tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85281666566324939712024-03-19T04:47:51.518-06:00Loving LifeLoving Each Crazy MinuteVanessa@Lovin-Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01425615001381659506noreply@blogger.comBlogger151125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528166656632493971.post-64536801245520773802013-01-16T23:19:00.000-07:002013-01-16T23:19:03.482-07:00Pink and Orange One year old's room<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqpDq3T2LsU9nS3wENfWAdHDDjZ1tG0HeWbfV4AwiJYuY2HOFThsQ2tZw3x03VgnjqrMnzubOS4rObEkNku_8SBX8WoK-_DyoSvHV2rXltETJFgv6mTfa3BZzhcWmFvrYgmLwqTN6NR4E/s1600/above+crib.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqpDq3T2LsU9nS3wENfWAdHDDjZ1tG0HeWbfV4AwiJYuY2HOFThsQ2tZw3x03VgnjqrMnzubOS4rObEkNku_8SBX8WoK-_DyoSvHV2rXltETJFgv6mTfa3BZzhcWmFvrYgmLwqTN6NR4E/s400/above+crib.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I have been in the process of re-decorating A-Cake's room. Before it was just pinks and white. But I thought that it needed some more color. She is one now and I thought it was a little too babyish. So I added in some orange. I love the orange that I added. I didn't add a ton, but just enough to give it some pop and more dimension. I think it is now a room that will grow with her through her toddler and early years. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(Please excuse the pics, some are a little blurry, its hard to take pictures in her room. She is either sleeping in it or destroying it)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkHjFjhws_CWJ9XlRoC2MeJvqeeGhZNBK8NEhvvg6Ceb_eUdk6GBQuzTUP_4QSwAVcdQNsgPk0ibPhHAxt1BFVNmcU2oRKg3aJgzfGMmpCiWTK_wG-0732uyRk_Xc6VlXItbztgqoN70/s1600/pink+and+orange+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkHjFjhws_CWJ9XlRoC2MeJvqeeGhZNBK8NEhvvg6Ceb_eUdk6GBQuzTUP_4QSwAVcdQNsgPk0ibPhHAxt1BFVNmcU2oRKg3aJgzfGMmpCiWTK_wG-0732uyRk_Xc6VlXItbztgqoN70/s640/pink+and+orange+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This photo wall collage is above her book shelf</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I also wanted way more pictures. She needed a picture of Jesus, the temple, and our church's leader. I also wanted a few more of her and a family picture. I think frames can be expensive and I am cheap, so I just bought all of these frames at all a dollar and painted them. The stickers are just wall stickers, I have seen them at the dollar store. But my Aunt gave them to Analiese for her birthday.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJm74YdAiResLWyGKJYoioWI3uvwPyBUei1icPP8rSZ9amdNPJwaXoAPNNX-WpNEzWu91LKJp4IVKX2q9N8LKTev22pC-IjsH_7ycDMR9H_omye0QRrcuGj27YljM_eUx47UB2Ddc6EwI/s1600/orange+and+pink+one+year+old+room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJm74YdAiResLWyGKJYoioWI3uvwPyBUei1icPP8rSZ9amdNPJwaXoAPNNX-WpNEzWu91LKJp4IVKX2q9N8LKTev22pC-IjsH_7ycDMR9H_omye0QRrcuGj27YljM_eUx47UB2Ddc6EwI/s640/orange+and+pink+one+year+old+room.jpg" width="537" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This is her collage over her crib.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I love these pictures, they are her at 7 months. She has grown so much since then. The big silver frame is from Ikea, but I bought it brand new in the plastic wrap for really cheap at a thrift store. I thought about painting it, but I ended up just leaving it. The other two picture frames are just frames I bought at a garage sale, I actually think the lady gave me them for free. They used to be white. The DREAM letters I bought when we were first married at a craft store. They had the vinyl on them and everything, when I bought them. The frames were black so I sanded those suckers down (which took forever, that black paint was crazy!) and painted them pink. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9ZQZ_HxM7s3URBqPiesUKfUsnVJEqaJdiWzIEZ3ClWx6hkrFcg8OdCPJ_QhyAQcEr0h-TKAAeVssV5r98O0JGg4jPDPVKzeCw-Ko3hC98yvZUdMBUuumzr1Y-TMSjgCA45MP6H_sxvo/s1600/shelf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9ZQZ_HxM7s3URBqPiesUKfUsnVJEqaJdiWzIEZ3ClWx6hkrFcg8OdCPJ_QhyAQcEr0h-TKAAeVssV5r98O0JGg4jPDPVKzeCw-Ko3hC98yvZUdMBUuumzr1Y-TMSjgCA45MP6H_sxvo/s400/shelf.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I bought this shelf at a garage sell ($0.50!). It was this really hideous yellow. I didn't even sand it, it had plastic veneer over it and the paint went on pretty easy over it. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYfc7hLsWwW6cwF2VihwdRT0_QMGj6puWF_EKQBoCCx9ZLdhhHUAITLZ-yokQqCcbxnbsAlFX6lNtCsVf5leWXBjOjTUowy_r5zGw-3qSsVZspOTJzve-Ml84s_5MWr8vYHQXeAmIL1m8/s1600/one+year+old+girl's+room+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYfc7hLsWwW6cwF2VihwdRT0_QMGj6puWF_EKQBoCCx9ZLdhhHUAITLZ-yokQqCcbxnbsAlFX6lNtCsVf5leWXBjOjTUowy_r5zGw-3qSsVZspOTJzve-Ml84s_5MWr8vYHQXeAmIL1m8/s640/one+year+old+girl's+room+.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I love the pictures that spell out O-N-E, that we took for her one year old photo shoot. I had to hang those up. And the I re-arranged the wall by her dresser a tiny bit. I added the footprints (that used to be above her book shelf)over here. And before it only had two flower lights, the other one was over her crib. But she has surprisingly long arms and pulled the flower light down on top of her one day in her crib (luckily its really light plastic) but it had to be moved and I thought it looked cute all of them together. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We are in an apartment, so that means no painting. If I could paint, it would be a super duper light pink and then on the wall with her crib I would have stripes of the really light pink and then either white or darker pink... someday! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here are a couple before pictures of her room before. This is at a different place so the furniture was switched around a little bit, but you can see the decor change. I love her new decor 100X better! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
You can see all the before pictures in a previous post <a href="http://lovin-life-piersons.blogspot.com/2012/02/analieses-room.html">HERE</a>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJd-b4B0_K1DhzfyO6pHsmKQXdd27_-ZC8Fkt22ED6ZaydPIe0m8ZAZeD_YKLIdFTy15WJzO7pBLGp3q70lDPOatevYmppjBAuRrf816qmI9YJFgZfVYFj4EdL6mTPgTQ8NGUw-U6q3rw/s1600/P1000600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJd-b4B0_K1DhzfyO6pHsmKQXdd27_-ZC8Fkt22ED6ZaydPIe0m8ZAZeD_YKLIdFTy15WJzO7pBLGp3q70lDPOatevYmppjBAuRrf816qmI9YJFgZfVYFj4EdL6mTPgTQ8NGUw-U6q3rw/s320/P1000600.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipj4oJBd3yiPcEJTr4y3V_Egc9vqNPJaSCuDVgx-TjkepT-ytUEjfpLL9zFZn8LcDYOMjFCwTBa0Yxb_ex4pQcvW9iRN_OnUyi82ns6S99xC1STOheXV_h8dsAtFqyyjcj1l0qG_yE9MM/s1600/shelf+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipj4oJBd3yiPcEJTr4y3V_Egc9vqNPJaSCuDVgx-TjkepT-ytUEjfpLL9zFZn8LcDYOMjFCwTBa0Yxb_ex4pQcvW9iRN_OnUyi82ns6S99xC1STOheXV_h8dsAtFqyyjcj1l0qG_yE9MM/s320/shelf+1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span id="goog_160226168"></span><span id="goog_160226169"></span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Vanessa@Lovin-Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01425615001381659506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528166656632493971.post-7342127144369811912013-01-14T20:48:00.000-07:002013-01-14T20:48:46.192-07:00Sesame Street Quiet Book<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPF3GbRb64FDjzvuQC82PbZwRrcI-j9KTm1R2a7q0tEyFu5FRgF1Xeieosw64YmB32Dsb87Mlv0oSlEyJoXN1URABLCzo8FvlRnSv8SnYK856poYXFB5V9RKnzh2S9OAtU-m961FnfEM/s1600/quiet+book+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPF3GbRb64FDjzvuQC82PbZwRrcI-j9KTm1R2a7q0tEyFu5FRgF1Xeieosw64YmB32Dsb87Mlv0oSlEyJoXN1URABLCzo8FvlRnSv8SnYK856poYXFB5V9RKnzh2S9OAtU-m961FnfEM/s400/quiet+book+cover.jpg" width="326" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Miss A-Cakes loves herself some Sesame Street. She has many Sesame Street stuffed animals, outfits, DVD's, and books. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So when I set out to make a quiet book I knew it had to be a Sesame Street one. I saw a few quiet books on Pinterest that were Sesame Street but they were all really short. I wanted this to be a really big book to keep her entertained and to help her learn. Also since she is only one I had to make sure it had activities that she was able to do, but also some that would grow with her and challenge her. So I set out on the biggest crafting thing of my life. This book took several nights a week for like 2 1/2 months. It really took forever! If you are better at sewing, it probably wouldn't take so long for you, but I am a crappy sew-er so it was very time intensive. But She really likes it, I gave it to her for Christmas and she looks at it every day. And the other kids that have played with it absolutely love it. In fact Analiese got into a fight with one kid over it, they both did not want to share it. So that made all my time worth it. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQ3AtX4xpbSWqybem-jxCGJEK_cn36625LpIFMtJgpYt6EcyqcYmEg4zh_lZ1kdPIkgrBLZwCmAYzY0Qs_Amn9grJOGxvq0INLGaFylNU_IMmj5390XoGESN7XE1iAkJoXfRJpL4WS_s/s1600/Sesame+Street+quiet+book+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQ3AtX4xpbSWqybem-jxCGJEK_cn36625LpIFMtJgpYt6EcyqcYmEg4zh_lZ1kdPIkgrBLZwCmAYzY0Qs_Amn9grJOGxvq0INLGaFylNU_IMmj5390XoGESN7XE1iAkJoXfRJpL4WS_s/s640/Sesame+Street+quiet+book+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This is the front and the back of the book. I didn't have a pattern or anything for the book, so everything was cut out free hand, so please don't judge my characters. One little girl at church knew immediately who was on the cover there, and it really helped my spirits! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The cover doesn't do anything special. It just has Elmo and Cookie Monster's face on it and the Sesame Street sign. I just used a glue gun on it to glue everything down. I didn't want to sew all the details on the faces down, so that was easier. I used foam letters that I bought at the craft store for the letters on 'Sesame.' </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The back is a page to color with dry erase markers on. I sewed a piece of plastic to the white felt. I should have doodled on it, but I forgot. A-Cakes is too young to color, so she hasn't used this page yet. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I didn't want to bind the book so I just used 3 giant rings to hold it together. I think its easier for A-Cakes to turn this way and that way I can take out a page to wash it, or add a page if I wanted to. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The one problem was that a hole punch was too small for the felt to fit through, so I had to just cut holes in the pages and then I sewed around the holes. I did it last, so that made it harder. I think I would cut the holes out in the beginning. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBTPpsvw71UKNAhpG4kgpNa0yKyAxUt6sTZ0ITkYaph8QK3cQEN5_vlar-QKCE6n6nBw22kzNWJ1QDF2FPqXmBL9qvCgfnwYLcxc0BoqTRM2oLyZcj32yGMtkVPMfnwPjWfYuYC_ZYdw/s1600/quiet+book+sesame+street+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBTPpsvw71UKNAhpG4kgpNa0yKyAxUt6sTZ0ITkYaph8QK3cQEN5_vlar-QKCE6n6nBw22kzNWJ1QDF2FPqXmBL9qvCgfnwYLcxc0BoqTRM2oLyZcj32yGMtkVPMfnwPjWfYuYC_ZYdw/s640/quiet+book+sesame+street+2.jpg" width="490" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The top pages are a counting bead page, the other page is a page that you brush the guy's hair and brush his teeth. You can also braid the red strips or tie a bow. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The lower pages are Super Grover with the foam letters in the alphabet and then the second page is Elmo with a fish tank. There are a few animals and the child needs to decide which one is Dorothy (Elmo's pet fish) and put Dorothy in the bowl. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I tied everything down, she is young and would lose the pieces or put them in her mouth, I zigzagged and double stitched those things on way tightly. They are on there pretty good. I glue gunned the rest of the stuff on. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqQad3PTIfSO4diNt8R_IQKgDT7tUZtfft6Z4qE2VimVl3Xjq__A5iQSyRE-IhUJePcSSM7fGNLl5Ng61SQy5264YHI4xu9RT-vJEt3IF21kYv6JVI8_H6ufp1CYIBMgnjm-WFzlR420/s1600/Sesame+Street+Quiet+book+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqQad3PTIfSO4diNt8R_IQKgDT7tUZtfft6Z4qE2VimVl3Xjq__A5iQSyRE-IhUJePcSSM7fGNLl5Ng61SQy5264YHI4xu9RT-vJEt3IF21kYv6JVI8_H6ufp1CYIBMgnjm-WFzlR420/s640/Sesame+Street+Quiet+book+1.jpg" width="446" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The top pages are a felt house with windows and doors that open up with pictures inside and then the other page is where you feed Cookie Monster cookies. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The bottom pages are a page with big bird, he has feathers all over his face and then snap on flowers. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2vcHXf0aiAR8Fcqp45hoLok7pFu-qJ1AuKa9k1ZwXjER2ud05DWDghNoQDWguyJo0zWSkxqlUoolT9qgPBgckDLiplFqTtXXRMzv_0eyDz-XltcHCfrx-QrhDkpRNWAszaAH-_S1OyI/s1600/sesame+street+quiet+book+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2vcHXf0aiAR8Fcqp45hoLok7pFu-qJ1AuKa9k1ZwXjER2ud05DWDghNoQDWguyJo0zWSkxqlUoolT9qgPBgckDLiplFqTtXXRMzv_0eyDz-XltcHCfrx-QrhDkpRNWAszaAH-_S1OyI/s640/sesame+street+quiet+book+3.jpg" width="540" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The top page is the felt house again with the windows opened. I sewed the pictures onto the felt. There is also a picture of my husband in the door. I didn't want the pictures to get ruined by drool or shaking her sippy cup really hard (which she does on a daily basis) so I sewed plastic, plastic from those photo album pages, onto the pictures. A-Cakes loves looking at the pictures. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The lower pages is Abby Cadabby, who is a fairy. I used yarn for her hair and wrote poof out of the foam letters, I was running out of letters because I had used most of them on the alphabet page. So poof was one of the only magical word I could make. Then there is a zipper pocket that you can put treats or crayons, or the dry erase markers for the coloring page. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5VG17SRMgXHJz9In9xESki3k1ch_WjAQu41hWgoPEmorlJ4a1D4L2TzuYeLS__LDR93lPPNy1vOP7q7-icMLZvt7-LsUKDp8MWpE-fdsqpY3EMwphoTzhpSfE2UUXTuUEQuNcHEmxL_k/s1600/quiet+book+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5VG17SRMgXHJz9In9xESki3k1ch_WjAQu41hWgoPEmorlJ4a1D4L2TzuYeLS__LDR93lPPNy1vOP7q7-icMLZvt7-LsUKDp8MWpE-fdsqpY3EMwphoTzhpSfE2UUXTuUEQuNcHEmxL_k/s640/quiet+book+8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This page is Murray, he has a segment on Sesame Street called 'Murray had a Little Lamb' so I used this stuff that is kinda like what they make those boa's out of, but you buy it by the yard for his face. And then pom pom's for the lamb. The other page is A-Cake's favorite, you match the shapes and colors together. She really just likes to rip them off the page because she likes the velcro that I put on there. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
For the pages I used a piece of felt for each page and then sewed the two pages together. The only problem I had with this, was some parts that I had glue gunned were too close to the edges and my sewing machine had a hard time going over the glue gunned parts, I bent a needle on the cover and I had to sew the alphabet page on by hand because it had too much glue near the edges. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Cutting out all the little pieces and shapes and character faces free hand took a long time. But it turned out really good (even if some of my characters look slightly demented, poor Big Bird...). I just had to tell my self that she is one and does not notice the faults, she will just have fun with it, and she really does. It was worth all the time! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Vanessa@Lovin-Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01425615001381659506noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528166656632493971.post-25972897291187836762012-12-13T00:40:00.002-07:002012-12-13T23:20:49.216-07:00Simple Wood Nativity<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha5_kAXZyefhdbvhBV6vOIB-lHj-Rl2_24Pp3f9FTNr-Vvn4JxUNcz3ustpgQ2cgUoMuVT8ND-VKbibrXzPHgSh_0GFeFKt5zdCJ11JXGTro4gbsYZEblcPzDpS5T5XI4SsEfKNyV3nGg/s1600/simple+wood+nativity+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha5_kAXZyefhdbvhBV6vOIB-lHj-Rl2_24Pp3f9FTNr-Vvn4JxUNcz3ustpgQ2cgUoMuVT8ND-VKbibrXzPHgSh_0GFeFKt5zdCJ11JXGTro4gbsYZEblcPzDpS5T5XI4SsEfKNyV3nGg/s640/simple+wood+nativity+2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I love nativities, but holy cow, they are expensive. I someday would love to have a collection of them, so when I saw all the different simple wood natvities on Pinterest I had to make one too. I loved how they were wood, because that just seemed so perfect. Christ was a carpenter, and of course a very simple and humble man, he wouldn't need anything extravagant. So I thought the simple nativity fit well. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It was pretty easy to make, I made 7 of them so it took more time making that many. I am giving them out as gifts to some family members, like our moms and such. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
To make these you need: </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1- 6" 2x2 piece of wood for Joseph</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1-5" 2X2 piece of wood for Mary</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1-3"x2" piece of furring strip. For baby blanket</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
2- 1 1/2" ball knob For adult heads</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1- 3/4" furniture button for baby head or 1/2" depending on how big your wood piece, see below.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 popsicle craft stick</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 wood star</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
long piece of Jute</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
paint of desired colors</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Wood glue</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You can get the 2x2 pieces at a hardware store. I got mine at Lowe's. They come in really long pieces and so you just have them cut it if you can't yourself. They charge $.25 for each cut and about $1.50 for the whole long 2x2. I got lucky and this really nice old man who worked there cut the pieces for me for free. So I got enough wood for 7 nativities, and one extra long piece that was too short for the machine to cut all for $1.50. I forgot to get the wood piece for Jesus' body. But I found these like wooden gift tags at Joann's for a dollar for 7, so I cut those so that they were just rectangles and not tags. But the tags were a little wider than the wood piece in the original picture, so I had to buy bigger wood balls for the head. the original picture calls for the smaller button. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4ELI50yd4zXMuggn_QmCxVGjqDDewLonYy5nf6ECgmXalAig2nO3EGmQlwqc_fZRnjQMc22LWX3rsVU1CFgPb5aCVNChsEQd1O6hmY8i_yEiyiZQ6cj1QwdEXI-igDyNWJq981xz4k0/s1600/simple+wood+nativity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4ELI50yd4zXMuggn_QmCxVGjqDDewLonYy5nf6ECgmXalAig2nO3EGmQlwqc_fZRnjQMc22LWX3rsVU1CFgPb5aCVNChsEQd1O6hmY8i_yEiyiZQ6cj1QwdEXI-igDyNWJq981xz4k0/s320/simple+wood+nativity.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sand your wood pieces. Paint everything your desired color. I then used gel stain and applied that. Then I glued everything together. I used the popsicle stick to attach the star to the back of Mary. I added the jute and my little tag and was done! I really like how it turned out, I hope everyone I made them for likes them too. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGltsKc23opjInR0pGq76dPJjH-dIQ_UgtFvi-LmnXDnWEhU1VhWwqIN1pFoxng4qb5M_bFHeEQCMKg1MkHH7sbgShsNenIO2uqUju1c_f3bJBxXi_4smmvGapbIp9z7cYmhvhCwo9Cw4/s1600/simple+wood+nativity+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGltsKc23opjInR0pGq76dPJjH-dIQ_UgtFvi-LmnXDnWEhU1VhWwqIN1pFoxng4qb5M_bFHeEQCMKg1MkHH7sbgShsNenIO2uqUju1c_f3bJBxXi_4smmvGapbIp9z7cYmhvhCwo9Cw4/s320/simple+wood+nativity+1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
HERE IS THE ORIGINAL You can find the tutorial for this one over at <a href="http://learning-to-b-me.blogspot.com/2010/08/flags-and-more-wood.html">Learning to be Me.</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyWrM3DST4JYjwNMlYLL2YwZBbJpTl7L7wWD4NuYezsk2oAKA_Hgz6vG_1w4EXu3BZtrwULiu7cbQMzHLLNG1WhtBklxtY4pIa5BBFoi6yM9D4kc72d1OfaQpqFDMsKC5S9oZz215BhI/s1600/IMG_5991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyWrM3DST4JYjwNMlYLL2YwZBbJpTl7L7wWD4NuYezsk2oAKA_Hgz6vG_1w4EXu3BZtrwULiu7cbQMzHLLNG1WhtBklxtY4pIa5BBFoi6yM9D4kc72d1OfaQpqFDMsKC5S9oZz215BhI/s1600/IMG_5991.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>Vanessa@Lovin-Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01425615001381659506noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528166656632493971.post-34520560899483425352012-12-12T23:55:00.000-07:002012-12-13T00:49:52.163-07:00Personalized Accordion Cards<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixUuIc2dAVJD6p_u0kA_2ZXqdexx2-3qMgHnOuk2BoGy7hzlKC0ZPifWf-B2z_LIgHxf-KbM7OQ8hE7ChASmIfnLf7vpSEjlIVfrhXVwdIq3oX8Shb-1ZoJxlu7O3c6CRRN4CzOxcxMLM/s1600/homemade+accordian+card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixUuIc2dAVJD6p_u0kA_2ZXqdexx2-3qMgHnOuk2BoGy7hzlKC0ZPifWf-B2z_LIgHxf-KbM7OQ8hE7ChASmIfnLf7vpSEjlIVfrhXVwdIq3oX8Shb-1ZoJxlu7O3c6CRRN4CzOxcxMLM/s640/homemade+accordian+card.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
{Card for my sister's birthday}</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My mom is the master of card making. She whips them out like crazy and has a whole box full of cards she has made, and they are all so cute! But the cutest cards she makes are these cards that open up like an accordion and are super personalized and fun! They are seriously my most favorite cards ever! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She adds stuff all over them that are fun inside jokes, or good qualities about you and the card totally is a reflection of the person. They do take more time than a regular card, so she only makes them occasionally, but they turn out well worth it, and are soooo much better than getting a generic card from the store, or even a homemade card that could be for anyone. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So she made a couple recently and I begged her to send me some pictures of them and tell me how to do it. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So here is how to make one of these great cards!<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1. Get a 8X11 Piece of plain paper</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
2. Fold the paper 3 times equally accordion style. (so you alternate the folds), this means you will have three panels on each side, so 6 panels total. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
3. Cut the top of the paper to your desired height and round the tops on all 2 panels. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgx6RcNeh2yF3ztNQAX8FtdMVGsiA4z52XFaBqsjkWpFgctBDTvmEjalyQr_a4xP4mmHtz6FSH2iCLuNpgPerMQpIAkGNK5xoVOb2J71EToz2CWr-nK6FaQQbI8_8-btomrZcYAV5d3c/s1600/red+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgx6RcNeh2yF3ztNQAX8FtdMVGsiA4z52XFaBqsjkWpFgctBDTvmEjalyQr_a4xP4mmHtz6FSH2iCLuNpgPerMQpIAkGNK5xoVOb2J71EToz2CWr-nK6FaQQbI8_8-btomrZcYAV5d3c/s400/red+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
4. Cut patterned or glittered, or colored paper out for each panel, its fun to do each panel different colors or patterns that all tie together. Glue the paper onto the plain white paper. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
5. Add embellishments all over, you can use stickers, ribbon, wire, rhinestones, more patterned paper, glitter, or paper punches. You can also add pictures, or baby pictures of the person if you have those. Add stuff that reflects the person's personality. It is good to add their name, maybe a cute personalized note, and then add words or sayings about that person. Like I said before, their good qualities and inside jokes are always fun. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
You can use sticker letters or print stuff out on your computer or use a combination like my mom does. My mom likes to use an ink pad to color the edges of the card-stock when she prints out the paper. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Also my mom usually makes a book mark and adds it to the card, on one of the middle panels she makes a pocket out of the cardstock and then adds the bookmark there. I love the bookmarks. You can see the bookmark in the picture below with the Taylor Swift Sticker.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqW04nkhnNvXvgniyHvW9zEkDkGZZKIstjljxsV6X7dZkvKUC-uSlcg9YrSzCKHmvoWi_vZAxqAZkf2hg0pqn0tgJLJcSR-O6HL73pBsKOAnXbi4JH55qi-Wnraj01cwnCnQrJqHuP4Bg/s1600/red+card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqW04nkhnNvXvgniyHvW9zEkDkGZZKIstjljxsV6X7dZkvKUC-uSlcg9YrSzCKHmvoWi_vZAxqAZkf2hg0pqn0tgJLJcSR-O6HL73pBsKOAnXbi4JH55qi-Wnraj01cwnCnQrJqHuP4Bg/s640/red+card.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
6. While glueing everything down and adding embelishments make sure the card is folding nicely. If you use a thick paper or glitter paper, don't add too much glue or it will make the card buckle. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
7. Use a hole punch to cut three holes in the top of the panels. Then add ribbon to it and tie it off. My mom usually uses 3 different kinds of ribbon or yarn or whatever to add texture and fun! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6nN0odJoxuzg-yHsP5UyU8pkyMx36SR8v00AqDWCoURQyCy7MJxZ_ji3mYB4itWTuK5T4gnk-FDJqgyhYCvd4ojN3F6G_E9pMU1VjNmI53mX9OqsFbSu1JrI4RklXW97sa3Kkfn2v4uQ/s1600/red+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6nN0odJoxuzg-yHsP5UyU8pkyMx36SR8v00AqDWCoURQyCy7MJxZ_ji3mYB4itWTuK5T4gnk-FDJqgyhYCvd4ojN3F6G_E9pMU1VjNmI53mX9OqsFbSu1JrI4RklXW97sa3Kkfn2v4uQ/s640/red+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This card is based off of Taylor Swift's <i>RED</i> album and Christmas. My mom's friend asked my mom to help her make. The card is a gift for my mom's friends daughter and will have Taylor Swift concert tickets in it. I guess the girl really loves Taylor Swift (who doesn't?)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9K9Q26iBGckrhvjw8qqgw4h-HDzg1H3QdLe6nKNFYEGeg7j-E341cMq8Xys0z_o2ZF6K8p1krQtN2Je-zDnLZoTigss5UTNvZSrPVpZIEpVMVP07Cm1RWmHVJD3Nqnl0aDCmyz5GEVp8/s1600/homemade+accordion+card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9K9Q26iBGckrhvjw8qqgw4h-HDzg1H3QdLe6nKNFYEGeg7j-E341cMq8Xys0z_o2ZF6K8p1krQtN2Je-zDnLZoTigss5UTNvZSrPVpZIEpVMVP07Cm1RWmHVJD3Nqnl0aDCmyz5GEVp8/s640/homemade+accordion+card.jpg" width="556" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
{This card my mom made for my aunt, so her sister, for my aunt's birthday. The picture shows both sides} </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLZh4Y6rnodpTcex2BCdafXudTRf3k1kMGZ-O31rC4IC9zmhXPu92ZOc9Q69G3Lr6DMHILyB52O6nkXkTWefBS3zY6W184t4qRDZ6NzaEPQyAJMd-uzWxbfxdpViN9_IxJVbDyIQyC9E/s1600/accordion+card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLZh4Y6rnodpTcex2BCdafXudTRf3k1kMGZ-O31rC4IC9zmhXPu92ZOc9Q69G3Lr6DMHILyB52O6nkXkTWefBS3zY6W184t4qRDZ6NzaEPQyAJMd-uzWxbfxdpViN9_IxJVbDyIQyC9E/s640/accordion+card.jpg" width="556" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
{This is both sides of the card she made for my sister's 15th birthday. And in case you are wondering what 'Feed me Faster' its an inside joke. My sister got surgery on her nose earlier this year and on pain medication made my mom spoon feed her ice cream and then told her to 'feed her faster' hahahaha, we will never let her live it down.}</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
But the whole idea of the cards is to be personal and fun. These are cards people usually only get once or twice in a life time. I still have the one my mom gave me when I was in high school. But living in an apartment makes me keep it in storage, so I couldn't take a picture of it. But she had baby pictures of me on it and everything. I love that card! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Vanessa@Lovin-Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01425615001381659506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528166656632493971.post-2599627860886959702012-11-28T14:35:00.001-07:002012-11-28T14:35:25.665-07:00Lunch Pita Pocket<div style="text-align: center;">
I love these pita pockets. I make them several times a week to eat for lunch. They are so delicious, and pretty healthy.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3hSGgd5CxAqYXYo8yY1fCEYSXUNg7r_eKLD9lfvd9KCvKGdUgq-bovOEeUGXeB2LAkQfqIi_QTIyxxqVIYSp8glQIpVtk-ce2xZ4crqfKxnvBRs3IgM5AUGhgJnJABEJ2kpPlbozfiE/s1600/stuffed+pita+pocket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3hSGgd5CxAqYXYo8yY1fCEYSXUNg7r_eKLD9lfvd9KCvKGdUgq-bovOEeUGXeB2LAkQfqIi_QTIyxxqVIYSp8glQIpVtk-ce2xZ4crqfKxnvBRs3IgM5AUGhgJnJABEJ2kpPlbozfiE/s640/stuffed+pita+pocket.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Lunch Pita Pockets:<br />
4 slices of chicken lunch meat (I use Oscar Meyer Oven Roasted Chicken) Sliced<br />
1/4 c. spinach, sliced up<br />
1/8 C. onion chopped<br />
1/2 tomato chopped<br />
1 TB Ranch dressing<br />
salt and pepper to taste<br />
1/2 pita (I recommend whole wheat)<br />
Slice and chop up all your stuff, put it in a bowl add salt and pepper and ranch dressing, mix everything up. Then put it in your pita pocket, enjoy!<br />
<br />
A lot of the times I slice up extras of the tomato and onion and spinach and put them in the fridge so I only have to cut up the veggies once that week. In the picture I have shown two pita pockets, sometimes if I am more hungry I will make more of it and put it in two pockets (so a full pita is used).<br />
Make sure your pita is also the kind with he pocket, some of them don't have pockets, I have made that mistake a couple of times.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Vanessa@Lovin-Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01425615001381659506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528166656632493971.post-83891737012434220442012-11-27T23:16:00.001-07:002012-11-27T23:16:16.670-07:00Sesame Street 1st Birthday (on the cheap)<div style="text-align: center;">
It was A-Cake's first birthday party last weekend. It was a total success, she had so much fun, and man-oh-man she was spoiled. I don't think I have ever seen a kid get so many presents. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I also can't believe my baby girl is one! It is crazy, I feel like she should still only be a couple months old. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I don't think parties need to be expensive, some of these parties on Pinterest seem like they cost at least a hundred dollars! I love my A-Cakes, but she is one, there is no reason to spend a hundred dollars on a party she will never remember (I don't think I would spend that much on a party, ever...I'm cheap) </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This party, including the cupcakes and everything was about $30.00 (thats the cupcakes, silverware, plates, etc.)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A-Cakes LOVES watching Sesame Street, its the only show she really watches. I put it on for her in the mornings when I am just waking up. She seems to really love Elmo, so she has quite a bit of Sesame Street products. So I knew that had to be the theme of the party.<br />
I invited 43 people to the party, and most of them showed up, so that was way too many for our apt, so my lovely Aunt was kind enough to let us borrow her house for the party, Thanks Bonnie! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgc6EifLL3HVURF22sYy4FM_V782XFV1oTKunJigBsxaCkJuVYBb2mnRWJ_PzM_q92LbFC5WMdALSLPYOoRqHQ1DemExYPZsKsaPcw1seri6OJoN0p6eFXJvi9MmJ2elvlJfGq0EOS30w/s1600/sesame+street+table+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgc6EifLL3HVURF22sYy4FM_V782XFV1oTKunJigBsxaCkJuVYBb2mnRWJ_PzM_q92LbFC5WMdALSLPYOoRqHQ1DemExYPZsKsaPcw1seri6OJoN0p6eFXJvi9MmJ2elvlJfGq0EOS30w/s640/sesame+street+table+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
For the table decor, I used some of A-Cake's Sesame Street Stuffed animals she had (I got these animals at a garage sale last summer, they are baby characters which I think is so cute!)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I also had pictures of her on the table, I already had the 8x10 frame, and the smaller frames I got from all a dollar (thanks Samantha Stephenson Photography for the one year old pics of A-Cakes).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Okay, isn't that plate the cutest? It used to be my husband's when he was little. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The cupcakes we got at Sam's Club. I don't have a card there, but my momma does and she was in town so she ordered them and picked them up for me. They are so cheap! $13.99 for 30 cupcakes!!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYY9vbt4jYSjPnYq2u4LFigvxemUPGJ0nCInTKBIdGTbX2ARnjSizmtswyJNZXyxOZDlL9aBXNC8JqVj3oGjJNc43KVf14cGjsOaIN7_srzCIJ-5HBCSI_f_R_F-jAUTmSwhZ7RIkyt_g/s1600/sesame+street+15.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYY9vbt4jYSjPnYq2u4LFigvxemUPGJ0nCInTKBIdGTbX2ARnjSizmtswyJNZXyxOZDlL9aBXNC8JqVj3oGjJNc43KVf14cGjsOaIN7_srzCIJ-5HBCSI_f_R_F-jAUTmSwhZ7RIkyt_g/s640/sesame+street+15.jpg.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I put candy on the table, pixie sticks and gummy worms and put labels that said: Oscar's Slimy worms and Abby's pixie dust (as in Abby Caddabby). </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
As party favors I gave out crazy straws, but just to the kids that were there. I bought two packs of 6 crazy straws at the dollar store, the kids were having fun with them it looked like. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZHGse1Rul1uwNn0KWk9y5fmVR74EEtchGJYxvTKL96KczKb_4hZ366RLEUaq2Bc4Mv_5NUWkzxSTKjgD8lmsLUNchrGll-h9U1fez1wN__feVyCwsMvKNSvWvAZ272O_ee9Vw8kSTew/s1600/c+is+for+cookie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZHGse1Rul1uwNn0KWk9y5fmVR74EEtchGJYxvTKL96KczKb_4hZ366RLEUaq2Bc4Mv_5NUWkzxSTKjgD8lmsLUNchrGll-h9U1fez1wN__feVyCwsMvKNSvWvAZ272O_ee9Vw8kSTew/s640/c+is+for+cookie.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I also baked cookies, snicker-doodles and my <a href="http://lovin-life-piersons.blogspot.com/2011/01/oatmeal-cookies-mmm-mmm-good.html">oatmeal chocolate chip cookies</a>. Because Cookie Monster would be appalled if I didn't serve cookies at a party. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I got the plates and table cloth at the dollar store, and then the cups and silverware at Wal-Mart. I also bought some soda at Wal-Mart for $0.84 each. I also bought a gallon of ice cream. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I made pretty much all the decor myself (besides the animals and plate) I borrowed my aunt's cricuit cutter for the letters, but the rest of it, like the characters, I did free hand. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZton3BPJ8PIGUiPPqmsTo2RM8jJ9Pn-8TXvGEvJHOqPdGqjzI06TH0trsh6JlWSScMca9n-YhyRrlAJZyM22pUvZ4oTvq1EiIaZY_PL4LsxI-k2ilkO3P_QkHRbohkcRIbYmefv0mbc0/s1600/sesame+street+banner+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZton3BPJ8PIGUiPPqmsTo2RM8jJ9Pn-8TXvGEvJHOqPdGqjzI06TH0trsh6JlWSScMca9n-YhyRrlAJZyM22pUvZ4oTvq1EiIaZY_PL4LsxI-k2ilkO3P_QkHRbohkcRIbYmefv0mbc0/s640/sesame+street+banner+collage.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I made this banner, it was pretty easy to make, I just had to cut out eyes and mouth for each character. I did Zoe, Oscar, Cookie Monster and Elmo. I also added pictures to it so you could see how A-Cakes had changed and grew over the year. I hung it with some yarn and clothespins and used tape on the wall to hold it there. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoCqXnD4CFgNBhGDZDIN1bXQe556phgGVa769lAlpLj5SbHr0vVREN7TMdeRLDOf_Ma9IKMoKEPLDKhrFbvQkV8WnAPQ401fblS2cOqPXdNNxNQGhjOkABzRM5zSZnE4xRCVkFTlSmRSw/s1600/elmo+invitation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoCqXnD4CFgNBhGDZDIN1bXQe556phgGVa769lAlpLj5SbHr0vVREN7TMdeRLDOf_Ma9IKMoKEPLDKhrFbvQkV8WnAPQ401fblS2cOqPXdNNxNQGhjOkABzRM5zSZnE4xRCVkFTlSmRSw/s320/elmo+invitation.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmlSlgo126vrsxs9kNV2aqk64UD7aHaYukDLjLQDsuGmVmslIss7-WusKWDHJQwj_59gOSpd89lyZRNSSExTLRmS5_54ZKnCcmBkt0JTYfs0vDCaR6jwPOAfCrTnGbovetu9IWUIJ-7qI/s1600/elmo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmlSlgo126vrsxs9kNV2aqk64UD7aHaYukDLjLQDsuGmVmslIss7-WusKWDHJQwj_59gOSpd89lyZRNSSExTLRmS5_54ZKnCcmBkt0JTYfs0vDCaR6jwPOAfCrTnGbovetu9IWUIJ-7qI/s320/elmo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The invitations!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I hand cut all these invitations out. Next time I am getting a circle punch at least, I can't believe how many circle eyes I had to cut out, what a nightmare. The invitations turned out cute, I liked them. But I messed up on them, big time. I found the pic on Pinterest, but no where could I find the tutorial on how to make them. But you are supposed to cut a big circle out and then fold it in half, put the information on the inside of the circle. I cut the circle in half. My husband took one look at the picture and said, weren't you supposed to fold it? I was so mad at myself, it was way obvious. but oh well, I doubt anyone noticed, they were still cute. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZXUAfYfVIFhJms2pb_Obpa78j0mSAitO79tSeWCANNLmf4Iel-oSNNoGmQU1O4TsZQOJCF_2YjP_ee8wVqFLGWlaqhTnRvH8GZD9lMXA1x8tMrB_kmud-ohqA_wyEw5IDIZfZL9aXw4/s1600/entry+way+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZXUAfYfVIFhJms2pb_Obpa78j0mSAitO79tSeWCANNLmf4Iel-oSNNoGmQU1O4TsZQOJCF_2YjP_ee8wVqFLGWlaqhTnRvH8GZD9lMXA1x8tMrB_kmud-ohqA_wyEw5IDIZfZL9aXw4/s640/entry+way+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I made a happy birthday sign for the door, and then on the walkway leading up to the door I had monster footprints. I also cut out squares and put the letter A and number 1 on the squares to look like blocks. I did a bunch of them and put them all over. I wanted balloons outside, but there is some weird helium shortage, its crazy. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-O9EA9lWnw3bYNi0WS_BlTcPCDghhwtSnGZJqVXJKx8fhiT4gcAQet0zYrz-JxpYMYX5x1t40SY3mMGLBMLGUaixQPeUQ0RrhiRvpmpI0xY77iacngL-U79mlxhtQWdq4YXta1CKdy8/s1600/sesame+collage+games.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-O9EA9lWnw3bYNi0WS_BlTcPCDghhwtSnGZJqVXJKx8fhiT4gcAQet0zYrz-JxpYMYX5x1t40SY3mMGLBMLGUaixQPeUQ0RrhiRvpmpI0xY77iacngL-U79mlxhtQWdq4YXta1CKdy8/s400/sesame+collage+games.jpg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We had 3 games at the party. Since the party was mostly adults with a few kids I had to plan games that all ages could play. So I hid 3 of Ernie's rubber ducks around the place and the first person to find them won a candy bar prize. Then I filled 2 jars up with candy (jars at the dollar store) and you guessed the amount of candy in them. The closest person won the jar. And then lastly we played 'Guess that Sesame Street Character.' That game was my favorite. We made a slideshow of Sesame Street Characters and you had to guess who the character was. Since it was a lot of adults no one got all of them right. My mother-in-law won! Which is amazing since she hasn't watched it in years, go KERI!! But I gave out a candy bar prize for that as well. All of the games were simple and no one had to participate. I had them going throughout the party so it was just something that they could do on their own time. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjwwMq5-m8XdV3Vkrd_dqqZQa2t8H-H1PEW_RCYRp4chVvkHPlfbjg0w9Ikm9IavWK1huB9X8X5kDSX9uWvU0hk6fHVh2ldqBRI2dYPpkeUVaJ3bWEmyBkR85Cj5n10jd2W4KNJq3xOc/s1600/first+bday+crying+cake.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjwwMq5-m8XdV3Vkrd_dqqZQa2t8H-H1PEW_RCYRp4chVvkHPlfbjg0w9Ikm9IavWK1huB9X8X5kDSX9uWvU0hk6fHVh2ldqBRI2dYPpkeUVaJ3bWEmyBkR85Cj5n10jd2W4KNJq3xOc/s400/first+bday+crying+cake.jpg.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This girl hated everyone staring at her while she ate her cake. Once everyone stopped looking at her, she was fine and ate every single bit of that cupcake with a smile. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Vanessa@Lovin-Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01425615001381659506noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528166656632493971.post-65989356983617816592012-11-14T00:14:00.001-07:002012-11-14T00:14:45.458-07:0030 Weird Things about me<div style="text-align: center;">
I have some quirks that I think are a little bit weird. Well, actually, I think they are perfectly normal, everyone else just thinks they are weird.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6G7XyNKpfiLL8tr60mtPK_wqohYxBcw3zdFlPgWfWgxTRrJJhi_CM6EnkC-m8pt5bTTULgkTj1FWsRzbcsDt4D8_onNF74_nXgCj_68220Qdq_YCyiy1qHAYP4MKc-R6wY1QUAycM80/s1600/anniversary+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6G7XyNKpfiLL8tr60mtPK_wqohYxBcw3zdFlPgWfWgxTRrJJhi_CM6EnkC-m8pt5bTTULgkTj1FWsRzbcsDt4D8_onNF74_nXgCj_68220Qdq_YCyiy1qHAYP4MKc-R6wY1QUAycM80/s320/anniversary+011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li>I dislike most white foods. The exceptions are whipped cream and mashed potatoes.</li>
<li>I probably have worse vision than your grandmother. I am that blind! </li>
<li>Dogs are not my friend. I actually pretty much hate them. I would much rather have a pet turtle.</li>
<li>Aqua is the greatest color. </li>
<li>I am one of the few humans alive that actually likes Wal-Mart. Hey it has everything there in that one store. I rarely have to go anywhere else. Sometimes I even buy my clothes there, yes, I am that person. </li>
<li>I would usually rather have my husband bring me home a big chocolate shake with hamburger and fries than a bouquet of flowers. Hmmm.. Maybe this is why I need to lose 10 pounds?</li>
<li>In the past week I have broken 4 of our glasses. In our 3 years of marriage, we have had two ten packs of glasses, we are now down to 4 glasses. </li>
<li>Driving freaks me the crap out! Really it gives me anxiety, but I have been driving a lot more this past year, I have driven to the airport twice! But I still won't drive downtown. </li>
<li>My usual time span for reading a book is one day. </li>
<li><br /></li>
<li>I played dolls until the 9th grade. I only stopped because some of the boys in my neighborhood saw me and made fun of me. </li>
<li>I would seriously rather clean toilets than do laundry. And I don't use a toilet brush, I just use a scrubber and my hands, no gloves. And wash my hands forever afterwards. Yes, I hate laundry that much. </li>
<li>When I was a teenager my mom threatened to stop from reading instead of taking away my cell phone or grounding me. </li>
<li>I am pretty cheap, I won't pay more than $15.00 for a shirt. and $15 is kind of expensive. I feel ripped off when I spend that much. </li>
<li>I HATE cheese. </li>
<li>When I eat pizza, I take off all the toppings and put them in a pile. Then I take off all the cheese (which my husband says looks like zombie skin) and then pile the toppings back on, and eat. </li>
<li>I have to Clorox Cleanup my counter about 4 times a day. I have to know its clean! </li>
<li>I don't have a favorite band, or singer. I usually only like one or two songs from an artist. </li>
<li>Calling businesses scares me. I have gotten better at this, but it still makes my stomach do a flip flop. </li>
<li>I don't care for fruity ice cream. Its a waste of calories. CHOCOLATE BABY! Other things that are not worth the calories: White cake, bavarian filled doughnuts, skittles, and starburst.</li>
<li>Its a good day if I shower before noon. </li>
<li>I can't match colors to save my life</li>
<li>Another food thing I hate, Ketchup, it freaks me out. I won't eat it on anything but hot dogs and hamburgers, I won't eat it on fries, or meatloaf or anything of the kind. I think seeing the gross crusty stuff that gets on the lid skeeves me out. </li>
<li>I have never broken a bone, the most injured I have ever been is slicing a huge cut open in my head when I was 3 at the swimming pool, while I was swimming. How does that even happen at a pool?</li>
<li>I don't know how to work ITunes. My husband does it for me, and he is excellent at it. </li>
<li>I won't read a book or watch a movie unless I know it ends happy. I will either read the last page of the book, or read about the movie online to be sure. </li>
<li>My husband and I met at our church during a lecture on how boys need to take girls on dates more. Lecture worked I guess. </li>
<li>When I was in Elementary I loved bugs. I brought a grasshopper to my 2nd grade class in a mason jar with holes in the top for about a week to take care of it. And in 3rd grade my friend and I looked for slugs around the playground and put them in our pencil box and played with them in class. I had about 13 snails and slugs.</li>
<li>Along the same insect line, I didn't always take care of the bugs. I also dissected the bugs. I won't go into detail, but it did involve taking legs off of spiders. Now if I see a Spider I freak out, I have to spray it with spider spray to kill it about foot away. Spiders seem smart, they know what I used to do to their comrades. </li>
<li>I pee my pants when I sneeze. Usually this problem happens after having a baby, but its always been a problem for me. </li>
<li>When I was younger I played house with silverware and toothbrushes.</li>
</ul>
Vanessa@Lovin-Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01425615001381659506noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528166656632493971.post-80595942573582222162012-11-07T23:05:00.001-07:002012-11-07T23:05:50.487-07:00How do you view the blogs you follow?<div style="text-align: center;">
I need your help? I want to know what is the best way to view the blogs that you read. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I usually use Blogger. It gives me a feed of all the blogs I 'follow' and shows me posts from most recent. I really like how it shows it, it gives me a little picture and then shows me the first few lines of the post, so I can see if its something I am interested in reading. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But lately I have been having some problems with it. Some of the blogs I follow don't show up in my feed at all. For a while I just thought those people hadn't posted in a while, but when I went to their actual blog, I missed like 20 or so posts, but blogger is still showing I follow it. My feed also sometimes shows blogs that I don't follow anymore, which is annoying to sift through all of those. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Another problem I have is sometimes I find a blog I like (Pioneer Woman, Tip Junkie, etc.) that do not have an option to 'follow' them in blogger. And so I never ever view their blogs because I forget to look at them since its not on my feed. But I would love to follow them. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zjSiZVWva6-ujP8P2nVt6Eids8RkIQd-Iswi-4U-akrj_gPiP6TdWlquw9bDrKvm9-OE5SGiZF44mNgNVx4MTLxBUTHQ6HgbnuDgahtnpI_8d6tu4T5Msznz8b8XsZCoXnlug6zMuT0/s1600/blogger.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zjSiZVWva6-ujP8P2nVt6Eids8RkIQd-Iswi-4U-akrj_gPiP6TdWlquw9bDrKvm9-OE5SGiZF44mNgNVx4MTLxBUTHQ6HgbnuDgahtnpI_8d6tu4T5Msznz8b8XsZCoXnlug6zMuT0/s320/blogger.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So what are my other options? I have seen that you can follow blogs by email, but I really don't want to do that, I know I would never read any of that stuff, I would get so many emails a day too, that it would drive me crazy. I also follow blogs on facebook, but facebook is changing its ways and I know that you don't see all of the person's posts if they are a business like some blogs. What is RSS feed? I have heard of it, but not quite sure. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am asking this question so I can follow and view more blogs, and also so I can update this blog a little better and be more convenient for my readers. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
PLEASE let me know what you do in the comments. I appreciate it so much! </div>
Vanessa@Lovin-Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01425615001381659506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528166656632493971.post-55890187663296388162012-10-31T23:32:00.000-06:002012-10-31T23:32:30.746-06:00Italian Sausage and Lentil Soup (Carrabba's Copycat)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I went to Carrabba's Italian Restaurant a month or so ago. My daddy is a General Manger for Outback Steakhouse in Albuquerque, and the restaurants are owned by the same company, so when he is in town, we get to eat with him at Carrabba's for free (and Outback too, yum!!) I got this soup before my spaghetti and it was soo good. I liked it even better than my pasta. So I immediately went home and looked for the recipe, and found it over at <a href="http://food.com./">Food.com.</a> I made it a couple weeks ago and it was just like it. And it made a ton. We had it for dinner two nights and lunch one day, and my husband had it for lunch another day. I should freeze it next time. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
But I made a couple changes to the recipe, but you can find the original <a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/carrabbas-sausage-and-lentil-soup-162864">HERE</a>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDCU1-b5ybhhsDqhEMD-JOxeQxtqJGaCEipfG7fAUsFPd14qYjrMs14yDL1My9r4QHAiVQNdY6KUp_W5kpZrpdwxgnZnCpz4r1GHuQeO4JOloM0cDmblr62pD4QK-IFM3ctolY9W_Oc8/s1600/Italian+Sausage+and+Lentil+Soup+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDCU1-b5ybhhsDqhEMD-JOxeQxtqJGaCEipfG7fAUsFPd14qYjrMs14yDL1My9r4QHAiVQNdY6KUp_W5kpZrpdwxgnZnCpz4r1GHuQeO4JOloM0cDmblr62pD4QK-IFM3ctolY9W_Oc8/s320/Italian+Sausage+and+Lentil+Soup+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Italian Sausage and Lentil Soup (Carrabba's Copycat)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1 lb Italian Sausage</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1/2 onion, diced</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1 butternut squash or zucchini, chopped</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1 C butternut squash or zucchini puree (optional) <a href="http://lovin-life-piersons.blogspot.com/2012/09/pureeing-vegetables.html">SEE PUREE POST</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
4 C Chicken Broth</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
2 C Beef Broth</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1-2 C water</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1 chicken bullion cube</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
2 TB chopped garlic</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1 Can diced Tomatoes</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
2 C Dry Lentils</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
2 tsp Salt</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Basil</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Oregano</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Red Pepper Flakes</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Black Pepper</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Parsley </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Thyme</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Garlic Powder</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Directions: </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Brown Sausage with onions, drain fat. Add garlic, cook about 30 sec. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">In large pot, add all ingredients, including Italian Sausage. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Bring to a boil</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Reduce heat, cover. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Simmer about 1 hour until lentils are tender.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Sprinkle with parmesan if desired. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Serve! </span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTifLqJU7JdvaBG5dX8tO6qUPITJLXsRSMtoET-V_RrKrbqWXMg4Eq2dULmDRLgUAhAYnpWmy1372t1ix8f4owIZqw5Dl_5NE0cO3gZkMehC9zTOeE7qAyrF9n7WfuoLk9dtpE-Kl9nIo/s1600/Italian+Sausage+and+Lentil+Soup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTifLqJU7JdvaBG5dX8tO6qUPITJLXsRSMtoET-V_RrKrbqWXMg4Eq2dULmDRLgUAhAYnpWmy1372t1ix8f4owIZqw5Dl_5NE0cO3gZkMehC9zTOeE7qAyrF9n7WfuoLk9dtpE-Kl9nIo/s400/Italian+Sausage+and+Lentil+Soup.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Vanessa@Lovin-Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01425615001381659506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528166656632493971.post-60817489518255219342012-10-29T00:00:00.000-06:002012-10-29T00:00:26.940-06:002 X 4 Pumpkins<div style="text-align: center;">
This is cheap craft, which I like. It was one of those I made at my Auntie's weekly crafty days. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I didn't have to buy anything for it. They had everything, down to the wood and the paint ready for me. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixlQ7Qg30HjH6Ha21aOOR9YCLadmKO5UwNGgk3hw62TFosV1xon5UaGqRgqYmXkNMpGrMVR6HeAfNZQbTSu9T1L06KSXZVYM4V7N4RCkepgSPE6XVtnx65E_alwXlzr2TyRubqVvDgaB8/s1600/wood+2x4+pumpkins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixlQ7Qg30HjH6Ha21aOOR9YCLadmKO5UwNGgk3hw62TFosV1xon5UaGqRgqYmXkNMpGrMVR6HeAfNZQbTSu9T1L06KSXZVYM4V7N4RCkepgSPE6XVtnx65E_alwXlzr2TyRubqVvDgaB8/s640/wood+2x4+pumpkins.jpg" width="374" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here is what you need: </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>2 X 4 Wood:</b> Cut from biggest to smallest</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Orange Paint</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Sand Paper</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Gel Stain </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>3 Nails</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Green Fabric or Ribbon</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Paint your 2x4 wood. I didn't sand it down. I wanted it to look rustic-y, if you want it more cute-sy then you can sand it, but I hate sanding, it is the devil, so I won't sand if its not necessary. After paint has dried you can sand the edges, I did, for the rustic look. That easy sanding doesn't bother me a ton. Then use your gel stain to make it rustic. Paint on the gel stain, then use a dry paper towel to rub it in, then get a wet paper towel and wipe off most of the stain. Let it dry. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Get the nails and hammer one into each of the pumpkins at the top. Wrap a cut piece of fabric around the nail and tie a knot. Done! So easy. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You could make it a little more different and add glitter paint, or make them jack-o-lanterns by painting black faces on them. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
Vanessa@Lovin-Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01425615001381659506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528166656632493971.post-70790838367146656082012-10-27T00:57:00.001-06:002012-10-29T19:28:42.120-06:00Serial Killer Themed Halloween Party<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So I am a creep. I love to watch documentaries on serial killers. I know, I am morbid. But they are super interesting. Luckily I have a couple of sister-in-laws who share my gruesome interest. And last year we tried to all watch serial killer documentaries together but there were none on Netflix to watch. This year I was prepared. I bought a DVD set on Amazon called 'Most Evil,' which is a Discovery channel documentary that gives an overview of the serial killers and rates them on a scale of evilness. I also checked a documentary video out at the library in case the DVD set I bought was lame. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
But I had to set the atmosphere, so a little decorating was in order. Like I have said before I am cheap, so I just went to Dollar Tree and got the scariest things they had. Most of the stuff was kinda cutesy, which was soo not my theme. I wanted a severed limb, blood type of theme. And I gotta say, even with the dollar goods, I think I pulled it off pretty well. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I got some severed fingers and some eyeballs, but they looked so lame just sitting on the table, so I put them in water. I thought, hey some of those serial killers keep the body parts of their victims, so that is what I went with. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxl2UiCx_W9tkaUk1sDSM9BWGzoL7lyYRREO7uZWYoj0KDdWPUvTNbAMYzOrxEzfpfzDuDf_TLZg9Kd2pS0VE2jrp87ZxDpFjLnKwWFNdmFULaVhNzwWgTSTRltq71sfdAEAubnQZJrU/s1600/fingers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxl2UiCx_W9tkaUk1sDSM9BWGzoL7lyYRREO7uZWYoj0KDdWPUvTNbAMYzOrxEzfpfzDuDf_TLZg9Kd2pS0VE2jrp87ZxDpFjLnKwWFNdmFULaVhNzwWgTSTRltq71sfdAEAubnQZJrU/s320/fingers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So here are the severed fingers. They were already bloodied, so that was good, the bones looked so fake though, and I was worried that no one could tell what they were without close inspection, so I painted the fingernails. Yes, I painted fake severed finger fingernails. It was weird... Then I got a canister, filled it up halfway with some water and some fake blood. The fingers floated, and then the blood sank at first, but then eventually mixed up with the water and looked gross, it was perfect, and in the water, the bones didn't look as stupid. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1XTBZuBWzVAGNNPn3g9M38yclQ9aSnf9xS10waPXqNibWPcL1Rea16gC5BXQdXvlmqvuwDYHe0m9fpuDQ-AKMac2Y7_o8atAQPGQ60SE-_tTwOXCuCpFCns7FgNc5h0qCJVddHU4OOc/s1600/table+setting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1XTBZuBWzVAGNNPn3g9M38yclQ9aSnf9xS10waPXqNibWPcL1Rea16gC5BXQdXvlmqvuwDYHe0m9fpuDQ-AKMac2Y7_o8atAQPGQ60SE-_tTwOXCuCpFCns7FgNc5h0qCJVddHU4OOc/s640/table+setting.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here is my table scape. I just swirled fake blood all over it, I did it the night before so it would be sure to dry. Its not very bright in my kitchen, so the picture didn't turn out amazing, but I think it looked better in person, with lamps as our only lighting. I had a headstone from the dollar store, I put fake blood all over it. Then I took some kitchen knives and put them on the table, it would have been great if the knives had blood all over them, but I just got those knives and I didn't want to put fake blood on them. I also bought some little skeletons, they were supposed to be a garland, but I had no where to put the garland, so I just put them around the table. They were a favorite actually, everyone ended up playing with them all night. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Then the food went in that big middle space, so it wasn't so empty. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJ_Nsd0sUBwH_-Mha9wDE2KKe-mD-57M6dZETYEv4BLJ5Zq5y-CQcl2cPVENI7Kj1_QEJ2TrG3w8TJtMS6MeFnIhFnCR8MtcsQGmopW4FpUc6CpaMinal4oE42cv-bvpJxV8e1fYQWWk/s1600/liver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJ_Nsd0sUBwH_-Mha9wDE2KKe-mD-57M6dZETYEv4BLJ5Zq5y-CQcl2cPVENI7Kj1_QEJ2TrG3w8TJtMS6MeFnIhFnCR8MtcsQGmopW4FpUc6CpaMinal4oE42cv-bvpJxV8e1fYQWWk/s320/liver.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This was a liver. Some of the serial killers not only keep pieces of their victims, but eat them as well... I know, its sickening. But I was going for gruesome here folks, so I put a knife and fork by the liver to show it was the serial killer's dinner. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO2k630ruJs3ILO0fIh0MdSsikfoQ5d0SjDJTCFzLXlnBZeqVHw1WITwywmntdGMx9W05FgglTkwk7Zz7dO_WXq-KWTzRYV7nV3Emwf_8pm8IfwozLBVdGUIXiCjQ5GYiFjoy79I09pYI/s1600/eye+bal+halloween+party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO2k630ruJs3ILO0fIh0MdSsikfoQ5d0SjDJTCFzLXlnBZeqVHw1WITwywmntdGMx9W05FgglTkwk7Zz7dO_WXq-KWTzRYV7nV3Emwf_8pm8IfwozLBVdGUIXiCjQ5GYiFjoy79I09pYI/s320/eye+bal+halloween+party.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A lot of these serial killers like to be classy, in their own way. So I put my fake eyeballs in a vase with some fake flowers and water. And like the fingers, they looked much more twisted and gross in the water, the water makes them look so much less lame... </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25g3ErjO8CctInkHJrOuLa8EMctpFEnX_vXpyHrbQlo6ItuqOISNaZ7NHad4iq69NAuf5OYwonngcRJppn4iG93g2grk3Qs1LXowfBSDZEg3pSFP9G6LiXnI13SQU4xpyprsnp32kAOI/s1600/table+cloth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25g3ErjO8CctInkHJrOuLa8EMctpFEnX_vXpyHrbQlo6ItuqOISNaZ7NHad4iq69NAuf5OYwonngcRJppn4iG93g2grk3Qs1LXowfBSDZEg3pSFP9G6LiXnI13SQU4xpyprsnp32kAOI/s640/table+cloth.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Fake blood swirls. The only fake blood I could find was fake vampire blood that came in a little tube, it worked fine, but I would have loved for big huge splatters, but I settled for the little smears. I put my thumb prints in some of them to look more gross. The table cloth was just a dollar store one as well, I just threw it away afterwards. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82Je3i7aU6itp3KgafNgSaL1ScqU4iUzlx_hXbRuUl9mMsd3HItfpjy3XtfqFPCWcndnx6iLxj1tJoQ56nd3JEfbksx2JOwzswd78jy-h4H4VTwAMWOd7D0KifyARA-S0rbXL39ppAPg/s1600/invite.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82Je3i7aU6itp3KgafNgSaL1ScqU4iUzlx_hXbRuUl9mMsd3HItfpjy3XtfqFPCWcndnx6iLxj1tJoQ56nd3JEfbksx2JOwzswd78jy-h4H4VTwAMWOd7D0KifyARA-S0rbXL39ppAPg/s400/invite.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div>
These are my invitations I made. I only invited three couples, I really wanted a knife dripping blood on them, but when I tried to make a paper knife it looked like a 2nd grader art project and not scary. So I just focused on trying to make blood. I made the blood marks out of red ink that I already had. I ran the ink pad over the paper and then I pressed my thumb in the ink and then made red thumbprints all over too, I dragged my thumb around some parts, to give the appearance of a struggle.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1i9CLjInbvX9OjICSLDhxE9eRUVG61MPef4UguclkFBgfzNugBoM-8sLCzt6vRlCpvwH39Vb6yKDg2WoA5V-rfOJ8YygV1skNLcjAGdyPCCguiffVmttYa-aaoaZ2Cyn7_bWMZWstE0/s1600/invite+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1i9CLjInbvX9OjICSLDhxE9eRUVG61MPef4UguclkFBgfzNugBoM-8sLCzt6vRlCpvwH39Vb6yKDg2WoA5V-rfOJ8YygV1skNLcjAGdyPCCguiffVmttYa-aaoaZ2Cyn7_bWMZWstE0/s400/invite+2.jpeg" width="300" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This side I just used some Halloween paper I had on hand and then ribbon and the skulls were made with skull rings that I bought at the dollar store last year. i just cut off the ring part and glued them on. It took a bit for the glue to dry. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
For food I served Chili. I made it in the crock-pot (recipe to come soon). And it fed all of us perfectly. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I asked everyone to come to bring a appetizer or dessert. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My lovely sister in law brought mud cups (chocolate pudding, crushed oreos, and gummy worms) but we ate those later so I forgot to take a picture!), The <a href="http://deserethome.blogspot.com/2012/10/vegetarian-queso-dip-and-homemade.html">most delicious chips and dip</a> were brought by some family, and then my other sister in law really had some fun with making Halloween themed snacks, which I remembered to take a picture of right when she got there. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWbDUJsKBE_R8EPPbagE9R51NUfLER0rSHx4uEVQT1w9E6ngtJkxQepfO9msHOmBIkQNfku5kZSDNwQG0B_Ow7_speLTQ2FluHbm3H37it3bJi3gud38cupzWktesYy7rxJlUWkucwVCU/s1600/bread+bones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWbDUJsKBE_R8EPPbagE9R51NUfLER0rSHx4uEVQT1w9E6ngtJkxQepfO9msHOmBIkQNfku5kZSDNwQG0B_Ow7_speLTQ2FluHbm3H37it3bJi3gud38cupzWktesYy7rxJlUWkucwVCU/s320/bread+bones.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
These are bread stick 'bones' </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
She said they are crescent rolls with parmesan and poppyseads. They were delicious and spooky. And went great with our chili!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5prUNI-2-SDbFh-GToKHoJlFHqvzp0bH4P0uRZ8DDHLmAwFMQA6Blva4-rd_XCIvDjz9F6iOuOOOxmd5WYlAIRPCh-y3_fvEyFIlj64Rtd4Z4qeczkV8ZcxD4V1iPZG-MuDQXzoBSF28/s1600/ghost+cookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5prUNI-2-SDbFh-GToKHoJlFHqvzp0bH4P0uRZ8DDHLmAwFMQA6Blva4-rd_XCIvDjz9F6iOuOOOxmd5WYlAIRPCh-y3_fvEyFIlj64Rtd4Z4qeczkV8ZcxD4V1iPZG-MuDQXzoBSF28/s320/ghost+cookies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
These are <a href="http://blonde-designs.squarespace.com/blonde-designs-blog/2010/10/25/milano-ghosts.html">ghosts</a> and <a href="http://www.maybematilda.com/2011/10/halloween-witch-hat-cookies.html">witches hat</a>s cookies.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I forgot to take pictures of the actual party and of our guests, it got busy with food and stuff and I spaced it, which sucks becuase while the table and food were great, the people are the memories I want to keep... Lame Vanessa, real lame. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
But we had a great time eating food and a disturbing time watching our documentaries. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I just want to note, I am not trying to glorify the serial killers or what they did, they did horrifying and awful things, and I can't imagine what those victim's families went through. But it is interesting to learn about them and think about how someone's mind can get to that state. After watching several, I have learned that those killers usually had a pretty messed up childhood. And just so you know, you cannot watch too much of those documentaries. I bought the dvd set and it has 20 episodes and I have only watched like 5 this whole month. You have to watch them really slowly because if you watch too many in a night, you feel like crap and won't sleep that night. But if you watch them slowly they can be interesting and scary! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
But we tried to have a spooky night, and it was fun decorating and eating food and watching only two episodes! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
What did you do for Halloween parties??</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Vanessa@Lovin-Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01425615001381659506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528166656632493971.post-61488886006123267682012-10-25T23:08:00.000-06:002012-10-27T01:27:18.964-06:00Hanging BOO Letters<div style="text-align: center;">
My auntie has started a craft day every week with me and some friends of hers in her neighborhood. Somedays we scrapbook, sometimes we do crafts. I have to bring little A-Cakes, who never lets me get much done, but its nice to be able to chat and it gets me in the mood to come home and craft.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0vm4GtKRGYd9ny2UiDeXD6LDb_wzG51HvKLAFwWGEDMO12hwky_QIezdUmXx3nMrre4QllAQIE1JSA-gvxQfE0t3ZW9OBpB3AWu8VlVH9HpLQyIcmQHfEA3tBAT8rGj4vuC_pWSHv6U/s1600/Boo+wooden+letters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0vm4GtKRGYd9ny2UiDeXD6LDb_wzG51HvKLAFwWGEDMO12hwky_QIezdUmXx3nMrre4QllAQIE1JSA-gvxQfE0t3ZW9OBpB3AWu8VlVH9HpLQyIcmQHfEA3tBAT8rGj4vuC_pWSHv6U/s320/Boo+wooden+letters.jpg" width="157" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They planned this little craft and all I had to do was buy the wood letters. It was pretty easy. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You need: </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Wood letters</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(any kind work fine, I would get medium to large ones, and they can be flat or 3-D. Hobby Lobby was out of all their O's in the wood letters, Seriously, all of them in all the wood styles, it was ridiculous.. So I found these cardboard ones in a different aisle and they worked great.<br />
<b>Paint<br />Mod-Podge<br />Cardstock-</b>Halloween kind<br />
<b>Paintbrush</b><br />
<b>Ribbon</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Its easy enough to figure out what to do. Just paint the wood, I used purple because it seemed fun. Trace the letters on your paper and cut it out, paint mod-podge onto the letters, add the paper and smooth out any bumps. Then once it has dried mod podge over the top of the paper. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I used ribbons and tulle to hang my letters up, then hung them on my door. I added more ribbon bows on it too.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0vm4GtKRGYd9ny2UiDeXD6LDb_wzG51HvKLAFwWGEDMO12hwky_QIezdUmXx3nMrre4QllAQIE1JSA-gvxQfE0t3ZW9OBpB3AWu8VlVH9HpLQyIcmQHfEA3tBAT8rGj4vuC_pWSHv6U/s1600/Boo+wooden+letters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0vm4GtKRGYd9ny2UiDeXD6LDb_wzG51HvKLAFwWGEDMO12hwky_QIezdUmXx3nMrre4QllAQIE1JSA-gvxQfE0t3ZW9OBpB3AWu8VlVH9HpLQyIcmQHfEA3tBAT8rGj4vuC_pWSHv6U/s640/Boo+wooden+letters.jpg" width="314" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I love it! Its cute and fun. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You could also add glitter to yours, or make it scary and add spider webs or fake blood. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Vanessa@Lovin-Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01425615001381659506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528166656632493971.post-24627394979894320182012-09-23T22:01:00.000-06:002012-09-23T22:01:03.339-06:00Oreo Fluff Dip<div style="text-align: center;">
I love this dessert, it requires no cooking or baking or anything. And it gets rave reviews. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I found it on pinterest a few months ago and made the recipe from a blog and loved it. I made it the other day again and it was even better this time. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But for some reason the blog that the recipe is on, is no longer there. I guess the blog owner took down their site or something. So I can't pin back to the original source. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">OREO Fluff Dip</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
2 packages oreos</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
2 C. mini marshmallows </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 small tub whipped cream</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 box oreo instant pudding mix</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
2 C. Milk</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Mix the oreo pudding with the milk, whisk about 2 minutes. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Crush about 15-20 oreos in the food processor or crunch in a ziploc. Add the oreos to the pudding, add whipped cream and marshmallows, stir until mixed through. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Let set in the fridge about 30 minutes. Serve, and dunk the remaining Oreos in the dip! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93_uWg2QYCtToaQVUcDWU1A87uCFy-PC_LZDSTi64bO7fMdA2O_mbo9FbP44XmWUdcNblW-nGNiPrMlDjB9K4voZJK4vfiJfdCy3WU8nJtz5xQ6n-5kL6GOeecT-4q0YILWn_lLwoli0/s1600/oreo+fluff+dip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93_uWg2QYCtToaQVUcDWU1A87uCFy-PC_LZDSTi64bO7fMdA2O_mbo9FbP44XmWUdcNblW-nGNiPrMlDjB9K4voZJK4vfiJfdCy3WU8nJtz5xQ6n-5kL6GOeecT-4q0YILWn_lLwoli0/s640/oreo+fluff+dip.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The blog I got this from says its just a regular fluff dessert, like you eat it with a spoon and stuff, and you can do that but I think its better as a dip, and I love dipping the oreos into it, its like an oreo paradise. I have also tried dipping graham crackers into it and its awesome, Vanilla Wafers would be good I am sure. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The original recipe also calls for white chocolate pudding instead of oreo pudding, but they didn't have regular white chocolate pudding at Wal-Mart, only sugar free, so we got Oreo this time around and I think it was even better than the first time I made this with white chocolate pudding. </div>
Vanessa@Lovin-Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01425615001381659506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528166656632493971.post-86306081164306141702012-09-20T21:29:00.000-06:002012-09-20T21:29:30.814-06:00DIY Moss Balls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjga7ZFJDZobTqhdulJi2zfioc6SY9JR0dv2E0u3HEUSNIVjE6c46ak1Tqcg7UFGb5__bYr1JZz4slXHOsA6mJLjPMyBMG_9lqIwnUilJgX7eQ-UFNdlXL2ZoJPEB4hV9TpYn3JRi0h88/s1600/moss+balls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjga7ZFJDZobTqhdulJi2zfioc6SY9JR0dv2E0u3HEUSNIVjE6c46ak1Tqcg7UFGb5__bYr1JZz4slXHOsA6mJLjPMyBMG_9lqIwnUilJgX7eQ-UFNdlXL2ZoJPEB4hV9TpYn3JRi0h88/s400/moss+balls.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I updated my table centerpiece, it used to be these fake flowers in a vase I got at Target, but after 3 1/2 years of them, I grew tired of the flowers. I found this great standing bowl thing at a garage sale for a buck. It came with some ugly fake fruit, but I just threw those out. I wanted to fill the bowl up with mossy balls, moss balls, balls made of moss, is there like a normal way to say that that doesn't sound dirty?? </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjPINTARE0nSUXnuCOULxqyRbh7wYGhGgx2GTWqWgrfy1yPvxSk9r29jinY_sC3gm-7EZZ2XTB8I8wp0q7vjEUxeT2rvG4WHK6Y9JV24TWmINijMIDNao9J424MnLNze9deAN8jFR_Sj4/s1600/mossy+balls+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjPINTARE0nSUXnuCOULxqyRbh7wYGhGgx2GTWqWgrfy1yPvxSk9r29jinY_sC3gm-7EZZ2XTB8I8wp0q7vjEUxeT2rvG4WHK6Y9JV24TWmINijMIDNao9J424MnLNze9deAN8jFR_Sj4/s320/mossy+balls+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Dollar Tree, Aka: The greatest store on earth, had a package of styrofoam balls, have you bought styrofoam balls at the craft store? They are kinda pricey. So I picked some of those up, and then Dollar Tree also had moss! Seriously that place is like Wal-Mart, it has everything. I used two packages of styrofoam balls and one package of the floral moss. I put the moss in a big heaping pile on a paper plate, then I covered each ball in hot glue and rolled it around in the moss. I did like half of the ball at a time, so I didn't burn my fingers.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRF-n5dkn7QRBskIvnWu2-gPeNqBMIia_DYOGg8uARgepWHlzHbhMsYDldL2c8C62hr6bEoRUdLAotNjFNmzjJiVLHnech_G7BEA5Z6Ti0NwNx69hPVijonZ6JuKDR9r08gkOi6VCdBY/s1600/mossy+balls+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRF-n5dkn7QRBskIvnWu2-gPeNqBMIia_DYOGg8uARgepWHlzHbhMsYDldL2c8C62hr6bEoRUdLAotNjFNmzjJiVLHnech_G7BEA5Z6Ti0NwNx69hPVijonZ6JuKDR9r08gkOi6VCdBY/s400/mossy+balls+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The balls were all different sizes so I made big balls and small balls. I loved that they were all different sizes, it made it more fun.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEH6jCkBKILGMDxJWER6zCoUULK2LMghqmHfgF2k7LovZtYUnc9LfnZiqJBXmnRz_S4FSlW1s5p4MGGuBuh7XcoVQXv3gtRX0VCOBYhH5dQZYkntSv02HceYS-PZk4y0Ly6r0PltFSpPQ/s1600/mossy+balls+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEH6jCkBKILGMDxJWER6zCoUULK2LMghqmHfgF2k7LovZtYUnc9LfnZiqJBXmnRz_S4FSlW1s5p4MGGuBuh7XcoVQXv3gtRX0VCOBYhH5dQZYkntSv02HceYS-PZk4y0Ly6r0PltFSpPQ/s640/mossy+balls+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I put them in my little bowl with a piece of tan cloth inside the bowl and put it on my cute table runner and all done. New $ 4.00 centerpiece for a little while. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Vanessa@Lovin-Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01425615001381659506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528166656632493971.post-78341983154355867462012-09-19T23:41:00.000-06:002012-09-24T20:38:51.177-06:00Pita Pizzas<div style="text-align: center;">
I think this is the easiest meal in the universe. I think its easier than Mac and Cheese (maybe not as easy as E-Z Mac, but that stuff makes me want to vomit) </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhv_W_purzKfkZ-K7BTUHk70ZGHr7dvNj_jrc_P7lECwETvi_J4p4T1SF2L1GOpmaSYaLxL6nrVGuc5DACnq8ilN2AF1Vfi366CtjAGMp9THvjNQj5udHJYQcKgLr3XRKyBToUFH13yEM/s1600/pita+pizza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhv_W_purzKfkZ-K7BTUHk70ZGHr7dvNj_jrc_P7lECwETvi_J4p4T1SF2L1GOpmaSYaLxL6nrVGuc5DACnq8ilN2AF1Vfi366CtjAGMp9THvjNQj5udHJYQcKgLr3XRKyBToUFH13yEM/s320/pita+pizza.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Pita Pizzas</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 pita per person eating</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 jar pizza sauce</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
pepperoni</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
mozzarella cheese</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
any other pizza toppings you want (olives, onions, pineapple etc.)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Place pitas on cookie sheet, pile on sauce, cheese and toppings. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Bake at 400 degrees for about 13-15 min or until cheese is melted. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Seriously, thats all. Your done. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Usually when I make homemade pizza I make my own crust, but these are so so great if you are in a hurry or if you are tired or just not in the mood to cook. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ynmidVdZT_abxzxkN4z-NjOzbTxx63lvBsZ9qOp3QbCqZDqqiLnOSECthbyA0ImY0kjU-wCURttK881H6z5fOdvzxrN72XTDGvqYwAaf6NXGZ_ORfAAdUhEeKz_WMuFodDp1brZSTas/s1600/pita+pizza+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ynmidVdZT_abxzxkN4z-NjOzbTxx63lvBsZ9qOp3QbCqZDqqiLnOSECthbyA0ImY0kjU-wCURttK881H6z5fOdvzxrN72XTDGvqYwAaf6NXGZ_ORfAAdUhEeKz_WMuFodDp1brZSTas/s320/pita+pizza+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Vanessa@Lovin-Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01425615001381659506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528166656632493971.post-84261930320544991092012-09-19T22:19:00.002-06:002012-09-19T22:26:49.712-06:00Amazing Fruit and Spinach Smoothie<div style="text-align: center;">
{YOU DON'T TASTE THE SPINACH, I PROMISE!}<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvYmrAut_zJ5stDVtmVX8IK-g23IMNx1MUbqxYUWGsc7FhLeXMOj6VoX6EYx33N9deKegDg51XS0mQwvcrxrFXFClFTvQT61oaph2KrOZdSGaCSfXs-CPeiNBVRA0IKRDgVeGbK_gqQE/s1600/green+smothie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvYmrAut_zJ5stDVtmVX8IK-g23IMNx1MUbqxYUWGsc7FhLeXMOj6VoX6EYx33N9deKegDg51XS0mQwvcrxrFXFClFTvQT61oaph2KrOZdSGaCSfXs-CPeiNBVRA0IKRDgVeGbK_gqQE/s400/green+smothie.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
So for the past couple years Jeremy and I have been making these fruit smoothies. We would make them late at night when we were in a snack-y mood but didn't want to eat something heavy. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Lately I have been trying to eat healthier, and part of eating healthier was cutting out cereal in the morning, but I don't really like yogurt or eggs or most of the healthy breakfast stuff. So I decided to make up one of these smoothies, and I added some spinach and voila! Perfect breakfast shake! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am kinda weird and was skeptical of putting spinach in my delicious smoothie, I didn't want to be able to taste it because tasting spinach in the morning sounds disgusting. But you really can't taste it at all (just don't add huge amount of it). And this smoothie makes great baby food. A-Cakes gobbles it up every morning along with Jeremy and I. I mix hers with a little rice cereal to thicken it up so its a little bit cleaner to feed her. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I do put fruit juice in it. When you are using frozen fruit in a blender, you have to have a liquid to help the blender chop it up a bit. I use 100% Juice only, and even though it is from concentrate, there is no added sugar.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLiufBsHff7x3i89kS8a3pMn1t3YFCVv75jFPLNr1jEgBAuxaig96Dz1jm3Xwjnt_gUF5ilMFEFrqEOokwHsiND1W3y-l2BTvf9CtX5SPtl8I0SmTdrS6ArVPLV_8lp_nGw77ULSP_u-M/s1600/green+smoothie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLiufBsHff7x3i89kS8a3pMn1t3YFCVv75jFPLNr1jEgBAuxaig96Dz1jm3Xwjnt_gUF5ilMFEFrqEOokwHsiND1W3y-l2BTvf9CtX5SPtl8I0SmTdrS6ArVPLV_8lp_nGw77ULSP_u-M/s320/green+smoothie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Perfectly Pineapple Smoothies</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 cup frozen fruit- mixture of pineapple, mangos, strawberries and peaches</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Wal-Mart sells a big bag in the freezer section of this fruit mixture)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
3/4 cup Dole Orange and Pineapple Juice </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(this is in the freezer section at Wal-Mart and most groceries, it is in the concentrate cans)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 1/2 handfuls of spinach leaves</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Add the frozen fruit in the blender, then add the spinach, then the juice. Blend until no chunks remain. You may have to stop and stir it a few times. Pour in a glass and enjoy! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You can use this for breakfast or any snack during the day. And the great thing is that you can play around with this recipe, add some more berries, or more spinach. Greek yogurt would totally add some great protein to this, too bad I hate greek yogurt.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXfarIiwur3gpjldx8uhaZtEUj1_Svlgf3fEYI-vz_ouVf1AuQj2f8SB0Cz_wEJg9U7w3rG01KYToqcx3wyLp__L-H4bm3d-iZv1PcBwjP_PJ_kRzqqG2qjdz_d6qcXubWQS2JNzplu_U/s1600/green+smoothie+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXfarIiwur3gpjldx8uhaZtEUj1_Svlgf3fEYI-vz_ouVf1AuQj2f8SB0Cz_wEJg9U7w3rG01KYToqcx3wyLp__L-H4bm3d-iZv1PcBwjP_PJ_kRzqqG2qjdz_d6qcXubWQS2JNzplu_U/s640/green+smoothie+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">{The amount shown in the pics serves two and a baby}</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Vanessa@Lovin-Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01425615001381659506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528166656632493971.post-13517828944653379752012-09-17T18:30:00.000-06:002012-09-24T21:07:47.019-06:00How to puree your veggies<div style="text-align: center;">
In my last post, <a href="http://lovin-life-piersons.blogspot.com/2012/09/pureeing-vegetables.html">HERE</a>, I talked about how I have started 'hiding' vegetables in my meals. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And I explained that its not really hiding them since mainly my husband and I eat the meals and both of us know what is in it (A-Cakes sometimes will eat it too) but the vegetables are pureed in in the meal so you can't really taste it and it helps to get more of your daily veggies in. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So here is how I started out, using the book <i>Deceptively Delicious </i>as a guide I bought a whole bunch of vegetables at the store, I came home and spent a morning steaming all those vegetables (cut up the veggies in chunks before you steam them). Unfortunately I don't have a steamer, but I do plan on getting one in the near future. But if you don't have a steamer it is fine. All I did is use my rice cooker, you can use pot on the stove too, and just added a small amount of water. I then put the vegetables in the water and covered it with a lid. And left them in there to steam. If you aren't using a steamer stir the vegetables every so often and make sure the water doesn't evaporate all the way or the veggies will burn. Then once they are steamed you just need to add the vegetable to your blender and blend it until smooth. I then poured it into small sandwich sized ziploc bags, in about 1 1/2 Cup amounts. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I did this with each vegetable I had bought, then I let them cool in the bags and then put them in a bigger ziploc in the freezer. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Y52HgzMDyGTY-yQsxtoF-p1_btSfxpWwndqSc2WexKBrCkWuW6-Eps3287dWmKDqlhte2AueJRkewkISqS6wWFzYv3Cg1fuwIuL8Wx4c_GQzvYoX3WJikSCViw0rQuBR4qeVBINjkdo/s1600/Vegetable+puree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Y52HgzMDyGTY-yQsxtoF-p1_btSfxpWwndqSc2WexKBrCkWuW6-Eps3287dWmKDqlhte2AueJRkewkISqS6wWFzYv3Cg1fuwIuL8Wx4c_GQzvYoX3WJikSCViw0rQuBR4qeVBINjkdo/s640/Vegetable+puree.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Freezing the vegetables is nice too, because sometimes they go bad before I have a chance to use them, and this way they don't go to waste. I usually make a meal with some kind of meat in it for dinner, so when I take out the meat out of the freezer each morning to thaw I just take out a vegetable baggie too, and it works perfectly. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
If you have a veggie fresh on hand and you are using something that is going to be cooked like spaghetti sauce you don't really need to cook it first. It will cook in the sauce, especially if its a squash because those cook up fast. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here are the vegetables I used: </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Zucchini Squash</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Carrots</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Yellow Squash</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Cauliflower</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Spinach</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You can try fruits like bananas or other veggies like butternut squash and beets, but I have not tried those veggies yet. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I will be adding more recipes as I go with this new plan, but some ideas in using these veggies that I have used are:<br />
(some of these recipes were posted before I started this meal plan, look for the updates at the bottom of the post for the pureed vegetable I used)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="http://lovin-life-piersons.blogspot.com/2011/02/homemade-chicken-noodle.html">Chicken Noodle Soup</a></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="http://lovin-life-piersons.blogspot.com/2012/05/semi-homemade-spaghetti-sauce.html">Spaghetti with meat sauce</a></b><br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://lovin-life-piersons.blogspot.com/2012/06/chicken-beef-fajitas.html">Chicken Fajitas</a></b><br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.annies-eats.com/2010/02/15/chicken-enchiladas/">Chicken Enchiladas</a>- </b>These enchiladas are fantastic, I have yet to post the recipe on this blog though, but you can find it at Annie Eats. I add a cup of Cauliflower to the sauce. It is perfect. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Banana Bread- </b>This was one of the few recipes I have used from the <i>Deceptively Delicious </i>cookbook (I mostly use the book as a reference) and it was delicious. It didn't have a ton of sugar which was nice, and it uses half whole wheat flour and half white flour, banana puree and cauliflower puree. I also went a step further and used applesauce instead of oil. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Applesauce instead of Oil </b>- I don't make my own applesauce, yet. But it is technically a puree. And I love using this instead of oil in my baked goods. I have used it in <a href="http://lovin-life-piersons.blogspot.com/2011/01/day-4-on-week-of-recipes-zucchini-bread.html">zucchini bread</a>, banana bread and cupcakes and it turns out great every time. So much healthier for you! Next I am going to try it in brownies. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Smoothies- </b>I love <a href="http://lovin-life-piersons.blogspot.com/2012/09/amazing-fruit-and-spinach-smoothie.html">Perfectly Pineapple Smoothies</a> that I eat every morning for breakfast. Lots of fruit and spinach. You don't even need to puree the spinach before hand since it is pureed in the blender and doesn't need to be cooked. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I just started this, but already I am loving the idea, so I will be editing my recipes I have up to add the purees to the recipes and adding new recipes as I create them. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Vanessa@Lovin-Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01425615001381659506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528166656632493971.post-42304072816790710632012-09-16T23:38:00.002-06:002012-09-17T18:32:52.450-06:00Pureeing Vegetables<div style="text-align: center;">
This past week I made about 15 bags of vegetable purees.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Y52HgzMDyGTY-yQsxtoF-p1_btSfxpWwndqSc2WexKBrCkWuW6-Eps3287dWmKDqlhte2AueJRkewkISqS6wWFzYv3Cg1fuwIuL8Wx4c_GQzvYoX3WJikSCViw0rQuBR4qeVBINjkdo/s1600/Vegetable+puree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Y52HgzMDyGTY-yQsxtoF-p1_btSfxpWwndqSc2WexKBrCkWuW6-Eps3287dWmKDqlhte2AueJRkewkISqS6wWFzYv3Cg1fuwIuL8Wx4c_GQzvYoX3WJikSCViw0rQuBR4qeVBINjkdo/s400/Vegetable+puree.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I am now 'hiding' the purees in our dinners and homemade breads and other foods so that the hubs and I can get our full daily serving of vegetables.<br />
<br />
I borrowed the book <i>Deceptively Delicious</i> by Jessica Seinfeld from my lovely mother-in-law and followed her plan on adding the pureed veggies to your food, the best thing about it is that you can't tell it is in there. Seriously, for most of the things I have made the past couple weeks I really have not noticed they were in there at all. Some of the things even tasted better with the veggie puree, or so my husband said.<br />
<br />
I have a hard time eating a full serving of vegetables a day. I usually eat a decent amount of vegetables too, but seriously you have to eat so many vegetables, and before I started doing this, I was getting about half my daily allotment.<br />
A-Cakes is kinda picky, she won't eat the vegetable baby food no matter how hard I try. It got to the point where she wouldn't even eat the fruit baby food, which she loves, without me forcing it in her mouth to show her it wasn't veggies. So I started mixing the vegetable baby food in with the fruit. And she ate that stuff right up. So that gave me the idea to put veggies in other foods, especially since she eats more 'big people food' now and not only the baby foods. I wanted to make sure that with the 'big people food' she got veggies too. I started with spaghetti sauce. I made my spaghetti and added pureed zucchini to it. I am pretty picky and I didn't notice it at all, and I added a whole zucchini squash to it. Then I remembered the <i>Deceptively Delicious </i>cookbook that my mother in law had. I had never been too interested in the<i> </i>idea with the pureed veggies until now. But I borrowed the book and it has a lot of great ideas.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijPYroGdPHTgXikuN-6sKZ8SuB-UL30B7MAQbKX77Z6t8naS4JGvYeQ4pogNMb0xABR4M9hUZkitGXblSMeeqlsbgIa2yLGKxTYHNW4-VCMs2rZVPtUD2G29W_yiZS3oM3NLOKA4l5o0w/s1600/deceptivley+delicious.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijPYroGdPHTgXikuN-6sKZ8SuB-UL30B7MAQbKX77Z6t8naS4JGvYeQ4pogNMb0xABR4M9hUZkitGXblSMeeqlsbgIa2yLGKxTYHNW4-VCMs2rZVPtUD2G29W_yiZS3oM3NLOKA4l5o0w/s1600/deceptivley+delicious.jpeg" /></a></div>
<br />
For a lot of the recipes in the book, I already have recipes I love, such as spaghetti, but I borrowed the book as a reference to see what kinds of veggies she uses in what meals and then I can use my own recipes, but add veggies to them.<br />
<br />
Since I started doing this, I have gotten my 3 cups of daily vegetables in each day. And A-Cakes and the hubs eats it all up.<br />
<br />
I don't think the point of adding the vegetables to your food is to hide it from your kids, I still believe you should feed your kids other vegetables that aren't hidden and let them know what they are eating is healthy, but I think this is a great way to get all those vegetables in each day and just make your meals healthier and more nutritious. But if you have an older kid more set in their ways, hiding the vegetables might just be your salvation. I still feed A-Cakes other vegetables like tiny pieces of broccoli and peas that are not hidden and as long as its not baby food she does better at eating it.<br />
But as an adult it makes me feel healthy and I know I am getting more out of my meals.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Follow up post: <a href="http://lovin-life-piersons.blogspot.com/2012/09/how-to-puree-your-veggies.html#">How to Puree your veggies</a></b><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Vanessa@Lovin-Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01425615001381659506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528166656632493971.post-55168956222015004052012-09-13T12:39:00.000-06:002012-09-13T12:39:16.440-06:00Go Fight Win Cupcakes<div style="text-align: center;">
I don't like football, in fact when football is on, I see that as my cue to take a Sunday nap. But my husband loves, loves football. He loves him some NFL. So on the first game day for the NFL we skip church and go to his dad's house and watch a few games. Well I watched A-Cakes and browsed pinterest. To make the day more special I made these adorable football cupcakes. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtqJp2ZFqcligpDjLRsF2hXr2omyXSFE68Gt0aDQjnoA7_OXK4Re5KvytsZ6Yw1uFhp34fekgTeoCpL8Lia8Idvpedshzs8SQJW6kZWvBxGrrKhS9CKqgyx9846bwyhUMBLTyxYtsu_U/s1600/Football+Cupcake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtqJp2ZFqcligpDjLRsF2hXr2omyXSFE68Gt0aDQjnoA7_OXK4Re5KvytsZ6Yw1uFhp34fekgTeoCpL8Lia8Idvpedshzs8SQJW6kZWvBxGrrKhS9CKqgyx9846bwyhUMBLTyxYtsu_U/s320/Football+Cupcake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECShXAhBBQzVLt_SjBenHGNpE2L5XJt-YNwAO4qJO9P8k6V7fNs26JPr_n-UR3_yJEEQX4OezkPTBbuX-j3G3rAwMiVA_XLQesBiCF0LGiTI_KZFkF-Tq1r9PJLQCjGza0W-vU8xtLCs/s1600/football+cupcakes+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECShXAhBBQzVLt_SjBenHGNpE2L5XJt-YNwAO4qJO9P8k6V7fNs26JPr_n-UR3_yJEEQX4OezkPTBbuX-j3G3rAwMiVA_XLQesBiCF0LGiTI_KZFkF-Tq1r9PJLQCjGza0W-vU8xtLCs/s320/football+cupcakes+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Were they hard, well they shouldn't have been. I am sure anyone else out there besides me would think they are easy. But I have serious problems with cupcakes. I really cannot make them work. I also think a big problem with this was that I need pastry bags. I bought pastry tip things to frost with, but silly me, I thought, I can just use a ziploc bag and cut a hole in the tip, well I kept bursting the stupid bag and all my frosting would come pouring out some hole. But the actual making the design was super easy. I just made a box of yellow cake (I only eat yellow and chocolate cakes, white is gross) and then bought some chocolate frosting. I frosted the cupcakes with a light layer of chocolate, and then I put more frosting on top of them with my frosting kit. Then I made some homemade white frosting and put that on top of the chocolate. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I keep trying to make cupcakes and I am trying to learn to decorate them well, because A-Cake's birthday is in December and I really wanted to make Sesame Street cupcakes for her party. But after my last few experiences making cupcakes I don't think I will be making any Elmo cupcakes. I just cannot make cupcakes well for some reason... </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
But anyway these football cupcakes turned out cute, and made a huge mess in my kitchen. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So anyone else but me could easily make them, I am just doomed with cupcakes. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Vanessa@Lovin-Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01425615001381659506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528166656632493971.post-75855195757703316552012-09-09T21:40:00.000-06:002012-09-09T21:40:08.643-06:00Menu Plan Monday<div style="text-align: center;">
Here is a list of what I am making this week. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
For those of you that don't do meal planning I highly recommend it, it makes life so much easier. There isn't a bunch of guessing and you already have all the stuff on hand. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
What works for me is creating a list of 12 meals or so that sound good and then spreading those meals out over 2 weeks. I go to the grocery store with a list of everything I need for those meals and then I am set for the next two weeks. If I am planning a meal with something that will not last two weeks (store bought rolls or a certain vegetable ) I either make that meal first or I just plan on making a quick trip to the store to get a couple items later in the week. I don't however plan what meal is going for what night. I just make a list of meals, stick it on my fridge (or else I will forget what I bought) and then that morning I decide what sounds good and get the meat out to thaw (because it is usually all frozen). If planning out each night's meal in advance works for you do it, but if your like me, then its easier to just have a list. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Monday</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="http://lovin-life-piersons.blogspot.com/2011/02/homemade-chicken-noodle.html">Chicken Noodle Soup</a>: </b>Its going to be a rainy day, and nothing says fall and rain like a nice bowl of homemade chicken noodle. I make homemade noodles and they are delicious. But if you want to make it easier, buy some egg noodles. I am also trying to eat more veggies, so I am going to puree some carrots and put that into the sauce, and chop up carrots as well. Lots of veggies in this meal. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Tuesday</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="http://www.stacymakescents.com/crock-pot-spice-rub-chicken">Healthy Spice Rub Slow Cooker Chicken</a>: </b>I haven't made this recipe yet, but I hope its delicious. It looks really healthy. I think I might pair it with some homemade rolls, maybe some grilled zucchini? I'm not sure yet. But the chicken is paleo friendly too. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Wednesday</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Pita Pizzas</b>: No recipe needed for these, they are too easy. I recently bought some pitas at the market, not my usual market to make sandwich pockets for lunch and they don't open up, they are just unopenable flatbreads. So I can't use them for my lunches. But I don't want to waste them so I am going to make them into pizzas. Whole wheat pitas are the best, and they make perfect pizza crusts. Just pile on the sauce and the cheese and your favorite toppings, bake at 400 for about 15-20 min until cheese is melted and voila! Easiest thing ever to make. You can also use french bread too. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Thursday</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="http://annies-eats.com/2010/02/15/chicken-enchiladas/">Chicken Enchiladas</a>: </b>I love this recipe, its healthy and delicious. I recently made them in the crock pot too, which made them way easier. I will post soon on how I altered it to be a slow cooker recipe. But meanwhile you can find the recipe over at <a href="http://annies-eats.com/2010/02/15/chicken-enchiladas/">Annie Eats</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Friday</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Out to Eat! </b>I can't cook every single night. I will go insane. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Saturday</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Pancakes w. bacon:</b> Breakfast for dinner is always fun, especially because I never, ever make breakfast foods for breakfast. I just really can't cook that early. I just buy pancake mix and use that, way easier. Sometimes I put chocolate chips in my pancakes though, that is the bomb. I love bacon, so, so much, especially wonderful fatty, salty bacon. But turkey bacon is also good, and I buy that so I can have it more often. Its almost just as good. I even converted my husband, he says he likes it better than the pork kind. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Sunday</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Chicken Parmesean:</b> I like to class it up a bit on Sundays. And Italian food is always an elegant food. Someday I will do a post on this recipe, but I don't have one up yet, sorry! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Vanessa@Lovin-Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01425615001381659506noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528166656632493971.post-86736631433926964342012-08-25T23:06:00.001-06:002012-08-25T23:06:50.702-06:00Bridal shower : FOOD! <div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWMnCKM4n3kzsmvYoD7rmTlnw9u-x3ECdyGn1UJ7ZN9GHMIZEDixXkB5xxhynnMqmQTc7p4VmAa4t2kPMA0VAMWT89Pp5WD6vYP0HueiwR_w3DvORIfPVEloJ1-mY_UDd4CbWYFivuN8/s1600/oreo+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWMnCKM4n3kzsmvYoD7rmTlnw9u-x3ECdyGn1UJ7ZN9GHMIZEDixXkB5xxhynnMqmQTc7p4VmAa4t2kPMA0VAMWT89Pp5WD6vYP0HueiwR_w3DvORIfPVEloJ1-mY_UDd4CbWYFivuN8/s320/oreo+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
{chocolate dipped Oreos}</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So like I said in the <a href="http://lovin-life-piersons.blogspot.com/2012/08/family-bridal-shower-decor.html">post before</a> I did the dessert table for my cousins' bridal shower today. I did all the food and all the decorations. You can see more about the decorations <a href="http://lovin-life-piersons.blogspot.com/2012/08/family-bridal-shower-decor.html">HERE</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So for the dessert I went with the theme 'chocolate dipped' which I am so glad I did, it was easy and they turned out so delightfully cute! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I originally planned to go with POPS, like brownie pops and rice krispy pops and stuff like that, where you roll the brownies into balls and dip them in chocolate and put them on a stick. But I did a practice run 2 weeks before the shower and man oh man am I glad I did. They ended up looking like poop balls. They are way harder than they look. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So I went for another theme that involved no baking. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtWvgmK5rhetcY24LSkbxIdVek05K897uOGc6gDU5hTqNlsecSa1nw1ePuzTG6NPavEbrJXZLKZAejg2Iei6aBX3_UiTsZ3G6MKEOpkr3OZhbcyW-vDMZYepwBG8W3XNv4Qj7gkVXIyA/s1600/Bshower+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtWvgmK5rhetcY24LSkbxIdVek05K897uOGc6gDU5hTqNlsecSa1nw1ePuzTG6NPavEbrJXZLKZAejg2Iei6aBX3_UiTsZ3G6MKEOpkr3OZhbcyW-vDMZYepwBG8W3XNv4Qj7gkVXIyA/s320/Bshower+6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So these photos are all taken from my phone. Why can't I find that dang camera charger?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So I tried to make them look as good as possible. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So for my chocolate dipped theme I used 1 1/2 package of chocolate candy coating and one package of white chocolate candy coating. Then I had three types of sprinkles and I used coconut on some of them too. I loved the coconut ones, I think those ones were my favorite.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
To dip the stuff, I melted the candy coating on the stove on low {stirring constantly so it doesn't burn} then I poured all the candy coating into a mug, so that it would be deep to dip the stuff in. I did each chocolate at a time, so I did everything that required white chocolate first and then did all the milk chocolate second. I also did everything the night before so I wasn't crazy rushed the day of the shower.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfSPm23YgogQ78DoIqXp2T3u-Ezu55LZCSUVvU1a7HMP7dTHwdH-1x4tkx0WC4Hn3oNBf8J6ObeXjjuJPPhkPa6asr3dFNAI-mUNNBKPotGdyCenjLkiVWr1GSDOR75Y3zRqZEFH_bziU/s1600/bshower+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfSPm23YgogQ78DoIqXp2T3u-Ezu55LZCSUVvU1a7HMP7dTHwdH-1x4tkx0WC4Hn3oNBf8J6ObeXjjuJPPhkPa6asr3dFNAI-mUNNBKPotGdyCenjLkiVWr1GSDOR75Y3zRqZEFH_bziU/s320/bshower+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So I used about a package and a half of pretzel rods total. I would dip them, and then put them on wax paper and then I sprinkled the stuff over them. I tried rolling them in the sprinkles and that didn't work. The chocolate dripped off. So sprinkling it over worked best for me. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijp4DnFzs4J2JLfr_vOnQKbPNeV_GInHzW6azWtcda_6jyC1QkNRm5fANpZeuHm1Mom6ER4R-ypZo9AjhG-KwmgU9SuHRxaEamzxR8zTB88WhEa2dBH2t_bsof9GFBHY396Qeki56a-6w/s1600/bshower+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijp4DnFzs4J2JLfr_vOnQKbPNeV_GInHzW6azWtcda_6jyC1QkNRm5fANpZeuHm1Mom6ER4R-ypZo9AjhG-KwmgU9SuHRxaEamzxR8zTB88WhEa2dBH2t_bsof9GFBHY396Qeki56a-6w/s320/bshower+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I used red sprinkles on the white chocolate a lot since it went with my red theme. But I wouldn't suggest using those sugar crystal sprinkles on the milk chocolate, it doesn't show up and looks like crap on a stick. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXXoRvGe_MnLC2Z2rSjViSjb7jExSSubMDmSgBi5SBuaBDOZIqVAo-jaSMdgnAEba39MRjIZeekBCJ3UrpVPujfameDV4mnpFNxva8Nq0o4psxOyTK9rUK8Yf-JvBNeXSShy-iZooydI/s1600/bshower+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXXoRvGe_MnLC2Z2rSjViSjb7jExSSubMDmSgBi5SBuaBDOZIqVAo-jaSMdgnAEba39MRjIZeekBCJ3UrpVPujfameDV4mnpFNxva8Nq0o4psxOyTK9rUK8Yf-JvBNeXSShy-iZooydI/s320/bshower+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
These were the hit of the party. I knew if I was doing a chocolate dipped theme I had to do strawberries. I should have done more. I did two containers of strawberries, which was about 30 berries or so. I washed them, and then dried them, then dipped them, and I only used milk chocolate. Unlike the rest of the stuff, I did these the day of the party. I have seen them the second day, they look all weird and aren't as good. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWMnCKM4n3kzsmvYoD7rmTlnw9u-x3ECdyGn1UJ7ZN9GHMIZEDixXkB5xxhynnMqmQTc7p4VmAa4t2kPMA0VAMWT89Pp5WD6vYP0HueiwR_w3DvORIfPVEloJ1-mY_UDd4CbWYFivuN8/s1600/oreo+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWMnCKM4n3kzsmvYoD7rmTlnw9u-x3ECdyGn1UJ7ZN9GHMIZEDixXkB5xxhynnMqmQTc7p4VmAa4t2kPMA0VAMWT89Pp5WD6vYP0HueiwR_w3DvORIfPVEloJ1-mY_UDd4CbWYFivuN8/s320/oreo+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I think these oreos were my favorites. They just looked the cutest. I still did half white chocolate and half milk chocolate. The big confetti sprinkles looked adorable on them. I am eating the few leftovers of these right now. Mmmm.... </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Oh and I used two packages of generic oreos. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuDiiVtpyh4aHjYI0MafK7qGLUzUY-eh92sLsnJt36kb2nNS9wX22XGH-TT-TlpBRG6DDJrH_qtZ92e5O0bDIHHqGKgiPEit3Hk9kpKCegMeY4eFbsCOLkG3t3sKuBuYYSgobtG3kX7JA/s1600/bshower+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuDiiVtpyh4aHjYI0MafK7qGLUzUY-eh92sLsnJt36kb2nNS9wX22XGH-TT-TlpBRG6DDJrH_qtZ92e5O0bDIHHqGKgiPEit3Hk9kpKCegMeY4eFbsCOLkG3t3sKuBuYYSgobtG3kX7JA/s320/bshower+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I honestly don't like rice krispy treats that much, unless they have chocolate. These were the only homemade thing I did. I dipped half of them in white chocolate. And then when it came time to do the milk chocolate, I was running low on milk chocolate, I had another package, but it was late and I didn't want to melt anymore, so I just was lazy and drizzled it over them. I made them the night before and they were still really soft the day of. I put a piece of bread in with them, and it somehow really does help to keep them soft. It works on cookies and stuff too. The bread gets hard but nothing else does. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So it was a really easy dessert theme, if I had baked everything, it may have been cheaper, but way more work. and I just liked getting to put sprinkles on everything. I don't get to use sprinkles enough. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
In case you were wondering, we had a meal for the guests too. Soup and Salad. I brought tortilla soup. Which I will post the recipe on here soon, because it is delicous. And then one of my aunts brought Cheesy broccoli potato soup and my other one made chicken noodle soup. Then my other aunt brought two salads. (pasta one and spinach one) I should have taken a picture. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We played some games opened some presents and then skyped with my mama who lives in New Mexico and was so sad she couldn't be there. We missed ya mom!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
But it all turned out FANTASTICLY SUPERB. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Now I can't wait to get started on A-Cakes one year old party in December! Sesame Street here we come. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Vanessa@Lovin-Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01425615001381659506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528166656632493971.post-30729359617346666912012-08-25T22:33:00.001-06:002012-08-25T23:12:44.137-06:00Family Bridal Shower decor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My cute cousin is getting married next month so my aunts and I threw her a bridal shower today. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I was asked to bring a dessert. And I guess I went a little overboard and made a bunch of desserts, and then decorations. And I just decided to make a dessert table. And it looked FABULOUS!! I seriously am so freaking stoked about how cute it looked. Unfortunately my camera is dead, and I can't find the charger anywhere, seriously I think I am going to have to find a new charger online cause I am dying without it. So these are all pictures from my phone. So it doesn't even show the fabulous-ness of what I did. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So this post will show all the decor, and <a href="http://lovin-life-piersons.blogspot.com/2012/08/bridal-shower-food.html">HERE</a> is the one on the desserts</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtWvgmK5rhetcY24LSkbxIdVek05K897uOGc6gDU5hTqNlsecSa1nw1ePuzTG6NPavEbrJXZLKZAejg2Iei6aBX3_UiTsZ3G6MKEOpkr3OZhbcyW-vDMZYepwBG8W3XNv4Qj7gkVXIyA/s1600/Bshower+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtWvgmK5rhetcY24LSkbxIdVek05K897uOGc6gDU5hTqNlsecSa1nw1ePuzTG6NPavEbrJXZLKZAejg2Iei6aBX3_UiTsZ3G6MKEOpkr3OZhbcyW-vDMZYepwBG8W3XNv4Qj7gkVXIyA/s320/Bshower+6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My cousin's wedding colors are plum, cream and black. Which are totally gorgeous colors and I love them so much together. But I had a hard time finding plum cheap decor. So I went with red stuff. I have a ton of red stuff, so it was pretty easy for me. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4k9izr2IdbXBxVkQftpD9Fq26ROON8mSLkMYPb-ZtRmPFBo1rV3J5bMK3xGj4JuAiCRfFvSzvpONlRJHmHl_C4x6caC79kQKpFsFdkbTfslKmjTBnIjuHl7Ime3t3l3t_ey2c1mgn6U/s1600/bshower+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4k9izr2IdbXBxVkQftpD9Fq26ROON8mSLkMYPb-ZtRmPFBo1rV3J5bMK3xGj4JuAiCRfFvSzvpONlRJHmHl_C4x6caC79kQKpFsFdkbTfslKmjTBnIjuHl7Ime3t3l3t_ey2c1mgn6U/s320/bshower+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I made a red table runner from my leftover red burlap from my <a href="http://lovin-life-piersons.blogspot.com/2012/05/burlap-and-ruffle-table-runner-super.html">previous table runner</a> I made. I thought about just using the one that was already made, but I love it so much and I didn't want mine to get dirty. So I just got my burlap and sewed the edges, easy peasy. This picture I took at my house, the shower was at my aunt's, but I set up the stuff at my house the day before to see how it all looked. {The pic at the top of the page is the pic I took with everything set up, but you can't see the pom poms}</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My auntie made me the magnet board for Christmas a few years ago, I put her shower invite on it, a couple cute quotes on marriage, and then some pics of my cousin and her fiance on it. I made the <a href="http://lovin-life-piersons.blogspot.com/2011/03/red-rosette-wreath.html">rosette wreath</a> a year or so ago, so that was nice to have already made. The smile sign was also something I had on hand. The flowers I just put on wood dowels and you can find out how to make them <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/how-to/tissue-paper-pom-poms-how-to">HERE</a>, they are made from tissue paper. I wish I had a close up on them and a tutorial for you, but I didn't want to do that with my phone camera... </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9z5kyUXyW-FDa5HiV6F3bgwNlhvgwtIqdb1ZeTCVSVqbLSPD0kuml_lTeeYRAtP5dbELzNH-SHw_bOUGiH5GH3RLG1pWFcmpgftyPy4hrITEwABhdNJNoI1FvGfN9DTFe0hGNLxc4xg/s1600/bshower+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9z5kyUXyW-FDa5HiV6F3bgwNlhvgwtIqdb1ZeTCVSVqbLSPD0kuml_lTeeYRAtP5dbELzNH-SHw_bOUGiH5GH3RLG1pWFcmpgftyPy4hrITEwABhdNJNoI1FvGfN9DTFe0hGNLxc4xg/s320/bshower+8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I made 5 pom poms out of tissue paper, they are easy, just time consuming and make a bit of a mess. They are pretty much the same as making the flowers above, and you can find how to make them <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/how-to/tissue-paper-pom-poms-how-to">HERE</a>. I hung them from the ceiling with push pins and red string, except in the pic, I should have spaced them out more, which I did for the real shower. I used 3 packages of tissue paper for these, that includes the red flowers. The big ones took a package each, the smaller ones and the flowers were one package total. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU6PRWKexZN0Or7TWVNOakThUK6VPMOEIGuszFrOVDVye1F3scbUcSxDxFuGLpNrgamqermi4VtXjSXkuM0i3FfKzExC0VMb5avkQqEyMcexmPRxfoSyLEnskykDefLTeOzDx2Tmr9vRc/s1600/Bshower+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU6PRWKexZN0Or7TWVNOakThUK6VPMOEIGuszFrOVDVye1F3scbUcSxDxFuGLpNrgamqermi4VtXjSXkuM0i3FfKzExC0VMb5avkQqEyMcexmPRxfoSyLEnskykDefLTeOzDx2Tmr9vRc/s320/Bshower+7.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This picture is at my house again, on set up day. I love how it all looks with my blue table. So country shabby chic, and it all matched with my kitchen stuff too. I didn't want to take it down. The plates I got at Dollar Tree. They were a dollar each, and I loved them because I will reuse them a ton, I put red napkins on them once I set out the food. I made the banner out of material I already had and quickly sewed it. It was even easier to make than the tissue pom poms I thought. You can find a tutorial <a href="http://www.yourhomebasedmom.com/fabric-pendant-banner-tutorial/">HERE</a> for it. I just cut out red triangles and sewed them to the tan fabric. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The decorations really made the treat table look AMAZING! I got a ton of compliments on it. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Since I had a lot of the stuff on hand I spent $11.00 total on all the decorations. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Tissue paper-- 3 packs at $1.00 ea = $3.00</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Red Napkins-- 2 packs @ $1.00 ea= $2.00</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
White Plates-- 6 plates @ $1.00 ea = $6.00</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So I spent the most on the white plates that I used to display the food. And I those I plan on reusing a lot. So this is easily done on a budget. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I did spend way more on the food, but you can def. do whatever food you like for cheaper, or delegate food tasks out too. I recommend just going with whatever color you have a lot of stuff with, so then you don't have to buy as much. And let me tell ya, dollar tree rocks my socks! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Vanessa@Lovin-Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01425615001381659506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528166656632493971.post-7548958202728051012012-08-09T18:13:00.001-06:002012-08-09T18:13:45.124-06:00Food Tracker<div style="text-align: center;">
So I wanted to track my food that I eat on a daily basis to see how many calories and stuff I am eating and to just make me more accountable on the way I eat. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I think my Sister-in-law told me about this website a while ago, and I just remembered about it. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I started using it this past week and I think it is totally sweet. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Its by those people who make the food pyramid they teach you about in school. The website is called <a href="http://www.choosemyplate.gov/supertracker-tools/supertracker.html">Choose My Plate</a> and the food tracker is called the 'Super Tracker' and it is <b>completely free! </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2DWv6c3XY5X5wOMcJADIQdBqq1Cm01pYN20Izi_9EBHRxBHUDU_ZKXyy4JiLHy5OSwpp6CY1azHZmM54BMxiTXxquFaOE8N1ZFUYkXoubySCKKapkRL-G2K6QxNhPRYntwSgGXOSj0rE/s1600/SuperTrackerBanner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2DWv6c3XY5X5wOMcJADIQdBqq1Cm01pYN20Izi_9EBHRxBHUDU_ZKXyy4JiLHy5OSwpp6CY1azHZmM54BMxiTXxquFaOE8N1ZFUYkXoubySCKKapkRL-G2K6QxNhPRYntwSgGXOSj0rE/s320/SuperTrackerBanner.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So basically what it does, is it has you enter in everything you ate that day and then it tells you approx. how many calories that was and what food groups it goes into. It also lets you set goals to lose weight and then gives you how many calories a day you should eat to get to that weight and how many of those calories can be 'empty calories' that don't have much nutritional value. It told me I can have 2400 calories a day, but that is with me breastfeeding full time. I actually haven't even come close to that, and I even had pizza and cookies yesterday (I did fill up my empty calories which is 300 eating those items though). I don't worry as much about trying to fill up each food group category. Do you know how many vegetables you have to eat? It is an insane amount. I even have like carrot sticks and spinach almost every day and it still is only like half the chart. I do usually fill up my fruit intake though. But I don't eat dairy products so I pretty much will never even get close to that bar.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4ZjpvLzZAA8adhhpehG0lKs0TiyBGKWtlyG5thXijJixczURUJ6OwA_f6eGoAh4N54BEpVSNUScnOQIHMknICh_pjYzgkIf2Xe0ffG37WgsSZ-rGBZhdnYSMsDthLDS2Qjfq0-xjypY/s1600/food+track+0001.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4ZjpvLzZAA8adhhpehG0lKs0TiyBGKWtlyG5thXijJixczURUJ6OwA_f6eGoAh4N54BEpVSNUScnOQIHMknICh_pjYzgkIf2Xe0ffG37WgsSZ-rGBZhdnYSMsDthLDS2Qjfq0-xjypY/s640/food+track+0001.tiff" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But it is cool to see how much you are eating. It has a ton of options so, you can say you ate 3 strawberries or 1 cup of strawberries and if they are cooked and if they had sugar on them and so on, and then see the nutritional value of that. It even has some store bought products that you can enter in too. Homemade meals I enter in individually each ingredient, which can be a pain, but you can save those meals so it remembers it and you don't have to do it every time, you just click on that meal.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It also has a tracker for your exercise, you can even add cleaning to your daily exercise, which makes me feel better. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The site has you make goals and stuff like some of mine are not going over my daily empty calories and to exercise at least 150 min. a week. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I really like it because I like to make lists and cross things off, it makes me more productive, so this is kind of a version of a list for me. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But it makes me more accountable in what I eat because I eat a cookie and then I have to enter it into the site. I guess that doesn't work for everyone, but it definitely helps me! So if you think it would help you, you should totally give it a try. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBC0IDQ5qJAt-4msL6qRM7Wgu84e9mKgJPOtA25EsiRzCIooXz44v1VxYUw6DsP_IzLofMDxl5MpCVoCTS21Y1qr1qXh7dAoZCFccnJmbs7W4GJHvuOJvEy-4nuPPBXeiinZGWMY1H1tg/s1600/HomePageMashupImage.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBC0IDQ5qJAt-4msL6qRM7Wgu84e9mKgJPOtA25EsiRzCIooXz44v1VxYUw6DsP_IzLofMDxl5MpCVoCTS21Y1qr1qXh7dAoZCFccnJmbs7W4GJHvuOJvEy-4nuPPBXeiinZGWMY1H1tg/s1600/HomePageMashupImage.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">All opinions in this post are 100% mine and I was not compensated in anyway for promoting this.</span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>Vanessa@Lovin-Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01425615001381659506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528166656632493971.post-77737716430429773822012-08-05T22:45:00.000-06:002012-08-05T22:45:43.573-06:00Meal Plan Monday<div style="text-align: center;">
It seems like I haven't posted in like forever, packing, moving, unpacking and getting sick twice hasn't given me much time to post, or much to post about it seems. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And I have a couple craft projects that I want to post, but my camera just died and I don't remember where our charger is. I am hoping I find it soon, or I am screwed. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But anyways, I thought I would share some of my ideas for meals that I am making this week, in case any one is in need of some ideas. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Monday: </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lovin-life-piersons.blogspot.com/2012/06/chicken-beef-fajitas.html">Chicken Fajitas</a> with Rice-A-Roni Chicken Fajita flavored rice.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I love these, I have been craving them so much.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Its a really easy meal and not too expensive either. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHiQWUsLbGT2zqdCJQ8E3WSA4us5PJsYpAdcMkfGQ8q1BXxAEbKe_GeAo316JyDgShS79JK9L7kYiXDGqN74tM7iXpe9HVjOjL1-pimmOvzToe6RUwwIP_Ty26ue9sspFd0VHTspe5Uw/s1600/fajitas+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHiQWUsLbGT2zqdCJQ8E3WSA4us5PJsYpAdcMkfGQ8q1BXxAEbKe_GeAo316JyDgShS79JK9L7kYiXDGqN74tM7iXpe9HVjOjL1-pimmOvzToe6RUwwIP_Ty26ue9sspFd0VHTspe5Uw/s320/fajitas+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Tuesday:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches with cantaloupe. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
These are incredibly simple to make. I think steak is too expensive to buy for these, so I get roast beef lunch meat, green peppers, onions, and rolls. I saute the green peppers and onions in olive oil and then add the roast beef and saute it for a couple more minutes. Then put it all on a lovely roll. Easy Peasy. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Wednesday:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Santa Fe Tortilla Soup</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am making this one from the Body For Life cookbook. I don't have the recipe for this on here, sorry about that, I always forget to take a picture of it when I make, but I will this time, if I can find the camera charger. But here is another recipe for one of my favorite <a href="http://lovin-life-piersons.blogspot.com/2011/01/bahama-mamas-tortilla-soup-recipe.html">Tortilla soups </a>. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Thursday:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Grilled Chicken with Rice-A-Roni chicken flavored rice and watermelon</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am trying out a new recipe I found on pinterest you can find it at<a href="http://www.thediaryofdaveswife.com/2012/07/best-chicken-marinade.html"> Diary of Dave's Wife</a>. I hope its yummy! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Friday:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lovin-life-piersons.blogspot.com/2012/05/semi-homemade-spaghetti-sauce.html">Spaghetti </a>with Texas Toast</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Made with Semi-homemade sauce that I made for my little sister last month and she said it was the best spaghetti she had ever had, this girl is picky people, so I was pretty proud! And I just buy a box of frozen garlic texas toast, my fav! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3Uv88Oy7x3uD62l-tvwiiletFwscxzFxgr7NlFxyqmmrY2TdyH0vrGQuU4McoK9tnX8N-_zhnI4krNYohIMKNsesnsCtCIyJqSyYL27Yo7fBTQ4W8Ot45rgCcpTokPJa2lXyWTh-E2A/s1600/P1000757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3Uv88Oy7x3uD62l-tvwiiletFwscxzFxgr7NlFxyqmmrY2TdyH0vrGQuU4McoK9tnX8N-_zhnI4krNYohIMKNsesnsCtCIyJqSyYL27Yo7fBTQ4W8Ot45rgCcpTokPJa2lXyWTh-E2A/s320/P1000757.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Saturday: </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Bacon wrapped Chicken with watermelon and steamed vegetables</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I am going to do a whole post on these bad boys. Man they are freaking amazing. And surprisingly really simple. I use turkey bacon, healthier and almost as good. You can find the recipe over at<a href="http://www.jamhands.net/2009/07/sweet-chicken-bacon-wraps.html"> Jam hands</a>. And I just buy a bag of steamable veggies in the freezer section. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Sunday: </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lovin-life-piersons.blogspot.com/2012/06/beef-enchiladas.html">Beef Enchiladas</a>. I am craving me some Mexican food! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>Vanessa@Lovin-Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01425615001381659506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8528166656632493971.post-53927334426961454252012-07-06T16:10:00.000-06:002012-07-06T16:10:15.422-06:00My little model<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOaVTAkOXwR-KUlCFcpZe37rNbdWTTw4lScIlQra77taAcoRv3I7yOs8W4GB1H7PFgQyCffNz8R4hZYSaqR-FimcwVfBYKMt_911ylwn3hghnL3-GmruFVp9CrdRZNFKzM9ZMzAA-f7gw/s1600/188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOaVTAkOXwR-KUlCFcpZe37rNbdWTTw4lScIlQra77taAcoRv3I7yOs8W4GB1H7PFgQyCffNz8R4hZYSaqR-FimcwVfBYKMt_911ylwn3hghnL3-GmruFVp9CrdRZNFKzM9ZMzAA-f7gw/s400/188.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">We went and took A-Cakes 7 month photos with my sister-in-law. We are so lucky we have three amazing girlies in our family that all take super amazing photos.<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: garamond, 'new york', times, serif;"> You can find my SIL's photo information over on Facebook. Its called </span><span style="font-family: garamond, 'new york', times, serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sincerelylexphoto">Sincerely, Lex Photography</a>. </span></span><span style="background-color: white;">She is moving to California (boo!), so if you live there, you should contact her for some </span><span style="background-color: white;">photo-shoots</span><span style="background-color: white;">. Or you can ask me about my other amazing SIL's that do photography too if you live in Utah. </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmwTArft-NEM6THiJiqolRy8tux2zzDWaK10tLM2f3egymE2V2_R1id0ZOHhlY7wtJRN2Hviu8JVyW-6s6Csn16OmlZGDZPHp76opXcx5vHQ9zUvKzmzJzR72-ue4dQ_I3hqIdqAamLfQ/s1600/199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmwTArft-NEM6THiJiqolRy8tux2zzDWaK10tLM2f3egymE2V2_R1id0ZOHhlY7wtJRN2Hviu8JVyW-6s6Csn16OmlZGDZPHp76opXcx5vHQ9zUvKzmzJzR72-ue4dQ_I3hqIdqAamLfQ/s320/199.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsAQ3SRHzmuyohrRtNhIh_m6PxsPknEGwIvyM8F8nm2AZ8L4j_miqkO_SXglJipiyaS8L2k4PleVNDJqMoGWIOcdqvSVH5iCN8__0w-lb79C0oLFgddL9oAbOUZQ-uMBuZVw2rfh9JI4/s1600/261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsAQ3SRHzmuyohrRtNhIh_m6PxsPknEGwIvyM8F8nm2AZ8L4j_miqkO_SXglJipiyaS8L2k4PleVNDJqMoGWIOcdqvSVH5iCN8__0w-lb79C0oLFgddL9oAbOUZQ-uMBuZVw2rfh9JI4/s320/261.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A-Cakes was happy all day, but for some reason, we got out there and she decided to be an ornery goose. So smiles were few and far between, but I think the pictures turned out gorgeous. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We were exhausted by the end trying to make a ton of noise to get her to look at us, and not the grass. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintt26XYUsyrmhTVqithxTj2KdAzDgfRyrvtce1OBZ8ARZ6YlsJGDA0LOpSTlXajvSUvzpHDtGSyD-yClUBiL_wv8TaMrUBrGXJbgsSmiECehd3Fm5koFyYFe3NQyhEC7pDFPMX0d_6Ow/s1600/278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintt26XYUsyrmhTVqithxTj2KdAzDgfRyrvtce1OBZ8ARZ6YlsJGDA0LOpSTlXajvSUvzpHDtGSyD-yClUBiL_wv8TaMrUBrGXJbgsSmiECehd3Fm5koFyYFe3NQyhEC7pDFPMX0d_6Ow/s320/278.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3pZo79dZ1eXmgMBco11twBzrXz08uCDcmBen-z-Js8GCxiJWsY0W1iOW3dMU_XqTGPoIouJjjP0fT6aK_Zq6kM22t99DH45Po_CPbQVmUlg2YI9H8N-xW3kTt3O3X80u8U1kXJCSWJ4/s1600/analiese+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3pZo79dZ1eXmgMBco11twBzrXz08uCDcmBen-z-Js8GCxiJWsY0W1iOW3dMU_XqTGPoIouJjjP0fT6aK_Zq6kM22t99DH45Po_CPbQVmUlg2YI9H8N-xW3kTt3O3X80u8U1kXJCSWJ4/s320/analiese+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkB0eNVHC46T6IvS0AMBcGhP65ZGJlRfF29hi6MLWqrU164ssb0SU75fqrcWpoS1k6Ji1bk8I7pFunHOqQZRbEBpPbCu1x-pT2bGEJtXejvWM5Efzx6YO51DK10XTNZeAdhCZHCftVY8Q/s1600/collage3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkB0eNVHC46T6IvS0AMBcGhP65ZGJlRfF29hi6MLWqrU164ssb0SU75fqrcWpoS1k6Ji1bk8I7pFunHOqQZRbEBpPbCu1x-pT2bGEJtXejvWM5Efzx6YO51DK10XTNZeAdhCZHCftVY8Q/s320/collage3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Finally a smile. And thats just cause she was being held by daddy.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvFLxBlcKHp8oKk8DTyaI9b10clndcQIe_dynrvYT9tBKhLfw4zXISyfKN8pijVSHs7OMSLl4kWyjGWaFA9L-508qAMs9DPipPjQZt7eiadeNIQ2FocRVLfIVsgdBsp3DLvFBur7PvboY/s1600/download+(1).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvFLxBlcKHp8oKk8DTyaI9b10clndcQIe_dynrvYT9tBKhLfw4zXISyfKN8pijVSHs7OMSLl4kWyjGWaFA9L-508qAMs9DPipPjQZt7eiadeNIQ2FocRVLfIVsgdBsp3DLvFBur7PvboY/s1600/download+(1).jpeg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhblLbAjidzm7oadNDR7RdG6zLWhN2lDDETE10JpL6-qP1B8ZZOIvtKYu-hgEhJGea50pOGyRids2ZDmpe7Aq-RF-5GwerpZksCmamhxa-DgctlbQn8GnaLTZ3wxFcwxxzCsvKesnsC7gI/s1600/download+(2).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhblLbAjidzm7oadNDR7RdG6zLWhN2lDDETE10JpL6-qP1B8ZZOIvtKYu-hgEhJGea50pOGyRids2ZDmpe7Aq-RF-5GwerpZksCmamhxa-DgctlbQn8GnaLTZ3wxFcwxxzCsvKesnsC7gI/s200/download+(2).jpeg" width="132" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmJ4vQ1W73yEZrmh78JDbpzr1zsCu94L9OypM1GbaxhkNzS0ZyU_jgmq3d60c-nzGRccFtUbR19CJ3dY8Q8pjrneRgdCh7lk6HOe8m3epGxoW-TNYaoUFAbMS6qHKBlO27YutGrFQn-Y/s1600/download+(4).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmJ4vQ1W73yEZrmh78JDbpzr1zsCu94L9OypM1GbaxhkNzS0ZyU_jgmq3d60c-nzGRccFtUbR19CJ3dY8Q8pjrneRgdCh7lk6HOe8m3epGxoW-TNYaoUFAbMS6qHKBlO27YutGrFQn-Y/s400/download+(4).jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWr9a_WncsbYUknxtepkPyNkNSPkiNvqJw6wEWORghJujzrTzDqsr8e9xTYLQW5LyugHKcgMAg72owyuu3ayLhL4Uhn60rTzJU4vWjMHLUQ8UjhuPauXWn_wcrBvl370sbdqQs1AvlMk/s1600/download+(5).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWr9a_WncsbYUknxtepkPyNkNSPkiNvqJw6wEWORghJujzrTzDqsr8e9xTYLQW5LyugHKcgMAg72owyuu3ayLhL4Uhn60rTzJU4vWjMHLUQ8UjhuPauXWn_wcrBvl370sbdqQs1AvlMk/s1600/download+(5).jpeg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCl-yglqw8eaWXq_a4IS6W5X1-LcdqUTFK_brIjeJewvEtIGwAyT2KTdZeAWeF1J5UyL4TtGcAtusRyRLMKBtzyWZZBcnUHKcEKOKDUgeEH2qSXGd4lzYh3pSAJlUvuUWgQZYkGuMxr4g/s1600/download.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCl-yglqw8eaWXq_a4IS6W5X1-LcdqUTFK_brIjeJewvEtIGwAyT2KTdZeAWeF1J5UyL4TtGcAtusRyRLMKBtzyWZZBcnUHKcEKOKDUgeEH2qSXGd4lzYh3pSAJlUvuUWgQZYkGuMxr4g/s320/download.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdvXVPsl3bhSBJ35JSB9nnTtwfYvy1XhyphenhyphenJp9rS1TWgCVG3oQ0CNyaEk2aUt-xpeVJeXESqLsO0yIobIgTis6eR-qi4Cu6gkTB4k-ApKozqJ3HLkBVxiYPbnuPfTvvjf0CeJUrh4qgQl4o/s1600/065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdvXVPsl3bhSBJ35JSB9nnTtwfYvy1XhyphenhyphenJp9rS1TWgCVG3oQ0CNyaEk2aUt-xpeVJeXESqLsO0yIobIgTis6eR-qi4Cu6gkTB4k-ApKozqJ3HLkBVxiYPbnuPfTvvjf0CeJUrh4qgQl4o/s320/065.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfIofudwIVHHs8-WetDfRnLqxUWQ3eyyDAkgM9Hqpiz0yD80BV2TKwOhzqb7kJ_0MmEpbHbyp1h0KGpzF3YyuxHg2123xkaYgAC3A_GZHWgl7WXcwQvgi5JpUsjxzqsbgROy3WTRVqkJc/s1600/112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfIofudwIVHHs8-WetDfRnLqxUWQ3eyyDAkgM9Hqpiz0yD80BV2TKwOhzqb7kJ_0MmEpbHbyp1h0KGpzF3YyuxHg2123xkaYgAC3A_GZHWgl7WXcwQvgi5JpUsjxzqsbgROy3WTRVqkJc/s320/112.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBik8KIog9nfwNk7DpRKkMYacUsjJyPpXKgoicg1-jfE-EqE_m6FRQuSVv3dqgizc6jZy89HmhZWXlTFqDAvAoksNLfx6oB7YftOttq2ctbQyU0su9cI8VBc1MbYbM8OHenDxzdfBoQI/s1600/170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBik8KIog9nfwNk7DpRKkMYacUsjJyPpXKgoicg1-jfE-EqE_m6FRQuSVv3dqgizc6jZy89HmhZWXlTFqDAvAoksNLfx6oB7YftOttq2ctbQyU0su9cI8VBc1MbYbM8OHenDxzdfBoQI/s320/170.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We snapped a few family ones in there too. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Vanessa@Lovin-Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01425615001381659506noreply@blogger.com2