tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36378927050055524462024-03-12T19:38:35.396-07:00Hidden StarsJenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16153339966832478573noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637892705005552446.post-41699755299735227242014-09-19T15:31:00.000-07:002014-09-19T15:32:33.519-07:00Snacks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
HOLY MOLY. </div>
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Have you seen these??!!</div>
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They are salty, partially popped corn snacks and they are DELICIOUS! I found them at the bulk bins in California Fresh, but I have seen them at Whole Foods in their bulk bins as well. I'm not sure where else to find them though. </div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-suYpSvdl5tU/VBxR7nMICGI/AAAAAAAAA2c/aDJpKQtfc6k/s1600/IMG_20140918_193546_664.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-suYpSvdl5tU/VBxR7nMICGI/AAAAAAAAA2c/aDJpKQtfc6k/s640/IMG_20140918_193546_664.jpg" /></a></div>
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They look like the popcorn rejects from the movie theater. You know, the ones that didn't make it to the light and fluffy stage. The ones that don't deserve movie theater popcorn. Don't worry little popcorn rejects, everything will be all right! I have a place for you. </div>
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IN MY BELLY!!</div>
Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16153339966832478573noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637892705005552446.post-42908707472517861552014-09-17T20:41:00.000-07:002014-09-17T20:41:00.528-07:00Wordless Wednesday - Various Sunset Pics From My Cell Phone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16153339966832478573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637892705005552446.post-46821823371670687852014-09-16T22:47:00.000-07:002014-09-16T22:47:28.796-07:00Refrigerator Chicken Salad<div style="text-align: center;">
It has been a bit warm the past week and the last thing I've wanted to do is turn on the oven, use a bunch of pans and actually cook something. So, I've decided to make a huge bowl of chicken salad. And by huge, I mean HUGE. Are you hungry? Do you want some chicken salad? Well, I've got some. Come on over, and bring chips!</div>
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Now, I BASE my chicken salad off of my Mom's recipe, meaning that both of the salads have chicken, hard boiled eggs and mayo. But other then that, I have veered way off many, many times. In fact, every time I make chicken salad, it turns out different because the recipe is pretty much based on what's in my fridge. Hence the name, "Refrigerator Chicken Salad." This time my chicken salad has quinoa, celery, kale, carrots, hard boiled eggs, cucumbers, onions, sprouts, canned chicken, mayo, mustard, salt, pepper and paprika. Directions: dice everything up, throw it in a bowl, mix and add spices until it tastes good. </div>
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Here are some pictures!!</div>
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Okay so, I didn't get a picture before I added the carrots, celery and quinoa to the bowl. I like the shred the carrots when I add them to things because sometimes they are a bit strong in flavor. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE carrots, but I don't want them to overpower all the other flavors in the salad. So, there is about two cups of quinoa, three celery stalks and two carrots.</div>
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Kale! I love kale! I try to add a handful to things like turkey burgers, meatloaf, stirfry...and chicken salad! Trader Joe's has these awesome bags of chopped organic kale that you can just toss in things. I like to chop the pieces up finer pieces just so they don't cause messes while eating. Have you ever been in a situation that includes lettuce getting caught up in everything and causing a mess all over the place? Chopping them finer is so simple and just stops the mess! But be careful, the kale will leek and dye your cutting board. So use the cheap cutting board and not the expensive bamboo cutting board.</div>
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Three eggs! I like my eggs a bit chunky, but you do you.</div>
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Next is cucumber. This cucumber was one of those long, English ones so I used about three quarters of one...and ate the other quarter. I wanted thin pieces of cucumber so I broke out the mandolin. And didn't hurt myself!!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-an1qa-kuSiI/VBkVkO2oxTI/AAAAAAAAAxg/522bOBEEl2M/s1600/IMG_20140916_200825_671.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-an1qa-kuSiI/VBkVkO2oxTI/AAAAAAAAAxg/522bOBEEl2M/s1600/IMG_20140916_200825_671.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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Why am I crying? Because of this darn onion! I only ended up using a quarter of the onion this time because I just wanted the taste. This one was a really strong one and made my eyes hurt, a lot. It could have used more to be honest, but I wasn't about to cut any more!</div>
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Sprouts! These are micro-greens from Trader Joe's. They don't need to be chopped. I just liked how the knife looked in the shot.</div>
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The chicken I had was canned chicken. I like the chicken in the broth better then the chicken in water. I feel it has a better taste and is not as dry. Add two cans to the bowl.</div>
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Pro tip! Before you add the chicken to your bowl, take a fork and "fluff" the chicken. Doing this will insure that the chicken doesn't end up in large, dried out chunks on the third day of left overs.</div>
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Last is the mayo, mustard, salt, pepper and paprika. Paprika? Yes! It adds a little bit of the flavor of deviled eggs. Add all these to bowl until it looks about right. Then add a little more. Trust me. I don't know why, this works. Then, mix it all up and taste. Add more spices, mayo or mustard to taste.</div>
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Here is the yummy chicken salad! I know, it doesn't look that great, but it tastes and smells amazing! My husband, Paul, and I like to eat it with salty potato chips or between two slices of toasted bread. It's also even better the second and third day after the flavors have marinated in the fridge at least overnight.</div>
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I know what I'll be having for lunch tomorrow. :)</div>
Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16153339966832478573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637892705005552446.post-76982442101032015922014-09-15T15:30:00.002-07:002014-09-15T15:32:10.416-07:00Frustration<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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I am frustrated. </div>
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I have been waiting for a time to blog until I was not frustrated, but I realized that I want this blog to be real. And the reality is that I am frustrated. </div>
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I don't think I've been frustrated for this long in a while. </div>
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Frustration is starting to inhibit my dreams.</div>
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This morning between snoozes I had a dream that I yelled at a guy who was speaking too loudly outside my bedroom window before 8am.</div>
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I'm starting to shift through and pinpoint the reasons why I'm frustrated, but it's hard when the frustration emotion is so strong and so..there.<br />
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I'm just frustrated.Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16153339966832478573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637892705005552446.post-51125153831606704542014-09-10T11:17:00.003-07:002014-09-10T11:19:18.534-07:00Re-branding<a href="https://www.theproducersperspective.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/golden-stars-background.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://www.theproducersperspective.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/golden-stars-background.jpg" width="200" /></a>Hi!<br />
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It's been over year.<br />
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I've re-branded! See? Of course you see. How could you not?<br />
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I felt it was time for a change. I'm trying to put the foundation in place to start a jewelry/craft business called Hidden Stars. I tried to start this with the name <a href="http://jmnstars.blogspot.com/2013/08/jmnstars-designs.html" target="_blank">JMNStars Designs</a>, but I never really believed in this name, so it didn't go anywhere. My husband thought of the name "Hidden Stars" one day and it just feels right.<br />
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Kind of like when I recently changed my phone number. I could never remember my old phone number and kept mistaking it for my husband's phone number. My new number feels better and I've remembered it right off the bat!<br />
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Oh, btw, The Etsy store I started is now closed and I'm looking for a good website service for my jewelry and crafts.<br />
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Anyway, I have a few blog posts in mind for the near future and will be putting up regular posts showing off my designs here as well. I want to post at least once a week here either showcasing my designs, or just giving you a little sliver of my day that I find funny or worth sharing. I'd just like to put more energy into this blog and use it as another creative outlet.<br />
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SO! I'm back!<br />
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How have you been?Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16153339966832478573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637892705005552446.post-87017409979576551532013-09-05T21:13:00.000-07:002013-09-05T21:33:03.345-07:00On The Cheesy SideMmmmmmm.....cheese....<br />
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Recently I found that I am allergic to dairy.<br />
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A few things have happened since I've stopped eating dairy, including the soreness and burning in my legs going away, all my bathroom issues disappearing (I won't go into detail here...you're welcome!), better sleep, waking up in happy moods and losing 45 pounds.<br />
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Like how I just slipped that in there? I'm serious - since I've stopped eating dairy, I've been loosing weight without trying. My body feels like it's resetting or something. No big deal. :P<br />
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However, lately - just like the past few days - I have been missing dairy. Like with a fiery passion!!!<br />
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For example, I saw a kid eating a bagel with cream cheese the other day and I just wanted to rip it out of her hands, lick all the cream cheese off, then hand it back like nothing happened. What the hell is going on with me?!! That is the kind of passion and desire that I usually only reserve for chocolate and cookies, not for dairy!<br />
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OMG NACHOS!<br />
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Chips seem empty and lonely these days. I actually miss the plastic-like blob of cheese that happens when you make nachos in the microwave at home. Try going into a restaurant and ordering nachos without the cheese. I can just hear it now, "You mean...you want nachos - without the cheese? Like chips..and stuff?" *sigh* That just sounds so sad, but yes. This is my life now. Have you ever ordered pizza without cheese? The looks I get are as if I just asked to have somebody killed when I order pizza without cheese. I mean, I understand these looks - I'd give them out too if I worked for a pizza place. What is pizza without cheese?<br />
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How will the toppings stay on the crust?<br />
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THEY DON'T.<br />
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Trust me.<br />
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Don't even get me started about trying to find something to eat at a Mexican food place!<br />
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Also, dairy is in EVERYTHING. And, it goes by many different names. I have to look even more carefully at labels. Now I'm the annoying one in the grocery store blocking the isles for too long reading every little ingredient on labels. I've gotten to the point that if the food has more than, like, eight ingredients, I don't buy it. I just don't, I'm too lazy!<br />
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I know there are a lot of alternatives for me out there, and I should be happy. I can eat vegan brownies, cupcakes, and drink almond milk and coconut milk - which I actually prefer over cow's milk anyway. There are even alternative dairy products like yogurt and ice cream, all of which I am happy about and use! However, where is the alternative carrot cake with cream cheese frosting?!<br />
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Am I ever going to get to taste my FAVORITE cake again?!<br />
<br />Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16153339966832478573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637892705005552446.post-34734448334419176942013-08-15T00:10:00.002-07:002013-08-15T00:14:51.849-07:00JMNStars Designs<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello friends! </div>
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Just a quick post to say that I opened an Etsy shop! I know, I can't believe it either! It's just so...REAL now!!</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Check out my Etsy Page <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/JMNStarsDesigns" target="_blank">JMNStars Designs</a> (Click on the name to visit my shop!) <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">for my wire work creations and jewelry. Please visit, like my store, follow it, stalk it and spread the word! Also, check back often because items get posted as I create them! Here is a sample of my work:</span></span><br />
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I also created a Facebook page for the shop as well. Click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jmnstarsdesigns" target="_blank">HERE!</a> to go and like my page! :)</div>
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Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16153339966832478573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637892705005552446.post-39397345446641091182013-07-21T19:35:00.002-07:002013-07-21T21:09:59.347-07:00Renaissance Fair <div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The hubs and I went to the Renaissance Fair today. It was hot! I came prepared, with my Polish skin, plenty of sunscreen and a parasol! :P I'm happy to say that I did NOT get burned this year! Go me!</div>
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I wish I had thought the parasol through though, because on the way out I got charged an "umbrella tax" and I had to kiss a guy dressed as Zorro on the cheek to leave. He wasn't bad looking, but not as cute as my Zorro. And he was kind of sweaty. I used to work Ren Fairs as a member of the Peasant Guild, so I should have remembered about the shenanigans.</div>
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I got myself a beeswax candle and a "Hello Sweetie" pin that I shall wear FOREVER AND ALWAYS!</div>
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We also got henna tattoos.</div>
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We let the artist choose the designs and paid a flat fee. She put glitter on mine! :)</div>
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There were A LOT of people.</div>
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The Irish dancers told bad jokes between dances and often asked for audience participation.</div>
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There were vendors, food, games and actors. </div>
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(At the time of this photo, everyone was watching the joust - there were people, I swear!)</div>
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There was hay. LOTS of hay.</div>
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Here was the queen watching the last joust of the day. I bet she was hot in all that heavy, and beautiful, garb!</div>
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The fair was held in a new place this year. There was actually a nice breeze and natural shade. Everyone seemed pleased - and not melting!</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">We had a lot of fun! The hubs wore his Doctor Who shirt and got lots of funny, random comments from random people. One girl got really close to us, whispered, "DON'T BLINK!" and then faded back into the crowd. LOL</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Now that we are home, I'm going to go close my eyes for a bit..or maybe watch something on Netflix while the hubs works on homework. Hope you all had a great weekend! :)</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(That picture was just for you Mom! Go ahead, gag away! :P)</span></i></div>
Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16153339966832478573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637892705005552446.post-49834300795529909462013-07-20T10:00:00.000-07:002013-07-20T10:00:03.010-07:00Turtle ButtP: Hun! Have you seen my turtle butt?!<br />
J: I haven't seen it.<br />
P: Are you sure?!<br />
J: It's not my job to keep track of your turtle butt!<br />
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Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16153339966832478573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637892705005552446.post-5967407833654106152013-07-19T11:01:00.000-07:002013-07-19T12:07:21.428-07:00Jamba JuiceP: Hi hun, I'm home! Smoothies in bed?<br />
J: No, I'm going to get up but then Quixote laid on my arm. I'm getting up.<br />
P: *sips smoothie*<br />
J: What did you order?<br />
P: *sips smoothie* Um, I really don't know!<br />
J: What do you mean?<br />
P: Well, I ordered a Berry Upbeat and then I turned around and this was on the counter. It looked like a Berry Upbeat, so I took it!<br />
J: Is it not a Berry Upbeat?<br />
P: It looked like one.<br />
J: And you just drank it?!<br />
P: I thought she made it pretty fast. Then she said that it was for somebody else. *walks away*<br />
J: *laughing*<br />
P: *from living room* IT LOOKED LIKE A BERRY UPBEAT!!<br />
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<br />Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16153339966832478573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637892705005552446.post-2292244532959818242013-07-17T19:54:00.001-07:002013-07-19T11:09:16.797-07:00MarriageSo, I was meandering about the internet last night when I heard this sound. It came from my bedroom where my husband was sleeping. He was snoring, but that wasn't the sound I heard. What I also heard was:<br />
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My husband farting.<br />
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In his sleep.<br />
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And it wasn't a small little quilt ruffle, it echoed!<br />
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This got me to thinking about all the things I didn't know about being married, specifically the living together aspect of the relationship. I mean, I've lived with my family and with roommates, but living with my husband is SO different! So, here is a list (I LOVE lists!) of the things that I wish I somebody had told me about before I got married. (Not that it would have changed things, but it would have been super nice to know!!)<br />
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1. "My" and "Your" stuff, space, time and life CEASE to exist! Everything becomes "our," "we," and "us." I find myself writing in the proverbial "we" all the time in regards to making plans - but it's not proverbial anymore. I really mean that I have to check "our" calendar to make sure "we" don't have plans so I can schedule an outing with a friend. I no longer sleep in my own room and every space is now shared space. I never really understood my mom's desperate need for her own room until I didn't have one of my own anymore. The stuff I brought into the relationship is no longer being used by just me. Somebody else is sleeping in my bed, sitting on my couch, using my dishes and freaking SQUISHING MY PILLOWS!<br />
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*ahem* Moving on.<br />
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2. Boys are really gross. *REALLY* gross. I should know this, I grew up with a boy. My brother's teen years were spent in a room that was dark and smelled weird. His socks were found in interesting places and sometimes I had to forage a path just to get through to my room. But he is my brother. Living with a different boy that I didn't grow up with is weird and gross in an entirely different way. Thankfully my husband doesn't come with the bathroom grossness that some boys come with, and he's pretty tidy when it comes to piles of mail. But the other day, I walked passed the bathroom and he was holding my cuticle scissors up near a pimple. I caught is eye in the mirror, cringed a <strike>lot</strike> little inside, said, "I DO hope you wash that when you are done. WITH. SOAP." and walked away. He also leaves used tissues everywhere, has potato sized earwax, clips his nails everywhere but over a trash can, puts on clothes that were previously on the floor, uses dirty silverware, doesn't seem to have a problem with dirty dishes piling up for weeks and, if I wasn't there to remind him that it's been a while, he would probably never change the sheets! Oh and the farting thing, he has been known to scare my cats with his farts! And it they just don't stop, even in his sleep!<br />
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3. Both of us are from completely different worlds. We may only be two and a half years apart in age and we grew up in the 80's and 90's. However, his 80's and 90's were completely different from mine. He didn't do the same things, listen to the same music or even wear the same type of clothing. He loved high school, I hated it <strike>with the furry of a thousand fiery suns</strike>!! Okay, a bit dramatic there. Anyway, the only things we bond over from our childhoods are television shows. We are constantly having conversations about our childhoods where we have to stop and explain something to each other that we thought the other one experienced. That book, <i>Men are From Mars, Women are From Venus</i>, it is so true!<br />
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3. Privacy all but disappears. Remember #1 about "your" space being now "our" space? Yeah. That includes places that were very private before, like bathrooms. The husband tried in the beginning to use the bathroom with the door open, I put a stop to that. That door stays CLOSED. No exceptions. No excuses. Except...that it happens. One day, while using the bathroom you will forget that the new package of toilet paper is still in the place where you left it, behind the couch, and not in the bathroom where you ABSOLUTELY need it. And you will have to call for your husband to bring it to you. When that happens, he will see you (DUN DUN DUUUUUUN) on the toilet. And with that, your last private space has been officially invaded.<br />
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4. They will see you do your secret single behaviors. Remember in Sex and the City where Carrie talks about eating crackers with jelly over the sink and Charlotte talks about spending hours with the lighted magnifying mirror inspecting her pores? Those were their "secret single behaviors." Things that they would never do in front of another person, ESPECIALLY somebody they are in a relationship with. When you are married, you have a choice, you either can stop these behaviors, or just allow them to be discovered. That other person is going to see your secret single behaviors. There is really no way around this. There is NO more private space, remember?<br />
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...Oh, what is *my* secret single behavior? If I told you that, it wouldn't be a secret anymore!<br />
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5. Other people are weird. I know what you are saying, I'm just now figuring this out?! I have known this for a while now, but living with somebody really brings things into perspective. My husband does some weird stuff! His idea of doing the dishes is to stack the dirty dishes in neat piles on the counter, right in front of the microwave. He gets frustrated when the mail pile is not straight, neat and tidy but will ignore a messy bathroom for like ever. He doesn't see the problem with putting on clothes that were just recently on the floor, "What? I only wore them one day! I think..." He can't remember the type of cat food we buy and often brought the wrong kind home - until I sent him pictures of the food. Oh, and when he takes something apart that is being held together by hardware, he puts the hardware "somewhere safe." However, when it's time to put the thing back together, the hardware is lost. I can't tell you how many times this has happened! Eventually I got rid of anything that could be taken apart. No more flimsy shelving units for this family. Oh, and things don't get put away in logical places. Wires for things get put in the first empty space he can find. "Honey, where's the charger for the Kindle?" "Oh, it's in the closet in the living room." "How about the charger for your blue tooth thing?" "Oh, that's in the cabinet in the hallway." What? Seriously?! Why can't all chords just go in one container or space?!<br />
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And lastly:<br />
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6. When he is gone, I miss him. Like, a lot. Nobody told me that another person would be able to weasel his way into my life and my heart like this. When he's gone, for like more then just work or school, I feel like a puppy who's favorite person has just left the room. It physically hurts. Like I misplaced something very important and I can't find it. I spent 27 years of my life (mostly) single and happy- then he came along and ruined everything!<br />
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*sniff*<br />
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Stupid love.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/40/64D212C3AAA3D657425B35050B2304A0.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16153339966832478573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637892705005552446.post-27964539577296971762013-06-18T20:22:00.001-07:002013-06-18T20:26:06.835-07:00Sewing Music<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w7eMJlvS5VM/UcEghbSQCXI/AAAAAAAAAmk/BOBEjRcq7sY/s1600/Star+Block.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w7eMJlvS5VM/UcEghbSQCXI/AAAAAAAAAmk/BOBEjRcq7sY/s200/Star+Block.jpg" width="200" /></a> I am sitting on the floor of my sewing room trying to work up the courage and creative energy to cut into some fabric and sew some blocks together for my quilt guild's Block of the Month club, which I am months behind. I figured that now that it's summer and I have time, I should be able to catch up on the blocks. However, I find that mustering up creative energy when I have been without it for so long is difficult.<br />
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Today, like yesterday, I have nervous energy inside me, I guess to go with the VERY windy weather outside. I feel like I need to travel, to go places, see new sights, meet new people. Maybe this is because I've been moving every year for the past three years. Right about now is about the time of the year when I would pack up and relocate - but that's not happening this year, or any year in the near future. I'm done packing, moving and unpacking. I'm forcing roots!<br />
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Anyway, back to the Block of the Month club. I think the problem with this project is that I don't feel a connection to it yet. It's food themed, which isn't helping because I have trouble relating food describing words to quilts, fabrics, blocks, or anything other than food for that matter. Fabric is not "yummy" to me. I can't eat it, I can't lick it, or taste it. Well, I mean, I can - it's just not "yummy." It is, however, beautiful, moving, pretty, and so on. There are food fabrics, which I looked at. I don't really like literal food pictures of food on fabric either. I guess I picky. I did get some great fabrics though.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jes4_pktaF4/UcEgXoCQRtI/AAAAAAAAAmU/RJDrOvno7vE/s1600/First+Star+Block.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jes4_pktaF4/UcEgXoCQRtI/AAAAAAAAAmU/RJDrOvno7vE/s200/First+Star+Block.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
My problem could be that I'm alone, and it's quiet in my apartment. My husband is currently at school and won't be back for an hour or so. Many people find solace in the quiet and actually get more done, like my husband. But, I grew up in a small house with three other people. Wherever you where in the house, you could hear the TV, people talking to each other and other house noises. I find it unnerving to be by myself sometimes. It's just too quiet! So what do I have to turn to for noise? Either Netflix or Pandora. I have Pandora on right now...but I'm not sure it's sewing music. I mean, I love No Doubt and Queen, but they aren't really inspiring creativity in me today. I guess I'll try Netflix next.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/40/64D212C3AAA3D657425B35050B2304A0.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">PS - Those blocks are blocks I've done, but they aren't for the Block of the Month. I just thought I'd try posting them for inspiration. :)</span></div>
Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16153339966832478573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637892705005552446.post-25583396373238216352013-06-11T20:07:00.004-07:002013-06-11T20:19:58.578-07:00Finally! A Post!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I was helping my mom with her blog the other day and I realized that I haven't blogged here in almost a year. When I started this blog, it was a way to connect with my family and friends who lived so far away. A way to share everyday happenings with them. Now that I'm closer to family, this blog has taken a back seat. Time to rectify that!</div>
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Anyway, a lot has happened in the past year. I'm still on the never-ending, or at least it feels this way, quest for a teaching position in elementary education. I have my feelers out for this upcoming school year, but haven't heard back from anybody yet. In the mean time, I obtained a position as an Independent Study Teacher for a local high school. I really love this job, I mean A LOT! I think I could be happy doing this job for the rest of my life actually. I'm excited about this because I don't think I've ever felt this way about a job - at least not in a long time. I'm not sure what's going to happen next year as the Independent Study curriculum is going to be online, but I'm so looking forward to the challenge. :)</div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DsiRDmBOFPs/Ube8ZfVqeLI/AAAAAAAAAhw/vFzd5V_cujY/s1600/IMG_20130602_161842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DsiRDmBOFPs/Ube8ZfVqeLI/AAAAAAAAAhw/vFzd5V_cujY/s200/IMG_20130602_161842.jpg" width="200" /></a>I also obtained a position in an elementary school as a Kindergarten Teacher Tutor. This position was fun! I got to work with two Kinder classes and pretty much got paid to play! We went on two field trips, went to the park next to the school, painted, colored, counted, added, subtracted, read, played, ate lunch, told stories, learned sight words, and just had a ball! I am hoping to continue this position next year, but these positions are filled in some interesting way that's based on funding and school politics that I'm not all together sure of. We'll see. If this position doesn't pan out, I'm already planning to substitute again. I also love to substitute, so it's a win-win for me!</div>
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I started an urban garden this year! I have many pots and containers out on my balcony. I'm hoping to get tomatoes, bell peppers, mariachi peppers, chocolate mint, lemon balm, rosemary, basil and oregano from my garden this season. I also have plans to grow celery, carrots, lettuce and radishes. Inside, I am growing sprouts in this nifty container I got at a local nursery. I've always been afraid of gardening. I just thought it was too hard to maintain. With containers, though, all I've had to do is plant the plants, remember to water them and then just wait. So far the bell pepper plant is growing two little bell peppers, the tomato plant has flowered and is getting ready to grow tomatoes, the potatoes are growing and the herbs are doing great! With container gardening, there isn't any issue with weeds either. Easy!</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">For some reason, maybe it's living next to the ocean again, but my craftiness has returned. I've been sewing, and crafting up a storm! The penny ball you see in the garden picture above is illustrated in the picture below. (Speaking of pictures, I've jumped on the <a href="http://instagram.com/jmnstars" target="_blank">Instagram</a> bandwagon! :)</span></div>
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I glued pennies on a bowling ball I found at a thrift store for $3. Then I put it outside. Some of the pennies have come off, but most of them are staying strong. Also, the pennies are no longer shiny and have a worn patina, but that doesn't matter to me. If you recreate this project, and want the pennies to stay shiny, seal it with some kind of top coat to prevent the patina.</div>
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Have you heard of <a href="http://www.meetup.com/find/" target="_blank">Meetup.com</a>?! I joined this year and have never looked back. I LOVE it! I belong to a few meetups, including a craft one. I've even met some really great people and made friends that have lasted outside the meetups. I made the pendant on the left for my mom for Mother's Day at the craft meetup. This took two meetups - one to form the pendent out of polymer clay and the other to do the wire work. The heart, tiled brick I also made at the craft meetup. Eventually this will go out in the garden, but I have it sitting on the windowsill in my sewing room where I can look at it while I sew.</div>
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I made this cute teacher gift for one of the teachers I worked with this year. I just printed out the tree and the words on a regular sheet of paper. I then had the kids make thumbprint butterflies. Lastly, I wrote their names really small next to their butterfly. The teacher loved this gift! I thought it came out pretty cute, if I do say so myself! :)</div>
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I've started up my wire working again. So far, I've just made this tree of life and some other wire wrapped jewelry that I'm planning on selling at my quilt guild's fundraising boutique this year.</div>
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Oh yes! The quilt guild! I also rejoined the <a href="http://www.sloquilters.org/" target="_blank">SLO Quilters Guild</a> and became their librarian! This is a fun job as I get to play with books. However, the previous librarians left me and my cohort with a tiny mess on our hands with regards to inventory. Some books are in the book boxes, but not on the inventory list, some are gone but on the list, and some are just floating around in the cart with no home. We have two months until the next guild meeting. During this time, I'm going to redo ALL the library cards so they are all uniform. Right now, some of the cards are index cards, some are just card stock, where some are proper library cards. I love organizing and doing things like this, so I really don't mind. I've made a few quilt tops this year too. I don't have all the pictures, but here are a few. The one on the left is called "Birds on a Fence." The one on the right is a wall hanging I completed at a mystery quilt along.</div>
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I'm in the process of making two others, one for my husband and one for my mother-in-law. I've also got one more in mind that I hope to start on this summer.</div>
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Another thing that changed this year is the way we eat. We've cut out all dairy, a lot of processed foods, and all fast food. We have also been going to the <a href="http://www.rutizfarms.com/" target="_blank">Rutiz Family Farm</a> and getting their Harvest Box of organic fruits and veggies every week. </div>
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Doing this has increased the number of vegetables and fruit we consume as well as forces us to be more creative in the kitchen! We don't get a choice of what is in the box week to week, which is what I love about the box. We've only had a few things spoil on us, but that was when P was away for a week. I just couldn't eat everything by myself before it went bad.</div>
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The kitties are doing great. They are thirteen now, and still going strong! They have found the garden on the balcony and love to sniff the plants and relax in the sun. Quixote has succeeded in killing one plant by chewing the leaves off. He also figured out how to get on the railing, which scares me! So now they aren't allowed on the balcony without supervision. I think they are really loving being back in California. They just seem happier and healthier. They are shedding a lot less too!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JY-fK8Hakk0/UbflFnfMNfI/AAAAAAAAAl4/gk9lo2V6Vss/s1600/PhotoGrid_1370570625973.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JY-fK8Hakk0/UbflFnfMNfI/AAAAAAAAAl4/gk9lo2V6Vss/s200/PhotoGrid_1370570625973.png" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CPXK9bOivOU/UbflINP7mVI/AAAAAAAAAmA/fO7_I1ngGnk/s1600/PhotoGrid_1371005730728.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CPXK9bOivOU/UbflINP7mVI/AAAAAAAAAmA/fO7_I1ngGnk/s200/PhotoGrid_1371005730728.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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Anywho, this blog is getting pretty long so I'm going to end it here, with the cute pictures of the boys. :) My summer list includes blogging more, so there will be more updates. I hope everyone is happy and healthy!<br />
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Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16153339966832478573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637892705005552446.post-91551579199596471252012-09-01T18:06:00.003-07:002012-09-01T18:06:35.236-07:00Pinterest Post #2 Growing Celery<img src="http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/jmnstars/16267668/47782/original.jpg" /><br />
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Check it out! I'm growing celery! Whoa!<span style="text-align: right;"> </span><br />
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<a href="http://chickensintheroad.com/farm-bell-recipes/re-growing-celery/">(Source)</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/40/64D212C3AAA3D657425B35050B2304A0.png" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px !important;" /></a>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16153339966832478573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637892705005552446.post-23809260993061923152012-08-21T12:30:00.001-07:002012-09-01T18:10:54.517-07:00Pinterest Post #1<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 18px;">When we moved back to California, I wanted to decorate our new apartment but we didn't have a lot of money, moving is expensive! So, I turned to Pinterest.</span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 18px;">I know I'm a little late to the game when it comes to Pinterest, but I have to say that I rather like it. It's like a visual bookmarks list where I can go and see pictures of the projects I've saved in my crafts folder of my favorites list. And, I can see projects other people have done and get inspiration from them. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 18px;">So far, one of my favorite projects I've completed was pretty simple, just inserting different fabrics into embrodery hoops and hanging them on the wall. So graphic, yet so simple! Plus the fabric hoops were only $5 at a thrift store and the fabric I already had, so great wall art for only $5! (Sorry for the not so good picture. I couldn't get a good one without blurring the picture. The light in the living room is not really good.</span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 18px;">)</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a6LD9nyPP6E/UDPetR7B22I/AAAAAAAAAaQ/cnAKFL5_oE0/s1600/Fabric+Hoops+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a6LD9nyPP6E/UDPetR7B22I/AAAAAAAAAaQ/cnAKFL5_oE0/s400/Fabric+Hoops+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">They take up a lot of the wall without making it too crowded or too busy. Also, to hang them, you just need a small hole in the wall so the damage to the wall is minimal. This makes this treatment perfect for renters. </span>I got the idea from <a href="http://www.purlbee.com/swatch-portraits/">this post</a> which shows gluing the fabric to the embroidery hoop. I wanted to be able to change out the fabric if I wanted, so I skipped that step.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/40/64D212C3AAA3D657425B35050B2304A0.png" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px !important;" /></a>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16153339966832478573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637892705005552446.post-63597406020057810132012-08-20T11:42:00.002-07:002012-08-20T11:43:39.669-07:00An UpdateA kind reader posted the other day on here on my post about my mom wondering if everything was okay with me since I hadn't posted in months. I realized that I had dropped a bomb here about my mom having cancer and then never updated. For that I apologize! A lot has happened in the past few months in a kind of whirlwind fashion that has kind of usurped my blogging.<br />
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First, let me say that my mom is cancer free now! :) She had her surgery and the doctors didn't find any other cells beyond the tumor site so she didn't have to go through chemo therapy or any other cancer treatments. She still has to go for more-than-regular check-ups for a few years, then regular check-ups for the rest of her life. But, no more cancer!!<br />
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Second order of business is that I moved back to California! Since P is on the road, I pretty much had to move by myself. I did have help more toward the end of the move, and my mom came and helped drive the Uhaul back to CA, but I pretty much packed up the entire house myself. I had to go through all our stuff, decide what to get rid of, what to pack and what to toss. We went from a four bedroom townhouse to a two bedroom apartment, so we had to make some serious decisions and ended up getting rid of SO much! Seriously, I think the stuff I ended up getting rid of could have filled our single car garage to the brim. I can't believe we had been hanging on to all of it, and moved it, twice! I had a thrift store come twice, made three MORE runs to another thrift store/clothing drop off bin, made one dump run and even snuck some more trash into bins in local business. Shhhhh! The hardest part was going through and getting rid of the books I have read or will never read since I love books, but, it was all worth it. Actually, the hardest part was moving my heavier-than-sin sewing table down the stairs, by myself, but I digress.<br />
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Anyway, we got a cute little apartment that ended up being only five minutes away from my parents and am looking for a teaching job. None of the school districts I am close to posted open positions this summer, so I am set up as a substitute for now. I've applied for any and every position that WAS posted though, like for tutors and independent study teachers. I've had a few interviews but so far, nothing but subbing positions. *le sigh*<br />
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BUT! I'm in an area that I love again, finally! I can even see the beach from my dining room window. :) See?<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eJqS9-_GfkM/UDJ1Sg_N0tI/AAAAAAAAAZo/7Gi5XYR9QW0/s1600/Quixote+in+Window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eJqS9-_GfkM/UDJ1Sg_N0tI/AAAAAAAAAZo/7Gi5XYR9QW0/s400/Quixote+in+Window.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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See that blue in the background? Well, the tiny strip of darker blue along the roof lines way in the back there is the OCEAN! lol Here's a better picture my husband took:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H4Fp0InCNQo/UDJ2PjTK2jI/AAAAAAAAAZw/VpE9QMXKkyA/s1600/The+Ocean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H4Fp0InCNQo/UDJ2PjTK2jI/AAAAAAAAAZw/VpE9QMXKkyA/s400/The+Ocean.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This one was taken from our balcony. You can see the strip of dark blue ocean! there in the background and some sand dunes there on the left. I'm hoping that we are done moving. I mean, I feel I have only one more move left in me and that's into a house. I don't know when that will be, but hopefully in the next few years and hopefully it will be in this area. I just know that I'm not going back to Arizona. I'm going to try my hardest to get a job in my field in this area! I really hope things will work out. I'm just ready to put down roots finally, start a family, finally have some history in one place, you know? Ah, to be settled finally!<br />
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In other news, I took today off to take the car in to get an oil change, tire rotation and to have the alignment looked at. It's never been the same since I ran into a snow bank months ago and I'm kind of worried that it's getting worse. So, I'd better get going - even though the cats are trying to entice me with their cute and fuzzy warmness to stay on the couch with my quilt watching Buffy all afternoon. =^_^= I am planning a series of blog posts about the apartment and some projects I'm working on, so until then!<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/40/64D212C3AAA3D657425B35050B2304A0.png" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px !important;" /></a>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16153339966832478573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637892705005552446.post-7105685434538051402012-03-18T21:54:00.001-07:002012-03-18T21:54:54.544-07:00Weekly Meal PlanSo, I'm going to try this Weekly Meal Plan thing - if the snow will let me get the heck out of the driveway tomorrow to get groceries! I've been trolling Pinterest to find new, healthy recipes to try out. Since my husband is on the road, I'm cooking for one and this is hard for me...not sure why. But anyway, here is my plan:<br />
<br />
Monday: <a href="http://www.wearenotmartha.com/2012/01/avocado-spinach-egg-salad/" target="_blank">Avocado Spinach Egg Salad</a><br />
<br />
Tuesday: <a href="http://www.rachaelraymag.com/Recipes/rachael-ray-magazine-recipe-search/fast-recipes/turkey-wrap-with-cucumber-cream-cheese" target="_blank">Turkey Wraps with Cucumber</a> - I want to wrap them in lettuce or spinach tortilla wraps.<br />
<br />
Wednesday: <a href="http://mamaandbabylove.com/2011/04/05/freezer-cooking-with-slow-cooker-recipes/" target="_blank">Crock Pot BBQ Chicken</a><br />
<br />
Thursday: Breakfast for dinner - probably <a href="http://blogs.menshealth.com/guy-gourmet/perfect-a-%E2%80%9Ctoad-in-the-hole%E2%80%9D-breakfast/2011/06/23/" target="_blank">Toad in the Hole</a> or <a href="http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2012/03/ham-and-cheese-waffles" target="_blank">Ham-and-Cheese Waffles</a> or something, I haven't decided yet.<br />
<br />
Friday: Either leftovers or maybe <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/darbis-cafe-pinetop" target="_blank">Darbi's</a> with friends. I try to hang out with friends at least once a week. :)<br />
<br />
Saturday and Sunday will be spent probably eating leftovers since the crock pot meal will most likely last forever. The original blog I got the recipe from says it will feed a family of three for two nights with a three extra lunches for the mom. See? It's so hard to cook for just one! Maybe I'll break it into fourths?<br />
<br />
Now, here's the hard part...just for kicks, I want to do this all for as CHEAP as possible! I'll let you know how this goes. Hopefully avocados will still be on sale!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/40/64D212C3AAA3D657425B35050B2304A0.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16153339966832478573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637892705005552446.post-79122450030793357202012-03-10T16:50:00.000-08:002012-03-10T16:50:23.507-08:00A ConfessionI have a confession to make.<br />
<br />
In front of all of my readers, I'd like to confess, that in my heart of hearts, my soul of souls, that I am...<br />
<br />
A dirty hippie.<br />
<br />
Well, maybe not so much the dirty part, but the hippie part for sure.<br />
<br />
I see your, "Huh?" faces now!<br />
<br />
Let me explain. I don't mean the stereotypical, pot smoking, musk smelling, no underwear wearing, dread rocking, free love giving hippie - I mean the nature lover, up-cycling, living off and giving back to the land as much as possible hippie. In my heart of hearts, I want a natural life with the smallest foot print possible. I feel now I'm too wasteful, with too much clutter and it's cluttering my mind!<br />
<br />
But I also want internet and P is a TV freak...so we need to have technology! Maybe we can coin the term Techno-Hippie? :P Ahem, anyway..<br />
<br />
I have a dream and in that dream, P and I live in a decently sized house, with a small garden out back, a compost pile, my cats, and simple decorations that are up-cycled/recycled/redone. I want to make my own soaps, shampoos, deodorants, lotions, chapsticks, and candles - and maybe have a side business doing this as well. I would love to figure out how to live as inexpensively as possible but still be able to comfortably pay all the bills that come with having a house.<br />
<br />
I have ideas on how to do this (check out my "The Crunchy-Granola Life" pinboard on Pinterest by following the link at the top of my blog), but we need to make some BIG changes first. I plan to do some cleaning out, tossing, selling and giving away starting this week and I hope to document this endeavor here! Stay tuned!<br />
<br />
LET THE DE-CLUTTERING BEGIN!<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/40/64D212C3AAA3D657425B35050B2304A0.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16153339966832478573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637892705005552446.post-15457091714988664102012-02-05T22:51:00.000-08:002012-02-05T22:51:14.991-08:00A Difficult PostThis post has been mulling around in my head for a little bit now and I think it's time to write it out. Over the holidays this past year, my family and I got some horrible news. My Mom was diagnosed with colon cancer. We knew something was going on with Mom because over Thanksgiving she had lost a lot of blood, was admitted into the hospital, and given a blood transfusion. During the month of December, Mom was checked out to try and figure out where she was loosing blood and they found a tumor in a bend in her intestines, near her colon that would have been invisible to doctors unless they were actually looking for something. They tested the tumor, found it was malignant and took it out. While the doctors were operating, they did not find any other cells migrating from the tumor in the area where the tumor was and also did not see any indication that her lymph nodes are involved. She is still waiting to see an oncologist to see if she needs to go through any radiation/chemo, but so far, everything looks good.<br />
<br />
In the mean time, Mom is healing. She had fluid under her incision site that needed to be drained, but other than that, she's doing pretty good. She is slowly being able to sleep in her bed but still needs to go out to her chair after a while because she is still in pain. Mom seems to be in good spirits right now and is expecting a clean bill of health after seeing the oncologist. We are all hoping for the clean bill of health.<br />
<br />
I really haven't been able to talk about this, really with anyone. I felt that if I did, somehow it would become MORE real and turn into my worst nightmare, loosing one of my parents - loosing my mom. I am not ready to loose my parents, I can't even think about it. I just don't know what I would do without my mom. I feel like even though we have always been close, that our relationship just keeps getting better the older I get. And even though she will always be my Mom, she is also my best friend.<br />
<br />
So, to all my friends who are learning about this for the first time through this post, I'm sorry I didn't talk to anyone about this. It's not that I don't trust you, it's not that I didn't want to - I just couldn't. I couldn't make this any more real by talking about it. I wanted to wake up and have this all be just a nightmare. I couldn't let this cancer have any more power. <br />
<br />
But, the other night I went to a <a href="http://www.journeyswithjaguar.com/FireCeremony.html" target="_blank">Grandfather Fire Ceremony</a> with a new friend. The talking stick was passed around and I was SURE I wasn't going to say anything. When the talking stick got to me, this story flooded out of me and I felt a release. I realized I had been holding on to this so tight! I didn't even notice how much I was being affected by NOT talking about it. So, I decided to write about it. I decided to write this post and to put it out there into the universe. I should have done this a month ago.<br />
<br />
Thank you for reading.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/40/64D212C3AAA3D657425B35050B2304A0.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16153339966832478573noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637892705005552446.post-43546498778741754282012-01-28T18:45:00.000-08:002012-01-28T18:55:36.702-08:00A New Year, A New Blog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.inquisitr.com/wp-content/2011/12/calvin-and-hobbes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://www.inquisitr.com/wp-content/2011/12/calvin-and-hobbes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I can't believe it's been so long since I last posted on here. A lot has has happened, a lot has changed and a lot has..well, not happened. There have been a lot of ups and downs this past year which are finally starting to level out with the New Year. I won't write about it all, I'll just say that I hope 2012 is a better year!<br />
<br />
The important thing is that I am back and I have a New Years Resolution to sew more. I also want to blog more and to use this blog more efficiently. So, to start things off, I found a new background, updated my profile picture, my About Me section and added a clicky thing to my new obsession, <a href="http://pinterest.com/jmnstars/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>! <span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-align: -webkit-left;">I will be using this blog to keep myself on track of projects I'd like to complete for the year - well I may not be able to complete all of them this year, but I will try! I have the supplies for a lot of projects and I'm running out of storage for fabric so now I need to get on those projects. ;) I'll be posting a to-do list on my side bar but will be using codes for some of the stuff since some of the people I plan to make stuff for read my blog. :)</span><br />
<br />
So, that's about it for now! I have plans this weekend to sew some pillowcases for charity and for a friend who wants to buy a pair so I should be back soon with a picture post! Until then, stay creative Bloggerland!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/40/64D212C3AAA3D657425B35050B2304A0.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16153339966832478573noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637892705005552446.post-83785104882072628322012-01-26T23:01:00.000-08:002012-01-26T23:01:59.482-08:00I need some inspiration!<div style="text-align: center;">Waaaaaaay back in April, I won this Tidbits Fat Quarter bundle:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SjHgLKZ5dAo/TZbY-2zA7TI/AAAAAAAAAP4/aUZ2iTl_hEs/s1600/100_2211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SjHgLKZ5dAo/TZbY-2zA7TI/AAAAAAAAAP4/aUZ2iTl_hEs/s320/100_2211.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Pretty yes? Now what should I do with it? Inspire me Bloggerland!! :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/40/64D212C3AAA3D657425B35050B2304A0.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16153339966832478573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637892705005552446.post-84329282403375197772011-08-20T19:19:00.000-07:002011-08-20T19:24:24.262-07:00Time to Vote!<div style="text-align: center;">It's time to vote for my post in the Pets On Quilts Show! So, pop on over to SewCalGal's Pets on Quilts Show by clicking the button below and vote for my quilt and my kitties! To vote, you have to look through all the entries, pick the ones you want, scroll down to the bottom of the page and leave a comment on the blog with your vote. You don't have to sign up or follow or anything! So! Go VOTE! :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My entry is number </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;">> 61 <</span></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<center><a href="http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com/2011/08/welcome-to-2011-pets-on-quilts-show.html"><img height="175" src=" http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6148/6039985373_3fd0f5b25e_m.jpg " width="175" /></a></center><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Come on...You know you want to! Do you want to disappoint these adorable little faces?!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-69pfGJTVSGQ/TlBrBNglVxI/AAAAAAAAAVw/qpfyHh_l0Q8/s1600/Whiskers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-69pfGJTVSGQ/TlBrBNglVxI/AAAAAAAAAVw/qpfyHh_l0Q8/s320/Whiskers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7IXOqYSYULY/TlBrEx9hE0I/AAAAAAAAAV0/4cbjtVJAT4k/s1600/Food.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7IXOqYSYULY/TlBrEx9hE0I/AAAAAAAAAV0/4cbjtVJAT4k/s320/Food.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/40/64D212C3AAA3D657425B35050B2304A0.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16153339966832478573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637892705005552446.post-52580273096476995882011-08-18T23:26:00.000-07:002011-08-18T23:44:31.968-07:00The BEST Server EVER! *sarcasm*I decided today after having to actually CLIMB onto a plastic rack at WalMart to get the kind of cat litter that doesn't actually choke me when cleaning the boxes, that I would treat myself to a nice dinner at Denny's. Okay, so Denny's isn't exactly a *NICE* dinner, but it was one I didn't have to make or work for - so it was nice for me!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kOhkXbS1kQs/Tk4AMhHlXjI/AAAAAAAAAVo/iL1DQC8S7M8/s1600/Denny%2527s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kOhkXbS1kQs/Tk4AMhHlXjI/AAAAAAAAAVo/iL1DQC8S7M8/s320/Denny%2527s.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yahoo Sketch created by my friend Vicki and <br />
I about a different Denny's story. :P</td></tr>
</tbody></table>At the end of the meal, my server, Daniel asked me if I was the best server I'd ever had. God I hate it when people do that to me because I get SO tongue tied with what's nice to say and what I really want to say! What I really wanted to say was this:<br />
<br />
The Best Server I've ever had? No, Daniel, you don't even come close. The Best Server Ever would have noticed I brought in a laptop with me (the Denny's here has WiFi) and actually sat me at a booth or table close to an outlet. If you had done that, I probably would have ordered dessert and a soda after dinner instead of having to run home to plug my computer in to finish the assignment I am working on. The Best Server Ever would have brought me a LARGE *clean* glass of water WITH a straw when that was the only drink I ordered - and not made me wait 20 minutes for said straw. The Best Server Ever has straws in their pockets at all times anyway! The Best Server Ever would have asked me upfront if I wanted lemons with my water - which really isn't something exotic or anything - but if I had to ask, The Best Server Ever would have brought me new lemons, not already squeezed ones..and on an actual dish. And when I ordered my food, The Best Server Ever would have asked me how I wanted my burger cooked so I wouldn't have to send it back and not wait an additional 20 minutes for the burger to be done right. The Best Server Ever would have realized that the customers can actually hear you say, "I know man, it looked fine to me too!" to the cook about the seriously uncooked burger I sent back. The Best Server Ever would have curbed his use of the word "Ma'am" to half a million times instead of one million times when speaking to a woman who gets asked if she's a new student when she walks onto a High School Campus. The Best Server Ever would have realized that maybe some people do not enjoy you sitting down at their table to take their orders unless they knew you or were regulars to the restaurant.<br />
<br />
So no, sorry, Daniel, you are not The Best Server I've ever had. I am friends with the best servers I have ever had - and you can actually learn a thing or two from them!<br />
<br />
To sum things up in a way you can understand Daniel, The Best Server Ever! would have gotten a better tip.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/40/64D212C3AAA3D657425B35050B2304A0.png" style="border: 0px currentColor !important;" /></a>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16153339966832478573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637892705005552446.post-79894478589283722792011-08-17T16:25:00.000-07:002011-08-17T16:37:20.529-07:00Pets on Quilts Show!<div style="text-align: center;">I was surfing around the blogs I follow here on Blogger and saw <a href="http://www.thatgirlthatquilt.com/2011/08/pets-on-quilts-show.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FTwON+%28That+girl...+That+quilt...%29">this post on That Girl...That Quilt</a> where she entered her doggy and her quilts into an awesome show, hosted by <a href="http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com/2011/08/welcome-to-2011-pets-on-quilts-show.html">SewCalGal called Pets on Quilts</a>! <br />
<br />
<br />
<center><a href="http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com/2011/08/welcome-to-2011-pets-on-quilts-show.html"><img height="175" src=" http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6148/6039985373_3fd0f5b25e_m.jpg " width="175" /></a></center><br />
<br />
I thought to myself, "Hmmmm....I have pets, I have quilts, I have pictures of my pets on quilts, I should enter! Yey!" So, here is my entry!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I am so lucky to have this cat quilt that my mom and I (but mostly my mom) made when I was 16: </div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PnZG41H8s74/TkxF5q_NpmI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/jszRIDgXiwI/s1600/100E2332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PnZG41H8s74/TkxF5q_NpmI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/jszRIDgXiwI/s320/100E2332.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorry for the poor quality, the weather outside is gloomy <br />
and rainy right now so we had to take this picture inside.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">I'm now 30 so this quilt is almost 15 years old! My mom was just getting into quilting at the time so she used pretty much what she had in her stash and fabric from thrift store clothes that I liked. We weren't well versed in the wearing of fabric at that time so we didn't know the thrift store fabric would wear away. But, since the original pattern for the quilt called for patches on the kitties anyway, when the fabrics started wearing away, I just asked my mom to add more patches!</div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3A-96MDJjh8/TkxGGl6eHiI/AAAAAAAAAVU/iy444RQ3-bc/s1600/100_2330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="307" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3A-96MDJjh8/TkxGGl6eHiI/AAAAAAAAAVU/iy444RQ3-bc/s320/100_2330.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A thrift store fabric kitty with patches.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">The kitties are appliqued on using fusible interfacing (I think - it was so long ago) and the stitching around each cat is the blanket stitch. I have to say here that helping out with the blanket stitch is pretty much where my help ended. The piecing of each block, sashing, borders and binding were all done by my mom. She actually got the quilt quilted for free by a man who was going around and showing off his quilting machine! :P</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The official name for this quilt is "16 Memory Cats" because it represents 16 different people in my life who were important to me when I was 16 years old. :) The unofficial name for this quilt is "The Kitty Quilt." It's not just named that because it had kitties on it, but because it is SO hard to keep kitties OFF it! Even while trying to photograph this quilt, I couldn't keep my girl kitty Anu away:</div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dyLU2QOKDN4/TkxHs7XuX5I/AAAAAAAAAVY/AVBbzEulotg/s1600/100_2335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dyLU2QOKDN4/TkxHs7XuX5I/AAAAAAAAAVY/AVBbzEulotg/s320/100_2335.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anu looking pretty on The Kitty Quilt! :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My other two cats, Zorro and Quixote are brothers from the same litter. You can tell it's getting cold outside when my boys start cuddling. Usually it's on The Kitty Quilt. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nEwXYS30ZQ8/TkxIGUUz57I/AAAAAAAAAVc/ZrakXVGzvc0/s1600/Cold+Day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nEwXYS30ZQ8/TkxIGUUz57I/AAAAAAAAAVc/ZrakXVGzvc0/s320/Cold+Day.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zorro is on the left, Quixote is on the right.<br />
(Both of them are squinting from the flash.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now, Quixote isn't much of a lap kitty unless it's cold outside, but Zorro follows The Kitty Quilt quilt from lap to lap. I have to mention here that The Kitty Quilt is also our healing quilt. If you are sick, recovering from surgery or just down in the dumps, put this quilt over you and instantly the world is a better place! And, where ever this quilt goes, so does Zorro!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-emCQXQBlPq4/TkxIsHsWhWI/AAAAAAAAAVg/hlQpfuPWSD8/s1600/Whiskers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-emCQXQBlPq4/TkxIsHsWhWI/AAAAAAAAAVg/hlQpfuPWSD8/s320/Whiskers.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snuggling into The Kitty Quilt on my lap while I was sick once.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I gave The Kitty Quilt to my mom back in October so she could add more patches and fix a big hole on the back up by the top of the quilt. I got it back just recently in July and you should have SEEN Zorro's face when it came out of the bag! He was SO excited and almost jumped on my lap before my lap was even covered! LOL I think he loves this quilt almost as much as I do. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CbMZIbZh7Vc/TkxLOZKPFKI/AAAAAAAAAVk/0q_i8BayZ28/s1600/Stretch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CbMZIbZh7Vc/TkxLOZKPFKI/AAAAAAAAAVk/0q_i8BayZ28/s320/Stretch.jpg" width="299" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">STRETCH!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks for visiting!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/40/64D212C3AAA3D657425B35050B2304A0.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16153339966832478573noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637892705005552446.post-5473519525882621372011-08-16T10:00:00.000-07:002011-08-16T10:00:02.833-07:00The Cookie Blog Entry<div style="text-align: center;">While my BFF was here, we baked. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We baked like baking fiends! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We baked like we was a National Emergency and the only thing that could solve it was baked goods!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Remember <a href="http://jmnstars.blogspot.com/2011/08/super-brownies.html">The Super Brownie</a>? </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Well, we also baked my "Famous Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies!"*</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hy_GwSfwjoI/TkoB6gK7isI/AAAAAAAAAU8/BqEBuHYDgvc/s1600/100_2299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hy_GwSfwjoI/TkoB6gK7isI/AAAAAAAAAU8/BqEBuHYDgvc/s320/100_2299.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What I love about baking with other people is that it is just so much more fun than baking alone. We always end up talking, laughing, eating, making messes and just having fun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nq6-Msp7gkA/TkoCAAyEpWI/AAAAAAAAAVA/9hlXxOxy7GI/s1600/100_2303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nq6-Msp7gkA/TkoCAAyEpWI/AAAAAAAAAVA/9hlXxOxy7GI/s320/100_2303.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">They also add their own spin on the recipe and I love the different ways the cookies turn out.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A64wg83f-b0/TkoCMGljR_I/AAAAAAAAAVI/3FFE3cFgpvE/s1600/100_2306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A64wg83f-b0/TkoCMGljR_I/AAAAAAAAAVI/3FFE3cFgpvE/s320/100_2306.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have made these cookies so many times and with the same ice cream scoop, but this time I had the BBF mix and scoop them onto the cookie pan this time and they came out amazing, huge and ever so tasty!</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oIO8AloTJ78/TkoCRaVCrDI/AAAAAAAAAVM/Sjr22RxVEOU/s1600/100_2309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oIO8AloTJ78/TkoCRaVCrDI/AAAAAAAAAVM/Sjr22RxVEOU/s320/100_2309.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is not a dinner plate but a salad plate - they weren't THAT huge. :P</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">The only problem with making these cookies is that they don't ever last that long!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">*I call these my "Famous Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies" because where ever I go, or if people come see me, they request that I make these cookies. I use the recipe on the back of the Quaker Oatmeal Lid but substitute chocolate and white chocolate chips for the raisins. Seriously! It's that easy! :)</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/40/64D212C3AAA3D657425B35050B2304A0.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16153339966832478573noreply@blogger.com0