tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34366777924583574762024-03-14T01:58:01.707-05:00Not to brag . . .Life's a drag if you're not going to (not) brag.mephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03074153090546740903noreply@blogger.comBlogger431125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436677792458357476.post-72178650002111026392014-03-11T16:08:00.001-05:002014-03-11T16:08:58.572-05:00Don't Text and Drive-ThruRefraining from texting and driving is a no brainer. Just don't do it. You could do irreparable harm to yourself or others.<br />
<br />
But how about not texting and driving thru? What I'm talking about here is less a public safety issue (though I guess a pile-up in the McDonald's drive-thru line is possible) and more a don't be an oblivious, efficiency-stealing twerp issue. <br />
<br />
As a Diet Coke addict, I drive-thru McDonald's once a day almost every single day to get a fountain Diet Coke. This post is not about the wisdom of this habit or about any related issues of addiction, health, or excess. <br />
<br />
Let me first say that if you visit a McDonalds in Chicago's Western Suburbs, you are right in the backyard of the corporate headquarters. Of the three McDonald's I visit regularly, all are marked by friendliness and efficiency. The drive-thru tends to be a well-oiled machine ... except for the twerps who text and drive-thru.<br />
<br />
This person pulls up and places his/her order. Then, he/she pulls away from the speaker, stops, and starts checking the phone. When the line moves forward, he/she does not because they are engaged with the phone. In my experience, only a honk snaps them out of the phone trance and toward the first window. <br />
<br />
This post about texting and driving-thru is likely to reach tens of readers who might reevaluate their own texting habits. <br />
<br />
For the rest, I'll use my horn.mephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03074153090546740903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436677792458357476.post-40977749772808300692013-11-03T22:43:00.004-06:002013-11-04T22:51:02.035-06:00And it's all small stuff.It's been well over a year since I've written a real blog post. I'm warming up my writing muscles by sharing some thoughts about some stuff I enjoy.<br />
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1. <b><i>Biscoff Spread</i></b>. Biscoff brags that it is the "airline cookie," but I haven't seen a Biscoff cookie on a plane in years. Not that I am a frequent flyer. The cookies themselves are, at best, okay. The spread though? Amazing! Best snack ever (besides a Super Pretzel) is a sliced apple--sweet or tart--dipped in Biscoff spread. Or, sometimes, a spoon dipped into the jar is the perfect mini-dessert. Seconds? Please use a fresh spoon. Biscoff should be in the aisle with the peanut butter, though I am pretty sure it is a nut-free item. I've purchased it at Wal-Mart and Cost Plus World Market. Between $3 and $4 a jar.<br />
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2 & 3. Here's two-fer. I have three <b><i>indoor/outdoor rugs from Ballard Designs</i></b>. One in my foyer, one under the kitchen table (the blue and white chevron seen in photo), and one in living room (but only temporarily). In my high traffic and transition-from-outdoors foyer, I have a grey and black indoor/outdoor with a cool pattern. Hides dirt like a dream. The one in the kitchen shows dirt a bit more (due to those cream stripes), but it is very easy to scrub it clean. These rugs are not comfortable. You don't want your kids lying on them to watch television or wrestling on them (major rug burn would result), but they are durable and quite affordable for certain areas of the home. <br />
<br />
My other "design" tip for you is <i><b>laminated fabric</b></i>. I found the fabric pictured above at Hobby Lobby. I bought enough to recover six chairs (on my own, NTB) and then some for less than $40. This fabric is ideal for my kitchen (except for not matching the rug AT ALL) because it can be easily wiped clean. The only assault this fabric cannot withstand would be permanent marker (have dodged that bullet so far) and aggressively used ballpoint pen (now on three of our six chairs, thanks to my artistic daughter). Still, a perfect and practical pick-me-up for kitchen chairs.<br />
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4. I was shopping at Kohl's with a 30% off coupon and doing that thing where I pretend that 30% off means practically free. I tossed these <b><i>shoes that you do not have to tie</i></b> in my cart on a whim and you know what? Best purchase this entire Fall. It's just so convenient to be able to slip them on and off. I don't know how they'd handle during a run or hard core workout (no opportunity to conduct that sort of test with this shoe wearer), but I've worn them comfortably on a brisk walk. I also love that on the days when I play tennis, I can quickly change into these shoes afterward so as not to be seen in public (off the court) in my big, white, senior citizen-esque tennis shoes. <br />
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5. Years ago when I had more time, I used to enumerate the ways that Chicagoland's Jewel grocery chain was inferior to Kroger, the grocery chain of my heart. But does Kroger carry <b><i>Cinnamon Scented Ponderosa Pine Cones</i></b> in a large bag that costs only $4.99? I actually can't answer that. I do know that three years running, I have purchased a huge bag (or two) of these cinnamon pine cones at Jewel. The cinnamon scent is intense, but in a very good way. I am pleased to report that this year's pine cones are smaller in size, which makes it easier to arrange them in a decorative manner. Much to my hubby's dismay, I have not tossed the now-less-potent pine cones of previous years. With all my spare time, I will surely turn to Pinterest to find inspiration for some pine cone crafts. </div>
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6. I am usually ambivalent/negative regarding healthy-ish bars of any kind. These KIND bars were on sale at Jewel 10/$10 so I gambled. Now, I'm a huge fan. Tasty and satisfying. NOT a meal replacement (let's not get crazy), but good for a snack or maybe half of a bar for breakfast dessert (that is a real thing). I like the Dark Chocolate Cherry Cashew and the Dark Chocolate and Peanut Butter ones the best. <br />
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7. I bought these <i><b>Snapea Crisps</b></i> at Costco. My daughter and I both enjoy this salty, low calorie snack. Only negative? They leave a greasy residue on your fingertips. Best to enjoy with a napkin, baby wipe, or handwashing facility at the ready.<br />
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8. Years ago when I posted regularly on this blog and had tens and tens of readers, I often mentioned my love of <b><i>basil</i></b> and of <b><i>cardinals</i></b>. Here's a summer photo of two of my favorites together. I bought the basil plants and the cardinal at Home Depot. My kids kept moving the cardinal around so that it wasn't always hovering above the basil as I had intended. Whenever I spotted it, it made me smile. <br />
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That's all I have. I hope to post again between now and fourteen months from now.mephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03074153090546740903noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436677792458357476.post-81818322115990035062013-01-08T22:17:00.001-06:002014-01-01T15:55:20.663-06:00Booking It, 2013I'll be tracking my reading again this year: title, author, format, and narrator (when applicable). <br />
<br />
If I ever get around to starting the book blog I've been planning in my head for several years, I'll let you know. <br />
<br />
Until then, check the Booksburgh tab in the lefthand column of this blog. I update this list throughout the year. Please share book recommendations in the comments!<br />
<br />
<b>FICTION</b><br />
<i>August Folly</i> by Angela Thirkell<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Wanda McCaddon)<br />
<br />
<i>Smart Girls Get What They Want</i> by Sarah Strohmeyer<br />
(ebook)<br />
<br />
<i>State of Wonder</i> by Ann Patchett<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Hope Davis)<br />
<br />
<i>The Brandons</i> by Angela Thirkell<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Nadia May)<br />
<br />
<i>The Art of Fielding</i> by Chad Harbach<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Holter Graham)<br />
<br />
<i>Three Wishes</i> by Liane Moriarty<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>The Good House</i> by Ann Leary<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Mary Beth Hurt)<br />
<br />
<i>Truth in Advertising</i> by John Kenney<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Robert Petkoff)<br />
<br />
<i>Me Before You</i> by Jojo Moyes<br />
(paperback, advance reader copy won in a giveaway!!)<br />
<br />
<i>A Week in Winter</i> by Maeve Binchy<br />
(hardback)<br />
<br />
<i>Outtakes from a Marriage</i> by Ann Leary<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>Love Is a Canoe</i> by Ben Schrank<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>The Secret Keeper</i> by Kate Morton<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Caroline Lee)<br />
<br />
<i>Parlor Games</i> by Maryka Biaggio<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Leslie Carroll)<br />
<br />
<i>Juliet in August</i> by Dianne Warren<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Cassandra Campbell)<br />
<br />
<i>Gods in Alabama </i>by Joshilyn Jackson<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Catherine Taber)<br />
<br />
<i>Frances and Bernard</i> by Carlene Bauer<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>News from Heaven </i>by Jennifer Haigh<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Therese Plummer, Alexander Cendese, Cynthia Darlow, Christian Baskous)<br />
<br />
<i>The Love Song of Jonny Valentine</i> by Teddy Wayne<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>Provincial Daughter</i> by R.M. Dashwood<br />
(paperback)<br />
<br />
<i>The Wife</i> by Meg Wolitzer<br />
(paperback)<br />
<br />
<i>When It Happens to You: A Novel in Stories</i> by Molly Ringwald<br />
(ebook)<br />
<br />
<i>Beach Colors</i> by Shelley Noble<br />
(ebook)<br />
<br />
<i>Skinny: A Novel</i> by Diana Spechler<br />
(ebook)<br />
<br />
<i>The Smart One</i> by Jennifer Close<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>Eleanor and Park</i> by Rainbow Rowell<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Rebecca Lowman and Sunil Malhotra)<br />
<br />
<i>The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat </i>by Edward Kelsey Moore<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Adenrele Ojo and Pamella D'Pella)<br />
<br />
<i>The Reece Malcolm List</i> by Amy Spalding<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>The Mystery of Mercy Close</i> by Marian Keyes<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Caroline Lennon)<br />
<br />
<i>Trust Me on This</i> by Jennifer Crusie<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Angela Dawe)<br />
<br />
<i>Good Kids </i>by Benjamin Nugent<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>Black Sheep </i>by Georgette Heyer<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Barbara Leigh-Hunt)<br />
<br />
<i>A Tale for the Time Being</i> by Ruth Ozeki<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Ruth Ozeki)<br />
<br />
<i>The Best of Us</i> by Sarah Pekkanen<br />
(paperback)<br />
<br />
<i>The Man in the Wooden Hat</i> by Jane Gardam<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Graeme Malcolm)<br />
<br />
<i>The View from Penthouse B</i> by Elinor Lipman<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>The Interestings</i> by Meg Wolitzer<br />
(hardcover)<br />
<br />
<i>Reconstructing Amelia</i> by Kimberly McCreight<br />
(hardcover)<br />
<br />
<i>All You Could Ask For</i> by Mike Greenberg<br />
(hardcover)<br />
<br />
<i>A Hundred Summers</i> by Beatriz Williams<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Kathleen McInerney) <br />
<br />
<i>Tempest-tost: The Salterton Trilogy, Book 1</i> by Robertson Davies<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Frederick Davidson)<br />
<br />
<i>Woke Up Lonely</i> by Fiona Maazel<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Bernadette Dunne)<br />
<br />
<i>Unnatural Habits </i>by Kerry Greenwood<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Stephanie Daniel)<br />
<br />
<i>The Middlesteins</i> by Jami Attenberg<br />
(ebook)<br />
<br />
<i>Tell the Wolves I'm Home</i> by Carol Rifka Brunt<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Amy Rubinate)<br />
<br />
<i>Beautiful Day </i>by Elin Hilderbrand<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Therese Plummer)<br />
<br />
<i>The Castaways</i> by Elin Hilderbrand<br />
(hardcover)<br />
<br />
<i>The Art Forger</i> by B.A. Shapiro<br />
(audiobook, narrated by XE Sands)<br />
<br />
<i>These Girls</i> by Sarah Pekkanen<br />
(ebook, read on phone)<br />
<br />
<i>Lock and Key</i> by Sarah Dessen<br />
(paperback)<br />
<br />
<i>Joyland</i> by Stephen King<br />
(paperback)<br />
<br />
<i>The Queen of the Tambourine</i> by Jane Gardam<br />
(paperback)<br />
<br />
<i>The Cuckoo's Calling</i> by Roberth Galbraith<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Robert Glenister)<br />
<br />
<i>Drinking Closer to Home</i> by Jessica Anya Blau<br />
(ebook, read on phone)<br />
<br />
<i>Crazy Rich Asians</i> by Kevin Kwan<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Lynn Chen)<br />
<br />
<i>& Sons</i> by David Gilbert<br />
(audiobook, narrated by George Newbern)<br />
<br />
<i>Less Than Angels</i> by Barbara Pym<br />
(ebook, read on phone)<br />
<br />
<i>Ladies' Night</i> by Mary Kay Andrews<br />
(ebooks, narrated by Kathleen McInerney, CDs downloaded to ipod)<br />
<br />
<i>Memoirs of an Ex-Prom Queen</i> by Alix Kates Shulman<br />
(ebook, read on phone)<br />
<br />
<i>Sisterland</i> by Curtis Sittenfeld<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Rebecca Lowman, listened to on Playaway from library)<br />
<br />
<i>Instructions for a Heat Wave</i> by Maggie O'Farrell<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English</i> by Natasha Solomons<br />
(audiobook, narrated by James Adams)<br />
<br />
<i>The Writing Class</i> by Jincy Willett<br />
(paperback)<br />
<br />
<i>Big Brother</i> by Lionel Shriver<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Alice Rosengard)<br />
<br />
<i>Someday, Someday, Maybe</i> by Lauren Graham<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>Amy and Roger's Epic Detour</i> by Morgan Mason<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Suzy Jackson)<br />
<br />
<i>Amy Falls Down: A Novel</i> by Jincy Willett<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>The Gods of Gotham </i>by Lyndsay Faye<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Steven Boyer)<br />
<br />
<i>Going Away Shoes</i> by Jill McCorkle<br />
(ebook)<br />
<br />
<i>The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P.</i> by Adelle Waldman<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>Fangirl</i> by Rainbow Rowell<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Rebecca Lowman and Maxwell Caulfield)<br />
<br />
<i>Pride and Prejudice</i>* by Jane Austen<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Flo Gibson)<br />
<br />
<i>The Hive</i> by Gill Hornby<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Karen Cass)<br />
<br />
<i>Transatlantic</i> by Colum McCann<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Geraldine Hughes)<br />
<br />
<i>The Age of Miracles</i> by Karen Thompson Walker<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Emily Janice Card)<br />
<br />
<i>The Engagements</i> by J. Courtney Sullivan<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>Longbourn</i> by Jo Baker<br />
(hardcover)<br />
<br />
<i>Flanagan's Run</i> by Tom McNab<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Rupert Degas)<br />
<br />
<i>The Husband's Secret</i> by Liane Moriarty<br />
(hardcover)<br />
<br />
<i>The Circle</i> by Dave Eggers<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Dion Graham)<br />
<br />
<i>Stay Close</i> by Harlan Coben<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Scott Brick)<br />
<br />
<i>Return to Oakpine</i> by Ron Carlson<br />
(audiobook, narrated by David Aaron Baker) <br />
<br />
<i>Mad About the Boy</i> by Helen Fielding<br />
(hardcover)<br />
<br />
<i>Sheltering Rain</i> by Jojo Moyes<br />
(ebook)<br />
<br />
<i>Her Royal Spyness</i> by Rhys Bowen<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Katherine Kellgren)<br />
<br />
<i>A Nantucket Christmas</i> by Nancy Thayer<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion</i> by Fannie Flagg<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Fannie Flagg)<br />
<br />
<i>The Perfume Collector</i> by Kathleen Tessaro<br />
(ebook)<br />
<br />
<i>The Twelve Clues of Christmas</i> by Rhys Bowen<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Katherine Kellgren)<br />
<br />
<i>The Obituary Writer</i> by Ann Hood<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Tavia Gilbert)<br />
<br />
<i>Heft </i>by Liz Moore<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Kirby Heyborne & Keith Szarabajka)<br />
<br />
<i>Christmas Bliss</i> by Mary Kay Andrews<br />
(ebook)<br />
<br />
<i>Stay</i> by Allie Larkin<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Julia Whelan)<br />
<br />
<i>The Debutante</i> by Kathleen Tessaro<br />
(ebook)<br />
<br />
<b>MEMOIRS and NON-FICTION</b><br />
<i>The Commitment</i> by Dan Savage<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Paul Michael Garcia)<br />
<br />
<i>The Dinner Diaries: Raising Whole Wheat Kids in a White Bread World</i> by Betsy Block<br />
(ebook)<br />
<br />
<i>Below Stairs: The Classic Kitchen Maid's Memoir That Inspired "Upstairs, Downstairs" and "Downton Abbey" </i>by Margaret Powell<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>Servants' Hall: A Real Life Upstairs, Downstairs Romance</i> by Margaret Powell<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>Wheat Belly </i>by William Davis<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Tom Weiner)<br />
<br />
<i>Does This Church Make Me Look Fat?: A Mennonite Finds Faith, Meets Mr. Right, and Solves Her Lady Problems</i> by Rhoda Janzen<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>You Must Go and Win</i> by Alina Simone<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Alina Simone)<br />
<br />
<i>Elsewhere: A Memoir </i>by Richard Russo<br />
(hardback)<br />
<br />
<i>Give Me Everything You Have: On Being Stalked </i>by James Lasdun<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast </i>by Laura Vanderkam<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
(audiobook, narrated by Laura Vanderkam)</div>
<br />
<i>I Can't Complain: (All Too) Personal Essays </i>by Elinor Lipman<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls: Essays, Etc.</i> by David Sedaris<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>My Misspent Youth: Essays</i> by Meghan Daum<br />
(ebook, Readmill app on iphone)<br />
<br />
<i>She Matters: A Life in Friendships </i>by Susan Sonnenberg<br />
(hardcover)<br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<i>Blue Plate Special: An Autobiography of My Appetites </i>by Kate Christensen<br />
(hardcover)<br />
<br />
<i>After Visiting Friends: A Son's Story</i> by Michael Hainey<br />
(hardcover)<br />
<br />
<i>Call the Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, Joy, and Hard Times</i> by Jennifer Worth<br />
(audiobook, narrated by Nicola Barber)<br />
<br />
<i>Dad is Fat</i> by Jim Gaffigan<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>"You Have Lipstick on Your Teeth" and Other Things You'll Only Hear from Your Friends in the Powder Room</i> by Leslie Marinelli (and many other female bloggers)<br />
(ebook)<br />
<br />
<i>Seriously... I'm Kidding</i> by Ellen DeGeneres<br />
(audiobook, narrated by the author)<br />
<br />
<i>Confessions of a Latter-Day Virgin: A Memoir</i> by Nicole Hardy<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>Along the Way: The Journey of a Father and Son</i> by Martin Sheen & Emilio Estevez<br />
(audiobook, narrated by the authors)<br />
<br />
<i>The Murder of the Century: The Gilded Age Crime that Scandalized a City and Sparked the Tabloid Wars</i> by Paul Collins<br />
(audiobook, narrated by William Dufris)<br />
<br />
<i>You're Not Pretty Enough</i> by Jennifer Tress<br />
(ebook)<br />
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<i>* indicates a re-read.</i><br />
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<i>Unless otherwise noted, all audiobooks are through audible.com and listened to on my phone or iPod. All ebooks are from the Kindle store.</i><br />
<br />mephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03074153090546740903noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436677792458357476.post-5478259154993053512012-07-15T15:45:00.001-05:002012-07-15T18:03:16.935-05:00Cheers for 40 Years!<br />
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On a hot July day in 1972, a young nurse and a guy who had
graduated from college a month or so before, met in front of the altar at St.
Ann’s Church in Hamilton. The
bridesmaids wore long-sleeved red dresses with white polka dots. The groom and groomsmen looked
handsome, if a little sweaty. The
bride with her long, blond, straight hair was beautiful. And brave and strong. Her dad had passed away in April, and
her brother gave her away. </div>
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They said “I do” and their journey together continued.</div>
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That was forty years ago today. That couple is my parents. </div>
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Each marriage is its own story, the truth and heart of that
story known only by two people. The
highlights of my parents’ story:
four houses, five children, three sons-in-law, two (almost officially)
daughters-in-law, nine grandchildren and counting, plenty of communication,
compromise, teamwork, forgiveness, laughter, and love. Good times, bad times, sickness,
health, poorer, richer. </div>
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The story of what my parents’ marriage has meant to me and
my siblings can be told in one word:
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">everything</i>. As a kid, it gives you comfort,
security, and confidence to know that your parents are always going to show up,
for each other and for you. Whether we needed a pep talk, a sympathetic ear, a hug, a
trip to Kroger for a new poster board, my parents were there. Still are, though there is less need
for poster board these days. We got
to every practice, lesson, game, match, and meet and had our mom and/or dad
there cheering for us. A miracle
of teamwork, communication, and transportation if there ever was one,
especially considering how often my dad’s job required him to travel. </div>
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My parents have always prioritized family time, whether it
was a beach vacation, a quick trip to McDonalds after mass, a drive to Flub’s, a
surprise outing to Chuck E. Cheese or Kings Island (almost thirty years later,
I can remember the thrill of such surprises), or Thursday night with all of us piled onto the big blue
sectional watching some TV or laughing together. I am so thankful to my parents for giving us so many happy memories and, most of all, for being <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">present.</i></div>
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In a couple of weeks, my husband and I will celebrate nine
years of marriage, a drop in the bucket compared to forty, so I’m hesitant to
lay claim to too much matrimonial wisdom.
What I will offer is that you know when you say “I do” that it won’t be
all sunshine and wedding cake and smiling for photos. You understand you are on the hook for the bad times, the
poorer, the sickness, but you’re hoping you’ll get off easy. But whatever each moment, day, month,
or year brings, you do your best to say “I do.” I’m here. I’m
with you. I’ve got your back. We’re in this together.</div>
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I can’t thank my parents enough for saying “I do” over and
over in their words and actions. They’ve
said yes to each other and their family in times of small commission checks,
failed sump pumps, endless nursing home visits, tuition bills, and cancer. Together, they’ve said goodbye to four
parents. On the flip side, they’ve
shared the joy of games won, graduations, weddings, births, and countless other small
and joyful moments. </div>
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Though they have different but complementary personalities,
my parents share a sense of compassion, generosity, loyalty, and steadiness. When friends and family members have
struggled with illnesses, losses, and other challenges, my parents have been
strong enough to offer love, support, and welcome. Together they are truly a light for the world. </div>
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Love shared and given away somehow grows and multiplies.</div>
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Each marriage is its own story. Some stories are longer than others, with different lessons,
endings, and kinds of love. I
treasure all these stories and feel blessed to have been born three chapters into one
of the really good ones.</div>
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Many, many years ago, a little girl named Kathy was riding
her bike and fell off. Supposedly,
a little boy named Kevin laughed at her.
Who knew that one day they would be high school sweethearts? Who knew they would get married and
stay married for forty years and counting? Despite scrapes and falls and flat tires, life is funny and
surprising and mostly good … especially when you choose the best companion you
can and keep saying “I do.”</div>
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I do. See
you. Hear you. Remember you. Support you.
Love you.</div>
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We do. Learn
from you. Love you. Congratulations on 40 years, Mom and
Dad! </div>
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<br /></div>mephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03074153090546740903noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436677792458357476.post-39451774416427037932012-05-23T23:26:00.004-05:002012-05-23T23:29:41.651-05:00Check the freezer.I was half-drafting this post in my head for the past couple of days, wanting to frame it within a conversation about parenting. Should I as a parent know exactly what my boys (ages 6 and almost 4) are doing every minute of the day? Whether I should or should not, I do not. I do not know exactly what they are doing every minute, but I know they are being kids. Making messes. Being curious. Sneaking snacks. Having fun. Figuring things out.<br />
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How, specifically, they spent some of their time this past Saturday was not made known until Sunday morning when I was looking for Sweet P's other shoe. I was only one shoe away from having all three kids ready for church.<br />
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I'll let Bub tell you the story. It was his idea to write about it.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UgNXjp91eH4/T72xY1ZXYgI/AAAAAAAABnc/swCAkdzbV2I/s1600/photo-179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UgNXjp91eH4/T72xY1ZXYgI/AAAAAAAABnc/swCAkdzbV2I/s640/photo-179.JPG" title="" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I handwrote the title as dictated by Bub. I helped with spelling when asked.<br />
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As a personal narrative written by a kindergartener, here's a superior piece of writing. NTB. Readers can be pretty clear about what happened. He wrapped his sister's shoe in a wet towel and placed that bundle in the freezer. Were we to have a writing conference, however, I'd ask some key questions to flesh out the story ...<br />
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<i>Why</i> did you wrap your sister's shoe in a wet towel and freeze it? </div>
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According to your story, your mom said "you're kidding," but <i>how</i> did she say it? Was she laughing at the joke? Frustrated? Angry? Completely surprised that a wet towel had been in her small, overcrowded freezer overnight without her noticing?</div>
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How funny did everything seem to you when your mom checked the freezer?</div>
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How long did it take for your sister's shoe to thaw? Was it ruined? Did she end up having to wear brand new shoes that did not fit her yet to church?</div>
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Were you punished or just given a talking to?</div>
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What did you learn?</div>
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We did not have a writing conference, though I repeated the <i>why</i> question this afternoon. His answer on Sunday: "I wanted to see if it would freeze." His answer today, after finishing his story: "I wanted something to write about." Someone's trying to play/please his English teacher mom. Nice spin, Bub.</div>
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I <i>was </i>angry and frustrated, but not for long. Bub started crying and saying, "Kids my age do crazy things, you know." I do know. I also know that part of my job as a mom is to give him the freedom to make some decisions and some mistakes. His dad and I talked to him about thinking through the consequences of his actions. What if Sweet P's shoe was ruined? What if it had been her only pair and we did not have the funds to replace them?</div>
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What if his mom tried to pry open the folds of the frozen towel and cracked her left thumbnail into the nail bed, ripping skin, causing bleeding, requiring a bandaid, and making it painful even days later to press the home button on her phone or use the car clicker? </div>
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For the record, the shoe was able to be released from the towel in the early afternoon. It was still damp Monday morning. It was not ruined. </div>
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My left thumb still hurts a lot. </div>
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All in all, I feel so pleased that he wanted to write the story that I'm over the whole thing.</div>
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How would you have reacted? How much freedom do you give your kids?</div>
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<br /></div>mephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03074153090546740903noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436677792458357476.post-90182983679532183062012-04-29T22:48:00.003-05:002012-05-30T07:12:20.608-05:00Spring in My Step ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In place of a thoughtful, well-crafted post, I offer a series of photos capturing things that have put some "spring" in our step the past couple of months. What's given us some pep. Yep. </div>
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You may know that I'm a real sucker for good-smelling, slightly-overpriced cleaning products available at Target. All spring I've been enjoying the limited edition Method "lime + sea salt" all-purpose spray and the dish soap. I've also been enjoying looking at the fabric swatch (hanging on window since October. See background of photo) for the kitchen curtains I hope to have made someday.</div>
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While we're in the kitchen, how about these adorable "dwink" holders? I use juice pouches or those flavored milk cartons when we are on-the-go for t-ball, eating in the car on the way to swim lessons, or having lunch at a park or play place. And, okay, fine, I also pass them out at lunch at home some days too. Never fails that Sweet P will squeeze half her beverage on her outfit. Found this nifty solution at our local toy store. Pop in the beverage pouch and your child uses the handles instead of causing a mini explosion with injudicious squeezing. Seems to work.</div>
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At the risk of looking obsessed with beverages, I'll also brag on my new straw holder. We're phasing out sippy cups around here and rock a lot of cups (often lidded) with straws. Now, don't get me wrong, it was a lot of fun keeping the straws in a plastic cup in the cupboard and having that cup topple and its contents scatter a couple of times a week. But this glass canister that I found at Home Goods for $4.99 and filled with colorful straws from IKEA? It's more fun. </div>
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My kids think root beer is just about the biggest treat ever so I decided to blow their minds with root beer floats a few weeks ago. I had one myself. Forgot what a delightful combination root beer and vanilla ice cream is. </div>
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Cousins always make us happy, and we had a great visit from a few cousins over Easter. It's not often that ALL the cousins are in one spot (hopefully this summer), but whenever two or more are gathered, there is love and fun and chaos. </div>
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Here are two of the "little girl cousins" over Easter weekend. What I love about this photo is that at ages 3 and 2, they are posing like they are little tweens or something. </div>
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I can't remember now when we first went through the house we are now living in. Maybe in late April or early May of last year. Whatever the time frame, we definitely missed the blooming of the trees. The bloom has come and pretty much gone by now, but what a treat it was to discover that four trees in our yard were just gorgeous. <br />
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While we're in our yard, I need to share this photo of Bub. He hauled a kiddie chair up into the swing set and settled in to relax and read his <i>Oriental Trading</i> catalogue. I'd love to enjoy a spring breeze and a good book up there myself. <br />
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This next smile-maker was more of a winter favorite, but I found the photo on my phone and had to share. The kids and I found these <i>Duck Tales</i> DVDs at the library, and they were really into them for a while. Got us through a couple late winter afternoon witching hours. I defy anyone to pop one of these in and resist singing and dancing along to the theme song. Definitely a spring-in-your-step kind of song that lends itself to big swoopy, swingy arm movements and some popping jazz hands. We're fans. <br />
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Grandma and Grandpa visited last weekend. We had a nice dinner cooked on the grill, and I decided to pick up an iced cookie cake from Jewel so we could sing Happy Birthday to our little Sweet P one more time. The picture is blurry, but I'm sharing it to remind you not to overlook the iced cookie cake from the grocery store. It's so tasty. Every person at the table enjoyed it. An easy and inexpensive item to add some celebratory flair to a meal.</div>
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And for anyone tempted to be like, "Oh, MEP, do you know how much HFCS and hydrogenated oils are in the grocery store cookie cakes?" I would also like to share this photo of the beautiful vegetables that were part of our meal. Not that my kids ate them. </div>
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As I write this, I'm eagerly awaiting the return of spring weather and all the summer fun to come. Life is good here, and I hope the same is true for you.</div>
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What's putting a spring in your step this spring? Please share in the comments.</div>
<br />mephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03074153090546740903noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436677792458357476.post-59107560551214577212012-04-10T21:35:00.024-05:002012-04-10T22:55:24.089-05:00Homeward Unbound -- Spring Break 2012<div style="text-align: left;">Spring Break 1982: My parents had kids ages 8, 6, 4, and 2. Will have to double-check, but I'm pretty sure that spring break was spent in Fairfield, OH.</div><div></div><div>Spring Break 1992: One of our many happy spring break trips to Florida with lots of other families. I believe we were in Panama City Beach that year.</div><div>Spring Break 2002: Hubby (then-fiance) and I were both in graduate school. We went to Disney World during his spring break, but I'm pretty sure I traveled to Fairfield, OH for mine.</div><div>Spring Break 2012: I pack up the kids and drive the van to Fairfield, OH.</div><div><br /></div><div>You see the trend, right? Fairfield, OH is one of my favorite spring break destinations. Really, it is. </div><div>There is no feeling in the world like going home. As an often-harried mom of young kids, it is a wonderful treat to be in a place where I am a mother <i>and</i> a daughter. Where my awesome dad takes donut orders each evening before bed and makes his grandkids laugh by warning them that he'll dump buckets of water on anyone he catches snoring. Where my mom will come out of her bedroom in the six o'clock hour when I am starting my day with Sweet P and <i>Melmo</i> and say, "Go on back to bed, Meg. I can sleep in whenever I want to."</div><div>Where I can sit at dinner with some of my oldest and most treasured friends in the world, listening and talking for three hours and thinking, as I drive away, that I could have sat in that seat with my empty wine and water glasses for even hours longer.</div><div>Where we hang out with my sister and her girls as much as we can -- dinners, afternoon playtime, playing outside at Grammy and Pop's, a soccer game, a birthday party -- good, easy, fun times, a glimpse of the life we might share if I lived closer.</div><div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ey7HaQDAV3E/T4TyZfVkwXI/AAAAAAAABjo/odFVG_KBmLc/s320/photo-156.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729971145644753266" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; " /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Cousin dress-up. Classic. Bub and Swiper as, um ...</i><i>eighties movie tourists?</i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IXGJtfZHBzA/T4TyZqujU4I/AAAAAAAABjw/BDkopY5vxdw/s320/photo-157.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729971148702307202" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px; " /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>My little bride and her police officer could not be any sweeter.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div>Where we get to spend time with beloved Uncle Boo, heading to the backyard to test out all the new t-ball gear.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uFkKqTUp4gg/T4Tx0MWrqgI/AAAAAAAABjc/tzU7YhcaWJ8/s320/photo-155.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729970504893966850" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Bub: "Uncle Boo gave me a really good tip. When you are hitting, you're supposed to stare at the ball." </i> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">Where we can go around to all the angel statues (many were my Grandma P's) that live in the garden and give each an acorn hat.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pGNRA69UpZ4/T4T7FO6PMNI/AAAAAAAABlI/2hUr_ps2ypc/s320/photo-164.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729980693242392786" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px; " /></span><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--JXGswu6UJ4/T4TxzAzOlGI/AAAAAAAABjA/e0fgRtNZdPA/s320/photo-153.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729970484612600930" style="text-align: left; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Where the grub is good. Meals from my mom's kitchen as well as Skyline, Frisch's, Graeter's, Dewey's, and Flub's.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9RRcp-yDBqs/T4TxyRAf3sI/AAAAAAAABis/BGFN9YIh48A/s320/photo-151.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729970471783358146" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>My more restrained choice at our second trip to Flub's: small vanilla cone with crunch coating. Okay, fine, it was a medium. Earlier in the week, I enjoyed my annual Cousin Weezie's Reese's Pieces Cyclone.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div>And speaking of food, I can't forget to mention Bub's culinary masterpiece. He wanted to create a special dessert for pizza night with his cousins. Grammy was able to make his vision a reality.</div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ey7HaQDAV3E/T4TyZfVkwXI/AAAAAAAABjo/odFVG_KBmLc/s1600/photo-156.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3-AH4KTRrS4/T4TxzaqNeTI/AAAAAAAABjQ/Ahh2YOKzMH4/s320/photo-154.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729970491554101554" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I present "Brownies José" (Bub 100% responsible for that name) -- brownies, frosting, and gummy worms. Bub's original recipe also called for whipped cream, but we were able to talk him out of that. Why mess with perfection? </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>We also had some fun field trips -- EnterTRAINment Junction (continuing to add more cool stuff) and the Cincinnati Zoo (zoo zoo you can come too too too). I failed to get a photo that did justice to the beauty of the tulips blooming at the zoo, but trust me, they were gorgeous. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bkdJH1wukVE/T4TyZ9vL26I/AAAAAAAABkA/r2ohtUnIOAE/s320/photo-158.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729971153805237154" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i>As gorgeous as this beauty who posed for us.</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qbtu9JAIc_4/T4Tys37kFnI/AAAAAAAABkk/cUsAs0UcbaA/s320/photo-161.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729971478664058482" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i>Tulips in even more colors than those of Sweet P's coat. Please note Sweet P's pained expression, evidence that we have moved into a new frustrating stage where she detests being buckled into a stroller yet would prefer to stand in front of the stroller playing with its buckles than to, say, walk on her own.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kJENnHiq6gk/T4TytpfSEbI/AAAAAAAABkw/0oOdnxTRc5Q/s320/photo-162.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729971491967209906" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px; " /></span></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Little Bit enjoyed the zoo. However, my mom and I made the mistake of taking a teachable moment to talk about extinction and endangered species. Little Bit then kept obsessively asking about why "all the animals are dying" and "why the animals kill each other" (???).</span></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yVObZVoEl0s/T4T7FQSsmBI/AAAAAAAABlU/4n8K1kHJx9o/s320/photo-165.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729980693613418514" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I just have to mention the new (at least to me) Night Hunters exhibit, which was super cool. There is poetry everywhere, setting the mood and describing the specific hunters. Loved it. I probably photographed six poems in there, but am showing restraint and only sharing one.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">So it was good to be home in Ohio and then good to come home to Chicago. There are no places (plural) like home(s). </div><div style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">For those of you wondering where the heck I've been (besides Fairfield, OH), I'm trying to jump back into blogging. It's only stuff like laundry, kitchen clean-up, and general exhaustion getting in my way. Here are some teaser topics: our awesome March trip to Florida, complete with pirates; the pantry organization I did that will make women of Pinterest everywhere weep before its beauty, NTB; the story of the ice cream sandwiches I loved and lost and my attempt to replace them; the new cleaning spray that makes my heart sing; all the cool stuff growing in my yard; cardinals everywhere; speculation about why when I parked at the library yesterday, I saw there were grown men sleeping in the cars on <i>both</i> sides of me; and so much more. Stay tuned. Come back. Leave a comment telling me how you spent spring break.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></i></span></span></div>mephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03074153090546740903noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436677792458357476.post-34952956803919858202012-02-23T15:00:00.024-06:002012-03-21T15:51:29.728-05:00RWOP: Play Dodo<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Century Gothic","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:11.0pt;"></span></p><center><a href="http://www.nottobrag.net/" target="_blank"><p></p></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Seeking supporting data for my Mother of the Year nomination form? Look no further! Presenting this week's Real Women of Pinterest offering ... homemade playdough!</p></center>I was totally kidding about MOTY as making your own playdough turns out to be no biggie. It's cheap, easy, and less messy than you might think. A Pinterest pin led me to <a href="http://www.playdoughrecipe.org/playdough-recipes/kool-aid-playdough-recipe-2/">this site devoted to playdough recipes, including a Kool-Aid one</a>. I chose the Kool-Aid one because it looked easy and I thought it would smell good.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x6nVJYEyzjY/T0arTvUT8zI/AAAAAAAABhs/6jbNbDjsQ4M/s1600/IMG_2476.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x6nVJYEyzjY/T0arTvUT8zI/AAAAAAAABhs/6jbNbDjsQ4M/s400/IMG_2476.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712441532973577010" border="0" /></a>Excitement mounts as I stage the ingredients. First, combine a cup of flour, a half cup of salt, and a packet of Kool-Aid in a medium or large bowl.<br /><br />Since the kids were "helping" me, I gave them each a bowl staged with the flour and salt. I tried to make them feel involved by letting each choose a Kool-aid packet/playdough color. I asked them to stir what was in their bowl without getting the ingredients on the table.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m40PgxqI76Q/T0atTFlXH9I/AAAAAAAABic/rWTl7137lpM/s1600/IMG_2479.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m40PgxqI76Q/T0atTFlXH9I/AAAAAAAABic/rWTl7137lpM/s400/IMG_2479.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712443720794054610" border="0" /></a>My daughter Sweet P was unable to follow my directions. <span style="font-style: italic;">Note: this project is not ideal for the stubborn and under two years-old set.</span><br /><br />After the dry stuff is combined, add three tablespoons of corn oil (original recipe I saw called for corn oil, but others I found just said "oil." I used corn oil) and a cup of boiling water. I had the kids stand back while I did the pouring of boiling water (had two saucepans going, with one cup of water in each) and the initial stirring. Once it cooled a bit, I let the kids help stir and then kneaded it a bit myself (was still a little warmish, but I am tough).<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mPSSQ7H0a3U/T0armwHUAZI/AAAAAAAABiA/VJGdW7tt-3g/s1600/IMG_2483.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mPSSQ7H0a3U/T0armwHUAZI/AAAAAAAABiA/VJGdW7tt-3g/s400/IMG_2483.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712441859605004690" border="0" /></a>Here is Sweet P, thinking she is stirring a batch of playdough that is already finished! Though it was not much fun to have her "helping," she was pretty darn happy to be involved!<br /><br />Scrape together some plastic containers or baggies for storing the playdough and let cool.<br /><br />We actually had two playdough making sessions over the long weekend because the first time around I only had enough salt for two batches.<br /><br />Play playdough.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZUaGmClIGTA/T0aqRZEiOpI/AAAAAAAABhg/GQmQlGxqM4E/s1600/photo-134.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZUaGmClIGTA/T0aqRZEiOpI/AAAAAAAABhg/GQmQlGxqM4E/s400/photo-134.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712440393130457746" border="0" /></a>Little Bit and I had some bonus "alone time" the other day and sat down and played together. (Take a peek at the disorganized pantry in the background. That's a top priority Pinterest project -- stay tuned).<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4njE9SErUQk/T0aqRNANsVI/AAAAAAAABhU/XZPIUoR2vSs/s1600/photo-135.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4njE9SErUQk/T0aqRNANsVI/AAAAAAAABhU/XZPIUoR2vSs/s400/photo-135.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712440389891109202" border="0" /></a>This robot was a team effort. NTB. If you closely examine the wax paper "play mat," you might note a little greasiness. One of my batches of playdough did seem a little oily. The recipe called for one cup of flour but noted in parentheses that you can do up to two cups. That's a lot more recipe flexibility than I am comfortable with so I stuck with the one cup. Likely a teeny bit more flour would have cut down the oil factor. I guess we could have floured our hands before playing to add to the festive spirit of it all.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9lKYzMFbElQ/T0aqPvKNAUI/AAAAAAAABhI/stAUBRHlfvM/s1600/photo-136.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9lKYzMFbElQ/T0aqPvKNAUI/AAAAAAAABhI/stAUBRHlfvM/s400/photo-136.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712440364700074306" border="0" /></a>Here's an up close look at the playdough made from one packet of fruit punch and one packet of grape Kool-Aid. I'm not up on all the latest Kool-Aid flavors these days, but I will warn you that the blue packet makes red fruit punch not blue. I didn't see any green packets. The lemonade was not vibrant at all but might have been if we had used two packets (hard to say, really, as that was the batch attempted from Sweet P's remains and not quite enough salt). The photo above makes the playdough look dry, but it's really pretty easy to mold.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_YM7OoMZcTw/T0aqO-6uf1I/AAAAAAAABg8/WtE2RBrMLYs/s1600/photo-137.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_YM7OoMZcTw/T0aqO-6uf1I/AAAAAAAABg8/WtE2RBrMLYs/s400/photo-137.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712440351750258514" border="0" /></a>Here are some more of our colors. I read that you can add food coloring to enhance the hues of your homemade playdough, but I didn't bother. I didn't want the kids' hands to get stained or anything (did not happen with the Kool-Aid).<br /><br />I don't know about the shelf-life of Kool-Aid playdough, but rest assured Bub already has plans. He (semi-obsessively) collects marbles and thinks that when we are done playing with the playdough, we can combine colors, roll them into marble-sized balls, and let them harden. Why not?<br /><br />If Pinterest has inspired you to try something new lately, I'd love to hear about it. Share in the comments. Bloggers, link up your posts below. Friendly readers, send me your pics -- mep AT nottobrag DOT net.<br /><br />Just keep pinning. Just keep pinning. Just keep pinning.<br /><br /><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=132834" type="text/javascript"></script>mephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03074153090546740903noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436677792458357476.post-60860058765489924962012-02-15T22:02:00.023-06:002012-02-15T23:23:56.886-06:00RWOP: Pins to the Left, Pins to the RightCrack open a fresh Diet Coke, ladies and gents. I've got lots of Real Women of Pinterest-ing to share this week.<br /><br />First, some quickies ...<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o-lwOmTjBMY/TzyA_AeapbI/AAAAAAAABfQ/XQwbwOA4ITE/s1600/photo-130.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o-lwOmTjBMY/TzyA_AeapbI/AAAAAAAABfQ/XQwbwOA4ITE/s400/photo-130.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709580247546635698" border="0" /></a>The popular pin about using a cupcake liner as a drip shield for popsicles proved ingenious. Little Bit easily consumes four popsicles a week. It's his favorite afternoon snack. Year round. Typically, he requests that I swaddle his popsicle stick with a paper towel. The swaddle never stays put, and my checking of Facebook and Pinterest is often interrupted for re-swaddling duty. But looky now -- the cupcake liner does the trick and looks cute to boot. Less waste as well. If only I could find the pin about not wearing one's lunch on one's shirt (pink for Valentine's Day, of course).<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8YZwZZJ5lYg/TzyBXOPLPVI/AAAAAAAABfw/T5vQO7PGXgE/s1600/photo-132.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8YZwZZJ5lYg/TzyBXOPLPVI/AAAAAAAABfw/T5vQO7PGXgE/s400/photo-132.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709580663557668178" border="0" /></a>The semi-popular pin from a few months back that suggested using large dollar store chip clips as playing card holders = at least one thumb down. Bub and I tested out our chip clip card holders during a game of Sight Word Go Fish with our <a href="http://www.nottobrag.net/2011/11/pick-card-any-card.html">customized sight word playing cards</a>. I was able to maneuver my cards within the grasp of the chip clip, but finesse was required. When Bub opened his chip clip to add, subtract, or shift a card ... all the cards fell out. Every single time. Maybe when he gets a little older or more dextrous.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8YZwZZJ5lYg/TzyBXOPLPVI/AAAAAAAABfw/T5vQO7PGXgE/s1600/photo-132.JPG"><br /></a>In the photo below, Bub is thinking, "Wow. My mom is amazing. Not only did she obtain these dollar store chip clips, but look how easily she organizes and maneuvers her cards. When I grow up, I want to be just like her."<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RSIPBP4nXaw/TzyBXvE32WI/AAAAAAAABf8/512jCW5ZMfg/s1600/photo-133.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RSIPBP4nXaw/TzyBXvE32WI/AAAAAAAABf8/512jCW5ZMfg/s400/photo-133.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709580672372824418" border="0" /></a>I have my dear friend E... to thank for the idea (one of her first pins) of using toothpicks and marshmallows for construction. Read <a href="http://www.smallafterall.com/2012/02/of-marshmallows-and-rice.html">all about her toothpick architects here</a>. My boys enjoyed eating and building for about fifteen minutes, maybe twelve. I'll take it.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bopD4lxfNQ0/TzyA_gR4zNI/AAAAAAAABfY/Brg36PAQJzA/s1600/photo-131.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bopD4lxfNQ0/TzyA_gR4zNI/AAAAAAAABfY/Brg36PAQJzA/s400/photo-131.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709580256084020434" border="0" /></a>Is that Diet Coke still cold? I'm just getting warmed up. I had every intention of trying that pin where you photograph your child holding his/her hand out and then print the photos and attach a sucker to that hand. My sister LAP apparently nailed it with those, but since she hasn't sent me the proof we'll just have to take her word for it.<br /><br />Little Bit and Sweet P had store-bought Valentines with a little photo (printed on full-sheet labels) stuck on the back.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--AloY7ZaiW0/TzyOn7Inp1I/AAAAAAAABgI/0FbTBkEunGg/s1600/IMG_2439.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 252px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--AloY7ZaiW0/TzyOn7Inp1I/AAAAAAAABgI/0FbTBkEunGg/s400/IMG_2439.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709595244138833746" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pnVYrdQJDAU/TzyOodfQzTI/AAAAAAAABgU/gX9IuIv9RVw/s1600/IMG_2443.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pnVYrdQJDAU/TzyOodfQzTI/AAAAAAAABgU/gX9IuIv9RVw/s400/IMG_2443.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709595253360610610" border="0" /></a>Bub's Valentine is self-explanatory, despite the crappy photography. Note to self: start such projects before 6 p.m. on February 13th so that you can take decent photos in natural light instead of overly yellow ones because you don't know how to use your camera.<br /><br />Printed Bub's photo on sticker paper and attached to pieces of cardstock (four cards per page).<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IT5n1Z6olTY/TzyOoqrrWJI/AAAAAAAABgg/IXADkUj3GLA/s1600/IMG_2455.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 263px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IT5n1Z6olTY/TzyOoqrrWJI/AAAAAAAABgg/IXADkUj3GLA/s400/IMG_2455.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709595256902342802" border="0" /></a>Also photographed his "your friend" and cut it out and affixed it. He then signed his own name on each card. I thought they were cute!<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--UJFCbSMbt4/TzyOpMy9IMI/AAAAAAAABgs/pzwoLj_c9V0/s1600/IMG_2474.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 100px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--UJFCbSMbt4/TzyOpMy9IMI/AAAAAAAABgs/pzwoLj_c9V0/s400/IMG_2474.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709595266059673794" border="0" /></a>[Side note: I saw a blog post and also several tweets with some snide comments and eye rolling about homemade valentines. I just want to go on record as saying that some people (like myself and my Bub) enjoy doing that kind of stuff. Really.]<br /><br />Last and BEST of this week's Real Women of Pinterest post, I have a seasonal project from my friend Sue. We lived next door to each other freshman year of college and stayed up late each night, eating pizza nachos and talking about all the craft projects we hoped to accomplish over the weekend while the other girls were out drinking.<br /><br />A Chicagoland native, Sue spent years in Texas and now lives in New Orleans, where she recently finished taking the Louisiana bar exam. She's ready to join the Mardi Gras festivities now that the exam is over. I've included her explanation (italicized) and some photos of her awesome final product.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Well, here it is. My first (and likely only) completed Pinterest project. OK, not really completed if you look at my front door, as I need two wreaths. But, the second one will have to wait until after we attend our next parade on Friday. I used an absurd amount of beads on this. Glad I can restock for free, and have little helpers to grab up everything I need. </span> <div style="font-style: italic;">I started at <a href="http://sew-inlove.blogspot.com/2011/02/mardi-gras-bead-wreath-tutorial.html">this site.</a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GyH9ti6OAuA/TzyA-gZG5rI/AAAAAAAABfA/yf-8iffr5QM/s1600/20120213_214109.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GyH9ti6OAuA/TzyA-gZG5rI/AAAAAAAABfA/yf-8iffr5QM/s400/20120213_214109.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709580238934435506" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aREMZdMnc6s/TzyA-YZQm4I/AAAAAAAABe0/YmFP3iwGl_8/s1600/20120213_232351.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aREMZdMnc6s/TzyA-YZQm4I/AAAAAAAABe0/YmFP3iwGl_8/s400/20120213_232351.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709580236787587970" border="0" /></a></div> <div style="font-style: italic;">But of course, every craft store in the New Orleans area is out of that wire wreath ring (I was told many times that they are on a boat from China.). So white styrofoam had to do. You can see the white peek through a little (shows up more in photo than in daylight), but I have low standards when it comes to seasonal crafty things, so I just rolled with it. I still wrapped the foam ring with floral wire, which I only needed to get started. Once I attached one strand for that bottom layer (the green/purple), I could lock the next strand to the previous. That worked better than I thought. The top layer is three strands (gold, purple, green) braided, with one strand attached to the next, for what seemed like eternity. Used a little hot glue for a few places that looked insecure, added the little masks and draped the beads over top. I'm happy with how it turned out, but too bad its a little late (Mardi Gras is less than a week away, and most people have had their doors/mailboxes decorated since mid-January). At least I'm ready for next year!</div> <div style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gFcEKKPqPcM/TzyBW3liF4I/AAAAAAAABfk/E1Qz6JlbpFg/s1600/20120215_082915.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gFcEKKPqPcM/TzyBW3liF4I/AAAAAAAABfk/E1Qz6JlbpFg/s400/20120215_082915.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709580657477425026" border="0" /></a></div><div style="font-style: italic;">Thanks for inspiring me to become a Real Woman on Pinterest!<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /></div>Thank YOU for sharing and for reminding us all of a key to keeping it real and enjoying Pinterest-ing: just roll with it. Also, how about we pause to admire how completely gorgeous Sue's front door is. Even without the Mardi Gras wreath, I'd pin that door.<br /><br />If you've been inspired by Pinterest, link up your posts below or send me pics of your Pinterest creation -- mep AT nottobrag DOT net.<br /><br />Also, please pause to admire this button that my friend Christina made for this RWOP endeavor.<br />Visit <a href="http://spilledmilkshake.com/2012/real-women-of-pinterest-bloghop-crafts-yarn-wrapped-candle-holders/">this post of hers if you want the code to get your own RWOP button</a>.<br /><center><a target="_blank" href="http://spilledmilkshake.com/category/rwop/"><br /><img src="http://spilledmilkshake.com/MyImages/rwophop175.jpg" /></a><br /></center><br /><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=131529" type="text/javascript"></script>mephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03074153090546740903noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436677792458357476.post-39283932194360251222012-02-08T17:27:00.010-06:002012-02-08T23:47:08.792-06:00RWOP: So-so DiggityWhen I started this blog almost five years ago, I didn't foresee a future where I'd post photos of my children's dinner. But here we are. Me, you, and some corn dog muffins, inspired by this <a href="http://iowagirleats.com/2012/01/30/super-bowl-recipe-week-mini-corn-dog-muffins/">Pinterest pin about mini corn dog muffins</a>.<br /><br />I've discovered that my operating procedure for Pinterest projects is as follows: look at the photo, glance once at the original post, give it a whirl.<br /><br />So for the mini corn dog muffins, I thought, "I have two boxes of corn muffin mix and some hot dogs, let's go." I photographed the whole process, but since my final product was iffy, I'm not going to tease/insult you with a detailed play-by-play.<br /><br />I followed the directions on the box, sliced my hot dogs in paranoid no-choke slivers, and let the kids stick them in the middle of the muffin cups.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RWj2OMdxrBI/TzMFYc0bxUI/AAAAAAAABeE/GPqIeW3pd6g/s1600/photo-127.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RWj2OMdxrBI/TzMFYc0bxUI/AAAAAAAABeE/GPqIeW3pd6g/s400/photo-127.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706911070419666242" border="0" /></a>Here they are fresh out of the oven. Although the appearance is a bit uneven, I think the slivers were a good call. I don't know that I would have felt comfortable having one large, circular, brownish/pinkish disc in the middle of each rounded muffin.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EWmCAmNBRw0/TzMFrE9D8nI/AAAAAAAABec/cK13OyL2NP4/s1600/photo-129.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EWmCAmNBRw0/TzMFrE9D8nI/AAAAAAAABec/cK13OyL2NP4/s400/photo-129.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706911390430917234" border="0" /></a>If I had more than glanced at the original pin, I would have noted the need to spray the muffin tins. I think it would have taken A LOT of spray, but the results might have been better than trying to peel the bitty cupcake liners off the crumbly corn muffins. With a little practice, I developed some finesse in unwrapping them, but still, greased tins would have been better<span style="text-decoration: underline;">.</span> [PLEASE, please, please, I'm begging you, please notice the fruit that is also on the plate.]<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HomgtcJirXA/TzMFYo2gvnI/AAAAAAAABeQ/-BFHYeE0Jmw/s1600/photo-128.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HomgtcJirXA/TzMFYo2gvnI/AAAAAAAABeQ/-BFHYeE0Jmw/s400/photo-128.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706911073649606258" border="0" /></a>Though it wasn't pretty, the oldest and the youngest ate about three each. The guy featured above polished off six.<br /><br />Honestly? I'd try it again. The kids seemed excited about the project even though the final product was crumbly. Next time, I'd spray the tins and try to figure out how to incorporate more protein.<br /><br />Any Pinteresting in your neck of the woods? Send photos to mep AT nottobrag DOT net or link up blog posts below.<br /><br />Until next week, march on, Real Women of Pinterest. Maybe the week to come will be the one where I find about twenty extra hours somewhere.<br /><br /><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=130333" type="text/javascript"></script>mephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03074153090546740903noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436677792458357476.post-81802423771886907042012-02-01T21:46:00.026-06:002012-02-01T23:03:35.720-06:00RWOP: Above Earth's LaminationAbout a year and a half ago, in the middle of the night, I was up nursing my daughter and making the rounds on my ipod touch -- Facebook, Twitter, <span style="font-style: italic;">People</span> app ... and apparently a little online shopping. While half asleep, I purchased a Scotch Thermal Laminator. It was a gold box special on Amazon and cost less than twenty bucks. By the time it arrived two days later, I had practically forgotten about it. I hid it in the closet my oldest called "Santa's Church" (???) and didn't reunite with this lamination station until we moved to our new digs.<br /><br />You may be thinking, "MEP, it's a laminating machine. I can't believe you didn't rip that bad boy open as soon as it arrived. How odd."<br /><br />A bit odd indeed, especially considering that the dream of ready access to lamination was one of the reasons why, from my girlhood on, I wanted to be a teacher. I have grade school memories of teachers entering the classroom with those huge glimmering sheets of lamination covering extra special student work, name tags for desks, or all the cool stuff for the bulletin boards. I was the kind of responsible, eager girl who might be asked (or was not too proud to beg) and entrusted to cut the individual items from the lamination. I could do it very carefully, sliding the scissors like a pro and leaving a perfect little border of lamination, all the while thinking, "I can't believe Mrs. Strouse does not want to do this HERSELF?!" Cutting out the laminated items seemed the height of pleasure and power.<br /><br />The sad truth is that though I realized my girlhood career dreams, I never had ready access to lamination as a high school teacher. In fact, before the first day of my first year, I made a very special poster that was crying out for lamination. I took it to Kinkos and it was laminated in a super sturdy plastic. Twas beautiful but cost something like thirty dollars which almost made MEP of 1997 throw up a little bit.<br /><br />Anyhoo ... I think I ignored the sleepshopping lamination machine because I knew that it required special lamination pouches and would not be generating immense glimmering sheets of goodness to slice.<br /><br />But then I saw those pouches at Target, realized they came in a variety of sizes, and started thinking about how I could use them. And now, I proudly present ... <span style="font-style: italic;">business card-sized laminated tags for those cloth bins that one can also buy at Target.</span><br /><br />With some cardstock, sticker paper, computer/printer, ribbon from my stash, a single hole punch, and the Scotch thermal laminator, I made a bunch of labels for the basement bins. For example ...<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--bUSE9ijfUY/TyoKCa4N49I/AAAAAAAABcg/lbBzDvaFvX0/s1600/photo-121.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--bUSE9ijfUY/TyoKCa4N49I/AAAAAAAABcg/lbBzDvaFvX0/s200/photo-121.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704382914709283794" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eLdSNyd3eWU/TyoKCPXEuUI/AAAAAAAABcY/kSoMYTgMKuQ/s1600/photo-120.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eLdSNyd3eWU/TyoKCPXEuUI/AAAAAAAABcY/kSoMYTgMKuQ/s200/photo-120.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704382911617481026" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Yes, you read that correctly: "defense" (it was that or "weapons" and we actually need two of those as we are heavy on lightsabers and plastic armor).<br /><br />I also made some labels for the bins in the playroom ...<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PVvzVeuKo58/TyoKaTyvg1I/AAAAAAAABdU/w1F7CYny9tw/s1600/photo-123.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PVvzVeuKo58/TyoKaTyvg1I/AAAAAAAABdU/w1F7CYny9tw/s200/photo-123.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704383325124133714" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kDm7jEUG9To/TyoKCr9IEKI/AAAAAAAABcw/kXtZsd7LOEQ/s1600/photo-122.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kDm7jEUG9To/TyoKCr9IEKI/AAAAAAAABcw/kXtZsd7LOEQ/s200/photo-122.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704382919293276322" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Excuse the crappy phone photography but those labels say "little creatures" and "special powers." I have since realized we need a label that reads "toy cell phones." Sad but true.<br /></div></div>Folks, I'm just getting started. Think adorable luggage tags. Think laundry room organization. Think bookmarks. Think something that could be written upon with dry erase markers. Think newspaper clippings if my children are ever in the newspaper. Think inspirational quotations (found on Pinterest, of course).<br /><br />Here it is: Scotch Thermal Laminator. Thirty bucks or less. I even spotted them at Walgreens.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--YFEQGZTSoI/TyoTrH_6IWI/AAAAAAAABd4/23lFcgw1ntM/s1600/710zzXvbkyL._AA1500_.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--YFEQGZTSoI/TyoTrH_6IWI/AAAAAAAABd4/23lFcgw1ntM/s320/710zzXvbkyL._AA1500_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704393509620556130" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Lest you think this post is a paid (or unpaid) promotion for Scotch instead of my weekly <a href="http://www.nottobrag.net/2011/11/real-women-of-pinterest-unite.html">Real Women of Pinterest </a>offering, I'm also sharing the latest project for the kids' changing seasonal frames. These fingerprint hearts (for Valentine's Day) are perhaps not as awesome as the <a href="http://www.nottobrag.net/2011/11/pinteresting.html">fall fingerprint trees</a> or even the <a href="http://www.nottobrag.net/2011/12/rwop-two-trick-christmas-pony.html">handprint Christmas trees</a>, but when we were finished with them, Little Bit said with his sweetest smile, "That was really fun, Mama." So there.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j5IgkG8m8dA/TyoKlQ3ej8I/AAAAAAAABds/EsRoNWKb5ek/s1600/photo-126.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j5IgkG8m8dA/TyoKlQ3ej8I/AAAAAAAABds/EsRoNWKb5ek/s200/photo-126.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704383513317248962" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NCaClSOZ_g4/TyoKlFiFkUI/AAAAAAAABdg/jsPEpwCadtA/s1600/photo-125.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NCaClSOZ_g4/TyoKlFiFkUI/AAAAAAAABdg/jsPEpwCadtA/s200/photo-125.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704383510274740546" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sdIYmVM2WrA/TyoKC1BmbgI/AAAAAAAABc4/MZopJibiRfg/s1600/photo-124.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sdIYmVM2WrA/TyoKC1BmbgI/AAAAAAAABc4/MZopJibiRfg/s200/photo-124.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704382921727962626" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">If you are a Pinterest-ing blogger, please link up any of your Pinterest-inspired posts below. Anyone else who wants to share their Pinterest products, please send stories and pics to mep AT nottobrag DOT net.<br /><br />I'd also welcome lamination narratives (I know I'm not the only freak out there) and ideas.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SPECIAL GIVEAWAY</span> for the first person who can correctly name the title of the song I am riffing upon in this post's title: a one-of-a-kind laminated NTB bookmark!<br /><br />Okay, check the links below for more Pinterest-ing!<br /></div></div><br /><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=129034" type="text/javascript"></script>mephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03074153090546740903noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436677792458357476.post-45643754782889444932012-01-30T21:37:00.022-06:002012-12-31T23:17:28.328-06:00"Reads Is Fun" -- 2012 Reading ListMy kindergartener is learning to read. He's not there yet, but he gets closer, less frustrated, and more enthusiastic every day. It is thrilling! Another parent tipped me off to the clever and easy-without-being-stilted Elephant and Piggie beginning readers by Mo Willems. After finishing one of these readers the other day, Bub was so excited he made and handed me the sign below.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N0ivNowxVOE/TydlOW0_GmI/AAAAAAAABaU/La3-qz-gEFQ/s1600/ReadsIsFun.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703638750408415842" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N0ivNowxVOE/TydlOW0_GmI/AAAAAAAABaU/La3-qz-gEFQ/s400/ReadsIsFun.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 299px;" /></a>I'm keeping it forever.</div>
<br />
For almost 37 years, reading (or being read to) has been a consistent source of joy, comfort, inspiration, knowledge, FUN and more. Because I believe most good things are even better shared, I will continue to track my reading here at NTB. Check the Booksburgh link in the lefthand column if you ever want to know what I'm reading. I update this list/post throughout the year. Once I get the site up and running, please check booksandcarbs.com if you want to know what I'm thinking about what I'm reading.<br />
<br />
For previous years' reading lists, follow these links: <a href="http://www.nottobrag.net/2010/01/welcome-to-booksburgh.html">2010 List</a> <a href="http://www.nottobrag.net/2011/01/year-of-books-2011-edition.html">2011 List</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">2012 Reading List</span></div>
<span style="font-style: italic;">The Arrivals</span> by Meg Mitchell Moore<br />
(hardback -- won in a blog giveaway)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">Loose Diamonds ... and other things I've lost (and found) along the way</span> by Amy Ephron<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">I Remember Nothing: And Other Reflections</span> by Nora Ephron<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">Ready Player One</span> by Ernest Cline<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">Stories I Only Tell My Friends</span> by Rob Lowe<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">11.22.63</span> by Stephen King<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">The Rules of Inheritance</span> by Claire Bidwell Smith<br />
(hardcover)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">Make the Bread, Buy the Butter: What You Should and Shouldn't Cook from Scratch</span> by Jennifer Reese<br />
(hardcover)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">Wifey</span> by Judy Blume<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">An Available Man</span> by Hilma Wolitzer<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">Confessions of a Prep School Mommy Handler</span> by Wade Rouse<br />
(paperback -- won in a blog giveaway)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">Commuters</span> by Emily Gray Tedrowe<br />
(ebook)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">Ali in Wonderland and Other Tall Tales</span> by Ali Wentworth<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">The House at Tyneford</span> by Natasha Solomons<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">A Good American</span> by Alex George<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">Delicacy</span> by David Foenkinos<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">Husband and Wife</span> by Leah Stewart<br />
(ebook)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">You're Not Doing It Right</span> by Michael Ian Black<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother</span> by Amy Chua<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">The Anglo Files</span> by Sarah Lyall<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>MWF Seeking BFF: My Yearlong Search for a New Best Friend</i> by Rachel Bertsche<br />
(paperback)<br />
<br />
<i>The Perfectly Imperfect Home: How to Live & Decorate Well</i> by Deborah Needleman<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>The Red Book</i> by Deborah Copaken Kogan<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>Bringing Up Bébe: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting</i> by Pamela Druckerman<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>Arcadia </i>by Lauren Groff<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>Falling Apart in One Piece</i> by Stacy Morrison<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>The Flight of Gemma Hardy</i> by Margo Livesey<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>How It All Began</i> by Penelope Lively<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>Julie</i> by Catherine Marshall<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>Old Filth</i> by Jane Gardam<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>The Journal of Best Practices: A Memoir of Marriage, Asperger Syndrome and One Man's Quest to Be a Better Husband</i> by David Finch<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>A Surrey State of Affairs</i> by Ceri Radford<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>The Fixer Upper</i> by Mary Kay Andrews<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>The Island</i> by Elin Hilderbrand<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>The Newlyweds</i> by Nell Freudenberger<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>A Thousand Lives: The Untold Story of Hope, Deception, and Survival at Jonestown</i> by Julia Scheeres<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>No Place Like Home: A Memoir in 39 Apartments</i> by Brooke Berman<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>Pride and Prejudice</i>* by Jane Austen<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>The Ugly Sister </i>by Jane Fallon<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>The Cranes Dance</i> by Meg Howrey<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>The Invitation</i> by Anne Cherian<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>Calling Invisible Women</i> by Jeanne Ray<br />
(hardcover)<br />
<br />
<i>Lucia's Progress </i>by E.F. Benson<br />
(paperback)<br />
<br />
<i>Wife 22</i> by Melanie Gideon<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>The Chaperone</i> by Laura Moriarty<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>The French Lieutenant's Woman</i> by John Fowles<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>Still Missing</i> by Chevy Stevens<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>Sisterhood Everlasting</i> by Ann Brashares<br />
(hardcover)<br />
<br />
<i>Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? </i> by Jeanette Winterson<br />
(hardcover)<br />
<br />
<i>Some Assembly Required: A Journal of My Son's First Son</i> by Anne Lamott<br />
(audiobook, CDs from library)<br />
<br />
<i>Canada </i>by Richard Ford<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake</i> by Anna Quindlen<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>The Wedding Beat</i> by Devan Sipher<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>Sense and Sensibility*</i> by Jane Austen<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>I Never Promised You a Goodie Bag: A Memoir of a Life Through Events -- the Ones You Plan and the Ones You Don't</i> by Jennifer Gilbert<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>The Next Best Thing</i> by Jennifer Weiner<br />
(hardcover)<br />
<br />
<i>Objects of My Affection</i> by Jill Smolinski<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>Seating Arrangements</i> by Maggie Shipstead<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>The Fault in Our Stars</i> by John Green<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>Dear Mrs. Fitzsimmons: Tales of Redemption from an Irish Mailbox</i> by Greg Fitzsimmons<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>The Hypnotist's Love Story</i> by Liane Moriarty<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts On Being a Woman</i> by Nora Ephron<br />
(hardcover)<br />
<br />
<i>Where We Belong</i> by Emily Giffin<br />
(hardcover)<br />
<br />
<i>The Unbearable Book Club for Unsinkable Girls</i> by Julie Schumacher<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>Summerland</i> by Elin Hilderbrand<br />
(playaway audio from library)<br />
<br />
<i>Girl Walks into a Bar ... Comedy Calamities, Dating Disasters, and a Midlife Miracle</i> by Rachel Dratch<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry</i> by Rachel Joyce<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>Where'd You Go, Bernadette</i> by Maria Semple<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>The Last Anniversary</i> by Liane Moriarty<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty</i> by Joshilyn Jackson<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>What the Nanny Saw</i> by Fiona Neill<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>Friends Like Us</i> by Lauren Fox<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>Moonwalking with Einstein</i> by Joshua Foer<br />
(audiobook) <br />
<br />
<i>Triburbia</i> by Karl Taro Greenfeld<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>My New American Life</i> by Francine Prose<br />
(audiobook) <br />
<br />
<i>Telegraph Avenue</i> by Michael Chabon<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>Gone Girl</i> by Gillian Flynn<br />
(hardcover)<br />
<br />
<i>Happier at Home</i> by Gretchen Rubin<br />
(hardcover) <br />
<br />
<i>But I'll Be Back Again</i> by Cynthia Rylant<br />
(paperback)<br />
<br />
<i>The Blue Bistro</i> by Elin Hilderbrand<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>My Mother Was Nuts</i> by Penny Marshall<br />
(audiobook) <br />
<br />
<i>Northanger Abbey* </i>by Jane Austen<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The End of the Affair </i>by Graham Greene<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>The Mapping of Love and Death </i>by Jacqueline Winspear<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures </i>by Emma Straub<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>Dinner: A Love Story</i> by Jenny Rosenstrach<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>Dan Gets a Minivan: Life at the Intersection of Dude and Dad</i> by Dan Zevin<br />
(library book)<br />
<br />
<i>The Horse Dancer</i> by Jojo Moyes<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>Happy Accidents </i>by Jane Lynch<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>Lady Fortescue Steps Out (Poor Relation)</i> by Marion Chesney<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>An Object of Beauty</i> by Steve Martin<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore</i> by Robin Sloan<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>Charlotte Fairlie </i>by D. Stevenson<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<i>One Last Thing Before I Go</i> by Jonathon Tropper<br />
(audiobook)<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">UPDATE on 12/31/12</span> -- This year's list is officially CLOSED. I have a couple of partially-read titles, but I won't count them until I finish them ... next year. I notice a HUGE drop-off in my reading of books in print (or ebooks) once the school year started. Audiobooks are a lifeline for me, but I hope to read more "book books" in 2013. Despite the fact that so many library books are on this list, I want it known for the record that I am still <i>buying </i>books. I'm just not reading them since I get so many good ones from the library and then prioritize reading them before they are due.<br />
<br />
Unless otherwise noted, all audiobooks are downloads from audible.com and all ebooks are from the Kindle Store. One of these days I will figure out how to borrow downloadable audiobooks from the library.<br />
<br />
*indicates a re-read<br />
<br />
Please stop back again. I welcome book suggestions in the comments. Please share what you're reading!mephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03074153090546740903noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436677792458357476.post-43281432016005724882012-01-18T21:59:00.009-06:002012-01-18T22:33:02.393-06:00Flickr TickerJust a quick note for all the tens of longtime NTB readers. One of these days I will return to actual writing on NTB. I love <a href="http://www.nottobrag.net/2011/11/real-women-of-pinterest-unite.html">Real Women of Pinterest</a> and Pinterest-ing, but every week when I realize that I haven't posted anything at all since the last RWOP, I feel kind of sad. I just can't ever get caught up these days.<br /><br />Moving along though. I made some pretty cute thank you notes for my son's birthday that involved a group photo and THANK YOU ! spelled in cool and colorful letters, printed on full sheet labels (my very favorite office supply) and then cut and stuck to cards (the blank kind you can buy at craft stores like Michaels). But all of those are sealed in envelopes. No photo evidence -- oops! The project was aided by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lwr/collections/72157594587080023/">this awesome collection of letters on Flickr</a> that I was alerted to by several pinners. Check out <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lwr/collections/72157594587080023/">the collection</a>. Endless possibilities for what you can do with these little letters: custom name stationery, quotations, name tags, place cards, any kind of word art you can imagine. I will say that the quality of some of the images does not hold up when they are large, but there are hundreds of choices for each letter so you could probably find the right letter for any project you're envisioning. Promise you'll be a rule follower though and respect the wishes of Leo Reynolds, the person behind this Flickr collection, who asks that you not "favorite" the images or use them for commercial projects. <br /><br />I can't share the real final product since it's now in the hands of the USPS, but I took a photo of two full sheet labels of letters. The top sheet was the layout I used for cutting, but I rejected that particular sheet because I tried to use "fast draft" on my printing settings and the quality suffered. I biffed on the sizing on the bottom sheet (look at the awesome quality!), but I'm sure I'll find something to do with those thank yous one day. <br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c7nMwFvQKSk/TxeV-KC3BKI/AAAAAAAABZ8/f1hEzwNLE7Y/s1600/photo-114.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c7nMwFvQKSk/TxeV-KC3BKI/AAAAAAAABZ8/f1hEzwNLE7Y/s400/photo-114.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699188748541428898" border="0" /></a>This next photo captures some cardstock notecards with a simple "thanks." Easy peasy. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c7nMwFvQKSk/TxeV-KC3BKI/AAAAAAAABZ8/f1hEzwNLE7Y/s1600/photo-114.JPG"><br /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4FEAQilGm7E/TxeV94Cgv6I/AAAAAAAABZs/YMrE9mECFSU/s1600/photo-115.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4FEAQilGm7E/TxeV94Cgv6I/AAAAAAAABZs/YMrE9mECFSU/s400/photo-115.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699188743708131234" border="0" /></a>Apologies for not making these photos horizontal, but I just didn't have it in me.<br /><br />My sister LAP has stepped in once again to share a RWOP project. One of the first things I pinned in the early, heady days of Pinteresting was <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/61951289@N08/5672821563/sizes/l/in/photostream/">this link for melting your own heart-shaped, rainbow crayons</a>. Though I continue to hoard old and broken crayons, I've never attempted the project. Some vague thoughts of hot wax and big mess seem to be stopping me. But LAP nailed it! Check out her final results ...<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7UMcv6OZOvM/TxeV9iKkhzI/AAAAAAAABZg/usQodCSreEI/s1600/photo-116.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 226px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7UMcv6OZOvM/TxeV9iKkhzI/AAAAAAAABZg/usQodCSreEI/s400/photo-116.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699188737836353330" border="0" /></a>Her tips: Soak the crayons in warm water for several minutes before attempting to peel the labels off. When you take the crayons out of the oven, they will seem all melty and you will fear that you messed up. You haven't! Carefully, oh so carefully, take your tray of crayon molds and pop them in the freezer for about ten minutes to harden. [Note to self: make room in freezer for the molds ahead of time.]<br /><br />Cheers to my sister, always spreading love!<br /><br />Okay then, bloggers, please link up your Pinterest-esque projects (art, food, decor, etc.). Real Women of Pinterest everywhere who don't blog? Send me your pics so I can share them: mep AT nottobrag DOT net.<br /><br />Please visit the links below for more RWOP inspiration.<br /><br /><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=126261" type="text/javascript"></script><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-llvlmAvl4Zw/TxeV-zYobkI/AAAAAAAABaE/xxvzA3SsU7Q/s1600/photo-113.JPG"><br /></a>mephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03074153090546740903noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436677792458357476.post-37422266602634395382012-01-11T22:50:00.015-06:002012-01-11T23:32:48.222-06:00RWOP: Do you need anybody?Hello, is this thing on? <a href="http://www.nottobrag.net/2011/11/real-women-of-pinterest-unite.html">Real Women of Pinterest</a>, can you hear me? Truth is I don't have any of my own Pinteresting to share this week. We're still getting back in the swing of things after the holiday "break," and I'm not sure how much Pinteresting I can justify when I still haven't managed to get our tree taken down. Thanks to hubby traveling and a DVR filled with the premiere of the new season of <span style="font-style: italic;">Downton Abbey</span>, I have started wrapping up our ornaments, but there's still a ways to go. Plus, I need to help JJ, our Elf on the Shelf, returning to the North Pole this evening, to craft a letter explaining why he hung around an extra two weeks in the same spot where he was spotted Christmas morning and reminding the kids to listen to their mom and dad, say their prayers, and be kind.<br /><br />Lucky for me, I have awesome people who answered my call to share their Pinterest-inspired projects. Check them out!<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kNrcmPs0dMU/Tw5rCvijQYI/AAAAAAAABY4/fQpg5HL9VU4/s1600/IMG_4323.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kNrcmPs0dMU/Tw5rCvijQYI/AAAAAAAABY4/fQpg5HL9VU4/s400/IMG_4323.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696608273535549826" border="0" /></a>First we have a fun, kid-friendly art project. The Pinteresting mom, my sister LAP who is a valued NTB contributor, wrote, "The J, N, and B are on display on the window ledge in our stairwell. ... I used painters tape to make their first letter (I was not ambitious enough nor did I have large enough canvases to do their full names). The girls painted and once the canvases dried, we peeled off the tape. Voila...masterpieces! (or something like that)." I can see this project being used with a large shape as well -- a heart for Valentine's Day, a bird because I dig them, a shamrock ...<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iJJswqbXYzk/Tw5rDbix2TI/AAAAAAAABZU/TsVVl70wNdE/s1600/IMG_4322.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iJJswqbXYzk/Tw5rDbix2TI/AAAAAAAABZU/TsVVl70wNdE/s400/IMG_4322.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696608285347666226" border="0" /></a>LAP had another offering as well: "The 'est 2002' was a trial for the Popular Pinterest pin that says 'use glue and paint over using any solid color.' I just used regular old Elmer's brand, but my suggestion is perhaps doing two layers of glue? I feel like mine is a little hard to read, but I still have it hanging out on my bathroom sink next to my soap and lotion (because I know you were wondering.)" I like the idea of trying this project with an inspirational word, perhaps "enough" since that is one of my themes for the year.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iRj9BsmmoiA/Tw5rClPizBI/AAAAAAAABYw/0fAJ79K80kg/s1600/class%2Bdolls.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iRj9BsmmoiA/Tw5rClPizBI/AAAAAAAABYw/0fAJ79K80kg/s400/class%2Bdolls.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696608270771473426" border="0" /></a>A dear friend of my family has a preschooler who requested "dolls of her teachers" for Christmas. Since such dolls aren't readily available at Toys 'R Us and the like, I am so excited to share her totally awesome creative solution: photos on magnets that can be moved around on a cookie sheet. I've been jonesing to try the much-pinned cookie sheet magnet board project, but I think this project takes that to the next level. It would be fun to think about what sorts of kids activities/games could be made with magnets and cookie sheets. There are probably multiple pins of such already. Maybe next week.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mbmgMDdfc34/Tw5rC5PV4JI/AAAAAAAABZI/9U223l69crk/s1600/l%2Bis%2Bfor%2Blily3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mbmgMDdfc34/Tw5rC5PV4JI/AAAAAAAABZI/9U223l69crk/s400/l%2Bis%2Bfor%2Blily3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696608276139335826" border="0" /></a>Last, but surely not least, is some Pinteresting from a high school friend who is a talented photographer and a pop culture guru. Inspired by a Pinterest pin (she sent it to me, but I'm too tired for any more links right now), she crafted alphabet printables (like the one above) as holiday gifts. <br /><br />By next week, I promise, the tree will be down and I'll have something cool of my own to share.<br /><br />If you've done any Pinteresting, please link up below or send me pics of your projects: mep AT nottobrag DOT net.<br /><br />I get by with a little help from my friends. <br /><br /><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=124893" type="text/javascript"></script><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kNrcmPs0dMU/Tw5rCvijQYI/AAAAAAAABY4/fQpg5HL9VU4/s1600/IMG_4323.jpg"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span><br /></a>mephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03074153090546740903noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436677792458357476.post-90329584788898474662012-01-09T21:36:00.016-06:002012-01-10T08:17:44.172-06:00Enough Already, Already EnoughSo I'm tearing myself away from the BCS Championship game to jump back into blogging. Such a sacrifice -- HA!<br /><br />A New Year's Resolution post is a tradition here at NTB. If you fancy, you can check out my resolutions for <a href="http://www.nottobrag.net/2008/01/resolved.html">2008</a>, <a href="http://www.nottobrag.net/2009/01/second-verse-same-as-first.html">2009</a>, <a href="http://www.nottobrag.net/2010/01/dont-stop-believin.html">2010</a> and <a href="http://www.nottobrag.net/2011/01/stretch.html">2011</a>. Or, you can just read one of those previous resolution posts and get the gist of them all. Let's not say that I fall short of my resolutions so much as that I recognize that I am a work in progress. I'm okay with that.<br /><br />Okay, I just looked up last year's post so I could do the links above and found this very quote: <span style="font-style: italic;">"I'm a work in progress, and I'm okay with that."</span> How's that for being a broken record or, better thought, how's that for knowing myself? Last year's post (which is kind of a good one, NTB) also includes mention of <a href="http://www.nottobrag.net/2010/03/all-we-want-is-for-you.html">Gretchen Rubin and her <span style="font-style: italic;">Happiness Project</span></a>. And, well, wouldn't you know it, this year's resolutions are inspired by a quotation that came my way, thanks to Gretchen Rubin.<br /><br />I'm signed up for daily Happiness Project Moment of Happiness emails. Each morning in my inbox, I have a thought about happiness waiting for me. The one I woke up to the day after Christmas really resonated with me:<br /><br />"Enough is abundance to the wise." --Euripides<br /><br />Perhaps a thought I would have been wise to ponder earlier in the month before I began the yearly attempt to try to buy, wrap, do, cook, bake, give, and enjoy it all. And, yes, sure, I have <span style="font-style: italic;">enough</span> stuff and, thankfully, always have had. Without knowing the original context of this passage from Euripides, I'd also like to reflect upon enough as abundance in other ways as well.<br /><br />As a reforming perfectionist, anxiety addict, and guilt junkie, I spent many years being hard on myself, focusing a bit too much on what else I could do, had not done yet, or could have done better. Having children has probably forced the change in me more than anything, but I am learning to believe that I'm already good enough. I'm doing the best I can and that's enough and more than enough.<br /><br />I'm not talking about settling or lowering expectations or dreaming smaller so much as I am about just living ... doing what I can for now -- hoping for tomorrow and the next day while enjoying this one as much as I can. I suspect that enough is abundance for those who can appreciate their lives exactly as they are.<br /><br />I can honestly say that I am happier and more content than I have been in years. I love my husband and he is truly my partner, teammate, and supporter. We have three healthy and (mostly) happy kids. After a long two years of trying and failing to sell our home (we have responsible renters in there now), we were able to move into a new home. We are slowly making it our own and are truly falling in love with the neighborhood and community that surrounds us. There is something very comforting about knowing that we are going to be right here for the foreseeable future.<br /><br />This life is good. It's enough and more than enough for this moment, and I'm confident that it will expand and change as I need it to.<br /><br />I wanted to make resolutions that were sort of concrete and also ones that honored the spirit of enough as abundance. And in that spirit, I am still easing into most of these.<br /><br />* There's a whole house here to organize, decorate, and clean. Resolved for now: try to keep the island clear and make my bed most days. These are two tasks that I think could be a foundation for a larger "outer order leads to inner calm" plan.<br /><br />* There are about fifteen or twenty pounds to be lost. Resolved for now: weigh myself every morning and record the number. Go from there.<br /><br />* Try twenty new recipes this year (noted: the old MEP would have resolved something unreasonable like "try two new recipes a week" or "eliminate all carbs except whole grains" and then beat herself up/chucked the whole thing when that goal was not met).<br /><br />* Feed Pinterest addiction. So, I have <a href="http://www.nottobrag.net/2010/08/notebook-no-not-that-one.html">my notebook</a> but <a href="http://www.nottobrag.net/2011/11/pinteresting.html">Pinterest just takes it all to the next level</a>. I think for several years I kind of forgot how much I love to make stuff. Large and small creative projects just make me happy. Toward that end, I'm going to continue with the <a href="http://www.nottobrag.net/2011/11/real-women-of-pinterest-unite.html">Real Women of Pinterest</a> posts on this blog. Stay tuned.<br /><br />* Stop going on iphone Solitaire benders. <span style="font-style: italic;">Enough already</span> in the traditional, non-abundant sense. Just sort of sad or, in the words of my moody-these-days kindergartener, just "lame."<br /><br />* Gather ye friends' cell phone numbers. Two phones ago, I did not transfer my numbers when I got a new phone. Thus, even now, my cell phone contact list is woefully incomplete. Reality is that most of my friends are busy with kids, careers, or both and it can be tough to find a time to chat when one/both parties isn't being whined at or pulled toward some mess or emergency. Sending and receiving little text messages brightens my day, and I want to do more of that.<br /><br />* Launch my book blog. Yes, there's part of me that knows I need another website like I need a hole in my head. But, I've had ideas for booksandcarbs.com (a website devoted to my life's pleasures) percolating for a while now and I'm eager to get started. No timeline yet, but I'll keep reading and eating in the meantime. You can trust me on that one.<br /><br />Okay then, that's enough for now. I wish you happiness and health this new year and the peace and content that comes with believing you are already enough. Because you are.<br /><br />Any resolutions for 2012? Please share in the comments. Are you my friend? Email me your cell number because it's probably not programmed into my phone.mephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03074153090546740903noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436677792458357476.post-71111710912121100342011-12-15T08:14:00.021-06:002011-12-15T08:52:24.177-06:00RWOP: Behind the SnowballSo, you know the phrase <span style="font-style: italic;">behind the eight ball</span>? I don't know what it actually means, but I often use it when I am trying to convey feeling behind, as if I'm scurrying around, playing catch-up, disorganized, caught unaware, bordering on overwhelmed, etc. Hope that's right. All of December, I've been behind the eight ball or, rather, behind the snowball. Actually, make that a snowflake.<br /><br />Today's (late) <a href="http://www.nottobrag.net/2011/11/real-women-of-pinterest-unite.html">Real Women of Pinterest</a> post is the perfect holiday craft for a rainy day in December (I'm not exactly complaining about these warm temperatures in the Midwest, but I'd take a little snow). This project is another "use what you have, make it up as you go along" endeavor, but I'm finding that to be the best kind of Pinteresting. Especially if the kids are involved, it's the process that matters more than the product. My kids and I are definitely having fun! Here goes ....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Puzzle Piece Snowflake Ornaments<br /></span><div style="text-align: left;">First, you'll need some puzzle pieces. Years ago before Bub was even close to ready, I ordered a pack of color-your-own puzzles from Current. He undid all the pieces, and I've never had the energy to put back a bunch of blank white puzzles, but I did save the pieces because I am hoarder-ish like that. If you don't have white puzzle pieces, you could totally paint puzzle pieces white or be creative and form your colored puzzle pieces into little holiday wreaths or trees.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ax8NAMSUJ2M/TuoDFaY1T8I/AAAAAAAABYg/VT5O0mB0VBw/s1600/SFmommygluegun.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ax8NAMSUJ2M/TuoDFaY1T8I/AAAAAAAABYg/VT5O0mB0VBw/s400/SFmommygluegun.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686360871026380738" border="0" /></a>We were out of Elmers glue (did we ever have any?) so mommy's job was to glue gun the puzzles pieces together to form snowflakes. I found that four to six pieces was the sweet spot for a cute, but not too clunky snowflake.<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qIEjCZE7UnM/TuoCxEmNaBI/AAAAAAAABX4/DpE6AIX9i60/s1600/SFglitterguns.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qIEjCZE7UnM/TuoCxEmNaBI/AAAAAAAABX4/DpE6AIX9i60/s400/SFglitterguns.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686360521579522066" border="0" /></a>The boys' department was adornment. My oldest is obsessed with glitter pens so we got those out.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B6GJQfRRmNY/TuoDE3e_5nI/AAAAAAAABYU/b4VUDZ6hTG0/s1600/SFglittersqueeze.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B6GJQfRRmNY/TuoDE3e_5nI/AAAAAAAABYU/b4VUDZ6hTG0/s400/SFglittersqueeze.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686360861656999538" border="0" /></a>They would squeeze some big glops of glitter. Even the little, middle guy could do that.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tacMb3ZsmyQ/TuoCwqk8DCI/AAAAAAAABXs/whKFxRZkNUY/s1600/SFglitterfingers.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tacMb3ZsmyQ/TuoCwqk8DCI/AAAAAAAABXs/whKFxRZkNUY/s400/SFglitterfingers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686360514594868258" border="0" /></a>Then, they'd spread it around. We had a couple baby wipes on standby for clean-up between snowflakes.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lRdgFXgP0Qw/TuoDEsoOPnI/AAAAAAAABYI/6Uc2VmXveq0/s1600/SFglitterspecimens.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lRdgFXgP0Qw/TuoDEsoOPnI/AAAAAAAABYI/6Uc2VmXveq0/s400/SFglitterspecimens.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686360858742898290" border="0" /></a>Excuse the blurry smartphone photography, but here's the close-to-final product. Something was missing ... ribbon, of course. I'm obsessed with ribbon.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SDXDFzFf_bQ/TuoCuZ7QegI/AAAAAAAABXI/KZhU-eVE4DU/s1600/SFbow.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SDXDFzFf_bQ/TuoCuZ7QegI/AAAAAAAABXI/KZhU-eVE4DU/s400/SFbow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686360475765340674" border="0" /></a>Hole punch each snowflake. Pull a ribbon through (I used silver on some, brown on others). Before I tied the knot, I stuck in a short piece of teal ribbon and secured it with the long ribbon.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tyZHsaOqjJs/TuoCvnjpgnI/AAAAAAAABXg/xLZAT_ADQpg/s1600/SFfinallights.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tyZHsaOqjJs/TuoCvnjpgnI/AAAAAAAABXg/xLZAT_ADQpg/s400/SFfinallights.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686360496604283506" border="0" /></a>Pretty cute, right?<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xmyPUIxsvig/TuoCu5mJf3I/AAAAAAAABXU/WF5-WgEGnbc/s1600/SFfinal.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xmyPUIxsvig/TuoCu5mJf3I/AAAAAAAABXU/WF5-WgEGnbc/s400/SFfinal.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686360484266737522" border="0" /></a>No, really, pretty cute, right?<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Because one of the bonus features of our new home is no working power outside in the yard (until the electrician comes on Monday), we can't do any Christmas lights this year. So, I talked hubby into a second tree to put in the front window. It looks good, but a little bare as most of our ornaments are on the family tree. I have to say that the snowflakes have perked it up.<br /><br />What about you -- any Pinteresting? Are you behind the eight ball this holiday season?<br /><br />Bloggers, link up your Pinterest-esque posts below. Others, feel free to email me pics of your creations at mep AT nottobrag DOT net.<br /><br />Be sure to check out the links below and to visit <a href="http://www.smallafterall.com/">Small After All</a> and my other bloggy pals for more RWOP.<br /><br /><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=121180" type="text/javascript"></script><br /></div></div></div></div>mephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03074153090546740903noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436677792458357476.post-86539142756258937312011-12-07T22:23:00.020-06:002011-12-07T22:55:33.026-06:00RWOP: Two Trick Christmas PonyWelcome back for another week of <a href="http://www.nottobrag.net/2011/11/real-women-of-pinterest-unite.html">Real Women of Pinterest</a>.<br /><br />Do a search for "handprint Christmas tree" on Pinterest and you'll see multiple pins of a couple versions of this holiday creation. I was ready to give it a whirl myself and had even purchased green and red acrylic paint several weeks ago in preparation. But, I forgot to buy a canvas. Because taking my three kids to Michael's is not even <span style="font-style: italic;">a little bit</span> enjoyable, I decided I had to improvise. Take a peek.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Handprint Christmas Wreath</span><br /></div>What? You don't have a large canvas? Grab a ceiling tile from the pile the previous owners of your house left in the basement.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bz0RGCSd9V0/TuA-Fip7n3I/AAAAAAAABVE/7kLx8MY8O5Y/s1600/photo-95.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bz0RGCSd9V0/TuA-Fip7n3I/AAAAAAAABVE/7kLx8MY8O5Y/s400/photo-95.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683610994664513394" border="0" /></a>Find something in your kitchen to trace a large circle with pencil.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wvj-NjOBez8/TuA-Fz6k6YI/AAAAAAAABVQ/cDpVXP0TV7o/s1600/photo-96.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wvj-NjOBez8/TuA-Fz6k6YI/AAAAAAAABVQ/cDpVXP0TV7o/s400/photo-96.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683610999297730946" border="0" /></a>Then, trace again with a smaller circular something.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rcLGFHWFMz8/TuA-Ge2SyhI/AAAAAAAABVY/_OjkCw1pyG0/s1600/photo-97.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rcLGFHWFMz8/TuA-Ge2SyhI/AAAAAAAABVY/_OjkCw1pyG0/s400/photo-97.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683611010822490642" border="0" /></a>Squeeze some acrylic paint into some little plastic egg cartons (good idea, right?).<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SS6RuMFBnB0/TuA-GqZBzQI/AAAAAAAABVo/rgd4u72IRD4/s1600/photo-98.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SS6RuMFBnB0/TuA-GqZBzQI/AAAAAAAABVo/rgd4u72IRD4/s400/photo-98.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683611013920967938" border="0" /></a>Paint your son's hand green.<br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2BrJUkS8UKs/TuA-HFru5hI/AAAAAAAABVw/Zc-OkgLOTAs/s1600/photo-99.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2BrJUkS8UKs/TuA-HFru5hI/AAAAAAAABVw/Zc-OkgLOTAs/s400/photo-99.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683611021247178258" border="0" /></a>Instruct him to press that hand onto the ceiling tile. Don't try to press his hand down to make a stronger imprint because, apparently, those ceiling tiles are a bit scratchy. Repeat the painting of the hand and the pressing several times.<br /><br />Get your littler guy in on the act as well. Try to stay breezy when he deliberately plants his hand in the no-holly zone in the very middle.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Okay, time for red paint and finger tip berries now.<br /></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KlDxLskw7vA/TuA-ehjPSHI/AAAAAAAABWA/S50klLSpjF8/s1600/photo-100.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KlDxLskw7vA/TuA-ehjPSHI/AAAAAAAABWA/S50klLSpjF8/s400/photo-100.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683611423864735858" border="0" /></a>Then, mom uses some more of that Costco ribbon from<a href="http://www.nottobrag.net/2011/11/rwop-i-wreath-i-can-i-wreath-i-can.html"> last week's wreath</a>, ties a bow, and glue guns it onto the wreath. If your ceiling tile has a rough edge, use some ribbons to frame the wreath. Voila!<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FHu6FfdnlkE/TuA-e_iFhdI/AAAAAAAABWM/uQIECNhORU4/s1600/photo-101.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FHu6FfdnlkE/TuA-e_iFhdI/AAAAAAAABWM/uQIECNhORU4/s400/photo-101.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683611431912965586" border="0" /></a>There you have it. Not the most gorgeous wreath ever, but not bad for using what I had in the house. And, yes, I realize that I have a larger-than-most supply of crafty crap on hand.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Christmas Handprint Trees</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Okay, use pretty much the same process above, except pencil a triangle on a sheet of thick paper. Once the trees were dry, I placed them in the frames I used for <a href="http://www.nottobrag.net/2011/11/pinteresting.html">the autumn fingerprint trees</a>. No photos of the artists as little sister was topless during this project.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Voila!<br /></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KLq8B0HQsLo/TuA-fVGQ8_I/AAAAAAAABWY/n69lRAByezI/s1600/photo-102.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KLq8B0HQsLo/TuA-fVGQ8_I/AAAAAAAABWY/n69lRAByezI/s400/photo-102.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683611437701854194" border="0" /></a>The kids did the trees and the berries/ornaments. I cut out and glued the stars and tree trunks (why, yes, I did have three different brown scrapbook papers to use here, all purchased a dozen years ago when I had time to do things like scrapbook).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Big Brother's Tree -- "Mine is the best, mom, right? Don't you like mine best?"<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5eDrWHIP1HI/TuA-f4o4lyI/AAAAAAAABWo/ruydMyD6wuI/s1600/photo-103.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5eDrWHIP1HI/TuA-f4o4lyI/AAAAAAAABWo/ruydMyD6wuI/s400/photo-103.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683611447242299170" border="0" /></a>Little Middle Guy's tree. No time to reflect or evaluate,<br />he just throws himself into the project and then walks away.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0D2UJfqN40/TuA-gRmA6eI/AAAAAAAABWw/vgVbg_Qmkeg/s1600/photo-104.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0D2UJfqN40/TuA-gRmA6eI/AAAAAAAABWw/vgVbg_Qmkeg/s400/photo-104.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683611453941148130" border="0" /></a>And Little Sister's tree -- yep, she was most willing to<br />accept coaching and guidance on hand placement.<br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bH5nrIEWHSU/TuA-n7z3cJI/AAAAAAAABW8/pzZXxoko1Wk/s1600/photo-105.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bH5nrIEWHSU/TuA-n7z3cJI/AAAAAAAABW8/pzZXxoko1Wk/s400/photo-105.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683611585532620946" border="0" /></a>Anything Pinteresting in your life this week? Bloggers, link up your Pinterest posts in the comments. Other readers, send me your photos or leave a comment about your Pinteresting.<br /><br />See you next week, if not before.<br /><br /><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=120206" type="text/javascript"></script><br /></div></div>mephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03074153090546740903noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436677792458357476.post-67330563149619337362011-11-30T13:00:00.010-06:002011-11-30T13:24:50.135-06:00RWOP: I wreath I can, I wreath I can<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_KA3xPGPhIk/TtaApxN_H2I/AAAAAAAABUs/Atg2kinzD1E/s1600/photo-93.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_KA3xPGPhIk/TtaApxN_H2I/AAAAAAAABUs/Atg2kinzD1E/s400/photo-93.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680869435049451362" border="0" /></a>My <a href="http://www.nottobrag.net/2011/11/real-women-of-pinterest-unite.html">Real Women of Pinterest</a> offering for today is a bit weak, but you can't win them all!<br /><br />Excepting the company of a spider web from Walgreens back in October, our front door has been pretty lonely since we moved in. We needed a wreath. Now, I would very much like to order a wreath from the Williams Sonoma catalog, but I can't justify that purchase at this time ... or possibly ever.<br /><br />Enter Pinterest. I saw a tutorial on making a wreath from strips of fabric. Unable to locate the big bag of fabric I absolutely could not get rid of before the move, I decided I would use a similar technique using some ribbon I did know where to find.<br /><br />I didn't photograph my process, but here it is:<br /><br />1. Find an inexpensive and not-too-thick wreath. I found an off-white grapevine-esque wreath at Dollar Tree.<br /><br />2. Choose some lovely ribbon. I chose a wide, wire-rimmed ribbon that I purchased at Costco (personally think their huge rolls of ribbon there are a good value).<br /><br />3. Cut pieces of ribbon long enough to tie around the wreath and knot. Do this a bunch of times until the wreath is covered.<br /><br />4. Fluff and arrange the ribbons as you wish.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vhU825BWaXM/TtaAqON2UTI/AAAAAAAABU8/5nwD8VlSFco/s1600/photo-94.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vhU825BWaXM/TtaAqON2UTI/AAAAAAAABU8/5nwD8VlSFco/s400/photo-94.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680869442833502514" border="0" /></a>I wasn't sure about the project as I was doing it so I think that uncertainty subconsciously made me stingy with the ribbon. I probably should add more, but I think it's okay as it is. Not the most beautiful wreath ever, but I'm not embarrassed to have it keep my door company.<br /><br />If you've done some Pinteresting or Pinterest-esque stuff of late, please link your posts below! Don't have a blog? Feel free to email me with pictures of your projects so I can share: mep AT nottobrag DOT net.<br /><br />Please check out and comment on the posts of those who have linked up below. Join in next week for another edition of <a href="http://www.nottobrag.net/2011/11/real-women-of-pinterest-unite.html">Real Women of Pinterest</a>.<br /><br /><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=118839" type="text/javascript"></script>mephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03074153090546740903noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436677792458357476.post-23523447257141522362011-11-22T23:41:00.011-06:002011-11-23T07:50:10.098-06:00RWOP: May the Force Be with YOU and you and you too ...Welcome! It's time for the second week of <a href="http://www.nottobrag.net/2011/11/real-women-of-pinterest-unite.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Real Women of Pinterest</span></a>. Please visit this blog and <a href="http://www.smallafterall.com/">It's a Small World After All</a> on Wednesdays to see Pinterest-inspired projects and link-up your own Pinterest-esque posts.<br /><br />I've got a mountain of laundry to fold and four bags to pack for our Thanksgiving road trip so this post will be brief.<br /><br />My son is obsessed with <span style="font-style: italic;">Star Wars</span>. He received <span style="font-style: italic;">Star Wars </span>bedding for his birthday back in June. This past weekend, he finally inherited his big brother's twin bed and was thus able to use that bedding.<br /><br />I thought he could use a lamp. I thought it should be a <span style="font-style: italic;">Star Wars</span> lamp.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O6HJ0jD-4eo/TsyKDVnGdEI/AAAAAAAABUI/LUSDaBddOWM/s1600/RWOPstarwars1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O6HJ0jD-4eo/TsyKDVnGdEI/AAAAAAAABUI/LUSDaBddOWM/s400/RWOPstarwars1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678065020152738882" border="0" /></a>We had an old lampshade that was slightly bent/cracked. I took photos of my son's bedding, printed them on full-sheet labels, did some cursory tracing and cutting, pulled the backing of the labels, and affixed to the lampshade.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n90AvDQUU18/TsyKDvVFfhI/AAAAAAAABUY/SPwoHSCLP34/s1600/RWOPstarwars2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n90AvDQUU18/TsyKDvVFfhI/AAAAAAAABUY/SPwoHSCLP34/s400/RWOPstarwars2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678065027056500242" border="0" /></a>If I had it to do over, I would have taken the time to cut a pattern out of plain paper before cutting out the labels. Then I could have avoided unsightly layered seams (see below). I also would have printed the labels on an inkjet printer and not a laser one. I think the colors would have been truer.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5o3tMP7yOJ0/TsyKEYtUHJI/AAAAAAAABUg/zAKOEh-4qlM/s1600/RWOPstarwars3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5o3tMP7yOJ0/TsyKEYtUHJI/AAAAAAAABUg/zAKOEh-4qlM/s400/RWOPstarwars3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678065038163975314" border="0" /></a>But, guess what? I can pull these easy-peasy labels off no problem and do it over if I want. I probably won't bother because really, it's pretty awesome, just as it is.<br /><br />Not sure about the ethics of photographing the bedding, but I'm thinking: we paid for it and are enjoying this lamp in our own home, not trying to sell it or anything.<br /><br />Let' s look at it one more time.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n90AvDQUU18/TsyKDvVFfhI/AAAAAAAABUY/SPwoHSCLP34/s1600/RWOPstarwars2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n90AvDQUU18/TsyKDvVFfhI/AAAAAAAABUY/SPwoHSCLP34/s400/RWOPstarwars2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678065027056500242" border="0" /></a>Link up your own Pinterest-inspired post below! Too busy with turkey day? Join us next Wednesday for the next installment of ... Real Women of Pinterest (RWOP).<br /><br /><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=117937" type="text/javascript"></script>mephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03074153090546740903noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436677792458357476.post-43204815564021139482011-11-18T21:49:00.019-06:002011-11-22T12:28:48.204-06:00I'll claim her.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IN6EAKNrjgg/TscwvcGY2DI/AAAAAAAABTY/b1GBXmRYqF8/s1600/IMG_1676.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IN6EAKNrjgg/TscwvcGY2DI/AAAAAAAABTY/b1GBXmRYqF8/s400/IMG_1676.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676559446878771250" border="0" /></a>Bub and I took a Wiggleworms music class starting when he was around nine months old. By the end of each 45-minute class, I would be completely pitted out, fully sweating from the effort required to keep Bub from crawling the perimeter of the room to dig through purses and diaper bags, stealing maracas from other babies, and grabbing on to the teacher's guitar (music class could not proceed until he was removed, over and over, from that guitar). We had our own <a href="http://www.nottobrag.net/2009/02/come-on-everybody-its-parachute-time.html">struggles at Gymboree</a> and also <a href="http://www.nottobrag.net/2007/09/chicago-2016-here-we-come.html">at gymnastics.</a> The issue was too much energy and exuberance, more than anything, but I spent many a "circle time" wondering if I might some day have a little girl who would sit on my lap during circle time and make me feel like a "good mom."<br /><br />And guess what? I do. My Sweet P takes music class and does Mother Goose story time at the library every week. Sure, we've had our moments -- Sweet P stole a baby's hair bow in the first week of music class and then proceeded to swat that baby on the head repeatedly once the little one's mom had wisely pocketed the bow. There was also a frustrating class when she kept trying to open the supply cabinet. But, all in all, she's good in classes. I am able to smugly (a little bit) enjoy circle time while feeling compassion for the moms who have little Bubs.<br /><br />Sweet P is also, NTB, better able or more willing to entertain herself than her brothers were at this age. She sits on the floor and flips through books (!!!!), moves her babies all around, pauses to watch five minutes of television now and again, and travels around the house looking for action.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UoFYXVRzmpA/Tscwv1kUqgI/AAAAAAAABTk/RBKE0rxABxg/s1600/IMG_1806.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UoFYXVRzmpA/Tscwv1kUqgI/AAAAAAAABTk/RBKE0rxABxg/s400/IMG_1806.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676559453715212802" border="0" /></a>As adorable and independent and sweet and good during circle time as Sweet P is, she is also trying my patience these days.<br /><br />In the car, she refuses to sit in her own car seat, leaving me to either wrestle her into it or sweet talk Little Bit into trading. Also, when we arrive home, she wants to stay in the van attempting to re-buckle all the seats. Who doesn't like hanging out in the garage?<br /><br />During her bath, I spend the entire time trying (and failing) to keep her from drinking bath water and from turning the water back on. After bath, she runs around my room naked and climbs onto the bed to jump and roll around. Always a treat getting her into jammies.<br /><br />Every diaper change is a wrestling match. This gets messy.<br /><br />Sweet P has never encountered a bin of toys that she didn't want to empty out.<br /><br />We keep a big container of crayons on the kitchen table with paper. While Sweet P is happy to color quietly for a few minutes (again, something the boys <span style="font-style: italic;">never</span> did at her age), she also dumps those crayons all over the floor two or three times each day.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W2gcqy_RMs4/Tscww3ky1cI/AAAAAAAABT8/teYVTOd2E7g/s1600/IMG_1775.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W2gcqy_RMs4/Tscww3ky1cI/AAAAAAAABT8/teYVTOd2E7g/s400/IMG_1775.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676559471433930178" border="0" /></a>She's gotten better about keeping her bows in her hair, but she still manages to look disheveled by mid-day and often has snot and/or pieces of her meals caked into her hair.<br /><br />She's a bit pushy about her breakfast, grabbing Daddy's handing and leading him to the kitchen where she says, "Nonuts. Nonuts. Nonuts."<br /><br />It used to be that at bedtime, we'd just say, "Okay, Sweet P, time to give kisses and go night night." She'd stop what she was doing, give kisses, and start heading upstairs. Now, she says, "No."<br /><br />"No" is her new favorite word. Would you like pasta? More milk? Ready to go pick up Bub? "No."<br /><br />I won't go into all the things that can go wrong if the boys or I forget to close the bathroom door.<br /><br />She has now figured out how to open the fridge. She dumped one container of leftovers this afternoon and brought three juice boxes to me for straw help (for the record, I put them all back amid screams of protest).<br /><br />She also dumped half a bottle of fabric softener on the floor. My fault, of course, for not putting the lid back on tightly, but honestly I don't even know how she reached it.<br /><br />I keep my make-up bag in the kitchen (oven door is my vanity) and she was inspecting its contents after dinner.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-afM2NjWH5hk/TscwwKk1KqI/AAAAAAAABTw/90_H-yFHTl8/s1600/IMG_1731.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-afM2NjWH5hk/TscwwKk1KqI/AAAAAAAABTw/90_H-yFHTl8/s400/IMG_1731.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676559459354487458" border="0" /></a>"Your daughter," my hubby says with a smile. Over and over. She's got him wrapped around his little finger to the point that he never gets frustrated with her, and he's endlessly entertained watching me respond to her.<br /><br />She drives me nuts some days.<br /><br />Lucky I'm nuts about her.mephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03074153090546740903noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436677792458357476.post-5225637058922771352011-11-15T22:36:00.013-06:002011-11-15T23:44:32.185-06:00Real Women of Pinterest Unite!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">An Interview with NTB founder and lead writer, MEP.</span><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;">Are you seriously going to talk about Pinterest in another post? Didn't you just write about <a href="http://www.nottobrag.net/2011/11/pinteresting.html">your Pinterest obsession</a>?</span><br />Yes and yes.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Okay then, who are the Real Women of Pinterest?</span><br />Friends and fellow bloggers who have been inspired by Pinterest and who want to share their creations.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The phrase "Real Women" conjures images of Bravo's Real Housewives? Should we expect excessive consumption of white wine, cat fights, backstabbing, and botox?</span><br />More like glue guns, fabric, and paint. Pinterest is inspiring, but sometimes when you look at the beautiful rooms and homes and creations on there, you can feel a bit inadequate. I'd love to show real people motivated to make their lives more beautiful in big and small ways. My bloggy friends and I are going to share our own Pinterest-inspired creations on Wednesdays.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Oh, so you have loads of bloggy friends?</span><br />Well, not loads, but it's quality not quantity that matters.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">How many participants are you expecting?</span><br />One for sure. It could be as many as three if only I had remembered to send an email telling people about it.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">But anyone is welcome? </span><br />Yes, bloggers can link up their Pinterest posts here on Wednesdays. Non-bloggers are free to send a digital pic and brief description to mep AT nottobrag DOT net. I'll find a way to share their Pinteresting.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I'm getting bored. Anything else to show me?</span><br />How about my Pinterest-inspired Coat and Corkboard Center? <br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I have a feeling you just made that name up right now, but go ahead and show us.</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Coat and Corkboard Center"</span><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ebUNPEmuVMU/TsM_Ityds8I/AAAAAAAABTQ/R6ckUGsUJtE/s1600/RPgarageview.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ebUNPEmuVMU/TsM_Ityds8I/AAAAAAAABTQ/R6ckUGsUJtE/s400/RPgarageview.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675449374379717570" border="0" /></a>In this photo, you can see the laundry room and the door leading to the garage. I'm thrilled to have a laundry room that is not a basement dungeon type like we had before. However, the kids would come in from the van, walk a few steps through the laundry room, and start shedding. They removed coats, shoes, and backpacks and strewed them about. Note the past tense.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OecWe6MWRSs/TsM_IXhwgTI/AAAAAAAABS8/UQCvRRzB9A8/s1600/RPlaundryview.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OecWe6MWRSs/TsM_IXhwgTI/AAAAAAAABS8/UQCvRRzB9A8/s400/RPlaundryview.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675449368404066610" border="0" /></a>Now they hang their coats and backpacks carefully on their hooks and line up their shoes just-so beneath. Sure, they don't do these things 100% of the time, but when I step over a coat, I can now say, "Bub, hang your coat up." And there's an actual spot that he can reach where the coat goes.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-exYw01M_oZE/TsM_IIcHjQI/AAAAAAAABS0/qvnj9Wm2XDA/s1600/RPbub.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-exYw01M_oZE/TsM_IIcHjQI/AAAAAAAABS0/qvnj9Wm2XDA/s400/RPbub.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675449364353879298" border="0" /></a>There's a bulletin board too. The long-term plan is to have the kids' school, sports, and activity schedules on the boards. Party invitations, permission slips, reminders, etc. We're not in the schedule-heavy years yet so we are playing the boards by ear for now.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lYtJGzg593U/TsM_HvKH-4I/AAAAAAAABSo/yuglA0a-JEU/s1600/RPbibs.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lYtJGzg593U/TsM_HvKH-4I/AAAAAAAABSo/yuglA0a-JEU/s400/RPbibs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675449357567523714" border="0" /></a>This picture is included solely so you can admire Sweet P's adorable rain boots. It does remind me though that I saw a pin on Pinterest where someone had what looked like a cookie sheet filled with stylish rocks that was used as a sort of mat/draining board for wet boots.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fmIG88xQu70/TsM_HdX9RvI/AAAAAAAABSc/mjY7mIixge0/s1600/RPbit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fmIG88xQu70/TsM_HdX9RvI/AAAAAAAABSc/mjY7mIixge0/s400/RPbit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675449352793704178" border="0" /></a>This picture is tacked on at the end because I felt that something was missing when I took the others and realized it was Little Bit's cute backpack.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Where did you find the materials and labor for this Pinterest project, MEP?</span><br />I purchased the three-hook boards at Home Depot. The corkboards I already had because I have long been obsessed with incorporating, for better or worse, bulletin boards into my home decor. My hubby was not super enthusiastic about this project (though I don't think he minds the result) but my father-in-law was kind enough to hang the hooks and boards for me. I am very thankful.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Are you completely happy with the final Coat and Corkboard Center, MEP?</span><br />So glad you asked. I am not happy with my current wall color (though, to be fair, it is not as olive-icky as it looks in the photos), but we are having some painting done in a couple of weeks. I'll choose different fabric for the boards after I choose new paint. The black and white fabric was already on the boards from a previous decor moment. Any recommendations for non-boring neutral wall colors? Or, are neutrals necessarily boring? Same fabric for each board or mix it up?<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Hire a decorator. </span><br />Do you know any decorators who work for free or for Activia yogurts? We are all stocked up on those right now.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">How can bloggers link up?<br /></span>See below. Just cut and paste the url for your Pinterest post. Feel free to link to multiple posts if you wish. <br /><br /><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=116890" type="text/javascript"></script><br /> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ebUNPEmuVMU/TsM_Ityds8I/AAAAAAAABTQ/R6ckUGsUJtE/s1600/RPgarageview.jpg"><br /></a>mephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03074153090546740903noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436677792458357476.post-20267497388763179892011-11-14T22:37:00.014-06:002011-11-15T19:06:41.764-06:00Ready, Set, GoYou know how there are some moms who are able to do their holiday shopping throughout the year -- buying the perfect gifts as they think of them instead of forgetting all their brilliant ideas, taking advantage of sales instead of flailing around desperate and hasty, stockpiling treats in a secure and secret spot rather than misplacing them? Do you know those moms?<div><br /><div>I am not one of those moms, and it's a shame. It's not that I get incredibly stressed out preparing to play Santa Claus. I don't. <i>Desperate</i> and <i>hasty</i> are probably a bit strong for describing me. Our kids have been happy every Christmas morning so far. However, I always end up feeling a bit disappointed in myself, like I could have done better. By better I don't mean grander or more lavish. I mean better as in more creative and surprising.</div><div>My ideas and plans for Christmas this year are still foggy, but here are some ideas I'm thinking about ...</div><div><br /></div><div><i>For Bub:</i></div><div>Make good on my promise to turn part of a basement storage/furnace room into an art studio. I'd love for him to open the door and see a rug on the floor, the easel he already owns set up with new paints and brushes, a <a href="http://www.nottobrag.net/2010/11/patron-of-arts.html">clothes pin art gallery</a> ready and waiting for his creations, a smock, a variety of paper, and one of those 10-packs of blank canvases they sell at Michaels for $14.99. Also, a new bulb in the overhead fixture in there so he can see what he's doing.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>For Little Bit:</i></div><div>He's really into the puppet theater in the library's "learning garden." Hubby and I don't have the time or DIY skills to construct a wooden puppet theater, but I think I could rig up something cool with some fabric and a tension rod -- maybe for a doorway or part of the playroom. Or, if I had a giant sturdy cardboard box, I think he'd be just as excited by that. I'd buy a few puppets and also search Pinterest (I know, I know, when will I stop mentioning Pinterest? Never.) for some directions on making your own paper bag or sock puppets. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>For Sweet P:</i></div><div>Sweet P is flat-out obsessed with babies. Each night before she goes to bed, she has me tucking in three battered and semi-naked Cabbage Patch dolls (two of mine, one of her dads), her dad's "Baby Troy," a stuffed Elmo, and a Barbie-sized Princess Leia. She is constantly bringing me various babies to be swaddled. We've made some makeshift beds out of cardboard boxes, and she gets a real kick out of taking the babies in and out of the beds. For her, I'd love to create a miniature day care center -- a corner of the playroom or basement that has some baby beds or little pack n' plays, car seats, high chairs, strollers, etc. I've seen all this baby doll stuff at toy stores, and I imagine I could improvise as well. I think she could spend hours moving the babies from one spot to the next, especially if any of these baby doll items have straps to latch and unlatch. Actually, if I can't get the child care center set up, I'm just going to find a used infant carseat (we gave ours away when I could no longer carry it and Sweet P at the same time) so she could spend her days buckling and unbuckling it.</div><div>Speaking of babies, anyone have a source for inexpensive clothes to fit Cabbage Patch dolls?</div><div><br /></div><div><i>For all three:</i></div><div>They all love singing and dancing, and I think they'd get a kick out of a dance area with a spot light. Our CDs and digital music are pretty disorganized right now. If we get our act together in that department, we could create an atmosphere more conducive to dance parties.</div><div>Okay, I've got to end this post and get to work on these ideas ASAP. I probably should have started months and months ago. </div><div>And, just warning you, I feel like I have more semi-creative Christmas ideas percolating. Stay tuned. </div><div>Any creative surprises in mind for the kids in your life? Please share in the comments.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>mephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03074153090546740903noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436677792458357476.post-87906572091980742072011-11-10T21:18:00.018-06:002011-11-12T00:36:20.718-06:00PFMP -- Phase One<div style="text-align: left;">Yesterday, I finished Mindy Kaling's <i>Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?</i> I adored this book. Kaling is smart, hard-working, and refreshingly honest about what's important to her: her parents, her friends, her hope to one day be in a happy marriage and be a mom. Her book of personal essays is extremely well-written and genuinely funny. If I were still teaching high school English, I would offer an excerpt to students to illustrate the elusive quality we call "voice." Hers is clear, strong, and engaging. <i>Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?</i> would make a great gift for anyone who enjoys a smart, funny read that does not rely on shock value or cheap shots.</div><div>One essay is entitled "These Are the Narcissistic Photos in My BlackBerry" and includes photos from Kaling's BlackBerry with commentary. </div><div>I don't take many photos of myself with my phone, perhaps because I seldom need to check my hair and make-up on the way to awards shows. I do snap a lot of pics with my phone though, often with the intention of sharing them in a blog post. </div><div>Here's the first phase of PFMP (Photos from My Phone), complete with commentary approximately 96% less funny than Kaling's and with insight into the accompanying posts that never quite materialized. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9mgBrRjnDNo/TryfB-zrkFI/AAAAAAAABRU/LDnkEQwARDU/s400/PFMPlittlebitsnow.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673584486968430674" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div>Okay, here we have Little Bit taking a walk amongst some still-melting snow mounds last winter. Since it snowed here for about seven minutes this afternoon, this photo called out to me today. There's my old city street -- aawww.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1t1033olVmY/TryfCumxiVI/AAAAAAAABRs/lsnhEVGwmos/s400/PFMPsheen.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673584499799198034" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div>Here's the Charlie Sheen auction package at the boys' school fundraiser last year. Can't remember if I took the photo because I thought it was funny or inappropriate. Discuss amongst yourselves. Actually, don't bother.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-etmF1WhFpDU/TryfO3EP-PI/AAAAAAAABSM/hh6iQVJ9iCI/s400/PFMPsweetpickles.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673584708228741362" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div>There's my Bub holding one of the Sweet Pickles books we read at Grammy and Pop's house. I'd love to have a complete set even though some of those Sweet Pickles are more grumpy and/or depressed than they are sweet.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QnVG6FnKFCE/TryfBvtym0I/AAAAAAAABRE/CItYbEkYZXs/s400/PFMPcaprese.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673584482917194562" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div>A Caprese Salad my mom made. Delish.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_eMgtP5vB8U/TryfCSXVC1I/AAAAAAAABRg/pbIJoh5LFKA/s400/PFMPpirate.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673584492218223442" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div>Ahoy, mateys. We took the boys on a fantastic pirate cruise when we were in Florida last March. Loved it -- one of those rare totally-got-our-money's-worth experiences!</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nilDHkKvRYg/TryfBRKT5pI/AAAAAAAABQ8/wdPgMST_qCQ/s400/PFMPbiebs.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673584474715317906" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px; " /></span></span></div><div>Whoa, step back. Is that the Biebs peeking out of my sister's front door? Or maybe just the life-size Justin Bieber cardboard cutout I got my niece for her birthday (pre-alleged-baby-mama-drama). I photographed each party guest with Mr. Bieber but never ended up putting a post together.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-puqsHxJHuHo/TryfOdawGGI/AAAAAAAABR4/sX-W1NudDoA/s400/PFMPshirt.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673584701343799394" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div>And here is the button I sewed onto my husband's shirt ... after that shirt sat on top of our china cabinet for two months early this year. Bet you're sorry that thrilling post never came to be.</div><div>We'll end with the money shot. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uBQVMCBv06Q/TryfOtlHSrI/AAAAAAAABSE/DXRWkoHJtHQ/s400/PFMPsnoopy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673584705682229938" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div>For as long as I can remember, the garage door above has had Snoopy as the Red Baron painted on it. It's next to a main road in the town bordering my hometown, and I have passed it thousands of times on my way home. I snapped this from the Odyssey as I was pointing it out to my kids --the very same garage door I had looked at from the back seat of the station wagons and conversion vans of my youth!</div><div>And there you have it, PFMP, Phase One.</div><div>Any gems saved on your phone?</div>mephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03074153090546740903noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436677792458357476.post-9812796128347287882011-11-09T21:46:00.006-06:002011-11-09T21:54:58.839-06:00Picture Lady in the HouseI am visiting Bub's kindergarten class as part of a parent-sponsored Fine Arts Program.<br /><br />At my grade school, this program was called "Picture Lady."<br /><br />Tomorrow I am the Picture Lady. I feel old and yet strangely proud because I always found Picture Lady and the picture ladies themselves to be kind of awesome.<br /><br />I'd say I was worried about doing something that would embarrass Bub, but the truth is that he is still so young, innocent, eager, and sweet that I doubt I could embarrass him if I tried. He is over-the-top excited that I'm coming to his classroom tomorrow.<br /><br />And so am I.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D6sd0aY7VRc/TrtKuYE68-I/AAAAAAAABQw/vKmcg7WuiaU/s1600/Photo%2Bon%2B2011-11-09%2Bat%2B21.45%2B%25232.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D6sd0aY7VRc/TrtKuYE68-I/AAAAAAAABQw/vKmcg7WuiaU/s400/Photo%2Bon%2B2011-11-09%2Bat%2B21.45%2B%25232.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673210316200801250" border="0" /></a>Off to get some beauty rest and dream of Van Gogh's <span style="font-style: italic;">The Bedroom</span> in my own.mephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03074153090546740903noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436677792458357476.post-9568490489936492182011-11-08T21:20:00.009-06:002011-11-08T21:35:17.767-06:00Word UpWell, I've reached that point in November when daily posting is getting difficult. I'm too tired and uninspired to write anything worth reading, but too stubborn to give up on the NaBloPoMo daily posting challenge.<div><br /><div>Today's solution? Borrow some wise and inspiring words from others, the collected wisdom of <a href="http://pinterest.com/mepwoman/inspiration/">my Pinterest "Inspiration" board</a>. Sources for the quotations included whenever possible. </div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Be kind and be truthful and your life will be fruitful.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Comparison is the thief of joy. </i> Theodore Roosevelt</div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Cleaning House while the kids are home is like shoveling snow while it's still snowing.</i> </div><div style="text-align: left;">(I'd replace "home" with "awake" for my purposes) </div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday?</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i></i>(my friend E... has started <a href="http://www.smallafterall.com/">an awesome series of gratitude posts </a>inspired by this saying)</div><div><br /></div><div>What words are offering you inspiration and perspective these days? Which of the sayings above resonates with you? Please share in the comments.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>mephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03074153090546740903noreply@blogger.com5