640/IMG_4747.JPG" width="512" /></a></div>
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We picked this sign up at an antique shop in Charleston. I think it adds just the right amount of color.<br />
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So there it is; the powder room is complete less than two months before we move out. There is so much more I would like to have done, but at this point, it is all rather moot. I'm just glad to have that dingy yellow paint gone. Never A Plain Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00663921921684385606noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750128189986674039.post-5813045556133727882013-04-01T10:04:00.000-04:002013-04-01T10:04:31.505-04:00April Foolin': Stuff that made me laugh out loud<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpW6ZjZyKYRz5f5gvb-Yy5KdxUe4fGMXhfxOLv9r4TVvb2y8JFnnfqNtaIeQsCgUP6b2tQxWl_QP2x-YHyOgXpVUODCJeDjozjU5PnLYaAm8g0-Sq25hFTwZQkMFXgilQHYFBoDK4WKpB/s1600/Unicorns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpW6ZjZyKYRz5f5gvb-Yy5KdxUe4fGMXhfxOLv9r4TVvb2y8JFnnfqNtaIeQsCgUP6b2tQxWl_QP2x-YHyOgXpVUODCJeDjozjU5PnLYaAm8g0-Sq25hFTwZQkMFXgilQHYFBoDK4WKpB/s1600/Unicorns.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-decorate-with-unicorns-185612">How to Decorate with Unicorns</a>. Because who wouldn't?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLaUuDwZe24JGip4EboImqG3k34u-ro9wq2g6iwYPtrQdQKxmRhsS9kw0TEBsqmyb7sMJBxqRi7Jw3wPDLoyOKM12-SHoiw6pVWmIvKY1BOHjp9SyNapBwoegptRBy7d8UGUCGxzNzGt6/s1600/napkin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLaUuDwZe24JGip4EboImqG3k34u-ro9wq2g6iwYPtrQdQKxmRhsS9kw0TEBsqmyb7sMJBxqRi7Jw3wPDLoyOKM12-SHoiw6pVWmIvKY1BOHjp9SyNapBwoegptRBy7d8UGUCGxzNzGt6/s1600/napkin.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://weknowmemes.com/2012/07/guaranteed-way-to-get-a-date/">Well played.</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.inquisitr.com/106026/awesome-tetris-window-hack-is-awesome/">Awesome sauce.</a></div>
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What's making you giggle today?</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843284116203462805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750128189986674039.post-79790505885330223492013-03-25T10:57:00.000-04:002013-03-25T10:57:20.293-04:00Bag LadyOver the winter holiday, Santa brought Miss Emily a very special new friend.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMhmYyK-8_68dCHpyjea_hj8kT3PdnvbpSw-62-YBi_cifienfiysi25pZ4Y0UlqZnAI6_leXHptI7N-6eoFdP2VBLQ5Q1FfGYBMSZVYnLHgY-EH8cv5dZVI08p5iiTdgOSYlgMt73ryBH/s1600/Caroline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMhmYyK-8_68dCHpyjea_hj8kT3PdnvbpSw-62-YBi_cifienfiysi25pZ4Y0UlqZnAI6_leXHptI7N-6eoFdP2VBLQ5Q1FfGYBMSZVYnLHgY-EH8cv5dZVI08p5iiTdgOSYlgMt73ryBH/s1600/Caroline.jpg" /></a></div>
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This is <a href="http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/static/carolinedoll.jsp">Caroline Abbott</a>, an American Girl from 1812. Caroline is a perfect match for Emily because she's smart, brave, beautiful, and more than a little headstrong. You know, <i>nothing</i> like my daughter.<br />
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Just before the flight home from Grandma's house, we saw another little girl toting her American Girl in one of these nifty things.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVR063VfqXuVWpXNbksu2hwMnYgkb2NMamJN_vlbrkAm-D4fA1Nb2Zitl_hO5dHFIETcH5VNLfOwzxz3pSUVSTDxpRbxzPnxQfDBL18owtVG7QbW85IMouQ7YON_eN_CkaH9KaGCoo7fXM/s1600/starry+case+out.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVR063VfqXuVWpXNbksu2hwMnYgkb2NMamJN_vlbrkAm-D4fA1Nb2Zitl_hO5dHFIETcH5VNLfOwzxz3pSUVSTDxpRbxzPnxQfDBL18owtVG7QbW85IMouQ7YON_eN_CkaH9KaGCoo7fXM/s1600/starry+case+out.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/html/item/id/140642/ctc/XSYMAL">American Girl Starry Doll Tote</a></td></tr>
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Oh how nice it would be to let Miss Caroline see the world instead of being clutched tightly against Emily's chest! Unfortunately, the carrier has been sold out.<br />
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It took my daughter about three minutes to get over here disappointment and start shopping for an alternative. Is she my kid or what? As it happened, we didn't have to look very far because I had a nifty bag pattern bought way back when.<br />
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It doesn't look as though it is still available through Simplicity, but the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/124573181/carrying-bag-its-so-easy-simplicity-2658?ref=sr_gallery_1&ga_search_query=simplicity+2658&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=all&ga_facet=simplicity+2658">Tuffy Girl Vintage</a> shop on Etsy has it.<br />
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We also didn't have to go far to find fabric. See! I knew all those scrap bin purchases would pay off!<br />
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I just love that tulip print! Em chose that for the lining and trim, and the pink-tinged leopard print for the bag's outside.<br />
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No offense to American Girl, but our tote is way cuter!<br />
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Not to mention one-of-a-kind. just like a certain spunky somebody...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCngjlV7jxw0LIQIJuxWP41fXs1edluEXGzawdmNTi82K4axl64ihiNQ54c_bmtpHw2TBO4GPnvWUvpkcyz1DJ7xi2XKY5CVGE5BWqAdxuxpU5MUFuNlp_EkTWrIMDb01ujn0Tk_RRQWRK/s1600/IMG_4693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCngjlV7jxw0LIQIJuxWP41fXs1edluEXGzawdmNTi82K4axl64ihiNQ54c_bmtpHw2TBO4GPnvWUvpkcyz1DJ7xi2XKY5CVGE5BWqAdxuxpU5MUFuNlp_EkTWrIMDb01ujn0Tk_RRQWRK/s640/IMG_4693.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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It is a bit big for Caroline, but that just means there's more room for her stuff to go with her!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0v0ZabUxFI4eADTSzCuNaGACykyIwSrgKJe2n2vmvgvoweFcBqNwUAh-4IRAfJGjV9sp1-X6fXvJb2Y3H2v8IMwJN6qfGpWesGBANWEDJJbu_28rgaZZ4giO1UaogI5pfNWPSXvV2NMbl/s1600/IMG_4694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0v0ZabUxFI4eADTSzCuNaGACykyIwSrgKJe2n2vmvgvoweFcBqNwUAh-4IRAfJGjV9sp1-X6fXvJb2Y3H2v8IMwJN6qfGpWesGBANWEDJJbu_28rgaZZ4giO1UaogI5pfNWPSXvV2NMbl/s640/IMG_4694.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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And that doll already has a lot of stuff.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0q8YCpDbHYZGjPKMi6yV13ZFAxZU6PMF9atXA_tyitKfW29U3UoV0G4EpqczFgp6Xrghr_BZ9jKRZVULF0FjMwuIgUv8GO4EGQUY_YTUlJz1HXulh94FCMLWaiZIJaIP2pQYxKf7ZDKmL/s1600/IMG_4715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0q8YCpDbHYZGjPKMi6yV13ZFAxZU6PMF9atXA_tyitKfW29U3UoV0G4EpqczFgp6Xrghr_BZ9jKRZVULF0FjMwuIgUv8GO4EGQUY_YTUlJz1HXulh94FCMLWaiZIJaIP2pQYxKf7ZDKmL/s640/IMG_4715.JPG" width="512" /></a></div>
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And I have one happy little bag lady.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843284116203462805noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750128189986674039.post-14834262424857259882013-03-18T10:13:00.000-04:002013-03-20T08:43:12.543-04:00Home is...Well, I'm back from a week of house hunting in DC. I wish I could tell you the hunt is over, but things didn't turn out quite like we'd hoped.<br />
<br />
I've said it <a href="http://neveraplainjane.blogspot.com/2010/07/house-hunt-part-one.html">before</a>, house hunting is hard. However, this time around I confess it is also a little fun. The busybody in me relishes seeing the insides of all those different houses, and imagining how I would set things up if it were my home.<br />
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I can't take you into the houses I saw on my trip, but I'll gladly share with you some of my favorite inspiration homes and decor.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgiwe3W3hm7Rk79mYWOD3ckdFN7p831UTqmF3JfADeh6xA0ssk7uVjIIYat6Ph91KWGt37DA6QPSF4rHplIQmL3GYVSMeXUgPPNkvkIT0xG7kpKIBNPqMXVNKGR5yKVaUXeWpqSuTo2OPa/s1600/Rosenberry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgiwe3W3hm7Rk79mYWOD3ckdFN7p831UTqmF3JfADeh6xA0ssk7uVjIIYat6Ph91KWGt37DA6QPSF4rHplIQmL3GYVSMeXUgPPNkvkIT0xG7kpKIBNPqMXVNKGR5yKVaUXeWpqSuTo2OPa/s1600/Rosenberry.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.rosenberryrooms.com/324-brookleigh-daybed.html?green=01CB429D-D625-5456-90BA-E752DA19F26E">Brookleigh Daybed from Rosenberry Rooms</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I'd set Emily up with this daybed in a heartbeat. Sadly, she's not that into it.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWO11L0AdN-lvy-k6j2Js3QsDEYx68lDGeoDB9KKiG3kEFjqfHl826O6RjCjgIytzEhSfzYNc_zoat_4wXWtxlm7Yw6L8lNe7jdcbBG5BA-3KYpTLbBAQzFe9-ZrRb_Nx2jbpQ7i7hz5aM/s1600/SMEG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWO11L0AdN-lvy-k6j2Js3QsDEYx68lDGeoDB9KKiG3kEFjqfHl826O6RjCjgIytzEhSfzYNc_zoat_4wXWtxlm7Yw6L8lNe7jdcbBG5BA-3KYpTLbBAQzFe9-ZrRb_Nx2jbpQ7i7hz5aM/s1600/SMEG.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westelm.com/products/mrk-smeg-refrigerator-red-d681/?pkey=cretro-refrigerators#">Smeg Refrigerator from West Elm Marketplace</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Ben has already agreed this is <i>the</i> refrigerator for us!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDF0YqR1UTbNJ28aWdV6IGY1zT0cSXmYdq7I9rdYdcRltBTVNaSZWudja0uB0QkOS8Gm7w_nOvvVZU0R0327HOt6pC-TO1nUo_IoayIknxyIJVt6-5ZvGtfjv3ibNA24i7oWdPJGEDrab/s1600/cottage.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDF0YqR1UTbNJ28aWdV6IGY1zT0cSXmYdq7I9rdYdcRltBTVNaSZWudja0uB0QkOS8Gm7w_nOvvVZU0R0327HOt6pC-TO1nUo_IoayIknxyIJVt6-5ZvGtfjv3ibNA24i7oWdPJGEDrab/s1600/cottage.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/06/23/garden/20100624-chic-slideshow-14.html">Tiny Victorian cottage in the Catskills</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I'm pretty sure Emily needs a little something like this in our backyard. She agrees saying it would be"perfect for a sewing studio."<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifybkRnlUQ5MT1y0S7erxTA30ijMtqryzNFohLQQlexqzUnpBLdCEFaPJhWdAl6x6N7yJzq7WRNtXYj8GCwWArhJMBMCqkz4Yz12zLTPDfzW5Np0AAIRVc8K3GOIUexkD17l9uEyhSaEBh/s1600/flor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifybkRnlUQ5MT1y0S7erxTA30ijMtqryzNFohLQQlexqzUnpBLdCEFaPJhWdAl6x6N7yJzq7WRNtXYj8GCwWArhJMBMCqkz4Yz12zLTPDfzW5Np0AAIRVc8K3GOIUexkD17l9uEyhSaEBh/s1600/flor.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flor.com/">Flor tiles in "Just Plain Folk" and "Lanyard"</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I first read about Flor tiles in <a href="http://dooce.com/2007/10/12/probably-more-excited-about-carpet-than-i-should-be/">2007 on Dooce.com</a>. I liked them then, but I fell in love when I saw <a href="http://www.brooklynlimestone.com/2010/04/faux-bois-flor-in-box-room.html#.UUcWt_VjdD8">this</a> great rug on Brooklyn Limestone. I'm still working to bring the rest of my family around.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQVdV0d6d3nboZKr09-htoCf61Yj5BUte2HJHKyUB-tiyBGm4d1aAZpWb-fe0nZKzI-WIyX1GsgttapNJg4UKkEHcbEgYqVsSzq6R9oBCD71EPp3nNfJIyunxuBbK6B1eAg3M8S4bgAhJ/s1600/bath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQVdV0d6d3nboZKr09-htoCf61Yj5BUte2HJHKyUB-tiyBGm4d1aAZpWb-fe0nZKzI-WIyX1GsgttapNJg4UKkEHcbEgYqVsSzq6R9oBCD71EPp3nNfJIyunxuBbK6B1eAg3M8S4bgAhJ/s1600/bath.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.houseography.net/2011/10/powder-room-bling-part-6-reveal.html#">Powder room on HOUSEography</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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In DC powder rooms are in practically every house. At least one of ours will have dark blue walls and a gold ceiling. I'm doing it, there's no stopping me, don't even try.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmombYtKcj6ktB2xguyA40-h-W5fTC37VJNUnMDtBNl7-jgsfRnD0QGNx5bB0rjlXEwThmJIeZC-dNW6HLncTnWhCGiCjFJpj5vyXD4PzlmV-Cfr3aCu6EXeza9P3sniopNX-xPOVhbxZX/s1600/sink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmombYtKcj6ktB2xguyA40-h-W5fTC37VJNUnMDtBNl7-jgsfRnD0QGNx5bB0rjlXEwThmJIeZC-dNW6HLncTnWhCGiCjFJpj5vyXD4PzlmV-Cfr3aCu6EXeza9P3sniopNX-xPOVhbxZX/s640/sink.jpg" width="520" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">English Farmhouse sink in a kitchen by Hallie Cohn Designs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I fully intend to have a farmhouse, or apron-front, sink someday.<br />
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And you? What's going on in your dream-house tour?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843284116203462805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750128189986674039.post-41937488955316087102013-03-11T08:00:00.000-04:002013-03-11T08:00:00.450-04:00I do wander everywhere<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/AVvXsEiLlvEEtxLY_gGX5jTYqSiroHdkxazzowxmrbap4z5Qbl-SSiaHlOMWhJW89A0IFnUdqVecrjus5TJGHHAf8STXHb9vxqsg8em3rYAEpa7VPONxH_1KQzsSfHnk1970DGTuyywiM5I6EJDk/s1600/oberon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLlvEEtxLY_gGX5jTYqSiroHdkxazzowxmrbap4z5Qbl-SSiaHlOMWhJW89A0IFnUdqVecrjus5TJGHHAf8STXHb9vxqsg8em3rYAEpa7VPONxH_1KQzsSfHnk1970DGTuyywiM5I6EJDk/s640/oberon.jpg" width="532" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/80819766/oberon-whither-wander-you-print-large?ref=usr_faveitems">Oberon "Wither wander you" Print from Akimbo</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Can you guess where I wander this week?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGjDf84092ZsMBJ-Egx4EsQESaydxV3KSDTCPGYKqmYycE6CsQau3Tl8lzXNiTTxobRoLg0Bm7IfzN4c4BoA49AKjn0sRcD6bHIV6W6_ET4xh5DAVd0cTqDmttO7dDQRVYDO1rlJKblyBX/s1600/100_6962+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGjDf84092ZsMBJ-Egx4EsQESaydxV3KSDTCPGYKqmYycE6CsQau3Tl8lzXNiTTxobRoLg0Bm7IfzN4c4BoA49AKjn0sRcD6bHIV6W6_ET4xh5DAVd0cTqDmttO7dDQRVYDO1rlJKblyBX/s640/100_6962+crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Be the first and I'll send you a souvenir.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843284116203462805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750128189986674039.post-83015114502712916302013-03-04T08:29:00.000-05:002013-03-04T08:29:00.407-05:00A Tisket, a tasketMy bike now has a basket!<br />
For Valentine's Day, Ben gave me a coupon redeemable for the bike accessory of my choice! I love that guy.<br />
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I <strike>need</strike> want a lot of things for my <a href="http://neveraplainjane.blogspot.com/2012/11/i-call-her-celia.html">Celia</a> - panniers, a new saddle, a bell - but I settled on a basket. And not just any basket; the <a href="http://www.bikesonline.com/sunlite-bamboo-qr-basket.htm">perfect basket</a>. Isn't it classic?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63Amp051MzLbDFWx5Y6C7dSSOsax57KZPNH5cve92DSU6IQbo9C8GIY3jFcvybfKjLvS3NTo85i2R6K0Txm2bmPlPMFXIzVMxPvRyV72cHetzZRsR3y6ZngKR-0FSBY0uBjyKNa3Krsry/s1600/IMG_4661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63Amp051MzLbDFWx5Y6C7dSSOsax57KZPNH5cve92DSU6IQbo9C8GIY3jFcvybfKjLvS3NTo85i2R6K0Txm2bmPlPMFXIzVMxPvRyV72cHetzZRsR3y6ZngKR-0FSBY0uBjyKNa3Krsry/s640/IMG_4661.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJyw-sD24d0QfukSo_N7cyLycny0vSeZs0Oe2tiy0mY-7YRh3SW10vWYfBMMaedX4fKDs9QfZcWHPCk2OP92EvLbJK6vQvCJaMrd0XIKXlrVdpu2pUAZ6IZO2YG-RYLfZpTgNHHXUdG4bD/s1600/IMG_4658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJyw-sD24d0QfukSo_N7cyLycny0vSeZs0Oe2tiy0mY-7YRh3SW10vWYfBMMaedX4fKDs9QfZcWHPCk2OP92EvLbJK6vQvCJaMrd0XIKXlrVdpu2pUAZ6IZO2YG-RYLfZpTgNHHXUdG4bD/s640/IMG_4658.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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That's the Sunlight Bamboo QR basket, available <a href="http://www.bikesonline.com/sunlite-bamboo-qr-basket.htm">here</a>. It has a quick-release design and a snazzy leather strap so I can pop it off and take it into the store with me. Love that!<br />
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The Sunlight is not, by far, the only basket out there.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Here are a few of the contenders.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W3ylx0ThHfw/UTAJlAJq7BI/AAhttp://www.heritagebicycles.com/collections/racks/products/nantucket-bike-basket-co" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivy_KQHbGJqq5AO3vjUzNHYKxDpuGr7yJeb0oBVt7lxQZWf5XJcyjfP3KJ2Kjc_IQM_bR3qP3w4ovWDG8Ox2G8RPYjDavQi_opz-aXNa3vHWhRwDoFuz_3dOm81Dv14K0phgvFT90s8ap0/s1600/nantucket.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nantucket Tapered/D-Shaped Basket, $60 at Heritage General Store</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.brooksengland.com/catalogue-and-shop/bags/cycle+bags+%26+accoutrements/HOXTON+Wire+Basket/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHVmVdx3-MNzyYpOzDa7w2n-LpQwHJjsHnJyD89-razfRwOX1c3LDW9R2bFuIEP1Cn7SQCJOX90g_l-rWHmtondl39rYTZIa-3oIko9II5neExPuyolijL8Vl7dbCFYQxdSD30CYpKCVr/s640/Brooks.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brooks Hoxton Wire Basket, $160 at Brooks England LTD.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=54919&category=2191" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrado7f_ngFJrvK6mTa30UGaXWGJarszz7MrrdhyphenhyphenryjOI8yR_du1KNO9_gZsNwYdmIK_cseSdUjriO1sNB_xE58JX-rKTCdr30xHajMOvm6WXJW_ajTXOjmK9QWvuSqN0qQ48iUDrfzyt/s1600/birdcage.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eleven81 Wooden Birdcage Basket $70 at Universal Cycles</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thelittlehouseinthecityblog.com/2010/04/kate-spade-picnic-bike-basket.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="579" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGm5hDyZAXd7ZC9xbqYHCMh2qLuB3gB6ERsCH9hIyI90JnaKyyjyX2HDvwCjgp-tjrrL6InPi1yGKWXUNZiqSFVutYyz0eMsJ_G2-KBPgkO3lyzu6nNUmPx0y8Ntcyc4OSHsmfNolfbE/s640/kate+spade.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kate Spade Picnic Bike Basket, $325 via The Little House in the City</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">These babies are definitely eye-catching, but not quite my taste.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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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="http://mioculture.com/pop-up-bike-basket.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_OwblV6EzpFpyB-K7WYq76tpSI_8J-ITCsV2e72t3Lu-LB2iLhDepXqoUSUHqUeHWDzpZlmtZNt9at2hULf3IqDLpmqwq9OmthBfl9TIwARzi6YQKUxZE5xkl7-qEGucMZD7zPRrt4Wac/s640/Mio.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pop-Up Bicycle Basket, $75 at Mio Culture</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></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="http://yeongkeun.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkTKYkgmZBTjUHrDgAQcHzuIypIVDa3i6VhgRKMp1fHky-56slKX7TWPLc6VRoveXnRCGb_sZy1unWsVTtNQjoXyP9rp6P5DIl0LcxPLriCcPuusaAC280t1INqraMGhDZlV1DjKH-9cA/s1600/Reel.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reel customizable storage triangle from Yeong Keun and Aareum Jeong </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shoprelish.com/store/pc/Carrie-Bike-Basket-Shopping-Cart-Lime-p53.htm" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHV9vNkWjjx2jWjQ6qeUh6-1QGgHC8_UriUhBuYGELzbtEZcbS5wUxRExNh3yJ35mlLdn_z6Ez-0og6g9Q9bREZiyy8bgZS0wD7jjAu1cZsdOjsoQb9JL340i502C91nhSNCm3HXGKYk/s1600/Relish+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carrie Bike Basket, $70.00 from Relish</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Shopping for bike accessories is ridiculously fun.</span> Next up: grocery shopping <i>with</i> my new accessory. Wee!</div>
</div>
<span id="goog_127606292"></span><span id="goog_127606293"></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843284116203462805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750128189986674039.post-69554368908314469862013-02-25T14:17:00.002-05:002013-02-26T08:55:57.633-05:00I Quit (sort of).Two weeks ago I began the <a href="http://the21daysugardetox.com/">21 Day Sugar Detox</a>. That's right; I signed up to go without sugar for three weeks. On purpose.<br />
<br />
I've known for awhile that my relationship with sweets had become a needy one. If I was awake I wanted sugar. Even my healthy snacks tend to be pretty high in natural sweeteners: raisins, berries, bananas, etc. We can't even have cookies in the house. Like a good, health conscious mom, I'd pack Emily once serving size of cookies in her lunch. By the time she got home from school the remaining cookies would be gone.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsEbIMCcEG6RreYCVelhayuSTaqU3yf1pIY-aaWZcl50FhB3QtgzoiCnj9GvFJLGLOGiCbalqxjk-R75O2oBzbuV2ldrvny4w8ODRInhcabtNStT4uke3m5UwT8JOsLQ4phbkHpgBU3dm/s1600/cookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsEbIMCcEG6RreYCVelhayuSTaqU3yf1pIY-aaWZcl50FhB3QtgzoiCnj9GvFJLGLOGiCbalqxjk-R75O2oBzbuV2ldrvny4w8ODRInhcabtNStT4uke3m5UwT8JOsLQ4phbkHpgBU3dm/s400/cookies.jpg" width="336" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/old-fashioned-peanut-butter-cookies-00000000046655/index.html">Old-Fashioned Peanut-Butter Cookies from Real Simple</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
More and more, I'm hearing how sugar is as addictive as a drug, and Americans are consuming toxic levels of sugar annually. I started to worry I had lost my ability to appreciate the natural taste of food. After a suggestion from a good friend I took the plunge - I dropped $21.00 on the <a href="http://the21daysugardetox.com/">21 Day Sugar Detox</a> and its four supplementary guides, plus a daily e-mail.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtX5pMLYrLSFln-4xnNa_drj47ke0fn084zfKbwAe-p6bCC_t8ZkJybflqDJIypt8JAirYA2gtrVejy16lN_rYrCZR4-XZ8VSedC8qDk41WKCdeuWBn_BCqLHhBGdOuJF_tIA5YKzGRFvo/s1600/Stop.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtX5pMLYrLSFln-4xnNa_drj47ke0fn084zfKbwAe-p6bCC_t8ZkJybflqDJIypt8JAirYA2gtrVejy16lN_rYrCZR4-XZ8VSedC8qDk41WKCdeuWBn_BCqLHhBGdOuJF_tIA5YKzGRFvo/s400/Stop.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The detox promoted its many benefits - higher and more even energy levels, better sleep, clearer skin, less bloating, and, of course, freedom from craving carbs and sugar.<br />
<br />
At first, it went pretty well. Not least because I could still have my coffee. The guide includes "eat" and "don't eat" lists, meal suggestions, and recipes. I must have spent an hour planning my menu for the week followed by Ben and Emily's menu. I had in no way expected they would join me in this crazy dietary experiment, so they only ate about a third of the same meals I ate.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1oI2Acwz2w1F9N1wXyeBIGvvAY1vm_dPeccgSIpovHyW0LCODcw1HCUTTOeXHT-WO72S_sEOBoKERGKPN4rtX-TzMU8trXxc_LWX3tx_1TeTgrh0AhRsjzCWcGHq0mvJQJ2yHMvcLEEV/s1600/IMG_4640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1oI2Acwz2w1F9N1wXyeBIGvvAY1vm_dPeccgSIpovHyW0LCODcw1HCUTTOeXHT-WO72S_sEOBoKERGKPN4rtX-TzMU8trXxc_LWX3tx_1TeTgrh0AhRsjzCWcGHq0mvJQJ2yHMvcLEEV/s640/IMG_4640.JPG" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/baked_parmesan_tomatoes.html">My baked Parmesan tomatoes based on a recipe from Eating Well</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Those tomatoes, alongside a nice rib-eye and some broccoli made for a delicious dinner. However, at the end of my first week, I'd had about 10 egg-based dishes. I'm not a huge fan of eggs. So my mood about this deal was quickly souring. Week two started with another long session of menu planning. Still, if I thought I was sinking a lot of time into this detox it was nothing compared to the amount of money going into this thing. By day 11, I was done.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-GGPpn-jbvLo2kpPNwHPt0SOxSBTL2Ae0Sg8AcjnTcOznomio4cv-FqcfTmRsfm-6Md2Wif938jZGTExsq7QJBdVsREF8ZZdb-OAXH5pQjHXVO9vGr3FJXDNj42YRrvQbNO4SvQnpV5z/s1600/voltaire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-GGPpn-jbvLo2kpPNwHPt0SOxSBTL2Ae0Sg8AcjnTcOznomio4cv-FqcfTmRsfm-6Md2Wif938jZGTExsq7QJBdVsREF8ZZdb-OAXH5pQjHXVO9vGr3FJXDNj42YRrvQbNO4SvQnpV5z/s640/voltaire.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/mbartstudios">via MB Art Studios</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Most of the food, especially the snacks, were either not tasty or I'd eaten so often they'd lost their appeal. I did not have more energy. In fact, if I did not eat every hour my energy level sunk until I felt as though I was moving through pudding. My sleep did not noticeably improve. Finally, every meal and most snacks had to be prepared from scratch so I spent hours each day making food.<br />
<br />
A lot of people seem to really like this detox, though. That probably makes me weird, but I'm going to put myself in the "limited edition" category instead. I was actually able to find a few positive aspects.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Things I liked:</h3>
The daily e-mails often alleviated some of my fears about failing (my limited ability to buy organic, grass fed, etc.) and offered tips to get me through feeling yucky.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/21daysugardetox">The Facebook community</a> is pretty stellar. 21DSD personnel and other detox participants are usually prompt in answering any questions you may post.<br />
<br />
There is a huge amount of support for people who "slip up" during their 21 days. Perfectionism is not a primary goal, which alleviates some of the pressure that comes with making so many big changes.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZMJ3ijxYAZNh7haEaAWpsA7iZaiIV5AMe91LYS1_PRNmm0MkBqFtqH7K6-rrC5RNvfOGCSZ1izvLxKj55gkiFamv8OWMix3zjLnu6WLRAjnZEqruPubcd6igNammXmZQzkfnKlQ_fjYJ/s1600/lines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZMJ3ijxYAZNh7haEaAWpsA7iZaiIV5AMe91LYS1_PRNmm0MkBqFtqH7K6-rrC5RNvfOGCSZ1izvLxKj55gkiFamv8OWMix3zjLnu6WLRAjnZEqruPubcd6igNammXmZQzkfnKlQ_fjYJ/s1600/lines.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_1728805330"></span>"Lines " from Important Things With Demetri Martin. Season 2 Episode 7 via A Delicate Point of View <span id="goog_1728805331"></span></a></td></tr>
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<h3>
Things I didn't like: </h3>
So. Many. Typos. Mistakes in the e-book/manual, typos in the e-mails, poor grammar in the blog posts. It was off-putting from the start.<br />
<br />
The links in the manual went to articles and videos six years old! Surely there is more contemporary science out there to support this detox. Also, is it all that hard to update links in an e-book?<br />
<br />
Also, some of the answers to my Facebook questions were unhelpful at best. I described some of my issues and received this answer:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[180].[1][2][1]{comment474619075930422_4653814}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2]"><span class="UFICommentBody" id=".reactRoot[180].[1][2][1]{comment474619075930422_4653814}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0"><span id=".reactRoot[180].[1][2][1]{comment474619075930422_4653814}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[0]">When
you think about your food budget consider home meals and restaurant
meals. I usually freak out when I see the grocery bill for weeks I plan
to eat at home everyday, but I save money going out."</span></span></span></blockquote>
For a plan that emphasizes plain, natural, and raw foods it seems counter-intuitive to turn my meals over to a restaurant. Also, are these people not feeding a family? I can't just say to Ben and Emily "Mommy's going out to eat so you're on your own for dinner. Peace out!"<br />
<br />
<br />
As I said, a lot of people seem to like and have benefited from completing the 21 Day Sugar Detox. You might be someone who finds this sort of cleanse a perfect start to achieving your health goals. To you, I offer these tips:<b><br /></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Prepare early!</b> This gets said a lot, but nobody really tells you <i>how</i> to prepare. I chose a start date three days after I purchased the e-book, bought some food stuffs, and called it good. I was wrong. If I ever do something similar I would buy the book and plan to start at least a month later. Then I'd read the manual and all the supplements while simultaneously adding one or two the required food items into my weekly grocery purchases. I might also try a few of the recipes. I think that type of preparation would have spread out the monetary cost, and allowed me to make my meals a little faster once I finally started. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<b>Step away from the TV. </b>When I watch TV I have some sort of Pavlovian response telling me I'm hungry. I am oddly unable to enjoy a show without that hand-to-mouth motion. If you're the same way I suggest you cut your tube time, and, if you want a snack, take only one serving of food to the couch with you.<br />
<br />
<b>Don't go it alone. </b>Try as they might, the 21 DSD community cannot give you personalized, in depth nutrition advice. They don't know me from the thousands of other posters. My lifestyle, habits, weight, height, etc. are all factors in my detox experience and should be taken into account when I need input about my progress. If you can, discuss this detox with your doctor or a nutritionist. Check in with him regularly, and expect that any questions you have will be answered based on your personal health history. You may also find a live group helpful; something more intimate than, you know, the world wide web.<br />
<br />
And there you have my dietary experiment. Let me know if you do something similar and how it goes, k?Never A Plain Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00663921921684385606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750128189986674039.post-67952705769810856922013-02-11T08:00:00.000-05:002013-02-11T08:00:06.806-05:00Dear EmilyIt has been a long time since I last wrote an entry for you. It seems we are all so busy; you as much as anyone else. I think, though, that it is all the activities you get up to that have made you more Emily than ever before. This school year you've tried cheerleading, chorus, and flute lessons. You figured out how to climb a tree, and finally conquered the art of riding a bike. We have had to work to reign you in - to keep you from bouncing to something new before you've seen the last thing through. Problematic, sometimes, but also indicative of the possibility you see in every opportunity.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fFy0Fv7Yovdv6o_9bnmvLprJVzwS1s5yZFr5xj-ormGwsJrgdPV106iiu3m0jjMgDiESf5d6e8hN6-xumRKD-ujV7NhdjZkREkVGm4LfGwurq9wSIfZXwmVKVDreVL6Ie3RY_rlt6C-J/s1600/Cheer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fFy0Fv7Yovdv6o_9bnmvLprJVzwS1s5yZFr5xj-ormGwsJrgdPV106iiu3m0jjMgDiESf5d6e8hN6-xumRKD-ujV7NhdjZkREkVGm4LfGwurq9wSIfZXwmVKVDreVL6Ie3RY_rlt6C-J/s640/Cheer.jpg" width="441" /></a></div>
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And you read. Oh, how you read! Just this past Wednesday Ben commented on your literary growth. When we moved to Florida almost three years ago you groaned whenever we tried to make a game of reading billboards because it was hard for you read them. Now, you read o a sixth grade level. In fact, I've sneaked some of your books out from under your arm once you fell asleep at night and devoured them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijpePUFI4LTmqN-QjBKqvmn4dIkApgAJOXJ5YZh-8gxVGQG2HnOUnPBCrlTspx3Tx4_99djVpmHkYB6lVpsltMq7flyH1DU7oOYNQf-dBRvF2I7mfVIgu_i1A15n6GZii8o46mKSoPbAW2/s1600/read.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijpePUFI4LTmqN-QjBKqvmn4dIkApgAJOXJ5YZh-8gxVGQG2HnOUnPBCrlTspx3Tx4_99djVpmHkYB6lVpsltMq7flyH1DU7oOYNQf-dBRvF2I7mfVIgu_i1A15n6GZii8o46mKSoPbAW2/s1600/read.jpg" /></a></div>
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On Thursday I attended an award ceremony at your school where I watched you receive three awards - Principal's Honor Roll, Progress, and Citizenship. Not only do you care about your performance in school, but you care for the people around you. What an amazing package.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju94n_VR5UvLJN8D5x66yCQpnAmJbj72iS5KiwsuJh4GorLrZnsZuZJTuESI0YAMA5porBVuYIjDeRw77_CSv-k4PlLRkNry5XYSx_Z8jpHQmvQQfTK6jTLgDidGPDeZs9jsEFJ8YQlbt9/s1600/IMG_4517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju94n_VR5UvLJN8D5x66yCQpnAmJbj72iS5KiwsuJh4GorLrZnsZuZJTuESI0YAMA5porBVuYIjDeRw77_CSv-k4PlLRkNry5XYSx_Z8jpHQmvQQfTK6jTLgDidGPDeZs9jsEFJ8YQlbt9/s640/IMG_4517.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I told a friend you had asked me why we used money to buy things and no longer traded stuff. Her husband rushed over to us just to proclaim you a genius. I couldn't agree more. It isn't just that you're smart; it is your desire to grow smarter, to wrap your head around ideas and squeeze the possibilities out of them. It is the way you often express yourself so articulately we have to remind ourselves that you are not 10 or 12 or 15 years old. You are eight. A wonderful, beautiful, delicious eight-year-old. But to us, your parents, you score a perfect 10.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNTN0yhhCzPLNhphKS5LHxWExXhp_6P-kimKM6Lvv8Lpwe0ipezpl1EsVdTr1IiP1QZzejC1I7t6ra3n9PGSfelP1xGnbjnJTIgt52u1-bw5mVe-J_8l6fmL6t1Os-tbjwK7TwavdxluzD/s1600/418154_4499716289505_899359048_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNTN0yhhCzPLNhphKS5LHxWExXhp_6P-kimKM6Lvv8Lpwe0ipezpl1EsVdTr1IiP1QZzejC1I7t6ra3n9PGSfelP1xGnbjnJTIgt52u1-bw5mVe-J_8l6fmL6t1Os-tbjwK7TwavdxluzD/s640/418154_4499716289505_899359048_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Love, MommyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843284116203462805noreply@blogger.com1