tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16311717258506360412024-03-05T10:15:36.061-05:00The Front Porch SwingAmandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683006106472057725noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1631171725850636041.post-44116323289841962302011-09-12T15:54:00.001-04:002011-09-12T15:54:59.375-04:00A Polka Dot and Owl DayI am finally done! It has been a whirl wind two and a half weeks but my classroom is done and now inhabited by preschoolers. It was a ton and a half of hard work but I enjoyed every minute of it {aside from the having to leave my baby girl and getting super sick part}!<br />
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When I started with <a href="http://amandasfrontporchswing.blogspot.com/2011/08/my-blank-slate-classroom.html">my blank slate classroom</a> I was not sure what I wanted to make it. I knew that I wanted it to be something that would be fun for the kiddos but also something that I would enjoy coming to each day. I think I achieved my goal! <br />
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I love polka dots so I wanted to somehow incorporate polka dots into my room. At first I started with the idea of "camp polka dot" but it proved to be too much work for the short amount of time I had in which to get my classroom ready. Sooooooo I decided to simply go with polka dots. However, owls somehow flew onto the scene and I am so glad they did! My classroom newsletter (which I wish I could show you!) incorporates the polka dots and owls perfectly as do other elements in my room. I believe they go together kinda like peanut butter and jelly! <br />
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Soooo without further babbling from me... I hope you have a "hoot" looking at the pictures of my classroom! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHdeMtoZUs1TaXoarWQKItLZhms1t_12SA0JsH-oZU3ZU7BT3Xm_QRYByC4dO-P2UxGI9cqN8l1C-Yp6j0ReP9roCktxKJb7WgpocVQa48kIwYDelkeSiNO7irhTsR1wD0or7d_b-1d1E/s1600/IMG_8594-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHdeMtoZUs1TaXoarWQKItLZhms1t_12SA0JsH-oZU3ZU7BT3Xm_QRYByC4dO-P2UxGI9cqN8l1C-Yp6j0ReP9roCktxKJb7WgpocVQa48kIwYDelkeSiNO7irhTsR1wD0or7d_b-1d1E/s400/IMG_8594-1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The kiddos will each color an owl to add to the tree... so excited to have them all up there!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I got this chair for $2.99 at Hope's Outlet. I painted it and then added a new seat that I covered. I love my new chair! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Polka Dot Spots. I made these for the kiddos to sit on at circle time. I put them out before the kiddos get there and then when we are done with circle time they put them away.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Classroom libarary</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">.79 cent picture frames that I spray painted! I love how they look on my bulletin board! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Curtains made out of twin sheets.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Polka Dots the kiddos use to sign in when they get to school. I can't believe I forgot a picture of my mailboxes and sign in area... they are so darn cute! I will have to add a pic later! :-)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiv_hSWCqXfrXC1OSCu_QkSyRJfixvUlalQNNvQMrjZcpbE9ak4FEjgq-jK5aBEoZPMcg4WGVV16yUaSbvKZ7r-Eqo-JHzMf8oa6opZ-Rf4X0GzhES_dWzXTSz4V9YFHVbdTaxIH15uPoH/s1600/IMG_8613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiv_hSWCqXfrXC1OSCu_QkSyRJfixvUlalQNNvQMrjZcpbE9ak4FEjgq-jK5aBEoZPMcg4WGVV16yUaSbvKZ7r-Eqo-JHzMf8oa6opZ-Rf4X0GzhES_dWzXTSz4V9YFHVbdTaxIH15uPoH/s400/IMG_8613.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Paint chip calendar</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My aqua ruffle lamp! I love re-making things I get for super duper cheap! It was $2.99 at Hope's Outlet...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjE_HZVhQARcXPKgMmTh7eLlNJXmvG03AJptAp9IprIX_fiBqaD8eBNPTmQt_S8TV6S4-YqUiZ5xaGmVUtWDWATxdfmyXTolE44Pq1QjB1KP7zXS-BFmpOpgZ-BWIp_T-SkoDw0LPx-pq/s1600/IMG_8617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjE_HZVhQARcXPKgMmTh7eLlNJXmvG03AJptAp9IprIX_fiBqaD8eBNPTmQt_S8TV6S4-YqUiZ5xaGmVUtWDWATxdfmyXTolE44Pq1QjB1KP7zXS-BFmpOpgZ-BWIp_T-SkoDw0LPx-pq/s400/IMG_8617.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How I organize my lesson papers for each day of the week. This way I can easily pre-plan! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xPR1M0fspBfHzMKFH-AhaA85Bgk9q5xtsonx2n-4QjfAheGqcVgLtq6jafER1PfLTZs3RuFXRoMsm34ySbqHclqlu6IUNNDgko1cavLtWREUX0-dPOZy2-62S_PkJgcB4ub9tSiRta5q/s1600/IMG_8619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xPR1M0fspBfHzMKFH-AhaA85Bgk9q5xtsonx2n-4QjfAheGqcVgLtq6jafER1PfLTZs3RuFXRoMsm34ySbqHclqlu6IUNNDgko1cavLtWREUX0-dPOZy2-62S_PkJgcB4ub9tSiRta5q/s400/IMG_8619.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My desk area</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8f2ES7nSIfpFLTauaO9a6YYTQi7KJhZFCTpSr-HU7F90hSQcORQvjri6sY8_AA2ii-wR9S0e5zFle46vaeTefpQTNXlZrEB5xOMPt7OQk5oRXmnNIn1s811DrDNSCI6R1h6Zz54YqcEX/s1600/IMG_8620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8f2ES7nSIfpFLTauaO9a6YYTQi7KJhZFCTpSr-HU7F90hSQcORQvjri6sY8_AA2ii-wR9S0e5zFle46vaeTefpQTNXlZrEB5xOMPt7OQk5oRXmnNIn1s811DrDNSCI6R1h6Zz54YqcEX/s400/IMG_8620.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This will be used as my portfolio holder later in the school year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Coral and Lime Fabric - twin sheets from Wal-mart</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ruffle lamp - made my me </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Polka dot border - made using a circle die cut and scrapbook paper from Hobby Lobby</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Aqua and Lime crates - Target</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Aqua caddies - Dollar Tree</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Audrey Hepburn quote - made by me</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ribbon - Hobby Lobby</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Polka dot pillow - Made by me using fabric from Jo-Ann Fabrics </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Pink Adirondack chairs - Meijer</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Paint chip calendar - made my me </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Picture frames - Hope's outlet</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lime and white polka dot boxes - Dollar Tree</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/?action=view&current=signature.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/signature.png" /></a></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683006106472057725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1631171725850636041.post-43976301427202869132011-08-25T09:58:00.001-04:002011-08-25T09:58:40.382-04:00Oh so many things to shareThough I haven't posted anything I have promised I would on here rest assured that I have projects up the wazoo to share with you. I have just been so darn busy I haven't had a chance to write about them even though I want to desperately! <br />
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Also, I may be changing the look around here a little bit... so hold on to your seats and keep your hands inside the car at all times because the ride could get a little bit bumpy. Well, not really... but it was fun to say! <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/?action=view&current=signature.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/signature.png" /></a></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683006106472057725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1631171725850636041.post-22990845057055629322011-08-15T10:13:00.000-04:002011-08-15T10:13:53.951-04:00My Blank Slate ClassroomWell, the title says it all. This school year I have to move into a new classroom. As it stands right now, it is no where NEAR ready for me to move all my stuff in and get to work. Buuuut it is a complete blank slate and a wonderful opportunity to make my classroom truly mine. <br />
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My last classroom I inherited from a teacher who was there one and a half years. She had inherited the room from a teacher who was there... well, forever! When I came in I instantly changed many things and added my own touch to the room in order to make it my own. BUT, this year I have a chance to really truly make the classroom my own. I am super excited but a little overwhelmed by this prospect. <br />
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For now, here are some pictures of my new classroom in all its still full of storage stuff, blank slate glory! Enjoy! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7j9iWU0XrqL7cigG0etZ8qErHPgCl4WcD77-Rjb-f4GV0bMEa9jNd-ZOT4oV3Qsch0zz3jdUHfK4k6RUsO2JyXngwZym2VfXBR0FcSypKK-xnmL02DLHcYQhTnYo4gEkm8EtZJ2YoItLq/s1600/IMG_8426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7j9iWU0XrqL7cigG0etZ8qErHPgCl4WcD77-Rjb-f4GV0bMEa9jNd-ZOT4oV3Qsch0zz3jdUHfK4k6RUsO2JyXngwZym2VfXBR0FcSypKK-xnmL02DLHcYQhTnYo4gEkm8EtZJ2YoItLq/s400/IMG_8426.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bb3L8H0vcqI6WSEUHbfAawoLdSjUF0eGom2fuMdXK9Nt5QphiLiuex4KV35S1uCtkZ_SotqbwlM8VwD62kHKRNyr0jXrmQIX22VZf-DChTTiksT5WW7HmBmlgnfVQKmFUji5CJmEZChh/s1600/IMG_8429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bb3L8H0vcqI6WSEUHbfAawoLdSjUF0eGom2fuMdXK9Nt5QphiLiuex4KV35S1uCtkZ_SotqbwlM8VwD62kHKRNyr0jXrmQIX22VZf-DChTTiksT5WW7HmBmlgnfVQKmFUji5CJmEZChh/s400/IMG_8429.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggfrh58pAwCXcXnf_Ma3owxSjD3G74fC1_fR0fVUNYPzITRbK57BBNSXNSkkni-2xNPjlhBlxsG-oxHMczQzgXUXUijoJDXeAOaMZORl8z0VFim9dgmHoHYLkNFkJU5yHEK5UxtCvhKLIS/s1600/IMG_8430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggfrh58pAwCXcXnf_Ma3owxSjD3G74fC1_fR0fVUNYPzITRbK57BBNSXNSkkni-2xNPjlhBlxsG-oxHMczQzgXUXUijoJDXeAOaMZORl8z0VFim9dgmHoHYLkNFkJU5yHEK5UxtCvhKLIS/s400/IMG_8430.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yes, that cuteness is the Little Ladybug! :-)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-H2RDdUWHLe7VHKHj3bt6f0v9cwipYhIfSsNEd6EnKg8R7tYO4_xqPyTv-C3FNPUZqc7qteGSs_oa0ift2vy1Y7x_noWBcy8Ys85SGoWUnbTn0x1mhB04HokCUDiTh5T5f7jWnDOf3gFi/s1600/IMG_8431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-H2RDdUWHLe7VHKHj3bt6f0v9cwipYhIfSsNEd6EnKg8R7tYO4_xqPyTv-C3FNPUZqc7qteGSs_oa0ift2vy1Y7x_noWBcy8Ys85SGoWUnbTn0x1mhB04HokCUDiTh5T5f7jWnDOf3gFi/s400/IMG_8431.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
So there it is... any ideas???? Any good storage ideas for the games, puzzles, and math Manipulatives we do not use on a daily basis? The cupboards will be filled with all my art supplies! :-)<br />
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And I will leave you with a little bit of cuteness... just because I love the cuteness so! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcVm0t6kwoFQ6I78NrSR5g8nztT89sSLbuxLeEukhxjQCAQLzFAlN0Uu0TuGsp7pNcW4H8V2o8NSoEWnw47A9i1p4D98QDsOO0-qHveX5HI12tkeBUD6TMRj9MKyzgqjy-JqLjcMX-bd5/s1600/IMG_8434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcVm0t6kwoFQ6I78NrSR5g8nztT89sSLbuxLeEukhxjQCAQLzFAlN0Uu0TuGsp7pNcW4H8V2o8NSoEWnw47A9i1p4D98QDsOO0-qHveX5HI12tkeBUD6TMRj9MKyzgqjy-JqLjcMX-bd5/s400/IMG_8434.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She really wanted her daddy's cookie... LOL! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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P.S.... I promise pictures of my craft room will be coming soon... just have to get past the craft fair on Saturday and I will get them up! <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/?action=view&current=signature.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/signature.png" /></a></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683006106472057725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1631171725850636041.post-83311885374445176422011-08-09T14:06:00.001-04:002011-08-09T16:03:42.531-04:00Does Anyone Else Have this Issue?<div style="text-align: center;"><em>PROCRASTINATION</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">That up there is a nasty word...isn't it? Unfortunately it is something that I am extremely good at! I don't really remember if I was good at it in High School...oh wait... I was. And then I was GREAT at it in college. I am good at it at work.... and now, in my business also I am becoming proficient at procrastinating when things need to get done. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Normally I do not procrastinate when it comes to my business... I am loving creating things for others and blown away by the fact that people think something I created is good enough for them to spend money on. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">However, today my worlds collided. I found out that I have a week and a half to pack up my classroom and have it ready to move... which is totally fine and reasonable and I am excited about moving! BUT... in my other worlds there is other things going on that make this timeline a little bit stressful for me. Such as having a garage sale this weekend to sell the<em> humongous</em> pile of clothing that I cleaned out of my closet this weekend. There is also the fact that I have a craft show I am preparing for that is next weekend. Then there is normal stuff... day to day stuff. I want to spend more and more time with my Little Ladybug as I have to leave her for half the day <span style="background-color: white;">again starting in just a <span style="background-color: white;">month.</span> The house needs vacuuming, mopping, dusting, and the list goes on and on.</span></div><br />
When all these things collide I freak out, stress out, and then just kind of shut down and<em> procrastinate</em>. Hence the reason I called my husband today and informed him that tonight we are:<br />
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A) Going to Taco Bell for dinner (yes, I know... healthy right?)<br />
and <br />
B) Heading to the beach for the first time all summer! <br />
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I am looking forward to tonight! Maybe a little bit of procrastination will be just what I need to realize it will all get done and it will all be okay. <br />
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In other news... I made this for myself since I will have to wear my school ID badge at school this year<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4F-FUnjM9mX7bBEndiQGZCdRtizpBjrjkcoSsQzBNEzACu-7gl4qo3taJ-0pgIveHOkeOdo5zX7zswrRhEL0sJlFOuuWGD5h46JxdP1h_vL1eaCXoPZbRJQOz9MSNEThLbufoiRohakCT/s1600/IMG_8370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4F-FUnjM9mX7bBEndiQGZCdRtizpBjrjkcoSsQzBNEzACu-7gl4qo3taJ-0pgIveHOkeOdo5zX7zswrRhEL0sJlFOuuWGD5h46JxdP1h_vL1eaCXoPZbRJQOz9MSNEThLbufoiRohakCT/s400/IMG_8370.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once I am done with the craft show I am going to be selling these cute lanyards in my etsy store... which I have to get up and running... oh the list never ends! </div><br />
Does anyone want a tutorial on how to make these???<br />
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<a href="http://s1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/?action=view&current=signature.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/signature.png" /></a>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683006106472057725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1631171725850636041.post-17576244728435484242011-08-05T23:31:00.000-04:002011-08-05T23:31:35.873-04:00Headband Challenge WeekThis week <a href="http://www.littlemissmomma.com/">Little Miss Momma</a> declared it headband challenge week. The challenge was to wear a headband every day of the week to stretch a girl out of her normal hair comfort zone. <br />
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I love wearing my headbands! I feel cute when I wear them and love when others notice them. I felt the most flattered when one of my preschoolers came in last year with a flowered headband and said "Look Mrs. Marchese, now I look just like you!" Precious, I tell ya, so darn precious! <br />
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I did not wind up wearing a headband every day... but here are the days I did. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ybuTwokf1tuT5klukVsoP3Ck3CjfjSazyWUb69tVu-2c3i-PH77MAD1STp5thnPnSjFGxwVv5A9-jYjV7C19r5pfNM8yKNDvD2SbrgCT2q08bYcGpaKeZk6R7Dmw1uMKAQKxnqx5ReWL/s1600/IMG_8224+%25282%2529-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ybuTwokf1tuT5klukVsoP3Ck3CjfjSazyWUb69tVu-2c3i-PH77MAD1STp5thnPnSjFGxwVv5A9-jYjV7C19r5pfNM8yKNDvD2SbrgCT2q08bYcGpaKeZk6R7Dmw1uMKAQKxnqx5ReWL/s400/IMG_8224+%25282%2529-1.JPG" width="261" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The first day was when my hubby and I went on our date to the Brian Wilson concert.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPVw5Gf8UsfkJD-ZChPvdutytPiNCmiOTrtGQAFyjAZHcDcbhCs6VyA_1fFMLpNQNZ2KtmAXWbUykGVsxGXhpWR0DJPmiMBPZxB3BLkBosU-g_pZJW0tE33czgrcC3ghp__9-4eKjmSBd/s1600/IMG_8328-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPVw5Gf8UsfkJD-ZChPvdutytPiNCmiOTrtGQAFyjAZHcDcbhCs6VyA_1fFMLpNQNZ2KtmAXWbUykGVsxGXhpWR0DJPmiMBPZxB3BLkBosU-g_pZJW0tE33czgrcC3ghp__9-4eKjmSBd/s400/IMG_8328-1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7YmWnUy6bjBGSFvI7ijMS7b_4Bw9cESqoeraBFDdIc0E0FU4XTSPU4352XfMlBxdxEVhI1gMqwpNzIvVjcr81fmqHWF7IxnEEq2ATGlAC5eEnvCvTWYK2DtFHNs-cheTUu7RPyMmzbSUl/s1600/IMG_8338-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7YmWnUy6bjBGSFvI7ijMS7b_4Bw9cESqoeraBFDdIc0E0FU4XTSPU4352XfMlBxdxEVhI1gMqwpNzIvVjcr81fmqHWF7IxnEEq2ATGlAC5eEnvCvTWYK2DtFHNs-cheTUu7RPyMmzbSUl/s400/IMG_8338-1.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The second day I wore a headband was to go downtown Grand Haven for Coast Guard fun with my Little Ladybug and my sister...oh and grocery shopping too! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Doesn't the Ladybug Look cute on her first Meijer pony ride???</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBiZyRIm2H-BY4IKvnH4DQzElSJU1TBEjg2uKufvX5Bcp4htLdiKiGR00zzDuhgLI2folPfEW8yeZH6KtP1jS5o0jy-PUA28LocQNxXwFEkuFeCrheCuc5PppmPv9EztPX3LqSAWqHVKJX/s1600/IMG_8358-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBiZyRIm2H-BY4IKvnH4DQzElSJU1TBEjg2uKufvX5Bcp4htLdiKiGR00zzDuhgLI2folPfEW8yeZH6KtP1jS5o0jy-PUA28LocQNxXwFEkuFeCrheCuc5PppmPv9EztPX3LqSAWqHVKJX/s400/IMG_8358-1.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And then there was today... we went down to the Coast Guard Craft fair so naturally I had to try my best to look cute. How did I do???</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh and of course the Little Ladybug couldn't help but get in on the headband action... too bad it only stayed on about half the day. Oh well...you win some you lose some! I am hoping when she turns 2 they will stay on longer.. please tell me she will keep it on longer!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp24Q14YxxFFUYB3Z8BZ2sjDjt1eYNsZrCHxpchGJynvJesQ5yTctGGfNJPi0ZfzS78D6tFP7J3tPo0oI19PpWVeDUvQs3XxRhEgS52cEnTZshUFqvu7gB36zQqWchgVsb8tbeiPoeB9Mc/s1600/IMG_8342-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp24Q14YxxFFUYB3Z8BZ2sjDjt1eYNsZrCHxpchGJynvJesQ5yTctGGfNJPi0ZfzS78D6tFP7J3tPo0oI19PpWVeDUvQs3XxRhEgS52cEnTZshUFqvu7gB36zQqWchgVsb8tbeiPoeB9Mc/s400/IMG_8342-1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Headband week was lots of fun! Now I just need to make myself some more cute headbands...</div><br />
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<div align="center"><a href="http://s1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/?action=view&current=signature.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/signature.png" /></a></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683006106472057725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1631171725850636041.post-43439286430408235632011-08-03T10:24:00.001-04:002011-08-03T10:25:24.564-04:00Claw Foot Tub Woes...<div style="text-align: center;">We a blessed to have a claw foot tub! </div><div style="text-align: center;">We are cursed to have a claw foot tub! </div><br />
Blessed because I love its charm... cursed because its the only tub/shower in our little cottage home!<br />
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First off I think I would like my tub better if it had been properly re-glazed when we bought the house... however, it was N-O-T!!! Because it was not, the finish is peeling and makes the tub <em>incredibly</em> hard to clean... ick! <br />
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The other reason I am not crazy about it is because of the shower curtain that is necessary for a claw foot tub. Basically we have to have two curtains to go around the whole tub and when in the shower they attack you... hmmm....<br />
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This is somewhat of what our tub looked like when we moved into our home. We have changed the opening to the other end of the tub as it is more practical than trying to get in at the slanty part of the tub and the tub no longer looks that good... as I said the finish has chipped off and I am embarrassed to let ANYONE see my tub! But, the main point of this pic is the shower curtain... I am wondering if we could go from this... <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig99KiE3nLpy9JGMMlkBSwUA4CMfpQGWalwsaKUs9u464v1wFFg_7gdmcE9lp55hYcmGs-EYEua9Fydl9eLPBuTGpDdnmzeGU4yzf8IxA0Z3ClvgZJv7WqsxJiekHwE_fEb8tRkwz1Gaio/s1600/P1120973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig99KiE3nLpy9JGMMlkBSwUA4CMfpQGWalwsaKUs9u464v1wFFg_7gdmcE9lp55hYcmGs-EYEua9Fydl9eLPBuTGpDdnmzeGU4yzf8IxA0Z3ClvgZJv7WqsxJiekHwE_fEb8tRkwz1Gaio/s400/P1120973.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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To this pic I found via Pinterest...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAAPPXbaCoeqxnfC78IPECs5Bk3IBeWFk0-ehwfeBS8M1SzRltNnR0NmWBhfYDSk022CcOrkfdvBDTwD4EYa5GtChufvLX5e7VD2TRYkHYLsWMQV7hp0vKw3YdprIj2iG63X51PhoOTJ5L/s1600/New+shower+curtain+holder....jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAAPPXbaCoeqxnfC78IPECs5Bk3IBeWFk0-ehwfeBS8M1SzRltNnR0NmWBhfYDSk022CcOrkfdvBDTwD4EYa5GtChufvLX5e7VD2TRYkHYLsWMQV7hp0vKw3YdprIj2iG63X51PhoOTJ5L/s640/New+shower+curtain+holder....jpg" width="419" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Originally found at: <a href="http://www.desiretoinspire.net/blog/2010/5/14/du-cote-de-chez-vous.html">Desire to Inspire</a></div><br />
I'm trying to figure out in my mind the logistics of how it would work... but I think I would love it...hmm... dang claw foot tub and its cool not so coolness! <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/?action=view&current=signature.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/signature.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683006106472057725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1631171725850636041.post-83270750790720405502011-08-01T10:25:00.000-04:002011-08-01T10:25:49.242-04:00Long Time Coming!Well, I sure have been gone a long LONG time! I'm sorry for that... you know how life just kind of sneaks up on you? That has definitely been the case in our house lately! <br />
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I did however have a super fun weekend that I wanted to share with ya'll. Of course I am going to share this weekend in pictures. Because really, is there any other way to share a fun weekend in blog land? <br />
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Friday my handsome hubby scored some free tickets to go see Brian Wilson (of the Beach Boys) at <a href="http://www.meijergardens.org/">Fredrick Meijer Gardens</a>! It was an amazing concert just chuck full of Beach Boys music! It was wonderful and amazing... tho I do believe we were among the youngest people at the concert. <br />
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First off... a little what I wore:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-U85tKOchwZfZ4o103HV4uYY4s4TDUfrOKQTbEfRQaIv2r15XyjzSSf4woQunuH3brQBLZ1B70k4jsI1bUDbb9f0R2yiAyp5exluOvKy9CJpf0cTL6z_lvr8zQ-h3OHUTYpAE3cMN8JZ/s1600/IMG_8220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-U85tKOchwZfZ4o103HV4uYY4s4TDUfrOKQTbEfRQaIv2r15XyjzSSf4woQunuH3brQBLZ1B70k4jsI1bUDbb9f0R2yiAyp5exluOvKy9CJpf0cTL6z_lvr8zQ-h3OHUTYpAE3cMN8JZ/s320/IMG_8220.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32VSaBuUqQJgkWCF_cgvfJddkDnOGeY87FOgcrvtbMNzQiMpswyO7uFanLyd0a26fvX2R7CbZU0kAIRr_sBtXr08FT2cFeW1VUtqyTrwFP5w9C9lwm6_uxQuKFQgg6VZd0TKZT6tU3gXI/s1600/IMG_8225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32VSaBuUqQJgkWCF_cgvfJddkDnOGeY87FOgcrvtbMNzQiMpswyO7uFanLyd0a26fvX2R7CbZU0kAIRr_sBtXr08FT2cFeW1VUtqyTrwFP5w9C9lwm6_uxQuKFQgg6VZd0TKZT6tU3gXI/s320/IMG_8225.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl6sZ2uen2e7EZ0X4tcLvxPcZ1R9RfN5eNjw_MVBYss4oq5e43qFbLAFod1WGzjhwmPd3upgYkz_-QMGaIEOWA62fvczj6Ncl0rsi1eN1WyN7Y__5jwdpL_hnkBwRrQkFdAQlW3Wr2wJd3/s1600/IMG_8224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl6sZ2uen2e7EZ0X4tcLvxPcZ1R9RfN5eNjw_MVBYss4oq5e43qFbLAFod1WGzjhwmPd3upgYkz_-QMGaIEOWA62fvczj6Ncl0rsi1eN1WyN7Y__5jwdpL_hnkBwRrQkFdAQlW3Wr2wJd3/s320/IMG_8224.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center">Tank Top: Forever 21</div><div align="center">Lace shirt: Forever 21</div><div align="center">Jeans: Good Will... but they are See Thru Soul brand if you have ever heard of that</div><div align="center">Necklace: Target</div><div align="center">Earrings: Craft Fair</div><div align="center">Hair clip: ME! It is actually a pin but I pinned it to a headband instead of a shirt! </div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">More Concert Pics:</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoJIEWGVOaiiMU8L0J8228_nAhczDCT4G9AKVBXJIgDHY08oonR7P27Qdlt-QRtqJ9tn3MaSJ3KUMlKOnlHN2criJfxzhKzUVDn-bFiywmBOJcbK_cIGZsxMxwGPxhJiSjLhtjE5zR25-/s1600/IMG_8231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoJIEWGVOaiiMU8L0J8228_nAhczDCT4G9AKVBXJIgDHY08oonR7P27Qdlt-QRtqJ9tn3MaSJ3KUMlKOnlHN2criJfxzhKzUVDn-bFiywmBOJcbK_cIGZsxMxwGPxhJiSjLhtjE5zR25-/s320/IMG_8231.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcpDCODQyO3cXgC5jgUZ0FTSvNgMlQHpYKNPM8ZeZeuCaXalWosNupLEHYC-B4_SZtbUqBARobhal8D6xTdbPNOE9cbicNZnhHZ-2oXEmJGjDULWCF4FtWFcXwMVcU1dUa1xMcOiu88rP/s1600/IMG_8248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcpDCODQyO3cXgC5jgUZ0FTSvNgMlQHpYKNPM8ZeZeuCaXalWosNupLEHYC-B4_SZtbUqBARobhal8D6xTdbPNOE9cbicNZnhHZ-2oXEmJGjDULWCF4FtWFcXwMVcU1dUa1xMcOiu88rP/s320/IMG_8248.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNbiFiT5fciMNIiwWsXv6fRUyfisGy_BOKfC7eJsK4EOMo4Lvlf3SGb3E2TzlFJlFMIQERaWV78IpZZAut80B_cQhAixGVAmkbs3yP0lvkAlb7tKWYkCtofVQVAOuMFlNXR6eNnsLBUjEb/s1600/IMG_8250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNbiFiT5fciMNIiwWsXv6fRUyfisGy_BOKfC7eJsK4EOMo4Lvlf3SGb3E2TzlFJlFMIQERaWV78IpZZAut80B_cQhAixGVAmkbs3yP0lvkAlb7tKWYkCtofVQVAOuMFlNXR6eNnsLBUjEb/s320/IMG_8250.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnhN2F714ArJgJMLrnijC6AAFSm-UTO8HXxZ8cYH_tWVWFGf5EvLwbhukau82O5xUhG-Nu6N0j-7-Od9tnsTE7skeGk__y8eDOx3SIxAK4sywHqzyvLWFTjzO8Y6l7bbpXhfeMV-TRuIW/s1600/IMG_8255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnhN2F714ArJgJMLrnijC6AAFSm-UTO8HXxZ8cYH_tWVWFGf5EvLwbhukau82O5xUhG-Nu6N0j-7-Od9tnsTE7skeGk__y8eDOx3SIxAK4sywHqzyvLWFTjzO8Y6l7bbpXhfeMV-TRuIW/s320/IMG_8255.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center">Brian Wilson</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="left">I did learn a very important lesson at this concert: The song is called Barbara Ann and not Bop-A-Ram. My silly childhood self has been singing Bop-A-Ram since forever and found out on Friday that I was wrong... still not quite sure how I feel about this one. </div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">Saturday we went on a picnic to a local state park... so much fun! </div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOkrF9E2sX2QaLJet2YZFV0TYRq68MJZLsdVsJ1gZEXHWcyEP_c1B-HaMjMoqn_hmRXAk3vwonnZchl-edlpriwBEqezfS5cW6XYY0lhlVRAbkGLW4GjM6Z6IzjYlXPtaEdvTrMCUfZRY/s1600/IMG_8266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOkrF9E2sX2QaLJet2YZFV0TYRq68MJZLsdVsJ1gZEXHWcyEP_c1B-HaMjMoqn_hmRXAk3vwonnZchl-edlpriwBEqezfS5cW6XYY0lhlVRAbkGLW4GjM6Z6IzjYlXPtaEdvTrMCUfZRY/s320/IMG_8266.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyymF3OGF3mN3uK7zqh35jLxsrY10BSjiXCAFOPf38JbN5kdMPnYsz6Uby3ep67OoSxEAaq-2h14y6jG4oQ6RaEZ8R9NFUQa4lybaNUgRpCtJBgIhyphenhyphenqCkt1xgQymJysLhLbIyupdYHBy0j/s1600/IMG_8275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyymF3OGF3mN3uK7zqh35jLxsrY10BSjiXCAFOPf38JbN5kdMPnYsz6Uby3ep67OoSxEAaq-2h14y6jG4oQ6RaEZ8R9NFUQa4lybaNUgRpCtJBgIhyphenhyphenqCkt1xgQymJysLhLbIyupdYHBy0j/s320/IMG_8275.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After the picnic we went to the beach... someone enjoyed playing in the sand and running away from Mommy, Daddy, and Auntie quite a bit! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyH6hBE4k_mnWH6m2CerzQJvNVWz6SCuDACCTBNaMGdtUINFdZtXwTQDHjR9n2osOtuKTJnwGlSseKw6LUimpHcJc6AP-Nj6cvqsSpXWMDORbKbGPmF47EUPcwYj8Wn-WFriRzHY_3AzsS/s1600/IMG_8291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyH6hBE4k_mnWH6m2CerzQJvNVWz6SCuDACCTBNaMGdtUINFdZtXwTQDHjR9n2osOtuKTJnwGlSseKw6LUimpHcJc6AP-Nj6cvqsSpXWMDORbKbGPmF47EUPcwYj8Wn-WFriRzHY_3AzsS/s320/IMG_8291.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think we have a beach bum in the making... what do you think?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sunday was a nice relaxing day with no pictures... but it was wonderful! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This week in our lovely Lakeshore town is the Coast Guard Festival... I need to decide whether to embrace it or to dislike living in this town for this week. I will probably wind up embracing it since this is my sister's last week in town before she goes back to MO for school. *sniff sniff* I am going to miss that girl! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/?action=view&current=signature.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/signature.png" /></a></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683006106472057725noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1631171725850636041.post-85166579386926193902011-06-20T07:55:00.001-04:002011-06-20T07:56:30.048-04:00Leaving, but not on a jet plane<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Today I leave with my Little Ladybug and my mom to go down to Missouri to visit my grandparents. They live in Branson. From here it is about a 14 hour trip (give or take a little). 14 hours in a <em>car </em>with a <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>ONE </strong></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">year old. We do split the trip into two parts... but that is still two 7 hour days of driving with a one year old. This should be an adventure! Its a darn good thing that she likes Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, that we have two Mickey dvds, and that my mom's van has a dvd player... thank you God for small things like that! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I am going to miss my hubby dearly! Please pray that he stays safe while we are away... and that he doesn't have toooooo much fun getting to sleep soundly all night long for a week. Hehehe... </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I am sorry that I haven't gotten more pics of the craft room up yet. I desperately want to, but have been sooooooo busy lately that I haven't gotten to put the finishing touches on the room. I am hoping to get some red fabric from my grandma's stash to use for some more of the details. Then when I am back I will show you the pics... pinky promise! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Have a great Monday everyone! <br />
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P.S... I have a new FABULOUS recipe to share with you later this week... don't let me forget! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/?action=view&current=signature.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/signature.png" /></a></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683006106472057725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1631171725850636041.post-25319922226290782112011-06-15T13:08:00.000-04:002011-06-15T13:08:01.317-04:00Almost there... Almost!<div style="text-align: left;">Well hello there! Sorry its been so long! We have been very busy working on our new craft room and taking care of the Ladybug therefore I haven't had much time to write. But, never fear because the room is finished... well almost! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">We have flooring, we have paint on the walls, we have furniture and accessories in the room... however, its just not<em> quite </em>ready for its full reveal yet. I do have a few projects that I want to show you later this week. However, for now I will leave you with a few sneak peek pics of my fabulous new craft room! I am so totally excited about how this room turned out it is not even funny! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><em></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ruffled Lamp Shade :-)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgtZtpqkBCFagcMOk8VLoRZ8aYB7jvwjeWDI5nMEhVNCYsNQXXTR_b7udWlG6i4EXjOKH2MSrxPgAgxpAgHtV9K4NDV67xgV-WgUP5wo7lF5Zi7OKkZu0u09RVERb1KVCMLFoXuY5K1Nx/s1600/IMG_7815%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgtZtpqkBCFagcMOk8VLoRZ8aYB7jvwjeWDI5nMEhVNCYsNQXXTR_b7udWlG6i4EXjOKH2MSrxPgAgxpAgHtV9K4NDV67xgV-WgUP5wo7lF5Zi7OKkZu0u09RVERb1KVCMLFoXuY5K1Nx/s320/IMG_7815%255B1%255D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some Fun and Fancy Storage :-)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlStTfbeDmCS_DLt-H1x2sl3xblcxfNg-sqRJFbVzSqL1XTEvCfTPPrH6oFL9lgmFg2nX7eRi-AiJC_al4032SGtHZf0ewxO-WutCz1dJcFSjIYjwBZbum9vx8XGv99TC6LyncorY8_OM4/s1600/IMG_7812%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlStTfbeDmCS_DLt-H1x2sl3xblcxfNg-sqRJFbVzSqL1XTEvCfTPPrH6oFL9lgmFg2nX7eRi-AiJC_al4032SGtHZf0ewxO-WutCz1dJcFSjIYjwBZbum9vx8XGv99TC6LyncorY8_OM4/s320/IMG_7812%255B1%255D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Annnnd my lovely 50+ year old sewing machines on their new table... </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06f0x95oP6kVeB_KD3rCFdAgFUXnLd593j1BDvex-9e-zPW0tLEYRhvsPKCVzc-scj40VReQra-TKPtagvVK9fYpkx2bKyeQRvu9nXFkZsHm4dPViF6BtnnvWjKy-l4lBA5oXSjUMrQEl/s1600/IMG_7816%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06f0x95oP6kVeB_KD3rCFdAgFUXnLd593j1BDvex-9e-zPW0tLEYRhvsPKCVzc-scj40VReQra-TKPtagvVK9fYpkx2bKyeQRvu9nXFkZsHm4dPViF6BtnnvWjKy-l4lBA5oXSjUMrQEl/s320/IMG_7816%255B1%255D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">I can not wait to get all the finishing touches put on the room so I can share the ALL with you! When I get to that post it is going to VERY picture heavy... prepare yourselves! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683006106472057725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1631171725850636041.post-81039903018005998062011-06-07T09:41:00.001-04:002011-06-07T09:46:25.649-04:00Beacause Its The Cool Thing To Do...<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">What is that ultra, super, fantastic, cool thing you might ask? The answer: Thrifting... basically buying someone else's junk that they didn't want anymore to spruce up your house and make it look beautiful. Of course, us thrifters do not think of it as junk in any way shape or form. To us the items in the thrift stores are treasures that are waiting to be turned into something fabulous!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, at the end of last week I had an opportunity to pack my Little Ladybug up in the stroller and hit some of my favorite thrift stores. Okay, on Friday we used the stroller... Saturday it was the car... details, details... On Friday we went to Hope's Outlet. Now, in this store you have to search... they have a lot of genuine junk... but there are also some gems hidden among the junk. You just have to keep your eyes and mind open. While there I spend a whole $5.65 and came home with: two cake pans for my cake pan tower, a lamp that came with the lampshade annnnd a light bulb, and a roll of fabric to add ruffles to the shade! Talk about a good deal! Then, on Saturday we hit up the Re-store! Gotta love your local Re-store! We purchased a GIANT rug for the basement for only $30... let me tell you this rug is amazingly wonderful and soft and comfy! We also got a cabinet that will be going on the wall for storage and a few candle sticks for cake pan tower. I could have bought a whole lot more in that store... but I have to leave something for the other people, right? </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are some pictures of my treasures... most of them are pics of the treasure ready to be painted... because yes, they alllllll needed repainting, except the rug of course... it did not need painting! </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gzUzv5esMjUcxLjJJtFQ_FBD4c-89LIzy2iZE0ObowYOSnrPWCIj-xkFfFSfIFPmXCrxhwpoN66S5uMdqzTC7Y9jZzjA2ZRIba8djdiKYO6nJJCzUlrKKi2cVaYbk57d7plkFiXZTdfq/s1600/IMG_7705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gzUzv5esMjUcxLjJJtFQ_FBD4c-89LIzy2iZE0ObowYOSnrPWCIj-xkFfFSfIFPmXCrxhwpoN66S5uMdqzTC7Y9jZzjA2ZRIba8djdiKYO6nJJCzUlrKKi2cVaYbk57d7plkFiXZTdfq/s320/IMG_7705.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And proof of its amazing $7 price...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvdqorNdJA7pgoQpOXXu3G6z2-ge-XeuweZvb1IS8yKqlOlLpHDGnbDR5Kh4R1TXuF9uoDvJNzyvzf5Vg9DuDb_LajWa22eqcn4Qu3WJemT_f59rNupCU_JZvCl14rzkBzwyADTNBt1-HX/s1600/IMG_7706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvdqorNdJA7pgoQpOXXu3G6z2-ge-XeuweZvb1IS8yKqlOlLpHDGnbDR5Kh4R1TXuF9uoDvJNzyvzf5Vg9DuDb_LajWa22eqcn4Qu3WJemT_f59rNupCU_JZvCl14rzkBzwyADTNBt1-HX/s320/IMG_7706.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Candlesticks and lamp</div><br />
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Sorry, I don't have pics of the cake pans, lamp shade, or rug yet... but they will come soon. Keep in mind what these little gems looked like now, as the next time you see them they will be forever changed! <br />
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Off to enjoy some Lake Michigan sun downtown and by the boardwalk... have a great summer day! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/?action=view&current=signature.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/signature.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683006106472057725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1631171725850636041.post-89867845825590251372011-06-01T10:02:00.000-04:002011-06-01T10:02:43.310-04:00Inspiration Time... as promised!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I sit out here on my front porch drinking my version of coffee {I'll have to share that with you sometime} typing away as my Little Ladybug eats her breakfast and watches the kitties play in the windows.... and I think "this is an EXCELLENT start to a morning." I think we might just do this every morning this summer! </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Aside from being on my wonderful front porch, big.... I mean REALLY <span style="font-size: large;">REALLY </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">REALLY BIG</span><span style="font-size: small;"> things have been going on around here! Are you ready for it? We <em>FINALLY</em> got the carpet out of the basement!!! I know this doesn't sound like a huge thing... but believe me it is! I was starting to get worried that moving my craft room/hubby's computer room downstairs was never going to happen and would be a mistake too. Why a mistake? Because it was damp down there... very humid and its was still May!!! </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Weeeell this weekend we solved both of those problems! We hooked up a dehumidifier and tore out the old NASTY carpet and wala.... no more smell and no more humidity! Infact, it feels like we have air conditioning in our basement... it is so incredibly nice. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Sooooo, I have now been stung by the inspiration bee! I have been looking all over blog land for the perfect colors and solutions to storage. Our room is only 144 sq feet and we have to fit a computer desk, a fouton, annnnd all my sewing/crafting stuff in it with it somehow coming out looking nice. I would also love for most of my storage to have doors or be up higher so we could bring our daughter downstairs to enjoy the area with us. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are some of the pictures that have inspired me... I am sorry that I am a bad blogger in that I can not remember sources for most of these... I simply saved the pic becuase I was so darn excited about it! </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH2NaVO5QR-QLh_6lIIlolTcJ1wQqgC85AqfLy0Ut7WM8Ft1D31EBrX8poFy4dId5LEuDVXzrUyWE9q72rwUn9NhjOMR5AL1MXNXqGiylguv5ZGBy5QmIdPJLebfgCbyM-isl4Dlna1aIz/s1600/craft+room+inspiration+from+junk+garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH2NaVO5QR-QLh_6lIIlolTcJ1wQqgC85AqfLy0Ut7WM8Ft1D31EBrX8poFy4dId5LEuDVXzrUyWE9q72rwUn9NhjOMR5AL1MXNXqGiylguv5ZGBy5QmIdPJLebfgCbyM-isl4Dlna1aIz/s320/craft+room+inspiration+from+junk+garden.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one I do know... it was from Junk Garden<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUymmHHbnykkTzw_QWC2LU0xzuBMo0ri5NX_iuPkOg2bsi7P3ADB2U3QNcU8WEcDmMRPH6WnQtNQGVne_UB3vg6pQzuK_8QjKeaGtt9PkBw7mikN2jkCzf7sHUxZ5jHcJJ57QesmS80rR6/s1600/desk+for+sewing...+make+it+cheaply.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUymmHHbnykkTzw_QWC2LU0xzuBMo0ri5NX_iuPkOg2bsi7P3ADB2U3QNcU8WEcDmMRPH6WnQtNQGVne_UB3vg6pQzuK_8QjKeaGtt9PkBw7mikN2jkCzf7sHUxZ5jHcJJ57QesmS80rR6/s320/desk+for+sewing...+make+it+cheaply.jpg" t8="true" width="239" /></a></div>To build in the corner of the room in an L shape for my sewing table.<br />
I have two sewing machines and hopefully at some point a serger to have room for!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_l76xNIfbLrEg5Rd36pLeZ6r-1NL6KnLh-AmCLWTI5D0SUvlC7PEhAUHYKayy6TGMGNoF-VqP9QMz5wxQdkRlZoJrnrCiNxMy45TD0-rxtUfNu9x6vpjS5CqS-PFHTNlBeACLfh-LjkY/s1600/01_craftyintentions_rect540+apartment+therapy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_l76xNIfbLrEg5Rd36pLeZ6r-1NL6KnLh-AmCLWTI5D0SUvlC7PEhAUHYKayy6TGMGNoF-VqP9QMz5wxQdkRlZoJrnrCiNxMy45TD0-rxtUfNu9x6vpjS5CqS-PFHTNlBeACLfh-LjkY/s320/01_craftyintentions_rect540+apartment+therapy.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div>Via Apartment Therapy<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOaMKWCSjPPswPoq3K5IFALldWIEsnM5l-rJ2g6bT4euYxNV2Yf0IGJWJCYjbOxYEuiyFEVe5y-FxVElY6tObGgKJrszguAYhw8YotGOMDbzNyAzf2BPyQOD3GX-iOe3QlnTKpd3YzAQQE/s1600/2088236856_97b6bd0074+the+inspired+room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOaMKWCSjPPswPoq3K5IFALldWIEsnM5l-rJ2g6bT4euYxNV2Yf0IGJWJCYjbOxYEuiyFEVe5y-FxVElY6tObGgKJrszguAYhw8YotGOMDbzNyAzf2BPyQOD3GX-iOe3QlnTKpd3YzAQQE/s320/2088236856_97b6bd0074+the+inspired+room.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div>The Inspired Room<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintHqsm_Kfavt2ZizknTFpTh3Ef1B3Xl8jGFRH45LedCZLut0gHUTwHoMQtvSzubl8O3K_N1C8Dqf7co72TBr4TFO96SPxwJadlEISywt00LHfxKkiUYfMePR7VyyaCHQvd9U78o8RtGNY/s1600/craft+room+9999+via+my+sweet+savannah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintHqsm_Kfavt2ZizknTFpTh3Ef1B3Xl8jGFRH45LedCZLut0gHUTwHoMQtvSzubl8O3K_N1C8Dqf7co72TBr4TFO96SPxwJadlEISywt00LHfxKkiUYfMePR7VyyaCHQvd9U78o8RtGNY/s320/craft+room+9999+via+my+sweet+savannah.jpg" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div>My Sweet Savannah<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnfDHXUak5O1dkNlCKHgHJrO6UbdtxMEz0bct7Hwau9STBqy70izvx0t6cz1LgXnFaw8A8thGElkq9UAEOGCncBHaS8bBVhiZYUb0TOjaPnZAOX7g8vhP85Xg4UQ8Fj4kf9bx9ITEOlYt/s1600/craft+room+2+via+my+sweet+savannah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnfDHXUak5O1dkNlCKHgHJrO6UbdtxMEz0bct7Hwau9STBqy70izvx0t6cz1LgXnFaw8A8thGElkq9UAEOGCncBHaS8bBVhiZYUb0TOjaPnZAOX7g8vhP85Xg4UQ8Fj4kf9bx9ITEOlYt/s320/craft+room+2+via+my+sweet+savannah.jpg" t8="true" width="256" /></a></div>Via My Sweet Savannah <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6kJpzCZYTLzcz4FUZu9FdoFp-OzAnxEY6Dm2fxv0rfJlOXpXnX1Lnrz6r-9eINf63X2l4tKccLFRVEgGy0D6alhbqUwjRRhmZ-S4qJJKBXAT05CGtDUw4CPy6EOFiubarQrDY_75sknp/s1600/mary+janes+and+goloshes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6kJpzCZYTLzcz4FUZu9FdoFp-OzAnxEY6Dm2fxv0rfJlOXpXnX1Lnrz6r-9eINf63X2l4tKccLFRVEgGy0D6alhbqUwjRRhmZ-S4qJJKBXAT05CGtDUw4CPy6EOFiubarQrDY_75sknp/s320/mary+janes+and+goloshes.jpg" t8="true" width="213" /></a></div>I have GOT to make this!!! I already scoped out the candle sticks at my local restore..<br />
I just have to get the hubby's permission to buy them! <br />
Via Mary Janes and Goloshes<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1Q6S9oDVqPMtJifFYfONETs6ibzRXKA3X4y2m3duzzr3hohmagj_RxFsRymSP9jN6MX_V_9onxOZfL5roIrMC3QiVuAFddGZ8OaDcqQJqMQGx3UmWT6kKWBv__NHjctRr5l06qx7CD0k/s1600/the+inspired+room.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1Q6S9oDVqPMtJifFYfONETs6ibzRXKA3X4y2m3duzzr3hohmagj_RxFsRymSP9jN6MX_V_9onxOZfL5roIrMC3QiVuAFddGZ8OaDcqQJqMQGx3UmWT6kKWBv__NHjctRr5l06qx7CD0k/s320/the+inspired+room.bmp" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div>Via The Inspired Room</td></tr>
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<img height="72" src="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/signature.png" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 247px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 685px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" /> <div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Now, as you can see these rooms all (for the most part) have something in common. They all share the same BEAUTIFUL turquoise color. Annnd they are all light and airy! This is the look we want in our basement...as you can tell I am drawn to it. However, since it is a basement and I don't want it to end up dark we are going for a little bit lighter version of the turquoise color mixed with a tan and pops of the turquoise. I have a lamp and a basket for starters that I want to spray paint the darker turquoise. Now, I am really really hoping that I can pull all of this off for under $200 as we really do not have much to spend at all. The majority of THAT money will go towards some kind of flooring...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Speaking of flooring... any good ideas on basement flooring out there??? We have thought about Laminate, Tile, and now that is cool and not damp down there even more carpet... only not glued down this time... this time it would be more like a rug. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, until tomorrow (hopefully!) I am off to school to do some cleaning and then maybe off to the thrift stores... who knows! I think you should go find a front porch to sit on... it is glorious out here on mine!! </div><div align="right" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/signature.png" /></a></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683006106472057725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1631171725850636041.post-10649457200908850432011-05-31T09:02:00.000-04:002011-05-31T09:02:32.558-04:00Now That School is Over...<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Now that preschool is over for the year.... I will miss my kiddos... I will miss the consistency of having a set schedule... I am sure my Little Ladybug will miss the consistency of a set schedule... I will miss 3 and 4 year old stories... and interactions with other (adult) humans during the day. However, Now that school is over I will have more time for snuggles with my Little Ladybug, playing outside in our yard and at the beach, doing things around the house, crafting, thrifting (as a necessity not so much a hobby mind you!), and for you my little blog... I am excited now that school is over! :-D</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5y-Srl9nEBRIGQGKCft_kO8qiMuUJQzOPnuzg3JDpEERqmc7pcJ0b6mU-NbUS1WbQqaUSEqNJXvmH7qJjJzAPjcLdnEZxMIKrO4a41KM_TeDlXhubcYOw90go41mWGoiOTHpYrYfIUNI/s1600/IMG_7683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5y-Srl9nEBRIGQGKCft_kO8qiMuUJQzOPnuzg3JDpEERqmc7pcJ0b6mU-NbUS1WbQqaUSEqNJXvmH7qJjJzAPjcLdnEZxMIKrO4a41KM_TeDlXhubcYOw90go41mWGoiOTHpYrYfIUNI/s400/IMG_7683.JPG" t8="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ready to start a fun loving summer! </div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/?action=view&current=signature.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/signature.png" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683006106472057725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1631171725850636041.post-7143702666668091312011-05-24T15:08:00.003-04:002011-05-28T23:34:56.060-04:00Life and a Japanese DressWell, being a wife, a momma, a teacher, a friend, and a housekeeper sure have kept me busy for awhile. But I finally have a few seconds (only seconds because they Ladybug is waking up I think...) to update on life in what I have decided to call our little cottage! <br />
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Over the last few weeks I have been super busy getting things ready for the end of the year for my preschoolers. I have been a report card filling out, dvd making, end of the year project figuring out fool! On top of that I was also very busy getting a shower gift ready for a great friend of mine from college.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> I wound up making her a nursing cover using <a href="http://sewmuchado.blogspot.com/2009/02/description-stylish-and-practical.html">this</a> tutorial from <a href="http://sewmuchado.blogspot.com/">Sew Much Ado</a>. </div><div style="text-align: center;"> It turned out fabulous... but I forgot to take a picture. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I also made a few burp cloths and a changing pad like the ones that I sell in my shop. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The last thing I made her was an owl onesie... this one I did get a picture of! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-xETtaYI6vSN-kYD5JRvh8x89hk5HDtzX2DkT-MGHfNCgczJZ7cpUbznc1dfo39Nn0IIURaXvrmptZgImPt2JKVW6IRmExwTZK4fgRCwntPx65ly48tviJT4XoVTUZco2pdwM8_KHSj6/s1600/IMG_7639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-xETtaYI6vSN-kYD5JRvh8x89hk5HDtzX2DkT-MGHfNCgczJZ7cpUbznc1dfo39Nn0IIURaXvrmptZgImPt2JKVW6IRmExwTZK4fgRCwntPx65ly48tviJT4XoVTUZco2pdwM8_KHSj6/s320/IMG_7639.JPG" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I love how this sweet little owl turns out every time I make it! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Aside from shower gifts I have been working on a few clothing items for my Little Ladybug. Over the last few weeks she has gotten a new pillowcase dress, a new triangle top dress (made from a Japanese pattern/tutorial no less! Story to come on that one...) and a few new headbands. I have lots more planned for her for summer outfits... not that she really NEEDS anything more for summer. ;-)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here are pics of the Japanese dress... it was VERY frustrating... but in the end well worth it :-) </div><div style="text-align: center;">Here is a link to the pattern if you are interested... <a href="http://handmadenokokoro.web.fc2.com/katagami/024.html">Japanese Dress</a>. I might do a tutorial to go with it to show how I made the dress if anyone is interested.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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Well, the Little Ladybug is awake now... so off I go! Soon I hope to post some of my inspiration for our basement makeover annnnd a list of summer to-dos that I want ya'll to keep me accountable for. But until then... have a wonderful day! <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Linking to:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<center style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7tNcBhTtnM3-fX62hbr8sOXB97ThcpdL73eWONfePnXSs4dftuIi_fzrPLjZX16DBbVsoC3Vu23ibw3zl_GMosHrzZtD2Kc0PbX42HaSQroR2RpwXcjgbG8PS8rIvtZlMiyIby0CnZ0/s320/wgw+button.jpg" /></a></center><center style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </center><center> </center><center><a href="http://www.bluecricketdesign.net/">Blue Cricket Design</a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://iheartnaptime.net%20/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i847.photobucket.com/albums/ab39/iheartnaptime/iheartnaptimebuttonsundayscoop.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/?action=view&current=signature.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/signature.png" /></a></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683006106472057725noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1631171725850636041.post-91523327183139514902011-05-13T16:19:00.000-04:002011-05-13T16:19:45.296-04:00A Project (and a half...)Well, it has been quite awhile since I last posted and many things have been happening around our little home! First off, thank you to all who were praying for Kayla. She has been found and is now in a safe place. I can not give many details, but, she has a long road ahead of her and continued prayer would be appreciated.<br />
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My handsome hubby had a birthday last week. He turned 30! I can now officially call him my handsome old man... cuz man is he old! ;-) Just kidding... completely! I will be there in no time at all... *sigh* <br />
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Also, I started working on our basement. Otherwise known as the furniture grave yard. It is the place where furniture (and other assorted items) go when they are no longer needed in the main floors of our little home... I would love if I could write cottage... hmmm... maybe my home could be considered a cottage.... hmmmm.... ANY-ways... the furntiure grave yard is going to be transformed over the summer into our "adult playroom" Yes... that sounds bad... or maybe its just me :-P But it will be an area for my sewing and crafting and for my hubby's computer and for watching Netflix. Right now this area of our home is located in what used to be the master bedroom. We moved upstairs when our Little Ladybug was big enough to start getting into the drawers of my sewing desk. It was definitley a needed move. We love having the space to do big people things. I also love that I can leave unfinished projects out and not worry about the mess because it is a room that most people do not see... yay!<br />
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Why are we re-locating to the basement? Well the answer is simple... someday (no not soon!) we will need the bedroom space again and we think it is better to get a jump on the someday now rather than when it comes.... make sense? <br />
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So... these are my official before pictures. Please don't run away in fright like I sometimes want to do when I enter the basement. I have grand plans for this area that I will tell you about later... but for now... just look at the mess we have to start with!!! YIKES! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32Iuc1GQpEEkXLMsvC3hw1TqUodu4B5CQ4kXeTAVdd3m_Y_kzlyWFg_FqFi1BucLgDDY7CRpujhUrta0ZXfMIoCROKiFA9O-GEZQk9f_fYmbzrQkp7xx-ZPjXObCR2fXlJ1w2nGMxnelo/s1600/IMG_7479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32Iuc1GQpEEkXLMsvC3hw1TqUodu4B5CQ4kXeTAVdd3m_Y_kzlyWFg_FqFi1BucLgDDY7CRpujhUrta0ZXfMIoCROKiFA9O-GEZQk9f_fYmbzrQkp7xx-ZPjXObCR2fXlJ1w2nGMxnelo/s400/IMG_7479.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the stairs</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6Jn3WkAp-K0RoNeHnsWjgGpN_BgBQLfEutoRMK66I00trKAFxWvrGLEYGpb8Ikl-u0hdBN1iY58e3lfc5a1aPrHnOSWaiGGa__1DCVgi1zpuP_68pKkJarM8h7ottK2oB_HbcuEBuJ_X/s1600/IMG_7478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6Jn3WkAp-K0RoNeHnsWjgGpN_BgBQLfEutoRMK66I00trKAFxWvrGLEYGpb8Ikl-u0hdBN1iY58e3lfc5a1aPrHnOSWaiGGa__1DCVgi1zpuP_68pKkJarM8h7ottK2oB_HbcuEBuJ_X/s400/IMG_7478.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view from the stairs<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86jHV9RY5aFjLQCMFkglqdAomwgul-6fJgyGBnvTBdB5qbDvYFnZz_c98cGVX4MqxGxlvSJBocPNAlwnnhxhr4mRVSgSYqIIXPc2XKtYIxPVK2BBpEj3lOq6bREfFp42PLdpnvmNVvMbM/s1600/IMG_7480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86jHV9RY5aFjLQCMFkglqdAomwgul-6fJgyGBnvTBdB5qbDvYFnZz_c98cGVX4MqxGxlvSJBocPNAlwnnhxhr4mRVSgSYqIIXPc2XKtYIxPVK2BBpEj3lOq6bREfFp42PLdpnvmNVvMbM/s400/IMG_7480.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from opposite side of the room</td></tr>
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Now, I realize we have a lot more cleaning and de-junking to do... buuuut any suggestions as to how to make this space creative and inviting on a budget of just about $0??? Oh its going to be a challenge!!! <br />
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</div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683006106472057725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1631171725850636041.post-47870367362334570742011-04-27T14:27:00.000-04:002011-04-27T14:27:24.346-04:00MissingHi all! This post is not going to be a fun post, but it is one that I would love for you to read. I will try to keep it short. <br />
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My family would love all of your prayers right now... we need your prayers right now. Specifically my Uncle and Aunt. They are from Tulsa Ok and their 17 year old daughter has gone missing! I feel like it is all a horrible nightmare and we will all wake up and it will be fine. However, so far that hasn't happened so it must be for real. <br />
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Her name is Kayla Taylor. She is a beautiful girl who from the few times I have met her is full of life and spunk! Kayla is supposed to be graduating in just a few short weeks, but instead no one has seen her since Friday. Her phone is turned off and there really are not many leads as to what has happened to her. The police listed her as a runaway and therefore are not doing much. We don't really believe that to be true. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-8C2qNWCkdPogUXbHxQiVF6jbSagpSdKBIUlV66jI26BUnaARdnMaAps6c50tODZ08TWVnyM46o1XRI6CGb65fyR0p78YAL7Z5IHEiunMjw4KNQ4h98C5uyoAICow7ovR_36aTChjR7qj/s1600/kayla+and+I+at+our+wedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-8C2qNWCkdPogUXbHxQiVF6jbSagpSdKBIUlV66jI26BUnaARdnMaAps6c50tODZ08TWVnyM46o1XRI6CGb65fyR0p78YAL7Z5IHEiunMjw4KNQ4h98C5uyoAICow7ovR_36aTChjR7qj/s400/kayla+and+I+at+our+wedding.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is Kayla and I at my wedding 5 years ago. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This whole situation is breaking my heart... and I can not even imagine how my uncle, aunt, and other cousins must be feeling. I am praying constantly and desperatly for God to work a miracle and bring Kayla home safe and sound. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you could join me in praying and also in spreading the word we would be greatful beyond words! We know that the more we spread the word and Kayla's name and picture the better the chances are of finding her. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thank you from the bottom of my heart! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwlezv09tc1sR0-NjObpgjNnFD1q3MioaHz4EUR_RHQoDDDm6Efjhgw79Q-EYD_6XeYC-gryrq2Ru5yKq-hT8nwkB9ROjZRavl4UUPS7WLzZxECqQD4rSJxLdrDvh0f7afFsKztU_awXa/s1600/kayla+missing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwlezv09tc1sR0-NjObpgjNnFD1q3MioaHz4EUR_RHQoDDDm6Efjhgw79Q-EYD_6XeYC-gryrq2Ru5yKq-hT8nwkB9ROjZRavl4UUPS7WLzZxECqQD4rSJxLdrDvh0f7afFsKztU_awXa/s640/kayla+missing.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/?action=view&current=signature.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/signature.png" /></a></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683006106472057725noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1631171725850636041.post-44487847711912440822011-04-24T01:03:00.000-04:002011-04-24T01:03:19.581-04:00Easter<div style="text-align: center;">Happy Easter to everyone! May we all remember that Jesus paid the price for our sins and because of that great love we are forgiven and free! Have a wonderful and fabulous day today! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimsczlluMtGN5U0GbrNXcqXoucdAgGZC3GPVZCqyEmrSzoiocDul1JCCktuOmVug2vOM8Isowv5n_ilkWLZt7-4OmUXa_WizHnrFmAzAfx6B7iGyPUAc6DhWBhcL2TVI1acUfqj1zOIlWc/s1600/IMG_7153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimsczlluMtGN5U0GbrNXcqXoucdAgGZC3GPVZCqyEmrSzoiocDul1JCCktuOmVug2vOM8Isowv5n_ilkWLZt7-4OmUXa_WizHnrFmAzAfx6B7iGyPUAc6DhWBhcL2TVI1acUfqj1zOIlWc/s640/IMG_7153.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Annnd for fun... a little bunny for your Easter! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> One for the Little Ladybug and one for each of our little second cousins! :-)</span></td></tr>
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</div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/?action=view&current=signature.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/signature.png" /></a></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683006106472057725noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1631171725850636041.post-14477375366364822652011-04-13T21:35:00.002-04:002011-04-18T19:29:56.509-04:00Spring break and a Successful Sewing ProjectWell, last week was spring break. Did I go somewhere fabulous? Did I get a tan? Did I get to see Mickey Mouse? The answer to all of the above is NOPE... not this year. Hooooopefully the answer to all of the above will be yes next year ;-). However, this year it was a year to stay home in good old Michigan and spend some quality time with my Little Ladybug... we even got to go to the park since spring actually started to show itself around here! <br />
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Here are a few photos to re-cap the week :-) <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/AVvXsEhyoSsHo6LgDT_3Xeo90hiwcMwfypk1ZR_eaNwkM8bQKlKF5sK2nS1Ds35b6TSzhKIKJav77VmHVBK9dgilBx3TXkvBzaENHeeWWpnWna0oFUBdeNzoU3wZV46_d2ny3TUen__yaljL5909/s1600/IMG_6997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyoSsHo6LgDT_3Xeo90hiwcMwfypk1ZR_eaNwkM8bQKlKF5sK2nS1Ds35b6TSzhKIKJav77VmHVBK9dgilBx3TXkvBzaENHeeWWpnWna0oFUBdeNzoU3wZV46_d2ny3TUen__yaljL5909/s320/IMG_6997.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing with Balloons</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/AVvXsEgYLMKhJLHxpR-jr1l7yopA888-qt8Am9ZtSTwCPqhflyL2hyphenhyphen0uJBPm-CBG0lOnS6j8EcVKw2GNR3iaa3kni6rLGHGh_pMhRBha5YFkiwsCZviklCHCno9MOx7pfeDC770NEmPmktjNhtXD/s1600/IMG_7005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYLMKhJLHxpR-jr1l7yopA888-qt8Am9ZtSTwCPqhflyL2hyphenhyphen0uJBPm-CBG0lOnS6j8EcVKw2GNR3iaa3kni6rLGHGh_pMhRBha5YFkiwsCZviklCHCno9MOx7pfeDC770NEmPmktjNhtXD/s320/IMG_7005.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture taking for Auntie Em's birthday</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxRZOE1yBYCdRz1ge3x8kR2dT2vHSwjnnUWM9ar9fApHgmUzq1o1XJTzCQJR1IEo4o7S-UztTwkBKxeYY-NgrAlmBdePNCsMO4sE0aa2OMrGSG0lZfjHDP55Vbo-4-RhTCRL-vLKZAjXw/s1600/IMG_7040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxRZOE1yBYCdRz1ge3x8kR2dT2vHSwjnnUWM9ar9fApHgmUzq1o1XJTzCQJR1IEo4o7S-UztTwkBKxeYY-NgrAlmBdePNCsMO4sE0aa2OMrGSG0lZfjHDP55Vbo-4-RhTCRL-vLKZAjXw/s320/IMG_7040.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diaper Sewing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mMtl2gNnhOna8bU8ts8PswiFO1nqA_EMuIgpG5ut5hNBxa5G3-qsxRQdi1OVFVhMn-csT2TslsvPjUNGChZKe9gDRZe-ofbgkE_l5n4ZBRjHysqG1Pk1wzT0X9MHWAXBWyUSxeal_cJz/s1600/IMG_7047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mMtl2gNnhOna8bU8ts8PswiFO1nqA_EMuIgpG5ut5hNBxa5G3-qsxRQdi1OVFVhMn-csT2TslsvPjUNGChZKe9gDRZe-ofbgkE_l5n4ZBRjHysqG1Pk1wzT0X9MHWAXBWyUSxeal_cJz/s320/IMG_7047.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sundress sewing - in hopes of warmer tomorrows! :-)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfXEj4umLdoq_1Zf3RA2C7mtLzZV9fF-9OmbKwmwE-2hY4B6x2lkyHMagmP3HtEYLyBZ-JwaDJc8Xp_ZODqvfD9lSDyvgVHwLgGMlYcufxac4QUI-5Rv0WqolSojxKoPSOgfW45IPyXhv/s1600/IMG_7065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfXEj4umLdoq_1Zf3RA2C7mtLzZV9fF-9OmbKwmwE-2hY4B6x2lkyHMagmP3HtEYLyBZ-JwaDJc8Xp_ZODqvfD9lSDyvgVHwLgGMlYcufxac4QUI-5Rv0WqolSojxKoPSOgfW45IPyXhv/s320/IMG_7065.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making messes!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhi_FO5tzbdTBzJ-7UUy5PhLzUYfEjSp6eNJqJFXOb1TP0IjZzfL-cvtM1gD3S40HVMbtHBOfEQ0sX4g-LbIWwSRiu4TJutIo1Pq46alavoeH_NANHcW5a7Yh6t3E5ANW3pdj3UqRAJioH/s1600/IMG_7050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhi_FO5tzbdTBzJ-7UUy5PhLzUYfEjSp6eNJqJFXOb1TP0IjZzfL-cvtM1gD3S40HVMbtHBOfEQ0sX4g-LbIWwSRiu4TJutIo1Pq46alavoeH_NANHcW5a7Yh6t3E5ANW3pdj3UqRAJioH/s320/IMG_7050.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swinging at the park</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8JGpWnH_Tq612SK7UCYwSzRbeeoUxFy88PhEiuhI8IxqnUjgfMVbKGHI3Rn6-tN4eMApKACtCByW8JMDEjAtRC5DaCEGlccRlKnIt7SzG2O9tnk-iIfi4O94MbvFcEsGEej9z39pRLNv/s1600/IMG_7068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8JGpWnH_Tq612SK7UCYwSzRbeeoUxFy88PhEiuhI8IxqnUjgfMVbKGHI3Rn6-tN4eMApKACtCByW8JMDEjAtRC5DaCEGlccRlKnIt7SzG2O9tnk-iIfi4O94MbvFcEsGEej9z39pRLNv/s320/IMG_7068.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Piggy Tails</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIvHoupVDb6O0b3KB8FdjMehPznsSB2_SExZzSbS48-aH84Ui4Nm7SGjMsb3o7zH7D2Usf1iX8Wcu5r4l2rIDWANTyNYVaxkSzvCMf2-uaXgjH5pKzbn2ahPN6cXmGFcLoE9393MQEJPNJ/s1600/IMG_7078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIvHoupVDb6O0b3KB8FdjMehPznsSB2_SExZzSbS48-aH84Ui4Nm7SGjMsb3o7zH7D2Usf1iX8Wcu5r4l2rIDWANTyNYVaxkSzvCMf2-uaXgjH5pKzbn2ahPN6cXmGFcLoE9393MQEJPNJ/s320/IMG_7078.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First spring flowers</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qL0wncaBNSmenLeSp2uFl8n5Mpg4ZnayJ0FNfNNjExd0XcuSqPWo0Eu9qd_1-MvWe5NY-IH1q6tI2CRNd9RyAXPOWPhp1JUEWEVwrQ3uSAVfvkQD6mEpiq-D5Kf-LnC_LgtnbXc7xs1s/s1600/IMG_7081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qL0wncaBNSmenLeSp2uFl8n5Mpg4ZnayJ0FNfNNjExd0XcuSqPWo0Eu9qd_1-MvWe5NY-IH1q6tI2CRNd9RyAXPOWPhp1JUEWEVwrQ3uSAVfvkQD6mEpiq-D5Kf-LnC_LgtnbXc7xs1s/s320/IMG_7081.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun at the park</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaXZNPDyrCciJChjFWTLBOCMTain09Rc-FMzufzxImDPwIFsnuhwvFg1A3Cz2BqeuyZLesYSRpc_doh-eogyKe-UrOO8WUFeNiBWHvBv_CWKrkG5qLGMYetXHMlEFzM79yozwL90GW8urh/s1600/IMG_7089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaXZNPDyrCciJChjFWTLBOCMTain09Rc-FMzufzxImDPwIFsnuhwvFg1A3Cz2BqeuyZLesYSRpc_doh-eogyKe-UrOO8WUFeNiBWHvBv_CWKrkG5qLGMYetXHMlEFzM79yozwL90GW8urh/s320/IMG_7089.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She LOVED the slide!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rlVlGM81RW1lUwtUAR7FeCJadnnAMrD5gtbgqKj0HNUs2WZWuRA-CT7Wsmw3f3eQwcpAprK4bNTTNItmhdohiaYZB8VV5ePDdkq0lFZV0PGwOhixxhrxQxJwKVGoFS5CiB3GTOjpHh2e/s1600/IMG_7119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rlVlGM81RW1lUwtUAR7FeCJadnnAMrD5gtbgqKj0HNUs2WZWuRA-CT7Wsmw3f3eQwcpAprK4bNTTNItmhdohiaYZB8VV5ePDdkq0lFZV0PGwOhixxhrxQxJwKVGoFS5CiB3GTOjpHh2e/s320/IMG_7119.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had a good spring break together! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUK-XreINhnXq-0-yZC4vYHoyjhRAkpqppcI1CBEmhOaqjk_9DQPBWPkqt6w4pyRUMq2Rtp2OufUes2f84V_LzioQvUHkCdPstfcmfP1N7BnB4hv6E4BHngUl7xSfiWJAGdtih3bTxPt2e/s1600/IMG_7123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUK-XreINhnXq-0-yZC4vYHoyjhRAkpqppcI1CBEmhOaqjk_9DQPBWPkqt6w4pyRUMq2Rtp2OufUes2f84V_LzioQvUHkCdPstfcmfP1N7BnB4hv6E4BHngUl7xSfiWJAGdtih3bTxPt2e/s320/IMG_7123.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And a cute one with Daddy for good measure :-)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Now for my successful sewing project. I have had an urge lately to start running again. I haven't really been running since the summer before my husband and I got married, almost 5 years now! And I don't really have any running gear. Soooo my wonderful hubby said I can get some workout clothes (yay for shopping... altho honestly its just a pair of pants) and I decided that I also need an armband for my mp3 player/phone. I looked online for a good tutorial for an mp3 player armband and came up empty. However, I did find <a href="http://www.dognamedbanjo.com/2010/01/13/tutorial-ipod-touch-cover/">this</a> awesome tutorial for an ipod case. I measured my phone and it seemed to be the same size as the ipod soooo I gave it a shot. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The only thing in the directions that I changed was to add elastic to make the case into an armband annnd instead of using velcro I used snaps put on with my AWESOME new snap pliers that I bought from <a href="http://kamsnaps.com/">Kamsnaps</a>. To add the elastic I simply cut 1 1/2 inch elastic that was long enough to go around my arm. Then I sewed it into the seam of the outside fabric. I did so in a way that when I turned it right side out the elastic would be on the right side so it could go around my arm... make sense? </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Here are a few pics of the finished product.... let me know what you think! :-)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoM9fkxCId3oVuWGYs968IN8C8UqXVw5JRP4G4VW4QWjFwA2kcca9Ug_mdfIqjcDIxnGo-b7i4ybzqgTtD_c1RL3ZrsEr23YWPEsJK0bRDx_vfc0r8ZkyfBvCzBon6mjw24sQGQ86Pbdo/s1600/IMG_7133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoM9fkxCId3oVuWGYs968IN8C8UqXVw5JRP4G4VW4QWjFwA2kcca9Ug_mdfIqjcDIxnGo-b7i4ybzqgTtD_c1RL3ZrsEr23YWPEsJK0bRDx_vfc0r8ZkyfBvCzBon6mjw24sQGQ86Pbdo/s320/IMG_7133.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3bho8HeZf-XQA5gy1vz5tbIZtXAMDC0axP-f_mr66aNNA3g11x00b9pF1Vblu3inJRFWebkMRE7taZQQ9kJtzfxue-8aMv39sLdanCKyuQKr8BX0r4CYD8xZvnfXG-6pYLXkcSBFooRiX/s1600/IMG_7134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3bho8HeZf-XQA5gy1vz5tbIZtXAMDC0axP-f_mr66aNNA3g11x00b9pF1Vblu3inJRFWebkMRE7taZQQ9kJtzfxue-8aMv39sLdanCKyuQKr8BX0r4CYD8xZvnfXG-6pYLXkcSBFooRiX/s320/IMG_7134.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_zH9Bf3x3qmD10Tx2Doe0zoeQH6Go1v1USRj6JUIkP2SuXDlx41yuxOjJs5YjZySCOYxqsF4AqATH27b62WOpRoqpDaGFUWuFZrqbdhYCIBJi7py0jB6d7AdrudrRTrvsFJ31Nej__As/s1600/IMG_7136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_zH9Bf3x3qmD10Tx2Doe0zoeQH6Go1v1USRj6JUIkP2SuXDlx41yuxOjJs5YjZySCOYxqsF4AqATH27b62WOpRoqpDaGFUWuFZrqbdhYCIBJi7py0jB6d7AdrudrRTrvsFJ31Nej__As/s320/IMG_7136.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unsnapped... I added a few different snaps to make it adjustable</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDhYjcZ4sT0uPHYKvnaP8-3BlbX1f4QStXpbAIJPRYlH8D8JBWJgqsk35_dExVSYslBQv2RXzm5jGdqrVRM_vZ3Bdq7W2XSeDkwMSRVNgLvZxXj0BHjIr77lJH-fAoWeLdP1hsL0DmRTV/s1600/IMG_7138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDhYjcZ4sT0uPHYKvnaP8-3BlbX1f4QStXpbAIJPRYlH8D8JBWJgqsk35_dExVSYslBQv2RXzm5jGdqrVRM_vZ3Bdq7W2XSeDkwMSRVNgLvZxXj0BHjIr77lJH-fAoWeLdP1hsL0DmRTV/s320/IMG_7138.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Annnd so you can see what it looks like on my nice model... meet candle ;-)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So, what do you think? It was an awesome easy project that anyone can do!<br />
<br />
<br />
Linking here: <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bluecricketdesign.net/2011/04/show-and-tell-with-groopdealz-2.html">Blue Cricket Designs Show and Tell</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://www.iheartnaptime.net/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i847.photobucket.com/albums/ab39/iheartnaptime/iheartnaptimebutton.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://s1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/?action=view&current=signature.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/signature.png" /></a></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683006106472057725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1631171725850636041.post-74207145965009764762011-04-09T09:51:00.002-04:002011-04-09T10:00:52.069-04:00Lost in the world of birthday parties and CD...<div align="left"><div align="center"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">WARNING</span>: This post has <span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;">LOTS</span> </span>and <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple;">LOTS</span> </span>and <span style="color: red; font-size: large;">LOTS</span> of pictures and is long winded... if you make it to the end <span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">CONGRATULATIONS!</span> :-)</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"></div><br />
Hi there! I have an explaination for my long time absence. Well, many explainations.... first of all was birthday week. Second, has been my research, development, and partial implementation of cloth diapers... yes, I did say CLOTH Diapers. We will start however, with birthday week! </div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">Birthday week started with me making two new dresses for our little miss! She got a special one for her actual birthday day and another special one for her birthday party day. Both days were very special for our big one year old! Here are some fun pics of birthday day: </div><div align="left"><br />
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It was a very good birthday day! :-)<br />
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<div align="left">Annnd some of the birthday party day! I know... oh so many pictures... but I just love her cute little face! :-)</div><div align="left"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUfYTT58kaYsr_TCiv56OIm7wbmVoUcAZY68JKEiuHBuf9s_oXWBRG7J0cSJbCx5XB-pnLslEkt5kYW0Uenk1R-JX33IMEq8erwuCTullfC3x4oEIBZes2IbB1_XGxNLmR-wrd-Yy4DQ4/s1600/IMG_6791%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUfYTT58kaYsr_TCiv56OIm7wbmVoUcAZY68JKEiuHBuf9s_oXWBRG7J0cSJbCx5XB-pnLslEkt5kYW0Uenk1R-JX33IMEq8erwuCTullfC3x4oEIBZes2IbB1_XGxNLmR-wrd-Yy4DQ4/s320/IMG_6791%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cake... it was a Minnie theme birthday party because our Little Ladybug LOVES Mickey Mouse Clubhouse!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_vV80uJS4JbS2c93KzPxbhATMog5QLAhODoJwpBKM0bSS22WsFSm5BqWllL0rTcVPgMr-QrhByATwKKk5E0tu7cfrNP_cUor8UimXjHFT238d6A3cEGjEM1hI9QnF_1nd8y9PksrQ3A_H/s1600/IMG_6792%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_vV80uJS4JbS2c93KzPxbhATMog5QLAhODoJwpBKM0bSS22WsFSm5BqWllL0rTcVPgMr-QrhByATwKKk5E0tu7cfrNP_cUor8UimXjHFT238d6A3cEGjEM1hI9QnF_1nd8y9PksrQ3A_H/s320/IMG_6792%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVxg5_CM8UtUU-19-YeL6EE3in8VuQZaBqrEQfkPPAvvphPRqsvnA8iGCpKmPzyzq6hTUbnAfNFxPT9GBgAtFXq-XPbo3E1l2lwGXXapujAriIWCtyMTLnBgPfi69ci4xJVw0FRT4TmgS/s1600/IMG_6796%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVxg5_CM8UtUU-19-YeL6EE3in8VuQZaBqrEQfkPPAvvphPRqsvnA8iGCpKmPzyzq6hTUbnAfNFxPT9GBgAtFXq-XPbo3E1l2lwGXXapujAriIWCtyMTLnBgPfi69ci4xJVw0FRT4TmgS/s320/IMG_6796%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I made the garland from tissue paper circles that I sewed together using my sewing machine! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfszUFLLDd3mFnYi9c7nrB0veP3QopP9jrHFPn4ohQmDp9y7PO1_6P259zCNDxvI486juklCEIzBjlogoFUBxxCeoUr3kU4Jz42tmo4mqVMbajMGFCLrnXEuuMTF9jDKLZr4MVjOrksgs/s1600/IMG_6820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfszUFLLDd3mFnYi9c7nrB0veP3QopP9jrHFPn4ohQmDp9y7PO1_6P259zCNDxvI486juklCEIzBjlogoFUBxxCeoUr3kU4Jz42tmo4mqVMbajMGFCLrnXEuuMTF9jDKLZr4MVjOrksgs/s320/IMG_6820.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthday girl and her momma : )</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmYxLgzZvebWjL-6-Nd_C4DKw5lzkw1pAVh3e1D6QN8tdt8y7f75VTSOmm_gKAU6mLGB8q8FEX1UQbczfoqirjmNayv8dueijDdN4x_mPOMwQTqLqm6_Jjp0FgHxdKvXTuiADibXHs9_E/s1600/IMG_6822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmYxLgzZvebWjL-6-Nd_C4DKw5lzkw1pAVh3e1D6QN8tdt8y7f75VTSOmm_gKAU6mLGB8q8FEX1UQbczfoqirjmNayv8dueijDdN4x_mPOMwQTqLqm6_Jjp0FgHxdKvXTuiADibXHs9_E/s320/IMG_6822.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She decided when it was time to open presents</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_BsRgYglcyKCHpCNuEL2R5RaroR8IHU_2eCA1md2LAAJiiAPlZ9hBzNyDSTuQVeAQYCs58IMAXenCer3lHkm75L7vqRiDgJ9hTgB-KFh1ghr34wkrrDtSFDLyvu_7kdxeXr6dn-3hmKI/s1600/IMG_6850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_BsRgYglcyKCHpCNuEL2R5RaroR8IHU_2eCA1md2LAAJiiAPlZ9hBzNyDSTuQVeAQYCs58IMAXenCer3lHkm75L7vqRiDgJ9hTgB-KFh1ghr34wkrrDtSFDLyvu_7kdxeXr6dn-3hmKI/s320/IMG_6850.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She did a really good job too!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg54_k5eQ1ThZiFlHnrWvcDT2znS-LtfxlW-CETEdUxhQelQdHyVF-ZIXm-TP4hjFIvvciTvGBbHw70zeGOF1PwjIN_u_sdJgECEFVjI-nDjAx1WtdN-xVi4bgdqDqArK36bfDSS-2TPHCz/s1600/IMG_6893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg54_k5eQ1ThZiFlHnrWvcDT2znS-LtfxlW-CETEdUxhQelQdHyVF-ZIXm-TP4hjFIvvciTvGBbHw70zeGOF1PwjIN_u_sdJgECEFVjI-nDjAx1WtdN-xVi4bgdqDqArK36bfDSS-2TPHCz/s320/IMG_6893.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wonderful fabulous Auntie Em and I helped get presents out of their packaging (don't you just looove my face : P )</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiii_pj0aIIreTUdKBa5qNiDHSMf6SQRfuft3q9aEgOtjLENqG-MPov5qiz0rWJ_Fx5utMtC3xuNq2y3EoHkAKUq7jLc8oBtb9vO9HWCBgPavvcnPx-pypm5_Ij7yS7V9gq0RqtNNXN-BJ6/s1600/IMG_6911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiii_pj0aIIreTUdKBa5qNiDHSMf6SQRfuft3q9aEgOtjLENqG-MPov5qiz0rWJ_Fx5utMtC3xuNq2y3EoHkAKUq7jLc8oBtb9vO9HWCBgPavvcnPx-pypm5_Ij7yS7V9gq0RqtNNXN-BJ6/s320/IMG_6911.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then there was cake! <br />
(We also had food... pulled bbq pork and chicken, along with chips and veggies...yum!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcD-nA4aApqieGsFBE3WKPgI3Oa_t-c_s8I-SIDFe2m9X_HWLDO-8PW_UC52qG0bR5rp0sDjXAq4ebI59g9TtlSgKjalr508Q3CdhTnLui1EW2lXFNy6AuMe331rkU-WVXzCZUJFM7wx1/s1600/IMG_6930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcD-nA4aApqieGsFBE3WKPgI3Oa_t-c_s8I-SIDFe2m9X_HWLDO-8PW_UC52qG0bR5rp0sDjXAq4ebI59g9TtlSgKjalr508Q3CdhTnLui1EW2lXFNy6AuMe331rkU-WVXzCZUJFM7wx1/s320/IMG_6930.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmmm cake! :-)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7T1xKCL7hyphenhyphenIXgOX4PY97WBdrPAVCMqgeAHIDnfJeVODyhvaQcWZ4_VCv6IV2LxofYFaAlVcgmwBFCiw94t7TcQxeXonPEBKAkfynHz97iX7nmjs1FEgbqOedrD1DobrNlB_ov2q1JLIn/s1600/IMG_6904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7T1xKCL7hyphenhyphenIXgOX4PY97WBdrPAVCMqgeAHIDnfJeVODyhvaQcWZ4_VCv6IV2LxofYFaAlVcgmwBFCiw94t7TcQxeXonPEBKAkfynHz97iX7nmjs1FEgbqOedrD1DobrNlB_ov2q1JLIn/s320/IMG_6904.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can't believe our beautiful Ladybug is 1... She is such a sweet 1 year old! :-)</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">Now for the second half of this post it is on to cloth diapers. I know EWWWWWW... lets all say it together... EWWWWW!!!</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">Okay, now that that is out of our system let me tell you that I have discovered, as many have, that they really are not that bad! Like hardly any different at all from disposible diapers... don't believe me, I challenge you to try it yourself... :-P </div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">After hours and hours and hours and hours of research on the internet, talking to friends, and talking to store owners who sell cloth diapers we came up with a system that works for us and also fit our budget as we did not want to invest $300 in diapers for a little girl who will hopfully be potty trained in a year and a half (I did say hopefully so don't laugh at me!).</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">Here is what we came up with... after much research and pbsession with cloth diapers we decided to buy a few prefolds and covers from a consignment store and try them out. We liked these at first. They seemed the cheap way to go and like they were pretty easy. Then the wiggling started...oh we have a wiggle monster on our hands! And she is just way to wiggly to get the prefold situated just so and then velcro a cover over her little booty so she won't leak. Soooo, we went with the next best thing. We chose to use fitteds with covers. </div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">Now, for those of you not from cloth diaper land a fitted is just a step up from a prefold (the old fashioned white rectangle diapers) in that it is shaped like a disposible diaper and it snaps or velcros in the front so it is easy to put on a wiggler. Fitteds still need covers. The nice thing about the covers is that you can use them for a whole day as long as they don't get poo on them... yay! :-) </div><div align="left"><br />
Now, I will admit that to buy fitted diapers from a store premade they can cost a pretty penny... BUT... you can make them for waaaaaay less!!! Can I get a YAAAHOOO?!?!?! <br />
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Many of my hours of research online was to find the perfect pattern for making fitted cloth diapers. I tried the <a href="http://handmadebyrita.blogspot.com/">Rita's Rump Pocket</a> diaper pattern, the <a href="http://www.ottobredesign.com/en/print/pdf/vaippa_en.pdf">Ottobre Design</a> diaper pattern, making my own pattern by tracing around a diaper we liked, and finally the <a href="http://goodnessgraciousdiaper.wordpress.com/2008/01/30/11/">Goodness Gracious Diaper</a> pattern. All of these patterns were free so I did not spend any money on them. <br />
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Rita's Rump Pocket seemed to work at first... but I think it runs a bit on the small side... maybe I printed it out wrong...lol! The ottobre diaper just looked funky to me (I didn't actually make any), and making my own pattern seemed to work at first... and I think if I had a serger to serge the edges instead of turning and top stitching it might have worked... but in reality those diapers aren't my favs either. Then I found the Goodness Gracious diaper pattern... and goodness gracious am I glad I did! ;-)<br />
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The goodness gracious diaper pattner requires you to print out two pieces of the pattern and tape them together. Then there is a booklet you can print out with allllllllll the directions on how to make the diapers if you need them! I used some of the directions and some of them I mde up as I went along. I love this pattern! I made the medium diaper and it fits our Little Ladybug perfectly with room to grow! :-) I am going to be making a lot more of these to up our stash... then when we have another little one (not for a long time!) I will make some newborn and small size diapers... so excited I found this pattern! :-)<br />
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If you want to know how and what I make my diapers out of let me know and I will write up a post about that.... in fact, I might just do that even if you don't want to know.... becuase I did a lot of research and just because I can :-P<br />
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For now though, here are some pics of my precious one year old (*tear*) sporting some of her new diapers! </div><div align="left"></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><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/AVvXsEhWeDUg8MxISQqDWOkdfS1n_skLVf1QP4HR48msheElgNQArRqWP5riCCfRiK9IDc_MgltQXDA8KWA7JPdz-83Z3j8snQJeWIeYlueh-UFXhyphenhyphensShQwEjt8ctYihmN9vCs5tnmXTHQRkEY-b/s1600/IMG_7016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWeDUg8MxISQqDWOkdfS1n_skLVf1QP4HR48msheElgNQArRqWP5riCCfRiK9IDc_MgltQXDA8KWA7JPdz-83Z3j8snQJeWIeYlueh-UFXhyphenhyphensShQwEjt8ctYihmN9vCs5tnmXTHQRkEY-b/s320/IMG_7016.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First attempt diaper... with my own pattern</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/AVvXsEgcCcSu9kb09q16PFZr_J5FoGtfKwdb0df74Zge3kTZYDroi-gUGWS6Bf5QqL2mV8RUJAtDDyfIDOsW5DEprc1aD4TD6hQ8a8FMakpVcETQvVLkWLSp3QbOQyPkInDUzA_YJK6GCJ8asEC7/s1600/IMG_7028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCcSu9kb09q16PFZr_J5FoGtfKwdb0df74Zge3kTZYDroi-gUGWS6Bf5QqL2mV8RUJAtDDyfIDOsW5DEprc1aD4TD6hQ8a8FMakpVcETQvVLkWLSp3QbOQyPkInDUzA_YJK6GCJ8asEC7/s320/IMG_7028.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goodness Gracious pattern size Medium. With snaps added with my KamSnaps Snap pliers</td></tr>
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</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhER-TRJW7B1Y6uplYxCjVnu2hoHey_e01Hdq3MXsUzT1JhBFUX0fhyphenhyphenTnonYilKmFk2i7upy0cM8LSmaDGBxl6oXS160qe2ethhgCXU9wZ0LamfzpJqE6vXtcfYDKEl7RRy-R-UbzNFCbO4/s1600/IMG_7033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhER-TRJW7B1Y6uplYxCjVnu2hoHey_e01Hdq3MXsUzT1JhBFUX0fhyphenhyphenTnonYilKmFk2i7upy0cM8LSmaDGBxl6oXS160qe2ethhgCXU9wZ0LamfzpJqE6vXtcfYDKEl7RRy-R-UbzNFCbO4/s320/IMG_7033.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><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/AVvXsEgsdP5602fncGw-Vw8ycbbaYAUXjq7lAvb8i5mdHbvtA0s9msO8RkX36tp4NNzTvW5ghAXeRbl87p_hyd9x7ko4X0AWoU9EG29hoSjYkzCSlGbEXgUOevKTgw78UlwjANs6o6FB9AewONaU/s1600/IMG_7040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsdP5602fncGw-Vw8ycbbaYAUXjq7lAvb8i5mdHbvtA0s9msO8RkX36tp4NNzTvW5ghAXeRbl87p_hyd9x7ko4X0AWoU9EG29hoSjYkzCSlGbEXgUOevKTgw78UlwjANs6o6FB9AewONaU/s320/IMG_7040.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think she likes it! </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Well, if you made it to the end... good job! And thanks for visiting! :-)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Linking here: </div><br />
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<center><a href="http://www.kojodesigns.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i569.photobucket.com/albums/ss139/jordanremke/kojo%20buttons/kojobutton-fridayfunfinds-150.jpg" /></a></center><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a border="0" href="http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Join us Saturdays at tatertotsandjello.com for the weekend wrap
up party!" src="http://hadfield.smugmug.com/photos/825895175_xmTVA-O.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/?action=view&current=signature.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/signature.png" /></a></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683006106472057725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1631171725850636041.post-37671581581164950722011-03-15T14:13:00.000-04:002011-03-15T14:13:19.926-04:00My How Time Flies!<div style="text-align: left;">One year ago today we were taking pictures like this...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHGxtBe2CaxpHRpkT2CQ-7jD8H3gOvAWhiagn2jd4Wnhen02RJM9960WJeumxsdnGhs9bVxKe7-XxZIbpk6d3bpl_A2MijNhyphenhyphenheB67PFYOZpqJ0tY6Ap5SZInNFa7-rtqTPwRy0S8F80J/s1600/IMG_1167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHGxtBe2CaxpHRpkT2CQ-7jD8H3gOvAWhiagn2jd4Wnhen02RJM9960WJeumxsdnGhs9bVxKe7-XxZIbpk6d3bpl_A2MijNhyphenhyphenheB67PFYOZpqJ0tY6Ap5SZInNFa7-rtqTPwRy0S8F80J/s320/IMG_1167.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And pictures like this...</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUISGnCa9XvFZq2w92fNBMZbffZrsomCxlcBgaz8C5i_5bp3-b6AJzc_yTpIaufZx7Y8UmH9_J8hf4Lp3OL4NZO5i9wPQ5UtcjOCbjRVh6H1kDdw-ZrW2dzsdK-JFIJr2kdWDs1eRLzEP3/s1600/IMG_1175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUISGnCa9XvFZq2w92fNBMZbffZrsomCxlcBgaz8C5i_5bp3-b6AJzc_yTpIaufZx7Y8UmH9_J8hf4Lp3OL4NZO5i9wPQ5UtcjOCbjRVh6H1kDdw-ZrW2dzsdK-JFIJr2kdWDs1eRLzEP3/s320/IMG_1175.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very bad camera angle... but I will cherish this first picture of us! </td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="text-align: left;">And like this... of a handsome man holding a beautiful baby girl! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoX8hu1koYsModqBYajMHw7-y4xEYpASFz-JHjRhXZuuKtd_QW9kCbjHyKZXiYhukYhDTZrBXEJ30b-kYY4jXGKGGfL3MVhVY0oIFHF_XmnlBHFMgcAWlaqgSASiBCMjFTQ8KJcEYi2HeC/s1600/IMG_1177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoX8hu1koYsModqBYajMHw7-y4xEYpASFz-JHjRhXZuuKtd_QW9kCbjHyKZXiYhukYhDTZrBXEJ30b-kYY4jXGKGGfL3MVhVY0oIFHF_XmnlBHFMgcAWlaqgSASiBCMjFTQ8KJcEYi2HeC/s320/IMG_1177.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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I can not wrap my head around the fact that it has already been a year since my water broke, since we made the big call to the hospital, since I was in all that pain with contractions and my sweet hubby was trying to distract me with Gilmore Girls, since after 1 and a 1/2 hours of pushing the dr told me she wouldn't fit and we needed to do a c-section, since the first time I got to see my little girl, since the first time I got to hold that precious little baby close! She is one year old today... and I love her more than words can say. <br />
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Our little ladybug has added so much to our lives... she has turned us from a couple into a family and I wouldn't trade her for anything in the world! I love her little giggles, and her sly shy smiles, I love the way she loves her daddy and loves to climb on him while they are playing. I am so thankful that she is healthy and growing! God has truly blessed us! <br />
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I can not wait to see what this next year brings and I am sure it will fly by even faster than the past year did. I am excited for swimming, and bike rides with our ladybug this summer, and for ice cream and playing in the grass! Oh the adventures that await us....<br />
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But for now, here are a few "before and after" pics of our precious Little Ladybug! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdf-UlGDYi6cUDtKXQXLPxQ5PyiSaIIOyXgVaV8gKzT3MuWq8VmpVJtMyzjRpxaA7Veb5qc32fR9aUAz0m-JZZU21Jnaza_5AQIqTcHtM2Thg_k5AFGE181i0-KxY1qv7yYvDx_j_EUbr8/s1600/IMG_1229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdf-UlGDYi6cUDtKXQXLPxQ5PyiSaIIOyXgVaV8gKzT3MuWq8VmpVJtMyzjRpxaA7Veb5qc32fR9aUAz0m-JZZU21Jnaza_5AQIqTcHtM2Thg_k5AFGE181i0-KxY1qv7yYvDx_j_EUbr8/s320/IMG_1229.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFzVj0YBoaVKH8_aS8qiIwZf4ixJZUBSWYPZMPIualbJ8eRHNCubflPJwOwBoQZ3dYXAAE_TAHOyS0omfAtrMxDqQz8mS1-0uD7FcHpvCliQP_jfWNC7zg4OZrl-RiKCylo8QQfe5ANXa/s1600/IMG_6501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFzVj0YBoaVKH8_aS8qiIwZf4ixJZUBSWYPZMPIualbJ8eRHNCubflPJwOwBoQZ3dYXAAE_TAHOyS0omfAtrMxDqQz8mS1-0uD7FcHpvCliQP_jfWNC7zg4OZrl-RiKCylo8QQfe5ANXa/s320/IMG_6501.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazeclQDYyWrj4y2qlMNvlyK6im3R6-VGhZH51uhjMa06GKC1T0Nwnp95OcLxmCI6wi63MQoWxslTZKgy4ogYkVFRqB6VRE7p6kqTLaS2zEoM8eJsa-e3Bucas7-zqeEYRd3qMhcGEIIdN/s1600/IMG_1257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazeclQDYyWrj4y2qlMNvlyK6im3R6-VGhZH51uhjMa06GKC1T0Nwnp95OcLxmCI6wi63MQoWxslTZKgy4ogYkVFRqB6VRE7p6kqTLaS2zEoM8eJsa-e3Bucas7-zqeEYRd3qMhcGEIIdN/s320/IMG_1257.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJqx5Zi0kekrqJdVeFCxT18jREegi_3J5npH7Lv5Y05kbxIPMqULNZ2UNMQUC35RLfMLO8m8DLMQf5Clf6RhohqAQbvocV3kvXuWfGCpMLt5aBM-5s8GJL71dM5QUJvMDLhA3fzV_8mJQ/s1600/IMG_6540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJqx5Zi0kekrqJdVeFCxT18jREegi_3J5npH7Lv5Y05kbxIPMqULNZ2UNMQUC35RLfMLO8m8DLMQf5Clf6RhohqAQbvocV3kvXuWfGCpMLt5aBM-5s8GJL71dM5QUJvMDLhA3fzV_8mJQ/s320/IMG_6540.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She was a beautiful baby and is turning into a beautiful toddler! Happy Birthday Little Ladybug... we love you so much!! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/?action=view&current=signature.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/signature.png" /></a></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683006106472057725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1631171725850636041.post-5161858225938089722011-03-01T14:41:00.004-05:002011-03-04T14:37:16.339-05:00A Big Girl Car Seat!<div align="left">Our Little lady bug is growing up so fast! She turns one this month and I <strike>think </strike> know I might cry... how did a year go by sooo darn quickly??? </div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">Moving right along... since my little one is getting bigger she is getting harder to carry her around in her infant car seat... like I am sure happens to all almost one year olds. So, I decided that it was time to do the project that I had said I was going to do since last summer... make a new cover for this:</div><div align="left"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizjR1o9vpPK2Xfj8-DT7I1-O1hN3jvhrzucYxhzRIodhJMntsLsR1Q8fjTrjDuKeWSyG3Pw6_T70FDnLYu6bhH8YQYBpUOjZcS3YAoC4W3AEFf39SgJ_pw9bH3_iQdb9qHT_gOLJrqKeA/s1600/IMG_6340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizjR1o9vpPK2Xfj8-DT7I1-O1hN3jvhrzucYxhzRIodhJMntsLsR1Q8fjTrjDuKeWSyG3Pw6_T70FDnLYu6bhH8YQYBpUOjZcS3YAoC4W3AEFf39SgJ_pw9bH3_iQdb9qHT_gOLJrqKeA/s400/IMG_6340.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Yes, there really was nothing tooooooo terrible about the cover that was on the car seat. I had washed it and put i back on, but it was faded and I just couldn't put my little girl in that.... even for just a car ride. So the Little Ladybug and I took a trip to Joann's to pick out material. I went with fleece for a few reasons. Reason one I choose fleece was because it holds up well. Reason two I choose fleece was because it does not fray. The not fraying was very important because I didn't want to have to hem around the car seat strap openings... that would have been a P-A-I-N! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Well, lets get started with this project...</div><div style="text-align: left;">Materials needed:</div><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;">Fleece</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Batting</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Elastic</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Scissors</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Pins</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Sewing machine</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Seam ripper</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Thread to match your fleece</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Sharpie marker</div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Step one...</div><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;">Label the back side of the old cover and take it apart. I used a seam ripper but it was taking too long to rip it out one stitch after another therefore I started cutting a few stitches and then ripping. It went much faster this way and that made me very happy! :-)</div></li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FPhAzAPRLgbR1K_BOdaTVsZQZV4tMajxmlrUTFGZg4VUpumzwDQY4KHswk5Iw1Z1u8dpYPDhRmcwR_fWgHFzBiUEy37eEDWBNHj9Vg2_sbQWtfKVu3ApcI6ICYDg6tBrEqfb20052tP6/s1600/IMG_6345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FPhAzAPRLgbR1K_BOdaTVsZQZV4tMajxmlrUTFGZg4VUpumzwDQY4KHswk5Iw1Z1u8dpYPDhRmcwR_fWgHFzBiUEy37eEDWBNHj9Vg2_sbQWtfKVu3ApcI6ICYDg6tBrEqfb20052tP6/s320/IMG_6345.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNqvNMVj7wrnutoLH7pM9VjFzUR0O6iCHdbi5BkSOhATVV0KCgRvYDo5ZX4DoD6QExP-FJerLiT3_T8I32hJ_PeNMFNkodRO6Q-RcgOXI_wleTgG_q87yDESLXyDDUt5P5gsMkczUlIxt/s320/IMG_6346.JPG" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;">Your now ripped apart pieces become your pattern pieces.</div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;">Step 2</div><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;">Lay your pattern pieces out on your fleece. Make sure you lay them out so that they are straight with the pattern of the fabric... if not when you put your cover together it will look all wonky! </div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiORtkO1md08GYOJr6lr51Ted-89OChvMBUy7aON3p9fg5v4AiHmYCBgz72IaIQ_CaUAvQyoLX8JTW_d2dkau3Wi5GTrveAMbJ_zrzc5fdqX5AHf2vdepA2oTNCln33U4pshO9q9BNmbdZ7/s1600/IMG_6348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiORtkO1md08GYOJr6lr51Ted-89OChvMBUy7aON3p9fg5v4AiHmYCBgz72IaIQ_CaUAvQyoLX8JTW_d2dkau3Wi5GTrveAMbJ_zrzc5fdqX5AHf2vdepA2oTNCln33U4pshO9q9BNmbdZ7/s400/IMG_6348.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;">Cut out your pieces. After cutting, make your slits and cut outs for the straps and buckle. Then, take the pattern pieces off... make sure you label your pieces so you don't get them all mixed up. To do so I just wrote what piece it was on a post-it and pinned it to the piece.</div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;">Step three</div><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;">Cut out your batting. Cut your batting the same way you cut your main pieces... lay the pattern pieces on top and cut... </div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;">Step four</div><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;">Place your main seat piece (the biggest one in my case... the one that has the strap holes in it) on top of your batting for that same piece. Sew around all of your openings for the straps and buckles.</div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;">Step five</div><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;">Pin your pieces together and sew. This is a hard step to explain.... you basically have to watch how you take apart your old cover and sew it back together the same way. I simply made a batting sandwich with mine. I sandwiched my fleece pieces between my batting pieces and sewed them together... make sense?</div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuDpYNQvLfHSMh8NTwznBP6fECX3E0fz_BBLlU34Nntznv7SSBvWTfH1EaByc7HfKeL9mJDHXd_1rfE4RamaPa7wqklCClaTUa00gxrtQNddc8DbtpJtj2JhkXMboW7ziEAKlLzOJzKvn/s1600/IMG_6376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuDpYNQvLfHSMh8NTwznBP6fECX3E0fz_BBLlU34Nntznv7SSBvWTfH1EaByc7HfKeL9mJDHXd_1rfE4RamaPa7wqklCClaTUa00gxrtQNddc8DbtpJtj2JhkXMboW7ziEAKlLzOJzKvn/s400/IMG_6376.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Step six</div><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;">Once all of your pieces are sewn together you can move onto cutting out the edge piece that holds it around the car seat frame. </div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">I cut off the old elastic so that I had one looooong piece of the old fabric. I then laid that on top of my fleece and cut out my looooong piece. I actually wound up having to cut two pieces and sew them together because I didn't have enough length on my material to cut one piece.</div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdAmoFqJb66Fn8vEx9-zgsZmZ5NfzaHmeDa_QratcanAzfBO1rgeEmgjMCAzwP7hCSzpmRIWwU_iDRpqjudKGSgva06iWVirPpg3tF8kykNg6Q3VhMMltZU7Wpea6sbqCFK2TOrhA6AfJD/s1600/IMG_6378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdAmoFqJb66Fn8vEx9-zgsZmZ5NfzaHmeDa_QratcanAzfBO1rgeEmgjMCAzwP7hCSzpmRIWwU_iDRpqjudKGSgva06iWVirPpg3tF8kykNg6Q3VhMMltZU7Wpea6sbqCFK2TOrhA6AfJD/s400/IMG_6378.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;">I cut about 3/4 of an inch above my pattern piece so that I had enough to turn under to make my elastic casing.</div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;">Step seven</div><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;">Sew. Sew your edge pieces together if you had to cut two like me. If you didn't skip this step and continue to your elastic casing...</div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;">Step eight</div><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;">Elastic casing. To make my elastic casing I folded my fleece down about a half an inch and pinned it. Then I sewed it. Don't forget to leave an opening to to put in your elastic. </div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;">Step nine</div><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;">The next step is to pin the edge piece to the seat piece. After you have it pinned sew it all together. </div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrok7VrDFlFOTlrKbww1RN9H5kfI4rsEdR54rb8AB4g1Oz1Kg_MKJKd6BhaQ8a1KQLElbQUWBoveW-gW1-6srfpA2h_8ih4Ou1guloKgzd6liL3FT6TXxS1C515up0v7jv1w4I5TwHRD1/s1600/IMG_6385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrok7VrDFlFOTlrKbww1RN9H5kfI4rsEdR54rb8AB4g1Oz1Kg_MKJKd6BhaQ8a1KQLElbQUWBoveW-gW1-6srfpA2h_8ih4Ou1guloKgzd6liL3FT6TXxS1C515up0v7jv1w4I5TwHRD1/s320/IMG_6385.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Step ten... you are almost there... keep going!!! </div><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;">Add your elastic. The best way I have found to do this is the way my mom showed me when I was little... put a safety pin on the end of the elastic and thread it through your casing. Once you get to the opening again sew your elastic ends together. After sewing your ends together sew up your opening. </div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTYtP5mb5l8TijWm3PctJlvlHT9zlGzDyVKEnItR0yYxEBMy5Ovv2hdzF71sfywsazBDXc48Xa24TVl3wIrHd9DVh3Gk4H5kZ5XjKsj_tPC2O8KgFoXRVXCRiUCWLGDgmzKL9pLb0WXIc/s1600/IMG_6388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTYtP5mb5l8TijWm3PctJlvlHT9zlGzDyVKEnItR0yYxEBMy5Ovv2hdzF71sfywsazBDXc48Xa24TVl3wIrHd9DVh3Gk4H5kZ5XjKsj_tPC2O8KgFoXRVXCRiUCWLGDgmzKL9pLb0WXIc/s320/IMG_6388.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Step eleven</div><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;">Put the finished cover on the carseat and ADMIRE your handy work!!! :-)</div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3epxHlVYZ6KNHbNhzYn5TqYh64p89GrnQRsiT6qpTTbmQfhQilV52Gp-dPhRdu2gGnWgclZlWORHJvrcXACA-eAuxP4Kg7rFinvMS5Aoiffr_COAluaW_lJgmaw8drbvSe2fmJJ_Y1UL/s1600/IMG_6391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3epxHlVYZ6KNHbNhzYn5TqYh64p89GrnQRsiT6qpTTbmQfhQilV52Gp-dPhRdu2gGnWgclZlWORHJvrcXACA-eAuxP4Kg7rFinvMS5Aoiffr_COAluaW_lJgmaw8drbvSe2fmJJ_Y1UL/s400/IMG_6391.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmpMavdpTrBO-829C_8BeLuA6HBI9gmL7o_EvjaR2vZ5cbU0syj_5w2jTeLCBJo1OPQqZoIVJS7295nCBLuMVefu5tXeTrv9ldOcmdjHKdp4E-CgGEUDAbjynTjEeyWf0Mi6vaMwFkkJ-/s1600/2011-02-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmpMavdpTrBO-829C_8BeLuA6HBI9gmL7o_EvjaR2vZ5cbU0syj_5w2jTeLCBJo1OPQqZoIVJS7295nCBLuMVefu5tXeTrv9ldOcmdjHKdp4E-CgGEUDAbjynTjEeyWf0Mi6vaMwFkkJ-/s400/2011-02-19.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhul5RCqN9vKJVD_4-NX8ikbm5Epr8DAVFNytHhJZP3M0d4n-3HlJjxTuqbZJYOHYMNBmIE_B97KIdUcscREHJpl6eyVoqJIA1PekIg8_d6A85QP0DpUjsUXej0TESia1f2cyKrDLncgVIx/s1600/IMG_6394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhul5RCqN9vKJVD_4-NX8ikbm5Epr8DAVFNytHhJZP3M0d4n-3HlJjxTuqbZJYOHYMNBmIE_B97KIdUcscREHJpl6eyVoqJIA1PekIg8_d6A85QP0DpUjsUXej0TESia1f2cyKrDLncgVIx/s400/IMG_6394.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Little Ladybug sure does seem to like het new seat! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">If you need anything clarified leave me a comment and I will try my best to do so! Happy sewing... this project may look intimidating but you can do it! :-)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I will be linking to...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<center><a href="http://www.thestoriesofa2z.com/2011/03/tutorials-tips-tuesday-and-shabby-apple.html"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfdtB2DscAJnMHkiZ0RF7yDXgSPB7VF8pWesiB9DHhoALLxR6b7OS0ZMP_csNf4YJAXtIdJs1WEptsVKybAdsrcqxKCv8lCw9YuTJRgDNEUwbI7QBbzQE5fjy5Ok28kUegXz4w1qQ75g/s1600/Tutorials+and+Tips_Page_01.jpg" /></a> <img alt="Craft Link parties" class="size-medium wp-image-1118 aligncenter" height="84" src="http://todayscreativeblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/get-your-craft-on-300x84.gif" title="get-your-craft-on" width="300" /></center><br />
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<a href="http://bluecricketdesign.net/" target="_blank"><img alt="Show and Tell Green" height="200" src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c201/rdulgarian/showandtellcopy-1.jpg" width="200" /></a> <a href="http://www.thethriftyhome.com/"><img alt="
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<center><a href="http://www.kojodesigns.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i569.photobucket.com/albums/ss139/jordanremke/kojo%20buttons/kojobutton-fridayfunfinds-150.jpg" /></a></center><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/?action=view&current=signature.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/signature.png" /></a></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683006106472057725noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1631171725850636041.post-11862358292221494492011-02-25T15:03:00.005-05:002011-02-27T15:11:43.323-05:00My Busy Thursday!<div style="text-align: left;">Well, yesterday was a busy nap time for me. I got many things accomplished and there is no better nap time than that... except when I am also taking a nap! ;-)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Here is what I got done:</div><div style="text-align: left;">1) I finished a onesie dress for the Little Ladybug... pic later in post :-)</div><div style="text-align: left;">2) I did laundry... exciting right??</div><div style="text-align: left;">3) I made another baby head cuddle toy for my basket for the <a href="http://www.slwc.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=98760">Heart for the World Auction</a> at church.</div><div style="text-align: left;">4) I made delicious chocolate chip cookie covered Oreos... oh heavens these are good!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Well, it may not sound like a lot when its put in list form... but I think I did pretty good for one nap time sitting! :-)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Here is a picture of the new dress I got done for the Little Ladybug. I think it is just adorable and it was oh so easy! It is almost cute enough to use for her Easter dress this year... except I want that to be a fancy poofy dress... so I might have to see if I can modify this simple idea to make it more of a "poofy fancy" dress. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><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/AVvXsEgGVgrp722uzgFiwdQJg0Oy1hjdI9Fti9WaUPTRBxQyiZ5d8_Ot3WZBZ2eOXOOmvm-bvCgIutDieFjrWSDbS2hwQlQKC43Z34-Ya3__59qpjPQvK4NPvuiH7MdYXpQrr7PAN-CQOb6EE-Pu/s1600/IMG_6410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVgrp722uzgFiwdQJg0Oy1hjdI9Fti9WaUPTRBxQyiZ5d8_Ot3WZBZ2eOXOOmvm-bvCgIutDieFjrWSDbS2hwQlQKC43Z34-Ya3__59qpjPQvK4NPvuiH7MdYXpQrr7PAN-CQOb6EE-Pu/s320/IMG_6410.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Onesie dress</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ycAXyib4sIrqoipRo9Vmepd2dqcMV_9fG-_QSib-FlJ4PsPot5XreKSWd2GgIMAomfGuhU3bbJ_ICa7CPTQwCG87FBX9cxY6JX2CyaEXEe2H4UsGabaRT3qpQS0xDmWlzcEUrtp1sU1k/s1600/IMG_6411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ycAXyib4sIrqoipRo9Vmepd2dqcMV_9fG-_QSib-FlJ4PsPot5XreKSWd2GgIMAomfGuhU3bbJ_ICa7CPTQwCG87FBX9cxY6JX2CyaEXEe2H4UsGabaRT3qpQS0xDmWlzcEUrtp1sU1k/s320/IMG_6411.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Details</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">What do you think? I made it by basically following the tutorials <a href="http://kojodesigns.blogspot.com/2011/02/kojotutorial-pieced-jersey-matched-set.html">here</a> and <a href="http://www.prudentbaby.com/2010/03/10-minute-onesie-dress-easiest-dress.html">here</a>. I modified both tutorials a little bit to make my dress. I basically used the jersey dress directions only I put my seams inside since I didn't use a knit material and it would fray if I didn't finish it off. Try it out... you will be amazed at the results and will be oh so glad you did! </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">And because I know that all of you are just drooling over the thought of chocolate chip cookie covered Oreos (or at least if you are like me you are) I will share how I made mine. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><ul><li><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I started by making my typical chocolate chip cookie dough recipe... make whatever one you like. I doubled mine so I could have more cookies in the end. Keep in mind that each of these cookies takes the amount of dough normally required for two cookies... make sense?</div></li>
<li><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Then, place a spoonful of dough on your cookie sheet.</div></li>
<li><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Squish an Oreo down in the middle of your dough. </div></li>
<li><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Next, place another spoonful of cookie dough on top of the Oreo. Try to smooth it out over the top. If it isn't perfect its okay because the dough flattens itself as it cooks anyways. I was able to fit about 6 cookies on my cookie sheet.... you don't want to overfill your cookie sheet.</div></li>
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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/AVvXsEhn65q2D_aLvFNlgy4xBUuijG0iu66AZGjXpN4y7RPoBDUGJSzUHwb-ph0rQzhK-B7fTua9i93mtGAReFSEAyXEi7huHlCqWltQDttPyS75cOBrxdxGclbFvi28-8ty8RPUNrTShXYbADAn/s1600/IMG_6401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn65q2D_aLvFNlgy4xBUuijG0iu66AZGjXpN4y7RPoBDUGJSzUHwb-ph0rQzhK-B7fTua9i93mtGAReFSEAyXEi7huHlCqWltQDttPyS75cOBrxdxGclbFvi28-8ty8RPUNrTShXYbADAn/s320/IMG_6401.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cookies baking! :-)</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<ul><li><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Place in the oven and bake (at the temp your recipe suggests) for between 13 and 17 minutes or until done to your liking. </div></li>
<li><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Take out and E-N-J-O-Y! These cookies are really best enjoyed warm out of the oven with a nice glass of milk... oh its Heaven people... Heaven. </div></li>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAEyvDmO_qyROth5xsTXPyMplxRPwBcR-NGZbBsedQQlAuxhpObsCXpirjm-kePrYqK5OdP44NKQ8npu_X0iuj9vx614DL-_qL7wTg2Tt0hv_Z0WEJgCVtKVOdCs5Uj85L73rCE8eikgQ/s1600/IMG_6402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAEyvDmO_qyROth5xsTXPyMplxRPwBcR-NGZbBsedQQlAuxhpObsCXpirjm-kePrYqK5OdP44NKQ8npu_X0iuj9vx614DL-_qL7wTg2Tt0hv_Z0WEJgCVtKVOdCs5Uj85L73rCE8eikgQ/s320/IMG_6402.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Next up, a tutorial on how our Little Ladybug's big girl car seat went from the before picture to the after picture :-)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6noUgezaJmcnIulEqnTpirv0zabUBVlFj0_bM3H8qTISUd980Mlw_31p8U250SMdZbnPo0C1lzB2zOWBoYhncTIZ5LEUUp951YzvZ5KPP3_erAE4icj9L-v2EIKCLEvl72tIPdwecf-b9/s1600/2011-02-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6noUgezaJmcnIulEqnTpirv0zabUBVlFj0_bM3H8qTISUd980Mlw_31p8U250SMdZbnPo0C1lzB2zOWBoYhncTIZ5LEUUp951YzvZ5KPP3_erAE4icj9L-v2EIKCLEvl72tIPdwecf-b9/s400/2011-02-19.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Linking to:</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div> <a href="http://www.thetraintocrazy.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="make it wear it" border="0" src="http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/thetraintocrazy/makeitwearitbutton.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.theshabbychiccottage.net/" target="_blank"><img alt="Transformation Thursday" border="0" src="http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb119/tightwadtips/buttonwithstarfish.jpg" /></a><br />
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<center> <a href="http://www.kojodesigns.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i569.photobucket.com/albums/ss139/jordanremke/kojo%20buttons/kojobutton-fridayfunfinds-150.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd202/jmrammell/shabbynestbutton.png" /></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/signature.png" /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683006106472057725noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1631171725850636041.post-34716706735064062592011-02-22T13:19:00.001-05:002011-02-22T13:20:36.018-05:00A Favorite Winter RecipeAt our house winter is the time where we do the most cooking. We have LOTS of favorite winter recipes and I do try to mix it up every once in a while with new ones. However, one of the best we have is for Cheesy Potato Soup. I can not remember where I got the original recipe from... and I do change it up from the original to make it our own. I thought since this is a favoite of ours and is perfect on a cold winter day like today I would share it with you. So, here it is... our "Cheesy Potato Soup"<br />
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<h2 style="background: white; margin: auto 0in;">Ingredients</h2><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;">3 cups peeled and cubed potatoes</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;">1/2 cup chopped celery (optional... we don't use it)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;">1/2 cup chopped onion (Optional... we don't use it)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;">1 cube chicken bouillon </li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;">1 cup water ( We use 1 and a half cups)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;">1 teaspoon dried parsley (Optional... we don't use it)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;">1/2 teaspoon salt </li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;">1 pinch ground black pepper </li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;">2 teaspoons all-purpose flour </li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;">1 1/2 cups milk (We use 2 cups of milk)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;">1 1/2 cups shredded American cheese (We use cheddar)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;">1 cup chopped ham, cooked hamburger, or cooked bacon (We use deli ham)</li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Directions</span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;">In a large pot add potatoes, chicken bullion and water (if you are adding the onions and celery add it now too...). Season with salt and pepper and simmer until potatoes are tender. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;">In a separate bowl mix the flour and milk and blend well. Once potatoes are tender and the flouer is well blended with the milk, pour the milk mixture into the potatoes. Cook until the mixture becomes thick.<br />
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Now stir in your shredded cheese and meat of your choice. Stir until the cheese is melted. Serve while hot! :-)<br />
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We LOVE this soup! Usually we make garlic bread to go with it, but regular bread would go well too. Sorry for no picture... we ate it all up before I thought to take one ;-)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/?action=view&current=signature.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/signature.png" /></a></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683006106472057725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1631171725850636041.post-3351909324776874652011-02-18T11:08:00.006-05:002011-02-22T13:31:34.617-05:00Little Ruffle Skirt... Big Ruffle SkirtFor our Little Ladybug's first Valentine's day I wanted her to have a special outfit. This naturally led me to make something since I couldn't afford to go out and buy a new outfit for her. What I came up with was a ruffle skirt with matching heart onesie and heart hair clips. I would love to share it with you and to try to explain how I made my ruffle skirt... because it really is easy and you can do it! :-)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRjN9-64ynWNsjksPJWNe0rNI0K2FlWr3XXOY9nv5IZrhCEQZCxROZzKMkixHhDTk2Zfa9r83pv1oDGRM4VyyfVvW_wid9qR5u_auKjbF9L_izftXOZ8T8H-qPpTLtZJsk3vfmFjnoVIuX/s1600/IMG_6279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRjN9-64ynWNsjksPJWNe0rNI0K2FlWr3XXOY9nv5IZrhCEQZCxROZzKMkixHhDTk2Zfa9r83pv1oDGRM4VyyfVvW_wid9qR5u_auKjbF9L_izftXOZ8T8H-qPpTLtZJsk3vfmFjnoVIuX/s320/IMG_6279.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was the best pic I got with details of the outfit... sorry about the crying... she didn't like holding still. Silly girl!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also made myself a ruffle skirt... and I love how it turned out. I was worried it was a little too "80's prom queen" but everyone assured me that it wasn't. It made me feel cute and girly, and really, what girl doesn't love an outfit like that?!?!?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP42x0uHGbzlZf3aTw0OLtfzHYYT9V5xuMRpZZh7eVOmsgeimIob2QYVXwPVJWtviqLgekkSYjnw-hhWPDf0hkGQB_TvaMmT87Vh9ftDbGTJ2DjtudjBs1Vx4SPeB8kp2Brd5d9feGJjuN/s1600/IMG_6247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP42x0uHGbzlZf3aTw0OLtfzHYYT9V5xuMRpZZh7eVOmsgeimIob2QYVXwPVJWtviqLgekkSYjnw-hhWPDf0hkGQB_TvaMmT87Vh9ftDbGTJ2DjtudjBs1Vx4SPeB8kp2Brd5d9feGJjuN/s320/IMG_6247.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Okay... so now how to make this fun skirt. After that, more pictures! :-)<br />
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To make the Little Ladybug's skirt I started with a rectangle of lining fabric that was 10 inches by 27inches. I sewed the 10 inch edges together to make a tube.... make sense? Then I hemmed one edge of the tube. <br />
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Next I cut the first ruffle. Now, for the first ruffle I didn't actually ruffle it at all... I let the elastic waistband do that for me. :-) My first piece of ruffle fabric was 5 inches by 27 inches. I then sewed it in a tube like the lining and hemmed one edge. <br />
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After I was done hemming I stuck the ruffle tube into the lining tube. To do this have the lining tube turned wrong side out. Then stick the ruffle (turned wrong side out) inside the lining. Once you have this done you should see the right side of the lining facing the wrong side of the ruffle. The right side of your ruffle should be inside the tube. Got it???<br />
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Next you are going to fold down (together) the edge of the fabric. You are now going to make the casing for your elastic. Basically I took the edge and folded it down a half inch or so (depending on the width of your elastic). I made sure to fold the raw edges under so that they would no longer be seen. I hope this is all making sense... I hate that I forgot to take pictures! Pin this all the way around making sure to leave an opening for your elastic to go in. I left my opening in the back right where the seam was when I made the "tube" of fabric. <br />
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After you have your casing sewn you have two choices. You can add your elastic now ooooor you can wait and add it at the end and move on to the other two ruffles. I chose to do my other two ruffles first then add the elastic at the end. <br />
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To make my other two ruffles I cut lengths of material that were 3 1/2 inches wide by 41 inches. Basically I made the ruffle length 1 1/2 times the size of the lining material so that I had enough material to create the ruffles. For example, my lining was 27 inches, therefore, I did 27 plus 13.5 (half of 27... I did round up to 14 though) to get my ruffle length... hope that makes sense.<br />
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Next I sewed these two pieces into tubes. Then I hemmed them. <br />
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After hemming one edge I used my ruffle foot on my sewing machine to create the ruffles. If you don't have a ruffle foot you can create your ruffles the old fashioned way... use the longest stitch length your machine has and sew. Do not backstitch! Then pull the bobbin thread to ruffle. <br />
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Next I simply pinned on my ruffles so that the top edge of my ruffle was under the bottom of the previous ruffle and sewed it on. I did this with both of my ruffles. <br />
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At this point you can decide to add more ruffles... ooor I simply hemmed my lining up a bit more to hide it under the last ruffle. Your choice. <br />
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Next I added my elastic. 16 1/2 inches of elastic for the size skirt I made. I always attach a safety pin to my elastic and just push it through my casing. When I get to the end I sew the ends of the elastic together and then sew up my hole in my casing. If you want to add a special tag or anything add it before sewing up this hole. <br />
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And your done! I promise... it really is easy! Sorry for the lack of pics... i will have to make another skirt and document it with pictures! <br />
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For the onesie I simply got a cheapo plain onesie. Then I cut a heart out of white felt and another heart that was a little bit smaller out of my skirt fabric. I then sewed the fabric heart to the felt heart... then I simply pinned the whole thing onto my onesie and sewed it in place. Easy as pie! <br />
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For the adorable hair clips I did the same thing as the onesie applique only in a smaller size. And presto! Valentine outfit complete! <br />
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The measurements I just mentioned fit my little girl. She is 11 months old but on the small size. I would say these measurements would work pretty well for a 6 to 12 month size. You can adjust to make any size skirt though. Simply measure the waist and then do that measurement plus half. Sooo, if your waist is 16 inches then your lining material would be 16 inches plus 8 inches = 24 inches. Make sense? So easy! Your elastic measurement is simply the waist measurement. <br />
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Okay, I hope all this made sense. If you have any questions leave a comment and I will try to explain better! <br />
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More pics... :-)<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNrkJ8wZetOeVNdF_gtrzJf2EbnXJYh2STTN1SyvXQpaUvhOXQNWEGEsY_lOCwMa3XCKCuLOHscQ0wFpUDykVc3GgowgsKRc_PalLb2cS1qX1flI3UoPfZw0RUfuNiSl8kcvTXqF1GJ5z7/s1600/IMG_6303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNrkJ8wZetOeVNdF_gtrzJf2EbnXJYh2STTN1SyvXQpaUvhOXQNWEGEsY_lOCwMa3XCKCuLOHscQ0wFpUDykVc3GgowgsKRc_PalLb2cS1qX1flI3UoPfZw0RUfuNiSl8kcvTXqF1GJ5z7/s320/IMG_6303.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How do you turn these... grrr???</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSbS3krS_TQWf2uKROue30kcXeSV-DzLZD2eAzuulEJMUBIcEvxOehhTGkra5ttbZ_Rd2sD-qvQWt0p_R4DHSRxd2Pg3oo3GqpIN9xUEORDRI2nnkWnxmlRN9xf0xOmp-gFFrRMpIjqmZ/s1600/IMG_6305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSbS3krS_TQWf2uKROue30kcXeSV-DzLZD2eAzuulEJMUBIcEvxOehhTGkra5ttbZ_Rd2sD-qvQWt0p_R4DHSRxd2Pg3oo3GqpIN9xUEORDRI2nnkWnxmlRN9xf0xOmp-gFFrRMpIjqmZ/s320/IMG_6305.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy Valentine's Day! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy Sewing!! </div><br />
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Linking to:<br />
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<div align="center"><a href="http://theletteredcottage.net/spring-wreath-how-to" title="The Lettered Cottage"><img alt="The Lettered Cottage" src="http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj29/LaylaPalmer/How%20To/How_Tos_Linky_Party_Button.jpg" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"> <a href="http://www.lovinmylovebugs.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Rachelle%20Czuk/featureyourselffridaybuttoncopy.png" /></a> <a href="http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd202/jmrammell/shabbynestbutton.png" /></a></div><br />
<a border="0" href="http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Join us Saturdays at tatertotsandjello.com for the weekend wrap
up party!" src="http://hadfield.smugmug.com/photos/825895175_xmTVA-O.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.decormamma.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll208/lyndsayjohnson/FFfinalbutton.png" /> </a><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/?action=view&current=signature.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/signature.png" /></a></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683006106472057725noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1631171725850636041.post-81002714636478569952011-02-14T15:30:00.000-05:002011-02-14T15:30:25.177-05:00LOVEWell, today is Valentine's day! Today is a day that some people hate and some people love. I of course fall into the category of people who love Valentine's day. It is a day to celebrate love and the people that you love. However, when I put it that way, it makes me think... isn't every day a day like that. Or at least <em>shouldn't </em>every day be a day like that?<br />
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On this Valentine's day I want to say I love you to my sweetie who, 5 years ago today took me to the beach and asked me to be his forever! Happy Valentine's day baby... I love you very much!!! <br />
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In other news (sort of)... I made the cutest Valentine's day outfit for my little ladybug to wear today. I will post a pic of it and a quick how to later this week.... so make sure you stay tuned! <br />
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<div align="center">Happy Hearts Day to you!!! </div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/?action=view&current=signature.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/signature.png" /></a></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683006106472057725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1631171725850636041.post-22459071383112350022011-02-09T13:43:00.000-05:002011-02-09T13:43:45.221-05:00I linked to these great link parties...I decided to really be brave and put myself out there by linking to some Wednesday link parties! Here is where the parties I joined are: <a href="http://www.domestically-speaking.com/">Domestically Speaking</a>, <a href="http://www.thethriftyhome.com/">The Thrifty Home</a>, annnnd <a href="http://www.bluecricketdesign.net/">Show and Tell Wednesday at Blue Cricket Design</a>. Have fun looking at all the other great inspirational projects out there! <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/?action=view&current=signature.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/mandapanda_1983/signature.png" /></a></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683006106472057725noreply@blogger.com0