tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667069616926074732023-11-16T13:48:04.191-05:00The Bowlin AlleyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749390911541087076noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1066706961692607473.post-82931023982145347712014-12-09T13:08:00.001-05:002014-12-09T15:53:34.922-05:00Future Star<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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To most, it's no secret that I enjoy listening to music. But recently I've been checking out a new soundtrack in my life...by Pennie. My Future Star has been working on her first album. She calls it "Screaming Because I'm Two..." So far I'm not a fan. Yes, yes I know. I'm her mother. I should be excited about all her accomplishments and support her in her independent endeavors, but the fake whining and tears in all of these tracks I find annoying and just irritating...I'm hoping when I share these tracks, you all will take my side on this one and boycott that she doesn't proceed with recording this album (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ChrisGrahamAudioMastering?fref=ts" target="_blank">Chris Graham</a>, don't get any ideas). So here are the tracks she's started working on so far. Thought I'd share with my fellow friends and parent friends. I know some of you are fans of that "SCREAM-O" music, but I believe even YOU will not be a fan of where this album is headed. </div>
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<li><b><i>Anti Tooth Brusher: </i></b>This song seems to be about her bad hygiene. Pennie hates brushing her teeth and sometimes also hates halting her current activity to bathe. Fact is Kid, I'm responsible for you. As long as you live under my roof (or you start paying the mortgage) you WILL brush your teeth and bathe. Yes, I know. Friends, you're having flash backs of my boy scout camp days when we had this game of a bath points system requiring 7 points per week to be considered clean: 3 points for taking a shower, 2 points for swimming in the pool and 1 point for the lake (I worked at the lake...7 days a week -- you do that math, GROSS!)...Do as I say, and don't do as I DID. Bath points were gross. It was a bad game. We're done talking about it. Now brush your teeth and quit crying...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boy Scout Proof - Now we never have to talk about this again.</td></tr>
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<li><i style="font-weight: bold;">More Hot Don Diggy Don: </i> The answer is no. NO more Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Now be quiet and move along.</li>
<li><b><i>But I CAN chew gum: </i></b>Yes, you can technically chew gum. But you also can spit it out. I'm dreading the day it ends up in your hair, your sister's hair...or the dog's hair. So give me the gum. It's not for you. Wait...where do you keep finding this stuff??? Like I said, Move ALONG!</li>
<li><b><i>The dog has my stuff:</i></b> Ohhhhhhh. Your stuff you left laying on the floor that I asked you to clean up and you didn't? I so wish it was not my problem, but listening to you scream about it is my motivator to pick up your trail before the crying becomes my prob. Not a fan of this song. It's the worst. </li>
<li><b><i>More Hot Don Part 2: </i></b>Dude. I said no. Get over it. Go read a book or something.</li>
<li><b><i>I hate bedtime: </i></b>Oh sweet child, SO DO I! WITH A PASSION. Can't we come to some kind of agreement on this?! No one enjoys wrestling you down for 2 plus hours every night. Mama's got some awake-time-relaxing she'd like to do...without your sweaty head all over her.</li>
<li><b><i>Happy, Happy, Happy: </i></b>Ok Pharrell. You know I love you. And I also love Despicable Me 2. But your Minions need a sequel song about how you can't always get what you want. I enjoy your song Happy, but after listening to it "gen, gen..." like 39 times I'm not happy about it and my crying 2 year old is kind of an oxymoron of what your song stands for. This one is on YOU, Man. **POST EDIT** Pharrell, I apologize for my rashness above regarding your Happy Song. I have started to realize I was a bit hard on you, after Pennie somehow discovered the very inappropriate full version video of "Gangem Style" via YouTube. I appreciate you and your success and your very kid friendly song and video of Happy. It was Despicable of Me to think otherwise (pun intended).</li>
<li><b><i>Mom, I want to LIVE in PJ's:</i></b> Oh Honey, so do I. But refer to my comments regarding track 1. I'm responsible for you. If you don't wear clothes at least sometimes your daycare might consider that neglect. In this day and age, that is never a good thing. Now please...pull yourself together and put your pants on. Unless you're TRYING to get me fired from being a Mom. </li>
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There are several other songs she's been trying to finish, but I've got issues with the language (no EXPLICIT lyrics, Pennie!): "Time Out Sucks", "Mom says 'Don't say Sucks'", "But Mom says Sucks."</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She's working on the above listed tracks here in her 2nd Home.</td></tr>
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She's also put a hidden track on this album, which I think is THE WORST! It's called "Silence is NOT Golden." It's the longest blank track ever, which is like pure torture to any mother. I used to love when she was a tiny, little baby and she would nap for hours and the peace and quiet was incredible. Just sitting alone, with no one touching or sucking on me for hours was like a little piece of heaven on earth. But now when things get quiet, it seems to be followed by the discovery of a scared dog covered in stickers, a two year old standing on the dining room table, shower gel squirted all over all the clothes in the dirty laundry basket, all the folded clean laundry mixed in with the shower gel covered dirty laundry...</div>
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I love my child(ren) dearly, and know they will accomplish great things in life, very LOUD things, very CRAZY things, very SPONTANEOUS things. Sometimes these things drive me a little Bonky (not to be confused with the Reilly's Grandma), but I know someday we'll look back on these moments and listen to this album with tears of laughter rolling down our cheeks. </div>
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AH! Foiled. The post ends here since my little music artist just woke up and is screaming for a cup of "MOOK." Love Ya'll!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2UUFaJbVunu-gDjl815EU0nxDBdrf8hzLxcy5jhXixEZZaFGZC-3NsiddrrdAvJ-XiXmRRiZxgKsN_uP3djzIoI49EFMp0V4q-f_BdjynI2FPBOz_OFlviMjeWtLictjIdVUY51__j11/s1600/PhotoGrid_1418158236854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2UUFaJbVunu-gDjl815EU0nxDBdrf8hzLxcy5jhXixEZZaFGZC-3NsiddrrdAvJ-XiXmRRiZxgKsN_uP3djzIoI49EFMp0V4q-f_BdjynI2FPBOz_OFlviMjeWtLictjIdVUY51__j11/s640/PhotoGrid_1418158236854.jpg"> </a> </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749390911541087076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1066706961692607473.post-60203066972587645802014-02-09T13:13:00.000-05:002014-02-09T21:00:29.283-05:00My Daughter Thinks She's a DOG!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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First off, I feel the need to start my post by saying I'm sorry for not publishing more blog posts in the last year. My life has become a whirlwind of Working Mom, raising a child and tending to life's crazy curveballs, rather than reverting to my old ways of putting my feet up, drinking coffee in silence, while screwing around online and posting blogs...Trust me, I'm still "blogging" just my genius posts are being written in my head only and not converted into a digital format [sigh].</div>
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Anyways, so far some of the most fun adventures of Momhood that has brought snorting laughter into our living room (or CHORTLE-ing as Eleanor from Brave might say) has been watching Pennie infiltrate herself into our pack of two dogs. It only took about a year and a half, but I think she has finally been sworn into the herd. </div>
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So here we will begin our Top 5 Reasons we know Pennie believes she's a dog:</div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">1. <b>She Wears Her Hair Like a Sheepdog:</b></span></div>
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Since Pennie was a wee lass, she has never been a fan of her hair being pulled back, tied up or even brushed for that matter. Back in her bald days, this didn't much matter. But since she has recently, accummulated more fluff on her mane, she refuses to let it be pulled out of her face. I fought it for a while, trying to trick her into a hair tie, but she ended up just ripping her own hair out to get the ponytail off of her head. Pennie Dog Wins.</div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">2. <b>She Can't LIVE Without Her Hat with EARS:</b></span></div>
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Baby P never used to be a fan of hats. Since she was born a fall-ish/winter baby, and I was a new Mother, we tried extra hard to keep her warm. She'd be dressed in those furry bears suits or cozy sleepers all the time, but the trick to keeping her warm was making sure her head was covered. We sure had a dickens of a time trying to keep a hat on her head. Once her brain figured out how to move that arm up to her head, all hats were off for Baby Pennie...until the BEAR HAT! Seriously, we have exact hats with the same concept, furry fleece wrap-arounds that velcro under the chin. She could give two craps about any of them, except the one with ears...she puts it on and literally chases the dogs around the living room. Ha-Ha-LARIOUS. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Cred: Auntie Ev</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">3. <b>She LOVES Playing with Sticks:</b></span></div>
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In all forms. Anything stick-like, this kid loves. She'll drag it around the house, chew on it, sit on it and then start squealing if you try to take it away from her. Broomsticks, Icescrapers, Curtain rods (don't ASK what our curtain rods were doing on the floor), Cardboard tubes (Yes. We save trash now, because our child would rather play with garbage than expensive toys.) and legit sticks. I remember when I was little, my parents used to always tell me not to play with sticks...so I think I'm supposed to be concerned about her preference of toy, but to tell Pennie she can't play with sticks would require some sort of Come-To-Jesus with our furry animals in the house...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These "sticks" are a piece of our now broken fridge and an ice scraper...Girl knows how to improvise!</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">4. <b>She Sleeps Better in a Dog Bed:</b></span></div>
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First off, don't judge me...we have a unique living arrangement in our home. My youngest sis currently resides with us in our home. Since she is living in our second bedroom, our bedroom is shared with Pennie. We've been having sleep issues since she was born, but I've been chalking it up to the fact that her screaming body is five feet away from my face...so the whole CRY-IT-OUT crap, doesn't always work when Mom & Dad need to sleep. So, the nights that Pennie has actually slept through the night (which we can probably count on one hand) are few and far between. Recently, she has also Hulked up some serious muscle and has figured out how to climb OUT of her crib. Having this motherly instinct to protect my child, it leads to many restless nights since every stir I hear I think she's escaping, so for the most part when Pennie goes down for the night, I'm usually pretty quick to follow. A few months ago we visited my Sister in Cincinnati. We forgot to take our pack & play and had just planned on keeping Pennie in bed with us, but when Pennie snoozed out, Mom & Dad wanted to stay up and hang out...but we couldn't just sleep her on a bed without something to guard her....so her new Puppy Cousin Mulligan was kind enough to share her dog bed with Pennie. Pennie nestled up in Mulli's dog bed was the best sleep of Pennie's life...she didn't wake up once! Since that day, I have seriously contemplated spending the $60 on a microfoam dog bed for my child...Yes. I'm losing my mind.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Since I don't have a picture of Pennie in a dog bed, here's another pic of her with her ears...</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">5. <b>Downward Facing DOG is her Favorite Yoga Pose:</b></span></div>
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Nuff Said.</div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">6. <b>She "BARKS" at Traffic or People When They go by our House:</b></span></div>
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Pictures also speaks for itself. </div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">7. Some of her FIRST FOODS were dog food:</span></div>
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The list could seriously go on and on: Would rather cuddle with dogs than humans, plays with dog leashes instead of baby toys, chews on shoes instead of teething rings, starts growling when the dogs bark...Thankfully, our dogs, seem for the most part, to like her...or they have just learned to tolerate her. But there couldn't be something cuter than her little pudgey baby-ness curling up with her buds. LOVE IT!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsqDyqQUpThSRrRU3aE5omo5FuZyT2bUoOcvy02rA-6O7q9EcdBsTkKEKnNU-c0ivhtxkTVOYzmK41BwensjjdnR-_27D8RxtlfJJeMQceVePlxNrXL_GPxK7PUVVOnaPmwxil61Im_J1W/s1600/20130826_171651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsqDyqQUpThSRrRU3aE5omo5FuZyT2bUoOcvy02rA-6O7q9EcdBsTkKEKnNU-c0ivhtxkTVOYzmK41BwensjjdnR-_27D8RxtlfJJeMQceVePlxNrXL_GPxK7PUVVOnaPmwxil61Im_J1W/s1600/20130826_171651.jpg" height="320" width="240"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not Shown: Baby Sheldon (our other dog) - he is still unsure of whether or not he likes Pennie. Shown Above: Hurley & Pennie - His heart caved. So did mine :)</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749390911541087076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1066706961692607473.post-17592500394031816982013-09-14T21:23:00.000-04:002013-09-14T21:28:35.452-04:00Gone Girl - The craziest train wreck of a book I've read in a while...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm always intrigued by best sellers, and had been hearing pretty good reviews about this book so I read it myself to see what the hype was...<br>
<br>
When I started reading it, initially, I was hooked. Anyone who knows me knows I'm a sucker for a good mystery story or anything that reminds me of law and order. The book is pretty suspenseful and it's one I found hard to pull myself away from... [Bout to start spoiling....I'm giving you fair warning to stop reading if you haven't read the book yet]...UNTIL NICK STARTED CHEATING ON HIS WIFE, AMY!<br>
<br>
Cheating and relationship infidelities always hit a nerve with me. I find myself rolling my eyes and get really disgusted with the story line. I started finding myself waking up in the night slugging Tommy in the arm because I was having terrible dreams. My husband and I were talking about the books we were both reading (cuz that's what we do for fun...I know, we're weird.) and when I shared with him how this book was getting to me, he suggested I stop reading it. I thought about it for a sec...but I was hooked at least for some sort of remorseful resolve or something.<br>
<br>
Soooooo....I kept reading. It was like stupid Nip tuck (man...I'm all kinds of confessing tonight...terrible inappropriateness, but I couldn't stop watching.). The book was turning into more and more of a train wreck as I continued reading. Thankfully (I can't believe I'm using that word to describe anything about this book) it turned out that Amy was just as crazy and unstable as her cheating husband. <br>
<br>
Cheating husband, psycho wife...plots her own fake murder...frames her husband, runs away, comes back. Here's where I REALLY start getting annoyed. When she magically returns to town after being missing/murdered for a month she is just allowed to live with her husband no questions asked!?!!?!? COME ON!!!<br>
<br>
I really did appreciate that the book was written well. Lots of mystery books drive me crazy with loose ends that never become relevant and were just a waste of time...but Flynn did a great job of keeping my attention in the story line and tying everything together. It was definitely edgey...I mean there were nights when I couldn't stop reading. <br>
<br>
Every night at dinner when I kept saying my book was continuing to become more and more of a psycho dramatic disaster, and I had no idea how all of this was going to wrap up and come together in a close so quickly. Finally, I was twenty pages from completion and the plot was still thickening...the finish kind of leaves you in a place to choose your own end...which I couldn't believe...husband thinks he can finally convict the wife, tells her she's done for, but OH Wait! She's pregnant with his swimmers they froze years ago when they were meeting with a fertility doctor. SERIOUSLY!?!?! So I decided Nick and Amy were two psychos that could only tolerate each other. They would never be happy being happy...they would just find contentment making one another crazy.<div><br></div><div>So in hindsight, had I known more of the premise of this book I probably would've chosen another book instead. <br>
<br>But all that to say...Thank GOD my husband rules. Love you, Tommy. Don't murder me. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749390911541087076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1066706961692607473.post-67997549853728258282013-07-24T15:56:00.003-04:002013-07-24T15:56:56.374-04:009 Months IN, 9 Months OUT!Back in my country club employment days (shout out to the NACC!) I spent my days full time coordinating special events and programs for kiddos. I spent the remainder of my "free time" teaching swimming lessons at the club. I would even go as far to say I really enjoyed kids. Over time my mentality changed...<br />
<br />
It was a chilly summer day that I was rocking my one piece lifeguard suit in the NACC pool teaching my little man, Jack, how to swim. Being a frigid day in the pool, you gals can relate, I was doing one of my trademark moves...hunch down in the water so nothing but your head is breaching the surface. My T-H-O was NOT something I needed to share with my swimming lesson OR his parents. "Ok Jack, now JUMP off the steps and start scooping those M&M's and swim towards me, I PROMISE I'll catch you." (I will admit, I had some pretty good kid analogies for teaching the breaststroke.) <br />
<br />
Here comes the little red headed monster swimming towards me under the water. I'm pretty pleased with him as he is listening to directions <em>REALLY</em> well. As I prepare myself to give him an enormous amount of praise when I catch him, his little hands reach out to me and glide RIGHT past my arms as he grabs two handfuls of my knockers!! He explodes out of the water and screams to the entire club membership "MISS LISA!! Guess what?! I GOT YOUR MEATBALLS!!!"...Well...you most certainly did and my face is officially as RED as my bathing suit. The remainder of our lesson no matter how many times I said "scooping M&M's only, FORGET about the meatballs..." because of the reaction he got from the audience he spent his remaining 45 minutes of his lesson trying to molest me.<br />
<br />
At that moment I decided this job is the best and cheapest form of birth control a girl could ask for, and I WILL NOT be having children in this lifetime. So 4 years later when I'm sitting on the toilet staring at a pink stick with a plus sign, saying I'm pregnant, my head was spinning and instantly flooding with memories of being molested by club kids in the pool. I started crying. (Yes. I cried when I found out I was pregnant. Don't judge me, it happens.) I was in such hysteria I woke Tommy up in the middle of the night sobbing my eyes out and made him call my mom because I was such a blubbering idiot. Tommy made us wait until 5am to call her, so when we called her to tell her our "news" and she could hear my wailing in the background she instantly started CRACKING UP and just kept saying "This is going to be great and YOU are going to be the best parents EVER." <br />
<br />
My mom kept telling me "God gives you 9 months to prepare yourself for becoming a Mother, isn't that great?". I kept saying "Yeah, when I'm not puking, or having heart palpitations over 140 BPM maybe I can start preparing..." I had 9 anxious months of sickness and no sleep and I just kept thinking 'What if my kid tries to grab her swim instructors boobs!?' or 'What if my kid tries to depants her camp counselor?!' or 'What if my kid poops her pants in the pool and the club has to call a code brown?!' (yes all of those things happened...) For 9 months I was so nervous of the unknown. I was never planning to make babies...how do I do this!?<br />
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<br />
Then 9 months ago, after 21 hours of "labor" (Stupid Pitocin. YOU are a female dog.) my Sweet Pennie was born. I had to have an emergency C Section, so I couldn't see anything happening but could hear everything. When Pennie was born and I heard her cry, I started sobbing. I was so happy she was ok and she was finally with me. After I got stitched up and moved to the recovery room they brought Pennie & Tommy to me and I was so happy and full of crazy emotions. All moms speak of this instant connection and bond and I couldn't imagine it until experiencing it myself. But it is so real. And after 9 months of looking like I ate a beach ball and feeling like I ate a smart car (see above photo) I couldn't believe this little bundle of baby could make me so content...AND SHE CAME FROM ME!?<br />
<br />
So here we are 9 months post baby, with approximately 10 GB of baby photos (I know this, because I just had to order another SD card to store all my photos) I have no free time to myself, or free hands for that matter, and I wouldn't change a thing. I stare at Pennie every day and think she is such a blessing and so amazing. And to all the preggies who are spending your last solo days prepping your nursery and writing your birth plan -- CUT IT OUT! Have a cup of coffee and put your feet up. I feel like I didn't do anything right during my pregnancy and Pennie couldn't be more perfect.<br />
<br />
So yesterday as Tommy and I were taking our evening stroll with Pennie and the dogs, I was daydreaming that maybe someday she'll sleep through the night, and maybe someday she'll take naps, and maybe someday she'll be still and cuddly like other babies we see...and Tommy quickly reminded me that I refuse to take naps, I don't sleep through the night and I don't like sitting still when things need done. Sounds like she's her Mother's Daughter. So watch out world! Another 9 months from now, I will have a sidekick in my crafting, reading, cooking extravaganzas...and once she learns how to talk don't plan on being able to get a word in edge wise around the two of us. <br />
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Just imagine her giving a peace sign here. If she knew how to work those motor skills in her sweet, chubby little fingers, she would! Instead she's showing off her awesomely, ADORABLE smile (and her pretty gums). Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749390911541087076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1066706961692607473.post-42872205981778663292013-04-01T16:14:00.000-04:002013-04-01T16:14:45.158-04:00Who is the April Fool NOW?OBVIOUSLY, as you all know, today is April Fool's Day. A favorite day of mine. Last night before Tommy and I fell asleep, we were plotting what April Fool's pranks we might pull today. As most of you know, my sister Evie lives with us. We love Evie. She's sweet, tall, beautiful, funny and loves long walks on the beach (all eligible bachelors may submit applications by commenting on my blog). Anyways, she's also the most gullible person I know (besides her best friend, Alex) which made her my obvious April Fool's Day target. So as Tommy and I were falling asleep, we were contemplating what pranks to pull on her today. She stays up too late to complete my first prank choice. I wanted to duct tape her into her room...<br />
<br />
So this morning after she left for school, her prank baby was born....asianmendating.com!! Tommy sent Evie an email from a bogus account that welcomed her to asianmendating.com and told her that soon she will be receiving emails WITH pictures from many Asian men looking for a White American woman! "We hope you enjoy our service and find the love you've been looking for blah blah blah..." He left for school and told me to keep an eye on the email account in case she responded to it at all throughout the day. Of course I welcomed the opportunity to take the reigns of this prank baby! <br />
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First, I created her first match, Shin Yu:<br />
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She didn't respond. So then I sent this:<br />
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Subject: Wanna Meet? From Shin<br />
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Message: Hello Evie Thompson, For your security Asian Men Dating is being a mediator between you and your match. Your match has sent you a message. We recommend before meeting that you get to know your Asian. Please read your Asian's message below and feel free to respond directly to this email account so you be sure your Asian securely and privately receives a message from you.<br />
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********BELOW IS YOUR MESSAGE*********<br />
<br />
Hi Evie, My name Shin. I hope you interest in meet up. I so excited to see match with you on Asian Men Dating.com You believe fate? I do. I practice English with American friends in Dunkie Donut. You help me with English speak? I excite to see you. You picture very pretty. Your Truly, Shin<br />
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********SECURELY RESPOND**************<br />
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To respond to your match just reply to this email and we'll mediate for your security.<br />
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So THEN I created her second match, Ping Ki:<br />
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She still didn't respond. So I texted her. "Hey Ev! Have you gotten an account email from AT&T today? I got this email from Verizon saying smartphones couldn't receive emails today, are YOU getting emails today to your phone?"<br />
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Waited...waited...she responded: "OH MY GOSH! YES!!!! I'm getting these really weird emails from Yim Mim!!! I think I got hacked. I'm not opening them."<br />
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I thought to myself, ARGH FOILED!...Good job, TOMMY! You made the account name Yim MIM?!?!?!...he calls EVERYBODY MIMS! Dead giveaway. Welp. Not for EV! Prank continues.<br />
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I proceed to tell Evie to calm down, she must've just signed up for something that shared her email address with a spam site and to just unsubscribe. She responds to me and says "I'm not responding to YIM MIM...he sounds Asian and creepy." She must've opened her welcome letter from the Asian Dating Team...because soon after she writes "OH MY GOSH! This is a male Asian Dating SITE! I'm crying on the bus." I responded to her message and said "Just open the emails and unsubscribe. You must've signed up for something accidentally." <br />
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Meanwhile, I'm sitting in the rocker with Pennie snoozed out on my lap and I start laughing so hard I'm in tears crying. But holy CRAP! She's on her way home!?!?! She wasn't supposed to be home till 5:00pm! I've gotta hurry this prank baby up! So I put Pennie up in her crib and then sent THIS her last dating email from Hu Flung:<br />
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So Evie comes home shortly after, laughing SO hard she's in tears! I'm laughing AT her, but I think she thinks I'm laughing with her. Thank GOODNESS she was laughing when she got home, or I might've blown my cover. <br />
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She proceeds to read the profiles that say these men like things she likes "Trucks, ATV's, Beef Jerky..." Evie is like "LISA!!!!! I hope I'm being pranked. This is really creepy. These people KNOW ME!!! How am I going to tell DAD I'm on an Asian dating site!!!???!!"<br />
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Next, I decided that as soon as Evie was in on the secret, I was going to recycle this prank on her best friend, Alex. Approximately TWO SECONDS later she's on the phone...WITH ALEX. Telling Alex about this whole debacle. FOILED AGAIN...can't prank Alex. <br />
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Alex is the best friend EVER. She's laughing, but of course is very concerned for Evie. She tells Evie that she better find out where her profile has been activated online and deactivate it. Because who knows what else this profile says about "her." So Panicked Evie starts trying to find the website. WHO KNEW...there is an asianmendating.com!!!! So Evie gets onto this website AND ACTUALLY FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT TO THE SITE telling them they violated her privacy and they were creeping her out because SHE DIDN'T AUTHORIZED signing up for this. (PS -- to file a formal complaint she had to give the site her email address....which they previously had no record of...oops.)<br />
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So this is the part where my jokes always go all CHELSEA HANDLER...I took it too far. I can't rewind the joke, I can't take anything back...but now she is getting legit worked up about the website BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY EXISTS...and SHE shared her information with them to file a complaint about her fake account... <br />
<br />
So basically, this blogpost is my way of telling Evie...um...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">April Fools!? </span>Evie is actually sitting next to me watching me crack up while I type. She keeps saying "Are you blogging about this?" Well yes, as a matter of fact I am...And to answer my original question of WHO is the APRIL FOOL NOW? Well, that would be me...I really need to plot out my big reveal (as The Joe Schmo Show would say). Please don't be mad Ev. I'm such a fool.<br />
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And not to worry, you don't have to find a way to tell Dad you're looking for an Asian Man. He can read about it here. Love you!<br />
<br />
April Fools!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749390911541087076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1066706961692607473.post-45843830660668068972013-03-25T12:32:00.001-04:002013-03-25T13:28:22.182-04:00A Mother's Guilt<div dir="ltr">
After five months of my new reality, my lack of sleep is finally catching up with me. It's Official....I'm pooped. On top of my extreme fatigue, I've been experiencing these strange instincts or feelings of guilt since becoming a mom. I didn't have expectations going into this parenting thing, and no one is straight up making me feel in-the-wrong, but I just have these moments where I realize I'm beating myself up emotionally about various motherhood scenarios that result in this inner guilt. Do other moms feel this way? I guess this post is my way of airing out my dirty laundry in hopes that some of you are willing to admit you know what I'm talking about. Since you know how much I love lists, here it goes:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFzkYRESjYlhTeTBiN7ruyMj_Oc0g8rv5tE3c2ulHxpanLoCN1HQT6rRhZfNkrQdHdGDGtoeosTTmEzt9v_d4DQXa2HjEYxR2KKCV0Tf4KvlYj_5lhZMEM0wRTyaI8bgVN5SvIG5rXYN7/s1600/PennieBloggin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFzkYRESjYlhTeTBiN7ruyMj_Oc0g8rv5tE3c2ulHxpanLoCN1HQT6rRhZfNkrQdHdGDGtoeosTTmEzt9v_d4DQXa2HjEYxR2KKCV0Tf4KvlYj_5lhZMEM0wRTyaI8bgVN5SvIG5rXYN7/s320/PennieBloggin.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It look me a month to write this post. This is Pennie helping me blog, parked in her bumbo on Evie's desk.</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">My Top 5 Self Inflicted Guilt Trips</span></b></div>
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<li><b>Your House is Too Dirty to Sit Guilt. </b> This is the guilt I feel when I've been working for 12 hours, I come home, pump, nurse, feed a family, rock a baby to sleep and I decide to sit down for a minute...I instantly start thinking: there's dishes that need washed, laundry that needs done, dogs that want walked....why do you think you can sit?!?! So you get up and zombie walk to the kitchen to do dishes....for the 4th time today. </li>
<li><b>The Morning After Guilt.</b> So I've been hearing all these baby paradise stories about wee ones that sleep through the night at three months. Its been five months and I'm still waiting for my turn for just one measly night of rest. We're still nursing, so this may be contributing, but Pennie wakes up these days about 5-6 times a night. I'm reaching my boiling point, so when I hear those milk thirsty cries I THROW THE COVERS OFF and scream "ARE YOU KIDDING ME???!!!!!!" Tommy wishes he could help but the whole 'not lactating' thing throws a curve ball his direction. So he rubs my back and sweetly kisses my forehead saying "Thank you.", "I'm sorry", or "I love you two." I wake up every morning resenting my sleep deprived reactions and feel like I need to apologize to Tommy AND Pennie. Tommy, I'm sorry. I love you too!</li>
<li><b>The Bow Chicka Wow Wow Guilt.</b> Being married to a hormonal woman who spends half of her time at home with her junk hanging out HAS to be kinda weird for a husband, or maybe it's torture? Because maybe it puts you in the mood? Well, having MY knockers sucked and pulled on for the majority of my day by a slobbering, crying baby OR a breast pump doesn't really make me want to do THAT in my "free time." In the past, going to bed early might have meant '<i>grown-up FUN time</i>', now it means something else. Dear Husband, I'm sorry if I'm sending you mixed signals, and I'm sorry that your baby is cock blocking you. I truly DO feel guilty about it. I promise my lack of mojo isn't permanent. I'm madly in love with you too.</li>
<li><b>The Working Mom's Guilt. </b>I spend a minimum of 10 hours a day at my workplace. I'm thankful for a job that provides for my family, and I enjoy what I do for a living. I also appreciate that it gives me mental stimulation in a world surrounded by stuffed toys, rattles and cartoons. But after approximately the 9th hour when my boobs feel like they're about to explode, that means I'm ready to go home to my baby. Once I get home, I pump (again!), nurse a baby (again!), do dishes (again!) and all I want is a little break. At this point, Tommy or Evie have been juggling house work and a baby all day, so I feel this inner conflict...I miss my baby, and I want to hold her...I also feel like it's my turn to tend to her needs. But she's busy and needs constantly entertained. This mama is TIRED! So I feel guilty that I want to volunteer to do things like laundry or dishes (because these things are "a break" now). </li>
<li><b>The You Don't Need That Guilt. </b>I give many props to caffeinated beverages, as these are what fuel me to getting through a day. To you working-nursing moms who are dodging coffee and wine, I don't know how you do it! It's what keeps me hanging on to my last ounce of sanity (since everything is measured in ounces for babies). I have purchased more Starbucks in the past month than I have in the past two years! And the worst part is, it's not boosting my alertness AND I feel guilty about spending money on myself instead of a baby's savings or college fund...</li>
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At the end of the day I am eternally grateful for this precious gift of life Tommy and I have been given. And there isn't a guilty feeling in the world that makes me wish I wasn't going through all of this right now. I'm motivated constantly by telling myself "This too shall pass." And when Pennie has grown out of her majorly needy phase, I'll have pictures to look back and remember her cute bear suit, her drool covered chin, that toothless grin and tiny fingers. I certainly won't be saving a photo montage of the towers of dirty dishes and piles of unwashed laundry...so those things too shall pass. But my love for our family can only grow! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption">Pennie Helping me do LAUNDRY! Check her missing sock! (I don't know why stinkin BLOGGER won't let me remove that stupid 1. on the list side of this photo....ARGH!)</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749390911541087076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1066706961692607473.post-23197054125663648882013-02-10T12:02:00.002-05:002013-02-10T12:02:38.015-05:00The Art of Racing in the Rain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My Friends know that I'm a dog lover and a book reader, so it should come as no surprise that I love LOVE LOOOVED this book! And even better...Tommy hasn't read it yet! Can you believe it? A book Tommy hasn't read...and he's more of a dog freak than ME!</div>
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So this book is about a few things I love: Dogs & Race CARS! I'm NOT going to spoil alert like I usually do with books I have complaints about. Read it for yourself to find out how awesome it is. It took me one paragraph to determine I was going to love the story. It's a story told from a dog's perspective. I mean, how many times have I wondered to myself "Hurley just winked at me...I wonder what he's thinking?!" So this book is mega sweet. </div>
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It had moments where I was crying AND laughing, and it has such a happy and somewhat spiritual ending. This is the perfect written portrayal of 'Man's Best Friend' and any dog lover should read it. </div>
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My new trick since being a Baby Mama, has been downloading kindle books to my smart phone. I do have a Kindle and I DO love it so much, but it is a little tricky to maneuver with one hand while holding a sleeping baby in my other arm. So the smart phone gig is a totally convenient reading mechanism for someone with their hands full. </div>
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Download the kindle app (if it didn't come preinstalled on your phone) and then download the ebook and get ta readin, cuz this book rules! I can't wait till Tommy reads it...he's going to LOVE the end! </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749390911541087076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1066706961692607473.post-55591952773307176682013-01-20T18:35:00.001-05:002013-01-20T18:35:15.243-05:00Dear Friends: I'm Sorry!Dear Friends,<br />
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I write to you all in hopes to give you a glimpse and better understanding of what I go through each day. Yes, I realize my last blog post was on December 2nd. Am I abandoning the blog? What?! Are you crazy??? No. I'm wishing I had a third arm so I have 1-2 hands/arms available to blog, while the other hand/arm does something like hold a baby, do the dishes or feed my face....VERY rarely I find myself with 30 seconds of spare time and I think to myself "Do I start a blogpost?...or go take a whiz??..." Then I have to remind myself my sleep deprivation is making me lack better judgement. I've started leaving sticky notes or phone reminders to do things like take a shower and go to the bathroom.<br />
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What's that smell? Oh gosh. Sorry, that wiff of sour cream is probably my shirt sleeve. Pennie puked on me and I didn't have a burp rag within arms reach so I had to use my Go-Go-Gadget SHIRT! Oh how I wish I was Inspector Gadget these days....<br />
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I'm sorry I haven't texted you back. There are a few reasons for this unintentional ignoring. Yes, I read your text and had every intention of replying. Your text did make me smile AND think of you. First of all, when I'm holding a sleeping babe I can't risk a ringtone waking her up, so my phone most often is on silent. SECOND of all, auto correct is such an unpredictable pain in the butt...if I don't have two free hands I don't dare text you back. After trying to respond to Tommy once and say "you got it" and I instead replied "Yeah go tits" I quickly learned texting while holding a baby is like texting while driving...baaaaaad idea. It sure got Tommy all riled up though ;) <br />
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So I was thinking we could go out for dinner sometime and catch up? Oh wait...you know what? I keep forgetting Pennie usually starts falling asleep around 7:30 and at that point, I need to still go to bed when she does since she's waking up every two hours. You wanna come over? Eh...well, actually maybe we should hold off on that thought too. Its been three months since I've been able to clean my house. Dang, I really need to get on this third arm growing thing...<br />
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Thanks for the nice comments on my work wear. Mostly wearing dresses these days due to the fact that my friggin pants still don't fit, and I can suck my gut in with tummy control tights. I've been boycotting buying fat pants and occasionally am still wearing my maternity pants with the stretchy band. Remember when I cried in the maternity store because I thought preggy clothes were preposterous?! What was I thinking?! Never again. Preggy pants took my Thanksgiving feasting to a whole new level.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Attention chick blog readers. I interrupt this news broadcast due to a fussy baby.</b></span> In keeping with the spirit of this blog post I, trusty husband and faithful father, have stepped in to finish this post for Lis as she has been called away for a feeding by our milk vampire. Perhaps in another month and a half Lisa will be able to write another blog post and possibly finish it as well. Until that time go about your lives and think of us as you go to the movies, go out to dinner and get to poo without being interrupted by blood curdling screams of milk lust. Namaste<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749390911541087076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1066706961692607473.post-79574456995416849652012-12-02T14:07:00.002-05:002012-12-02T14:07:33.556-05:00A Mom's UnFriends...As promised here is a continuation of my <a href="http://thebowlinalley.blogspot.com/2012/11/a-moms-best-friends.html" target="_blank">previous post </a>. I had written about my new besties that I've become acquainted with since having a baby. I continue to deepen my "relationships" with those things as each day continues to go by. For example, I'm writing this post with a baby strapped to my chest in the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CGX7WU/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000CGX7WU&linkCode=as2&tag=thebowall-20">BABYBJORN </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebowall-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000CGX7WU" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />. Since this time of year everyone acts more thankful than normal, I must say, DANG I'm thankful for this gadget!<br />
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While there are a few things that I've learned to love, there are also a few things that I've grown to hate. If these things had facebook accounts I would UNFRIEND them. Parenting definitely has it challenges (listen to me...I say this like I've been a mother for decades, it's been 7 weeks) and these little qwerks have not been making it easier. <br />
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I feel like so many moms paint this picture like parenting is perfect heavenly bliss. Now I'm not trying to say that it isn't, because I wouldn't change my life for anything! But I've GOT to believe that there are other moms in hiding who share my dislike (when the crap is facebook going to make a thumbs down button!?) with these motherhood "snags" if you will...So anyways, THESE are the things that I could live without:<br />
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<li><b>Hurley's Vocal Chords</b> - Hurley is our dog. Don't get me wrong, I love him dearly...but he does not make naptime easy for a baby OR the mom who is trying to use that time to catch up. I've learned where the expression "Sleep Like A Baby" comes from. If you think about it, a baby develops their ears at like week 18 or something?! So for 23 weeks Pennie's ears heard dogs playing, vacuums running, me crying and her dad whistling. She heard all kinds of noise. So she sleeps through most noisy disruptions during her naps -- except for Hurley's Bark. It's so loud. He seems to have gotten louder, but maybe I'm just hyper sensitive to our surroundings now. Hmm...and right now our neighbor on the other side of our wall seems to be loudly humming a song I've never heard before. So here's hoping Hurley tones it down soon because this Mama might lose it if he doesn't.</li>
<li><b>Breastfeeding </b>- If I got a nickel for every Mom who told me breastfeeding is such an amazing bonding experience, Pennie would have a pretty decent savings account started. I was feeling pretty terrible when I wasn't experiencing this amazing bonding experience...I was having more of this feel-like-a-dairy-cow experience...So, nuff said...we're working on it.</li>
<li><b>Nursing Bras </b>- So speaking of breastfeeding woes...the whole kit and caboodle, including the "nursing wear" is just too weird...They're not convenient. They're not reasonably priced AND all your junk still hangs out when you nurse your baby. I have no issues with those who nurse in public places, but that will never be me...nursing get up or not. </li>
<li><b>Houses without fenced in yards </b>- I love our animals and I also love walking. Typically, taking our dogs for walks throughout the day is a way for me to relax and unwind...but now that we have a baby that never naps, it's hard to take two dogs and a baby on a stroll to relieve our dogs. SO, a fenced in yard is something I dream about these days. </li>
<li><b>Netflix, no autoplay WHAT!? </b>- Taking care of a baby requires a lot of living room time. We walk in circles, we bounce, we rock, we sing, we dance....WHILE watching TV. Haha. Some multi tasking eh!? We watch Hulu & Netflix and we love both for different reasons, but my UNfriend in this sitch is that I really can't stand the fact that Netflix doesn't have an autoplay option. So after each 21 minute episode of a show, you have to repush play. Hey Netflix, HULU has one upped you with an autoplay feature! Step up your game!!!</li>
<li><b>Shopping Carts </b>- Several stores have shopping carts that are compatible to the baby car seats and carriers. They conveniently hook right on to the baby seat section of the cart. Many of you know I'm a tad on the short side. So some carts are not so Lisa friendly because the cart with the carrier on top is so high I can't see where we're going! Costco's carts so far are definitely the worst! I can't see ANYTHING. So baby has to go INSIDE the cart and groceries go in the upper seat section. Target carts are a little on the irritating side as well. BUT, I LOVE Lowes carts and Giant Eagle's carts (we're really living life on the wild side these days at Lowes, Giant Eagle, Target and Costco.).</li>
<li><b>Hormones </b>- Last but not least...my stupid hormones are NOT my friend. No woman likes crying all the time, feeling like an emotional basket case or going through all these weird body changes. Stupid hormones...I don't like you. </li>
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But after all these UNfriend snags, how about ending on a Friendly note?! Take a look at this pic and try not to smile. Bet you can't do it!!! Baby Bowlin loves eating her Bjorn. I need to be a poster child for the Bjorn, seriously! Couldn't live without it! If you're a mom of a tiny one, you need one of these!<div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749390911541087076noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1066706961692607473.post-59380223452480300212012-11-23T17:26:00.000-05:002012-11-23T17:26:06.897-05:00A Mom's Best Friends <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm still not sure that I feel like I've earned the title of Mom, but we're definitely in loooove with our Pretty Pennie, and she is giving us lots of parenting practice. Now that we've been practicing for a month, I've acquired a few new essential friends that I've learned I can't live without:<br />
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<li><b>Baby Pennie </b>- Duh. I've fallen for this sweet little bundle and she's my new bestie. Sometimes she makes me cry when I have no idea what she wants or what I'm doing, but then she squeaks out her little 5 week old smile it makes my heart melt. Can't live without her.</li>
<li><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005UBN2AO/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005UBN2AO&linkCode=as2&tag=thebowall-20"> Dry Shampoo</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebowall-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B005UBN2AO" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
</b>- This toiletry has become one of my new best friends. Those mornings you wake up and have a screaming baby that needs you to feed her, play with her, change her and just rock and cuddle, I find myself fretting about my everyday hygiene..."When am I going to shower?", "I wish I could brush my teeth...", "I really, reeeeally have to pee!" Anyways, dry shampoo is an amazing wonder that lets your shower time eliminate the whole hair washing regimen...followed by the eternity it takes to dry my thick mane. I'm obsessed. Now if only there was dry toothpaste, dry showers or dry bathroom breaks (not sure how those could work...but still)!</li>
<li><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CGX7WU/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000CGX7WU&linkCode=as2&tag=thebowall-20">BABYBJORN</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebowall-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000CGX7WU" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
</b>- I'm developing a reputation on our block -- Neighborhood Crazy Lady. Picture this: A Lady walking down the street with the a baby strapped to her chest, walking two dogs, squatting down to pick up their doo-doo with a noise machine nestled inside her shirt to calm her baby. Yes. The "Lady" is me. Can you imagine what people are thinking when they walk passed me with the dogs, a baby and the sound of a babbling brook coming from my chest? Thank GOD for the Baby Bjorn. </li>
<li><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008IJTFYW/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B008IJTFYW&linkCode=as2&tag=thebowall-20">Relax Melodies: A white noise app</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebowall-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B008IJTFYW" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
</b>- Speaking of the babbling brook coming from my chest...it was really the AWESOME "Relax & Sleep" App that I could now never get sleep without. Because I need white noise to sleep? No, because it helps babies sleep. Amazing friend Bethany informed me of the Mommy secret that babies are comforted by weird loud sounds that mimic what they heard in the womb. Some of the sounds on the app are a little weird, like the Buddhist Monk Choir (pretty sure there wasn't one of those in my uterus, so we don't play that noise for her)...but she seems to be put in a trance by the Fountain sound. Click on the link. This one is free.</li>
<li><b>Library Smart Phone App </b>- I will never love a library more than I loved Columbus's Downtown Metro Library, but Pittsburgh's Carnegie Library is pretty awesome. So awesome, in fact, that it has its own free app. Yes I love my Kindle, but when your hands are full with baby and you've got a babbling brook coming from your phone anyways, why not read a book from your phone? I checked them out from the library, on my phone, while holding a hungry baby.</li>
<li><b>Coffee </b>- to list coffee as one of my essential new besties is pretty much an understatement. I would not be functioning without it. And now since I'm averaging between 4-5 hours of sleep a night (if I'm lucky), a cup of joe in the evening is also a necessity. My coffee machine has recently lit up a blinking light indicating "CLEANING TIME"...how?!</li>
<li><b>Spit Up </b>- One would think for as often as I'm wearing those cheesy spit up chunks and smelling like baby puke, that I'm new besties with spit up. Or perhaps it makes people think that I love the smell? Nooooope. But since this seems to inevitable...I think I need to work on my feelings towards this "friend"...</li>
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Stay tuned for my next list of not-so-besties...Duty calls! My baby that sleeps with her arms up is starting to gurgle and fling her little arms at me. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749390911541087076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1066706961692607473.post-71635082411391620642012-11-08T20:08:00.001-05:002012-11-17T13:30:58.168-05:00Letters to Pennie...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So I'm still off the grid with the whole blogging thing, but I've been wanting to check in quickly with at least SOMEthing to keep you all baited for what's to come. <br />
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As most of you know, after a long nine months of working and growing a baby, she finally arrived! Since we boycotted reading any books prior to her arrival, we've been winging this whole parenting thing. It's a little overwhelming, but we love our little bundle and are quickly getting the hang of our new joyous reality. We never imagined we could have so much love! AND for a BABY!!! I love a BABY!! Can you believe it!? I'm serious. Crazy about her.<br />
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So I've been keeping my lists of blog ideas that should make you laugh, but in the meantime, I thought I'd share a post of Tommy's "web log" he wrote to our future baby a few months ago. It's hilarious and so sweet. Since I'm hormonal and crying a lot for no reason, it made me get misty eyed. I thought it was cute and worth sharing since many of you have been asking for SOME sort of blog update.<br />
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So without further adieu, here is a sweet little letter that Tommy wrote to his future daughter while she was still cookin'! We called her "Bobbin" for a while because the name "Penny" meant "Bobbin Weaver"....not sure what that is? But her code pre-birth baby name was Bobbin for a few months. Here's the cute note (now I'm off to go snuggle my little bundle of love).<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><i>Hi Bobbin,<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><i> As your dad (which sounds weird to me right now, but I’m sure will turn into the most important moniker in my life) I wanted to impart some words of wisdom to you as you grow and become your own wonderful person. I am not the wisest man in the world, far from it (probably in the bottom 3% of human kind), but I have lived through lots of things in my life so here are some things I have learned:<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<ol start="1" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><i>Think before you speak. Seriously, everybody wants to talk all the time but they have nothing important to say. Make your words count and people will listen.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><i>Learn to throw a ball. Girls who can’t throw balls look really ridiculous! Hehe. Your Mom can throw one really well and that’s something I love about her. All guys like a girl who can play with them, so we’ll work on this!<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><i>Save your love for someone who deserves it. Life is full of heartache, especially in the teen years. Save yourself from some and realize that you are great and only deserve someone who is equally great.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><i>Along those same lines, boys are idiots. They don’t want to be just “friends”. Except maybe in rare cases or they are gay boys. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><i>Be decisive. Find what you are good at in life and stick with it. It took me a long time to figure out what I wanted to do with my life.. Your Mom and I will support you in whatever you do, unless you want to become a professional roller skater or VCR technician.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><i>A strong work ethic will get you very far in life. Your Mom is the best example of this I know! Talk to her about it.. Hehe.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><i>Love God. Talk to him and listen to him and everything will be ok.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><i>Dogs truly are man (and woman’s) best friends. Except for little stupid yippy dogs. Those don’t count. They aren’t real dogs. They are more like cats and cats are dumb. Cute, but dumb.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><i>If you take after one of your parents, pick your mom :o). She is well balanced, unafraid of life and genuine. Take notes.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><i>School is important. I hated school until I was able to choose what I wanted to do with it. Any source of learning is critical even if it’s boring. This is coming from a lifelong student. :o)<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><i>Learn punctuation and how to spell. Grammar errors are the world’s biggest problem; don’t contribute to them.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><i>Don’t be afraid of anything. Life is too short to be a wuss. Unless any of the following are involved: Sharks, ghosts, zombies, satan, someone with a gun, AIDS, undercooked meat, drugs, country music, under water pictures, clowns, or Tyler Perry.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><i>My head and my heart generally tell me two different things which can be confusing. I go with my gut. It’s always right.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><i>Books are one of the most wonderful things ever created. If the choice is TV or a book, pick the book unless there is something really sweet on the tube like the Olympics, or the book is Twilight or something by Nicholas Sparks.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><i>If you ever find yourself in a situation lacking food, get some peanut butter. Not only is it delicious, but also semi-healthy and will keep you full. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><i>Don't fart in an elevator, someone will get on right after you do and know YOU did it! At least wait until right before you are waiting to get off, rip a huge one, then hit all the floor buttons before you run out so that person is stuck with it on every floor in the building.</i></span></span></li>
</ol>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><i>We are super excited for you to come. Hurry up. I don't have an exam this week so start swimming toward the light baybet!</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Namaste</span> </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><i><br /></i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749390911541087076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1066706961692607473.post-91971184845003223612012-10-05T10:40:00.000-04:002012-10-05T10:40:02.500-04:00If you like Hunger Games, you'll like Divergent!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4K9gAZCYB_GDR6ilqjYw_ySrNy5tGL9D_c910ppuV52fJFvIKoAtGyhJNe8Xj1zxkvb2uK2KIaXCJkVbx818UFL0QmrdnEVcl0htIq8sf1gw-mG8IU_OzfNNaQwmUWV7JRDsvFw5YqDA/s1600/10.4+Divergent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4K9gAZCYB_GDR6ilqjYw_ySrNy5tGL9D_c910ppuV52fJFvIKoAtGyhJNe8Xj1zxkvb2uK2KIaXCJkVbx818UFL0QmrdnEVcl0htIq8sf1gw-mG8IU_OzfNNaQwmUWV7JRDsvFw5YqDA/s400/10.4+Divergent.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>
I'll start out saying I was a fan of this book. While the general concept of the book reminds me a good bit of the Hunger Games idea, Veronica Roth has taken enough of her own twist that the storyline keeps you engaged to read to the end. <br />
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In this particular dystopian novel, rather than the futuristic government setup of having "districts", Divergent's idea of government are divided into these "factions." By the end of the book, I'm annoyed by the word "faction", but just temporarily get over it cuz they talk about it CONSTANTLY. <br />
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At a certain age, children must choose their "destiny" and basically go through a faction try out training. Each faction: Amity, Erudite, Abnegation & Dauntless, all embrace different characteristics that define your being. <br />
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The main character, Tris (Beatrice), decides to go wayward from the faction in which she was raised since she never fully felt like she belonged in her family born faction. When leaving your faction and attempting to join another you have to go through an initiation and training. Once you abandon your faction, you can never go back, and only a certain number of initiates are accepted into their "chosen" faction. So there is tension and suspense with this aspect of continually wondering who will get the boot and become what they call "factionless"...which is basically just a pathetic version of a really homeless outcast. <br />
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The idea of these factions are a little robotic for me. Could you imagine living in a district or a city surrounded by people with your personality traits? I guess for some traits this might not be an issue, but for strong willed, independent individuals this sounds nighmare-ish! And this seems to also lead to where the mystery of "DIVERGENT" develops. The book never really defines Divergent because Veronica wants us to all read her second book. But she implies that a Divergent is somehow a faction rebel. These divergent are kind of referenced like a Voldemort or "Those We Don't Speak of" from The Village. They're probably going to break down this whole stinkin "faction" thing and recreate world peace :)<br />
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I think the Divergent are really level headed, smart peeps who get that this faction crap is bull...(there is this weird hair or something stuck in my letter "s"or "w" key on my keyboard...I can't see it, but I feel it and it's driving me nutsoid!). The story ends abruptly kinda like a "walking into the horizon" type finish...leaves you wondering: where're they going? what's going to happen next? are they divergent now? what the stink is divergent?!!!<br />
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This book wasn't as bloody as The Hunger Games, but the love story twist in it was appropriately enough. I get pissed in books where the girl pulls two guys along on a string or can't make up her mind and causes all this drama that's not even relevant nor does it enhance the story...KATNISS!!! There's a little side love fest going on in Divergent and it's just enough that it's not distracting from the story, if it goes somewhere great....if it doesn't who cares! So I liked that angle. The book also has a little Matrix-y kinda feel to it with the simulation stuff and whatnot.<br />
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Still boggles my mind that Hunger Games is a Young Adult fiction book series and 9 year olds were reading it. I think I'd class Divergent as a more appropriate Young Adult read for those parents of 9 year olds that feel bad for not letting your kid read Hunger Games...let them read this book. (FOUND THE HAIR! Blasted thing was stuck in the letter "a" key! MUCH BETTER!!!) <br />
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Anyways, download the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004CFA9RS/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004CFA9RS&linkCode=as2&tag=thebowall-20">Kindle Book</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebowall-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B004CFA9RS" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />. It's like $6. Worth $6 for sure. HEY! And how was THIS for a Lisa Book Review...I don't think I spoiled, right? Tell me if I did...I'm trying to better about that. Some of my reads lately just get me so riled up that I have spoil to get my vent on...hehe!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749390911541087076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1066706961692607473.post-22282043981945446742012-09-23T17:46:00.000-04:002012-09-23T17:46:21.695-04:00Take a Walk on the Wild Side<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For my birthday Tommy discovered a hidden gem in the Pittsburgh Area: <a href="http://www.ltanimalpark.com/" target="_blank">Living Treasures Animal Park</a>. We ventured up to New Castle, PA to visit this really inexpensive little outdoor zoo/farm type place that lets you just stroll around and feed the animals. Crazy right? It kind of was crazy. It was less than $10 a person with kibble and carrots for the furry friends.<br />
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After having just visited the zoo a couple weeks ago and fighting the crowds of people and crazy kids, this was such a nice change of pace. It only took us about an hour and a half to go through the whole park, but it was so fun.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YxOQNaNcwNk/UF9OhErNt8I/AAAAAAAACeE/_iRbnlSfp3Q/s1600/upload_10000090512073_2012.09.23%252C18%253A01%253A35%252C395_6B881574" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="176" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YxOQNaNcwNk/UF9OhErNt8I/AAAAAAAACeE/_iRbnlSfp3Q/s400/upload_10000090512073_2012.09.23%252C18%253A01%253A35%252C395_6B881574" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yep! That's me feeding the sweet, softy wallaby! </td></tr>
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I had three favorite things about our Animal Park visit:<div>
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<li>Tommy turned into either a 5 year old kid or a Dr. DoLittle. I couldn't decide which. He was talking to all the animals and was BOINGing around like a kangaroo. Hilarious. "Hey Bear! Come here, Bear! RAAAWWRRRR!"..."Hey Big Furry Gigantic Deer thing! Come here Big Furry Gigantic Deer Thing!"...lots of laughs strolling through the park.</li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYYb0f6yLahjm27YAE9Y48xbF8rRknky-MPKuqXHzQymq3qyNrp52WCzHQ-xQksr5jNzB2ctdwK2dWWDwQYNM1IEArRDPuRaLxOo1t3b6PRW56DigPRCENmrSwIRuaYS6przRWrJW689bh/s1600/upload_10000090512073_2012.09.22%252C23%253A28%253A16%252C22_355DDBDB" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYYb0f6yLahjm27YAE9Y48xbF8rRknky-MPKuqXHzQymq3qyNrp52WCzHQ-xQksr5jNzB2ctdwK2dWWDwQYNM1IEArRDPuRaLxOo1t3b6PRW56DigPRCENmrSwIRuaYS6przRWrJW689bh/s400/upload_10000090512073_2012.09.22%252C23%253A28%253A16%252C22_355DDBDB" width="332" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is "Furry Gigantic Deer Thing" & "Buck Tooth Porky the Porcupine."</td></tr>
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<ul>
<li>If you don't know this about my sister, Ev, she is the jumpiest person you'll ever meet, and apparently has a weird fear of birds we didn't know about. Who knew? She walks around every day in life with birds flying around her in nearby trees...but when she attempted walking into the aviary and a bird flew from one tree to the next she dropped a load in her pants and ran the other direction out of the bird cage. Poor Ev. </li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMhIcGpvlWl1l-AAf3RqhC2FrQpOuNfyn0jnc9Z1cwyt0SGq5wunV2vPsULNgIykVDJUH48BSjWC7FAldYj3062LM6pyPW4eVtS_lvWmNpgYaC0OAnxvM6q2AUtVOXvAB9ICi_3Urh-dJw/s1600/upload_10000090512073_2012.09.22%252C23%253A28%253A03%252C256_E8245AA9" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMhIcGpvlWl1l-AAf3RqhC2FrQpOuNfyn0jnc9Z1cwyt0SGq5wunV2vPsULNgIykVDJUH48BSjWC7FAldYj3062LM6pyPW4eVtS_lvWmNpgYaC0OAnxvM6q2AUtVOXvAB9ICi_3Urh-dJw/s400/upload_10000090512073_2012.09.22%252C23%253A28%253A03%252C256_E8245AA9" width="332" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ev could handle feeding the miniature deer just fine. They were so cute.</td></tr>
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<ul>
<li>I loved the Camel. Tommy kept saying "Hey Camel! Mr. Camel, you don't smoke cigs! You're a good camel...." The camel was a bit of a snack hog, but if I was kept in a pen with pesty goats and lambs I think I would be too. The camel was so sweet and his lips were so funny!</li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"You Don't Smoke Mr. Camel Man" was a kibble hog, but it's ok. I liked him.</td></tr>
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The final pit stop before the park ends in the goat pen with goats, lambs and llamas. These are the snack hogs that can just eat and eat and eat so they let you just unload all your remaining treats on these little guys. </div>
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Not sure if you were allowed to just go strolling into the goat pen, but it didn't say "STAFF ONLY" and the gate was very welcoming so Tommy turned into a Goat Whisperer and went into the pen...</div>
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That black and white spotty goat in there was a real brat. And he had poo on his feet and wiped it on Tommy's pants. But he was head butting all the baby goats so they couldn't get the snacks. I wanted to spank him. </div>
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Apparently this place has party packages if you want to take a crew of kiddos for birthday entertainment and they also do camel and pony rides for $3 or $4. I was initially set on a camel ride when we first arrived, but then when I saw the HUGE Camel (who also didn't smoke) he just looked kinda sad and tired...I feel your pain buddy...I'll give ya a rest. </div>
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The park seemed a little on the unsupervised side, which surprised me, since we were shoving our hands in wild animals mouths?! BUT...maybe it's their slow season and all their current patrons when we were there looked very trustworthy and responsible. </div>
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There were two little baby leopard cubs there SOMEWHERE. We didn't see them in their little cage area and I was hoping to snuggle with one of those pretty kitties...but apparently they were hiding somewhere. Oh well. I got to love on Mr. Camel Man and that was great too!</div>
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Did you know that kangas and wallabies are nocturnal? Initially when we went into the kanga exhibit all the roos looked kinda dead and miserable...but apparently that's because they were asleep, or at least trying to be. They were SO soft though. I couldn't believe it. So soft. I wanted one. I'd make her carry me around in her pouch and BOING all over the place. </div>
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Anyways, great place! Fun, entertaining, not too long of a walk, not too short of a walk...smelled kinda like poo...well, it smelled like the elephant house at the zoo. Kinda pooey, and barny...but still super fun! Lots of hand washing stations all over the place. </div>
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This guy was Tommy's fave part. I don't even know what he was. He looked sort of like a really red headed super hairy bison?! With the longest, wettest and wildest tongue you've ever seen!</div>
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If you live in Pittsburgh and haven't been to this place you should go! It was less than an hours drive. Or if you're ever passing through Pittsburgh and heading North, it's totally worth a stop. It doesn't take long and it's thoroughly enjoyable. It's right off of 79. Actually, when we were looking at the Bear exhibit Tommy was amazed that "Mr. Bear" lives right by the highway. It's his backyard :) "Hey Mr. Bear! You live by the highway?!" </div>
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Best Birthday Ever :) </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749390911541087076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1066706961692607473.post-35323860327684030262012-09-22T20:44:00.001-04:002012-09-23T15:27:58.687-04:00Lets Break Bread Together...I mean MAKE Bread Together!So I was recently inspired by my friend, Maria, to domesticate myself a little more. She has been making all kinds of crazy awesome homemade things and is like an incredible SUPER MOM: Chai Tea, Peach Honey...Challah Bread!!! Read more about Maria and her awesome family <a href="http://www.theweimers.net/" target="_blank">here</a>, they rule. You should totally click the link to read more about her work and her family and how to contribute to the Weimer's awesomeness! <br />
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Anyways, after I started having bread on the brain I came home and started pinteresting...DUH! I decided bread looks like it should be terribly easy. So when I found <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/89438742570559926/" target="_blank">this pin</a> that shows you how to make bread in a dutch oven I got WAY excited. See, a dutch oven is borderline crock pottish...and you KNOW I've been on the crock kick recently. That was when I decided this bread thing could totally be for me. </div>
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Like most things I try, I want to jump to obsession and go overboard with ingredients and supplies. I started thinking and calculating "Oo! If I buy the 30 lb bag of flour from Costco and my yeast in bulk I could make bread for 6 months for about 40 cents a loaf..." Whoa! Whoa! Whoa Lisa! Calm down. What happens if this ends up like your first seven attempts at making a pumpkin roll?? If you fail miserably and learn you aren't a breadmaker, what in the WORLD are you going to do with 30 lbs of flour. I still tried to justify myself and say I'd just give it to Maria if I failed...but I opted on the sensical side so I didn't overwhelm Tommy walking in the door with my new "big idea" and 30 lbs of flour. Haha! Besides...technically I shouldn't be lifting 30 lb bags of anything right now. </div>
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This entire process really only ended up taking about a half hour of my attention. Most of your time is just spent waiting and then baking. You aren't going to BELIEVE how easy this was:</div>
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<b>What you need:</b></div>
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<li>3 cups of unbleached white flour</li>
<li>1 3/4 tsp salt</li>
<li>1/2 tsp yeast</li>
<li>1 1/2 cups of water</li>
<li>Dutch Oven - this is the dutchie that I have and I'm IN LOVE. Click on the picture to scope out and purchase one for yourself if you haven't taken the plunge yet. You won't be disappointed. Totally worth the investment.</li>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0066H32TM/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0066H32TM&linkCode=as2&tag=thebowall-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B0066H32TM&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=thebowall-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebowall-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0066H32TM" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<b>What to do - PHASE 1:</b></div>
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<li>Mix together your flour and salt in a large mixing bowl. </li>
<li>In a separate small bowl mix 1/2 cup of warm water with your 1/2 tsp of yeast. Just stir it around till the yeast dissolves.</li>
<li>Pour the yeast/water mixture onto the flour and add the remaining 1 cup of water as well (Temperature doesn't matter here. The hottness is just to activate and dissolve the yeast.). Stir, Stir, Stir!</li>
<li>Once your mixture has a doughy consistency cover the bowl with saran wrap. You don't want a tight tight seal because you still want some air to be able to escape the bowl as your mixture grows. Then let the dough sit for 12-18 hours. </li>
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<b>What to do - PHASE 2:</b></div>
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<li>Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. When it reaches the 450, put your dutch oven WITH the lid on inside the oven for 30 minutes. Give that baby a little time to warm up so she can start doing her magic.</li>
<li>While your dutch oven is getting hot and ready, prepare your dough for awesomeness. </li>
<li>Put a generous amount of flour on your prepping surface because your dough is going to be really sticky. Dump your dough onto the flour counter and shape it into your loaf. </li>
<li>Recover the bread either with the saran wrap or a cloth so it doesn't get flat or weird while you wait for your dutchie to be ready. </li>
<li>After the preheat, plop your loaf into the dutchie, put the lid on and then stick her back in the oven for 30 minutes.</li>
<li>After 30 minutes is up take dutchie out, remove the lid, and put her back in for 15 more minutes. Then she's done! Wasn't that cake!? </li>
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It's so easy! And really good. It tastes like a french bread but it's not skinny and long. It's round and plump. It's more of a crusty bread. And I'm not sure if the crusty part happened in the last 15 minutes, or if it would have been that way regardless. I might try it again for 45 minutes with the lid on and just see what happens. </div>
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And get this...this is seriously like the best part...</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8laJvLaapd4/UF5F2fUcQQI/AAAAAAAACWU/c83Vo5z6g3Q/s1600/upload_10000090512073_2012.09.22%252C23%253A12%253A19%252C411_19B88BE8" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8laJvLaapd4/UF5F2fUcQQI/AAAAAAAACWU/c83Vo5z6g3Q/s400/upload_10000090512073_2012.09.22%252C23%253A12%253A19%252C411_19B88BE8" width="400" /></a></div>
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The aftermath is SO easy to cleanup. Yes. Those are just flour CRUMBS in the bottom of dutchie. This and the mixing bowl was the only thing that needed cleaned up. I couldn't believe it. It was cake! Well, technically it is BREAD! But it was so easy. </div>
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I'm on a roll with this bread thing for sure. This particular nameless loaf won't be great sandwich making bread. But it would be great dipping bread for sopping up some oils or spaghetti sauce :) Dang blogging makes my mouth water. </div>
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So I'm on a mission to make sandwich bread. Maybe like a honey oat...that's my fave bread for my subway sandwiches. In the meantime, I also intend to learn my Grandma's Swedish Coffee bread and I wanna make hamburger buns. I know...seems weird and random...what else did you expect from me? Normal? As Ryan Lochte would say "Chyeah...right..."</div>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749390911541087076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1066706961692607473.post-29532417035525759222012-09-20T10:13:00.001-04:002012-09-20T10:13:40.720-04:00Hottness: Crock Pot Chicken Sandwiches<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After the whole crockpot sapplesops jazz, I realized I was falling in love with my crockpot again. Recently, my sister, Amanda got engaged and married and they had like fifty crockpots on their registry. I kept thinking...what the H are the York's gonna do with fifty crockpots...the past few days I've been wishing I had fifty crockpots. Could you imagine the smells that would be simmering through our little home? MOUTH IS WATERING!</div>
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Fall is putting me in the early mood for Thanksgiving...and while my house was smelling like cinnamon apples I started drooling for stuffing. I'm crazy about stuffing. It's probably my favorite part of Thanksgiving meal. My Grandma made the best stuffing, and now my mom has carried on that tradition. I tried to makes Grandma's stuffing last year...better luck THIS year. Haha!</div>
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SO with crockpot and stuffing on the brain I decided I'm going to make my own crockpot invention. There isn't too much you can screw up in a crock. Just read over this recipe and TRY and tell me that doesn't make you hungry!?</div>
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<b>What you need:</b></div>
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<li>4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (if you're being lazy, which I often times am, you can totally use the canned chicken breast that looks kinda like tuna. Just keep in mind that's already cooked so you could just simmer that stuff on low with the other ingredients for a couple hours instead of all day)</li>
<li>2 cans of cream of chicken soup</li>
<li>1 box of stove top stuffing (yes I DID!)</li>
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<li>Dump it! Put all the ingredients into the crock. </li>
<li>Stir it up.</li>
<li>Put the crock on low and let it do its magic for about 6 hours. I feel like my crockpot gets a little excited about cooking stuff and it tends to finish up its job early...unlike my oven which takes twice as long to bake something...argh. </li>
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I thought this little ditty was delish. In hindsight the leftovers were a little more dry than I would have liked. I probably could have added a little chicken broth or something during the simmer stage to moisten everything up a bit. </div>
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OH! And let me just blow your mind with THIS one...since the leftovers were a little dry I mixed the leftover chicken deliciousness in with some homemade mac & cheese! YES I DID! </div>
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Seriously, these simple crockpot recipes are kind of dummy proof...which is why I can't believe I'd abandoned my crock for so long! BABY, I'm BACK! </div>
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And speaking of baby...still cooking her in my human crock. Any day would be nice for her to make her grand appearance. Dropped the soap in the shower this morning. I jinxed myself. I said to myself "WOW. This is great. You're getting good at this, you didn't even drop the soap!" [Soap flies out of hand...] It was just a soap nub...I left it. It hurts so much to bend over these days I'm starting to leave trails around the house of things that aren't worth the cramp to bend over and pick up. </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749390911541087076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1066706961692607473.post-580569111492366532012-09-19T07:00:00.000-04:002012-09-23T15:08:17.535-04:00The Wolf Gift<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I haven't read any of Anne Rice's books until this one. Initially I gave this read four stars because I did like the book, but then when I categorized my star ratings values as the following I decided I give this book 3 stars:</div>
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<li>5 Stars - I loved it!</li>
<li>4 Stars - Really liked it!</li>
<li>3 Stars - Liked it.</li>
<li>2 Stars - Didn't like it.</li>
<li>1 Star - Not a Fan...or NAF as my friend Laura would say.</li>
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So good book because:<br />
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<li><b>It's really beautiful. </b> Anne Rice paints really pretty pictures in my head of these beautiful homes and pretty people. The house that Reuben acquires in the house sounds like a dream home. The ancient werewolves in my head look really sophisticated and smart. I would definitely say this is a great fall read. The setting takes place in a woodsy area...and we're talking werewolfy in the fall...bring it spookmasters!</li>
<li><b>The werewolf concept is modern. </b> I like how she goes with the werewolf existence here. The weres can gain control over their shifting (this sort of goes along with the whole SHIFTER concept on True Blood...which I also like). I just like how it's not this vicious cycle that happens every full moon. I suppose that's kind of how the whole Twilight Vampire thing goes too though. It's like the Cullens can control their bloody urges by feeding on bears or the True Blood vampires drink the synthetic blood. I like the modern take on these mythical creatures more so than the Brad Pitt Interview with the Vampire dude who thirsts only on human blood and has to kill people everyday.</li>
<li><b>Reuben really embraces his "Wolf Gift". </b> I liked that Reuben quickly comes to grips with his reality that he has been forever changed and makes it his life mission to understand and conquer this gift for the better. When he first is turned and escapes the hospital he begins getting these urges to rescue and help people. He wants to use his Man Wolfness (the Man Wolf thing is kinda weird...I feel like he could have come up with a better super hero name than "MAN WOLF"....it's too obvious...kinda like "KICK ASS"...a little on the dumb side.)</li>
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So so book because:</div>
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<li><b>There is lots of relationship cheating going on in this book and its like it isn't a big deal.</b>..First Reuben bangs that Mardent girl. He didn't even know her. He justified it because Celeste (his GIRLFRIEND) and cheated on him before! Then when he turns Man Wolf he starts banging this other girl Laura...when he is a wolf and she's a human. Yipes. I just can't understand how that's gonna work...Anne Rice describes kissing lips and I keep imagining when I get "Dog Kisses" from Hurley our Dog. Like is Reuben just licking his chops all over her face? That's weird. THEN Reuben gets a little jealous when he finds out that Celeste is dating his best friend, Mort...I mean...you're with Laura? Just am never a fan of the movie or book that has relationship cheating going on.</li>
<li><b>Good Character description and development...bad use of the potential. </b> This book wasn't that long and I actually think the storyline could have been a little deeper with all the character development that happened here. Reuben's brother is a priest. They seem to have this great relationship and there is this inner struggle with his brother and Reuben because Reuben's werewolf existence is known to be evil...Reuben's Mother is a Dr. and seems super smart and quietly in tune with these physical changes that are happening to Reuben. And that never goes anywhere. She pursues help for a little bit and then just stops. Laura, the wolf loving lover, has a story and we never learn it. Reuben pours his heart out to her and they run away together...but he never learns about her backstory! </li>
<li><b>Dullsville Ending. I liked this book. </b> Everytime I started reading I fell asleep in the book because I didn't want to put it down. Anne Rice's descriptions just make you want to keep reading. But the last twenty pages of the book didn't resolve much for me and just kinda drug out to this slow finish. It ended with a history lesson on how weres came to be, and then the book was done. </li>
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I DO wonder if there will be a sequel to the book. With all the character development that happened that just didn't really go anywhere, and then the ending that just was more of an informative educational session...it just leads me to believe there is more the story that Anne Rice wanted to break into two books. As I said, this was my first Anne Rice read and I've always heard GREAT things about her books. So if I thought this book was good I imagine her other books are beautiful and AWESOME! So I'll definitely read some of her other books. And I would even recommend this one! Just try and tell yourself there's gonna be a number two and maybe that'll make the missing pieces more justifiable!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749390911541087076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1066706961692607473.post-10731730852499422162012-09-18T13:00:00.000-04:002012-09-18T13:00:00.993-04:00DIY Wedding Crafts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK7ZU0WYJRpwpAhiezslp3JPDspVwN4aQFEAuhJfKKN_Qm8PL53cQb2rw9XYiyS6i2Xapd2ELM4-K-SmRBG8O1bm5Wt5UUc_ZgtApOiW8Dnn8SkI47oHVi257N8MCywTt3oEm_Pap8Ufg4/s1600/62809_10150250712020504_884800503_14728160_4442983_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK7ZU0WYJRpwpAhiezslp3JPDspVwN4aQFEAuhJfKKN_Qm8PL53cQb2rw9XYiyS6i2Xapd2ELM4-K-SmRBG8O1bm5Wt5UUc_ZgtApOiW8Dnn8SkI47oHVi257N8MCywTt3oEm_Pap8Ufg4/s400/62809_10150250712020504_884800503_14728160_4442983_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Since it's our AnniBEARsary (because we love each other...and we love bears) I thought today was an appropriate day to post awesome DIY Wedding Craft Ideas. It has been two years to the day that Tommy and I said we would forever. Tommy's great. I love him. He's the smartest, sweetest, funniest, kindest guy I know. </div>
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I totally appreciate that crafting isn't a dude's cup of tea and Tommy is such a great sport with my crafting and thriftiness. Even though he hates Michael's & JoAnn Fabrics, I love a man who says "Can you make me a..." or "I need you to design my visual aide for my nursing class..." Yes...yes...maybe it's his sweet endearing way of getting me to do some of his homework, but if the man continues to complete his random acts of kindness like organizing and cleaning my craft room...I'll craft his homework ANYDAY! These pics are the Before & Afters Tommy took the day he proposed! Isn't it cute that organizing my craft room was on the priority list of a great engagement for Lisa!?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XpQD4XlNmWRJKnMlh3WEjLCmDvDMZsuWBoi_Dbu2K3nJn8NOx6YDQBziFXYOBEdUY7G0y__WF_KgTu-DkmcMUvprNNPfqd09pVt021BtxqnU045okymW5l0cPnp4YbOz1uX2viQ_mmld/s1600/IMG_1767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XpQD4XlNmWRJKnMlh3WEjLCmDvDMZsuWBoi_Dbu2K3nJn8NOx6YDQBziFXYOBEdUY7G0y__WF_KgTu-DkmcMUvprNNPfqd09pVt021BtxqnU045okymW5l0cPnp4YbOz1uX2viQ_mmld/s200/IMG_1767.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyV4PuMP8DKwH2gqHV8FMxJWd2qETrOywSSrIQutG0a1R8v5k6yfycMjb68Kp3NbYdMppMlsHxAfiaTDcVaKRANDqKtsuw8iTDY3NvSyM8zOnJOmcEbBXUCvEgCkAo0iwBq-Xgfn2uBeR/s1600/IMG_1769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyV4PuMP8DKwH2gqHV8FMxJWd2qETrOywSSrIQutG0a1R8v5k6yfycMjb68Kp3NbYdMppMlsHxAfiaTDcVaKRANDqKtsuw8iTDY3NvSyM8zOnJOmcEbBXUCvEgCkAo0iwBq-Xgfn2uBeR/s200/IMG_1769.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
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And then it got awesomer when he crafted a proposal card for me! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpFT_MnKJNAWYsN_BRhZBsn7N8BGnFtCgxN8ZUprr9-In-npuj5C-PTblmd535_iDkm_np9xtwxXGoi5b_3Y9HxcsuFkSeywGAEJ55o_CkBejRENTSLElNlj4zpZeZGMO1Sg37X-tZEaT/s1600/IMG_1788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpFT_MnKJNAWYsN_BRhZBsn7N8BGnFtCgxN8ZUprr9-In-npuj5C-PTblmd535_iDkm_np9xtwxXGoi5b_3Y9HxcsuFkSeywGAEJ55o_CkBejRENTSLElNlj4zpZeZGMO1Sg37X-tZEaT/s400/IMG_1788.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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So...back to wedding crafting. Getting engaged was a crafters dream come true. Our engagement was only 6 months. Good thing. Who knows what kind of insane, over the top craft projects I would have gotten myself into if I had more time. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitIsDbAdpbGFezQgVS2IsxJAigxgjAiKHcztF3tpUWD7zRgdSTG5JsHd1KH3QZKDnVScklX3HG6fB_ugLs0KJwcPVoOJbiLdG-sKH7-7ILB0eJ-lRl76v544bxtcPJ8ussqZnweaddX9fe/s1600/33450_884952735584_12303044_47591698_8057792_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitIsDbAdpbGFezQgVS2IsxJAigxgjAiKHcztF3tpUWD7zRgdSTG5JsHd1KH3QZKDnVScklX3HG6fB_ugLs0KJwcPVoOJbiLdG-sKH7-7ILB0eJ-lRl76v544bxtcPJ8ussqZnweaddX9fe/s320/33450_884952735584_12303044_47591698_8057792_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Wedding Signs are terribly cute and SUPER easy. This cost me no money to even make. We had plenty of wood scraps laying around in our basement. I'm not even super awesome at painting or anything, but I just painted words and hearts on the sign and then outlined it with a black sharpie marker. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIbkQtRjnJEGpyy67b2UpErhK4OFSOmbXUc2BT8C4TagWwheXfCwcxmXRv8Z_fkCpQLN1Wfmr8XkVoiL7DXwpKyFUv5J9LIaqAhQpf82ywxSLvzR-qZm-u6XJhPvfjIsVcj3KFzvszdwF/s1600/33648_440746063044_607048044_5395272_2933133_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIbkQtRjnJEGpyy67b2UpErhK4OFSOmbXUc2BT8C4TagWwheXfCwcxmXRv8Z_fkCpQLN1Wfmr8XkVoiL7DXwpKyFUv5J9LIaqAhQpf82ywxSLvzR-qZm-u6XJhPvfjIsVcj3KFzvszdwF/s320/33648_440746063044_607048044_5395272_2933133_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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We did a cupcake tower instead of a cake. We had a pretty low maintenance wedding and didn't have a cake cutter and didn't want either of our moms cutting cake for the masses, so we opted cupcakes! Ordered from our fave local bakery and crafted cuteness onto them. I had a circular paper punch that I cut out different colors of patterned paper. I printed pictures of the dogs or the letter "B" onto these super easy Avery round stickers, then stuck these tiny craft sticks (like flat toothpicks) in between the circle paper and the sticker then POW...stuck it in the cupcake! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKfh-edrJHjWpCJozxdxCQTymeXkn2acqkic39AOvq9coOb7rrngsrasK5ZtEJ1SplIY8TRkfl-9NcCarwpvG-56KuM4B7_HBWD380a49tMs7sxPM5udR-2Z1ROHSL8hskR-2finHY0YuY/s1600/37213_440656388044_607048044_5394153_1479908_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKfh-edrJHjWpCJozxdxCQTymeXkn2acqkic39AOvq9coOb7rrngsrasK5ZtEJ1SplIY8TRkfl-9NcCarwpvG-56KuM4B7_HBWD380a49tMs7sxPM5udR-2Z1ROHSL8hskR-2finHY0YuY/s320/37213_440656388044_607048044_5394153_1479908_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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The wedding invites and programs were a little more complicated than paint & outline or punch, print, stick...so in the meantime, check out this post for <a href="http://thebowlinalley.blogspot.com/2012/06/diy-beach-wedding-invitations.html" target="_blank">DIY Wedding invites</a> and I'll post another soon with a DIY for these programs. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggi75wjFU2wrUdKzSnpTJgpQJbofgAXheU7zPc_B7fo0BhSa0wxSJBzF-bm3zZYLl7rEMf_lC8SRHhZh-AiX6oGza93H3LBbuGqSD-Qd77OhF9fTPnSGscGG2Ri3KSU0hIxRSV5j9gvcxL/s1600/69418_440655273044_607048044_5394124_1218806_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggi75wjFU2wrUdKzSnpTJgpQJbofgAXheU7zPc_B7fo0BhSa0wxSJBzF-bm3zZYLl7rEMf_lC8SRHhZh-AiX6oGza93H3LBbuGqSD-Qd77OhF9fTPnSGscGG2Ri3KSU0hIxRSV5j9gvcxL/s320/69418_440655273044_607048044_5394124_1218806_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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And our most recent Bowlin Alley craft project is making a baby. I WON'T be posting a DIY of how to MAKE a baby...but maybe a few baby craft ideas here and there. And perhaps Baby Bowlin will be an Annibearsary gift and make her grand appearance today. Tommy says no...keep my legs squeezed till at least Friday AFTER his next test. Got it. Baby on Friday.</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749390911541087076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1066706961692607473.post-33560374483052805272012-09-17T18:34:00.000-04:002012-09-17T18:34:26.404-04:00Fall Fever: Crockpot Apple Sauce<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Fall is definitely one of my favorite times of the year. I love the smells of fall and winter - apples, pumpkins, cinnamon spice, sugar cookie. I also love weather where it is appropriate for shorts and long sleeves! (Unfortunately Fall 2012 will not be seeing THIS preggy butt in shorts.)<br />
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Everywhere you go, you are bombarded with the scrumptious smells of the season. You walk into any shopping store or even grocery store and somehow those smarty pants marketing people attack your sniffer with scents that make me NEEEEED to buy appley pumpkiny spicey goodness. <br />
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Well you marketing smarty pantses, way to earn your paycheck because I totally walked in to Giant Eagle and HAD TO HAVE a bag of Macintosh Apples. The Mac apples normally aren't my fave just to bite into and nosh on for a snack, but I love them for applesauce and pies. They're awesome because they're crunchy, a little sweet and also a little sour. It's like a crispy cross between a red delish and a granny smith. Mmmm...<br />
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Now you guys know that I'm FAR from legit when it comes to cheffing or any form of culinary training. I tend to make up my own rules in the kitchen and often times find myself taking the lazy lady's way out...but I KNOW applesauce is easy and the fact that it can be made in a crockpot makes it totally up my Bowlin Alley.<br />
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So check out how freaking easy this is:<br />
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<b>What You Need</b><br />
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<li>8 Medium Apples (I used 20 small Macintosh, just fill your crock)</li>
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<li>5 tsps of brown sugar (not packed)</li>
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<li>Peel and dice the apples. You know what? You can leave the skins on if you're feeling lazy. It doesn't change the taste, but it just has those papery skinny chunks if you leave them on. Not the end of the world if you're cutting a corner.</li>
<li>Toss everything in the crock - chopped apples, lemon juice, cinnamon, brown sugar.</li>
<li>Set the crock to low and let it just smell up your house for the next 6 hours! </li>
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Talk about killing two birds with one stone! Totally smelled up the house with this recipe. And it was a great smelled up the house!! </div>
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Yeah I'm a cheater when it comes to "canning"...I didn't really can this stuff. When you can stuff you disinfect and seal the container air tight...my "method" shown to the left is called Looks-Better-In-A-Ball-Jar-Than-In-A-Tupperware. </div>
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It's not officially canned. But doesn't this totally make you wanna get your Fall on???? Don't worry. It totally got my leaves falling, because I've got more fall goodness to come!!!</div>
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Since I've been on a roll my past few posts reminiscing about funny things of childhood -- Sister Amanda used to call applesauce, SappleSops. So go grab yourself some Sapples and get your Sops on!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749390911541087076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1066706961692607473.post-36837538646979247112012-09-10T15:34:00.000-04:002012-09-10T15:34:03.568-04:00The Diary of a Pregnant Lady...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Now that I've reached the 36 week mark, there's no doubt about it. Yes, it's officially OBVIOUS...I'm knocked up, Folks! Consider yourselves privileged because my blog readers get to see the preggy pic (yes...singular). I'm not posting weekly belly updates on facebook. I just can't do it...</div>
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I've been keeping a running list (you KNOW I love lists) of my belly laughs to make light of my discomfort while trying to convince myself I don't feel miserable and exhausted all the time. So I thought I'd share my list of belly laughs with you. </div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">Belly Laughs</span></b></div>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;"><b>Preggy Classes? No Thanks. </b> </span>Each time I go to the doctor, they ask if I've registered for any prenatal classes yet. Not interested. Isn't that what a doctor is for? And I'd like to also think that being married to a soon-to-be nurse also comes with perks of getting to skip out on these "extra curriculars." Joan, the nurse, kept suggesting that if nothing else it would be a great way for me to get to know some other Preggies who are in my same phase of life...um...NOTHING sounds more miserable to me than spending my evening off with a bunch of hormonal strangers! Pass. If Snooky can have a baby, I can have one. </li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;"><b>I'm so HOT!</b> </span>And no...I'm not talking the "You're SMOKING H-O-T-T" hot...I'm talking about the sweaty swamp ass hot. YOU try growing a person and keeping your cool! I'm sweating ALL the time...if I ever PLAN on doing this a second time around, remind me to get my baby growing on over the cooler months of the year. Because preggy shorts DON'T work.</li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">Don't drop the soap! </span></b> Taking a shower with an enormous bump in your middle is a little more challenging than just standing under the water and lather, rinse, repeating...I never realized how frequently I drop that slickery soap bar until it's near impossible to bend over to pick it back up. TOTALLY need to invest in this soap-on-a-rope stuff.</li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">What's the point of an appointment?</span> </b>Now that I'm in the homestretch these doctor's appointments are MUCH more frequent. I can finally say I like my doctors. I don't get high blood pressure going to the office anymore, BUT I'll tell ya what DOES make my heart rate go up...is stinkin' appointment times. Each time I leave the office I spend five minutes with Carol going over their appointment calendar so we can figure out when I can get squeezed in for my next visit. You'd think since they take this calendar so seriously that they would run according to schedule. Nah. When they say 10:30 they mean, come in at 10:15, sit there for 15 minutes, go pee in a cup, sit there for 15 more minutes, get called back to get weighed, then escorted into your exam room...wait for 15 more minutes for the doctor to come into your room, talk to you for five minutes and then say "ok! see you next time!" Gee. Thanks Doc.</li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">Speaking of Peeing in a Cup...</span></b>This isn't something that I've had TONS of practice doing prior to this phase of my life...but I never recall peeing in a cup being SO difficult. If only a lady had some sort of a manly nozzle for the cup peeing thing, it would make this feat SO much easier. It didn't take me more than a few tries, after my middle expanded, to start grabbing a latex glove on my way to the whizzer so I can avoid getting covered in my own wee when I go. You know how tricky it is to hit that cup, while holding up your belly so you can kinda see and catch what's going on down there!?!?</li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">Since we're talking about taking a whiz...</span></b>Did you realize you use core muscles to do things like sit on the john, or WIPE!? Yeah. True Story. When your core muscles are all stretched out and pretty dysfunctional you learn quickly how frequently you use those little guys...cuz they hurt doing the simplest things! Sitting up, rolling over, sitting on the toilet! Laugh it up...but I KNOW my fellow preggies feel me on this one!</li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">Tummy Time...I miss you!</span> </b>I'm a tummy sleeper. Yes. Yes. I know, you're supposed to sleep flat on your back for your spine, but you can't even do that during pregnancy. You're permitted side sleeping. I wake up each time I move (cuz it hurts) and then when I gaze over at Tommy sawing logs while sleeping on his stomach I just get so envious of the things I miss most.</li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;"><b>Cravings are a hoax...</b>I</span> think these cravings everyone talks about are a hoax. I haven't had one yet. TOMMY has had more cravings than I have. The whole pickles and ice cream thing? Yeah, not real. If it is real, I feel ripped off! I haven't had any urges that required sending my man out on these crazy midnight snack runs. Tommy, however, has enjoyed saying things like "Does the babet need some double fudge brownie Ben & Jerry's?!?" WELL IF YOU PUT IT THAT WAY...Bring it on!! I think Tommy has been a little disappointed in my lack of "excusable cravings" so he has been doing his fair share of trying to tempt me so we BOTH get to splurge.</li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">I'm a Puffalump Chump. </span></b> Anyone remember Puffalumps? Anyways, with preggyness usually comes swelling in places that it shouldn't (aside from your belly, your chest, your hips and your bum...). My fingers and toes are trying to get in on this swelling action. I don't mind it THAT much except for the fact that I can't wear my wedding rings and my fave shoes! Funny side note -- our regional director came to the hotel a couple weeks ago and made a comment to my boss about me having a lot to prepare for getting ready to become a single mother. PAHAHA! Oh geez. At least if I could wear my rings I could show off more easily OUR child's legitimacy. I just hope my feet shrink back to cute and small. My shoe collection has been expanding since my feet stopped growing in 9th grade. I would hate to have to start over. </li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">Baby Bjorns vs. Strollers. </span></b> EVERYONE raves about the Baby Bjorns. I do think these inventions are genius (Go Swedes!) and strollers also seem to be a parenting necessity. Now that we're expecting a baby of our own I notice things. 1. Babies and kids are EVERYWHERE. And they stare at pregnant people and point. 2. Some babies and kids seem miserable to be around in public places (Please God. Bless me with a behaved child.). 3. People take strollers in the weirdest most inconvenient places! THIS is the thing that seems crazy to me. The stroller is a handy gadget that can serve multi purposes since it wheels your baby around AND totes your stuff...but it seems CRAZY to me when we got out to a restaurant and people bring their stroller into dinner! Let me just paint a picture of how this works for you...pack up stroller, put it in the car. Pack up kid. Put her in the car. Pack up husband and get in the car with him. Get to restaurant, unpack and assemble the stroller. Unpack kid and move into stroller. Unpack husband and walk to the restaurant...(what is this FIVE FEET AWAY!? Was wheeling her really necessary??) Get in restaurant, bumble and crash around with stroller, wait to be seated, get seated and HOG UP an aisle way with a stinkin stroller. People, just leave the stroller in the car!!! So, I think for these short little trips where you have a small walk from car to destination carrying the baby or the Bjorn seems much more reasonable. People RAVE about the Bjorn. People have been asking if we're pumped about Bjorning our baby...Tommy is SO pumped about it. I've been Bjorning her for the past 9 months so I think I'll let him take the papoose for her first drive :) Sidenote -- My cousin's cousin named one of their baby's Bjorn. I love Swedes. </li>
</ol>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><b>Preggy Poll:</b></span><br />
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Any of my fellow preggies use the Baby Center app or email newsletter to track your weekly progress? I've been getting a kick out of it because it gives you the play by play each week of what you're feeling, things to do and how big the baby is. While I do like this...there have been weeks when Baby Center throws some crazy curve balls at us and says "This week you're the size of a Crenshaw Melon" or "Swiss Chard" or "Rutabaga" What the CRAP is a Crenshaw Melon!? I get it. You're trying to keep veggies and fruits on the brain because that's what the baby needs...but can't you just make more sense in my brain...tell me things like "This week, you're a basketball." Maybe those things won't make my mouth water, but neither does a jicama or a poppy seed?!<br />
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Ok. So I've stalled LONG enough...you've read my entire post of my Belly Laughs. You shall be rewarded with the ever-so-requested "Belly Pic" people seem so nuts about. So THANK YOU for reading my blog. In return, here is your pic!...36 weeks with TBD to go...<br />
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And just for a crazy visual...look at my puffy toes and my crazy cankles!! </div>
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So much for my dainty little feet, eh?!</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749390911541087076noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1066706961692607473.post-24508806629879729942012-09-09T17:51:00.000-04:002012-09-09T17:51:05.708-04:00If You Love Lists...As long as I can remember, I've kept lists of things I wanted to do or accomplish in life. I used to keep them taped to the back of my bedroom door growing up (the list MAY still be there? It was on a neon green piece of paper. My parents used to cross things off the list for me...like:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><strike>Own a Teapot that Whistles</strike></li>
<li><strike>Teach a Kayaking Class</strike></li>
<li><strike>Graduate from College</strike></li>
<li><strike>Sing a song in French</strike></li>
</ul>
<br />
When I went away to college my best friend, Krista, was the QUEEN of three things:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Lists</b> (She has VOLUMES of books just full of lists??? Who DOES that?? Hehe!)</li>
<li><b>Journaling </b></li>
<li><b>Pink Stuff </b></li>
</ol>
I was inspired by Krista to do two of three -- write lists IN a journal! My list-ness has since expanded to task journals, evernotes, and grocery list apps on my smart phone (SIDENOTE: Krista ALSO is really good at adding a "ness" to the end of nouns to make them verbs. Her biggest blooper of this habit was when she tried to turn peeing into a 'ness word' and said something about getting her pee-ness on...WHOOPS!). <br />
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I thoroughly enjoy lists, but am not quite as psycho about lists as my sister, Amanda, who can't feel like something is completed unless she's crossed it off a list. She keeps her little list pad by her bed and makes lists like this:<br />
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<b><u>Don't Forget</u></b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Take a Shower</li>
<li>Put on undies & socks</li>
<li>Wear deodorant</li>
<li>Brush hair</li>
<li>...and so on...</li>
</ul>
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<b>Dude...I have to say two things...(in list form)</b></div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>Your day sounds like it starts uncomfortably since you don't dry off before putting on your socks & undies...</li>
<li>If you can't get dressed in the morning without a list...um -- you's gots probs!!!</li>
</ol>
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I actually haven't lived with Amanda for a few years now, so she may have grown out of this phase...but my gut tells me her obsessive disorder still exists to some degree.</div>
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ANYWAYS, most recently I've become pretty obsessed with blogging. My blogging obsession has taken my stalking skills to a whole new level. Facebook stalking aside, I stalk people <b><i>and am</i></b> totally intrigued by the lives of individuals I<i><b> don't even know</b></i>, such as:</div>
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Jenna Weber who blogs on <a href="http://www.eatliverun.com/red/" target="_blank">Eat, Live, Run</a> - she inspired me to start red lipsticking and cook!</li>
<li>Mandy who blogs about sewing, crafting and styling on <a href="http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com/" target="_blank">Sugar Bee Crafts</a>. </li>
<li>Trevor who is Mandy's husband. His <a href="http://www.soimarriedacraftblogger.com/" target="_blank">blog</a> is the dude's version of living with a crafter. Hilar!</li>
<li>Kate Conner who is a really cute girl who has this really cute green dress and she blogs about some really inspirational and thought provoking things...AND she made a <a href="http://kateelizabethconner.com/about/life-list-2/" target="_blank">LIFE LIST</a>.</li>
</ul>
So as you have probably guessed, this post is going to be of my Lifetime List which was inspired by two things:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Krista </b>- who has instilled in me two things that have become part of my daily routine:</li>
<ol>
<li><b>List Making</b></li>
<li><b>Journalling</b> (How do you like THAT!? A list <b><i>WITHIN</i></b> a list. POW!)</li>
</ol>
<li><b>Kate Conner </b>- who put her life list on her blog that I stalk.</li>
</ol>
<div>
So here she is, in ALL her glory...</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>Oh the places I will go:</b><br />
<ol>
<li>Machu Picchu</li>
<li>The Grand Canyon</li>
<li>Helena, Montana (to visit the coolest Aunt & Uncle & cousins EVA!)</li>
<li>Ashville, New York (been here quite a few times, but I'll intend to visit quite a few more to see my OTHER coolest Aunt & Uncle & cousins...Since I only have two sets of coolest Aunts, Uncs & Cousins and we don't want anyone feeling less awesome or left out)</li>
<li>Barcelona, Spain</li>
<li>Mount Rushmore</li>
<li>Redwood Forest</li>
<li>Yellowstone National Park</li>
<li>Sweden</li>
<li>Cape Cod</li>
<li>Mt. Kilimanjaro </li>
<li>Portland, Maine</li>
<li>San Francisco - The Golden Gate Bridge</li>
<li>The Great Sphinx - Egypt</li>
<li>Anchorage, Alaska</li>
<li>San Antonio, Texas </li>
<li>Tampa, Florida (to visit Great Uncle Bryne, Aunt Audrey & Uncle Arnold)</li>
</ol>
<b>Oh the Things I will do:</b><br />
<ol>
<li>Cut Boy Hair (more specifically, Tommy's)</li>
<li>Learn to speak Spanish (maybe sending my kid to a bi-lingual school will school me too!)</li>
<li>Sponsor a child (maybe adopt a child?)</li>
<li>Have a child who is enjoyable to take in public places - restaurants, shopping, etc...</li>
<li>Get Handier</li>
<li>Successfully accomplish good furniture makeovers</li>
<li>Sew stuff more</li>
<ol>
<li>Learn to follow a pattern</li>
<li>Make a Quilt</li>
</ol>
<li>Plant & Harvest a SUCCESSFUL Garden (they all R.I.P. in Garden heaven never having harvested a plentiful bounty)</li>
<ol>
<li>Can things from my garden</li>
</ol>
<li>Live by water (I think preference is Lake, but I could settle for river and definitely an ocean!)</li>
<li>Be featured for SOMETHING in Better Homes & Gardens. </li>
<li>Read 1,000 books</li>
<li>Have 1,000 blog followers</li>
<li>Run 1,000 miles in a year</li>
<li>Have an etsy store</li>
<li>Eat at a Gordon Ramsay Restaurant</li>
<ol>
<li>Shake hands with Gordon someday</li>
</ol>
<li>Learn to make sushi</li>
<li>Receive a hug from Paul Meany (ideally document this also with a photo)</li>
<li>Take a photography class</li>
<li>Get a masters degree</li>
<li>Attend a conference about blogging (do these exist?!)</li>
</ol>
I definitely intend to update these lists when tasks have been completed or when I need to add more things to my intended accomplishments, so check back often. In closing, I think it's only appropriate to leave you with a list of my top three takeaways from this post:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Get inspired! Find something that makes you want to accomplish stuff...a book, a blog, a friend...</li>
<li>Go make your own lists! It feels really great to jot stuff down, and it makes me more motivated to accomplish something when it's put in writing.</li>
<li>Don't forget to dry off after getting out of the shower. Starting your day in wet socks and undies seems gross!</li>
</ol>
<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749390911541087076noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1066706961692607473.post-69634473264267042042012-09-04T04:30:00.000-04:002012-09-04T04:30:01.599-04:00Pittsburgh Places: RibfestWhat is a Ribfest, you ask? Well, according to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ribfest" target="_blank">wikipedia</a> a Ribfest (short for rib festival) is a rib cook off food festival where professional, traveling food teams compete to make the best ribs...I just like to call a Ribfest - HEAVEN!<br />
<br />
Can I first just say that Pittsburgh's Ribfest is awesome for being held at Heinz Field? This was Tommy's first time setting foot in the stadium. He <i><b>did</b></i> admit it was indeed awesome, but we hadn't eaten anything yet and the air was smelling of savory, sweet BBQ so I think this poor, loyal Brown's fan might have said ANYTHING was awesome at this point. But I'm going to go with he just thinks it's awesome :) <br />
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Our only other Ribfest experience had been multiple times in Columbus, Ohio where we used to live. Pittsburgh doesn't do anything wrong, but one thing Columbus does EXTRA right is the Ribfest. They add jazz to the mix which makes for a great day. Can I just add a sidenote reminiscent story? My old boss in Columbus was a crazy woman (God love her. She has forever instilled a psycho work ethic in me and I thank her for that. Hopefully someday I'll be a big deal because of it.) So let me rephrase, she was always one step ahead of everyone...including herself sometimes. Occasionally, she would just speak before processing her words...and I will NEVER forget the time she was telling me about Columbus's famous "Rabs & Jizz Fest." BAHAHAH!! And her trademark move when this would happen would always be to repeat what she just said (but correctly) and pretend like she didn't screw up her words. Of course I was snickering and she knew I caught it, but still tried to pretend we're both ONLY thinking about Ribs...& Jazz. NOPE!</div>
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Long story short, Pittsburgh's Ribfest is great...but will never compare to Columbus's Rabs & Jizz Fest. YIPES!</div>
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SO, seeing that this preggy only has a limited amount of time on her feet each day before her heart starts pounding and she gets short of breath we had to think fast! Normally our strategy is look for the longest line (crazy, right?). Longest line means most popular food! This time we compromised for the mediocre lines and were STILL left more than satisfied. Ribfests never disappoint. Tommy wanted to give some love to the line-less "King of BBQ"...no time for bad BBQ. Sorry King. </div>
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First stop, Bad Wolf Barbecue. Started out with some ribs and coleslaw. We were totally in the mood for some of the Corn on the Cob we were smelling...but remember the limited time thing? AND no wasting stomach room on CORN! Sorry vegetables. Today is MEAT DAY (Jennie, am I making you gag?)! </div>
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Second Stop Old Carolina BBQ, then Carolina Rib King and lastly Big Boned BBQ Co. The winning BBQers, in my opinion, was Big Boned's Pulled Pork Sandwich. It was huge AND delicious!! Slathered in delicious sauce and smoked to perfection. SO GOOD! And they were also the winners of Columbus's Rabs & Jizz Fest 2011. </div>
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It was about that time that our bellies were full, my heart was pounding and my feet were swollen (yes...my stomach is swollen too...but for another reason other than BBQ.). So we waddled (well, I guess I waddled...Tommy walked with me slowly) back to the car and headed home. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Snby9EaHsmV_ym3a-U_OJU7TCTYLBxxHDBVwldATZ7jXR5k9fP30Yu83kH3zMxuujE7-2oANuLOLT_0J9cLpdjjpiE-xgb0uHbgTzy3NIpd08DLIEfHjR0H16S-H2VbHUMCPTAPoprAe/s1600/upload_10000090512073_2012.09.03%252C16%253A23%253A23%252C298_986F2806" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Snby9EaHsmV_ym3a-U_OJU7TCTYLBxxHDBVwldATZ7jXR5k9fP30Yu83kH3zMxuujE7-2oANuLOLT_0J9cLpdjjpiE-xgb0uHbgTzy3NIpd08DLIEfHjR0H16S-H2VbHUMCPTAPoprAe/s400/upload_10000090512073_2012.09.03%252C16%253A23%253A23%252C298_986F2806" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Big Belly is full of BBQ and totally in the way. Please excuse. </td></tr>
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A great time was had by all and Ribfest was a success! Ribfest 2013...BRING IT ON!! I'll be ready for triple the ribs next year!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749390911541087076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1066706961692607473.post-2918976321396423942012-09-03T04:30:00.000-04:002012-09-03T04:30:02.479-04:00Pittsburgh Places: Rose Tea Cafe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9lbrDBfUwVY/UEKcJrqaFyI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/KFVjlx_1bYU/s1600/IMG_20120901_193026." imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9lbrDBfUwVY/UEKcJrqaFyI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/KFVjlx_1bYU/s400/IMG_20120901_193026." width="400" /></a></div>
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When I was in college, I went on a volunteer mission trip over my spring break to New York City with Cru. It was incredible for many reasons. But one of these things that made this trip so delightful was my first exposure to the Taiwanese beverage called Bubble Tea. It is an iced drink (although I do think you can get it hot too maybe?) that they serve to you with one of those huge straws. [Speaking of straws, anyone else share my obsession with McDonald's straws? They're like the perfect size. A little chubby, but not too much, so you can get the perfect gulp when you take a sip...sigh...ANYWAYS]</div>
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It had been years (I mean...not that I'm getting old and have been out of college for <b><i>THAT</i></b> long but...) since I had this refreshing beverage until...(drum roll....) we moved to Pittsburgh! We live in a neighborhood called Squirrel Hill (guess it used to be super squirrely), and in the main little strip there are lots of Asian restaurants. Obviously the sign made me judge the book by its cover because it had BUBBLE TEA ON IT!! JACKPOT!!!</div>
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Tommy had never tasted this heaven in a cup until this day, and can I just say I was THRILLED that he seemed to have the same excitement about the drink as me! There are all kinds of different flavors and we have a couple that we've fallen in love with (since of COURSE we're regulars at Pittsburgh's Bubble Tea Cafe now.): Green Tea Apple, Green Tea Mango & Green Tea Peach are my personal faves. It tastes like tea with gummy bears in it. The "bubbles" in the tea is called "Boba" which are basically giant tapioca balls. Apparently they're pretty easy to cook and make yourself so you KNOW I'll be trying this concoction on my own at some point. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xFPgflBRF5g/UEKcTIKEtjI/AAAAAAAAB-o/ycMOs6NcLYU/s1600/IMG_20120901_193356." imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xFPgflBRF5g/UEKcTIKEtjI/AAAAAAAAB-o/ycMOs6NcLYU/s200/IMG_20120901_193356." width="200" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8-phI8a_qZM/UEKcO3kcDAI/AAAAAAAAB-g/EDu5_XOke1A/s1600/IMG_20120901_193144." imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8-phI8a_qZM/UEKcO3kcDAI/AAAAAAAAB-g/EDu5_XOke1A/s200/IMG_20120901_193144." width="200" /></a></div>
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The inside of the Rose Tea Cafe has a great atmosphere too. Every time we've walked in to order our Bubble Tea to go, I always see these amazing looking Taiwanese dishes at the tables, but when I browse their menu I'm intimidated. ..so one of these days we'll go there for dinner or lunch...and more bubble tea! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7zSrLKUn6__rgCOxVyp1l62Ok3M19gl5wCWnpdnXWbxpmary78_iquTv5Q7AckkbtsZ-qmrwBhVRM_Bl1yuCyWw24ywYktMqnpXk6YTEPtyiqX2hiQE7yE0GvRRNasiW_YznPCLiRAnG/s1600/upload_10000090512073_2012.09.01%252C23%253A39%253A45%252C580_FDF4FC8A" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7zSrLKUn6__rgCOxVyp1l62Ok3M19gl5wCWnpdnXWbxpmary78_iquTv5Q7AckkbtsZ-qmrwBhVRM_Bl1yuCyWw24ywYktMqnpXk6YTEPtyiqX2hiQE7yE0GvRRNasiW_YznPCLiRAnG/s400/upload_10000090512073_2012.09.01%252C23%253A39%253A45%252C580_FDF4FC8A" width="225" /></a></div>
This is Tommy enjoying his bubble tea. Truth be told, this wasn't his first experience pictured here, but you can see by his expression every time is as good as the first. <br />
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The bubbles sink to the bottom, but each sip is bursting with bubbles when they fly up the straw. These straws are awesome too btw...<br />
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Tommy's obsession with bubble tea may be growing deeper than my own. He had started researching how to make your own tea. He found the Boba bubbles on Amazon. So we'll keep you posted when he places the order and he can guest blog his Boba Bubble Tea Adventure on The Bowlin Alley. <br />
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In the meantime, Pittsburghers -- go to the Rose Tea Cafe. Out of Towners -- find a Bubble Tea joint! You're missing out till you do. Recommendation from the Bowlin's -- go with the your flavor of choise Green Tea & Bubbles. The Black Tea with Bubbles is more bitter and doesn't make the Boba taste like gummy bears. Trust us :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749390911541087076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1066706961692607473.post-44881887946609966432012-09-02T04:30:00.000-04:002012-09-23T15:11:26.189-04:00DIY Brown Sugar Body Scrub<br />
Looking for an easy party favor? Or an inexpensive way to pamper yourself? TOTALLY have the best and easiest DIY project that's cheap too, Brown Sugar Body Scrub!!! I love body scrub. It's one of my fave ways to pamper myself. <br />
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Tommy's the best guy in the world and always gives me these awesome pampery type presents for my stocking stuffers at Christmas. Last Christmas he got me this sea salt scrub that I LOOOVED this...<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Obey-Your-Body-Treatment-Exfoliating/dp/B002U23A2G/ref=pd_sim_bt_2" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1wXo_Q6xC68RRZtWRBuKLGDF_Xjtag9d2tEN7UXPTu5bWl__dLV0z-uyotbyVsia_VM9b3KGZksZRXVEJFH5rGtRUxUEj2So1t3wb1-Zv_ruCnndQSdz3lnk4mT9-AtNYX351RCtT_Bw/s1600/9.1+ObeyYourBody.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002U23A2G/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002U23A2G&linkCode=as2&tag=thebowall-20">Obey Your Body Mineral Body Salt Scrub Treatment Exfoliating Kiwi - ADSBeauty</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebowall-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B002U23A2G" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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One day I was reading the ingredients on the back of the container and wondered if I could recreate this. While I don't think I could ever make an exact replica of this AMAZING body scrub that I love so much, I thought I could probably get pretty darn close to replenish my stash until next Christmas's stocking. <br />
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Since I'm no match for the perfect salt scrub I decided to go sugar! I started reading about ingredients in a natural sugar scrub and it is CAKE! Well, it's actually sugar, but it kinda smells like cake. And you're never going to believe how easy this was. <br />
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<b>Ingredients:</b><br />
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<li>3 cups of Brown Sugar</li>
<li>1 cup of extra virgin olive oil (I would have liked to have used a coconut or sunflower oil, but those oils are a little more expensive and I didn't have any on hand at the house) </li>
<li>6 Tablespoons of honey</li>
<li>a Splish Splash of Vanilla Extract if you'd like (I thought this made it more like warm vanilla sugary...so I went with it)</li>
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<b>Directions:</b></div>
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<li>It's basically a one stepper! All you do is mix all the ingredients together, and then I chose to package them in these cutesie little containers that I got for $1 from Michael's...</li>
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<b>MIX &...</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTw4sig2q_lVVoS0VlR2TkEL4mlN9vgytnxOat-fx0AuL6WducmMly5vFZ5i0ESziLbH7bAJiBAQBdp4DhjGNyJX1wGSs2Tu06j0DMhp-T87XNlzOxrXVan-9AWeBKUndN3ru2sJ0bGBMd/s1600/9.1+DIY+Sugar+Scrub+Mix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTw4sig2q_lVVoS0VlR2TkEL4mlN9vgytnxOat-fx0AuL6WducmMly5vFZ5i0ESziLbH7bAJiBAQBdp4DhjGNyJX1wGSs2Tu06j0DMhp-T87XNlzOxrXVan-9AWeBKUndN3ru2sJ0bGBMd/s400/9.1+DIY+Sugar+Scrub+Mix.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>TA-DAH!!</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-yaPSkc74AtSzs8-lLWk9zqtjXFzaH4ANf8jf8573gSnShcBMDDEAa55W90Kzt6jH9uz5iuPpKIi7zN3l1dv6fwpQ7GMGkm7aSWuCcxCL1uQKTDz_C2nQBRKR3pvpQIKZw3vtWnQ8KRsU/s1600/9.1+DIY+Sugar+Scrub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-yaPSkc74AtSzs8-lLWk9zqtjXFzaH4ANf8jf8573gSnShcBMDDEAa55W90Kzt6jH9uz5iuPpKIi7zN3l1dv6fwpQ7GMGkm7aSWuCcxCL1uQKTDz_C2nQBRKR3pvpQIKZw3vtWnQ8KRsU/s400/9.1+DIY+Sugar+Scrub.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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These little containers are the perfect little bottles for a shower favor OR stocking stuffer! I'm definitely going to start getting a little more creative with my aromatherapy skills and maybe try some different scents and oils. Maybe SOMEDAY I'll venture into the Sea Salt Scrub world...but for now I'm going to leave that magic to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Obey-Your-Body-Treatment-Exfoliating/dp/B002U23A2G/ref=pd_sim_bt_2" target="_blank">Obey Your Body!</a> Try it out. It's a great exfoliator and moisturizer. Just rub it on in the shower and rinse! Let me know what delicious and yummy flavors you concoct...this may be my new obsession!</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749390911541087076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1066706961692607473.post-46197341900171662172012-09-01T13:12:00.001-04:002012-09-01T13:12:31.503-04:00Pittsburgh Places: Grand Concourse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6CAZ0qQZZFyA7nHS_WG-AtxMlnQy-iuY5a8zIOOTYhB0JfObOUANCrkGTaHRegok8oMhCK0n83g0MO8OGY9ne0Zq7XYDC_P3CHWN71w4b3_qmfh1YnYcgMhZKieIKI70znLaUyDXS3luy/s1600/8.31+Grand+Concourse+Train.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6CAZ0qQZZFyA7nHS_WG-AtxMlnQy-iuY5a8zIOOTYhB0JfObOUANCrkGTaHRegok8oMhCK0n83g0MO8OGY9ne0Zq7XYDC_P3CHWN71w4b3_qmfh1YnYcgMhZKieIKI70znLaUyDXS3luy/s400/8.31+Grand+Concourse+Train.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Tommy and I have recently been into Gordon Ramsey's foodie shows, so we're always excited about trying new restaurants. I recently confessed to Tommy that I think I have a crush on Gordon Ramsey...he said it's ok because HE has a crush on him too. So our feelings are mutual. He rules. So we decided for our evening out that we would venture down to Pittsburgh's Station Square. We had reservations at the Grand Concourse, which back in the day was the train station of the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad. The station was BEAUTIFUL! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3inODRtEd3aRMh1JGIh1hMShS1sJ7d7S2VEkBTU7xkxQsLjNWAathdksIyqROazs3RWQwe1MgQ3s-4AaTxqlctB-jvTgYWkZ1nU2WVBaQZSJYJBuKL-uc9HtjXUQ8zkLWMvwc1J0aRKZy/s1600/8.31+Grand+Concourse+Oyster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3inODRtEd3aRMh1JGIh1hMShS1sJ7d7S2VEkBTU7xkxQsLjNWAathdksIyqROazs3RWQwe1MgQ3s-4AaTxqlctB-jvTgYWkZ1nU2WVBaQZSJYJBuKL-uc9HtjXUQ8zkLWMvwc1J0aRKZy/s200/8.31+Grand+Concourse+Oyster.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TgpZQDpq__VcoBbYKseqnzBQbeamFojnTAU-mUSN3Df8Vfm7Li72toY9Fv0ybMS3EzSykvFcBFUezxU7B5pSnnDsj5ZDdB_wOrG2m5oag-h2eMOuI9ia82bPwRRR4Ge777cUiq6-J3gk/s1600/8.31+Grand+Concourse+Station.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TgpZQDpq__VcoBbYKseqnzBQbeamFojnTAU-mUSN3Df8Vfm7Li72toY9Fv0ybMS3EzSykvFcBFUezxU7B5pSnnDsj5ZDdB_wOrG2m5oag-h2eMOuI9ia82bPwRRR4Ge777cUiq6-J3gk/s200/8.31+Grand+Concourse+Station.jpg" width="200" /></a> </div>
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The atmosphere was definitely getting our evening off to a great start. Then as we were seated at our table, were given a monster menu. After walking past the Oyster Bar my mouth was definitely watering, but Gordon's big kick on ALL his shows is always scrutinizing the SIZE of some of these menus he comes across. He always wants quality over quantity...so THAT was the first thing we noticed. So both of us opted to choose items from the Daily Special Menu (which was <b><i>only</i></b> two pages long)....that is IF our waitress would take our order...</div>
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She came to our table and asked if she could get us a few starters. DUH! Yes Please! So we ordered a lobster bisque and calamari. We had read the Grand Concourse was known for their seafood dishes so opted for some seafoody staples. We had totally finished our appetizers and several glasses of water and iced tea and lots of conversation before the waitress decided we could order our main course. Haha! We were in no rush, but the service was a little weird and not timed well... </div>
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Our main dishes were kind of odd. But the asparagus was pretty good. My salmon was pretty dry and tough. Gordon probably would have asked if it was cooked and then remicrowaved (then probably would have asked to see the chef)...I kinda think it might've been remicrowaved. Tommy got scallops, he's crazy about them. I gave them a little taste, nothing to write home about. A perfectly pan-seared scallop is to die for...these ones were kinda meh...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdRL2-rAM_eE_wC6D-r5RyHo1-Klab1yXnqX-DcEf0LGOqfP6QShUTUjLqemUnbSwdsm0uaUz291QysmVTYgmGzgdmYaQDhe0GFaDO0H39bS39AHtBCy1RvnTkozPaYrNwUgpqWlZjWqv/s1600/8.31+Grand+Concourse+Calamari.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdRL2-rAM_eE_wC6D-r5RyHo1-Klab1yXnqX-DcEf0LGOqfP6QShUTUjLqemUnbSwdsm0uaUz291QysmVTYgmGzgdmYaQDhe0GFaDO0H39bS39AHtBCy1RvnTkozPaYrNwUgpqWlZjWqv/s320/8.31+Grand+Concourse+Calamari.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Check out the rice pyramid on my plate and the sandcastle shaped rice on Tommy's...sorta weirdish. They tried. So, the Grand Concourse overall could use a total food makeover, but definitely has it going on with its history and atmosphere. Check out our view...</div>
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So my vote for the Grand Concourse is...let a few more bloggers write some mediocre foodie reviews, write Gordon Ramsey a letter about this joint, and just take your afternoon stroll through Station Square instead. Station Square rules, the food at the Grand Concourse...not so much. </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749390911541087076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1066706961692607473.post-89842315140166744342012-08-26T04:30:00.000-04:002012-08-26T04:30:00.987-04:00Water for Elephant(s)? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtGRJiCGtjaU1DIiz8mhtfmAoxVibzBwndllLEoODO-anmLX7f7bwFNFefogEH9Ig3js_qgbYWfObe0_cFn_-PsZf_LOBqQiF0wNHyv9kC6yV6SX9e_hY1QZrJuNCtMUv-B0g5V969pa3d/s1600/WaterforElephants.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtGRJiCGtjaU1DIiz8mhtfmAoxVibzBwndllLEoODO-anmLX7f7bwFNFefogEH9Ig3js_qgbYWfObe0_cFn_-PsZf_LOBqQiF0wNHyv9kC6yV6SX9e_hY1QZrJuNCtMUv-B0g5V969pa3d/s400/WaterforElephants.jpeg" width="257" /></a></div>
As usual, I'm going to go ahead and throw out my typical book review disclaimer...I'm spoiler alerting you! I have quite a few thoughts about this read that could potentially ruin the story for someone who has intentions of reading the book but hasn't yet. <br />
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But let me just preface this post by saying, I really did like this book. The author does a really beautiful job with her descriptions, but almost to the point of it taking away from where the storyline is going sometimes. I love vivid pictures, especially when we're talking about a circus and animals, but I also find myself getting frustrated with a book thats plot is hard to follow at times because we're going into so much descriptive detail (get on with the story already!). <br />
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Now I don't usually get hung up on book titles because most of the time it's fitting and make perfect sense...but "Water for Elephants" threw me off a bit. First of all, there was only one elephant in the story and second, the watering of the elephant didn't really have much to do with Marlena or Jacob. I'm not saying I could have picked a better title and I DO like elephants, but I'm just not sold on this being the best preface to what this book opens up.<br />
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It was pretty obvious from the beginning that Jacob was smitten with Marlena and he was going to fall in love with her. I just felt like sometimes the occassional, random scenes where the author was trying to get hot steamy because Jacob was on the prowl for loving...was a little awkward at times. Like when he was in the tent with all the dudes watching the stripper dancer who was FLOPPING her knockers up and down at ultra rapid speeds...WHAT?!...come on dudes...THAT WAS NOT SEXY! That was weird. I'm just picturing this gross circus lady with melons so huge they're knocking people over...Maybe I was just "over sexed" by Fifty Shades of Crap so I wasn't that interested in those parts of the story because I didn't want to go THERE again...<br />
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I did enjoy the setting of the book. I also appreciated the historical and factual accuracy of the tales being placed in an era of Prohibition/Depression. That aspect of the book was highly engaging and entertaining for me. But I'm intrigued by that kind of stuff. <br />
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NOT a fan of the Marlena/August drama. I get annoyed the nice, normal, attractive and talented woman is stuck with the sloppy, drunk, bi-polar, controlling psycho who I also imagine has one of those Circus-Master beer bellies...He has nothing going for him and he gets the girl that the other dudes want. Why does it always work out that way? And can I say the scene (or chapter I should say) where August dies is really blurry. It's like "Rosie picks up a stake and strikes August and he falls down..." Ok, I guess I'm used to Law & Order where we see the damage of the crime on TV, but I'm like "oh my gosh, is he dead, injured, split in two!?!?" It wasn't really until later when there was a comment about his death certificate that I was like "Ok. Got it. The Jerk's Dead!" <br />
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But at least at that point, since the book basically turned into a love story, Marlena & Jacob could be together without her having to cheat on her husband forever and get divorced. Rosie the Elephant (who Jacob gave water to -- and that's how the book got its title) did the dirty work and got rid of August so the true love birds could be together. I was ok with that.<br />
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I like animals. And especially zoo animals (and I REALLY love dogs)...and I think I always WANT elephants and monkeys and lions to have these tame feelings and emotions like we can communicate with them or something. So I really liked that Rosie had this relationship with Jacob & Marlena, so her August strike was like her communicating that she got it...he was an abusive piece of crap so who better to get rid of him than the elephant in the corner?! RIGHT??<br />
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I will say, when my mind is in a more alert state (like when I'm back to having normal sleep patterns and I'm not uncomfortable 24 hours a day) I would like to try to read this book again and see if I'm able to follow a plot better. Because I like the author. And she seems like she's got a respectable head on her shoulders. I mean, I appreciate any person who likes to contribute to charitable causes and is passionate enough about them to incorporate these passions into her writings. Go Sara Gruen! How about your write a book about an African Safari! I bet I'd like that!<br />
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So yes. I liked the book. I'm not going to say that I LOVED the book, but there were some things about the book I did find myself loving. So I say, read it yourself and tell me what you think! Well, obviously, if you haven't read it I've just spoiled it for you. The dude gets the girl (and the elephant and a herd of horses) and they live happily ever after-ish. So I guess if you have ALREADY READ the book...Tell me your thoughts! <br />
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Me putting the feet up lounging in my parents sun room. I call it the reading room. I love it! When I'm an official grown up and I have my adult-grown-up house I will have a reading room. And it will be grand...like a grand circus!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749390911541087076noreply@blogger.com0