tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81005584113397087002024-03-19T09:04:20.955-04:00Hip Hick ChickThe life and times of a stay-at-home mom trying to find and maintain hipness between the carpools and melt-downs.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01979884421338920578noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100558411339708700.post-4392523402797636952014-03-06T15:01:00.000-05:002014-03-06T15:01:40.697-05:00Maybe She's Born With It.....<div style="text-align: center;">
Or maybe she's not. So maybe instead, she buys tons and tons of products to try to fake that she's born with it. </div>
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Just sayin'.</div>
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You'll see what I mean.</div>
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Okay, so I know I have been MIA. That's not really the case though. It's more like I've been GIBOS. What's that???? GOING INSANE BECAUSE OF SNOW!!!!</div>
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I can't handle the snow anymore. I know I live in PA and this is somewhat "normal" I guess, but I'm not cut out for it. I need to see grass. I need the temperature to be above 32 degrees on a consistent basis. Little things, really. </div>
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Anyway, because of the snow, we have been trapped inside. Because we have been trapped inside, we have been making messes. It's like "if you give a mouse a cookie"....one thing just leads to the next. It's been bad, but I think things are turning around. The last storm missed us, so there is hope that even Mother Nature is sick of throwing snow at us.</div>
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Enough complaining and excuses though. Onward and upward, right?</div>
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So, I saw this thing on Facebook called Forty Bags in Forty Days and I was instantly all about it. You can read about it here:</div>
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<a href="http://www.whitehouseblackshutters.com/40-bags-in-40-days-2014/" target="_blank">40 bags in 40 days</a></div>
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The concept is just what it sounds like. Get rid of 40 bags of stuff in 40 days. The days happen to coincide with Lent, but you can do this regardless of your religion. </div>
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I started yesterday with my LONG overdue Master Bath re-haul. I have had bags, (you know the ones-the cute little gift with purchase bags and travel makeup bags) FILLED with random make-up items that I have held onto for WAY too long. Why? I really have no clue. Maybe in OFF chance that I would need metallic silver eyeshadow again? That happens oh so much around here (insert sarcastic snort)</div>
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I decided, after nagging my 8 year old to stop hoarding things, that maybe I should take my own advice and set an example. </div>
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So....here are some before pictures. Let's just analyze together, shall we?</div>
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Here is a peek at all the random bags. I wasn't joking. They were all full of stuff too. It looks like at one point, they were dedicated to certain things, but that went out the window. NONE of this was used on a daily basis. Not even an monthly basis!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijoT2gSGGBRntMVVX-JaU8Oz61PqW00stW46YP0tn4y8O5OeqKMZfX0_LmFZGiNitM0k08HwzJM0V7l2ypWmhAjgaYDbylQJt4tuHu9Za-gwaFUWR3sWAOBr9gQ6lZD1s8FQ4hf85OOWIS/s1600/IMG_0623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijoT2gSGGBRntMVVX-JaU8Oz61PqW00stW46YP0tn4y8O5OeqKMZfX0_LmFZGiNitM0k08HwzJM0V7l2ypWmhAjgaYDbylQJt4tuHu9Za-gwaFUWR3sWAOBr9gQ6lZD1s8FQ4hf85OOWIS/s1600/IMG_0623.jpg" height="209" width="320" /></a></div>
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Moving on.... All of THESE were found in a bin that had a label on it that said "lotions". I remember that label maker. It was before kids. Check out what was taking up the most space:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3dXfKgwrnbE0CQtVySt3R_XzkFyunLM9KN0iQC6_PhUd9u-uSxUrP3sM8LovVZwOwAA-n59RXfj1NoI8v329CNY3eu9hacmBzsjjE6lvuMgZIkUK2VEOm4C52xRM5NJkXy-2EL5-bvMC/s1600/IMG_0621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3dXfKgwrnbE0CQtVySt3R_XzkFyunLM9KN0iQC6_PhUd9u-uSxUrP3sM8LovVZwOwAA-n59RXfj1NoI8v329CNY3eu9hacmBzsjjE6lvuMgZIkUK2VEOm4C52xRM5NJkXy-2EL5-bvMC/s1600/IMG_0621.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Sigh...I love me a self tanner. But 9 different ones? Um...overkill.</div>
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I complain on a DAILY basis about not being able to find a rubber band for my hair, and often have hot pink ones from my daughter's in my hair. Shouldn't have that problem anymore!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMOPuVHUAZha8dO6qQqmwC7t2jtKQMe3jhOMG2tZGvZtjgt_GrohQ0wZ7ss0-mMU8tOlj1B77_pjzJCATcpFJ7FZ9R02-t1mzR7-2QFTZGrnXVYY5FTnoSOplaE-coCC0SjZt0yia_KD-/s1600/IMG_0635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMOPuVHUAZha8dO6qQqmwC7t2jtKQMe3jhOMG2tZGvZtjgt_GrohQ0wZ7ss0-mMU8tOlj1B77_pjzJCATcpFJ7FZ9R02-t1mzR7-2QFTZGrnXVYY5FTnoSOplaE-coCC0SjZt0yia_KD-/s1600/IMG_0635.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Same thing with bobby pins. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5XDtUr6VeicMTQJBsCSGURywcpgeF-pnZQRGjtn3V7wkWAtgX3NGvp6UZ3hTcqb6MtxjETYoV1BrQxyXn8YiO5k8RQjDUHzXPLl7rEmN2MOawX7s7DVauuAzJZMTHOcoQxCG2m6lLyzk/s1600/IMG_0633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5XDtUr6VeicMTQJBsCSGURywcpgeF-pnZQRGjtn3V7wkWAtgX3NGvp6UZ3hTcqb6MtxjETYoV1BrQxyXn8YiO5k8RQjDUHzXPLl7rEmN2MOawX7s7DVauuAzJZMTHOcoQxCG2m6lLyzk/s1600/IMG_0633.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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So you want to see what filled my first bag for the challenge? Pretty much ALL of this:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFSrxzDyZnkHGmLLWbosYUbSyyzm0ulDQ2pVXyy-GHpUfZ49e0fXk6UptfgK5nA3oeGFx1VyMAdI0Lg-WL00YlCd0xgl7Iptf3uqVEJTfPoZhGUZ7O-o6DQSLSpOZE5qXrlypqJHR8hru/s1600/IMG_0628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFSrxzDyZnkHGmLLWbosYUbSyyzm0ulDQ2pVXyy-GHpUfZ49e0fXk6UptfgK5nA3oeGFx1VyMAdI0Lg-WL00YlCd0xgl7Iptf3uqVEJTfPoZhGUZ7O-o6DQSLSpOZE5qXrlypqJHR8hru/s1600/IMG_0628.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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(do you see the multiple containers with blue eyeshadow? Why, just why? I know I bought some when Emily was an Egyptian for Halloween. Then I bought MORE when Allie was an Egyptian, but still....why?)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtN4tzSylicSPKL3DkLZeq8eaHr_qNpEwx9jHjqfS2OPYG-YZvJ_8Ql0mZNaKJD1XJm4NVwM8V0-8V1s_DTOeJ_h0Huk5KxMAlFJivEzkQLGewC5KtwAgmZmBbDdCxEnUVGz731Yzl6ZG/s1600/IMG_0632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtN4tzSylicSPKL3DkLZeq8eaHr_qNpEwx9jHjqfS2OPYG-YZvJ_8Ql0mZNaKJD1XJm4NVwM8V0-8V1s_DTOeJ_h0Huk5KxMAlFJivEzkQLGewC5KtwAgmZmBbDdCxEnUVGz731Yzl6ZG/s1600/IMG_0632.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Seriously?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUErm1_STlsqxtYP4_tsKrds3ZIDvS5xpVvrfExtFmcS4X3dQfSMmYgGEoJllJOAc3jvKOxDE3m396EZ1FLbtPp4jPBa7wcJLqBQKRISxD8g7GJy3Vhk4fMScsGbcYPEQtj5RGFgMWxUGc/s1600/IMG_0631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUErm1_STlsqxtYP4_tsKrds3ZIDvS5xpVvrfExtFmcS4X3dQfSMmYgGEoJllJOAc3jvKOxDE3m396EZ1FLbtPp4jPBa7wcJLqBQKRISxD8g7GJy3Vhk4fMScsGbcYPEQtj5RGFgMWxUGc/s1600/IMG_0631.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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"My name's Janell....I love lipstick. If I don't have it, I go ballistic"....that was my intro when I was a pledge for my sorority. Something never change.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6RhDRS-c0hIGrm7dM1j1f0QDJ0DNr6BvNe2riEHpgK5gEYicJQlFuXgsucEhQotS9rzr8qEJpbzH6hOafYPPBQUFeXaFkdH45Y-lqeRnIAf9q3qbKj8CLOzABhl8m8jHJdF0BIhkY0loO/s1600/IMG_0625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6RhDRS-c0hIGrm7dM1j1f0QDJ0DNr6BvNe2riEHpgK5gEYicJQlFuXgsucEhQotS9rzr8qEJpbzH6hOafYPPBQUFeXaFkdH45Y-lqeRnIAf9q3qbKj8CLOzABhl8m8jHJdF0BIhkY0loO/s1600/IMG_0625.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I don't know if you can see it, but there were 4 purple eyeliners there. 4. </div>
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So anyway....you get the picture. </div>
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I know everyone is aware, but just in case, I wanted to remind you that makeup DOES have a shelf life. Here is a handy <a href="http://beauty.about.com/od/makeuptrickstips/a/shelflife.htm" target="_blank">Expiration Guide</a> to help you out.</div>
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Needless to say, the majority of what you see above was expired and thrown out. </div>
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I have this great cabinet in my bathroom, that before yesterday looked like this:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimrynQqK0R-N35-SfdqXM1OYtfRcgltU2JPZcMHQ5-YM6w7gr-rLafUEv4p0J90W5hwzjDZpdUbKtZV_GbcCFgF407dBu_twZtecS9y33CaDDnLtf1K2Y_RI3NHFsh9n4qBpAl7Xg56I0i/s1600/IMG_0620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimrynQqK0R-N35-SfdqXM1OYtfRcgltU2JPZcMHQ5-YM6w7gr-rLafUEv4p0J90W5hwzjDZpdUbKtZV_GbcCFgF407dBu_twZtecS9y33CaDDnLtf1K2Y_RI3NHFsh9n4qBpAl7Xg56I0i/s1600/IMG_0620.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Pretty much a hot mess of disorganization. </div>
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After cleaning everything out and moving it around, it now looks like this:</div>
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Yay! So much better!</div>
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And my makeup? Well, it is all current and in one place:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09mxFwSQ1wsexqIoJCcWPW8OSl-7yNJuXkgQ_xwsgR7gBYeY6_qvXdyDU4SB-UvUkJpXmyFq3SdBZbpzkZdH6PGbOIldtxjqN7aToqMyYxILWAPIfiaoYbEWRGjOuSo2OvmwPD3puuVyy/s1600/IMG_0637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09mxFwSQ1wsexqIoJCcWPW8OSl-7yNJuXkgQ_xwsgR7gBYeY6_qvXdyDU4SB-UvUkJpXmyFq3SdBZbpzkZdH6PGbOIldtxjqN7aToqMyYxILWAPIfiaoYbEWRGjOuSo2OvmwPD3puuVyy/s1600/IMG_0637.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I was able to clear out space in my cabinet and it fits perfectly.</div>
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So there are a couple of morals to this story. </div>
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1. Don't hoard makeup. There is no use. </div>
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2. Don't judge. Don't ever judge.</div>
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3. Don't ever feel embarrassed to have me over to your house. Clearly I have seen some messes of my own making!</div>
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I'd love to see your messes! Share them with me! Are you doing the #40bagsin40days challenge? Tell me about it!</div>
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Next up....coupons! </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01979884421338920578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100558411339708700.post-19039887827117745182014-01-16T16:05:00.000-05:002014-01-16T16:05:42.785-05:00It is too early in the morning for this....<div style="text-align: center;">
That is what I said to my 8 year old this morning. Truth be told, it was 8:15, which in this house, isn't THAT early, but still, too early for a meltdown over shoes.</div>
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She couldn't find her "black shake it up shoes" and the world was apparently going to end. I tried to help her find them, but then the baby started tripping over the mound of shoes and we just found a different pair instead.</div>
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Enough is enough. </div>
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The foyer and hall closet have been on my to-do list for a while, so I tackled it this morning when the girls went to school.</div>
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I posted it on my <a href="http://www.mycleverbiz.com/getorganizedwithjanell" target="_blank">Facebook</a> page, but again, here is the before. A side by side view of both the closet and the bench/shelf in the front. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSL8sGaIPevgoXzb51jZkEdLCEG-HRfAgr2MKE_mxAuvsMyMr3sJsCFKnEk6XhnvEvnhI4-S9VV0hcVnqgsjRDKhgK0TWV_jp8bMtUP_mz3Bf2iiDPfbBLfBb43fymLRQE-Xwlww09215E/s1600/closet+before+and+after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSL8sGaIPevgoXzb51jZkEdLCEG-HRfAgr2MKE_mxAuvsMyMr3sJsCFKnEk6XhnvEvnhI4-S9VV0hcVnqgsjRDKhgK0TWV_jp8bMtUP_mz3Bf2iiDPfbBLfBb43fymLRQE-Xwlww09215E/s1600/closet+before+and+after.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Ugh. Ridiculous. </div>
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Okay, I need to confess. I had a secret weapon in my mission. </div>
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Batman.</div>
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I get that you probably don't have a superhero in your home, but I promise, you can still get the project done.</div>
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Okay, so CLEARLY, there was some major purging that needed to be done in today's area of the house.</div>
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Let's just take a look at the things I found while sorting:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbf0NqXa11PllWYI-O6MaLGxdBZfbAo8kB-jbfhk-M4kQA0n6Szps6skuwOOCVFYjU0SrrpdyY2X7beDvKMVdn8UcnOesxg88sNmQNkY_djJ-PNLryWJIS3kcBZwrkZPC27bQNYZtVtM1I/s1600/summer+shoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbf0NqXa11PllWYI-O6MaLGxdBZfbAo8kB-jbfhk-M4kQA0n6Szps6skuwOOCVFYjU0SrrpdyY2X7beDvKMVdn8UcnOesxg88sNmQNkY_djJ-PNLryWJIS3kcBZwrkZPC27bQNYZtVtM1I/s1600/summer+shoes.jpg" height="220" width="320" /></a></div>
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19 pairs of sandals and flip-flops. </div>
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It's January.</div>
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In Pennsylvania.</div>
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To say those shoes were taking up prime property would be an understatement.</div>
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I know for a FACT that I used to go through the shoes when I switched clothing seasons over. I'm not sure why I didn't do that this time.</div>
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Oh wait-I DO remember! Because I have a baby now. Because my girls are older and are involved in more things. Because life happened. That's why the shoes weren't top on the priority list.</div>
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Anyway-all of the summer shoes are now living with the bins of summer clothing.</div>
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I made sure that won't happen again this year. I set a reminder in my phone for April.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC12p07Rxp69e5tTsDK26wEXsQ1Gyq3lTNC9-tcH-ouCeakd9yu013y8aM5KV73RNl5yWIodvTKAeVpBLKpW8EdJL0pixoE4wWIKs5QwySSOU-Jq76g4UVJ-XQ0u6DGEad7PHp3j9ygJBg/s1600/reminder%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC12p07Rxp69e5tTsDK26wEXsQ1Gyq3lTNC9-tcH-ouCeakd9yu013y8aM5KV73RNl5yWIodvTKAeVpBLKpW8EdJL0pixoE4wWIKs5QwySSOU-Jq76g4UVJ-XQ0u6DGEad7PHp3j9ygJBg/s1600/reminder%2521.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Moving on-</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLiVpVv2UYshKhKvmv1LYot9XetEBedzxhXjOX8TdZMG6ARpRwG79N8_bGIfEiUWLvTFBM1PQ_OBfYrlsarkfQj0OQbB8PlVLmuZZQywKvrpdN8eonJKlPfFbxH1PGbdtnJmC-ZCClK74/s1600/empty+hangers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLiVpVv2UYshKhKvmv1LYot9XetEBedzxhXjOX8TdZMG6ARpRwG79N8_bGIfEiUWLvTFBM1PQ_OBfYrlsarkfQj0OQbB8PlVLmuZZQywKvrpdN8eonJKlPfFbxH1PGbdtnJmC-ZCClK74/s1600/empty+hangers.jpg" height="320" width="286" /></a></div>
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These were all the empty hangers in the closet. WHY I had 20 coats hanging on 5 hooks in the entryway is beyond me. </div>
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Oh wait...again--another "a-ha" moment. </div>
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I had all those coats NOT in the closet, because about 15 little spring jackets were taking up space.</div>
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Duh!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7JtKwoJNkjJR0WUfznvXQm9O68eAFpnfRmIO14PMXD-5h_L9GqZGcw81FtK988hPu-swv1qzuaVrxFfFT0cnSG_DlB4ZiBI3YJmiDGM-Svboi0eh_O7afxhfvoMi3Lm_GKgoF289sEtD5/s1600/too+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7JtKwoJNkjJR0WUfznvXQm9O68eAFpnfRmIO14PMXD-5h_L9GqZGcw81FtK988hPu-swv1qzuaVrxFfFT0cnSG_DlB4ZiBI3YJmiDGM-Svboi0eh_O7afxhfvoMi3Lm_GKgoF289sEtD5/s1600/too+small.jpg" height="320" width="270" /></a></div>
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THESE shoes right here.....these bad boys were in a bag all to themselves. Because they are too small for any girl in my house. So that tells me at some point, I took the time to sort them out. And then I put the bag BACK IN THE CLOSET!</div>
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What? Where is the logic in that? </div>
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If you look closely, there are 2 boots that have no match. Interesting, right?</div>
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So, I started sorting everything out. All 5 us got our own pile where I threw our shoes. I started a trash pile and a yard sale pile as well. About half-way through cleaning the shoes off the bench area, I found them</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiriEB44pPNNBHcXS2klQNXcj8ZZ6oEMORqhRPyN7dog5MxfLQXBS2xS44qCZNbk0Z7pD0digXcC7GKgX-g5spW8PquCo-KJxtXM5llbjvHJExB2iWdRpzmWKapb5pOPSWD8FebRjWHY1wx/s1600/what+started+it+all.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiriEB44pPNNBHcXS2klQNXcj8ZZ6oEMORqhRPyN7dog5MxfLQXBS2xS44qCZNbk0Z7pD0digXcC7GKgX-g5spW8PquCo-KJxtXM5llbjvHJExB2iWdRpzmWKapb5pOPSWD8FebRjWHY1wx/s1600/what+started+it+all.jpg" height="320" width="278" /></a></div>
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The "black shake it up" shoes that started the whole thing. I could have stopped there, right? Wrong. I was on a mission, and the caped crusader wasn't going to let me quit</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFffEa-DjvraBCnjCDKwIHFmIS4JA_n3XoGSO_vZp_E3AlRJt18cfr3GV8T4axJYTCnNn9FywclH2iSdBAr2SHZBqyaE8tNp_oe_m_a_eCn2aVxrGXm8zu8LBMm6iwBIAe0WiT3YcB8WB/s1600/austin+helping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFffEa-DjvraBCnjCDKwIHFmIS4JA_n3XoGSO_vZp_E3AlRJt18cfr3GV8T4axJYTCnNn9FywclH2iSdBAr2SHZBqyaE8tNp_oe_m_a_eCn2aVxrGXm8zu8LBMm6iwBIAe0WiT3YcB8WB/s1600/austin+helping.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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You might see the shoe organizer in the closet and be thinking "isn't she part of a company that sells organizing things? That doesn't look like a Clever Container product"</div>
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And you'd be right on both accounts. I do sell Clever Container and that is not a Clever Container product. Clever Container does sell many cool shoe organizers, but I don't need them in THIS area. I have a system that works--well, a system that worked and will work again. </div>
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That is the thing about organizing. If you have something that works for you, USE it! Don't buy something you don't need! That defeats the process.</div>
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Anyway-I got off topic. </div>
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So I got all the shoes loaded into the shoes shelf, with a few pair on top and few on the bottom of the shelf in the hallway.</div>
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Where I DID use a Clever Container product was on the door. I love our <a href="http://www.mycleverbiz.com/janellgravitt/shop/search/!Curved-OTD-Double-Hooks/" target="_blank">curved over the door double hooks</a>. I added one on the inside of the door for hats.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1Qyds2v3Rt4jR6DZzAmvrEboo9rI0qHoJz-8H8WXPqXB7CmgRzAdkKQlgvvkz9w9JZzSOWwWtaG2xAU8uRzaDjrG-9uWDVUZ0mMqRMJI7513THQIuC7eTbKvTcmmABndWPEiMV7bRRgs/s1600/closet+door.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1Qyds2v3Rt4jR6DZzAmvrEboo9rI0qHoJz-8H8WXPqXB7CmgRzAdkKQlgvvkz9w9JZzSOWwWtaG2xAU8uRzaDjrG-9uWDVUZ0mMqRMJI7513THQIuC7eTbKvTcmmABndWPEiMV7bRRgs/s1600/closet+door.jpg" height="320" width="307" /></a></div>
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So are you ready for the finished product? Okay! Here you go!</div>
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First up: the hooks being utilized </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNg4RSYFBGNRnW3hd5VB_EEJyE1PabUftuKeRt0mfaz4Q10yzEvd4Mo6lyOAYfBVHQ4ET7BD_BzNeqY50NSCNmwX0hAd8vFyT8GXvoYtiri6UgUpNNLAAPlKOrBXCL-LFqchOynuD8yzNz/s1600/closet+door2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNg4RSYFBGNRnW3hd5VB_EEJyE1PabUftuKeRt0mfaz4Q10yzEvd4Mo6lyOAYfBVHQ4ET7BD_BzNeqY50NSCNmwX0hAd8vFyT8GXvoYtiri6UgUpNNLAAPlKOrBXCL-LFqchOynuD8yzNz/s1600/closet+door2.jpg" height="320" width="273" /></a></div>
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But Janell? You live up north! Where are all your winter hats? Your gloves? </div>
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Here is a tip-when we are inside, our gloves go in pocket of our coats and our hats go in the sleeve. It works great for us. That way everything is together and we can just hang up our coat. </div>
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I keep all of our hardcore snow gear together in the basement (snow suits, snow boots, waterproof gloves, etc).</div>
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If you have a ton of winter gear that you need stored in a closet area, let me know-I have some cool solutions for you!</div>
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Here is the inside of the closet now. I took out about 4 big coats and a bunch of little spring jackets. I also took out a music stand.</div>
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Yes-a music stand was in my hall closet.</div>
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Makes sense, right?</div>
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Ugh.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPgzHAg8sEH8s4RklS_4rGLxoTXtXEKo8EWka_l2lszy-SFTY7mK5Baz3arKZK7XdUQM94wUxp0TvwXCnobGZjtZTjukO0j6Api04MkmOueXnIAhlxJv3VZDV0OmkN0nOrLqCT4Bun1qO/s1600/closet+after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPgzHAg8sEH8s4RklS_4rGLxoTXtXEKo8EWka_l2lszy-SFTY7mK5Baz3arKZK7XdUQM94wUxp0TvwXCnobGZjtZTjukO0j6Api04MkmOueXnIAhlxJv3VZDV0OmkN0nOrLqCT4Bun1qO/s1600/closet+after.jpg" height="320" width="215" /></a></div>
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And the front entryway? Well, it looks pretty good, if I do say so myself. </div>
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There are 7 pairs of shoes on the bottom of the shelf. Boots of the girls that were too big for the shoe holder in the closet, a pair of shoes for each of them that they wear on a regular basis, and a pair of shoes each for Ben and I. The top of the bench can now be home to my diaper bag and the girls' back packs when they aren't in use.</div>
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The shelf above the coats had become Ben's catch all. I was able to clear it off and he has a little dish for change and random things and the dog leash is up there. I feel like the wall above needs something now! </div>
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Suggestions? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPrgU0yrvHXuxl0f1E9Ie9TXnWfRbjDZwM35T3Xztab8H4NrhLDwYrGJ5Eqdm9L8wVIyNclQSslwi_J4ELp3L0slUPHXBqt-0jj26feTV1llFlnl8W5emXBj9-T3mKYkvDmzit_kGyCdMs/s1600/shelf+after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPrgU0yrvHXuxl0f1E9Ie9TXnWfRbjDZwM35T3Xztab8H4NrhLDwYrGJ5Eqdm9L8wVIyNclQSslwi_J4ELp3L0slUPHXBqt-0jj26feTV1llFlnl8W5emXBj9-T3mKYkvDmzit_kGyCdMs/s1600/shelf+after.jpg" height="320" width="151" /></a></div>
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I know it might still look a little cluttered, but trust me it's not. It's functional and organized. Just what this busy family of 5 needs.</div>
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And no more morning breakdowns. </div>
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At least over shoes! </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01979884421338920578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100558411339708700.post-70218636608112457892014-01-14T19:28:00.000-05:002014-01-14T19:30:53.463-05:00I mean really....<div style="text-align: center;">
Okay, so this desk project took way longer than I had anticipated. Not because it was such a big undertaking, but because I was attacked (yes, attacked) with some vicious sinus bug last week. I have not been that sick in YEARS!! It was awful and just now, a week and a half after my first sniffle, do I feel somewhat human again.</div>
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Anyway, I told you I would give you the good, bad and the ugly when it came to the areas in my house that needed some attention. I joked <a href="http://www.hiphickchick.blogspot.com/2014/01/keeping-it-real.html" target="_blank">here</a> about what I might find in my cabinets. Well....get ready because it was interesting. </div>
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For Starters:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipA5c0j4BqJcPSz827Bl8EtXc0H2JNX5ShUNfFpVwuUQ-49Mne0IHdiiiJ9ArU99uNfrzc5IVed8RTYb8ssImzuMEM2U14EZDOTwK9-cEKukxMGVKgVdeHSO_JSt5bXcPmqQwUyf3jSTBy/s1600/Yellow+Jacket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipA5c0j4BqJcPSz827Bl8EtXc0H2JNX5ShUNfFpVwuUQ-49Mne0IHdiiiJ9ArU99uNfrzc5IVed8RTYb8ssImzuMEM2U14EZDOTwK9-cEKukxMGVKgVdeHSO_JSt5bXcPmqQwUyf3jSTBy/s320/Yellow+Jacket.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
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I mean, why WOULDN'T there be yellow jacket trap attractant in my kitchen area desk?</div>
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Even sadder, we bought the traps at LEAST 3 years ago. I'm almost positive we bought them to have in the backyard for Emily's 5th birthday. In 2010. Nice. </div>
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This is now put in its proper place in the garage with the actual trap thingies.</div>
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Next, I joked about the yellow pages that were residing on the top shelf of one of the cabinets. I guessed 2009 as the year stamped on the front. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqmuSN_pJw_GlOMCmDpE59MwEd5vHBaxpUIis2LR51C2bJ-vGnhT0qv0jy_qrNMihG_jMtBN_pJxnnI0ZushcasXJTT0Jl5P8tff0Z3mCbJoomog0f_-Y5reebHoKysddddSQgr4HfGSr/s1600/Phone+books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqmuSN_pJw_GlOMCmDpE59MwEd5vHBaxpUIis2LR51C2bJ-vGnhT0qv0jy_qrNMihG_jMtBN_pJxnnI0ZushcasXJTT0Jl5P8tff0Z3mCbJoomog0f_-Y5reebHoKysddddSQgr4HfGSr/s320/Phone+books.jpg" width="264" /></a></div>
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Um.....In November 2007, I still lived in Virginia. So that means that the bottom yellow pages was here when we moved in and has been here for the past almost 6 years. </div>
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What.the.heck.</div>
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Moving on. I always kept some meds in the one cabinet (with the yellow pages). They were in a basket and then the ones that we used more often, were just casually thrown on the shelf. Well, I went through all of them today. In the basket, were a TON of expired medicines. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1NpPIXPqKrM9X71Lv8HU5sIqzRz1TCXeUePd-M8yHvrFI7Rl9fahY_XNMdJBptoJOSEPgaMVc3W6dTWzlRZQK_9TevuJEXRny9ks2-GmjeDHmXnx93cgG4duaDNGA35bis9xrJScGoTe/s1600/Expired+Meds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1NpPIXPqKrM9X71Lv8HU5sIqzRz1TCXeUePd-M8yHvrFI7Rl9fahY_XNMdJBptoJOSEPgaMVc3W6dTWzlRZQK_9TevuJEXRny9ks2-GmjeDHmXnx93cgG4duaDNGA35bis9xrJScGoTe/s320/Expired+Meds.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>
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Just rancid old medicines taking up valuable space. They have been properly disposed of now.</div>
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The other ones are put nicely in a box and placed up on the highest shelf. I am looking into one of those locking box things, but for now this will do</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJba-N4IgdozV3Pc2Bg7bbXgOLj5FDLROVE0AKAx2WOtuoNKnFGesn1D8UOXCYvqC4zDIPz7__BVuEom-7dajMQiz_TJMMuUDe1bmQ0V4o_ofKgfQN98f6h5CapOVMoAekvTPUE4TGG82/s1600/Organized+Meds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJba-N4IgdozV3Pc2Bg7bbXgOLj5FDLROVE0AKAx2WOtuoNKnFGesn1D8UOXCYvqC4zDIPz7__BVuEom-7dajMQiz_TJMMuUDe1bmQ0V4o_ofKgfQN98f6h5CapOVMoAekvTPUE4TGG82/s320/Organized+Meds.jpg" width="314" /></a></div>
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I found this bag of art supplies that I used for Emily's Angry Bird party in 2011. Why they were just thrown in a cabinet is beyond me. Out of sight, out of mind, I suppose</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4T3AjCnaQ_80KhG5UlNyxDogf4dNCVLxYm5fLny11whavVENaJy1iz-M82F89L0wdfCKP-7x0689ARhfHOZHrbncNIeTPJZa81vQAZMRV7v18vZcRu9J5rkI5msxgewbBrEOMeA6lzns/s1600/Angry+Birds+paint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4T3AjCnaQ_80KhG5UlNyxDogf4dNCVLxYm5fLny11whavVENaJy1iz-M82F89L0wdfCKP-7x0689ARhfHOZHrbncNIeTPJZa81vQAZMRV7v18vZcRu9J5rkI5msxgewbBrEOMeA6lzns/s320/Angry+Birds+paint.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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If you want to see more from that party, you can <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/gravittgirls/emilys-angry-bird-party/" target="_blank">here</a></div>
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Okay, moving on. I kid you not, I JUST bought Thank You cards at Target the other day. And then look what I found living in my desk area</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUx6EvowM09UEVXIiqLm_6jw_ROzi0KU72le3sRkMlETpoTI_AZAhHMH4vt8fs-NjGbGAEXMr2tL5viSwtKc2jyBNCuky1HaJgwVjVvlrcS3Y0bknRyd98HxYOFhMo7-VPt1mYJaRqBQE2/s1600/Stationary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUx6EvowM09UEVXIiqLm_6jw_ROzi0KU72le3sRkMlETpoTI_AZAhHMH4vt8fs-NjGbGAEXMr2tL5viSwtKc2jyBNCuky1HaJgwVjVvlrcS3Y0bknRyd98HxYOFhMo7-VPt1mYJaRqBQE2/s320/Stationary.jpg" width="269" /></a></div>
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A ton of pretty little cards. Just waiting to be written on and mailed out. I also found invitations to Allie's 5th and 6th birthday parties. She'll be 7 in March. </div>
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And the most ironic find of today? This little jewel</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-yxcA-PMECWaeheVgkx5W832_C6nTk54WY1UlqZctLPpZJDgXTpNIkw9-DBvk9PgXOWwGOvSLlCLE_qjKRN-_m1XB3_hoaJblVSmNYBspYAWE5Baj_Esnr23yx0MW8HSaFHqCtI185fa/s1600/Ironic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-yxcA-PMECWaeheVgkx5W832_C6nTk54WY1UlqZctLPpZJDgXTpNIkw9-DBvk9PgXOWwGOvSLlCLE_qjKRN-_m1XB3_hoaJblVSmNYBspYAWE5Baj_Esnr23yx0MW8HSaFHqCtI185fa/s320/Ironic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Organizer Pro. "The simplest way to get organized"</div>
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Ha!</div>
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There were more interesting things. Insurance statements from March 2012, preschool valentine lists (I haven't had a child in preschool in over 2 years), and the list goes on. </div>
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The important thing is that I went through it and it is done, right?</div>
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Right.<br />
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If you have been to one of my Clever parties, you know that I give out organizing facts. One of those facts is "About 80% of the clutter in your home is a result of disorganization, not lack of space"</div>
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I am here to tell you that is TRUE!!!! I was convinced that I needed to buy another desk and set up shop somewhere else because I "didn't have enough room in this desk"</div>
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So wrong. So, so wrong. Embarrassingly wrong. </div>
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After I cleaned everything out, and put stuff in its "right" place, my desk cabinets look almost bare! It's almost like I have TOO much space now! Big change!</div>
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So here is the after:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ZO5ar9PJziY1xo7QWyI1tJIqkihtz0lHCW3V6SS5baUgEjXe6sYKZZFLl0TBQf4ckzDQ2kmQlmjRd28BshZogIVd94iZxistV8KBtR25RC-fAn1AAESktO3ndVtgC8Wh6E0Cop4qWc5e/s1600/New+desk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ZO5ar9PJziY1xo7QWyI1tJIqkihtz0lHCW3V6SS5baUgEjXe6sYKZZFLl0TBQf4ckzDQ2kmQlmjRd28BshZogIVd94iZxistV8KBtR25RC-fAn1AAESktO3ndVtgC8Wh6E0Cop4qWc5e/s320/New+desk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Not a big change, but I did move my printer to the left side so that I can have a notepad on the right. Since I am right handed. It just makes it work a lot easier for me. I also cleaned out the 18000 pens that I had in the caddy next to the computer. A girl only needs so many black pens. Am I right?</div>
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I put a different filing system up for my business supplies and, once I finish filing everything, I will be able to access it much easier.</div>
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Now onto the inside:</div>
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As a reminder, this was the BEFORE:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpwHU3xy9Odq3_fgKV5UXFSmAjATgYx9B2UXeBGqEBs-8ceAIGG1F3HnSrOwjt64f-eHzkExhA0UIlzUI2MLyCir17ic2KR8b3nwYHy1dfxedmgOaATe6NFoNZmNBMaWKg2vnOURDqnxa/s1600/desk3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpwHU3xy9Odq3_fgKV5UXFSmAjATgYx9B2UXeBGqEBs-8ceAIGG1F3HnSrOwjt64f-eHzkExhA0UIlzUI2MLyCir17ic2KR8b3nwYHy1dfxedmgOaATe6NFoNZmNBMaWKg2vnOURDqnxa/s320/desk3.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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And now---in it's uncluttered glory:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxWQUvUgG9RsUjaNeJIwUSxGqGyRSt2pZ_Iw5F_HfrKmjgkwk8-h978ccUZlKhoBFvPWJtCuMr16m8bgTVSmloEN1jaq446HQk4K-8XC85i4imyQCoTslUwUaor83IFBcNmKAlxVmYUgp/s1600/organized+cabinet1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxWQUvUgG9RsUjaNeJIwUSxGqGyRSt2pZ_Iw5F_HfrKmjgkwk8-h978ccUZlKhoBFvPWJtCuMr16m8bgTVSmloEN1jaq446HQk4K-8XC85i4imyQCoTslUwUaor83IFBcNmKAlxVmYUgp/s320/organized+cabinet1.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
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I mean, it looks practically empty, right??</div>
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The green box holds my stationary and the blue box hold incoming mail. My camera and photo paper are there, along with the box of (non-expired) meds on the top shelf and some office supplies on the bottom shelf. </div>
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Beautiful, right?</div>
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The other cabinet was just as bad BEFORE:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPLTR1kZiw7MW2Di8n2hgNcjVFSlWSDtmi1C5KnW3qyPL4MP7RnAwpKUelUMgL59SyQVO42FE4z-9l5HFfOTuYEus3h63MsKHPQQvdfwc-_W078iZvnBxlJDV3at291Mqy4FbRFHfPawo/s1600/desk5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPLTR1kZiw7MW2Di8n2hgNcjVFSlWSDtmi1C5KnW3qyPL4MP7RnAwpKUelUMgL59SyQVO42FE4z-9l5HFfOTuYEus3h63MsKHPQQvdfwc-_W078iZvnBxlJDV3at291Mqy4FbRFHfPawo/s320/desk5.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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And now?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPn4NXmsPw0qz3ZOi7xYpNXXWR0uxmW-IPw2uGVeK7WC4HGvw8FrdXz6AUrdqoBcf7t3HmlKzHFjQaxtcN72CoR7ZYpIExbxtN2LEDSpIU7ivwY3025HS5OhtzTzFsxU5458IqxIbRJO7/s1600/organized+cabinet2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPn4NXmsPw0qz3ZOi7xYpNXXWR0uxmW-IPw2uGVeK7WC4HGvw8FrdXz6AUrdqoBcf7t3HmlKzHFjQaxtcN72CoR7ZYpIExbxtN2LEDSpIU7ivwY3025HS5OhtzTzFsxU5458IqxIbRJO7/s320/organized+cabinet2.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
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I almost can't even handle it. It's amazing, right?</div>
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Remember this hot mess before? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJCxedW5tzvgVq3LZxmWvb45PfEeVbXh7G6ZLfY3pD3QSARYORkR4cbhsu50n-LE2DQ74h-UyVu8ZpRcBh8HDIeCaU3cxJZfmfHLkgd0_2D5e0rcK48HHR6Nsz9Ir-L_gG47WvrtLNZv-/s1600/desk7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJCxedW5tzvgVq3LZxmWvb45PfEeVbXh7G6ZLfY3pD3QSARYORkR4cbhsu50n-LE2DQ74h-UyVu8ZpRcBh8HDIeCaU3cxJZfmfHLkgd0_2D5e0rcK48HHR6Nsz9Ir-L_gG47WvrtLNZv-/s320/desk7.JPG" width="273" /></a></div>
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Well, guess what? It is EMPTY now! Completely empty! I did find a bag of cookie cutters in that cabinet when I started cleaning it out. Cookie cutters that we used in play-doh. Oh, about 3 years ago! Anyway, it is totally empty now. We are thinking of putting our pet food in there, but for now I am just basking in it's clean glory.</div>
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So there you have it. My desk is done. You will notice there is no after picture of my cookbook cabinet. I decided to leave it alone. I did straighten it up a little, but for now it's good. If I get anymore cookbooks, I'll have to purge some, but that system works for me for now.</div>
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What do you think? Not a drastic overhaul, but much more user friendly now, right? Thank you for not judging and for being patient while I fought the good fight against my sinus'.</div>
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I will be tackling my hall closet and foyer next. Stay tuned! </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01979884421338920578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100558411339708700.post-32952482473836749052014-01-05T11:08:00.000-05:002014-01-05T12:17:42.410-05:00Keeping it Real<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Okay, so I said I was going to use this blog to show my progress on organizing my house. I said I might even share before and after pictures. Well, get ready because I have some doozies of before pictures for you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I made a list of areas I wanted to organize. I figured my "office" would be a good place to start. I use the word "office" lightly. I have a built in desk area in my kitchen. That is my office. It's not ideal, but it works. The problem is my "office" tends to be a place where everyone's junk gets thrown. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">No more though. The cycle ends today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Or tomorrow. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Whenever I finish getting it all in order.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Anyway, in the spirit of keeping it real, here are the before pictures.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Don't judge. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">From the outside looking in, it doesn't look TERRIBLE. Not great, but not terrible, right?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzJfptGUEMWkWXabPRuvrZb-ayMBCR_OR0clWHcLy8_8RoDDoPhyphenhyphenfhsC7IjfKr-XtUdz7h2oCIrvyhWxlVNS4lnsD_He8X-nNGsbpRwd23RbintE4fpI4HXwoqN30aWOmgXhC2kp1A32U/s1600/desk8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzJfptGUEMWkWXabPRuvrZb-ayMBCR_OR0clWHcLy8_8RoDDoPhyphenhyphenfhsC7IjfKr-XtUdz7h2oCIrvyhWxlVNS4lnsD_He8X-nNGsbpRwd23RbintE4fpI4HXwoqN30aWOmgXhC2kp1A32U/s320/desk8.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Get ready.....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIaITVM2-G8u-4j7PIJirSpe7NxY1xmXqCPLUycL3Ta3XGUnvhop9_2xN_c37s11l53LypAd-B6R1n_IPHGAPeFRSRK8GILtcM4aoMuPsMm1zPolYKH_mvGYxWMsCkGx4wW3Db1XfiNP-P/s1600/desk3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIaITVM2-G8u-4j7PIJirSpe7NxY1xmXqCPLUycL3Ta3XGUnvhop9_2xN_c37s11l53LypAd-B6R1n_IPHGAPeFRSRK8GILtcM4aoMuPsMm1zPolYKH_mvGYxWMsCkGx4wW3Db1XfiNP-P/s320/desk3.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">What is really sad about this cabinet, is that I can actually find stuff in it. I am sure once I start going through it, I will find things I thought were lost forever, but sadly, it is still functional in this stage. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Notice the phone books at the top? Any guesses on the year on them? I'm guessing 2009. I'll update in the "after" post.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFwSvAP-hkO020Zi67RDi1JNRqScIbNSzPC6Z5ZdZkS6PewXzIMrfGSaRpXvOM1RdYb5VJlJM5GjeTcMElos-zM3z3BJeDUJfQyOz_C8IXcBAsmK4HWIb3MuNxfo-d-mt7e8JVuaCC46d/s1600/desk4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFwSvAP-hkO020Zi67RDi1JNRqScIbNSzPC6Z5ZdZkS6PewXzIMrfGSaRpXvOM1RdYb5VJlJM5GjeTcMElos-zM3z3BJeDUJfQyOz_C8IXcBAsmK4HWIb3MuNxfo-d-mt7e8JVuaCC46d/s320/desk4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">This is my cookbook cabinet. I use maybe 3 of those cookbooks. Everything else I do is online or in Pinterest world.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9MCPdo4czIrsYG44Fyr7iUB2MuqDOgKnhPLUqjvK7qbcI1KvdTQeLjd9LIP65b2lT4tBqmQIQtwDw2ZFghJ8D1E9IqMeZa8C3hVihmX-mI4_snz2wchgOQJcEEOlL72tSezRTj4vq0c4X/s1600/desk5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9MCPdo4czIrsYG44Fyr7iUB2MuqDOgKnhPLUqjvK7qbcI1KvdTQeLjd9LIP65b2lT4tBqmQIQtwDw2ZFghJ8D1E9IqMeZa8C3hVihmX-mI4_snz2wchgOQJcEEOlL72tSezRTj4vq0c4X/s320/desk5.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">If you scroll down through my blog, I <i>think</i> there is a post about this cabinet from a few years ago. It was my craft cabinet when the girls were toddlers and we did daily crafts and art projects. Clearly, things have changed. This is now the "cram it in and close it quickly" cabinet apparently.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I am almost scared to take everything out of this cabinet. I don't know what I'll find. Right now I know there is paper and bubbles. And it looks like cat food. That makes perfect sense. (Insert sarcasm here)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7s4SWPX15UYv97VJzXQj22bCxFR0X-6L1fqksNliBL0ElBt0nsEWBfcNHFDw2pt3OHnyUpny86XMYFKQRoruv_2V96-gGcE07_z8N7eK_T-fdukU1RYMaGrFuk2ixr0iqof7npk6WOOr/s1600/desk2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7s4SWPX15UYv97VJzXQj22bCxFR0X-6L1fqksNliBL0ElBt0nsEWBfcNHFDw2pt3OHnyUpny86XMYFKQRoruv_2V96-gGcE07_z8N7eK_T-fdukU1RYMaGrFuk2ixr0iqof7npk6WOOr/s320/desk2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> This is my filing system. It is an amazing product that Clever Container used to offer. It's not so much being used to it's capability though. I mean, I don't remember reading "Shove it full of stuff, then put random things like gift bags and take out menus on top of" in it's description.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">And last, but not least, there is this thing. Appropriately labeled "stuff". I see a note from Frankie, our elf on the shelf, caulk, tissues, and a pen. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">And I call myself an organized person. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I'm living a lie.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Okay.....so there we have it. The Before pictures of my hot mess office.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Like I said, we're all friends. Don't judge. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I will post after pics as soon as I finish everything. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I would love for you to comment on this and tell me it's not all that bad. That I'm not a terrible slob. That you have areas in your house like this too.....seriously people....help a girl out here!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01979884421338920578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100558411339708700.post-41471980046796794382014-01-01T16:32:00.001-05:002014-01-01T16:32:37.243-05:00Well, Well, Well....<div style="text-align: center;">
Here we are again. Another year gone. If you look back about 4 posts, you see that my resolution last year was that I was going to blog regularly. Well, I was going to try all these Pinterest things and then blog about them. </div>
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Neither happened.</div>
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So....here it is another year and another chance for me to try again.</div>
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I do want to blog on a regular basis. This year my big resolution is to get my house organized. You know, me....the one who sells organizing products and helps OTHER people get and stay organized. I think it's about time I start practicing what I preach!</div>
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I already took care of the playroom. That's always the way it is though. The kid's rooms are always perfect looking, meanwhile my master closet could be on Hoarders, and my laundry room? Well, we won't even go there.</div>
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My hope is to find great tips and share them on the blog. I really plan on following through with this. Seriously. </div>
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I might even post before and after pictures. I am straight up embarrassed to post some of the before pictures, but we're all friends here, right? No judging, right? RIGHT???</div>
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I mean, January is National Organization Month! Did you know that? No time like the present to get started. </div>
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So...if I don't blog for a couple of days, or I go MIA, or I start talking about how I am on a Real Housewives bender, feel free to tell me to get up and get to work!</div>
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I'd love to hear from you as well! Show me your organization nightmares. We can all help each other!</div>
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I am going to keep telling myself this and make it happen!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01979884421338920578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100558411339708700.post-85082586690288300792013-02-01T22:07:00.002-05:002013-02-01T22:07:42.992-05:00Well, that didn't last long...<div style="text-align: center;">
Well, it started out as a great idea. I really thought I would be able to keep up with wanting to do 3 Pinterest pins a week. Clearly I was wrong. </div>
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I have good excuses though.</div>
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It has been really cold here. It being really cold means that I am not leaving my house to buy things for various pins. I know that sounds lame, but it is true. </div>
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Plus, I have been busy obsessing over things other than Pinterest. I have always been a crazy google doctor. You know, the kind that googles things like "child with pain in right ear lobe and left big toe", and then I convince myself that one of my children has some rare disease. It's not something I am proud of, but it is the truth. I am aware of it and I really try to keep myself in check. Some days are better than others.</div>
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Unfortunately, I have had to play google doctor a lot lately. Since November, Allie has been complaining of stomach aches. She also has had random hivey rashes that come and go and her behavior has been crazy. Those of you that know Allie know that she has always been our emotional one. Very sensitive. She wears her heart on her sleeve. She gets it honest. </div>
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But this has been beyond a little girl just being sensitive. This has been bad. Really bad. Bad to the point that I have had to cancel things because I couldn't leave the house with her. </div>
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So....I turned to google. Basically everything I found pointed to some type of allergy. What type of allergy wasn't clear. We went to the pediatrician and he ordered some blood work. A celiac panel and a food allergy panel. So we waited.</div>
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While we were waiting, Allie washed her hands with a new hand soap that I had bought. She immediately broke out into hives on her hands. That is when it clicked. She is allergic to dyes. We decided to run our own little food challenge. We started reading every label. Now, I buy as naturally and organically as I can, but we are a one income family and to go completely organic is EXPENSIVE. We don't eat a lot of junk. The kids don't drink soda. They don't eat crappy cereals, but still....dye is in so much! </div>
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We tried our little experiment and guess what. Her stomach aches went away and our sweet little bug was back. No more crying fits. No more anger bursts. Our fun, spunky, hilarious bug was back with us.</div>
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It has been amazing. </div>
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I am a little worried about Valentine's Day. All the red candy is going to look so delicious to her. Luckily she is old enough to understand that it is the dye that is making her feel bad.</div>
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So...that is why the pinterest project has gone by the wayside. There are still things I want to try, but I am going to admit right here and now. 3 a week ain't happening.</div>
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There was a part 2 to my resolution though. My 52 weeks of pics of my kids. THAT I have been able to keep up with. Check out my album on facebook to see my cute trio :-)</div>
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Taking pictures of my kids has ALWAYS been an obsession of mine, so that resolution was simple to keep up with!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01979884421338920578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100558411339708700.post-16110063213964322362013-01-05T18:26:00.000-05:002013-01-05T18:26:56.351-05:00Project Pinterest Week 1<div style="text-align: center;">
Okay, so let me start by saying that I wanted to really diversify myself and try more than just recipes for my first week of 3 pinterest pins, but I ended up doing 2 recipes. I need to get out and get some supplies for some crafty pins and it just didn't happen this week. Sorry.</div>
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But....the 2 recipes I tried were REALLY good! The day I made <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/224968943857421517/">honey garlic pork chops</a>, I was all sorts of domestic. I prepped dinner completely while Austin was napping. I kept thinking to myself "why don't I do this everyday?" Good question. I'll keep working on the answer to that one.</div>
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Anyway, the pork chops were really good. It looks like the recipe was originally for the grill, and I think that would be really good. It calls for 6 cloves of garlic, but my cloves were pretty big, so I only used 5 and still managed to get heartburn just smelling it while it baked. Really good though. The ultimate test was Emily. Emily doesn't like anything. The next night was left over night and when it was time to make her plate she said "I want more of the pork from last night"</div>
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So....yeah. Success.</div>
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I am always looking for different veggie side dishes and had tried roasted carrots before, but <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/224968943857284990/">these carrots</a> are our current faves. I used baby carrots instead of chopping up regular sized ones and I don't think it made any difference in cooking time or anything. Again, Emily gobbled these up. So another success!</div>
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As I mentioned before, we spent New Years Eve here at home hanging out with the girls. We had lots of fun and there isn't anywhere else I would have wanted to be. In between the pizza eating and board game playing, I printed off this <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/224968943857880318/">end of the year interview</a> and filled it out with the girls. My favorite answer was when they both answered (separately without hearing each other's answers) that their favorite thing to do is hang out with their family. I hope they always feel that way! But, if they don't, I have it in writing that at one time they did! :-)</div>
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In other news, the girls started swim lessons this week. As swim lessons have ALWAYS been with the Gravitt girls, it was traumatic and there were tears. I decided to change their group lessons to semi-private lessons in hopes that more individualized attention at their level will help us get over the dramatics every time they have a swim class. I just can't take it anymore. I mean...there comes an age where water wings and noodles just aren't socially acceptable anymore, right?</div>
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Also, I snapped our first pic for the 52 week album. I decided, instead of trying to pose pics and have the perfect background, lighting, etc., I was just going to try to capture a REAL moment. That is what it is about, right?</div>
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So, I got this. The girls came in from school on Friday and immediately started reading to Austin. He is so lucky to have them.</div>
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And they are really lucky to have him</div>
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And I'm lucky for all of them!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01979884421338920578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100558411339708700.post-90122003740706830162013-01-01T10:44:00.000-05:002013-01-01T10:44:13.313-05:00Lucky 13?<div style="text-align: center;">
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Happy New Year to everyone! We Gravitts are hunkered down doing laundry and watching the Mummer's parade today after a wild night of board games and pizza on NYE. The girls did make it up for the ball drop though...party animals! I think if it weren't for them, I would have been in bed by 10!</div>
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I know every year people say "This is going to be the year I change x,y,z..." I don't really want to change anything. I want to appreciate everything I already have. My family is complete, I have great friends, I love my husband, we're all healthy and happy....let's keep it that way. 2011 was a horrible year. Lots of pain and disappointment, but lots of growth. 2012 was much better, and I know 2013 is going to continue on that good path!</div>
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I do have somethings I want to do for 2013 though. I want to participate in the 52 week challenge. Over the years I have seen people take 1 picture a week of themselves with their kids. I want to do that with my trio. I am not planning on being in the picture though. Just a pic every week of Emily, Allie and Austin doing some various thing. We are always so busy and having so much fun together, it will be neat to capture it.</div>
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I also want to start doing some of my pinterest pins. Are you as obsessed with Pinterest as I am? <a href="http://pinterest.com/gravittgirls/">Here is my Pinterest Profile</a> I am planning on trying 3 things a week. I will blog about it, so if interested you can follow along! I am sure there will be some great outcomes and some WTF? ones as well. Stay tuned!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01979884421338920578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100558411339708700.post-21850443516893857052012-04-29T21:10:00.001-04:002012-04-29T21:10:48.787-04:00Nesting, Shmesting...<div style="text-align: center;">
The insanity continues. The nesting insanity that is. Ben and I were talking about it, and honestly, it has been crazy since we moved here. With just keeping up with 2 crazy little girls, work, surgeries, drama...the list goes on. Now that we have a real reason to do stuff, we are making up for lost time. It is about freaking time!</div>
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The girls room is pretty much done. They have been in it for a week now. I ordered wall decals for above their beds and we are looking for a fun full-length mirror. I must say, the colors really came together nicely. I don't have tons of pictures just yet because I'm waiting until it is totally done, but here are some previews:</div>
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You can see the colors really nicely here. </div>
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The girls were having a little story time before school one morning, and I was able to snap a picture. You can see a little more of the room here. More pics to come once the details are all done!</div>
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In between paint coats and trim and all that fun stuff, we started on the kitchen table. This kitchen table was a mess. Ben had spilled paint on it about 10 years ago. We didn't use the table for years, but pulled it out about a year ago and just kept it covered with a table cloth. That became a pain and I wanted to paint it. Ben agreed to stain it, so that is what we did!</div>
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I decided to go to the holy grail of all home DIY and decorating. Pinterest. There, I found this great how to: <a href="http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2011/08/how-to-restain-a-wood-table-top/">Centsationalgirl </a></div>
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I went right out and got everything that she said to use:</div>
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Then I left explicit directions for Ben to follow her directions to the tee and I left to get my hair cut. I asked him to take pictures while I was gone- he just sort of stared at me. Needless to say, there is only one "during" pic and I took it. I do have before and after pics though:</div>
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Hot mess table before:</div>
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Table while getting last coat of clear coat on it:</div>
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And the final result--I am in love with it. I snapped this pic with my cell phone, so it's not the greatest, but you get the general idea. Still working on some different things for the centerpiece. </div>
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Yay! One more thing crossed off the list. </div>
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The nursery is primed and 3 of the walls are painted. Ben went rogue on me with the paint. We found that we had a lot of light blue left over from when we painted the playroom a few years ago. It was very similar to the color that we agreed to use in the nursery, so I thought we were all set. Wrong. Ben decided to add a quart of darker paint to the mix and see what we ended up with. I must say, it is nice. I can't wait to see the how it looks when the navy blue wall goes up! Pics coming soon....</div>
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Oh! And my crazy Daisy turned 1 this week! Happy Birthday puppy!</div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01979884421338920578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100558411339708700.post-58466408311751981762012-04-16T10:19:00.002-04:002012-04-16T10:20:22.529-04:00Maybe it would be easier to just build a new nest...<div style="text-align: center;">
Okay, so no pun intended, but this nesting stuff is for the birds. I just don't have the energy to keep up with the 20,000 things I want to get done before the baby is born. I was really counting on the almost 500 chances we had from Ben's office pool to win those Mega Millions. Then we could have just hired someone to do everything or bought all new stuff. Stupid lotto.</div>
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Anyway, we were actually VERY productive this weekend. It was beautiful weather and that allowed me to get my new frame outside to be painted. I bought this frame off of a group I am apart of on Facebook. It's basically like Craigslist, but all local. I was so excited when I scored this frame for $15:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPfPq-prUgcayESnbbs-ldRAsF7LgjN_o00NoZWv9otFlF8wucy3AEexRIuxoQVMs7GzN_zx6gtQ_fYXwaWD8Jqe2muQeScy9VfXM6aaY_b70HR36-yp0KFMJBFFZVCyRbV-nX-5vbGVHU/s1600/IMG_9218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPfPq-prUgcayESnbbs-ldRAsF7LgjN_o00NoZWv9otFlF8wucy3AEexRIuxoQVMs7GzN_zx6gtQ_fYXwaWD8Jqe2muQeScy9VfXM6aaY_b70HR36-yp0KFMJBFFZVCyRbV-nX-5vbGVHU/s320/IMG_9218.JPG" width="175" /></a></div>
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Years ago, when Ben and I first got married, I got a frame off Ebay that held 4 8x10s and I loved it. But after 2 moves and 2 kids, it was falling apart. I had wanted a frame similar to this for a long time, so when I saw it posted I scooped it up.</div>
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I just wasn't crazy about the wood finish on it. </div>
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So, I went out and got the spray paint that I keep seeing rave reviews about:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYhSGF8l9ModsRA1Rvc88MnupBDAXQyetsXXcQO4SJAZTgior-uGdBadsSLx0n6Z8aoBWs4w9BjnLbmLEzMIQGHglZmzNuismHacrsL8BWjzkU3f-Pg2dy91fRl85I82PWZYNHSUToG5iM/s1600/IMG_9226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYhSGF8l9ModsRA1Rvc88MnupBDAXQyetsXXcQO4SJAZTgior-uGdBadsSLx0n6Z8aoBWs4w9BjnLbmLEzMIQGHglZmzNuismHacrsL8BWjzkU3f-Pg2dy91fRl85I82PWZYNHSUToG5iM/s320/IMG_9226.JPG" width="196" /></a></div>
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Honestly, I wasn't that impressed. It kept clogging up on me! If I stopped spraying for 5 seconds, I would have to wipe the tip off and jiggle it around to get it to work again. I will say that the end result was very nice though. Nice even color and a pretty gloss.</div>
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See?</div>
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I am so happy to be able to show all of our pretty pictures again!</div>
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So, while I was doing that, there was apparently some child labor going on upstairs</div>
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Ben had the girls cleaning the baseboards for him so that we could FINALLY get started on the painting. I wish I got as excited about cleaning baseboards as they did. I need to get them working in the rest of the house and ride this bandwagon out! :-)</div>
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When we went to Home Depot a few weeks ago I thought Ben was crazy for buying the 2 gallon thing of Killz. Turns out he was right on. That room sucked up the entire bucket of primer!!</div>
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Years ago when we painted our first house in Chester, we didn't prime a single thing. Lesson learned. We are priming fools now. Usually we get the primer tinted the same color as the paint, but since we were doing 2 different colors in this room and were painting something that had never been painted before, we opted for the white. It did a great job and the paint went on very smoothly.</div>
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If you follow me on Facebook you know I have been very nervous about the colors the girls picked. It's not that I don't think they are beautiful colors, it's just they are very....colorFUL I guess you could say. When Ben started putting the purple on I did breathe a sigh of relief though. Honestly though, there isn't really anything purple that I don't love!</div>
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I think it's a pretty color. And the girls LOVED it which made it all worth it. </div>
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When he started the pink, I started to get nervous though. It is VERY pink. Like a wild strawberry type color. Once again the girls love it and I think once we get everything in the room and add all of the accessories, it will actually be very cute.</div>
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Honestly, I would have LOVED a room like this when I was little, so I am happy that we can do it for them. We still need to do all the cutting in, trim work and doors, but we are making progress! </div>
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On top of all this work, I was able to clean our linen closet, start switching the girls spring/summer clothes over and even play outside!</div>
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Oh! And Ben agreed to stain our kitchen table, so hopefully that will start soon! </div>
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That is all for now....this little birdie has more nest readying to do!</div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01979884421338920578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100558411339708700.post-53332566765324875262012-04-06T08:51:00.000-04:002012-04-06T08:51:38.749-04:00The Playground Police<div style="text-align: center;">
So, those of you with preschool age kids understand how during Spring Break and Summer vacations, it is a pain how all the "big kids" take over the local playgrounds. By "big kids" I mean 10-12 year olds. They just play differently on the equipment. It is a whole different energy. Whatever, it's fine. It's a free country, they can do whatever they want. It has never really been an issue until this past Wednesday. This past Wednesday, my 2 friends and I plus our 8 children were introduced to the the PLAYGROUND POLICE.</div>
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Okay, they weren't ninjas, but they might as have been because they came out of no where! </div>
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Let me set the scene:</div>
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The kids were all playing, the moms were chatting (all while supervising closely of course) and it was a great day. We were talking about how much we enjoyed this particular park and how the kids were all getting along so great. Perfect spring day in suburban PA. </div>
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Out of the corner of my eye, I see a red minivan pull up. Suddenly at least 8 boys ranging in ages from maybe 8-11 jump out and start charging the equipment. They all have these Nerf gun things and they are yelling "WE'RE THE PLAYGROUND POLICE!!!"</div>
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That is when we look over and see that the minivan is LEAVING!!! Whoever was driving was getting the hell out of dodge and leaving these crazed kids alone to terrorize the playground. </div>
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I really wish I could have taken video of the whole thing because it was hysterical. I look up and see that a 2 year old from our group is up on the highest level of the equipment, and I yell and point "Oh No!! Someone has to get her!" like a damsel in distress. Her mom starts cussing, and I spring into action. My 6.5 month pregnant self runs across the playground and up the equipment like I am freaking Wonder Woman or something to grab this child who looks at me like "WTF is your deal?"</div>
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We gather all the children together and start talking about how we are going to go to a different playground. That's when the "playground police" start mocking us. "We're going to go to the purple playground" they say in a sing-songy voice.</div>
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Punks.</div>
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We're walking out and Emily looks at me with her hands thrown up in disgust and says "They called us LITTLE kids" She was appalled. </div>
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As we are making our way through the police one yells "sucks to be you-we're the playground police!"</div>
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It was sort of one of the funniest things I have ever witnessed. I am sure my story telling skills aren't giving you the best picture of it, but it was chaos. These kids looked like a combo of the Goonies and a younger version of Big Time Rush. I guess that is the look neighborhood tween gangs go for now. It was insanity. Craziness.</div>
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Next time I am going to pack an arsenal of water balloons so that I can at least be prepared for an attack against "the fuzz" again.<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01979884421338920578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100558411339708700.post-32575002410353894002012-04-05T08:44:00.000-04:002012-04-05T08:45:18.894-04:00Easter year round?<div style="text-align: center;">
We bought the paint for the girls room last night. </div>
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I'm nervous.</div>
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I keep telling myself that it will be fine once we get everything in there, but holy moly-these are some colorful colors to say the least. Perfect Easter Egg colors if you get my drift. </div>
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At least the room is big.</div>
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Here are the colors that after almost an hour of looking at every pink and purple known to man the girls picked:</div>
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Allie picked Bloomsberry:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5b0_XnMwUzAgx2xZDQgKPIAzUnsDA5_8a5Csetl9dAIkKzb2NH2qaYE4Y1Mai9nXHMrVksZ4hKrHBSEbyXhr7teIKmV0zUL9eL7WrlUJjDu505D8FKZSEhxlO6ogZOYoKcHeD-YPTYty/s1600/bloomsberry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5b0_XnMwUzAgx2xZDQgKPIAzUnsDA5_8a5Csetl9dAIkKzb2NH2qaYE4Y1Mai9nXHMrVksZ4hKrHBSEbyXhr7teIKmV0zUL9eL7WrlUJjDu505D8FKZSEhxlO6ogZOYoKcHeD-YPTYty/s1600/bloomsberry.jpg" /></a></div>
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And Emily picked Springtime Bloom:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRnMawwwVvC77I54KMDmM6_5-4Mt5KSfCYu1yzDVhUDxtxRKOO9Nhru1IQn7bhhQFWzKP8uoM3RR-SmiG5lDd3wN7IcUcLrYZPThkduOwK6fTk54FS9fWcWIYvyTZOEIzUDFRDezlGRbT/s1600/springtime+bloom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRnMawwwVvC77I54KMDmM6_5-4Mt5KSfCYu1yzDVhUDxtxRKOO9Nhru1IQn7bhhQFWzKP8uoM3RR-SmiG5lDd3wN7IcUcLrYZPThkduOwK6fTk54FS9fWcWIYvyTZOEIzUDFRDezlGRbT/s1600/springtime+bloom.jpg" /></a></div>
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These color swatches don't show up great on the computer, but you get the gist. The purple doesn't look that blue in real life. </div>
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I think once we are done it will be pretty-I hope so anyway. The girls are VERY excited and now that the paint has been purchased, painting WILL start this weekend!</div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01979884421338920578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100558411339708700.post-78279086415052630062012-03-30T12:02:00.000-04:002012-03-30T12:03:39.902-04:00I was wrong....<div style="text-align: center;">
THIS is madness. Last week I posted about how when I am pregnant with summer babies, I apparently get March Madness. Last week (or was it 2 weeks ago?), I thought I had gone mad because we were <i>talking about</i> moving the rooms around and painting. I was wrong. So, so wrong. Talking about it is one thing. Actually doing it....that is the maddening part! We dove in on Saturday cleaning out the "guest room". I use the term guest room lightly. It's more like a junk room. Yeah, I clean it when our parents are coming to visit, but most of the time it's the "Oh crap, people are coming over, throw everything in the "guest room" room"....as is evident by these before pics:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZiaynJUIALq8L6GZX4bgDK7ZvIU3sXa645Pawq8jTIrGT-BbHy3sCzazY66peFntQE9p9bvKtNQ2LvbosTtBZXz4IgXR8R9BJxdzJyRhnl8jtADrLfV-6-oESidRs0Th4m0crct7Sdva/s1600/IMG_9153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZiaynJUIALq8L6GZX4bgDK7ZvIU3sXa645Pawq8jTIrGT-BbHy3sCzazY66peFntQE9p9bvKtNQ2LvbosTtBZXz4IgXR8R9BJxdzJyRhnl8jtADrLfV-6-oESidRs0Th4m0crct7Sdva/s320/IMG_9153.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjR9uG0MuTVGicIvUxr7EMn-MkMZxCOF7oaDa0AkKgKm-bOKks2rXNwZu80tapv0KhVWaiIddVGh9-upQ-m0JVWHFJiGtDfY5tnNWRGKPMxkXMrVqq3j9aMKyW9UgtjvURhTZcG_PF6uf/s1600/IMG_9154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjR9uG0MuTVGicIvUxr7EMn-MkMZxCOF7oaDa0AkKgKm-bOKks2rXNwZu80tapv0KhVWaiIddVGh9-upQ-m0JVWHFJiGtDfY5tnNWRGKPMxkXMrVqq3j9aMKyW9UgtjvURhTZcG_PF6uf/s320/IMG_9154.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGFT6hAk1-gVjvX0PLDT7Jf0GJqjyfEM4873M3O6fYgVneAI316wiIH6qf604pQvLC19vC7W4xYf2EpKeE0CqKlEhuu-IEUY_CXbrN43_FJmILydgDiVhSHtM9jVFWocZTIl9-8UiB7vA/s1600/IMG_9152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGFT6hAk1-gVjvX0PLDT7Jf0GJqjyfEM4873M3O6fYgVneAI316wiIH6qf604pQvLC19vC7W4xYf2EpKeE0CqKlEhuu-IEUY_CXbrN43_FJmILydgDiVhSHtM9jVFWocZTIl9-8UiB7vA/s320/IMG_9152.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I mean really....who lives like this? Apparently we do. I wish I could lie and say "it only looks like this because of.....", but sadly it looks like this until a day before we get out of town guests and then I manage to tidy it up for a weekend. </div>
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Notice the big computer monitor? Yeah, that's circa 1998. It has now been properly recycled at a near by computer shop. </div>
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How we have so much crap is beyond me. It's not like I'm a hoarder. In fact, I can't stand clutter. I guess out of sight out of mind though, because I can close this door and not worry about it. Well, I could...until the madness hit.</div>
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So anyway, we started cleaning this room out and finally throwing stuff away, making donation piles, etc. and as of Saturday evening, we got it to this:</div>
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Progress right? We thought so and were pretty darn proud of ourselves. The next day we worked even more and decided it made the most sense to get Allie totally moved out of her current room so that we could transfer the guest room into there. We crammed Allie's bed and dresser into Emily's current room:</div>
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Clearly, the madness is starting to get to them as well, as is evident by the facial expressions. Actually, I don't know who I am kidding...faces like these are a daily occurrence in our house! :-)</div>
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We were then able to move the guest room furniture and my sewing stuff into their new home:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1eNhBZKjuiH7vk0xHZQqQrTvUx2NZOdQx7rqozhqfAOkOMgmVdI4_7JtJ9U8PLY3oq6epyUotdlGYWZG3J1XgkPEjhgBAeIsMxAuRxKDOEcbJIhd7nhhGSPT1x05kI_mANSFcSWc97HH7/s1600/guest+room+2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1eNhBZKjuiH7vk0xHZQqQrTvUx2NZOdQx7rqozhqfAOkOMgmVdI4_7JtJ9U8PLY3oq6epyUotdlGYWZG3J1XgkPEjhgBAeIsMxAuRxKDOEcbJIhd7nhhGSPT1x05kI_mANSFcSWc97HH7/s320/guest+room+2" width="240" /></a></div>
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So....phase 1 is complete!! </div>
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The room over the garage is now pretty much empty and we have chosen paint colors. We hope to start painting in there for the girls this weekend and have them all moved in soon. Then it will be onto the nursery! It is slowly but surely coming together. </div>
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Stay tuned!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01979884421338920578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100558411339708700.post-2199168800386054042012-03-23T16:27:00.002-04:002012-03-23T16:27:40.259-04:00Please Read....<div style="text-align: center;">
I met Hayley when I first moved to PA almost 4 years ago. She is an incredibly talented "DIYourselfer", but more importantly, she is an incredible mother. Here is the latest blog post she posted. I just want to share it because of it's message. We don't choose our children...they choose us. Ethan chose Hayley because of the amazing way she loves and supports him: <a href="http://cometothemousehouse.blogspot.com/2012/03/severely-autistic-coming-to-terms.html"></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cometothemousehouse.blogspot.com/2012/03/severely-autistic-coming-to-terms.html">http://cometothemousehouse.blogspot.com/2012/03/severely-autistic-coming-to-terms.html</a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01979884421338920578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100558411339708700.post-49228008287957104572012-03-21T10:55:00.000-04:002012-03-21T10:55:15.091-04:00Decisions, decisions....I have March Madness. Not about NCAA, though I do enjoy the tournament. I have pregnancy induced March Madness. It happened when I was pregnant with Emily and it is happening again. Must be a summer baby thing. I have gone into hyper organization/redecorating mode. We have 3 bedrooms upstairs that we are going to be switching around. Emily's room will become the nursery, Allie's room will become the guest room, and the current guest room/my craft room will become the girls shared room. All 3 rooms need to be painted. Hence the madness. It takes me months to pick out paint color for 1 room. Now 3 rooms? Madness.<br />
My husband is a HUGE UNC fan. Huge. If it were completely up to him, our son would be named Roy Williams Dean Smith Gravitt. I told him we could do a UNC nursery for the baby. That won me tons of awesome wife points which I plan to cash in at just the right moment. Ordinarily I am not into themed rooms. It's not that I dislike them, it's just not for me. This room will have a UNC basketball motif, but there will be no basketball wall borders. Again, just not my thing. Ben has a TON of old newspaper articles and magazine covers that we plan on framing and hanging in the room. He also has an basketball autographed by Michael Jordan that his super cool wife got him. That too will be going in the room. He wants his friend to paint the UNC monogram thing (not sure monogram is the right word, but you get it) on one of the walls, but I haven't totally approved that idea yet. I don't want the room to look like a locker room.<br />
So, anyway, I went to Lowe's today and picked out pretty much every pale blue color they had. True Carolina blue is a little bright for a nursery, so I'm hoping that I can convince Ben that a paler shade will do the trick. Because of my aforementioned March Madness, he is treading lightly and pretty much agreeing with whatever I say right now!<br />
So it's decision time.....maybe I should make a bracket and start eliminating tourney style.....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-G-bW_DdpwG7Q-8S2xSK-dCa446fdBPVDGZ_7taViHIE9_8NH00ywwX0OZwnGim7D2VcKMkkEfg4BcgY3CxLCN01E_2YEDY_nMpwVkvkLe8Uq7ok6bw_x2KnZZHW96pZmzP-La8NRculr/s1600/IMG_9145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="229px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-G-bW_DdpwG7Q-8S2xSK-dCa446fdBPVDGZ_7taViHIE9_8NH00ywwX0OZwnGim7D2VcKMkkEfg4BcgY3CxLCN01E_2YEDY_nMpwVkvkLe8Uq7ok6bw_x2KnZZHW96pZmzP-La8NRculr/s320/IMG_9145.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div>Stay tuned as I *think* progress might start this weekend!!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01979884421338920578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100558411339708700.post-32748074455428192322012-03-19T14:07:00.000-04:002012-03-19T14:07:29.748-04:00Well, hello there....<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has CLEARLY been a long time since I have updated this blog! I am once again a SAHM with a baby BOY on the way! We are all very excited here at the HipHickChick house. Because of our new little addition and my insane nesting, there are many projects either underway or about to get started. Stay tuned to follow the progress!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01979884421338920578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100558411339708700.post-429387963301768662010-01-28T13:28:00.000-05:002010-01-28T13:28:27.430-05:00A little pantry crafting....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2nvtScf2MHD4Jni6-i8ERlFa3JhxhPnigZcDKXdGhGsqgW0hpl1_lqbZKvesd5-YFMxLx16mUZfVfbBdgkyz0R8bzZAHZWAlSOv34mAlePB0tpB9aTh9eZjJ48GAs9dFVRpRizdPgrfV/s1600-h/IMG_4900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2nvtScf2MHD4Jni6-i8ERlFa3JhxhPnigZcDKXdGhGsqgW0hpl1_lqbZKvesd5-YFMxLx16mUZfVfbBdgkyz0R8bzZAHZWAlSOv34mAlePB0tpB9aTh9eZjJ48GAs9dFVRpRizdPgrfV/s320/IMG_4900.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I admit it....I have become a little obsessed with making art supplies from things in my pantry. I get all excited every time I find a new recipe or empty a new little jar! My husband has been laughing hysterically at me ever since he caught me going through the recycling bin and pulling things out. "I can USE this" I yell at him! I am turning into my father a little bit in that aspect, I think!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today, we decided to make home made water colors. I cannot get over how quick and easy this was! <br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You will need:<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhhl3N46SByr8nba5HTz81cLNvHEosL-m6mPoDXWiDY83hre47MyFXk9nNg9rIwbVH4YHPDvwAkNd4rrCAr_6OyFJszqyOXGRa1t-hkM5hU50wETjmBmecJyrhPJA4xaLZyffhLo4fVQ_/s1600-h/IMG_4889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhhl3N46SByr8nba5HTz81cLNvHEosL-m6mPoDXWiDY83hre47MyFXk9nNg9rIwbVH4YHPDvwAkNd4rrCAr_6OyFJszqyOXGRa1t-hkM5hU50wETjmBmecJyrhPJA4xaLZyffhLo4fVQ_/s320/IMG_4889.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">*Liquid food coloring<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">*3 teaspoons light corn syrup<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">*6 tablespoons cornstarch<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">*6 tablespoons baking soda<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">*6 tablespoons white vinegar<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(*Adorable helper, though not required, a huge plus!*)<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Combine cornstarch, baking soda, vinegar and corn syrup in a bowl---get ready to witness a little science experiment---it fizzes and foams!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pour into small containers. You can use whatever you want for this! We used an old mustard jar, and leftover crayola paint containers. If you want to make small amounts, lids and egg cartons (the styrofoam ones) would work well.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrl3yKoZDdRzGrSVtmoTUQ0mpFlRS6Fsah04lfKCshZ3D1hymJsZ8oQCXIORipgGGmTpqsDaTJvobn9euWlPE60WOhjo8ZFV3pWAz09A8lpAOLBZQYuT-ramZnBapQl46mxjeRjIra8gXp/s1600-h/IMG_4894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrl3yKoZDdRzGrSVtmoTUQ0mpFlRS6Fsah04lfKCshZ3D1hymJsZ8oQCXIORipgGGmTpqsDaTJvobn9euWlPE60WOhjo8ZFV3pWAz09A8lpAOLBZQYuT-ramZnBapQl46mxjeRjIra8gXp/s320/IMG_4894.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Add food coloring--as much or as little as you would like. We decided this go around that we would just do primary colors. We tried stirring with toothpicks at first, but realized that shaking worked better<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpX3O_on9JbnTfHrbyBjh2dP3ZtYtV7eTV4aEbrttdovyAAxsNK3xEVqjjMEPJgq8YsNH5NYOrj7WKrGCfWZqU9GqpjCLYUi-5pZ1wRtBwmTdV8uXdXI8ZTH5uflaTdXBwE_9xmxmZtKpg/s1600-h/IMG_4896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpX3O_on9JbnTfHrbyBjh2dP3ZtYtV7eTV4aEbrttdovyAAxsNK3xEVqjjMEPJgq8YsNH5NYOrj7WKrGCfWZqU9GqpjCLYUi-5pZ1wRtBwmTdV8uXdXI8ZTH5uflaTdXBwE_9xmxmZtKpg/s320/IMG_4896.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adorable helper #2 (who previously wanted nothing to do with the recipe, came running when she saw shaking involved!)<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXnhxh9oga4py0J_cTRTz73ZGdhqYcJhPcfzXs_R1p13s3MJXtLW_bMc4NMTqstMwlNZVVuDgvLny2ZQjEWhnJzCjiVCPPkKQk6rf47E5VVHvFVVJSmrcg8iMkWs4R_EbCJv8rJw5I4MY/s1600-h/IMG_4898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXnhxh9oga4py0J_cTRTz73ZGdhqYcJhPcfzXs_R1p13s3MJXtLW_bMc4NMTqstMwlNZVVuDgvLny2ZQjEWhnJzCjiVCPPkKQk6rf47E5VVHvFVVJSmrcg8iMkWs4R_EbCJv8rJw5I4MY/s320/IMG_4898.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Allow the paints to dry, or cover to keep them moist. <br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ta-Da!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2nvtScf2MHD4Jni6-i8ERlFa3JhxhPnigZcDKXdGhGsqgW0hpl1_lqbZKvesd5-YFMxLx16mUZfVfbBdgkyz0R8bzZAHZWAlSOv34mAlePB0tpB9aTh9eZjJ48GAs9dFVRpRizdPgrfV/s1600-h/IMG_4900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2nvtScf2MHD4Jni6-i8ERlFa3JhxhPnigZcDKXdGhGsqgW0hpl1_lqbZKvesd5-YFMxLx16mUZfVfbBdgkyz0R8bzZAHZWAlSOv34mAlePB0tpB9aTh9eZjJ48GAs9dFVRpRizdPgrfV/s320/IMG_4900.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<div align="center">They really do work! I tried them out! Add this to our list of things we will NEVER buy again!<br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01979884421338920578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100558411339708700.post-55098897202441674502010-01-21T16:01:00.000-05:002010-01-21T16:01:58.428-05:00Just Spreading the Love....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center">I know it's early, but the girls and I have already started on some Valentine's Day crafts. We take any excuse we can to paint with pink and purple!<br />
</div><div align="center">On Tuesday, we did a little "Head Over Heels Craft"<br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Here is what you need:<br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Paper cut into a heart shape (I recommend choosing Valentine-ish colored paper) and washable paint<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPXTQ9HiV00za2iTdoBjiPY0PBpsQmAozJ_7gF_9vxWobqXck5HkGqps8_qqlKzbKE7J7FlMBhyQ5yfhhEcDnd3L4_Oi0KPCv-6MXv8_LpWbNJGoywxYkym546thgtKSx-2LfcMuP1_84A/s1600-h/IMG_4760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPXTQ9HiV00za2iTdoBjiPY0PBpsQmAozJ_7gF_9vxWobqXck5HkGqps8_qqlKzbKE7J7FlMBhyQ5yfhhEcDnd3L4_Oi0KPCv-6MXv8_LpWbNJGoywxYkym546thgtKSx-2LfcMuP1_84A/s320/IMG_4760.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I found that clipping the heart to a piece of cardboard helped keep everything in place when it was time for the footprint<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSguc0WWxY_hu3h5qvLEvLzLEGTAdZi3aqxpVnUVGqHGBUk3XbCnAedSAJrbQoUOs_lCP4-SCKkrfl38jLztyBY-XvCIufIZFKkUMe-VS6TYX8g90wz9ww5UAEdDXd5XAFfcnU7kPgMgZK/s1600-h/IMG_4762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSguc0WWxY_hu3h5qvLEvLzLEGTAdZi3aqxpVnUVGqHGBUk3XbCnAedSAJrbQoUOs_lCP4-SCKkrfl38jLztyBY-XvCIufIZFKkUMe-VS6TYX8g90wz9ww5UAEdDXd5XAFfcnU7kPgMgZK/s320/IMG_4762.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I covered the floor with an old vinyl tablecloth and put my eager little artists on the floor<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJozLo3LGtmOAlNczIUhSbWGcMexHooEQQVOmcliAzlGUqVf1q1I5VccUSj4zOSLX9Ku872XBh4y9bNwGO4GNqx8ysVOJWFJzvVxdXF_j1YLq3SBxC6vblTp4rcfHG8xlwhbU5Y00y0XeD/s1600-h/IMG_4764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJozLo3LGtmOAlNczIUhSbWGcMexHooEQQVOmcliAzlGUqVf1q1I5VccUSj4zOSLX9Ku872XBh4y9bNwGO4GNqx8ysVOJWFJzvVxdXF_j1YLq3SBxC6vblTp4rcfHG8xlwhbU5Y00y0XeD/s320/IMG_4764.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dip the child's foot into the paint and press on the heart shaped paper. The final result looks like this:<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22jUvZkgXMpXseDwdC9FdKMVqMzOuoHPmxM_MimkZntco5PWPbw9WNH3ymjgeXfrQrr_nLR0bpVz6rLHzo08and5QwyptWlz83z5SqgnSRhO67QDdVKP2bGPzkRNWjWZc-CpyJCj9-_6w/s1600-h/IMG_4765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22jUvZkgXMpXseDwdC9FdKMVqMzOuoHPmxM_MimkZntco5PWPbw9WNH3ymjgeXfrQrr_nLR0bpVz6rLHzo08and5QwyptWlz83z5SqgnSRhO67QDdVKP2bGPzkRNWjWZc-CpyJCj9-_6w/s320/IMG_4765.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now, we could have stopped there, but the girls wanted to paint some more, and who am I to stop the creative juices? Next I got some cardstock and cut out slightly larger hearts and let the girls go to town painting them however they wanted:<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNiyonwUzIfXxtWfrdmM-E96UPMaigibaAbqhJYvhA82rT_GuOLO-onY71qBfdIL7FoCSXHVm42qwlLcMO07pUec3J9SeDG5_Jspki5He-__Hm31bu7oThdk4R_RfvhXRanFyGAlD0jbbO/s1600-h/IMG_4768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNiyonwUzIfXxtWfrdmM-E96UPMaigibaAbqhJYvhA82rT_GuOLO-onY71qBfdIL7FoCSXHVm42qwlLcMO07pUec3J9SeDG5_Jspki5He-__Hm31bu7oThdk4R_RfvhXRanFyGAlD0jbbO/s320/IMG_4768.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDB_f8BMHTMmEX7rjxaAeTiFIXrPZjk8o9lDtyScMYbyych4H0eamJssBSNiMGQNLezsM7rgq05LU1q3ceyR8PsPq3HqadDp2RacBtAjB5KEtOZidjuPqunWi8iQRPpQteOK6HFEOoL_GN/s1600-h/IMG_4771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDB_f8BMHTMmEX7rjxaAeTiFIXrPZjk8o9lDtyScMYbyych4H0eamJssBSNiMGQNLezsM7rgq05LU1q3ceyR8PsPq3HqadDp2RacBtAjB5KEtOZidjuPqunWi8iQRPpQteOK6HFEOoL_GN/s320/IMG_4771.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The final result turned out like this<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7RKsppqbNN8M47hOR9-k3j3pcVaU398BmXEoIVBulL2Y5EKqqWfkQWZGmSyuvwdqy0l41bnaRO0Hf70I9C8qw1Ig_RPgM7bQik8LV8paecTVgr71Nal1jlNS6hWFnQZhL8-_AjdJyqLm-/s1600-h/IMG_4775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7RKsppqbNN8M47hOR9-k3j3pcVaU398BmXEoIVBulL2Y5EKqqWfkQWZGmSyuvwdqy0l41bnaRO0Hf70I9C8qw1Ig_RPgM7bQik8LV8paecTVgr71Nal1jlNS6hWFnQZhL8-_AjdJyqLm-/s320/IMG_4775.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">When everything is dry, attach the 2 hearts to each other. Write "Head Over Heels For You" on the construction paper heart. Emily and I had a very long conversation about where we should display our newest art. She insisted that since it said Head OVER Heels that we should hang the hearts up high. No problem....I think I found the perfect place:<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmYvjdJcwJh_JACm17iUkJlQU4EPpXjRPg-olcTf72SGgj0RDUzRkZnOtXRXwEsop5vfor_J6cH8a4RIwGkVVC_qXqjsNkEyfS1WP_Z7GAvqji9z3ZiXFor2_dzB-gpX3RB4TUV-DzsOT/s1600-h/IMG_4788_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmYvjdJcwJh_JACm17iUkJlQU4EPpXjRPg-olcTf72SGgj0RDUzRkZnOtXRXwEsop5vfor_J6cH8a4RIwGkVVC_qXqjsNkEyfS1WP_Z7GAvqji9z3ZiXFor2_dzB-gpX3RB4TUV-DzsOT/s320/IMG_4788_1.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All I did was punch a hole in the cardstock and loop some silver ribbon through. Voila! Done! <br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now, onto today's craft. Do you ever have those ideas that sound so perfect in theory, but when you are in the midst of the activity, you think "WHAT WAS I THINKING?!" That was today's craft.....it just didn't turn out as I was hoping, but the girls had fun and that's all that mattered! <br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For this texture art, you need a bunch of random materials-All of which you probably already have. <br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYEgmqU5cIuHzr334uZ3z1HmmEGSZFavVjoIVhaRnHNKF_9wL11lMSoiLLzlge5qYIUFmrLABxn9wh22gmI_2zdEb9kp81YzadPJKzox4eeb-7ge3GeUesp4T8k6I-Qz6UidI45yRss1V/s1600-h/IMG_4812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYEgmqU5cIuHzr334uZ3z1HmmEGSZFavVjoIVhaRnHNKF_9wL11lMSoiLLzlge5qYIUFmrLABxn9wh22gmI_2zdEb9kp81YzadPJKzox4eeb-7ge3GeUesp4T8k6I-Qz6UidI45yRss1V/s320/IMG_4812.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We chose buttons, noodles, leftover hair grippies that I don't use anymore, crumpled up tissue paper and some twine. You are going for a bunch of different textures!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You will also need<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-3ZBhGjzNlUoti-dcbPLF8CEUhBq6u-0I2IR1_KbAxPAEili8OJRA9vqAzhm9GnJl0FWdd9XzDuIk7vbPtt7R_RbIWfoEhqCy2LFajEhN1odmcYYkSqbpKn-Zzk7p334dBW5V3PyeFXFa/s1600-h/IMG_4814_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-3ZBhGjzNlUoti-dcbPLF8CEUhBq6u-0I2IR1_KbAxPAEili8OJRA9vqAzhm9GnJl0FWdd9XzDuIk7vbPtt7R_RbIWfoEhqCy2LFajEhN1odmcYYkSqbpKn-Zzk7p334dBW5V3PyeFXFa/s320/IMG_4814_1.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A hot glue gun and toilet paper roll! I keep all used paper towel and toilet paper rolls--they are very handy craft materials!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Next, let your child pick through the bucket for what they want on their texture roll...this is a good time to practice counting for the younger ones and a good time to talk about how different things feel. <br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Once they have chosen what they want, the ADULT needs to hot glue them onto the cardboard roll<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbTaydCwfzw46yJXV0hqyQ_n7tlGk-aIIs9_hG4yxhfzDlyZMpQ8-4Q7j8qnt7ocxGQIxrHLIRFQpsa4jwRpFvzYQNqAtfxYpt3q7VFoVZgp-pOpGIE9LDpXthEz9RuGnMahQrHi-Bowc/s1600-h/IMG_4815_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbTaydCwfzw46yJXV0hqyQ_n7tlGk-aIIs9_hG4yxhfzDlyZMpQ8-4Q7j8qnt7ocxGQIxrHLIRFQpsa4jwRpFvzYQNqAtfxYpt3q7VFoVZgp-pOpGIE9LDpXthEz9RuGnMahQrHi-Bowc/s320/IMG_4815_1.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Before we started the craft part, we had lots of fun playing with these. I asked the girls to think of different things to do with them....they became microphones, telephones, pirate looky things (nice technical term there!). Emily even acted like hers was a mustache!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Next, give each child a paper plate with some paint on it. Show them how to roll the tube into the paint and then roll the tube on the paper. Explain that it will be bumpy--almost like driving over train tracks<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GsmbBEZLQzMD68xM6X7SeogPwtVFa8MX3sl0q3_eu0zkWLt0qdiDD9XFDNnPmg8Yyb4wBXroXGPhjLGp8bebPRqqENKbmOEHwYvzke_sf_XjbG9so-TyZUp6hU6LLNzsSqcuE2kfNjoI/s1600-h/IMG_4817_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GsmbBEZLQzMD68xM6X7SeogPwtVFa8MX3sl0q3_eu0zkWLt0qdiDD9XFDNnPmg8Yyb4wBXroXGPhjLGp8bebPRqqENKbmOEHwYvzke_sf_XjbG9so-TyZUp6hU6LLNzsSqcuE2kfNjoI/s320/IMG_4817_1.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB0Sns7EIssvdWd5TT7PH5xWkArxhHtcS5pt0NaoNYOqEsPxN3tcNdeEJv-ymrVQhqbWgyRE_BC1018OaokJJb3hiWPokulE3F1RLeNsVI_1Lp2NyCIgNJweOhGgh4SwD0C8MW0-SL3Msc/s1600-h/IMG_4821_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB0Sns7EIssvdWd5TT7PH5xWkArxhHtcS5pt0NaoNYOqEsPxN3tcNdeEJv-ymrVQhqbWgyRE_BC1018OaokJJb3hiWPokulE3F1RLeNsVI_1Lp2NyCIgNJweOhGgh4SwD0C8MW0-SL3Msc/s320/IMG_4821_1.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It did end up being a little messy...make sure you have the wipes or wash cloth near by!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now...after doing this, I have some advice....don't do the tissue paper--we ended up pulling that off because it just soaked up a lot of paint. Start with just a little bit of paint-you can always add more. I think I had too much paint out.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Charlie (who is 18 months old), really just bounced hers on the paper more than rolling it, and that is fine! Let the kids be the boss! Emily (4.5) really got the concept and had a good time with it. Allie (almost 3) did a little of both-bouncing and rolling! Here are our finished papers:<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_vEI_UGch2zq-lOppcp6PfRVPukRekGhnNPHtRYvo83kDgVywcyaL2Y0nEjkyZar8jlBpMhom0G6lZ9JYjZDqzM6kr8kAVi055xdyR1OX385aBjUG7wjvAXgi0RoQmUaL89kgTz0H5viS/s1600-h/IMG_4822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_vEI_UGch2zq-lOppcp6PfRVPukRekGhnNPHtRYvo83kDgVywcyaL2Y0nEjkyZar8jlBpMhom0G6lZ9JYjZDqzM6kr8kAVi055xdyR1OX385aBjUG7wjvAXgi0RoQmUaL89kgTz0H5viS/s320/IMG_4822.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After they dried, we went back and tried to see if we could pick out different items that were rolled onto the paper. The buttons were easy to pick out-others you had to look for a little harder!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So yeah....they didn't turn out exactly how I had imagined, but like I said, the girls had fun and we were able to have some good discussion during our art time this morning!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I would LOVE to see pictures of any of these crafts you end up trying! Please share!!<br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01979884421338920578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100558411339708700.post-86954600657241408012010-01-19T08:32:00.000-05:002010-01-19T08:32:16.251-05:00Craft Cabinet<div style="text-align: center;">I came across this post on one of my favorite blogs: <a href="http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2008/12/parents-corner.html">No Time For Flash Cards</a> She shows her craft closet. Love it! When we lived at the beach, we had a closet under the stairs that served as my craft closet. It was great to have that stuff right there on the same floor as us!<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Now I am lucky enough to have a craft room (our 4th bedroom-the room over the garage) where I keep my sewing machine, all my ribbons, material, tulle, etc.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I hate running up and down the stairs too many times during the day because I always have little feet follwing me, so I cleaned out a cabinet over our desk area in the kitchen and reserved it for craft materials!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCzUQH01uOUVXSRZ6pZsR6KhPouTqOkrvQccUZFSrbl1-EtzDfiRvYcwmmYOPlzgOivhKjkjWkHKxFoJDbFhYu_JxsKUS7uHV5T86N3a2JLBPrD3kAJ_vOAx9P52E909h1uYJFcVhOPHog/s1600-h/IMG_4535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCzUQH01uOUVXSRZ6pZsR6KhPouTqOkrvQccUZFSrbl1-EtzDfiRvYcwmmYOPlzgOivhKjkjWkHKxFoJDbFhYu_JxsKUS7uHV5T86N3a2JLBPrD3kAJ_vOAx9P52E909h1uYJFcVhOPHog/s320/IMG_4535.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We also have a 3 drawer metal cart in the playroom that serves as the coloring book/crayons/markers/some stickers/paper, etc....<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I would show a picture of it, but it is a MESS right now!!! I just glanced over at it as I was typing and added it to my to-do list for today!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How do YOU store your kid craft supplies?<br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01979884421338920578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100558411339708700.post-41959859381403515052010-01-18T17:25:00.000-05:002010-01-18T17:25:11.545-05:00Play Dough!!!<div style="text-align: center;">We had a very busy weekend-Emily was a flower girl in Ben's cousin Jenny's wedding! It was a gorgeous wedding, and I will be uploading pictures and video soon!<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Because we were still adjusting to being back at home and getting out of the vacation fog, we were slow moving today! I decided that it might be fun to make up a batch of play dough after lunch.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It is SUPER easy and VERY cheap! Most of the ingredients are those that you probably already have in your pantry. Thankfully my neighbor had some cream of tartar that she let me borrow (Thanks Paula!)---I see HUGE containers of cream of tartar in my future! I will NEVER purchase "PlayDoh" again!!!<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here are the directions if you want to try it yourself:<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ingredients:<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 cup salt<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 cups flour<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">4 tablespoons cream of tartar<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 tablespoons vegetable oil<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 cups water<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Food Coloring<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4iCg9GAx6rARzMkPRg7AoIuEQnw63-lfBNGAUKk2V2pzP5BS8F-c0wOPstY0CtWVwoEumQplLwiEHHfcK1fCR10rPtKkiYmifJd0DgRBCg7dzvBgZICy3LAOhRYFKmi_gsowV6_L-HO_k/s1600-h/IMG_4748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4iCg9GAx6rARzMkPRg7AoIuEQnw63-lfBNGAUKk2V2pzP5BS8F-c0wOPstY0CtWVwoEumQplLwiEHHfcK1fCR10rPtKkiYmifJd0DgRBCg7dzvBgZICy3LAOhRYFKmi_gsowV6_L-HO_k/s320/IMG_4748.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In a medium sized sauce pan add the dry ingredients:<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQzQb9eDehpXqJGRxY-lggdhRSzHwDa7gmKPuBkplMQNWk9H08qpt3aE5OPIhVvpHJj3hUI6ynAKGQCAW5fReDoYXT9CkNw6uyIgBc7QYGAT9tbpBjfM_x037O09vCyGMQ4h_0n9sJAq81/s1600-h/IMG_4753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQzQb9eDehpXqJGRxY-lggdhRSzHwDa7gmKPuBkplMQNWk9H08qpt3aE5OPIhVvpHJj3hUI6ynAKGQCAW5fReDoYXT9CkNw6uyIgBc7QYGAT9tbpBjfM_x037O09vCyGMQ4h_0n9sJAq81/s320/IMG_4753.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5cp1fOyaeTisPks1_OLNjd8FcUS3bAJ4HcuGqB90AUEvCsOktHsaRL4vNaVHik9Tvdm8RvwDZ9MXAwCAsxSUoa2khhIiAJpKyVcaedBlzLWUuWM1hwe3x8-cSsMAqJTIihjyTseNMgXa/s1600-h/IMG_4754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5cp1fOyaeTisPks1_OLNjd8FcUS3bAJ4HcuGqB90AUEvCsOktHsaRL4vNaVHik9Tvdm8RvwDZ9MXAwCAsxSUoa2khhIiAJpKyVcaedBlzLWUuWM1hwe3x8-cSsMAqJTIihjyTseNMgXa/s320/IMG_4754.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Next add the oil and water<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Using a wooden spoon over medium heat, stir mixture-it will be liquidy at first<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1gEoXcOLWl62A1KYEJWM4T2vTgLmdjP2QLC6hklY9Vu6-jmd3f4wDsk159xAT1oowM1CU9CFj8LnyZHqleIwNn-FplLEpvZrpX7p9ruH6ICRVEcpTkrlLg-4UInOiCcdaiW1CXCwcT7-/s1600-h/IMG_4756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1gEoXcOLWl62A1KYEJWM4T2vTgLmdjP2QLC6hklY9Vu6-jmd3f4wDsk159xAT1oowM1CU9CFj8LnyZHqleIwNn-FplLEpvZrpX7p9ruH6ICRVEcpTkrlLg-4UInOiCcdaiW1CXCwcT7-/s320/IMG_4756.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Add food coloring (I didn't have any liquid food coloring-I only had icing coloring, which is sort of like a gel--it did the trick, but I am going to get some liquid food coloring for next time)<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Add as much or as little as desired, until you acieve the color you like.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As the mixture begins to heat up, you will notice the lumps getting larger in size and the mixture more difficult to stir-continue stirring<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When it is almost 1 big lump and begins separating from the sides of the pan, pour onto counter. Cool for a few minutes.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0blFzETEEnZMdPmarqwSx3BkaBCbpaM5YAoAutaxCc-27NE7rP6ZuAIrXL_X6QjoiBdgPhgq5Q3IvZlFNco0rzkGmPaA2EM-R2gUiPyka6nQ2jswkNQWdAuymaOVfcxutGrah8_WI0MV/s1600-h/IMG_4757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0blFzETEEnZMdPmarqwSx3BkaBCbpaM5YAoAutaxCc-27NE7rP6ZuAIrXL_X6QjoiBdgPhgq5Q3IvZlFNco0rzkGmPaA2EM-R2gUiPyka6nQ2jswkNQWdAuymaOVfcxutGrah8_WI0MV/s320/IMG_4757.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Once cooled, kneed by hand for a few minutes. Place in air tight container.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTsxZzoy2CEHy6-KqIx5kXPyw5f-w5cTt1ksEOnm2xu6sXioDwBq-JWT5Awl2MsPOCGn_rTg4HGicJDUfsCqctHL-QL1kcdhwCR3Pj95OZWUfZTnHAE6Y95tR2MvaDCycfpBZ-DwrH9xG/s1600-h/IMG_4759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTsxZzoy2CEHy6-KqIx5kXPyw5f-w5cTt1ksEOnm2xu6sXioDwBq-JWT5Awl2MsPOCGn_rTg4HGicJDUfsCqctHL-QL1kcdhwCR3Pj95OZWUfZTnHAE6Y95tR2MvaDCycfpBZ-DwrH9xG/s320/IMG_4759.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Please excuse the smudge on the container--this has become my crafting bowl-most recently, I mixed shaving cream and glue in it!)<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So there you have it! CHEAP and EASY play dough! My girls LOVED making it and will have even more fun playing with it!<br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01979884421338920578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100558411339708700.post-81021406968223847332010-01-14T15:24:00.015-05:002010-01-14T16:22:49.920-05:00Winter WonderlandThis week, the girls and (plus our new little friend Charlie!) made lots of fun snowflake related crafts...well, 3 snowflake related crafts, not a lot, but still...fun times!<br /><br />Our first craft was coffee filter and cupcake liner snowflakes. I saw a similar idea on www.notimeforflashcards.com she used cupcake liners and then glittered them up and made a garland. Super cute. I had it in my head to make a lot and hang them from our playroom ceiling, which is just what we did! <br />I watered down blue tempura paint and let the girls paint the coffee filters and cupcake liners. We gave little Charlie a dot marker and then dropped a little water on her art to make it more transparent. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_2aFe1i35tFLThRoPNZe811Vp2OMHpFwEGYfKfKjxJB52IIbTGCI74fyW2zIBAwYd45eC7Pzytap36BqPSdxfhbnAbw6JdnD0D0R27-64IPBaf01ClBfE-IAGqy5Toanmui_NXVf2SZ1/s1600-h/IMG_4358.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_2aFe1i35tFLThRoPNZe811Vp2OMHpFwEGYfKfKjxJB52IIbTGCI74fyW2zIBAwYd45eC7Pzytap36BqPSdxfhbnAbw6JdnD0D0R27-64IPBaf01ClBfE-IAGqy5Toanmui_NXVf2SZ1/s320/IMG_4358.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426699944571150962" /></a><br /><br />We used some medicine droppers too to spot the paint here and there<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISq0unhrvX_m9H6U1FT9tvkWxbfo3VhHyM-yXIEkkO_uyNl_Dmj7sCcm13_GHxc_ujlHXF4PnnRJg3AKmVGUFNf9IJ3HhzZLXAiYEB9LY6-_gT4Y5CNZTZ8nBhhvzFnRMiaKMD1RvGLbi/s1600-h/IMG_4361.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISq0unhrvX_m9H6U1FT9tvkWxbfo3VhHyM-yXIEkkO_uyNl_Dmj7sCcm13_GHxc_ujlHXF4PnnRJg3AKmVGUFNf9IJ3HhzZLXAiYEB9LY6-_gT4Y5CNZTZ8nBhhvzFnRMiaKMD1RvGLbi/s320/IMG_4361.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426700575708163282" /></a><br /><br />This was a fun craft for all of us<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMNxQQgrAUeOFBcT2Hu2_zwI66GDu1phyphenhyphenzYgEU_JiIvfaFYLZ7QXi9sw_fuIi3c71Tm6eqGcMVyhdwedDT8JLyRWOzVFl6HMYhZuoq4MSE1vHIIAquhpQMefipI_ef8cStYz-pOGaFva1/s1600-h/IMG_4359.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMNxQQgrAUeOFBcT2Hu2_zwI66GDu1phyphenhyphenzYgEU_JiIvfaFYLZ7QXi9sw_fuIi3c71Tm6eqGcMVyhdwedDT8JLyRWOzVFl6HMYhZuoq4MSE1vHIIAquhpQMefipI_ef8cStYz-pOGaFva1/s320/IMG_4359.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426700934148187442" /></a><br /><br />We let the filters and liners dry while we ate lunch. After lunch, Charlie went down for a nap and we began folding and cutting the snowflakes. Emily helped a lot, but I did most of them. After that it was the part that the girls had been waiting for! The GLITTER!!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7e9ET8G1910klq4-9tbVoHg4p9x8KU7foR-o_Qqd3jt5xdnNWZclqz0XMfZs90MqGNni5N9-9FQFJZCLxjyEbJzFDLpXKmmmT48bGsfjYDliI1MKb297Uik7qmMPnQrxlRfv8W4TSr0E0/s1600-h/IMG_4370.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7e9ET8G1910klq4-9tbVoHg4p9x8KU7foR-o_Qqd3jt5xdnNWZclqz0XMfZs90MqGNni5N9-9FQFJZCLxjyEbJzFDLpXKmmmT48bGsfjYDliI1MKb297Uik7qmMPnQrxlRfv8W4TSr0E0/s320/IMG_4370.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426701675353165506" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-2JSlIxDvuQXOdBehHWdszTdzVRJDsbuataGNljE2OFFyRTCgIaJ0v0OblRtAPxM22qFGzIJ-O4dxBz7dvbLE9mlT2PySFfqU56QhsXcZrzQPJBXF30LHN-b5v5yk2AvA_yLXiJ6uZus/s1600-h/IMG_4368.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-2JSlIxDvuQXOdBehHWdszTdzVRJDsbuataGNljE2OFFyRTCgIaJ0v0OblRtAPxM22qFGzIJ-O4dxBz7dvbLE9mlT2PySFfqU56QhsXcZrzQPJBXF30LHN-b5v5yk2AvA_yLXiJ6uZus/s320/IMG_4368.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426701666527836498" /></a><br /><br />Now we have a beautiful winter wonderland playroom! The girls LOVE it! They walk in and say "Oh! It's Sooooo cold in here! It's snowing!!!"<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3XxIBMmyj0ovZ7pboxriJi17ZuULOreIvJ5FYxCQVEHrdYaJePaPJR56QMWTKxeScQSnGXiG0dd921TYpD5DyGeV8s4zlGyGgyUvaWRCJsppRSsIxxU27DFjQBG3kcy3akhmMFUzhn46/s1600-h/IMG_4371.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 286px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3XxIBMmyj0ovZ7pboxriJi17ZuULOreIvJ5FYxCQVEHrdYaJePaPJR56QMWTKxeScQSnGXiG0dd921TYpD5DyGeV8s4zlGyGgyUvaWRCJsppRSsIxxU27DFjQBG3kcy3akhmMFUzhn46/s320/IMG_4371.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426702064683880722" /></a><br /><br /><br />A couple of days later we made shaving cream snowmen. This was a lot of fun for the girls as well. I mixed equal parts shaving cream and glue and the girls painted it on a blue piece of paper. I had drawn snowman templates on the paper and Emily was able to make hers resemble a snowman...the younger girls just had fun painting! It dried with a nice raised texture and looks a lot like snow! We still need to go back and finish them....add buttons and such.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhaK4XUVuFp5fCfszawwQWXCLIgTGkcm3xuJhrI0AdKsDm1Y5mmzPgWZgBnr-n0DR5oU-eQLdyBmJ-7H4zMQGZGjf55zirSepHqFVLZEm9DjycSfj0XRKsi8EHY2dvG4UUySsT-T_FgsMv/s1600-h/IMG_4508.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhaK4XUVuFp5fCfszawwQWXCLIgTGkcm3xuJhrI0AdKsDm1Y5mmzPgWZgBnr-n0DR5oU-eQLdyBmJ-7H4zMQGZGjf55zirSepHqFVLZEm9DjycSfj0XRKsi8EHY2dvG4UUySsT-T_FgsMv/s320/IMG_4508.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426703456135432818" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjfCxOxHyPEaqOzvj1hhl758ah130fZq2IAc3XtO2iKzsunOF1K2EN5ghkwUVItjWUJlfZW2EiTvxW-P04m2vAMr6SBpFRUyzMMBPSQj1u_ytr5m9LgH9PZr8WHgDfeX-m3jzwhIL9ewL/s1600-h/IMG_4503.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjfCxOxHyPEaqOzvj1hhl758ah130fZq2IAc3XtO2iKzsunOF1K2EN5ghkwUVItjWUJlfZW2EiTvxW-P04m2vAMr6SBpFRUyzMMBPSQj1u_ytr5m9LgH9PZr8WHgDfeX-m3jzwhIL9ewL/s320/IMG_4503.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426703447612205346" /></a><br /><br />We took a couple of days and just colored and water painted and got back in the organized craft mode today. <br />A friend introduced me to a great blog: http://www.frugalfamilyfunblog.com/<br />I am obsessed with it! LOTS of great ideas and the best part?! The are CHEAP!!!<br />I really liked this idea:<br />http://www.frugalfamilyfunblog.com/2009/12/art-so-easy-toddler-can-do-it.html<br /><br />I didn't have any canvas on hand, so I went exploring in my basement. I found a white cardboard box and thought "Voila!". I cut the bottom off of it, a piece of the side and there I had my 3 squares. Next, I taped out the snowflake shape<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGkbAscSgd2h04AHIS-080WfwXsyd3TeVh805iidsJeTyuM39nQCLQw8Js8K0eP5hsC5TL5U53dknKSqY7Q9YPMD8CtIl4bAzrOPCKVbsbwoCYna2bya5O1CbswAaMxIanJ2v9gDgyOjAL/s1600-h/IMG_4520.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGkbAscSgd2h04AHIS-080WfwXsyd3TeVh805iidsJeTyuM39nQCLQw8Js8K0eP5hsC5TL5U53dknKSqY7Q9YPMD8CtIl4bAzrOPCKVbsbwoCYna2bya5O1CbswAaMxIanJ2v9gDgyOjAL/s320/IMG_4520.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426704920220269330" /></a><br /><br />The girls were so excited and jumped right in painting their masterpieces<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_DRk00jIkqT56rOADH8f-sieULPsIr9gjmq0r061X33lYubjDFoiSs-GkCRKLb3fz-zqBZwOWpum17mz2Gy7cL5-8G5naI7ojRQBsCKYdiw_pDwE-uykJaZQZ4Avx0nwKbEXXq6ytl-J/s1600-h/IMG_4523.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_DRk00jIkqT56rOADH8f-sieULPsIr9gjmq0r061X33lYubjDFoiSs-GkCRKLb3fz-zqBZwOWpum17mz2Gy7cL5-8G5naI7ojRQBsCKYdiw_pDwE-uykJaZQZ4Avx0nwKbEXXq6ytl-J/s320/IMG_4523.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426705645079836498" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKuXgIl57Pf-l3Znr_0sM-cKhex9XXCPKrC7MHlrkyxWbEjDNL2HbUH7BsDuD6Tl8avkWwEoRrZj_AiwhqsjYU-eywI-9gpuI7fk1X2BedoeubbS_LhgTnagRkuTdHfO8IHeTalDz5fdZ2/s1600-h/IMG_4531.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 311px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKuXgIl57Pf-l3Znr_0sM-cKhex9XXCPKrC7MHlrkyxWbEjDNL2HbUH7BsDuD6Tl8avkWwEoRrZj_AiwhqsjYU-eywI-9gpuI7fk1X2BedoeubbS_LhgTnagRkuTdHfO8IHeTalDz5fdZ2/s320/IMG_4531.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426705642923407730" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4UPWueIgW2CoVGTltod2E6GlsNet61YC4iwssvi1IFOktS5SbakZmN8gcAZtFEBKZpQypHHk_Gd4M-xtM_eWTt4JLLMMV1N8nLfh8hV2UZOMiApXoZzyXjxpmYzYJHqSU0AyFH3UmVRSu/s1600-h/IMG_4526.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4UPWueIgW2CoVGTltod2E6GlsNet61YC4iwssvi1IFOktS5SbakZmN8gcAZtFEBKZpQypHHk_Gd4M-xtM_eWTt4JLLMMV1N8nLfh8hV2UZOMiApXoZzyXjxpmYzYJHqSU0AyFH3UmVRSu/s320/IMG_4526.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426705637891479522" /></a><br /><br />After we covered the whole square, we set them aside to dry. I started getting lunch ready and I heard the girls talk about their tea party. I was so proud when I looked in the playroom and saw what they had decided (on their own!) to use as their table---just the piece of "trash" that I had thrown to the side! LOVE creativity!!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2B32nbxPH9u7KyMYbQJD87dEqGWAj0r6bFVS0eI809Xh7RFvqQLWrbbOY-A5BPeAVcE6SlOZPF7Cv8HKhyphenhyphenSc9514OLNqtXbQrxelb4gk_Q-4fg9FjDy_cd0NxGn7ZjB2Mocs4-ooF2uzn/s1600-h/IMG_4533.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 314px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2B32nbxPH9u7KyMYbQJD87dEqGWAj0r6bFVS0eI809Xh7RFvqQLWrbbOY-A5BPeAVcE6SlOZPF7Cv8HKhyphenhyphenSc9514OLNqtXbQrxelb4gk_Q-4fg9FjDy_cd0NxGn7ZjB2Mocs4-ooF2uzn/s320/IMG_4533.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426706271429700914" /></a><br /><br />Yep! It was the box I had cut up! Made me very happy to see them thinking that way!<br /><br />Anyway-back to the snowflakes---we removed the tape and outlined it in black, and ta-da!!! Our beautiful artwork!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJE8VBoOs0o5mLc7eg62uju12wVZvqLPcebTjxlTYp7CdEw2YLmal4-MAg0FFeOgzEahobX11v9tIcKBOjBI3lkVw2vb3wowrwme2kDfNdoRuvBP54gi002RwJahtuk-r6JGwKf2xjcipp/s1600-h/IMG_4539.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 158px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJE8VBoOs0o5mLc7eg62uju12wVZvqLPcebTjxlTYp7CdEw2YLmal4-MAg0FFeOgzEahobX11v9tIcKBOjBI3lkVw2vb3wowrwme2kDfNdoRuvBP54gi002RwJahtuk-r6JGwKf2xjcipp/s320/IMG_4539.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426708889981824978" /></a><br />So, that was our week. Lots of fun winter crafts! I am trying to think of what to do next week....stay tuned!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01979884421338920578noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100558411339708700.post-53786351250823084532009-12-30T08:29:00.007-05:002009-12-30T13:17:58.012-05:00Baby Sew Chic New Years Sale!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9o8fizPaW8NmssdjUo-8WccviKrMBtGf7cPH9WkOv6jcRBSi4VZlLL5xTKWwIjIg0N4oCoSzp6_hiSF27iS4P8tY6L8-_gHNOtuLNsvW1dxf_zZvFs9s09yA0GLIGDxbChj480OhyphenhyphenOtv/s1600-h/PinkSwirlBanner_BSC_760x100.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 43px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9o8fizPaW8NmssdjUo-8WccviKrMBtGf7cPH9WkOv6jcRBSi4VZlLL5xTKWwIjIg0N4oCoSzp6_hiSF27iS4P8tY6L8-_gHNOtuLNsvW1dxf_zZvFs9s09yA0GLIGDxbChj480OhyphenhyphenOtv/s320/PinkSwirlBanner_BSC_760x100.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421023040620719890" /></a><br />*~*~*~*BabySewChic is participating in the ETSY MOM New Year Sale! If you buy the itty bitty starter kit, the Little Miss Collegiate Set and the No Snowflakes are alike set, you not only get free shipping, but you get a bonus Valentine's Day set that I will choose for you! This sale runs DECEMBER 31, 2009-JANUARY 3, 2010! After you place your order, please wait for an updated invoice from me before you pay! <br /><br />http://www.BabySewChic.etsy.com<br /><br />Do a search for etsymomnewyear to find all the other great sale items from ETSY MOMS!*~*~<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjCh_vGU_h5apWyCFkZ6WIdhFPhcV2XTLrfj2mRq6FGp4Paj4DAD-mlQtTFLi4H9hG-qKHP9WgUairUmMkhkFBY5IL2wWeA70tJhWy-p9vmpO5jN6gat3oF_IEcZMGzLyRpfvJ400yWbN/s1600-h/IMG_1829.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 253px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjCh_vGU_h5apWyCFkZ6WIdhFPhcV2XTLrfj2mRq6FGp4Paj4DAD-mlQtTFLi4H9hG-qKHP9WgUairUmMkhkFBY5IL2wWeA70tJhWy-p9vmpO5jN6gat3oF_IEcZMGzLyRpfvJ400yWbN/s320/IMG_1829.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421021370469129314" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAXcFT0fhiuO3nj2O0ivWfX3GziZY8AMgT2hG5V5nL9duO_i-VG6TzqGi9ifs0T5eKtFjWTGqFB44FBfhhOjOkgcLg2H2f9DPnCzHNthy6zlUp0AC2tvqWNPOkky3Dq3khV1sU7ri5mI3r/s1600-h/IMG_0730.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAXcFT0fhiuO3nj2O0ivWfX3GziZY8AMgT2hG5V5nL9duO_i-VG6TzqGi9ifs0T5eKtFjWTGqFB44FBfhhOjOkgcLg2H2f9DPnCzHNthy6zlUp0AC2tvqWNPOkky3Dq3khV1sU7ri5mI3r/s320/IMG_0730.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421022104436547682" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLyZV-aOumGIn3eEBwYwJq9BY-vL8wwReFlmrrknpDJI4_0RLQKKwYntK_OPufs4f6DKq0uABmsH8o7zBpqRZ0SwK3dr7mKwLWHfVqQbn6OL7S_SvhNMMmGCMyYRKfzAVGnek2itFutye/s1600-h/IMG_0804.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 253px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLyZV-aOumGIn3eEBwYwJq9BY-vL8wwReFlmrrknpDJI4_0RLQKKwYntK_OPufs4f6DKq0uABmsH8o7zBpqRZ0SwK3dr7mKwLWHfVqQbn6OL7S_SvhNMMmGCMyYRKfzAVGnek2itFutye/s320/IMG_0804.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421022438241566258" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01979884421338920578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100558411339708700.post-22361130130891176012009-12-29T11:51:00.007-05:002009-12-29T12:08:07.192-05:00Let me see those pearly whites!I took the girls to the dentist today. This was Emily's 3rd time and Allie's 1st. At her first appointment, Emily did awesome. No tears, no fighting, perfect. The second time I took her I took Allie with us so that Emily could show her how easy it was. Yeah....it took 3 of us to restrain her. Needless to say, I was a little concerned about how today would go. There were tears, but it went much better for Emily this time. <br />Then it was Allie's turn. <br />I never know what to expect from Allie. This is the child that has a screaming fit over the smallest things, but doesn't cry when she gets shots at the pediatrician's office. <br />She climbed right into the chair like a champ. We go to the same dentist as the Gosselin children (Jon and Kate Plus 8), so the dentist gives sunglasses to protect the kids from the paparazzi...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_QUOnPmcwsq_H63gDmHpPcbj8T9gEa2fN_b0eqC4ivZ6Vxu38b3agS7SeLBWpFJhI3nujbST8dwVoozrGk03AAkjlrvolqe_ZXg4P71n7kQoGVrvXlq7H5_5jeqiLBXvPqyOUi5O3TlQ/s1600-h/IMG_4261.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_QUOnPmcwsq_H63gDmHpPcbj8T9gEa2fN_b0eqC4ivZ6Vxu38b3agS7SeLBWpFJhI3nujbST8dwVoozrGk03AAkjlrvolqe_ZXg4P71n7kQoGVrvXlq7H5_5jeqiLBXvPqyOUi5O3TlQ/s320/IMG_4261.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420703433997600930" /></a><br /><br />Just kidding....not about the Gosselin part, they really do go there, but about the sunglasses-they are so the light doesn't bother their eyes.<br /><br />Allie was very interested in all the tools Dr. Kristin used<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWV5NoDRtP6s3cS7H9y-iiznxVA_zTmeAewINcK92GNOgtJ30aWoQXNm-1YfPUN_k2Nh5XPvnfa4AkqYAHyTSFEX1sYH7dEhhVbKjvkbbQ1u82Q-Dm3RNmhzEGtQsDr9ax3-XMPHPaYeeS/s1600-h/IMG_4262.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWV5NoDRtP6s3cS7H9y-iiznxVA_zTmeAewINcK92GNOgtJ30aWoQXNm-1YfPUN_k2Nh5XPvnfa4AkqYAHyTSFEX1sYH7dEhhVbKjvkbbQ1u82Q-Dm3RNmhzEGtQsDr9ax3-XMPHPaYeeS/s320/IMG_4262.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420704433079268546" /></a><br /><br />I am so proud of my big girl! She did great!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLXrS7e4RERUS7Gv9Yvxi2CrMw3EbyDviZEz6jWuI0U3LPCWCr0WSS6p_8_kIcuSQG47d3vFUj7A9jJjCqFQPLgacNGqBIKTou20grpmMA9V-iDqlqLnEPzEX4UXZPm5fnSMSk_5ZL48_/s1600-h/IMG_4263.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLXrS7e4RERUS7Gv9Yvxi2CrMw3EbyDviZEz6jWuI0U3LPCWCr0WSS6p_8_kIcuSQG47d3vFUj7A9jJjCqFQPLgacNGqBIKTou20grpmMA9V-iDqlqLnEPzEX4UXZPm5fnSMSk_5ZL48_/s320/IMG_4263.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420704806265128754" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8khwJhRfFA-PZ7ldIeprPDKXJyWtQzOsBmSz4AOWtsEfl0AIFNkd88tfrhWZOQcr-pWze8S0Z36g-gxekG-NCQGqjNmcu9imz99LvAU-DgI8Y3yubD_i2RXxkNRxcsJi8Z7CZwjdHx1wq/s1600-h/IMG_4264.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8khwJhRfFA-PZ7ldIeprPDKXJyWtQzOsBmSz4AOWtsEfl0AIFNkd88tfrhWZOQcr-pWze8S0Z36g-gxekG-NCQGqjNmcu9imz99LvAU-DgI8Y3yubD_i2RXxkNRxcsJi8Z7CZwjdHx1wq/s320/IMG_4264.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420705338153078018" /></a><br /><br />Check out that shiny, cavity free smile!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Q-rh0kks6tgMggWOHroAwgHK3DyRQfeHgbhUFFiVzb04SCUDwoo3q6oi7dnzapgrkKCXQ7s0jwBxAT1-XkNoQ1TrMckTjGT_ufD9O9PxByEnsIwhXLXmrFQTElZUcsd4MRIZU74PluJk/s1600-h/IMG_4267.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Q-rh0kks6tgMggWOHroAwgHK3DyRQfeHgbhUFFiVzb04SCUDwoo3q6oi7dnzapgrkKCXQ7s0jwBxAT1-XkNoQ1TrMckTjGT_ufD9O9PxByEnsIwhXLXmrFQTElZUcsd4MRIZU74PluJk/s320/IMG_4267.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420705656653087266" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01979884421338920578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100558411339708700.post-7923653619058629212009-12-22T19:36:00.007-05:002009-12-22T19:53:42.154-05:00A little crafting fun...Emily was begging to do a little Christmas craft today and I had to improvise quickly. I wanted something the girls could do pretty much do on their own with limited help from me while I cooked dinner.<br />We decided to make some little reindeer. I thought they could both make Rudolph, but Emily nicely explained to me that "no one ever draws or sings about the other reindeer" Well said Emmmy! :-) Emily decided to do Blitzen and Allie did Comet. <br /><br />I drew some triangles for the face and let Emily cut them out---she took this job very seriously!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgO0z6673mVwZ7XH0tK5YRjImNkQ7AtOTwmvRYMEZuVM6qiEsmyiXRjcc8KGF2fsY01HorKCRb2lt0GhGPKrsX6-FsLekY2A_e8npLAAZBeUSnlCEbYpHIa3Ss2_d5kDU2nGjYq55JRPC/s1600-h/IMG_4086.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgO0z6673mVwZ7XH0tK5YRjImNkQ7AtOTwmvRYMEZuVM6qiEsmyiXRjcc8KGF2fsY01HorKCRb2lt0GhGPKrsX6-FsLekY2A_e8npLAAZBeUSnlCEbYpHIa3Ss2_d5kDU2nGjYq55JRPC/s320/IMG_4086.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418225292340907618" /></a><br /><br />I found some foam that we traced hands on to make the antlers. We chose yellow for a little flair!<br />The girls colored their reindeer and decorated the faces<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi05jbNFluzdP8Cql79Mib6gVn6u_Y8E49XxSV0oQ5S1VWK5aUbX-3enaTJeOub4TRDYch2xQBnw3Fgzl-kg5rjLXUi-1CJ5cuXydGH1D1ZmkTHl-dI4O57iIzVG4ozDA9l38p0lZ42NDSb/s1600-h/IMG_4095.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi05jbNFluzdP8Cql79Mib6gVn6u_Y8E49XxSV0oQ5S1VWK5aUbX-3enaTJeOub4TRDYch2xQBnw3Fgzl-kg5rjLXUi-1CJ5cuXydGH1D1ZmkTHl-dI4O57iIzVG4ozDA9l38p0lZ42NDSb/s320/IMG_4095.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418226127864367906" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2lF3GIS-RK8nazJUrYaPk3pKvgJi72xc9Xhpt_KBZjtDLmHgQCjwHAT5cbT38CSFKsQAwQ-NbvLXUg_Y9ccyvdjEAqgoCksN1hyphenhyphenJPTTJ9WgJf7HRc1VdwAONAykUq5Nuuut7XeCI_J2fz/s1600-h/IMG_4099.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2lF3GIS-RK8nazJUrYaPk3pKvgJi72xc9Xhpt_KBZjtDLmHgQCjwHAT5cbT38CSFKsQAwQ-NbvLXUg_Y9ccyvdjEAqgoCksN1hyphenhyphenJPTTJ9WgJf7HRc1VdwAONAykUq5Nuuut7XeCI_J2fz/s320/IMG_4099.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418226456890641234" /></a><br /><br />Next Emily glued on the antlers<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG58AfTRaU1PnGkq_oVZY_Gx4jCCzWU-ssvh2WCiZzKRdggzSLynLUSNduKi3DgXKTfUAAFEqWciEu6huc4nFfc9Mdt_KYwIsoX-16H3AEeicaXJOYWTFXcYxe0JPYBuuWskFlq_LeP973/s1600-h/IMG_4096.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 252px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG58AfTRaU1PnGkq_oVZY_Gx4jCCzWU-ssvh2WCiZzKRdggzSLynLUSNduKi3DgXKTfUAAFEqWciEu6huc4nFfc9Mdt_KYwIsoX-16H3AEeicaXJOYWTFXcYxe0JPYBuuWskFlq_LeP973/s320/IMG_4096.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418227391770820530" /></a><br /><br />And....VOILA! Our reindeer were complete! Emily did one extra--this time she did do Rudolph because "Mommy, he is the most famous one", but she gave him purple antlers because that is Mommy's favorite color! <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-WEmD11hwszKzAzEeeoM44skOVxaAW7er2t_zqmS4Qj0-az2aqWG14NL-u60Lt4H24YNdAUO5ObS7TuFE8unX7tKeW2njxicLOr10d1PQjDyabI0eXOXD3rzroxHa0OZ8YXQyfIVpEH-/s1600-h/IMG_4102.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 195px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-WEmD11hwszKzAzEeeoM44skOVxaAW7er2t_zqmS4Qj0-az2aqWG14NL-u60Lt4H24YNdAUO5ObS7TuFE8unX7tKeW2njxicLOr10d1PQjDyabI0eXOXD3rzroxHa0OZ8YXQyfIVpEH-/s320/IMG_4102.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418227994032422242" /></a><br /><br />So....not a hard craft by any means, but the girls had fun, I got to cook dinner and we have a little extra decoration for our Christmas house!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01979884421338920578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8100558411339708700.post-18207359877789837472009-12-21T18:12:00.002-05:002009-12-21T18:12:54.230-05:00I'm Baaaack!I really am going to try and update this blog again. It's been a crazy couple of months, but I think I am getting back on track! I plan to start posting the fun crafts the girls and I are doing and keeping everyone up to date on the goings on of the HipHickChick House!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01979884421338920578noreply@blogger.com0