tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54368219846372746482024-03-12T16:11:15.971-07:00Another Summer of FunThere is always so much to do throughout the school year. We can't wait until Summer and the chance to slow down for a couple of months. Then the cycle begins again. Life is busy, and we wouldn't have it any other way.RedBettySummerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642703297336394771noreply@blogger.comBlogger208125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436821984637274648.post-91253318930780868352013-06-30T21:17:00.001-07:002013-06-30T21:17:51.106-07:00Good Hair Day<p>Do you Pinterest? When we started planning my daughter’s wedding last year, I really got into Pinterest; especially when it came to choosing a wedding day hairstyle.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-WR9EhNV4nH4/UdEC4UR3U8I/AAAAAAAAJgE/6VAnj9PLFwI/s1600-h/Dad%252527s%25252070th%252520birthday%252520weekend%252520048%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="Dad's 70th birthday weekend 048" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Dad's 70th birthday weekend 048" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-i8f9FKZ8KuM/UdEC4_0sPJI/AAAAAAAAJgM/-M1jrBZ-Bt0/Dad%252527s%25252070th%252520birthday%252520weekend%252520048_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a></p> <p>There are some crazy talented women out there. I learned how to French braid when I was in elementary school.</p> <ol> <li>I created this braid by braiding the top of my hair in five sections, from front to back.</li> <li>Then I started a French braid on the left side, just above my ear, but I only pulled in strands, including the braided pieces, into the top of the French braid, leaving the bottom a finished braid.</li> <li>I completed the half French braid at a slight angle to the right ear and then stopped.</li> <li>I combed all the back hair straight and then did a French braid down the back, starting from the half-French braid.</li></ol> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-cOYZXUSgVSw/UdEC5WBiVrI/AAAAAAAAJgU/CSiWeqKzB9o/s1600-h/Dad%252527s%25252070th%252520birthday%252520weekend%252520049%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="Dad's 70th birthday weekend 049" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Dad's 70th birthday weekend 049" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-I5qi6wxPxz4/UdEC5ijTE0I/AAAAAAAAJgc/6lUHHuIKl34/Dad%252527s%25252070th%252520birthday%252520weekend%252520049_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a></p> <p>Simple French braids just don’t seem to cut it any more. It’s a good thing I enjoy braiding my hair. I think it probably looked better in the morning but I got several comments on my style. It compelled me to write a quick post.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7qWcRg08SUw/UdEC6DBBvYI/AAAAAAAAJgk/L0z5naiPU6k/s1600-h/Dad%252527s%25252070th%252520birthday%252520weekend%252520050%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="Dad's 70th birthday weekend 050" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Dad's 70th birthday weekend 050" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tbmNX8hS1j0/UdEC6ixjcVI/AAAAAAAAJgs/hbblqVjtg0c/Dad%252527s%25252070th%252520birthday%252520weekend%252520050_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a></p> <p>Interestingly, this is first quiet evening I have had the time and energy to even get on my computer long enough to update my blog.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-QYGHZhdAnQg/UdEC7OiGtZI/AAAAAAAAJg0/2szJM_12c14/s1600-h/Dad%252527s%25252070th%252520birthday%252520weekend%252520052%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="Dad's 70th birthday weekend 052" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Dad's 70th birthday weekend 052" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-GAmV9nBdUQ4/UdEC7Z0tLiI/AAAAAAAAJg8/enEoQ6fsDJ0/Dad%252527s%25252070th%252520birthday%252520weekend%252520052_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a></p> <p>Now I will pin my post to Pinterest.</p> <p>Thanks for stopping by. I hope you are inspired to do something fun with your hair this week.</p> <p align="right"><font size="6" face="Belwe Bd BT"><em>Beth</em></font></p> <div id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:157ed038-d7e6-4dcd-a3bc-4bf0a467b6f7" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px">del.icio.us Tags: <a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/Pinterest" rel="tag">Pinterest</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/hair" rel="tag">hair</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/French+braid" rel="tag">French braid</a></div> RedBettySummerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642703297336394771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436821984637274648.post-23736096057853376622013-02-10T20:39:00.001-08:002013-02-10T20:39:05.575-08:00Birthday Party Crazy Jewelry Mirror<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WDS1QZd9wX8/URh1zQBS4vI/AAAAAAAAJY8/kod4mQQ8XmM/s1600-h/edmonds%252520outing%252520blog%252520photos%252520011%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="edmonds outing blog photos 011" border="0" alt="edmonds outing blog photos 011" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-o8kv-iBJHT0/URh1zvOkeMI/AAAAAAAAJZE/r9NrH2TCL5Q/edmonds%252520outing%252520blog%252520photos%252520011_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="375" height="282"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qWHdF_t3Cc4/URh10fWPpPI/AAAAAAAAJZM/pJlxQ9RY5HY/s1600-h/edmonds%252520outing%252520blog%252520photos%252520012%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="edmonds outing blog photos 012" border="0" alt="edmonds outing blog photos 012" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Bi9NLyIXQk8/URh10nPnKCI/AAAAAAAAJZU/w6uMTLd87Nk/edmonds%252520outing%252520blog%252520photos%252520012_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="314" height="417"></a></p> <p>My mom has discovered Pinterest. She was so inspired, she had me over for some birthday crafting. It was her version of an impromptu birthday party, complete with quiche and strawberry cake.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Si0s2i-J5Fg/URh100IdS2I/AAAAAAAAJZc/aPpDOxAVT3g/s1600-h/WP_000875%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000875" border="0" alt="WP_000875" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-japcztuxbyU/URh11Si7yDI/AAAAAAAAJZk/puaRAm6ueJA/WP_000875_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="264" height="351"></a></p> <p>Isn’t this such a beautiful spread? She wasn’t that excited about getting together at 9:30 in the morning but I think she outdid herself. It was delicious.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NQTsi_34tgc/URh11wcPUnI/AAAAAAAAJZs/uAPbKRHo3RM/s1600-h/WP_000874%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000874" border="0" alt="WP_000874" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-YOxvZVMR8RE/URh12L3_3VI/AAAAAAAAJZ0/rBW1oVjdJO4/WP_000874_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="183" height="244"></a></p> <p>The idea is to use up any unwanted, mismatched, broken and otherwise unused jewelry by hot gluing as much as you can to the frame of a mirror.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-txlVVZLAtYA/URh12hg6SPI/AAAAAAAAJZ8/dgXABkOmfew/s1600-h/WP_000880%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000880" border="0" alt="WP_000880" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CcPlTZCu-NM/URh1256EojI/AAAAAAAAJaE/eBSjhH4iTjQ/WP_000880_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="418" height="314"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uA0RhQNwXiI/URh13RdK69I/AAAAAAAAJaM/pfaAAU0vh7k/s1600-h/WP_000881%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000881" border="0" alt="WP_000881" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-t6TftfSBLBg/URh135DeLiI/AAAAAAAAJaU/3bqNpIFR1mI/WP_000881_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="314" height="417"></a></p> <p>I loved this project and can’t wait to make another one. My daughter thinks I should spray paint it but I like the colorfulness of this. We’ll see. I might.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Rt7vbX3hFZU/URh14ZjvkkI/AAAAAAAAJac/ZcBJDRFbyys/s1600-h/edmonds%252520outing%252520blog%252520photos%252520015%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="edmonds outing blog photos 015" border="0" alt="edmonds outing blog photos 015" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YtBjM17_0M0/URh140_aRGI/AAAAAAAAJak/5iC0Bk7Det4/edmonds%252520outing%252520blog%252520photos%252520015_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="345" height="260"></a></p> <p>Before I leave, I want to update you on my 31 day challenge. Monday is the last day for getting rid of 31 things in 31 days (or was it 30 in 30?). Point is, I cleaned out a lot of cabinets and have made several runs to the thrift shop. This is the last collection of things with which I am parting. It’s so hard to let go but I feel really good about the clean cabinets and empty spaces. Time to get new stuff!</p> <p><a href="http://www.keepingitsimplecrafts.com/2013/02/motivate-me-monday-160.html" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="th_DSCF63832" border="0" alt="th_DSCF63832" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VFJfWd-4jcc/URh15Vv4mqI/AAAAAAAAJas/mLuYj86eiQs/th_DSCF63832%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="154" height="154"></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.madeitonmonday.com/" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="button-4" border="0" alt="button-4" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-cT4Zb5yNZ2I/URh15h-qJMI/AAAAAAAAJa0/U0kKaQk_eNc/button-4%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="150" height="144"></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.skiptomylou.org/" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="skip to my lou" border="0" alt="skip to my lou" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-oBrslSYZFV0/URh16OfYF1I/AAAAAAAAJa8/CNWhHwsvh78/skip%252520to%252520my%252520lou%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="154" height="154"></a></p> <p>I’m linking today’s post with Motivate Me Monday, Made It on Monday and Skip to My Lou for Made By You Monday link parties. Enjoy stopping by these blogs for some great project ideas.</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:e42e31a8-ef7c-41cf-8e3c-23ed08fa0dea" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">del.icio.us Tags: <a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/Motivate+Me+Monday" rel="tag">Motivate Me Monday</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/31+Things" rel="tag">31 Things</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/Jewelry" rel="tag">Jewelry</a></div> RedBettySummerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642703297336394771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436821984637274648.post-79875200613418048712013-02-03T14:18:00.001-08:002013-02-03T14:18:03.630-08:00Hombre Hair<p>Some time ago, I came across some blog posts about “poo-free” hair. I don’t really care for the term, but I was intrigued. I learned about washing your hair without using soap. This was highly interesting to me because I am always trying to extend the life of hair color— the box color, that is.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zsDD7AcnyfA/UQ7iCQlsJBI/AAAAAAAAJXc/EUWEC260Ov0/s1600-h/blog%252520photos%252520011%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="blog photos 011" border="0" alt="blog photos 011" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mZBpsz_wv00/UQ7iCpLIOpI/AAAAAAAAJXk/HOH5ZR3Yhrc/blog%252520photos%252520011_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="137" height="244"></a><br>This is my slathering a mixture of egg, avocado, lemon juice and I can’t remember what else, in preparation of updating my color.</p> <p>I have a lot of grey and the grow-out is dull and drab. I’m not really sure if it helps, by I do a lot of DIY hair treatments, in hopes of protecting my hair from drying out. Not using soap is immensely helpful in this department, and it is much gentler on the scalp as well.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_Zfis6Coahw/UQ7iDfSS79I/AAAAAAAAJXs/5KX-LCIIOdY/s1600-h/blog%252520photos%252520014%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="blog photos 014" border="0" alt="blog photos 014" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-CgXz3OLmKyM/UQ7iDn4SOdI/AAAAAAAAJX0/b2YYUYYBYEE/blog%252520photos%252520014_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="168" height="244"></a><br>A bit scary looking now…</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-JRhrppmcqKw/UQ7iEpLjWzI/AAAAAAAAJX8/3_6IEtWL2w0/s1600-h/hombre%252520hair%252520003%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="hombre hair 003" border="0" alt="hombre hair 003" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1BjfVrstCcw/UQ7iFboBgEI/AAAAAAAAJYE/xMJviOFsM34/hombre%252520hair%252520003_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="243" height="350"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-TkO55n9i5JE/UQ7iGISVgUI/AAAAAAAAJYM/_oXaGGECbhA/s1600-h/hombre%252520hair%252520001%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="hombre hair 001" border="0" alt="hombre hair 001" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4AKoQFoQIhc/UQ7iGlt-JQI/AAAAAAAAJYU/HaE0ui64jlg/hombre%252520hair%252520001_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="215" height="365"></a></p> <p>Aaahhh, much better. This effect is called hombre. We had some cakes done in hombre icing for my daughter’s wedding. When I saw it as a hair color effect, I was instantly captivated. Some people are not as impressed, but fortunately my husband approved. My hairdresser was excited to try this out on me and she was pleased with the results. The effect came to be to help minimize the stark contrast of dark-root grow out. I love doing it just because. I was originally going to keep my base color closer to the natural grow out but this red was just too hard to resist. I really like the effect with blue or green hair, and multi-color hair. <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:d40589cb-89eb-49b7-b156-ff6fc04dd30e" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">del.icio.us Tags: <a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/hair" rel="tag">hair</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/Hombre" rel="tag">Hombre</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/red" rel="tag">red</a></div></p> RedBettySummerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642703297336394771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436821984637274648.post-79803319427225102952013-01-22T07:16:00.001-08:002013-01-22T07:16:19.461-08:00A Day Off to Get Stuff Done<p><font size="3">I am linking today’s post with New Nostalgia for Anti-Procrastination Tuesday.</font></p> <p><a href="http://amy-newnostalgia.blogspot.com/2013/01/anti-procrastination-tuesday_21.html" target="_blank"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="7393129504_TCNCj" border="0" alt="7393129504_TCNCj" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5e1N4Kv9tIk/UP6tJnuVL7I/AAAAAAAAJVI/nHpxP13-1aQ/7393129504_TCNCj%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="147" height="147"></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">When I was wrapping up work last week, I discovered our company had today off. I know I should know these things but I really don’t work a normal schedule. This worked to my advantage because I didn’t have time to schedule anything so I was forced to stay home and get some stuff done.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8t5NjRIoFiQ/UP6tKDsKH4I/AAAAAAAAJVQ/taMPNFE6N0g/s1600-h/WP_000827%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000827" border="0" alt="WP_000827" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-YJc_cGzQsmU/UP6tKv1EvlI/AAAAAAAAJVY/Hn1PXBlc2FM/WP_000827_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="135" height="244"></a></p> <p><font size="3"><strong>My Goals This Week</strong></font></p> <ul> <li><font size="3">Write 3 notes to friends</font></li> <li><font size="3">Continue reducing clutter in the 31 Things in 31 Days challenge. I have packed up a bunch of stuff and it seems like at least 30 items but it really is about 15 so far. I have only been doing the challenge since January 12. The final day for me will be February 11. I have set out a box and as I find something, I put it in there so it’s all ready to go when the box is full. So far it’s all clothes and dishes I have found to pass on.</font></li> <li><font size="3">Rest and Relax- Work will be pretty busy this week so I have to stay pretty mellow once I get home. I have discovered it is kind of hard for me to sit still.</font></li></ul> <p><font size="3"><strong>Last Week’s Goals</strong></font></p> <ul> <li><font size="3">Spending time in the Word each day- I did ok, about 3 out of 5 days. I will keep at this goal for sure.</font></li> <li><font size="3">Keep up my Lose It Blog- I am discovering this is pretty impractical for me. I eat constantly but I eat really odd things like “2 tablespoons of hemp seeds, a tablespoon of cranberries and 1/2 cup yogurt.” It’s really random every day so it takes me too much time to keep this up. We’ll see. I may try again. For now, it’s on hold.</font></li> <li><font size="3">Write 3 notes to friends- I got one note done. Gotta keep working on this.</font></li></ul> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0oIICegYZko/UP6tLdBE0xI/AAAAAAAAJVg/ybXV5FnnN8Y/s1600-h/jan%2525202013%252520blog%252520photos%252520005%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="jan 2013 blog photos 005" border="0" alt="jan 2013 blog photos 005" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Bsvq_yc4p3Y/UP6tMfQzqxI/AAAAAAAAJVo/LS18x1xl348/jan%2525202013%252520blog%252520photos%252520005_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="234" height="311"></a></p> <p>As I have been setting aside things to get rid of, I discovered a bunch of Christmas decorations that did not get put away. I have to laugh every year at all the things that get left out. At least it isn’t April before I found them all. At least, I hope that’s everything.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-O-1FGiZu2ZA/UP6tMqzdSqI/AAAAAAAAJVw/Lv4IetlsdWo/s1600-h/jan%2525202013%252520blog%252520photos%252520002%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="jan 2013 blog photos 002" border="0" alt="jan 2013 blog photos 002" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Sos13WiYTVc/UP6tNEj96uI/AAAAAAAAJV4/MXLyaLJatTI/jan%2525202013%252520blog%252520photos%252520002_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="288" height="217"></a></p> <p>I always seem to have a stack of ironing and today was a perfect day to work on this.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-kxgzhx67k14/UP6tN6Lm8kI/AAAAAAAAJWA/9uP6nOSHJd0/s1600-h/jan%2525202013%252520blog%252520photos%252520004%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="jan 2013 blog photos 004" border="0" alt="jan 2013 blog photos 004" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-d11eM9kukAo/UP6tOOOJ5rI/AAAAAAAAJWI/W0-ACyV5Pr4/jan%2525202013%252520blog%252520photos%252520004_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="254" height="337"></a></p> <p>I have been a little hindered because of this mysterious incident with my ironing board. It seems something was incorrectly ironed and the pad was ruined. I didn’t have time to make a new one- I thought, so I went to purchase one. Turns out no local stores have the pads for the extra wide ironing board. I love this size so I’m surprised it is not more readily available. It took me a couple of weeks to finally settle on trying the standard size (maybe I was mistaken about what I needed?). I was not wrong. The standard size does not really fit the wide board and I probably could have ordered the correct one online and had it right away.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RzhWy7UC-6I/UP6tOurkujI/AAAAAAAAJWQ/J6kGdH_rpIc/s1600-h/jan%2525202013%252520blog%252520photos%252520003%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="jan 2013 blog photos 003" border="0" alt="jan 2013 blog photos 003" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CVHLMYsBkc8/UP6tPCibrnI/AAAAAAAAJWY/xOEPfub--6o/jan%2525202013%252520blog%252520photos%252520003_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="288" height="217"></a></p> <p>This pad doesn’t fit excitingly well but it’s working and I made a small dent in my pile. I will keep working on it all week and hopefully have the pile gone for next Anti-Procrastination Tuesday.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7q9CZAu7qTo/UP6tPimN82I/AAAAAAAAJWg/BNDjHw_z0vw/s1600-h/Imats%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Imats" border="0" alt="Imats" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hWZyuymPqGs/UP6tQGE-9II/AAAAAAAAJWo/POFx7FxP8eI/Imats_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="92"></a></p> <p>Now the day is over and I'm back in work mode. One thing I’m excited about though is to hear how my daughter’s time at IMATs went. This is a make-up convention and it was in Pasadena, CA. She has a blog about her interest in beauty and make-up and she will be posting about her time at the convention.</p> <p><a href="http://multifariousbeauty.blogspot.com/2013/01/imats-la-2013-haul.html" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMATs score" border="0" alt="IMATs score" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fx7ROC7mbCA/UP6tQemYV6I/AAAAAAAAJWw/4Rh0QKpO9us/IMATs%252520score%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="208"></a></p> <p><a href="http://multifariousbeauty.blogspot.com/2013/01/imats-la-2013-haul.html" target="_blank"><font size="4"><strong><em>Multifarious Beauty</em></strong></font></a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:a29631ed-836c-462b-a008-5df24f37b304" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">del.icio.us Tags: <a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/Anti-procrastination" rel="tag">Anti-procrastination</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/ironing" rel="tag">ironing</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/31+Things" rel="tag">31 Things</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/clutter" rel="tag">clutter</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/beauty" rel="tag">beauty</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/Multifarious" rel="tag">Multifarious</a></div> RedBettySummerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642703297336394771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436821984637274648.post-89056129430368235902013-01-20T16:20:00.001-08:002013-01-20T16:20:35.517-08:00Resolution Update<p>I have been enjoying reading so many blogs, I have been inspired to write a post. I must confess, I cannot make up my mind about what to share.</p> <p>First, I must update my resolution progress. Why is January so slow when it comes to showing progress on a resolution? It seems I am working so hard but it really has only been a couple of weeks.</p> <p><font size="4"><strong>Getting to the Gym</strong></font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-CzC1fMoJFdg/UPyJzeilEYI/AAAAAAAAJUM/UNkDKzhuiyw/s1600-h/hi%252520tek%252520fitness%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="hi tek fitness" border="0" alt="hi tek fitness" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8kpov3H1ens/UPyJz4SWMZI/AAAAAAAAJUU/Wz02ly0_WJc/hi%252520tek%252520fitness_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="206" height="217"></a></p> <p>We decided to check out a gym closer to our home than the one to which we have been going. My husband seems to be happy with the setup and the machines are very nice. It took me all week to finally check the place out. The machines are too hi-tech for me, at least so far. They can track your progress and they connect to facebook. Yikes! I just want to turn on the TV and work out for 45 minutes. It took me about 15 minutes to realize I had no clue how to make the machine work. I left and went to the other gym.</p> <p>Still, I will give it another try because it is so much closer. This is the only time I got to the gym this week so I did not make my goal of three days, but I’m not dead yet and there is another week ahead.</p> <p><font size="4"><strong>Kids’ Blogs about Living in Italy</strong></font></p> <p>Now, I have to share my niece and nephew’s blogs.</p> <p><a href="http://ultimatederp.blogspot.it/2013/01/blackeyes-vase.html" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="barnacle pot" border="0" alt="barnacle pot" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TEBRoVdC8f0/UPyJ0KeRQSI/AAAAAAAAJUc/Bz1n4KNqY44/barnacle%252520pot%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="260" height="342"></a></p> <p>This is a link to my nephew Race’s blog. He shares a story about this vase and why it is in the living room of the apartment they are renting in Napoli, Italy, where they are living for the next few months.</p> <p><a href="http://julesitalianadventures.blogspot.com/2013/01/jules-art-projects.html" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Jules Art" border="0" alt="Jules Art" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-goqaIPoIBws/UPyJ0n-uxWI/AAAAAAAAJUk/ccxY3_-KYP0/Jules%252520Art%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="326" height="246"></a></p> <p>This is my niece’s blog about her adventures in Italy. She is busily getting their new temporary home settled in and her room decorated. She is crazy creative!</p> <p>They are keeping us busy with updates on their travels. Reading their blog posts is almost as good as traveling to Italy, and it’s a lot cheaper. Because they are there for an extended time, they get to see and do things typical travel does not allow. We enjoy their blogs from the teen perspective so much. I hope you check them out.</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:a96857ff-70d8-48b0-82b0-b2762ab475f2" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">del.icio.us Tags: <a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/Italy" rel="tag">Italy</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/travel" rel="tag">travel</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/resolutions" rel="tag">resolutions</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/kid+blogs" rel="tag">kid blogs</a></div> RedBettySummerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642703297336394771noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436821984637274648.post-88943465931548757462013-01-14T22:39:00.001-08:002013-01-14T22:39:21.282-08:00Anti Procrastination Tuesday 31 Things in 31 Days<p><a href="http://amy-newnostalgia.blogspot.com/2013/01/anti-procrastination-tuesday_14.html" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="7393129504_TCNCj" border="0" alt="7393129504_TCNCj" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OLW_Hv8aNF0/UPT5gt8VOGI/AAAAAAAAJSA/PCfbHIQQbKY/7393129504_TCNCj%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="147" height="147"></a></p> <p><font size="3">I am linking today’s post with New Nostalgia for </font><a href="http://amy-newnostalgia.blogspot.com/2013/01/anti-procrastination-tuesday_14.html" target="_blank"><font size="3">Anti Procrastination Tuesday</font></a><font size="3"> blog party.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Abadi MT Condensed Extra Bold">My Goals for this week are:<br></font><font size="3">1. Spend time in the Word each day- to fill my mind with what matters and not think about what doesn’t<br></font><font size="3">2. Keep up my <a href="http://www.loseit.com/" target="_blank">Lose It log</a> and get to the gym 3 days- to be better at eating the right foods and stop useless snacking<br></font><font size="3">3. Write 3 notes to friends (snail mail kind)- I used to do this more often and have gotten out of the habit. There are so many cute note cards, too.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial Unicode MS"><strong>Keeping up with my New Year’s Resolution<br></strong></font><font size="3">Mainly, I have updated my blog a couple of times in the new year so far. That’s a start. I will have to do a post about the blogs I visit soon so I can be accountable to the second part of my resolution, which is to visit other blogs more regularly. I have been pinning to pinterest. </font></p> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/beth.mcgwire#!/iDreamofCleanBlog?fref=ts" target="_blank"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="idreamofclean" border="0" alt="idreamofclean" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-JyGEeCDOeJc/UPT5g-KHEQI/AAAAAAAAJSI/ee4Ra4iZL6Y/idreamofclean%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="178" height="184"></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">Last week, I Dream of Clean posted a challenge to get rid of something each day for 31 days. (It was on the facebook page, not a blog post.) I had already gone through a few hot spots around my home to de-clutter but was pretty certain this was a challenge I could accomplish.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ukUMyzLlnDY/UPT5hGa1VsI/AAAAAAAAJSQ/PWR9lC8zNfc/s1600-h/WP_000828%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ukUMyzLlnDY/UPT5hGa1VsI/AAAAAAAAJSY/BnnPdPxztRo/s1600-h/WP_000828%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000828" border="0" alt="WP_000828" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-33TGZeE14us/UPT5iG7hEEI/AAAAAAAAJSc/y-R5cUv3o78/WP_000828_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="382" height="364"></a></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">Instead of just getting rid of one item, my idea is to remove things from one area of my home, each day. These are a few items in my dish cabinet. I love all of these things, of course, but I am making room for some new dishes I would like to purchase in a few months. Sure, I could keep it all; maybe find some cute boxes to pack things up. I just don’t enjoy these things if I am not using them regularly. I would rather pass them on to people that can use them now.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ntTNAuj7smU/UPT5iVY90vI/AAAAAAAAJSk/q22F_8NYaFg/s1600-h/WP_000826%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ntTNAuj7smU/UPT5iVY90vI/AAAAAAAAJSs/RFLXeJ7jJ60/s1600-h/WP_000826%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000826" border="0" alt="WP_000826" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ULXTQLPCBo4/UPT5jNAA7gI/AAAAAAAAJSw/ohXoqJNh0C0/WP_000826_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="268" height="310"></a></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">I have a bit of a purse habit. I never seem to find quite the right one, but I do find a lot of them. After taking out these two, I still have around ten in my closet. It’s one thing to get rid of my unwanted purses but I really love to give them to people that like them. When I posted to FB about getting rid of something each day for 31 days, my friend was interested in the white purse. I’m super excited to be able to pass this on to her.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1Goxnv4V1VA/UPT5jka4skI/AAAAAAAAJS4/gSrbPNCLO2g/s1600-h/WP_000829%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1Goxnv4V1VA/UPT5jka4skI/AAAAAAAAJTA/59viTYISITE/s1600-h/WP_000829%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000829" border="0" alt="WP_000829" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-K30HI3Ztr6s/UPT5kXTGklI/AAAAAAAAJTE/CLqpcBbian8/WP_000829_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="305" height="308"></a></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">One area I tend to hoard is recyclable items- you know, containers and such that came as one thing but can be used for something else. I am horrible about not wanting to let these things go. My daughter and husband have been very helpful at encouraging me to let them go. I have a saying- “it’s ok to throw it away.” The more I repeat this, the more I believe it. I know you are thinking of all the things I could do with these votive jars and that great box. Believe me, I have done enough and I already have a few so I don’t need any more.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-d1e1rJLOFoo/UPT5k9LfyEI/AAAAAAAAJTM/Pomj9i3JR0k/s1600-h/sunrise%252520and%252520getting%252520rid%252520of%252520stuff%252520016%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="sunrise and getting rid of stuff 016" border="0" alt="sunrise and getting rid of stuff 016" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lURXlcPbEKY/UPT5lV5aPbI/AAAAAAAAJTU/E5IhKj11a-k/sunrise%252520and%252520getting%252520rid%252520of%252520stuff%252520016_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="387" height="288"></a></p> <p>My husband asked me to consider why I need so many mugs. I didn’t think I had that many, really. Well, I did- I do. When I consider having a cabinet full of mugs and then a cabinet full of tea cups, it’s easy to understand I need to move something along.</p> <p>I have no idea why I was keeping these mugs, except they are so darn practical. Really, I rarely use them and they don’t really go with anything so I don’t really want to use them. I am taking them to work to be useful there… I hope. I’m kind of sad about the big mug though because it was a set of four. Since it is chipped, I am attempting to pass it on. I don’t really like chipped mugs, and I still have three more just like it.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gWYxD1tdu3k/UPT5l_Xf-JI/AAAAAAAAJTc/v8t0HDr_D6Y/s1600-h/WP_000825%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000825" border="0" alt="WP_000825" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-eF4f88EZJ4I/UPT5mKPoquI/AAAAAAAAJTk/H6H_ix2-T6Y/WP_000825_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="425" height="139"></a></p> <p>Obviously organizing and reducing is quite common this time of year. The stores are full of containers and all sorts of organizational systems. We’ve added new things from Christmas so our homes are full. I’ve been enjoying all the blog posts about simplifying and organizing. If you have a post about this, please leave me a link.</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:eca4fe29-3e1a-43c8-a308-98d83320c262" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">del.icio.us Tags: <a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/Anti-procrastination" rel="tag">Anti-procrastination</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/organization" rel="tag">organization</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/simplification" rel="tag">simplification</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/challenge" rel="tag">challenge</a></div> RedBettySummerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642703297336394771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436821984637274648.post-3528739972529005162013-01-09T20:57:00.001-08:002013-01-09T20:57:44.123-08:00New Year’s Resolution Already Sliding<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PHCM8ym9Jog/UO5KN6PnjWI/AAAAAAAAJHI/J2JvqUTfv4E/s1600-h/new%252520hangar%252520and%252520blog%252520photos%252520008%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="new hangar and blog photos 008" border="0" alt="new hangar and blog photos 008" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xbREa5XYWs4/UO5KOZlQzBI/AAAAAAAAJHQ/i7Te_MVYKaE/new%252520hangar%252520and%252520blog%252520photos%252520008_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="391" height="220"></a></p> <p>We always joke about how short of time we stick to our new year’s resolutions. I think this year is my fastest time of falling away with disinterest. I am uninspired and very much unmotivated.</p> <p>My first resolution is to keep my blog updated and to visit other blogs. My hope was to use <a href="http://amy-newnostalgia.blogspot.com/2013/01/anti-procrastination-tuesday.html" target="_blank">Anti-Procrastination Tuesday</a> as my go-to encouragement to keep up. That lasted one day, and one post. I should have posted in time to link up for yesterday’s link party!</p> <p><a href="http://delightfullyfree.blogspot.com/2011/02/coconut-sugar-its-sweet.html" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="coconut sugar" border="0" alt="coconut sugar" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9dnDYsjUVP8/UO5KOw0tLCI/AAAAAAAAJHY/HGKzo96_usM/coconut%252520sugar%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="215" height="206"></a></p> <p>This is a link to the <a href="http://delightfullyfree.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Delightfully Free blog post</a> I read last week about coconut sugar. I’m delighted to say we purchased some and my husband used it in his coleslaw recipe. I am not a huge fan of sweet coleslaw but it was very delicious.</p> <p><a href="http://www.loseit.com/" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="lose it" border="0" alt="lose it" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3jaYq4R2sjg/UO5KP-CLrpI/AAAAAAAAJHg/aFfjDONzFYE/lose%252520it%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="165" height="134"></a></p> <p>Another resolution I made was to keep my <a href="http://www.loseit.com/" target="_blank">Lose It</a> updated. Lose it is a weight loss and exercise tracking log. I started a log to help encourage my husband with his progress. Turns out, he is way more motivated and pro-active than I intended to be. I find it interesting and fun to keep track of my food and exercise but I am at a good weight. I don’t need to keep track of my food and exercise so I don’t.</p> <p>Realistically though, everyone should keep track of what they are eating. It’s quite surprising to realize how much food I eat each day. When I keep a log, I think twice about eating all the caramels and ice cream before bed. I like the Lose It program because there is an app for my tablet or I can access my account online. I do wish they had an app for windows phone, but such is the plight of the windows phone user.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-viHlWpExvkA/UO5KQ244dpI/AAAAAAAAJHo/najt8dt-mTg/s1600-h/Roadtrip%2525202012%252520021%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Roadtrip 2012 021" border="0" alt="Roadtrip 2012 021" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ICdkJ4wfmNk/UO5KRUj9FQI/AAAAAAAAJHs/MSy7bnOjRsY/Roadtrip%2525202012%252520021_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="151" height="244"></a></p> <p>Keeping a food journal seems to be the biggest help in losing weight and keeping it off. It is also helpful in achieving and maintaining a healthier eating lifestyle, whatever those changes are for you. Whether you choose a digital journal or a paper journal, I encourage everyone to make this a part of your day.</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:3115e90b-8853-48c5-bb24-5e0ca4cc783f" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">del.icio.us Tags: <a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/Anti-Procrastination" rel="tag">Anti-Procrastination</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/food+journal" rel="tag">food journal</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/weight+loss" rel="tag">weight loss</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/exercise" rel="tag">exercise</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/New+Year" rel="tag">New Year</a></div> RedBettySummerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642703297336394771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436821984637274648.post-81658666595677033722013-01-01T07:32:00.001-08:002013-01-01T07:33:41.774-08:00Happy New Year Anti-Procrastination Tuesday<p>I can’t think of a better way to get back into a blogging routine than by participating in Anti-Procrastination Tuesday blog party.</p> <p><a href="http://amy-newnostalgia.blogspot.com/2012/12/anti-procrastination-tuesday_31.html" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="7393129504_TCNCj" border="0" alt="7393129504_TCNCj" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KfcbL50ZQt0/UOMBW6MDwpI/AAAAAAAAJGs/KhUFmyfsxvY/7393129504_TCNCj%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="147" height="147"></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="4"><strong>New Year’s Resolutions</strong></font></p> <p>New Year’s Day is meant for starting over and not worrying about all the things you didn’t do exactly how you wanted to over the last year. Even though keeping New Year’s Resolutions sometimes proves too difficult, it’s beneficial to make them; to set goals.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0wfXbl6RO-0/UOMBXVyI9TI/AAAAAAAAJFs/mZaaTUcnO-U/s1600-h/trip%252520to%252520tucson%252520009%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="trip to tucson 009" border="0" alt="trip to tucson 009" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dhrA5WCZnxU/UOMBX7HscpI/AAAAAAAAJF0/uY3eKdgawc4/trip%252520to%252520tucson%252520009_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="139"></a></p> <p>I almost always resolve to eat better each year, and this year is no exception. I get better each year. Now that my husband has changed his eating, it is much easier for me to stay on track. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to get any GGS (Glowing Green Smoothie) since my daughter absconded with my Vitamix, but I will eat more greens throughout my days.</p> <p>The rest of my personal resolutions are:</p> <ul> <li><font size="3"><strong><u>Get to the gym at least 3 times a week</u></strong></font>, and exercise for at least 45 minutes.</li> <li><strong><font size="3"><u>Eat less wheat-based foods</u></font></strong>. I don’t have gluten issues but it’s obvious how hard wheat is on the body and I have been very happy with not eating things like bread, cereals, sauces and anything that is flour, particularly refined flour.</li> <li><strong><u><font size="3">Drink more water throughout the day</font></u></strong>. I tend to drink water in the morning but once I get to work, I get busy and don’t get enough water. Coffee, I make time to stop and drink.<br></li></ul> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9ny1mkHqcW0/UOMBZhQ2UrI/AAAAAAAAJF8/VOgUv7Mr4tw/s1600-h/Windows_Live_Photo_Gallery_Logo%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Windows_Live_Photo_Gallery_Logo" border="0" alt="Windows_Live_Photo_Gallery_Logo" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fa5Lj16AEnY/UOMBaAmad2I/AAAAAAAAJGE/lHjMS1CCj-A/Windows_Live_Photo_Gallery_Logo_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="84" height="84"></a></p> <p>Now, as I was preparing this post, I had a very difficult time finding the photo of the GGS from above. For whatever reason I never added a tag. Fortunately, Windows Photo Gallery allows me to scroll very quickly through all my photos. My goal is to get the last year’s photos tagged and then to remember to tag my photos as I upload them to my computer.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NiFRGZzyv2k/UOMBaRp0sfI/AAAAAAAAJGM/T1ehMYLEWIA/s1600-h/Roadtrip%2525202012%252520183%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Roadtrip 2012 183" border="0" alt="Roadtrip 2012 183" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ao2jT0CjCSI/UOMBbeOu9QI/AAAAAAAAJGU/lVrOiRHxORk/Roadtrip%2525202012%252520183_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="320" height="241"></a></p> <p>I also resolve to:</p> <ul> <li><strong><u><font size="3">Blog regularly, at least once a week</font></u></strong></li> <li><strong><u><font size="3">Link my posts to more blog parties</font></u></strong></li> <li><strong><u><font size="3">Set aside time each day to visit others’ blogs</font></u></strong></li></ul> <p>To get off to a great start, I opted to stop by Anti-Procrastination Tuesday and visit a couple blogs before I linked my blog. I am usually so late in posting, as I am today. Surprisingly, it’s a short list so far.</p> <p>Here are a couple blog posts I enjoyed.</p> <p><font size="4"><strong><a href="http://delightfullyfree.blogspot.com/2011/02/coconut-sugar-its-sweet.html" target="_blank">Delightfully Free</a></strong></font></p> <p><a href="http://delightfullyfree.blogspot.com/2011/02/coconut-sugar-its-sweet.html" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="coconut sugar" border="0" alt="coconut sugar" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8Bk-oIn81mQ/UOMBb9y6IMI/AAAAAAAAJGc/VS9KmasivPA/coconut%252520sugar%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="215" height="206"></a><br>I am excited to read about coconut sugar because my husband is very serious about cutting out sugar and this is a great alternative.</p> <p><a href="http://www.cantstopmakingthings.com/2012/12/tick-tock.html" target="_blank"><strong><font size="4">Can’t Stop Making Things</font></strong></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.cantstopmakingthings.com/2012/12/tick-tock.html" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="dial" border="0" alt="dial" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-IJ2bD61X8CM/UOMBcuQNKCI/AAAAAAAAJGk/ZrxJWVvUGmc/dial%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244"></a><br>This is a tutorial to make a fake clock. I thought it was an actual clock.</p> <p>Ok, well, I guess I better get on with the day. Every New Year’s Day, I spend the day putting away the Christmas décor and then if I have time, I file all the paper work I have not filed for months. I also go through old files and update any file folder tabs that need it. I would say I have no time to procrastinate today.</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:e4bc2d94-1558-4f08-8354-9d48389c6a6f" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">del.icio.us Tags: <a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/New+Year" rel="tag">New Year</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/New+Nostalgia" rel="tag">New Nostalgia</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/Anti-Procrastination" rel="tag">Anti-Procrastination</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/Resolutions" rel="tag">Resolutions</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/Coconut" rel="tag">Coconut</a></div> RedBettySummerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642703297336394771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436821984637274648.post-23240806250568843842012-10-22T19:45:00.001-07:002012-10-22T19:48:50.889-07:00Anti Procrastination Tuesday Homemade Shampoo<p>I am linking today’s post with <a href="http://amy-newnostalgia.blogspot.com/2012/10/anti-procrastination-tuesday_22.html" target="_blank">New Nostalgia</a> for Anti-Procrastination Tuesday.</p> <p><a href="http://amy-newnostalgia.blogspot.com/2012/10/anti-procrastination-tuesday_22.html" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="7393129504_TCNCj" border="0" alt="7393129504_TCNCj" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-U2p19ytpWFE/UIYEoSDQaYI/AAAAAAAAJE8/_STxiqCyknI/7393129504_TCNCj%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="147" height="147"></a></p> <p>I have so many things I need to be doing right now but instead, I am typing this blog post. I cannot procrastinate keeping my blog updated, especially on Anti-Procrastination Tuesday.</p> <p><font size="5"><strong>Sulfate Free Shampoo</strong></font></p> <p>The other item on my to-do list I am working on right now is making a batch of no-soap shampoo. Wow, I had no idea how easy hair care could be. I also never realized how cheap it could be.</p> <p><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/234539093065634490/" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="234539093065634490_Buj0d1Oo_c" border="0" alt="234539093065634490_Buj0d1Oo_c" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KPdfwgw52dw/UIYEokBesAI/AAAAAAAAJEU/mmcC5FfolDg/234539093065634490_Buj0d1Oo_c%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.livingonadime.com/" target="_blank">Living on a Dime</a> blog shares the ins and outs of how and why to use something as simple as baking soda to keep hair clean and healthy. Apple cider vinegar is a natural hair conditioner.</p> <p><a href="http://www.livingonadime.com/homemade-shampoo-recipe/" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="living on a dime" border="0" alt="living on a dime" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Xx-v87QviPI/UIYEpExtVoI/AAAAAAAAJEc/PscPy356C7c/living%252520on%252520a%252520dime%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="77"></a></p> <p>A simple word search for homemade shampoo recipes revealed many interesting recipes. Some were just versions of soapy shampoos. Others were very food oriented.</p> <p><a href="http://www.loving-it-raw.com/homemade-shampoo-recipes.html" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="green shampoothie" border="0" alt="green shampoothie" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-d7ehsxMzg4Q/UIYEpubzmiI/AAAAAAAAJEk/mYHrikMRI0E/green%252520shampoothie%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="161"></a></p> <p>I love how Allison at <a href="http://www.loving-it-raw.com/homemade-shampoo-recipes.html" target="_blank">Loving It Raw</a> shares how her husband loves this recipe for a hair smoothie. She talks on her post about what works and why. This was a great read. She also shares a link for an ebook with more natural hair and skincare recipes. I will have to look into this another time. She has several posts about moving away from OTC shampoo. She also writes about hair detox, which is something that concerned me about this process.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-q4aMPjC4_lU/UIYEqPdSirI/AAAAAAAAJEs/qimCObXXp2o/s1600-h/P1010349%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1010349" border="0" alt="P1010349" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UuhUcpZ7Hf0/UIYErK0pfjI/AAAAAAAAJE0/5P0sE4l3EJk/P1010349_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="172" height="244"></a></p> <p>I’m ok to deal with detox because I understand what is happening and how to combat it throughout the process, without going back to chemical shampoos and conditioners. Mostly, I have been seeking a non-sulfate way to take care of my red hair. Red hair fades easily and I have a lot of gray hair, which creates very frizzy, unmanageable hair.</p> <p>I have purchased expensive brands that claim to be sulfate-free, only to discover the sulfates were in different forms. This simple, two ingredient way of washing my hair should keep my hair from fading and dulling. I have read one comment that says baking soda can strip color but numerous blogs about why baking soda is safer and less likely to strip color.</p> <p>Because this is so cheap and easy, I’m all in. I’ll update my progress in a few weeks. Stay tuned!</p> <p>Thanks so much for stopping by. Happy Blogging.</p> <p align="center"><font size="7" face="Aparajita"><strong><em>Beth</em></strong></font></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:88fc2e43-ce43-4a2a-b1ac-2c1c32c489dc" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">del.icio.us Tags: <a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/Hair" rel="tag">Hair</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/shampoo" rel="tag">shampoo</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/natural+recipes" rel="tag">natural recipes</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/Anti-procrastination" rel="tag">Anti-procrastination</a></div> RedBettySummerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642703297336394771noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436821984637274648.post-72014805776549857102012-10-14T22:37:00.001-07:002012-10-14T22:37:30.502-07:00Corn earworm in organic corn<p>A couple of weeks ago, my friend gave me some home-grown corn on the cob. I love the sweet, creamy flavor of the corn and I really appreciate the effort of the people that grew this corn.<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-SOUu4J4a7Ww/UHuhETC_j_I/AAAAAAAAJDE/GB3oPcsxkAA/s1600-h/tea%25252C%252520catepillar%252520and%252520candles%252520011%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="tea, catepillar and candles 011" border="0" alt="tea, catepillar and candles 011" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rdxfyQpOW8o/UHuhEzPTmdI/AAAAAAAAJDM/bo686PJCSak/tea%25252C%252520catepillar%252520and%252520candles%252520011_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <p>It could kind of freak people out to find a bug in their food but I imagine all kinds of bugs have been all over the food that comes from the garden. How could it not?</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qHlwY64Cytw/UHuhFYB5e-I/AAAAAAAAJDU/X7ivqpy9FEA/s1600-h/tea%25252C%252520catepillar%252520and%252520candles%252520010%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="tea, catepillar and candles 010" border="0" alt="tea, catepillar and candles 010" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-D7AuY9LymkI/UHuhF3R24wI/AAAAAAAAJDc/9mSoVtheKfk/tea%25252C%252520catepillar%252520and%252520candles%252520010_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="345" height="260"></a></p> <p>I kind of have a soft spot for bugs, for some odd reason. I don’t even kill spiders. When I was a kid, I even kept slugs. I figure this caterpillar could live out his life in this jar, with a chunk of corn and be pretty happy. He seems to be growing pretty well.</p> <p><a href="http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=corn+earworm+moth&FORM=HDRSC2" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="corn earworm" border="0" alt="corn earworm" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OkEJ8J_9uN8/UHuhGBkkqtI/AAAAAAAAJDk/vVzd1HFuOIw/corn%252520earworm%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="229"></a></p> <p>Sad to say, he is actually a fairly harmful critter, known as a <a href="http://bulletin.ipm.illinois.edu/pastpest/articles/200317c.html" target="_blank">corn earworm</a>. He will turn into an ugly moth in about a month it seems. While I am not inclined to kill him, I am not excited about moths, or crop infesting creatures. I guess I will decide what becomes of him when that time comes.</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:4b2982b1-8cd0-400c-b66f-baf0d27c4340" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">del.icio.us Tags: <a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/caterpillar" rel="tag">caterpillar</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/organic" rel="tag">organic</a></div> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:d14d9a87-de08-494c-8fd6-ece8d0f87b0a" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">del.icio.us Tags: <a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/earworm" rel="tag">earworm</a></div> RedBettySummerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642703297336394771noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436821984637274648.post-47883566681908093532012-10-10T21:40:00.001-07:002012-10-10T21:40:44.392-07:00Two Question Thursday with Self Sagacity<p>I am participating in <a href="http://www.selfsagacity.com/2012/10/piano-lessons-with-used-steinway.html" target="_blank">Two Question Thursday</a> at Self Sagacity. </p> <p><a href="http://www.selfsagacity.com/2012/10/piano-lessons-with-used-steinway.html" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="2 Questions" border="0" alt="2 Questions" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fOos-j_XM_A/UHZNwa9twrI/AAAAAAAAJB0/hF91iM3YaXk/2%252520Questions%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="129" height="129"></a></p> <p>I have enjoyed reading this blog every now and then because of the thought-provoking posts. Thursdays, she poses two questions to respond to and then gives the opportunity to link your own post, asking your own two questions.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ZEYtgLpHrWk/UHZNw7FOifI/AAAAAAAAJB8/99h7qx2vmZE/s1600-h/WP_000656%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000656" border="0" alt="WP_000656" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-b2Xkcq2OAxE/UHZNxF9Y1kI/AAAAAAAAJCE/DkcoPKh9ksg/WP_000656_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="229" height="304"></a></p> <p>My husband has implemented a plan that entails the two of us getting away for a brief holiday, about four times a year. These trips have no rules, except that they be just about the two of us.</p> <p>Now that I am working, which is probably why we need these breaks, it seems I have a lot of logistics to work through to make even a weekend getaway happen. This says nothing about leaving my kids to fend for themselves.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gpZjz-OR2JU/UHZNxmFR9GI/AAAAAAAAJCM/_JmJ2nhSjrw/s1600-h/WP_000651%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000651" border="0" alt="WP_000651" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-SQwPIDYXypM/UHZNxxl0YQI/AAAAAAAAJCU/a9CwOrzF7q8/WP_000651_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="243" height="323"></a></p> <p>This brings me to my questions. <strong>Question 1)</strong> <u>How often do you get away with your spouse?</u> <strong>Question 2)</strong> <u>Do you find it useful to leave your kids behind for a couple of days while you get away with your husband?</u></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8yvdSG6Ajl4/UHZNybvrreI/AAAAAAAAJCc/Ar19ArE-1aY/s1600-h/WP_000638%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000638" border="0" alt="WP_000638" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-IQhjE_WyDok/UHZNy0ZD2cI/AAAAAAAAJCk/H8dwpJbng38/WP_000638_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="210" height="278"></a></p> <p>For the record? I am a big fan of leaving the kids behind for a few days. Don’t get me wrong. I worry and think about them too much while we’re away. Still, I know this time apart is good for all of us. We have actually been doing this since the kids were just a few weeks old- as soon as Grandma was willing to take the kids. She is a good grandma!</p> <p>We have had different phases of busy-ness in our life so going away hasn’t always had any routine regularity. Now that the kids are older and able to manage themselves while we are away, we can do this. I am so glad we are, too, because I can see how easy it is to get wrapped up in work or too involved in my kids’ daily life.</p> <p>If you would like to answer my two questions, leave your answer in the comment field. Feel free to leave a link to your blog, too. Also, be sure to stop by Self Sagacity and see what everyone else is asking.</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:58a7ac49-3a25-4d3e-8a61-8840abf0ce9c" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">del.icio.us Tags: <a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/husband" rel="tag">husband</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/get-away" rel="tag">get-away</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/kids" rel="tag">kids</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/Two+Questions" rel="tag">Two Questions</a></div> RedBettySummerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642703297336394771noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436821984637274648.post-51584408525685060712012-10-09T06:52:00.001-07:002012-10-09T06:52:50.917-07:00Where to Start Anti-Procrastination Tuesday<p><font size="5" face="GrilledCheese BTN Cn">Good Morning!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-TRZexffbWbg/UHQsHmE5SSI/AAAAAAAAJAY/8K6pINj6Ziw/s1600-h/new%252520hangar%252520and%252520blog%252520photos%252520001%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="new hangar and blog photos 001" border="0" alt="new hangar and blog photos 001" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wpap1MPUEBw/UHQsIVkxoNI/AAAAAAAAJAg/yJzoAADPmx0/new%252520hangar%252520and%252520blog%252520photos%252520001_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="370" height="146"></a></p> <p>I imagine most of you have been up for a bit and are already getting things done. You are my encouragement.</p> <p><a href="http://amy-newnostalgia.blogspot.com/2012/10/no-goals-this-week-im-excitedly-heading.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NewNostalgia+%28New+Nostalgia%29" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="7393129504_TCNCj" border="0" alt="7393129504_TCNCj" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-GTQojGpIFig/UHQsIp4iCVI/AAAAAAAAJAo/ixLqVRHXORk/7393129504_TCNCj%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="147" height="147"></a></p> <p>I am linking this post to New Nostalgia for Anti-Procrastination Tuesday.</p> <p>About 75% of my days are dealing with my job. I suppose that is reasonable considering how much time I am there. One aspect of my job that creeps into my home life is dealing with left-over food, particularly fruit.</p> <p><font color="#e8aaff" size="3" face="Constantia"><strong>What To Do With All These Apples?</strong></font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dVmFyWuLnII/UHQsJBWl0yI/AAAAAAAAJAw/Ii0Y2-6GuFA/s1600-h/new%252520hangar%252520and%252520blog%252520photos%252520017%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="new hangar and blog photos 017" border="0" alt="new hangar and blog photos 017" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-l7VUvih-0aA/UHQsJyl_ClI/AAAAAAAAJA4/OAxh2bHpcOQ/new%252520hangar%252520and%252520blog%252520photos%252520017_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <p>It drives me crazy to waste all the left over apples, even the ones that are going bad. So the first to-do today is to get these apples cooked down and ready to eat. I like to have apple sauce to add to my plain yogurt. I am also reserving a few cooked apples for crockpot French toast.</p> <p><font color="#e8aaff" size="3" face="Constantia"><strong>Wednesday Tea</strong></font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cjYZE23rIjQ/UHQsKm53qMI/AAAAAAAAJBA/rQuYqjEXYVE/s1600-h/new%252520hangar%252520and%252520blog%252520photos%252520018%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="new hangar and blog photos 018" border="0" alt="new hangar and blog photos 018" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-idECT6pWJQU/UHQsLHxUOQI/AAAAAAAAJBI/c0CIBSUtkB0/new%252520hangar%252520and%252520blog%252520photos%252520018_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <p>While Anti-Procrastination gets me going on Tuesday, Tea gets me going on Wednesday. I load up my rolling cart with tea pots and tea cups, a few kinds of tea and bring it to our school co-op. The anti-procrastination part is getting everything cleaned up and ready to go again the next week.</p> <p>Still Planning on Making Curtains</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zdNhJ0ij38k/UHQsLqOVAYI/AAAAAAAAJBQ/s3zCP3AhqXI/s1600-h/new%252520hangar%252520and%252520blog%252520photos%252520019%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="new hangar and blog photos 019" border="0" alt="new hangar and blog photos 019" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-dPbr3cjiIVc/UHQsMIbU6WI/AAAAAAAAJBY/1O33tkJcg8k/new%252520hangar%252520and%252520blog%252520photos%252520019_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a></p> <p>A couple of weeks ago, I made a plan to make some curtains for our downstairs windows. I had a brief moment when I thought I would get this accomplished. See the fabric still sitting by the machine? Sad, huh? Well I will get this done… eventually. I’m going to keep it out, to look at and encourage me to just do it!</p> <p><font color="#e8aaff" size="3" face="Constantia"><strong>What Else is On My To-Do List?</strong></font></p> <p>I have thought of about three other things I need to accomplish today. Mostly, my plan is to make my list throughout the day and see where I end up at the end of the week. I have a very busy week at work as well. Integrating my home needs with my work needs will prove somewhat tricky. I guess if it weren’t complicated, it wouldn’t be work though, right?</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:7c2a6f08-87c5-4c7e-adc4-0f73d8388a0d" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">del.icio.us Tags: <a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/Anti-Procrastination" rel="tag">Anti-Procrastination</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/apples" rel="tag">apples</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/tea+party+on-the-go" rel="tag">tea party on-the-go</a></div> RedBettySummerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642703297336394771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436821984637274648.post-32592580281383984512012-10-07T18:29:00.001-07:002012-10-07T18:29:52.962-07:00A Little R&R before Retail Season<p>For those of you counting the days before Christmas, retail may actually be a season. For those of us who work in the retail industry, we are already gearing up for the long days ahead. Which is why my husband and I took some time off, before the rush.</p> <blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.ironspringsresort.com/" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000632" border="0" alt="WP_000632" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-iG8ddaw0LPQ/UHIsfa2rFqI/AAAAAAAAI-8/x5s6yX2-G-4/WP_000632%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="224" height="298"></a><br><a href="http://www.ironspringsresort.com/" target="_blank">Iron Springs Resort</a>, Copalis Beach, Washington. The view from cabin 17.</p></blockquote> <p>My husband and I work opposite schedules and with kid schedules in the mix, our together time is pretty limited. Because of this, we have implemented a 3-month get-away routine. Basically, we stop what we’re doing and go away somewhere, together; just the two of us.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-EpU1pJl3J3k/UHIsgAtmRSI/AAAAAAAAI_E/gH_0pqh-63Q/s1600-h/WP_000630%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000630" border="0" alt="WP_000630" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bKoeX-YMk6M/UHIsg41SbuI/AAAAAAAAI_M/TcFA51sC-k8/WP_000630_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="239" height="317"></a></p> <p>While we usually love the planning process, we just returned from our family trip so neither of us were particularly excited about doing travel research. All we knew is we wanted to be at our destination quickly.</p> <p>We found a new place. (<a href="http://www.ironspringsresort.com/" target="_blank">Iron Springs Resort</a>) Well, actually, it has been around a long time we discovered. The place was recently remodeled, and it is beautiful. They are individual cabins that line the bluff along the beach. We are already booking our dates for next year, plus a trip for storm watching through the winter.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-b6xD83b0txs/UHIshaol6BI/AAAAAAAAI_U/n6DT-QGPmlw/s1600-h/WP_000639%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000639" border="0" alt="WP_000639" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Myzf8kdpQU4/UHIshyJkw7I/AAAAAAAAI_c/UN86h8YLVII/WP_000639_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" height="327"></a></p> <p>Fortunately we live very close to the Pacific Ocean. We were doubly blessed to realize this unusually warm, dry weather we are experiencing in the Northwest would be lasting through the weekend.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Rkte43NZB94/UHIsiJkkovI/AAAAAAAAI_k/mfxJW9BNGlU/s1600-h/WP_000637%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000637" border="0" alt="WP_000637" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-semwPzdJ3Vk/UHIsjHwAP4I/AAAAAAAAI_s/V9EbGuEi5Gs/WP_000637_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="322" height="242"></a></p> <p>These get-aways are not meant to be lengthy, and two beautifully sun-setted evenings were enough to relax and get re-connected.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-UKJhOhakLXk/UHIsjW-ihTI/AAAAAAAAI_0/6BHa3pUSCpY/s1600-h/WP_000652%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000652" border="0" alt="WP_000652" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nePyJlynr-k/UHIsj4NjG1I/AAAAAAAAI_8/jHwe7untvNU/WP_000652_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a></p> <p>Now we’re back home, getting laundry caught up and ready to start the work week. (No more high-priced quiche and lattes, which were very delicious.)</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:f2579393-79ff-4e11-a043-8663af566a34" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">del.icio.us Tags: <a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/travel" rel="tag">travel</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/holiday" rel="tag">holiday</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/sunset" rel="tag">sunset</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/beach" rel="tag">beach</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/relax" rel="tag">relax</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/road+trip" rel="tag">road trip</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/Iron+Springs+Resort" rel="tag">Iron Springs Resort</a></div> RedBettySummerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642703297336394771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436821984637274648.post-26355380601698806062012-09-30T16:14:00.001-07:002012-09-30T16:14:07.231-07:00I Decorated for Fall<p>It has been a long time since I have the energy or desire to decorate my house for Fall. It’s hard to get out of summer mode and into the school routine. By the time you have figured out what the kids are doing, the Christmas stuff is already in the stores. It almost seems there are too few days to bother with fall décor.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Sub4Ra0_7gQ/UGjSKhK6h8I/AAAAAAAAI9Q/J9Un56UybSw/s1600-h/Fall%252520decor%252520and%252520Grandpa%252527s%252520memorial%252520015%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Fall decor and Grandpa's memorial 015" border="0" alt="Fall decor and Grandpa's memorial 015" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xmQ6yxYl3KA/UGjSLI29q5I/AAAAAAAAI9Y/bFWKfipcc6g/Fall%252520decor%252520and%252520Grandpa%252527s%252520memorial%252520015_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a></p> <p>In order to get some decorating encouragement, I cruised the <a href="http://pinterest.com/" target="_blank">pinterest</a> boards.</p> <p><a href="http://pinterest.com/redbetty/i-need-to-decorate-for-fall/" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Pinterest Fall decor board" border="0" alt="Pinterest Fall decor board" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bw-xV7iJXi8/UGjSLsu7HwI/AAAAAAAAI9g/tkNaCstuw4Y/Pinterest%252520Fall%252520decor%252520board%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="220" height="244"></a></p> <p>These are just a few pictures that inspired me.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mwIJqbHQMNk/UGjSMMF58nI/AAAAAAAAI9o/i-4KwHyZvf0/s1600-h/Fall%252520decor%252520002%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Fall decor 002" border="0" alt="Fall decor 002" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bvVkPPX0tB0/UGjSMt0hOJI/AAAAAAAAI9w/YF-uImMUnEM/Fall%252520decor%252520002_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="288" height="235"></a></p> <p>Luckily, our local Hobby Lobby knows how to take all the work out of decorating. I didn’t want to resist this beautiful resin pumpkin. The verse etched around the top is “Enter his gates with Thanksgiving.” That is a sentiment I hope our home conveys all year long.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mJj8Nyocl7A/UGjSM1_HkMI/AAAAAAAAI94/2h8aIzSSaw4/s1600-h/Fall%252520decor%252520004%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Fall decor 004" border="0" alt="Fall decor 004" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TMfN4Pra27M/UGjSNeXp31I/AAAAAAAAI-A/Gwo-0l-2xss/Fall%252520decor%252520004_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a></p> <p>I love decorating with gourds. Notice how I also implemented a few wedding décor items.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-aNopg2RJZhU/UGjSOEr9ziI/AAAAAAAAI-I/cw7nNCjluxs/s1600-h/Fall%252520decor%252520and%252520Grandpa%252527s%252520memorial%252520013%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Fall decor and Grandpa's memorial 013" border="0" alt="Fall decor and Grandpa's memorial 013" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-j_tMV7U5lQk/UGjSOqJlnBI/AAAAAAAAI-Q/1yAZzqD2Gk0/Fall%252520decor%252520and%252520Grandpa%252527s%252520memorial%252520013_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="282" height="374"></a></p> <p>This area is my main décor focal point. It’s a glass case, containing a large part of my tea cup and tea pot collection. It sits against a funky architectural wall in the center of my dining room. When we bought the house, the realtor suggested we take it down. I said, “no, way!” I love this wall and how it reflects the vintage of our home. It is also a fun area to decorate.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uLAEfJIkTQA/UGjSPFLPXbI/AAAAAAAAI-Y/NuOffwFz4R0/s1600-h/Fall%252520decor%252520001%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Fall decor 001" border="0" alt="Fall decor 001" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Vao5za764ec/UGjSPpwwWgI/AAAAAAAAI-g/mVJTH-uFY7g/Fall%252520decor%252520001_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="226"></a></p> <p>You may have also noticed, in my previous photo, the photos of my grandpa. Sadly he passed away on Labor Day. There has been a lot of sadness in the family as we realize he is no longer with us. He is so warmly remembered so we wanted our home to reflect that warmth as we welcomed all the family for dinner after his memorial service.</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:930bef09-0f48-48b1-8adc-0ecbf12cfe99" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">del.icio.us Tags: <a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/Decorating" rel="tag">Decorating</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/Fall" rel="tag">Fall</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/Grandpa" rel="tag">Grandpa</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/Thanksgiving" rel="tag">Thanksgiving</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/Pinterest" rel="tag">Pinterest</a></div> RedBettySummerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642703297336394771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436821984637274648.post-16829428759157680962012-09-19T08:13:00.001-07:002012-09-19T08:13:12.363-07:00Woohoo, my sister is living in Italy<p> My sister updated her blog, and her post is about attempting to find a house to live in, in <a href="http://dayinthelifeoftheleclairs.blogspot.com/2012/09/italy-house-hunt.html" target="_blank">Naples, Italy.</a></p> <p><a href="http://dayinthelifeoftheleclairs.blogspot.com/2012/09/italy-house-hunt.html" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="italia 050" border="0" alt="italia 050" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-J0Z3xWB5CAU/UFnhBzp20RI/AAAAAAAAI80/_JYDuPelqZo/italia%252520050%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="385" height="290"></a></p> <p>She is a little discouraged so we all need to encourage her to enjoy the craziness of the situation. This is the rough time- the beginning, but I know she can persevere. She had her family and they are getting to see a different part of the world, from a very unique perspective.</p> <p>Take a sec to visit her blog, <a href="http://dayinthelifeoftheleclairs.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Day in the Life of the LeClairs</a> and remember to leave her a comment, or two, so she knows how much we appreciate her sharing her adventure on her blog.</p> <p>Thanks so much. Happy Blogging. Beth.</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:5e29228f-31b3-4172-9e00-92e6b2e2b1a7" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">del.icio.us Tags: <a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/Italy" rel="tag">Italy</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/house+hunting" rel="tag">house hunting</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/sister" rel="tag">sister</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/travel" rel="tag">travel</a></div> RedBettySummerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642703297336394771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436821984637274648.post-32362440003816966792012-09-10T07:21:00.001-07:002012-09-10T07:21:03.256-07:00Table Top Décor String Balls<p>I’m linking this post with <a href="http://www.skiptomylou.org/2012/09/10/made-by-you-monday-118/" target="_blank">Skip to My Lou for Made By You Monday</a>.</p> <p><a href="http://www.skiptomylou.org/2012/09/10/made-by-you-monday-118/" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="MadeByYouMonday" border="0" alt="MadeByYouMonday" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-J2nVIqagyys/UE33J74uakI/AAAAAAAAI6E/ShdzPoCeEdw/MadeByYouMonday%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="89"></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.skiptomylou.org/" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="skip to my lou" border="0" alt="skip to my lou" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KIeo3p-VAnw/UE33KPEdZNI/AAAAAAAAI6M/W9tU77DM7_8/skip%252520to%252520my%252520lou%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="121" height="121"></a></p> <p>I am also linking to <a href="http://www.keepingitsimplecrafts.com/" target="_blank">Keeping it Simple for Motivate Me Monday</a>. (I always need lots of motivation!)</p> <p><a href="http://www.keepingitsimplecrafts.com/2012/09/motivate-me-monday-139.html" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="th_DSCF63833" border="0" alt="th_DSCF63833" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-B8_pQIoz0cA/UE33KiPHqZI/AAAAAAAAI6U/tdLPx2SRZm8/th_DSCF63833%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="152" height="152"></a></p> <p>Both of these blogs have great links to crafts and inspiration but there are a lot of links. Don’t feel like you have to visit them all. Just pick a few, here and there, and enjoy. It’s a challenge to visit all the blogs we come across but it is so worth the time to stay connected with all the great people in our great country.</p> <p><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/194358540138760885/" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="194358540138760885_e5LQUvGh_c" border="0" alt="194358540138760885_e5LQUvGh_c" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0uFBSuDF3gE/UE33K2cf3NI/AAAAAAAAI6c/6HyZ978p98A/194358540138760885_e5LQUvGh_c%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="199" height="244"></a></p> <p>When my daughter found this on Pinterest, she was inspired to do some kind of string ball décor for her wedding.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-30bYvD7KpGk/UE33LWE9YsI/AAAAAAAAI6k/dnhgb1l-CVE/s1600-h/IMG_0645%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0645" border="0" alt="IMG_0645" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7F-PjWpAC-s/UE33Ly8nyxI/AAAAAAAAI6s/iBYxTg7JQSo/IMG_0645_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="202" height="136"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mMIaI86DVJM/UE33Ml7rpUI/AAAAAAAAI60/qcewjg7k1kw/s1600-h/IMG_0920%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0920" border="0" alt="IMG_0920" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_nl-k71-swU/UE33Mz2vLLI/AAAAAAAAI68/RndFgtdt4E4/IMG_0920_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="291" height="212"></a></p> <p>A table top setting seemed like a good idea. The idea was to spread rose petals around the middle and place a candle in the center of the orb. Since daughter insisted on real candles, the venue owner did not like having the candle near the string. That was my concern, too. Since the candle was not in the center of the string ball, there was nothing to hold it down in the wind.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VzzC-ZeSDNg/UE33NMLF-KI/AAAAAAAAI7E/I4KaJKoIM0E/s1600-h/wedding%252520day%252520DIY%252520002%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="wedding day DIY 002" border="0" alt="wedding day DIY 002" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-F6753WuHT4k/UE33NhDnjJI/AAAAAAAAI7M/FmQWfm1MueU/wedding%252520day%252520DIY%252520002_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a></p> <p>This is the creation process, in reverse. The small ones ended up very solid and not easily crushed.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OQKsJz1atAo/UE33N3ujH6I/AAAAAAAAI7U/lqg9h8weSe8/s1600-h/wedding%252520day%252520DIY%252520008%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="wedding day DIY 008" border="0" alt="wedding day DIY 008" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ccv60h2t9Ug/UE33PFv-C3I/AAAAAAAAI7c/Z6TZyNx57ao/wedding%252520day%252520DIY%252520008_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Icjr_yHgHXQ/UE33PlJkK9I/AAAAAAAAI7g/-h2SDsA1C5E/s1600-h/wedding%252520day%252520DIY%252520009%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="wedding day DIY 009" border="0" alt="wedding day DIY 009" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-tK61sfLYu0A/UE33QS038qI/AAAAAAAAI7o/FCyCq4W2zNI/wedding%252520day%252520DIY%252520009_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-oVMm-hEx3gU/UE33RApEIYI/AAAAAAAAI70/L9nRw5ZqLhs/s1600-h/wedding%252520day%252520DIY%252520010%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="wedding day DIY 010" border="0" alt="wedding day DIY 010" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6iUzGJ1vzno/UE33RxE638I/AAAAAAAAI78/EzuWAl-mj_E/wedding%252520day%252520DIY%252520010_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WQvO9RilcrU/UE33SfVKAkI/AAAAAAAAI8E/xZTaZarloyE/s1600-h/craigslist%252520and%252520blog%252520photos%252520006%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="craigslist and blog photos 006" border="0" alt="craigslist and blog photos 006" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-08La18Xonkg/UE33S1vHA5I/AAAAAAAAI8M/wxESalxZWoA/craigslist%252520and%252520blog%252520photos%252520006_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <p>The bigger ones are not very firm and are easily crushed. Fortunately, this is a very forgiving craft as you can simply blow up a balloon into the center and re-glue.</p> <p><a href="http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/art/3247604050.html" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="craigslist and blog photos 001" border="0" alt="craigslist and blog photos 001" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fQ2iVhHRJKY/UE33TeLV82I/AAAAAAAAI8U/n8rglUiptpE/craigslist%252520and%252520blog%252520photos%252520001%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <p>Now I need to get rid of all these string balls. I thought I would sell them on <a href="http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/art/3247604050.html" target="_blank">craigslist</a> but so far, no takers. I know if they stick around much longer, I’ll find a way to use them in my house.</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:a81f8a29-207b-4f63-839e-cc49d293356f" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">del.icio.us Tags: <a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/string+ball" rel="tag">string ball</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/DIY" rel="tag">DIY</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/Wedding" rel="tag">Wedding</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/Motivate+Me+Monday" rel="tag">Motivate Me Monday</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/Made+By+You+Monday" rel="tag">Made By You Monday</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/craft+project" rel="tag">craft project</a></div> RedBettySummerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642703297336394771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436821984637274648.post-66902079153415153132012-08-28T02:17:00.001-07:002012-08-28T02:17:57.592-07:00School Starts, With or Without Us<p><a href="http://amy-newnostalgia.blogspot.com/2012/08/anti-procrastination-tuesday_27.html" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="7393129504_TCNCj" border="0" alt="7393129504_TCNCj" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-l-YYq5IinxE/UDyMtmOg0vI/AAAAAAAAI44/wKy66J8HcVo/7393129504_TCNCj%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="147" height="147"></a></p> <p>I am linking today’s post with New Nostalgia blog for Anti-Procrastination Tuesday.</p> <p>As summer comes to a close and preparing for the new school year is first on our minds, my To-Do list is long. As always, I use Anti-Procrastination Tuesday to prioritize and organize the week ahead.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Dv5fZzuVNz0/UDyMuGGHQzI/AAAAAAAAI5A/ExN7sQ-3BTQ/s1600-h/trip%252520to%252520tucson%252520009%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="trip to tucson 009" border="0" alt="trip to tucson 009" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6cJ77nwbnWA/UDyMupE9D4I/AAAAAAAAI5I/LXVMew_CjXo/trip%252520to%252520tucson%252520009_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="335" height="262"></a></p> <p><strong><font size="3">1.</font></strong> <font size="3"><strong> Get Back into Good Eating</strong></font></p> <p>Now that we’re done traveling for a bit and back to the daily routine, a little detox is in order. I had my daughter come over and make my smoothies for the week. Yes, I could make them myself… if she didn’t take my Vitamix to her house.</p> <p><strong><font size="3"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-nxc5fIiQd4o/UDyMve41x4I/AAAAAAAAI5Q/5k48QuDt6QA/s1600-h/Homework0001%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Homework0001" border="0" alt="Homework0001" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4gDR4VvWxrI/UDyMv3ujCVI/AAAAAAAAI5Y/w9hyaRkJuIc/Homework0001_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="167"></a></font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="3">2. Prepare for the Start of School</font></strong></p> <p>We still have a couple of weeks before classes officially start and we traditionally do not shop for school supplies. We have always schooled the kids at home but even with taking classes in co-ops, we keep our supply list simple. Now that it’s just the two boys, the list is super simple: a notebook, some paper and something with which to write. They don’t want anything complicated. Yea!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TJecBTUOFfA/UDyMwAyyxjI/AAAAAAAAI5g/T9s8eXoQkt8/s1600-h/leisure%252520arts%252520crochet%252520hats%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="leisure arts crochet hats" border="0" alt="leisure arts crochet hats" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-SRGy78NfV6I/UDyMwsY1djI/AAAAAAAAI5o/whc-4azms_A/leisure%252520arts%252520crochet%252520hats_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="180" height="244"></a></p> <p><font size="3"><strong>3. Learn to Crochet</strong></font></p> <p>This is my favorite item on my To-Do list. I even made some time today to have my friend teach me the beginning stitches to make a hat. I am looking forward to really getting into this as my youngest son has a full day of classes one day a week and I have to stay on-sight. This provides the perfect opportunity for me to have fun with this activity. The hat in the bottom right picture is the pattern I am learning.</p> <p>So many people I know are very good at this craft so I am a little intimidated to get started. I feel very behind. Then again, I will never get caught up if I don’t get started.</p> <p>There are so many more things on my list for this week and this is just the beginning. Happy Anti-Procrastinating. Have a great week.</p> <p align="center"><font size="6" face="Aparajita"><em>Beth</em></font></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:b697d9f4-ce94-4bed-876c-01e3ccd47984" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">del.icio.us Tags: <a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/anti-procrastination" rel="tag">anti-procrastination</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/To-Do+List" rel="tag">To-Do List</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/Crochet" rel="tag">Crochet</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/school" rel="tag">school</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/Detox" rel="tag">Detox</a></div> RedBettySummerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642703297336394771noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436821984637274648.post-24673969117786179572012-08-27T07:13:00.001-07:002012-08-27T07:13:59.501-07:00Wedding Cake Pops DIY Video<p><a href="http://www.keepingitsimplecrafts.com/2012/08/motivate-me-monday-137.html" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="th_DSCF63832" border="0" alt="th_DSCF63832" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_71TMlGk2eo/UDuAndRGwJI/AAAAAAAAI3w/XsYU0o-mMTs/th_DSCF63832%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="154" height="154"></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.skiptomylou.org/2012/08/20/made-by-you-monday-115/" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="MadeByYouMonday" border="0" alt="MadeByYouMonday" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-59bq2jh25AA/UDuAn-08TGI/AAAAAAAAI30/FpVK_B8BM3I/MadeByYouMonday%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="68"></a></p> <p>I’m linking this post to two fabulous link parties- <font size="3"><em><a href="http://www.keepingitsimplecrafts.com/2012/08/motivate-me-monday-137.html" target="_blank">Motivate Me Monday</a></em></font> and <a href="http://www.skiptomylou.org/2012/08/27/made-by-you-monday-116/" target="_blank"><font size="3"><strong>Made by You Mondays</strong></font></a>. There are so many great blog posts linked to these two blogs, there is something to inspire everyone.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-f6T3ukcpnlk/UDuAoG-4XtI/AAAAAAAAI38/OfWor4q98NI/s1600-h/IMG_0916%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0916" border="0" alt="IMG_0916" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-MQ_z6msj8_I/UDuAoiBIuJI/AAAAAAAAI4A/rqYi7ckCCDA/IMG_0916_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="233" height="347"></a></p> <p>I’m sure I’ve posted about making cake pops a few times. I was just thinking about the ones we made for the wedding and how delicious they were. I could really go for one right now. I have to settle for this photo instead.</p> <p>I was, however, inspired to put together a quick video of us making about 400 cake pops. We made three flavors: coca cola, white cake, and red velvet cake. All the cake was homemade. I froze it but I found out it would have been ok to leave it out to dry out a bit. Regardless, the dough turned out fine and they were so delicious.</p> <p>We dipped the pops in white chocolate as apposed to candy melts. It made a huge difference in flavor, although I was advised the dipping process was a little more difficult because of the chocolate. I guess the candy melts have more paraffin so it doesn’t run as easily? I don’t know but I do know I do not care for the plastic taste and consistency of candy melts.</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:cfa7bf90-890d-417a-92a9-66de8a4e813c" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="5297427e-18c0-415f-9a60-f28827bad560" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftmD2bRdlLo" target="_new"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bdCmQZBblt4/UDuAozMxG3I/AAAAAAAAI4I/AsbAf_-ps7E/video665130d29195%25255B20%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('5297427e-18c0-415f-9a60-f28827bad560'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"448\" height=\"277\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/ftmD2bRdlLo?hl=en&hd=1\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/ftmD2bRdlLo?hl=en&hd=1\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"448\" height=\"277\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-P1f2xFW3HOQ/UDuApX5HHRI/AAAAAAAAI4M/OI8aErlnEwU/s1600-h/IMG_0912%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0912" border="0" alt="IMG_0912" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5wobWTWKuCQ/UDuApsPgvQI/AAAAAAAAI4U/O5xAZJKNits/IMG_0912_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="384" height="263"></a></p> <p>I hope you enjoyed this video. Thanks for stopping by. Any cake recipes will do but if you would like to know which ones we used, email me or leave me a comment.</p> <p align="center"><font size="5" face="Bodoni MT"><strong><em>Beth</em></strong></font></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:a0ad620d-5a42-4773-9ed3-5f9f53c7a451" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">del.icio.us Tags: <a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/wedding+DIY" rel="tag">wedding DIY</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/cake+pops" rel="tag">cake pops</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/Motivate+Me+Monday" rel="tag">Motivate Me Monday</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/video" rel="tag">video</a></div> RedBettySummerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642703297336394771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436821984637274648.post-58925587920790281762012-08-20T22:57:00.001-07:002012-08-20T22:57:41.371-07:0010 Minute Facelift Anti Procrastination Tuesday<p>I am linking today’s post with <a href="http://amy-newnostalgia.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">New Nostalgia</a> for Anti-Procrastination Tuesday. Amy’s blog has been an encouragement to me, as well as my blogging motivation. There are so many great blogs linked to her weekly blog party so stop by and see who else has joined the party.</p> <p><a href="http://amy-newnostalgia.blogspot.com/2012/08/anti-procrastination-tuesday_20.html" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="7393129504_TCNCj" border="0" alt="7393129504_TCNCj" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-kbXL_vl1lhI/UDMjN5wFRsI/AAAAAAAAI0I/bQbtLoe34Z4/7393129504_TCNCj%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="147" height="147"></a></p> <p>We just returned from our family holiday. We were gone for about nine days, on a road trip. We drove from our home to Boise, Idaho, to Ogden, Utah, to Reno, Nevada, to Crater Lake National Park and then back to home, with stops in between. Tons of fun, of course, but boy, was I tired when I got home.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-FJUC6RU8PwE/UDMjOez7oqI/AAAAAAAAI0Q/AE0XFVAf-PE/s1600-h/Roadtrip%2525202012%252520047%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Roadtrip 2012 047" border="0" alt="Roadtrip 2012 047" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bYLYQa-nD_4/UDMjOkKsA3I/AAAAAAAAI0Y/TkjQENGelPc/Roadtrip%2525202012%252520047_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="334" height="444"></a><br>Me and my two sons. This is the first trip we have done without our newly married daughter.</p> <p>This is the perfect time to quit procrastinating on a little personal TLC. Time for a ten-minute facelift.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_R4j23J0ZkY/UDMjPNTBY7I/AAAAAAAAI0g/tR50ZJzv-TI/s1600-h/ten%252520minute%252520facial%252520blog%252520post%252520004%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="ten minute facial blog post 004" border="0" alt="ten minute facial blog post 004" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JEkAki8VMqg/UDMjPu5rodI/AAAAAAAAI0o/VmL1FzWhZ5U/ten%252520minute%252520facial%252520blog%252520post%252520004_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="292" height="388"></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ten-Minute-Facelift-Rejuvenate-Natural/dp/B002XW15K2" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="facelift amazon" border="0" alt="facelift amazon" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6DJ8eDXyzYk/UDMjQIxk2sI/AAAAAAAAI0w/n8sdjnbzevc/facelift%252520amazon%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="120"></a></p> <p>This book was a 40th birthday gift, from a friend. It is about more than outside appearance as it teaches about the skin and how overall body health makes you look older. I took this book on our trip because I wanted to really learn the techniques. Unfortunately I never got any oil so the massages were not as easy to perform. I did practice on my husband though. Now that we’re home, getting the oil is easy. I chose apricot seed and grape seed. The book tells which ones to use and why.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HICeNZPqr7o/UDMjQvAlllI/AAAAAAAAI04/PDHzZm7GMqI/s1600-h/ten%252520minute%252520facial%252520blog%252520post%252520005%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="ten minute facial blog post 005" border="0" alt="ten minute facial blog post 005" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gU7gfoSzDwg/UDMjRIttbuI/AAAAAAAAI1A/p5Nr_N94RLs/ten%252520minute%252520facial%252520blog%252520post%252520005_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="363" height="273"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-g3_Iv-Qasmw/UDMjSfp8vkI/AAAAAAAAI1E/q1vlvIm95TI/s1600-h/ten%252520minute%252520facial%252520blog%252520post%252520008%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="ten minute facial blog post 008" border="0" alt="ten minute facial blog post 008" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aOxNv2CyO90/UDMjSxE4u_I/AAAAAAAAI1M/0xQrfaqd0SM/ten%252520minute%252520facial%252520blog%252520post%252520008_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="239" height="317"></a></p> <p>I opted to do this before bed so I could enjoy the relaxing feel as I drift off to sleep. One essential reason facial massages have interested me lately is to relieve tension and the headaches it causes. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-eMIXRCLxmcU/UDMjTITLbaI/AAAAAAAAI1U/IIBO5nI4VwE/s1600-h/ten%252520minute%252520facial%252520blog%252520post%252520010%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="ten minute facial blog post 010" border="0" alt="ten minute facial blog post 010" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-RKoV790C2lw/UDMjTjxlsnI/AAAAAAAAI1c/RRfTMkXSDco/ten%252520minute%252520facial%252520blog%252520post%252520010_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a></p> <p>I have had a couple rounds of terrible headaches and noticed a huge relief for a prolonged time when I had gone for a professional massage. As nice as it would be to afford the cost and time of this regularly, it is not realistic. Besides, the immediate relief of doing this myself is invaluable.</p> <p>I didn’t get to spend the full ten minutes as I was interrupted… no worries. It was relaxing any way. As I get better with the basic techniques, I will add an additional portion, such as detoxing or deep facial for rejuvenation.</p> <p>I hope you get to check out this book, or at least learn more about these techniques.</p> <blockquote> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-V1-NuaTzt08/UDMjUNXt-eI/AAAAAAAAI1k/-9objOSoho4/s1600-h/Roadtrip%2525202012%252520152%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Roadtrip 2012 152" border="0" alt="Roadtrip 2012 152" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-yqZFE82dLrI/UDMjU17q25I/AAAAAAAAI1s/1oeiv-6K-H8/Roadtrip%2525202012%252520152_thumb%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="125" height="272"></a><br>100 degrees at the Bonneville Salt Flats</p></blockquote> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:1fc2cee9-4702-47cf-8998-b490c6505ffa" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">del.icio.us Tags: <a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/facial" rel="tag">facial</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/facelift" rel="tag">facelift</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/anti-procrastination" rel="tag">anti-procrastination</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/massage" rel="tag">massage</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/oil" rel="tag">oil</a></div> RedBettySummerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642703297336394771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436821984637274648.post-16873078945296653292012-07-31T06:03:00.001-07:002012-07-31T06:03:38.084-07:00Anti Procrastination Tuesday Multifarious Beauty<p>I am linking today’s post with Amy at<br>New Nostalgia</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yO0du4fFQmg/UBfXpNOiiSI/AAAAAAAAIzU/BY75_JlhL4k/s1600-h/7393129504_TCNCj%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="7393129504_TCNCj" border="0" alt="7393129504_TCNCj" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0EcKsY-86RE/UBfXpbNLcAI/AAAAAAAAIzc/p80iOJDGWio/7393129504_TCNCj_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="147" height="147"></a></p> <p><a href="http://multifariousbeauty.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Multifarious" border="0" alt="Multifarious" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SbdwYY_PmPs/UBfXph9906I/AAAAAAAAIzk/hy3MmmeZEyg/Multifarious%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="160"></a></p> <p>Multifarious Beauty blog is my daughter’s blog. I have shared about my daughter’s blog before, but I am encouraged to see her blogging more. She will be starting a job soon so I am sure blogging will not be a priority for her. For now, she is sharing her world with all of us. This is extra fun for me since she has recently turned 18, gotten married and moved out of our home. She is on her own and building her family now.</p> <p><a href="http://pinterest.com/isenya/" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Sarah pinterest" border="0" alt="Sarah pinterest" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xMWnq_NOXhU/UBfXqLQQXMI/AAAAAAAAIzs/HJMM0AYcqj4/Sarah%252520pinterest%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="220" height="244"></a></p> <p>Her <a href="http://pinterest.com/" target="_blank">pinterest</a> boards are awesome! Where does she find the time to find all this stuff?</p> <p>Her latest blog post is about a baby shower gift she made for a friend.</p> <p><a href="http://multifariousbeauty.blogspot.com/2012/07/pinterest-project-baby-shower-gift_30.html" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="baby gift" border="0" alt="baby gift" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-r81MaHO9HWE/UBfXqVI5R8I/AAAAAAAAIz0/xCVS9IQ-8vA/baby%252520gift%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a></p> <p>It is a pinterest idea, of course. Click on the photo and read her post to find out more.</p> <p>Visiting everyone’s blogs has been such a lift for me these days. I am encouraged to see how people are positively spending their time and building their families. I love the ideas I get from others, and I know others enjoy reading my blog, too. Just taking the time to check in with people you only know for a minute is worth the effort. You never know where that moment will lead.</p> <p><font size="3"><em>Two other new blogs I have enjoyed this week are:</em></font></p> <p><a href="http://lens-and-pens.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><font size="4"><strong>Lens and Pens</strong></font></a><font size="4"><strong>,</strong></font> by Tammy. Tammy is my “neighbor” and a mother of boys, which is a new Blog Society I have discovered. (Yea! for moms of boys.) She also homeschools, which is near and dear to my heart as well.</p> <p><a href="http://www.themobsociety.com/" target="_blank"><font size="4"><strong>Moms of Boys</strong></font></a> is a blog society that links up other moms of boys and posts about being mother to boys. I have only read a few posts but I am inspired by the differences of being a mom to sons from being a mother to daughters. Now that my daughter is out of the house, I have to be a different mom.</p> <p>Have a great Tuesday! <font size="5" face="Aharoni"><em>Beth.</em></font></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:8dfc804e-d047-492b-9192-a677c8151620" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">del.icio.us Tags: <a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/beauty" rel="tag">beauty</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/pinterest" rel="tag">pinterest</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/daughter" rel="tag">daughter</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/blogging" rel="tag">blogging</a></div> RedBettySummerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642703297336394771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436821984637274648.post-53157852981553542212012-07-23T06:21:00.001-07:002012-07-23T06:21:22.372-07:00Non-traditional Boutonnières and Corsages<p>I am linking today’s post with Kaysi at Keeping It Simple, for Motivate Me Monday,</p> <p><a href="http://www.keepingitsimplecrafts.com/2012/07/motivate-me-monday-132.html" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="th_DSCF63832" border="0" alt="th_DSCF63832" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-dAOodr-49CU/UA1PsMznZWI/AAAAAAAAIxc/PZ2aUp5OCsU/th_DSCF63832%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="154" height="154"></a></p> <p>and with Cindy, at Skip to My Lou for Made By You Monday.</p> <p><a href="http://www.skiptomylou.org/2012/07/23/made-by-you-monday-110/" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="MadeByYouMonday" border="0" alt="MadeByYouMonday" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4XJluKY5wm0/UA1PsRRJ20I/AAAAAAAAIxk/N8C-o4NfJTY/MadeByYouMonday%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="307" height="85"></a></p> <p>There are so many things to make for a wedding. Of course we can buy so much of what we opted to make ourselves, but crafting is just too much fun. Making flower corsages and boutonnieres would have been fun enough but we couldn’t leave it at ordinary.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-iEwS3lSXyMA/UA1PskYnphI/AAAAAAAAIxs/h4hbwwKDa0I/s1600-h/P1010343%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1010343" border="0" alt="P1010343" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PE4wgJEgpYo/UA1PvohGbSI/AAAAAAAAIx0/MZzGQ18MNDg/P1010343_thumb%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="283" height="210"></a></p> <p>Boutonnieres and corsages are quite non-traditional these days.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-p7B-rkwTGv4/UA1PvzSApBI/AAAAAAAAIx8/N6Jw7fK1e6w/s1600-h/P1010337%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1010337" border="0" alt="P1010337" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uCQ4Wme6n50/UA1PwDBa7nI/AAAAAAAAIyE/GBGxBbuPF48/P1010337_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="128" height="244"></a></p> <p>These boutonnieres and corsages were just the personal touch we wanted for my daughter’s vintage-romantic theme.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-J4BNzKXNGjk/UA1PxR1kuoI/AAAAAAAAIyM/NeVfCSHolPE/s1600-h/WP_000024%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000024" border="0" alt="WP_000024" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-H95Qd31WPac/UA1PxxB8igI/AAAAAAAAIyU/MzhH33lF6XQ/WP_000024_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a></p> <p>While the guys’ boutonnieres were mainly just the peacock feathers, the women all had different brooches. Our first thought was to find antique brooches but when we saw what was available at the craft store, we opted for these pendants.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rq8RlIO_7n4/UA1PyRNcNjI/AAAAAAAAIyc/hoMqel9cwmM/s1600-h/WP_000026%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000026" border="0" alt="WP_000026" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZcLal0bS-qg/UA1Py0gRpRI/AAAAAAAAIyk/JlxE0kXlCMw/WP_000026_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="238" height="316"></a></p> <p>We used pieces of trim I already had in my stash of supplies, and these pins I also had left over from another project. Some of the brooches we didn’t add elements since they were perfect on their own.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HSb6uE9Z1H0/UA1PzCXTyuI/AAAAAAAAIys/Tu6bLklUl80/s1600-h/WP_000337%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000337" border="0" alt="WP_000337" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_gNxSqRlHfY/UA1Pzkz6_GI/AAAAAAAAIy0/FDF2kdW7Lhk/WP_000337_thumb%25255B11%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="238" height="316"></a></p> <p>I decided brooch needed to be in my hair. A non-traditional place for a non-traditional corsage.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Nx3-D6UvCQY/UA1Pz1VgraI/AAAAAAAAIy8/F2hPALUnmKc/s1600-h/WP_000337%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000337" border="0" alt="WP_000337" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WOolzCcVzf8/UA1P0dvVfPI/AAAAAAAAIzE/7E7Pe1BZFFY/WP_000337_thumb%25255B10%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="181" height="244"></a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:9dc5fadc-538c-436e-b348-662164d17efe" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">del.icio.us Tags: <a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/DIY" rel="tag">DIY</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/Monday" rel="tag">Monday</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/Wedding" rel="tag">Wedding</a></div> RedBettySummerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642703297336394771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436821984637274648.post-36101058476668925092012-07-18T10:52:00.001-07:002012-07-19T10:18:40.679-07:00MOB Society Blog Hop<p><a href="http://www.themobsociety.com/2012/07/boy-mom-bloghop-2012/" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="MOB society blog hop" border="0" alt="MOB society blog hop" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fQKV8e4ZJfE/UAb37cJNoxI/AAAAAAAAIwU/_D62WbhLl68/MOB%252520society%252520blog%252520hop%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="120"></a></p> <p><font color="#ffffff" size="3">As I was visiting blogs at Anti-Procrastination Tuesday link party, I came across </font><a href="http://www.domesticblissdiaries.com/" target="_blank"><font color="#80ffff" size="3">Domestic Bliss Diaries blog</font></a><font color="#ffffff" size="3">. She has some fun posts but one in particular caught my eye. She is linking up with </font><a href="http://www.themobsociety.com/2012/07/boy-mom-bloghop-2012/" target="_blank"><font color="#80ffff" size="3">Boy Mom Bloghop</font></a><font color="#ffffff" size="3">.</font></p> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-sZ5idzZ3KIo/UAb37kzfA5I/AAAAAAAAIwc/Tb4DdOOA3nA/s1600-h/IMG_0526%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font color="#ffffff" size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0526" border="0" alt="IMG_0526" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-a74V5SknIYw/UAb39HztZJI/AAAAAAAAIwk/GxcnxMTaM5k/IMG_0526_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="350" height="235"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#ffffff" size="3"></font> </p> <p><font color="#ffffff" size="3"></font> </p> <p><font color="#ffffff" size="3"></font> </p> <p><font color="#ffffff" size="3"></font> </p> <p><font color="#ffffff" size="3"></font> </p> <p><font color="#ffffff" size="3"></font> </p> <blockquote> <p><font color="#ffffff" size="2"><em>Photo taken by Uncle Kent</em></font></p></blockquote> <p><font color="#ffffff" size="3">This is a concept I have been really contemplating lately. Now that my daughter is married and on her own, I am mom of two sons.</font></p> <p><font color="#ffffff" size="3">I started blogging a few summers ago when my kids were complaining about how boring summer was since we didn’t have plans for summer camps or family travels. My idea of staying home all summer and relaxing did not meet my children's needs for excitement and entertainment. I opted to document everything they did that summer and blog about what a great summer they were having. Good idea, right?</font></p> <p><font color="#ffffff" size="3">As life progressed, my blog changed to include all aspects of our home life. My friend introduced me to link parties, which helped me develop a wider range of blogging. My purpose here is to stay connected with women as moms, wives, homemakers, workers, whatever life is to us, at the time.</font></p> <blockquote> <p><font color="#ffffff" size="3"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-O1IS_B65mu0/UAb39vdclcI/AAAAAAAAIws/94ZdbCYZcHY/s1600-h/IMG_0603%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0603" border="0" alt="IMG_0603" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-u78n93H18SA/UAb392KdgnI/AAAAAAAAIw0/8EP6Q1KWHqU/IMG_0603_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="350" height="235"></a><br><font size="2"><em>Son Colin and I preparing for daughter’s wedding. Photo taken by Uncle Kent.</em></font></font></p></blockquote> <p><font color="#ffffff" size="3">When my daughter became pretty much self-sufficient and my boys became teenagers, it was obvious I was mother-henning them to death. My goal is to raise independent, productive adults, not children that need their mommy. The easiest way to stop mothering them was to leave the house each day, and leave them to fend for themselves.</font></p> <p><font color="#ffffff" size="3">Dad is at home most of the day, too, and he gains by being dad, without mom running the show.</font></p> <p><font color="#ffffff" size="3">I love this new interaction and my sons are amazing. They are 16 and 14. My influence is purposeful and positive. Their interests are so different than my daughter’s but I try to keep up.</font></p> <p><font color="#ffffff" size="3"><strong>Video games</strong> are of course a mainstay. I am always amazed at how many different video games there are and couldn’t even begin to say which one is of great interest right now. That is a testament to how many different games they play. One game that gets played regularly is<font color="#80ffff"> </font></font><a href="http://www.minecraft.net/" target="_blank"><font color="#80ffff" size="3">Minecraft</font></a><font color="#ffffff" size="3">. This is mostly interesting to junior high and older but it seems to be very suitable for any age. I know the boys just finished playing one of the first-person shooter war games but I couldn’t say which one. Whatever game is the hot game of the season is usually the game they like the “most”.</font></p> <p><font color="#ffffff" size="3">You would think summer time would lend to lazy days and long hours of video game playing but this is the time they volunteer for church ministry (VBS) and head off to camp. We are eagerly looking forward to a week of quiet as one son heads to youth camp with our church and the other son heads off to aviation camp with a mission organization, <a href="http://mata-usa.org/" target="_blank">MATA</a>.</font></p> <p><a href="http://mata-usa.org/" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1348" border="0" alt="IMG_1348" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZCNt1zBC4Yw/UAb3-U1tgXI/AAAAAAAAIw8/PJhxroN5sQ0/IMG_1348%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <p><font color="#ffffff" size="3">It is fun to see them play them together and I love how they interact with their dad through these games. It’s a mystery to me.</font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#00ff00"><font size="5" face="Bickley Script">Proverbs 10:1 A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is the grief of his mother</font>.</font></p><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=154485" type="text/javascript"></script> <p align="left"></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:6ece3e05-4843-4758-90f5-86f6c4f8640d" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">del.icio.us Tags: <a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/MOB" rel="tag">MOB</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/sons" rel="tag">sons</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/blogging" rel="tag">blogging</a></div> RedBettySummerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642703297336394771noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436821984637274648.post-11298909168501894212012-07-17T06:12:00.001-07:002012-07-17T06:12:56.921-07:00Anti Procrastination Tuesday Summer in Full Force<p>I am linking today’s post with New Nostalgia for Anti <a href="http://amy-newnostalgia.blogspot.com/2012/07/anti-procrastination-tuesday_16.html" target="_blank">Procrastination Tuesday.</a></p> <p><a href="http://amy-newnostalgia.blogspot.com/2012/07/anti-procrastination-tuesday_16.html" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="7393129504_TCNCj" border="0" alt="7393129504_TCNCj" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_WZkG1m2J6M/UAVkzKXekgI/AAAAAAAAIvM/nVnuyuCKu_c/7393129504_TCNCj%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="147" height="147"></a></p> <p>We are still getting used to the idea of our first child, our daughter, being married and on her own but alas, the summer is in full force so we are trudging ahead. I have a huge to-do list. Getting this post done is one item. Specifically, I want to share a little more about the wedding.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gxw0xE6lLT4/UAVkzuUfHqI/AAAAAAAAIvU/mVtLdxqtNck/s1600-h/WP_0001993.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000199" border="0" alt="WP_000199" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6uOXasyirio/UAVkz2XdVhI/AAAAAAAAIvc/es5cdg-xm6w/WP_000199_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <p>Instead of a cake, my daughter wanted cake pops. It actually turned out to be a great idea. As I was wrapping my brain around making 400 cake pops, daughter decided she needed something else to balance out the look. She decided on macarons.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-y_ahfVpoiGM/UAVk0RSYbLI/AAAAAAAAIvk/nMRotwuEEnM/s1600-h/IMG_0917%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0917" border="0" alt="IMG_0917" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-B6vbl1iOIjo/UAVk0uyJhKI/AAAAAAAAIvs/loVxSGwXOrU/IMG_0917_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="352" height="214"></a></p> <p>Not to be confused with coconut macaroons, these are a French pastry. I went into a bit of a panic as I read how complicated these little cookies could be to make.</p> <p>Fortunately daughter got this idea from a really fun cooking website called <a href="http://sortedfood.com/#!/macarons/" target="_blank">Sorted</a>. It’s British. They show how to make these cookies and it turns out, it’s super easy. It was so easy, we made three flavors: lavendar, pistachio, and lemon. We made at least 400 in just one day.</p> <p><a href="http://sortedfood.com/#!/macarons/" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="sorted" border="0" alt="sorted" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NLtiIqc97_A/UAVk1aPQcMI/AAAAAAAAIv0/fd-0BwOQy7E/sorted%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="231" height="244"></a></p> <p>I can’t believe I don’t have a good photo of us making them. Sorry. These are a great treat. Everyone really loved them. We did use canned frosting but mainly because you use so little between the cookies, it wasn’t worth the effort of whipping up buttercream</p> <p>I must say, the cake pops turned out unbelievable. I will share a bit more about that another time.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0AfDnvJ8d_I/UAVk1izpKBI/AAAAAAAAIv8/ug8B0v-ik88/s1600-h/IMG_0915%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0915" border="0" alt="IMG_0915" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UXU5iWx6uzk/UAVk1xQMTRI/AAAAAAAAIwE/uG9vyA4iHtI/IMG_0915_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a></p> <p>So now on to the rest of the list…laundry, take stuff to Goodwill, wash the car.. or I could finish planning our family road trip. This summer we are going Utah, and points in between. I definitely don’t want to procrastinate on getting that done.</p> <p align="center"><font size="5" face="Baskerville Old Face"><em>Beth</em></font></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:c5d3e871-9626-418e-a021-cf9463cdee04" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">del.icio.us Tags: <a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/cake+pops" rel="tag">cake pops</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/macarons" rel="tag">macarons</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/Sorted" rel="tag">Sorted</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/wedding" rel="tag">wedding</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/Anti-Procrastination" rel="tag">Anti-Procrastination</a></div> RedBettySummerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642703297336394771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436821984637274648.post-74146106581798062772012-07-13T09:14:00.001-07:002012-07-13T09:14:53.662-07:00Where Bloggers Create 2012<p><a href="http://www.mydesertcottage.com/2012/06/anybody-want-to-party.html" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WhereBloggersCreate2012-180" border="0" alt="WhereBloggersCreate2012-180" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-RvQJT9zmunI/UABJZrz8IFI/AAAAAAAAItM/2NFaAZSV2AE/WhereBloggersCreate2012-180%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="175" height="244"></a></p> <p>I thoroughly enjoy blogging, and I look so forward to Karen’s blog party, Where Bloggers Create, each year. It is so fun to connect with all the different bloggers and get to see their individual spaces. Even though my ability to post to my blog has been quite limited lately, I did not want to miss this year’s party.</p> <p>Unfortunately, I have had so many obstacles in getting my post ready. I finally carved out some time this morning but my computer just won’t stay on. This has been an ongoing issue so I haven’t been using my computer. I just thought I could coax it into cooperating long enough to get my post accomplished.</p> <p>Oh, well. I am sitting at my son’s computer and I managed to get a few photos so let’s see how this works out. Of course I am suppose to be walking out the door right now as well.</p> <p>I know everyone is so busy reading posts, but if you have time, you can see photos of my office from last year <a href="http://anothersummeroffun.blogspot.com/2011/07/where-bloggers-create-2011.html" target="_blank">here.</a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GQ4N4ciznNg/UABJaDcqU_I/AAAAAAAAItU/aHQnvvpzHIE/s1600-h/WP_000427%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000427" border="0" alt="WP_000427" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YnAZMZMWAkk/UABJaasgWNI/AAAAAAAAItc/98SbvuleQ1g/WP_000427_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="185" height="245"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0KSEzh7BCtg/UABJagS6B5I/AAAAAAAAItk/CruaJlmBWgM/s1600-h/WP_000432%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000432" border="0" alt="WP_000432" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4A1MNVEehfM/UABJbPv3HvI/AAAAAAAAIts/c1yzGuJfh08/WP_000432_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="308" height="410"></a></p> <p>It drives my daughter crazy, but I love to have all my stuff where I can see it. The artsy stuff, that is. All the tools and supplies I like neatly put away, which is why I have so many boxes and drawers and cubbies.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8u39pVL-9JI/UABJbiFBv6I/AAAAAAAAIt0/fIQvee6Ek0w/s1600-h/WP_000447%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Window area" border="0" alt="Window area" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dbe5_LmE7cA/UABJb9OCZfI/AAAAAAAAIt8/ENYmC3XSdAU/WP_000447_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <p>Decorative storage is amazing.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qD4QAK1_UXo/UABJcN6vFMI/AAAAAAAAIuE/nxhr9XtXjkw/s1600-h/WP_000448%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Desk space" border="0" alt="Desk space" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rdfqxtCWguw/UABJckxuMBI/AAAAAAAAIuM/wyA37wMsvh4/WP_000448_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="346" height="260"></a></p> <p>I cut my collections way down and am attempting to keep them in confined spaces.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qw4FaTktqgg/UABJc0h9pXI/AAAAAAAAIuU/m8Hna7xg1jA/s1600-h/WP_000448%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Desk space" border="0" alt="Desk space" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PW11hejLTTM/UABJdF1uUsI/AAAAAAAAIuc/yhCNlxq_VbE/WP_000448_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-hKzyi8CvmbA/UABJdsRzUmI/AAAAAAAAIuk/FGCAmWOjBQY/s1600-h/WP_000432%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WP_000432" border="0" alt="WP_000432" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-AX54PUy-dME/UABJdyR2DYI/AAAAAAAAIus/jj8HNXszOWc/WP_000432_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="357" height="135"></a></p> <p>Wow, I wish these photos were better. I took them with my phone.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-32ukBLBdL2k/UABJeGUf_KI/AAAAAAAAIu0/k2eXJNmM5ts/s1600-h/WP_000431%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Walk decal" border="0" alt="Walk decal" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Z3FCt3QbdHE/UABJel4lrxI/AAAAAAAAIu8/kNOcI595ayM/WP_000431_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="212" height="281"></a></p> <p>I put a few decals on the walls, too. I love these vinyl decals but it takes me so long to decide where to put them. I had this one on my shelf for almost two years. Turns out they will go bad, too, as they either lose their stickiness or they bond with the backing paper.</p> <p>It is because of this blog party that I was encouraged to get my office in order. Just like when family is coming over, we are encouraged to clean our homes, the incentive to get motivated is helpful. Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy the rest of your blog hopping.</p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="Kalinga"><em>Beth</em></font></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:529e2f71-9943-45fb-a46f-002c3c0a638a" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Where+Bloggers+Create" rel="tag">Where Bloggers Create</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/office" rel="tag">office</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/collections" rel="tag">collections</a></div> RedBettySummerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642703297336394771noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5436821984637274648.post-48517894188036319502012-06-23T10:17:00.001-07:002012-06-23T10:17:58.154-07:00Saturday Home Spa Day<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CfkgzJMCK40/T-X6OK4WOiI/AAAAAAAAIsQ/3EmE9D85pvA/s1600-h/Colin%252520going%252520to%252520school%252520and%252520blog%252520photos%252520007%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Colin going to school and blog photos 007" border="0" alt="Colin going to school and blog photos 007" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9T5RDnXOLDA/T-X6OlFExAI/AAAAAAAAIsY/R2IVdZfdegk/Colin%252520going%252520to%252520school%252520and%252520blog%252520photos%252520007_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a></p> <p><font size="3">As I write this, I am marinating in coconut oil. The house is quiet and I don’t have to go anywhere this morning. This is the perfect opportunity to spend a little extra TLC on myself.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Coconut oil is great for the hair and scalp. Among other properties, coconut oil contains lauric acid which is an antimicrobial. It is an effective moisturizer because of it’s high moisture retention ability, without all the chemicals or carrier products. It’s just simple.</font></p> <p><font size="3">I mixed up some sugar, coconut oil and lime juice for an all over body scrub. I got the recipe from </font><a href="http://amy-newnostalgia.blogspot.com/2012/06/coconut-lime-sugar-scrub-shaving.html" target="_blank"><font size="3">Amy at New Nostalgia blog</font></a><font size="3">. She also gives her instructions for a thorough, perfectly smooth shave.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Now to deal with my nail situation…</font></p> <p><font size="3">Just before wedding day, a few of us ladies met for mani-pedis.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vX03ujmRIUM/T-X6P0DDDjI/AAAAAAAAIsg/DOAfME-T74Q/s1600-h/Moving%252520day%252520and%252520pedicure%252520pics%252520014%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Moving day and pedicure pics 014" border="0" alt="Moving day and pedicure pics 014" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bBIJI_Geuf0/T-X6QaBbdoI/AAAAAAAAIso/MtvIpZIUw34/Moving%252520day%252520and%252520pedicure%252520pics%252520014_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">It’s been a few weeks now and I need to get these nails off. I’ve never had gel nails before. It was not my intention but I broke several nails so it seemed the best solution. The manicurist tried to convince me to square the tops but I am rather partial to the rounded look. I kind of thought they would get brittle and fall off, or something. Surely I won’t have to go to the salon to have them removed. I just don’t have the interest in paying the money.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-oBm4Rdc82A4/T-X6Ql7OgGI/AAAAAAAAIs0/xoN-FK3N4mQ/s1600-h/Moving%252520day%252520and%252520pedicure%252520pics%252520015%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Moving day and pedicure pics 015" border="0" alt="Moving day and pedicure pics 015" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PiLod6VzYwI/T-X6RarnPeI/AAAAAAAAIs8/7n5XuYxQkaw/Moving%252520day%252520and%252520pedicure%252520pics%252520015_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="193" height="146"></a></p> <p>Now, paying for a pedicure is something I don’t mind. <font size="6" face="Bodoni MT"><em>Beth</em></font></p> <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:4f1d6312-1acf-42b2-b6f6-40cd8b88aa2f" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">del.icio.us Tags: <a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/mani-pedi" rel="tag">mani-pedi</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/home+spa" rel="tag">home spa</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/wedding" rel="tag">wedding</a>,<a href="http://del.icio.us/popular/coconut" rel="tag">coconut</a></div></p> RedBettySummerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642703297336394771noreply@blogger.com1