tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77790811807443490212024-03-05T15:33:29.403-05:00Our Sweet Kentucky HomeJust married and just moved in, this blog serves as a place for all things DIY, design, decorating dreams and creating the perfect home and life together on our little patch of bluegrass.Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970543675221062958noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779081180744349021.post-52128441164571759302011-03-05T22:14:00.001-05:002011-03-06T19:32:17.665-05:00We Took the Plunge......and adopted two kittens!!<br />
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So for the past couple weeks Stephen and I have been seriously considering/looking for a new addition to our family unit. We spent several hours in Feeder's Supply and a general store in the next county over looking at kittens/cats. Stephen's the cat person, I'm the dog person and we would both love to have both but right now a dog just isn't feasible. So.....<br />
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We decided to compromise and got two cats!! They are two male cats 10 months-1 year that had been found on the side of the road and had been taken in by a local shelter. They were brothers and have been together since the beginning and we just couldn't separate them, so we decided to go ahead and get both.02.78]\ Speaking of the devils, one of them, just walked all over the keyboard...wow.<br />
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Here is Oso (Spanish for "bear" and also Stephen's nickname given to him by his cousins and also the name of a dog we met while we were in Guatemala. Stephen and I have both had an affinity for this name and I think it fits this cat.)<br />
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And this is Marley. We didn't really have a reason for this name, no story behind it, just one that both of us liked and agreed upon.<br />
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We've had a good time so far, they're very playful and love being held and patted. We're excited about our new additions!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhELNrzzybfx0Qr1KZyZML-QgjMhtpgJSEyak5aftq7tCQO2PJ403f1lPV2_cnICn9qxAAnI2xLK3pRXJZo70w8GbOaFiLrFG4s0xclck3yN7rt9bDH0RH6oTRSbFtzUr7Rc2feqOeMwTo/s1600/Our+Babies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhELNrzzybfx0Qr1KZyZML-QgjMhtpgJSEyak5aftq7tCQO2PJ403f1lPV2_cnICn9qxAAnI2xLK3pRXJZo70w8GbOaFiLrFG4s0xclck3yN7rt9bDH0RH6oTRSbFtzUr7Rc2feqOeMwTo/s320/Our+Babies.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970543675221062958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779081180744349021.post-60669166842449527832011-02-12T07:13:00.000-05:002011-02-12T07:13:15.075-05:00"A New Way to Save the Date" and Other Wedding Inspiration!Right now it's almost 7 o'clock.... in the morning..... on a Saturday. (ugh, I should be sleeping). But when I can't sleep I like to peruse my fellow blogger's posts. This browsing has determined the subject matter of this post! And I can't think of anything being more fitting than.... you guessed it: Wedding!<br />
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So I found this amazing STD (save the date) video on the blog <a href="http://southernbellswedding.blogspot.com/">Southern Bells</a>. I think it's super cute and really neat but I'm not sure if Stephen and I are cool enough for something like this (ha!) and I also think there are a lot of older relatives on our guest list that don't work a computer on a regular basis! Anyway, enjoy...<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="225" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/15796763" width="400"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/15796763">Lex & Loren - Engagement/Save the date!</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user3177841">Brinton Films</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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In the past week, Stephen and I have actually made some head-way in the planning process of our own wedding.<br />
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1. One of my bridesmaid dresses came in (yea, just one, go figure). I'm in love with it! We ended up selecting these beauties from David's Bridal and we were actually surprised by this. The girls also tried on some designer dresses but ultimately found the construction and quality were lacking when compared to David's. So we went with these:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AUY6-5X4PtmpxhDRl0nFBoXMooE6Qx8VR7h-s-EJYdyIQRiJSZhIATYEXH8_mzUeMwmMHB_gcIAwfyKKLLnZKO3jjI_wLtpZkmKibre94KRbd9qnAyqqRdVacnPSCElFsHhPFggksnA/s1600/bridesmaid+dress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AUY6-5X4PtmpxhDRl0nFBoXMooE6Qx8VR7h-s-EJYdyIQRiJSZhIATYEXH8_mzUeMwmMHB_gcIAwfyKKLLnZKO3jjI_wLtpZkmKibre94KRbd9qnAyqqRdVacnPSCElFsHhPFggksnA/s320/bridesmaid+dress.jpg" width="152" /></a></div>2. Stephen, my mother and I all met with a potential wedding coordinator this past Saturday to discuss literally EVERYTHING regarding the ceremony and reception decor, linens, flowers, etc... Below are some images that I have found online that coincide with that image of the wedding that I have in my head!<br />
<ul><li>I'm in L-O-V-E with kissing balls and plan to incorporate them throughout the ceremony and reception.</li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTUghbCS2QxUFHxicZQtpwseaHhN5DkYvTKK6_9FZ0rpW6HvxHbPIVE-Y0XT-alB1GmvaO1aoFuMIq0_N4oNgnztUTb7zWtw8EIxvyDN21rvRM5jhr6W2l70S5nLGimuDIC_pfpZ8j28/s1600/kissing+balls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTUghbCS2QxUFHxicZQtpwseaHhN5DkYvTKK6_9FZ0rpW6HvxHbPIVE-Y0XT-alB1GmvaO1aoFuMIq0_N4oNgnztUTb7zWtw8EIxvyDN21rvRM5jhr6W2l70S5nLGimuDIC_pfpZ8j28/s1600/kissing+balls.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I love how these are lining the isle, exactly what I picture for my own wedding but probably in blue hydrangeas.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQs2k5rX9jVwdzVNTb0HZizlRuYOc-bHtE1kFkg62977ZawBCKNz9FmJit23XwRDglITJdOSqvrmB_QjPeAy5OK5qmrPpzmRgI4l7RT_qE-flXs_AM0SDr4Gf5GgVYQdjq7rXXV-bVlE/s1600/kissing+balls2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQs2k5rX9jVwdzVNTb0HZizlRuYOc-bHtE1kFkg62977ZawBCKNz9FmJit23XwRDglITJdOSqvrmB_QjPeAy5OK5qmrPpzmRgI4l7RT_qE-flXs_AM0SDr4Gf5GgVYQdjq7rXXV-bVlE/s320/kissing+balls2.jpg" width="214" /></a></div> I'm also in love with this image and how the balls frame and drape the altar. I love this as inspiration because Stephen and my dad are planning to build an altar for our wedding. Of course the colors would be in the greens, blues and whites, but I still love this one.<br />
<ul><li>I'm loving the rustic, vintage, natural simple elegant decor options like mason jars, vintage china, blue hydrangeas, etc...</li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbDt_QhbpLbs09vM8lVkR_i_ff72SyX3gt5r2egcGKTxhq035VFdWtjSABAN0HbUsbqUikNNcRS2sJ9sSg0jTMQYoqR9jj7WuMN3N5qV_hI8bMWoTODqug500DgudCCccV598sZw05G8/s1600/mason+jar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbDt_QhbpLbs09vM8lVkR_i_ff72SyX3gt5r2egcGKTxhq035VFdWtjSABAN0HbUsbqUikNNcRS2sJ9sSg0jTMQYoqR9jj7WuMN3N5qV_hI8bMWoTODqug500DgudCCccV598sZw05G8/s1600/mason+jar.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vEPV1LfDjA2vdvmzp4Y6eHkIQhNxF_v8PYoyP-HD3wv7UtFo2U2ufd4_Hxq340r9pNuSYD_xfgyo5Ic0eKuF_N_aOjd2ls732VFpq8iN-8ohjSyFV1xNpAX2s-2V3FEyeGoYYQWDzgk/s1600/centerpiece.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vEPV1LfDjA2vdvmzp4Y6eHkIQhNxF_v8PYoyP-HD3wv7UtFo2U2ufd4_Hxq340r9pNuSYD_xfgyo5Ic0eKuF_N_aOjd2ls732VFpq8iN-8ohjSyFV1xNpAX2s-2V3FEyeGoYYQWDzgk/s1600/centerpiece.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjkLGXsmMnr3e7vb5RTU05Ib63f4Zad27opE2J_Ct_He02pqHvb5RTJJFApXa1_LcugmFt2-S_tR0D6ojYFGVf709aOxPHF25YCgpQ5-y4XqZcDbhurPz3VZ7xwkyO5Q3ur2vsnEoWIdo/s1600/flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjkLGXsmMnr3e7vb5RTU05Ib63f4Zad27opE2J_Ct_He02pqHvb5RTJJFApXa1_LcugmFt2-S_tR0D6ojYFGVf709aOxPHF25YCgpQ5-y4XqZcDbhurPz3VZ7xwkyO5Q3ur2vsnEoWIdo/s1600/flowers.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-pytTjZ1v_ZRFNUJeoPsQi0U-Zm-m25Xml4CoZdXuiEA7UQTxfCI99driwEQSC5190xHtUE7k5bDyM7xd175qoG1s3fPTZpwDDDJRVd58lcNjElyrMQt7bmMcwYhq_2jwc2EX0AQKlc/s1600/plates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-pytTjZ1v_ZRFNUJeoPsQi0U-Zm-m25Xml4CoZdXuiEA7UQTxfCI99driwEQSC5190xHtUE7k5bDyM7xd175qoG1s3fPTZpwDDDJRVd58lcNjElyrMQt7bmMcwYhq_2jwc2EX0AQKlc/s1600/plates.jpg" /></a></div>3. One idea that I'm playing with is using a patterned, fabric runner. I saw it used in a magazine with a gray and yellow color scheme and thought it was beautiful. I'm still toying with this idea, fabric by the yard can get pretty expensive! I think something with a lighter print would be gorgeous as it would not take away from the ceremony but would be something different. I found this print online, (I have yet to actually scour fabric stores for actual possibilities).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIt3Icw46pNhj-jgh4X6sqCQfhoypnCHhZ3lQAq_EX_aR8FzPfb3uiEJJVArz1sVCUf6Ogzpj9tsfBkk7Kd4lJhMCemiZYpKKxc6VXo4vlZVbOHHU1pvF2NljSLZ2zwho1rAmHH2uJjg/s1600/fabric.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIt3Icw46pNhj-jgh4X6sqCQfhoypnCHhZ3lQAq_EX_aR8FzPfb3uiEJJVArz1sVCUf6Ogzpj9tsfBkk7Kd4lJhMCemiZYpKKxc6VXo4vlZVbOHHU1pvF2NljSLZ2zwho1rAmHH2uJjg/s320/fabric.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
4. We also met with a potential caterer this past Wednesday. I think he's the one seeing as how he and Stephen's dad spent a large part of the night reminiscing about their old home-town New York and everything New York! It doesn't hurt that the food was delicious either!<br />
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5. Finally, we've spoken with two separate photobooth companies. I'm still toying with this idea also, but everyone who has had one or has been to a wedding that has one has said that everyone loved it.<br />
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So that's about it on this early Saturday morning! If anyone has any suggestions or tips about any of the ideas I've talked about I'd love to hear 'em!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970543675221062958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779081180744349021.post-52023898100953320842011-01-28T15:47:00.000-05:002011-01-28T15:47:16.123-05:00Wedding Catch-upIt's so hard to believe that Chicken Butt and I still have 8 more months until our wedding. I feel like we've been engaged forever and that it's gonna be forever before October gets here. I guess that's what I get for A) wanting a fall wedding, B) wanting to wait until I graduated grad school and C) wanting to wait until I had been working for a while...<br />
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Anyway, since it seems like we still have FOREVER, we've been taking the planning slowly. I thought I would catch you up on what we've done/perused recently.<br />
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I guess the biggest thing is...I said YES TO MY DRESS! My mom and I went out shopping, once I could finally wrap my head around shopping for a wedding dress. It was a great experience but I did regret not being able to include my MOH and BM since they were both out of town for grad school. Anyway I can't wait to wear it and take pics to show everyone, just 8 more months (still seems like forever).<br />
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There were some things that surprised me about my choice and it really wasn't what I had in mind at all, but it was beautiful and looked amazing and ultimately I think it fits the image I'm dreaming of. Initially I had thought of something like this:<br />
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But I ultimately when with a fuller skirt with an ivory material. I tried on a couple dresses like the one above but it didn't really feel formal enough to be a wedding dress. I wanted something elegant, romantic, timeless, and I loved the lace and femininity in this dress. I think I ended up with all that and more in the one I actually chose though, so I'm happy.<br />
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Secondly, I've been perusing wedding invitations. I've pretty much just been looking at <a href="http://weddingpaperdivas.com/">WeddingPaperDivas.com</a> because basically, I don't really know of any other reputable sites (anyone have any suggestions?) These are some of my favorites (today at least).<br />
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It's all coming together slowly but surely (more slowly than surely really haha). Hope everyone has a good weekend!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970543675221062958noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779081180744349021.post-81509923409453465302011-01-12T10:55:00.001-05:002011-01-12T11:00:46.588-05:00True Confession Thursday (on a Wednesday): I'm an impulse buyer!The truth is I'm the type of person that will buy something I like on an impulse (TJ Maxx and Target being my greatest downfalls) or I'll dwell on something and talk myself out of it...and then go buy it the next day when I've regained me senses and talked myself back into buying it! I truly overanalyze everything.<br />
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Well, my most recent impulse buy has been the Scentsy flameless fragrant system. I recently had only first heard about these products from my aunt and cousin on Christmas Eve. It sounded interesting but really, aren't all candle warmers the same?<br />
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I now know different! While we were staying in Alamogordo, NM with some of Stephen's family, I noticed, for several days in fact, a fragrance that permeated throughout the entire house. I was so confused because the scent was so strong for the entire day. I literally thought someone was spraying cologne continuously because the fragrance was that strong.<br />
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Then at dinner one night I noticed it. Sitting on the kitchen counter, looking rather inconspicuous but intriguing. There it was...a full size warmer. I immediately thought I had made the connection. So I asked the woman of the house if it was in deed what I had decided it to be. Alas, I was correct (hell, I should be a detective). Anyway she said yep it was Scentsy and her oldest daughter had outfitted her with the warmer and a dozen or so blocks of the scent. She pulled the bag down full of the scent bricks and I was immediately smitten. The bright colors and the creative names of the fragrances had me immediately thinking, "I need a computer with internet to order this stuff." So there's my first impulsive behavior, I literally would have purchased this stuff that night had a computer been available to me.<br />
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Then, she whipped out (drum roll please....) the catalog. I perused that catalog several times, dreaming about what warmer I would buy and what scents I would purchase.<br />
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All this went down probably last Wednesday or Thursday. We left Alamogordo on Sunday morning and when we arrived at our hotel in Albuquerque on Sunday afternoon, guess what... We got the wireless from the hotel and I got online and got my own Scentsy collection before we had even finished unpacking!<br />
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Here are my buys:<br />
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The warmer: Scentsy has a fabulous collection of warmers, surely something for everyone. Initially, Stephen and I decided we wanted this beauty:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojJzJqxVkXdN01ANp8lng1DHse-QE_sWJHDzypV_q4gFCWKZEAOqrdMxSq2L_O2QOow4E1Z3N6OHJJoOom8QvPOUKdlKgBTIMX-CQHOUJwX2tsH0_1VCbRaH0-AArP0Z1afJhXyLPosE/s1600/ScentsyMilano.Jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojJzJqxVkXdN01ANp8lng1DHse-QE_sWJHDzypV_q4gFCWKZEAOqrdMxSq2L_O2QOow4E1Z3N6OHJJoOom8QvPOUKdlKgBTIMX-CQHOUJwX2tsH0_1VCbRaH0-AArP0Z1afJhXyLPosE/s1600/ScentsyMilano.Jpg" /></a></div> But when I found this one, name Socorro, I decided it had to be fate and I was sold. You see Socorro is a small town somewhere between Albuquerque and Alamogordo where we stopped for lunch on our way down to Alamogordo. I had to get it as a reminder of this trip!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFsG7TVbSFhha8zTif3q8XEMNd5Fu9bQKz2oHdWSRXhrlBw8wN9ggMLHA3DePaMleKKj3qqhEP-BzV5H5IP9qcBHhOh4rm-LPiouwvqCGrBWNZ0nh0g_r5O0_izgXitkZ4PtkymWviK4/s1600/ScentsySocorro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFsG7TVbSFhha8zTif3q8XEMNd5Fu9bQKz2oHdWSRXhrlBw8wN9ggMLHA3DePaMleKKj3qqhEP-BzV5H5IP9qcBHhOh4rm-LPiouwvqCGrBWNZ0nh0g_r5O0_izgXitkZ4PtkymWviK4/s1600/ScentsySocorro.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Essentially, the "warmer" is a base with a dish on top. Within the base houses a light bulb. You can see the glow from the bulb somewhat in the image above. Anyway there is a cord on the back of the warmer that attaches to an outlet and ultimately powers the lightbulb. You place the scentsy bars/bricks in the dish. The heat from the lightbulb melts the bars and the scent fills up the space. It's pure pleasure! <br />
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Now to possibly the hardest part... deciding on the scents.<br />
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Scentsy has several money-saving combination packs. Generally the warmers are $30 and each scent block is $5. Well I purchased a combination pack that gave you one warmer and 3 scent blocks, which added up to a $5 dollar savings. Sign me up!<br />
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So I had to pick out 3 scents. This truly is difficult as they have (I'm not exaggerating) dozens of scents. They try to make the decision easier by grouping the scents into categories:<br />
<ul><li>Newborn Nursery Collection</li>
<li>Bakery Collection (includes all the yummy cakes and cookies and pies)</li>
<li>Fall and Winter Collection (always a favorite of mine)</li>
<li>Romance Collection</li>
<li>Scentsy Cafe Collection</li>
<li>Scentsy Man Collection (smells like your husband's favorite cologne)</li>
<li> Spa Collection </li>
<li>Tropical Collection</li>
</ul>I couldn't decide on just three so I bought another combination pack (buy 3 blocks for $14 a savings of $1)<br />
Here's what I ultimately decided on:<br />
<br />
1.) Vanilla Oak: <span style="font-family: MrEavesXLSanOT-Reg;"><span style="font-family: MrEavesXLSanOT-Reg;">Simple and classic blend of smooth French vanilla and woody oak</span></span> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mR4m8xoUSfhnZeYJAs2ouAfhFr-gumX2mVJwcKJTk9_D65-LJDD8mEeXouxjpnJ1ZilP7D1GkpmxdTEgpNvDZrcJsmR7nz13aIYSzF_WOZwhtiE9zCH394hOGtzH0WyLCRYwGdRs9zM/s1600/scentsybar1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mR4m8xoUSfhnZeYJAs2ouAfhFr-gumX2mVJwcKJTk9_D65-LJDD8mEeXouxjpnJ1ZilP7D1GkpmxdTEgpNvDZrcJsmR7nz13aIYSzF_WOZwhtiE9zCH394hOGtzH0WyLCRYwGdRs9zM/s1600/scentsybar1.jpg" /></a></div> 2. Flirtatious: Fruity and vibrant, a combination of green apple, grapefruit, and white amber. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuAmlzBhNM_ZBish4aWxFuW0vVk9mGIWWyjfdGril9JBkGlH9l5gjN7ad7u9dpKrZkGKs_erWhwc-mIzioy6ozUC90WyFmEtUCnzsL7KXattd-S_Ck3v5ZYANKO9fBXTLP24NQf0GYhec/s1600/scentsybar2.Jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuAmlzBhNM_ZBish4aWxFuW0vVk9mGIWWyjfdGril9JBkGlH9l5gjN7ad7u9dpKrZkGKs_erWhwc-mIzioy6ozUC90WyFmEtUCnzsL7KXattd-S_Ck3v5ZYANKO9fBXTLP24NQf0GYhec/s1600/scentsybar2.Jpg" /></a></div> 3. Echo: Sophisticated, metropolitan fragrance of manly spice notes, Mediterranean citrus and herbs, and bitter orange.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4lmW1OHD1QpGqaolwYQWiUS7XkedTDYU-WQE01TNiuFMtQqHscAsJMTIt0e-y0Jo5J_PnP3WYhCcRsyyZZqt-F0U_UOvKTcSp6cg1zSo1XnaG5Wsf8IZIn_sDDqQScsPAj2l7tkoVKo/s1600/scentsybar3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4lmW1OHD1QpGqaolwYQWiUS7XkedTDYU-WQE01TNiuFMtQqHscAsJMTIt0e-y0Jo5J_PnP3WYhCcRsyyZZqt-F0U_UOvKTcSp6cg1zSo1XnaG5Wsf8IZIn_sDDqQScsPAj2l7tkoVKo/s1600/scentsybar3.jpg" /></a></div> 4. White Sands: Night-blooming jasmine softened by coconut milk and rice, enveloped in the gentlest breeze. This purchase was another homage to our current trip as we visited the White Sands National Park! I couldn't pass it up: White Sands fragrance in a Socorro warmer....what a great method for commemorating our trip.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLAQP5Egzj5fBNhLAq0NMKSdckeAE1UrgOLk12HTytpn2j4g783MaCOBv2R9ceLnmeJ3PmsG3xecll40LPzZM-3HVqLaYa8rwqgIVD5_Dxt01r2XLbCQSOlqxnxiowzCcl9wfTWkCusoM/s1600/scentsybar4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLAQP5Egzj5fBNhLAq0NMKSdckeAE1UrgOLk12HTytpn2j4g783MaCOBv2R9ceLnmeJ3PmsG3xecll40LPzZM-3HVqLaYa8rwqgIVD5_Dxt01r2XLbCQSOlqxnxiowzCcl9wfTWkCusoM/s1600/scentsybar4.jpg" /></a></div> 5. Cranberry Mango: A mélange of tropical mango, cozy cranberry and spicy pineapple<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnNygtEZPUd9qvaLw9tSmRh5oWKcffeQ2hYRI9prypbU76dXkCHlB-mqtgZ3EXt4f-Gj1maymKiwKONIGulGXQQXlRpTRNBGoE6bVROFuH-MQwtA8-ufKRMfaqMExeuDxvOWT4YqTj1VU/s1600/scentsybar5.Jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnNygtEZPUd9qvaLw9tSmRh5oWKcffeQ2hYRI9prypbU76dXkCHlB-mqtgZ3EXt4f-Gj1maymKiwKONIGulGXQQXlRpTRNBGoE6bVROFuH-MQwtA8-ufKRMfaqMExeuDxvOWT4YqTj1VU/s1600/scentsybar5.Jpg" /></a></div><br />
Sadly, I can't remember the 6th scent! I've been perusing their site and everything looks delicious and I just can't remember which I would have chosen.<br />
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Anyway, all of the scent names and descriptions come straight from their website <a href="http://www.scentsy.net/en-us/product-gallery.aspx">here</a>.<br />
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I ordered my system on Sunday and my mom called to tell me yesterday (Tuesday) that it had arrived! Talk about fast turn-around. I'm super excited to get home and give it a try!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970543675221062958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779081180744349021.post-55556793625884864522011-01-11T22:17:00.000-05:002011-01-11T22:17:38.286-05:00What you don't know....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> ....just gives you an excuse to learn more!<br />
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I've learned a lot about New Mexico while on our little trip. I thought I'd share some of the state's oddities (or at least what I found to be odd) with you on this cold Tuesday evening.<br />
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1. New Mexico has some pretty freaking awesome geography!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><ul><li>There are mountains literally everywhere. They really frame out the landscape and make long drives across the state no so boring. </li>
<li>There are "lava fields" in the middle of the southern part of the state. When you're driving you can see the ground is darker for miles and it's lava that has cooled (obviously) thousands of years ago but still remains in the area.</li>
</ul><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCiZF-kfCGRfrgA6m-1TPspPjwBRQbQQusNnlQh-bl8jC5U5XPFDiBcOZE7OU47JeIeISwEitxw7thKPtDkXonQbYqvUOC_Apbm2gW5Y7qkInoAl1SgBu2DeCHKXEq-BqFiKu9l2QjFk/s1600/valley+of+fire.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCiZF-kfCGRfrgA6m-1TPspPjwBRQbQQusNnlQh-bl8jC5U5XPFDiBcOZE7OU47JeIeISwEitxw7thKPtDkXonQbYqvUOC_Apbm2gW5Y7qkInoAl1SgBu2DeCHKXEq-BqFiKu9l2QjFk/s320/valley+of+fire.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">You can see the lava formation in this pic just to (you're) left of the pavilion.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRARvxRtBm6jpJWc_6Nw9r21OT1g81b_qcqnD9Zi-AyxlZZocQCHCK_TQqQh-i3oO3ERCr-Ghrn0_0wCmj8DgQjOTR0cSITwdCl_M5yrVOOiaXZ3aAQSMURDzp-eQYSO0BHwRcC-4bf8/s1600/valley+of+fire2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRARvxRtBm6jpJWc_6Nw9r21OT1g81b_qcqnD9Zi-AyxlZZocQCHCK_TQqQh-i3oO3ERCr-Ghrn0_0wCmj8DgQjOTR0cSITwdCl_M5yrVOOiaXZ3aAQSMURDzp-eQYSO0BHwRcC-4bf8/s320/valley+of+fire2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The darkness in the image to the right is the black cooled lava.</span> </div><ul><li>The white sands I mentioned in the last post. It's just crazy, I really need to figure out why and how they are there, it's just too crazy. Miles upon miles of clear white sand in the middle of the desert at the base of the mountains. It all just makes me only imagine what New Mexico's natural history must have been like.</li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvp10LgzIrMDYbu1ZoOtdNahlwofodvSVphO3Xm0qKjUheQG9fGw-kBWWojcKLPIkxeP1p0HBmYLoVq0VtDpvbkeIVVWqIy9O9YEVCmJpomqlM-dUPNXm90ZppdIfzb2-q1hXU1uCjG6c/s1600/White_sands_national_monument_dune.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvp10LgzIrMDYbu1ZoOtdNahlwofodvSVphO3Xm0qKjUheQG9fGw-kBWWojcKLPIkxeP1p0HBmYLoVq0VtDpvbkeIVVWqIy9O9YEVCmJpomqlM-dUPNXm90ZppdIfzb2-q1hXU1uCjG6c/s320/White_sands_national_monument_dune.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
2. There are "trading posts" everywhere. These places are basically just hole-in-the-wall joints that sell various antique and new turquoise and sterling silver jewelry. Turquoise is big here. And I couldn't resist. I have to admit I did pick up a turquoise ring and a pair of earrings I'm proud of! I was told the earrings were Zuni (a local Native American tribe). I'm just going to go on and believe that I was told the truth about the jewelry! Honestly though, the jewelry is amazing, I just hope that I can integrate these pieces into my mid-east wardrobe.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7AiFgbEe5n_ABlKJOO4Fk-JQji-x1Y7ftWYofU1Zy6uWwiJ_Vzkzm3t120ww9FthIi1auG9RsjxhCvFHQsOwjDPzDQ5C8fCpi78m9wsiJZVDKjGsQvaZBAG1kvGxI1BpPJdV9_-UoDQ/s1600/zuni-petitpoint-turquoise-earrings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7AiFgbEe5n_ABlKJOO4Fk-JQji-x1Y7ftWYofU1Zy6uWwiJ_Vzkzm3t120ww9FthIi1auG9RsjxhCvFHQsOwjDPzDQ5C8fCpi78m9wsiJZVDKjGsQvaZBAG1kvGxI1BpPJdV9_-UoDQ/s1600/zuni-petitpoint-turquoise-earrings.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This was a popular style I saw throughout the various shops.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPAhoQ9WAkHy0eEmOXReSpBKsAlx1pYo8XaP1uOuqCYdBAGh5uKiYexti6FTDzbVa4vwVuQcHxD3SMfWRngepNlPI6AwdHD3Y-LPyjVoY6_e7Y_AvJVAqgiMwnEm_ERQ2Za30PCFIJ9Mg/s1600/zuni+ring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPAhoQ9WAkHy0eEmOXReSpBKsAlx1pYo8XaP1uOuqCYdBAGh5uKiYexti6FTDzbVa4vwVuQcHxD3SMfWRngepNlPI6AwdHD3Y-LPyjVoY6_e7Y_AvJVAqgiMwnEm_ERQ2Za30PCFIJ9Mg/s320/zuni+ring.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The ring I bought was similar (and I say that VERY loosely) as it had a single large turquoise stone with some ridging around the edges. The ridging on mine isn't as pronounced. I loved the visual impact and the size of the stone.</span></div><br />
3. There are random picnic tables on the side of the road, all over. These tables are hilarious and just pop out of the shoulder of the road all over. I don't know who would want to pull over in the middle of the desert for a picnic, but I guess if the moment strikes...it's there.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tjBOa3xcdiF6qHRyHJ37tv-X5TdH5JLvWdg-lItZ0pJcgbpFQHrzuPEx6YVe4c-6CqR7RHjRwmDOK-18yeruxjkGTMZhgCObNtCpSvbd39B-fmudZATLkZRFTERW0E_60m1Rx1-AZno/s1600/picnic+table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tjBOa3xcdiF6qHRyHJ37tv-X5TdH5JLvWdg-lItZ0pJcgbpFQHrzuPEx6YVe4c-6CqR7RHjRwmDOK-18yeruxjkGTMZhgCObNtCpSvbd39B-fmudZATLkZRFTERW0E_60m1Rx1-AZno/s320/picnic+table.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
4. It gets cold! And I mean like, grab a coat, get a scarf, brrrr it's cold! Granted it's January but it's also the Southwest and when I think Southwest I think hot, adobe buildings and the burning sun and the desert. Not jackets and chilling winds. And so far, everyday we've been in Albuquerque (which is further north) there have been school closings for snow fall! I was floored!<br />
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Well, that's all I got right now. I hope you have enjoyed reading about our southwest adventures as much as we've had.Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970543675221062958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779081180744349021.post-84300739265816361242011-01-10T20:29:00.001-05:002011-01-10T20:39:20.425-05:00So.....We went West!Mr. Chicken Butt and I are enjoying our time here in the Southwest. I thought I would update you with some of the pics we've been taking (mostly on the road, and all are with his Blackberry as I didn't bring a connecting cable for my camera). The scenery out here is gorgeous and really differs from what we're used to back in the mid-eastern part of the country. I hope you enjoy!<br />
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These first pics are pictures we took road-tripping from Albuquerque to Alamogordo (or vice-versa) as we randomly stopped on the side of the road.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILsVuvL4KghjoI8tCT2XXRcwr7nu5zbI9I5VIpLykUJF4oQyMsm40oKftaN09twoA-_-j2RuHPXC5ZF3DLuLDaJf2vxGIs0aXaRfYuLcuqip6NjyTNtKvaYgGpZ69aSypvB0__rXlG80/s1600/Stephen%2527s+RoadTripping+Pic%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILsVuvL4KghjoI8tCT2XXRcwr7nu5zbI9I5VIpLykUJF4oQyMsm40oKftaN09twoA-_-j2RuHPXC5ZF3DLuLDaJf2vxGIs0aXaRfYuLcuqip6NjyTNtKvaYgGpZ69aSypvB0__rXlG80/s320/Stephen%2527s+RoadTripping+Pic%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGdMP2qm3PtC7yguWoESKZsxQbDmZYvvEnEiRLGPPbysVUPlfMxcNs2F5IUPLmEjV2o-QIp72gOusAd0aDyOspBkUSjjibwM6__mmumY70CCGpwgLqXzDEwc6Opczgw-O28mSbVsYfU8/s1600/Stephen%2527s+RoadTripping+Pic1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGdMP2qm3PtC7yguWoESKZsxQbDmZYvvEnEiRLGPPbysVUPlfMxcNs2F5IUPLmEjV2o-QIp72gOusAd0aDyOspBkUSjjibwM6__mmumY70CCGpwgLqXzDEwc6Opczgw-O28mSbVsYfU8/s320/Stephen%2527s+RoadTripping+Pic1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGPeT3KsY1_MP05g7BJwSDAdVzIxND371cfzLej6YV5cWo5xb9btI4gJpJCwqmgYaQeITQ4uu-TV6XKGv23xxfu0HQysiHf_sYG8GLNrKq9ia05nv_9b6QVyqul7ey7iLqgpD8PhwWTns/s1600/Stephens+RoadTripping+Pic3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGPeT3KsY1_MP05g7BJwSDAdVzIxND371cfzLej6YV5cWo5xb9btI4gJpJCwqmgYaQeITQ4uu-TV6XKGv23xxfu0HQysiHf_sYG8GLNrKq9ia05nv_9b6QVyqul7ey7iLqgpD8PhwWTns/s320/Stephens+RoadTripping+Pic3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
While in Alamogordo we visited the White Sands Missile Range. There's literally miles upon miles of gorgeous white sands at the base of the mountains and sand dunes 20 ft + tall! It really looks like snow once you get deep into the range and away from the vegetation!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nAu6-LghUQNhkXkc4BxtmGD8lJ1UTf-52XHg0Za19Kv0vB8zBThvb4E9K7be_j546E3by4HFmcmaSgHpHqhPLHVQeitqcTxsV6YvL_nW0yaHT-vXVrz2KJwugqzjwJ7N0_3nRIiDGEQ/s1600/dunes4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nAu6-LghUQNhkXkc4BxtmGD8lJ1UTf-52XHg0Za19Kv0vB8zBThvb4E9K7be_j546E3by4HFmcmaSgHpHqhPLHVQeitqcTxsV6YvL_nW0yaHT-vXVrz2KJwugqzjwJ7N0_3nRIiDGEQ/s320/dunes4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpLUK6RuDjzv79LWSKs6FYGmYwDmkzPhHF0aaybt5hC3T3AwDKKo2Xj9wDQSymw8Nfz13Pg_wm3Uuq81ZqiUA8iokKY9T0eIRCgtPVeakXekrbhwXq9jKSSVyyW5YLNBjBc4dfrWp0Hk/s1600/Dunes%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpLUK6RuDjzv79LWSKs6FYGmYwDmkzPhHF0aaybt5hC3T3AwDKKo2Xj9wDQSymw8Nfz13Pg_wm3Uuq81ZqiUA8iokKY9T0eIRCgtPVeakXekrbhwXq9jKSSVyyW5YLNBjBc4dfrWp0Hk/s320/Dunes%25281%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Isn't it beautiful</span>?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqOe7n8WvHAvsHovTxkViFe_9H0igE-0KBBR_BZZmSAgD7hlgKBmyJeCQQ0HSXp4pZWoEhXMC6PhYrBE008z99plL1DxAYm_IjlVjYW7UtzdZ5ulkUCb1OBSuMSk-l3WeTeasvaMKVW8/s1600/Dunes%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqOe7n8WvHAvsHovTxkViFe_9H0igE-0KBBR_BZZmSAgD7hlgKBmyJeCQQ0HSXp4pZWoEhXMC6PhYrBE008z99plL1DxAYm_IjlVjYW7UtzdZ5ulkUCb1OBSuMSk-l3WeTeasvaMKVW8/s320/Dunes%25285%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">The Visitor's Center at the Entry of the Park</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdm7oZkNYPFWx-JglwkWtuMueMHk4C2XBKWauCKTiagHoR6dm4LcWJa2W84Xt7MpqKwWdMmvfEAneS9M67I8hPVGJI-6Nljnk5jOEz8PkMw0nFsfsVCBWD09GG0cneHDkHdobCEQoCLIk/s1600/Dunes2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdm7oZkNYPFWx-JglwkWtuMueMHk4C2XBKWauCKTiagHoR6dm4LcWJa2W84Xt7MpqKwWdMmvfEAneS9M67I8hPVGJI-6Nljnk5jOEz8PkMw0nFsfsVCBWD09GG0cneHDkHdobCEQoCLIk/s320/Dunes2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFl00IAuWVTLDSkVa4yXijwhIJk1qYpqSa1P8XtBDXieXC8UbNKjiWGSwNip-YX21acu1TXiA_euktk77SQn0VP701jNrxBRBtk73qOEUSdF-MA9I7mccN1wImv-YS5UwWhyphenhyphenMpGT7Gk0Y/s1600/Dunes3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFl00IAuWVTLDSkVa4yXijwhIJk1qYpqSa1P8XtBDXieXC8UbNKjiWGSwNip-YX21acu1TXiA_euktk77SQn0VP701jNrxBRBtk73qOEUSdF-MA9I7mccN1wImv-YS5UwWhyphenhyphenMpGT7Gk0Y/s320/Dunes3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
While in New Mexico we stayed with some of Stephen's family. They lived right at the base of some mountains and were just a short walk from a great public walking path. I walked the path one afternoon and thought it was beautiful and convinced Stephen to walk with me the next morning!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZIcudufS9ESsTjMWjwj5U1E_BhWEB_-TGz9-7NABDwfeL2-z-mIBMwvZSpWigIwbNCvH_y-gorGwDjWdW2JSNvA_eUcy8UQnnSSNkqhFk17dk1eZ_nu_aKGERhDgtiz8r5gcHNlGiIU/s1600/park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZIcudufS9ESsTjMWjwj5U1E_BhWEB_-TGz9-7NABDwfeL2-z-mIBMwvZSpWigIwbNCvH_y-gorGwDjWdW2JSNvA_eUcy8UQnnSSNkqhFk17dk1eZ_nu_aKGERhDgtiz8r5gcHNlGiIU/s320/park.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">This is a view of Alamogordo (and part of the walking path) from right at the base of the mountain range. You can barely see the mountains on the other side of the city. Alamogordo is actually in a basin, surrounded by mountains.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinlvLBx8fyAl2p9OKoM9jMcY_hz0JSH7FDcn1MhUsTlt3-SZmFSwXiBAyQh5IHlLX4cr3XMjfHVaNoGlq6OrYGhabRyHHBviGC5uTGiVZrHeHbOFlIUgcRgi0WsRG81q-Vim7zeOmSqo/s1600/me%2528%2521%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinlvLBx8fyAl2p9OKoM9jMcY_hz0JSH7FDcn1MhUsTlt3-SZmFSwXiBAyQh5IHlLX4cr3XMjfHVaNoGlq6OrYGhabRyHHBviGC5uTGiVZrHeHbOFlIUgcRgi0WsRG81q-Vim7zeOmSqo/s320/me%2528%2521%2529.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><br />
One day we took a drive up into the mountains and visited the quaint little town of Cloudcroft. The next couple pics were taken at a scenic point overlooking all of the Tularosa Basin. Alamogordo is just out of sight to the left of the mountains in the pic.<br />
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We've had a great time thus far. I'll keep you posted as we've begun our adventure in Albuquerque.Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970543675221062958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779081180744349021.post-81202883198116774752010-12-31T08:54:00.001-05:002010-12-31T09:13:56.095-05:00December in PhotosOk, it's true that when the Holidays roll around, the time between Thanksgiving and NYE is choc full of family get togethers, friend reunions and memorable moments all worthy of capturing with a photo. It's also true that I've yet to upload and print those photos (eeek), which is surprising because I absolutely love taking, picking out and printing all those photos and finding places to put them!<br />
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So here we go, December in Photos....<br />
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Engagement Photos: <br />
To be honest, these photos were actually taken in October but we got the disc and finally printed them in December, so needless to say we've spent several hours combing through them and picking out our favorites. Below are some of my favorites (really I could've added a dozen or so more). We were very pleased with All Angles Photography, enjoy!<br />
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Graduation<br />
On December 15th I finally graduated with my Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree! It's been a rough five and a half years but totally worth it. Currently I'm in the midst of job hunting.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_xjsW08q_0MEFysgZtXLtm98f8Wifqc0s7wajRTomHGNuDIjh0s_s6LMPSfNU3JvgIQvzSRkbx7SFpzcO2gLGex7wnt8ncnWZCpJxbhRr8Ub5_RGAu9MjOwH0snllgfo5ROJHm7y8eI/s1600/100_1059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_xjsW08q_0MEFysgZtXLtm98f8Wifqc0s7wajRTomHGNuDIjh0s_s6LMPSfNU3JvgIQvzSRkbx7SFpzcO2gLGex7wnt8ncnWZCpJxbhRr8Ub5_RGAu9MjOwH0snllgfo5ROJHm7y8eI/s320/100_1059.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">My immediate family just after the ceremony.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGN4C-Fcva5tvAiglxwUo0z-9YnM6f01USar4yB_dSBl1zri3LHMFeWWN15rHkeyoN7MU0PLKonrBeiFa4m4dN6eckx9OBpNfjemkRmvsjftgu0d_d2Ey_N_UCBFLYPngNPepB_qk_eY/s1600/100_1061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGN4C-Fcva5tvAiglxwUo0z-9YnM6f01USar4yB_dSBl1zri3LHMFeWWN15rHkeyoN7MU0PLKonrBeiFa4m4dN6eckx9OBpNfjemkRmvsjftgu0d_d2Ey_N_UCBFLYPngNPepB_qk_eY/s320/100_1061.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Stephen and I just after the ceremony.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQbL3mI6hJqBuRoWTY1Fwzp7mvioWuD456AnQeeTsOEgGhBFqLC4RpakwTNOwrLL-9CkxeyPDvkKGCvg_C7SvGpMQYUMYhgHYHVm2llf6YYjo0YgY4z8Iv_UqV1-Xr1c54irqrqxcr84/s1600/PC151483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQbL3mI6hJqBuRoWTY1Fwzp7mvioWuD456AnQeeTsOEgGhBFqLC4RpakwTNOwrLL-9CkxeyPDvkKGCvg_C7SvGpMQYUMYhgHYHVm2llf6YYjo0YgY4z8Iv_UqV1-Xr1c54irqrqxcr84/s320/PC151483.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">After the ceremony we went to a local restaurant in the Highlands area near my school. It was fabulous having all my family and future in-laws at the restaurant celebrating the occasion.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Graduation Party</div><div style="text-align: left;">On the Friday after I graduated, Stephen graciously hosted a party with all our family and friends to celebrate my graduation. we had a blast.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIciUUTcDg40kwFHQiDwo-JdMjZXjfuIpb0H-VxmmiUlFj-avMgjWfOezHPDi-83fGgxU0FuzF6leN7DQqcrC1g4g-IiXIZYSIRc83dPicD1b5bW5XSLLYpjwMcx-8_6cIme6r1OWvu0A/s1600/PC171487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIciUUTcDg40kwFHQiDwo-JdMjZXjfuIpb0H-VxmmiUlFj-avMgjWfOezHPDi-83fGgxU0FuzF6leN7DQqcrC1g4g-IiXIZYSIRc83dPicD1b5bW5XSLLYpjwMcx-8_6cIme6r1OWvu0A/s320/PC171487.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">My two best gals, at the party!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The graduation festivities continued with my new colleagues (former classmates) at a local entertainment area.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy99WGPbCeBOKBWvCaZLU2GM3EoPpu7RyvH8MmVJVb8HXkkdm-8rRoAmluxVT_PupkSRfez9UiYF2VBR8gRFy37u0k2k2WfzVcIQGv5KtU1jB2o43r9OT0hStbbgTR4PUe79Rd_mbpqHs/s1600/threesomesaddleridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy99WGPbCeBOKBWvCaZLU2GM3EoPpu7RyvH8MmVJVb8HXkkdm-8rRoAmluxVT_PupkSRfez9UiYF2VBR8gRFy37u0k2k2WfzVcIQGv5KtU1jB2o43r9OT0hStbbgTR4PUe79Rd_mbpqHs/s320/threesomesaddleridge.jpg" width="278" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Once again, my two best gals!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlaY3T7KQhgjrwKxnPAWokdDCJArl4TQ7LTMkfB4zzfuAB0bPI7xK6MT-xnV4AIBjkoiUI2qYG3VzsSmLNj7kFXdOlFtGbPR6kl64Jpvr3_2K4Ikr4hmyidMFLHPqD856bLyZlwzI-5cw/s1600/4th+street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlaY3T7KQhgjrwKxnPAWokdDCJArl4TQ7LTMkfB4zzfuAB0bPI7xK6MT-xnV4AIBjkoiUI2qYG3VzsSmLNj7kFXdOlFtGbPR6kl64Jpvr3_2K4Ikr4hmyidMFLHPqD856bLyZlwzI-5cw/s320/4th+street.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span>My MOH and I about to enjoy a celebratory toast!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">On the Monday before we graduated, the officers of my class put together a class dinner, or opportunity for everyone to get together in a social setting one last time before walking the stage.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszrCwQeWgRQ-MFA588GczBnmypQAdQK2gNnwPntZlw2UIvCTqSdLCQGfD7BXZbd6EHhr5HT-Q0Sd_8WnCLe7G_le3q7_8VSOzsxzBURBd49sUXcZp5Np6slpjfN9SdeasRVZEQC6Hqf8/s1600/class+dinner2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszrCwQeWgRQ-MFA588GczBnmypQAdQK2gNnwPntZlw2UIvCTqSdLCQGfD7BXZbd6EHhr5HT-Q0Sd_8WnCLe7G_le3q7_8VSOzsxzBURBd49sUXcZp5Np6slpjfN9SdeasRVZEQC6Hqf8/s320/class+dinner2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A great group shot of all my favorite PT (physical therapy) girls.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">On Tuesday, we had graduation practice. Following practice we all made our way to the lobby of the gym for a champagne reception.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihA6wrUc0iKOhyaT3-n21qxfVqYpwOWT6c4EEDOLiFtD3GERGTxr_hFheZLceLDhAN1bEEnLpyTzVg5E6fwz_qtSvx3ReQyjRsyI0VyaW2FjExsbdmV90fVCE__NJ65N6INl7l3l5fwY/s1600/after+practice+shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihA6wrUc0iKOhyaT3-n21qxfVqYpwOWT6c4EEDOLiFtD3GERGTxr_hFheZLceLDhAN1bEEnLpyTzVg5E6fwz_qtSvx3ReQyjRsyI0VyaW2FjExsbdmV90fVCE__NJ65N6INl7l3l5fwY/s320/after+practice+shot.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Once again, some of my favorite girls.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Christmas Eve Morning</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">In light of trying to figure out the logistics of Christmas day with both our family dinners, Stephen and I decided to have our "Christmas Morning" the morning of Christmas Eve.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltLXfb5VBL4A5ajPeUzuX3E4LXuNBOAXPx2Yspt3gn8zi5nK8ci42Z0-KwkfKDH-j6NwBTiiuwM07Ut_O17-VHK4GrcR3sFk7wXl29CVj1U_uogxkTpOrsCJRpoAPtvc4_nkWZsG_rgo/s1600/PC241509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltLXfb5VBL4A5ajPeUzuX3E4LXuNBOAXPx2Yspt3gn8zi5nK8ci42Z0-KwkfKDH-j6NwBTiiuwM07Ut_O17-VHK4GrcR3sFk7wXl29CVj1U_uogxkTpOrsCJRpoAPtvc4_nkWZsG_rgo/s320/PC241509.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Before the opening of presents commenced! Unfortunately we failed to get a pic of the two of us in front of the tree. Seeing as how I am the shutterbug of the relationship, we tend to end up with a lot of pictures of Stephen.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEl_HaCqMWBjGuqSVr6UsK_RaPAef-_cOh3dDf33pqqIrEtP1KdzqXtDoyvB6k9pRMbzsW8tHHd9XDvItPDCTDGtXmzB_uBHG-j6Aqw1PE0Jyf2C_cwo2oduAKbDMzivM2YkHhPL-3MI/s1600/PC241516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEl_HaCqMWBjGuqSVr6UsK_RaPAef-_cOh3dDf33pqqIrEtP1KdzqXtDoyvB6k9pRMbzsW8tHHd9XDvItPDCTDGtXmzB_uBHG-j6Aqw1PE0Jyf2C_cwo2oduAKbDMzivM2YkHhPL-3MI/s320/PC241516.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Stephen got me several games for my new Wii (a graduation present)</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkAlXpSw9tbNYl1WXS0-Oi_IaMxND9GNhMoKNKQ2IshSfIMfjhi2WQ9VUfvW_SMWfNjVeCBAwGdzu3a2tFSgzuk7oCnhBpm2u6du5XIs6Darsqt6IzVcbZhx9NHI6YM5glkXbRJA1lWrU/s1600/PC241514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkAlXpSw9tbNYl1WXS0-Oi_IaMxND9GNhMoKNKQ2IshSfIMfjhi2WQ9VUfvW_SMWfNjVeCBAwGdzu3a2tFSgzuk7oCnhBpm2u6du5XIs6Darsqt6IzVcbZhx9NHI6YM5glkXbRJA1lWrU/s320/PC241514.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">One of Stephen's favorite presents :)</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">On Sunday after Christmas, Stephen and I hosted a game party with all of my oldest friends. We've been friends literally, since middle school and a get-together at Christmas time when everyone is back in town has become a beloved tradition.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIvB2uP-6joYuCJAusl_VDAnZwYs0igHtbp29wcRi4rzF5Xa_u8H-C1B20JRdh5XtdeyoTSD5f4_xf_2ywJL1czt_oUH0hsMrq0FNMMG8dk3Qu5chzmdwsTZazpu6OESAKgdZTUop-1uU/s1600/PC261521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIvB2uP-6joYuCJAusl_VDAnZwYs0igHtbp29wcRi4rzF5Xa_u8H-C1B20JRdh5XtdeyoTSD5f4_xf_2ywJL1czt_oUH0hsMrq0FNMMG8dk3Qu5chzmdwsTZazpu6OESAKgdZTUop-1uU/s320/PC261521.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our pretty sweet spread!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5JAFeLptpFLnbXlZYCQAdBshuH03UPXo_1_xFE_NPLkrnG5AxnNg4BQhDsK6QzGOY9mZyhUci2FVaiioJIsuIRvLDcjeDiicE52xULj-jGEjhVZxIOro5vmY6OpiO7hrnY8mgaKowthY/s1600/PC261522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5JAFeLptpFLnbXlZYCQAdBshuH03UPXo_1_xFE_NPLkrnG5AxnNg4BQhDsK6QzGOY9mZyhUci2FVaiioJIsuIRvLDcjeDiicE52xULj-jGEjhVZxIOro5vmY6OpiO7hrnY8mgaKowthY/s320/PC261522.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">We also got to use the Wine Brique Stephen's mom gave us to keep wine chilled throughout a party.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">It was great catching up with everyone and letting our competitive streaks come out during game play!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj677EPaeGxSm6UkPGKiEYntqDJ1vwOkPddCPs1OMe3m9vyASrVe8glb8Op6wPcnZ0HSXubsPrliN_gmastwD3araCKGPpJxDJ-cvK-wO7d7iH7yA54BOdBdtGMs2NUSvTvVzjiVaBW1c8/s1600/PC261523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj677EPaeGxSm6UkPGKiEYntqDJ1vwOkPddCPs1OMe3m9vyASrVe8glb8Op6wPcnZ0HSXubsPrliN_gmastwD3araCKGPpJxDJ-cvK-wO7d7iH7yA54BOdBdtGMs2NUSvTvVzjiVaBW1c8/s320/PC261523.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2l46JJ_HtytWi69ckTu6tmIPbLYUljLpQixo_i-JvNFPjekFift38KzgR8EOWSJ-OLkcc755AZU0P7ozafDTwCWT3_FAnsw3zPtSLR-GJUprY91AgUw3_WdTl0PxXKaVP4x9xzIlG1xw/s1600/PC261525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2l46JJ_HtytWi69ckTu6tmIPbLYUljLpQixo_i-JvNFPjekFift38KzgR8EOWSJ-OLkcc755AZU0P7ozafDTwCWT3_FAnsw3zPtSLR-GJUprY91AgUw3_WdTl0PxXKaVP4x9xzIlG1xw/s320/PC261525.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqasj2rH1zc37bxik_Y503jCGnrHCa3NLQTVI6B1m6YJh_LEakFE7My7RK9XJ2FihILRP3wiPkjaayAG0T3QDYZ4-n8W_-OTRnURKoM2E0BDCHL14BRmYpbP9xI2iroopU18FMZB1MA0/s1600/PC261529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqasj2rH1zc37bxik_Y503jCGnrHCa3NLQTVI6B1m6YJh_LEakFE7My7RK9XJ2FihILRP3wiPkjaayAG0T3QDYZ4-n8W_-OTRnURKoM2E0BDCHL14BRmYpbP9xI2iroopU18FMZB1MA0/s320/PC261529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlDkCLhAhzU3ELNooN5Rm7_132FrdvkA6BN7BWp-y-LZCzq3s_WA5xHnlrA8B4xoUY9JmeWLEzvRiVroqxy3HWZShxkiY46TTQHyXKY0B7SXcQx1H3DYj5c0eJ8vSbM4wUvrt4mvWUE8/s1600/PC261527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlDkCLhAhzU3ELNooN5Rm7_132FrdvkA6BN7BWp-y-LZCzq3s_WA5xHnlrA8B4xoUY9JmeWLEzvRiVroqxy3HWZShxkiY46TTQHyXKY0B7SXcQx1H3DYj5c0eJ8vSbM4wUvrt4mvWUE8/s320/PC261527.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">After the party my MOH and BM and I decided we better do some wedding planning seeing as how both of them would be a minimum of 5 hours away. So the next day we decided to go dress shopping for them. We had a blast.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicfNnRofElxT3eJgIb1SyjiXCkLLIgaSmuYRSu0d09p3RMKjeovmzpxtxKsj4im8bFUBIKztPioKQIpE8KaLxMvjY4agATK4uXtQTKFfZslIvnuNq7cZcMLLfbHDWfarok2AZDut0Bxlw/s1600/PC271536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicfNnRofElxT3eJgIb1SyjiXCkLLIgaSmuYRSu0d09p3RMKjeovmzpxtxKsj4im8bFUBIKztPioKQIpE8KaLxMvjY4agATK4uXtQTKFfZslIvnuNq7cZcMLLfbHDWfarok2AZDut0Bxlw/s320/PC271536.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">They tried on probably a dozen or so dresses. We unanimously decided that this style in a navy blue would be perfect for the wedding!</span> <span style="font-size: x-small;">It even got me excited about the prospect of wedding gown shopping!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrpx2TrjKvHYqbg0awqeY46xnHiuciQjUbQiiyRhPxdi4_W3z20S_lym_J0ioJusJ8tsS-NJ9zHs4PyaQNOoyM1m1QdM6vEyJqfSGVLMjaT2hmgshzFG1v990QJE2TnCutyLvoxSgQHe4/s1600/PC271537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrpx2TrjKvHYqbg0awqeY46xnHiuciQjUbQiiyRhPxdi4_W3z20S_lym_J0ioJusJ8tsS-NJ9zHs4PyaQNOoyM1m1QdM6vEyJqfSGVLMjaT2hmgshzFG1v990QJE2TnCutyLvoxSgQHe4/s320/PC271537.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">There we go, officially caught up, whew! The end of 2010 has certainly been amazing. I hope everyone's New Years is fabulous!</div></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970543675221062958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779081180744349021.post-35399033025104456662010-12-19T21:46:00.000-05:002010-12-19T21:46:07.141-05:00Home-made ChristmasAs this is mine and Stephen's first Christmas together in our new place we had the joy of decorating the place to our liking. (See <a href="http://supchickenbutt.blogspot.com/2010/11/we-wish-you-country-christmas.html">this</a> previous blog post about Christmas family traditions).<br />
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Of course we were lacking in the ornament department. We ended up taking the yearly ornaments each of our mother's had gotten for us. We loved that the yearly Christmas ornament tradition was something that both of our families shared. So in theory, that's already 48 ornaments (24 for him and 24 for me) and we've received a few acknowledging our first Christmas together, so we weren't doing to bad. But me, being the crafty, wanna-be, that I am, had to make a few to stick up on our tree.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjUAkhCMsoYtbGxefPiW7bT_nlWfE52L3AcoWMPobGNHcezTJzGdJwv5TBcdvp0nhao29j0oReafIDn_1b_lfIBuHQaqHjrjDtSXxHF5BUSUJwa4sDSAux1F2WUfKkiN20tv9Z_UAiYo/s1600/christmasball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjUAkhCMsoYtbGxefPiW7bT_nlWfE52L3AcoWMPobGNHcezTJzGdJwv5TBcdvp0nhao29j0oReafIDn_1b_lfIBuHQaqHjrjDtSXxHF5BUSUJwa4sDSAux1F2WUfKkiN20tv9Z_UAiYo/s320/christmasball.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I love the inconsistencies and the imperfections in the ornaments. I didn't dwell on trying to make them perfect, I just went with what I liked and enjoyed spending time with my mom as she made a few for her tree as well.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3f36j9S6uYS9PKXbaKbJxvcePV6x9dYIGe8hy2YLNk0R2UxZfer1sSXHVTSpUdjV0JcZ9IxpjKRCKvNRFH31_dHm1bYOVJktRf2UNOWB5uPfS2f-JAgmFVdotk0jREUqjfRo4YAIlJA/s1600/christmasball3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3f36j9S6uYS9PKXbaKbJxvcePV6x9dYIGe8hy2YLNk0R2UxZfer1sSXHVTSpUdjV0JcZ9IxpjKRCKvNRFH31_dHm1bYOVJktRf2UNOWB5uPfS2f-JAgmFVdotk0jREUqjfRo4YAIlJA/s320/christmasball3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
In total, I made about 8 or so and they really added to our tree and I love that they have a story behind them and will hopefully adorn our tree for years to come.Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970543675221062958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779081180744349021.post-89430175785083029842010-12-18T11:22:00.000-05:002010-12-18T11:22:02.301-05:00How 'Lush'-iousI just wanna say: T minus ONE WEEK until Christmas!!! Can you believe it?!<br />
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This post is dedicated to a new-to-me line of bath and body products my soon to be mother-in-law helped me to discover! Has anyone ever heard of "Lush?" Lush is a brand that prides itself on creating fresh, handmade cosmetics using fair trade ingredients.<br />
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My mother-in-law received a bath bomb and a body wash as a gift from one of her student's mom. She showed them to me and I was immediately intrigued and discovered that there are in fact several stores in the area.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5m16F0PzWAIg8AxxxljD6akrhw-gg1UqynzIxUDFPAQNQVnocnQUJmiwNpVZIhSw1f8xInP5k8JE3-CnNM07ItaKpE4-YfAdGV7m0wam8D4iFnyd-mc9BAqbtwDCaRkhuFNX7NCWM-GY/s1600/lotsolushbathbombs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5m16F0PzWAIg8AxxxljD6akrhw-gg1UqynzIxUDFPAQNQVnocnQUJmiwNpVZIhSw1f8xInP5k8JE3-CnNM07ItaKpE4-YfAdGV7m0wam8D4iFnyd-mc9BAqbtwDCaRkhuFNX7NCWM-GY/s320/lotsolushbathbombs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">The store's large collection of scrumptious bath bombs!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> The company itself is based out of England with it's North American headquarters in Canada and several stores in the good ole U.S. of A! I've noticed that in my area they are often found in Macy's department stores. You can use their store locator on the website <a href="http://www.lushusa.com/shop/find/">here</a>.<br />
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How excited was I when I found out that Stephen's brother conveniently sent us a gift card to where else but Macy's!!!! So of course, when I had the first opportunity, I headed over to my local Macy's to check this out. I have to say I was very impressed with the set up of the little shop, they had great displays showcasing their product and their mission to be environmentally friendly (considering hardly any of their products are packaged). Everything smells amazing and natural and it just makes you want to go home and draw a nice hot bath.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3KutaE_CD03p-K96AfQPal-we7nq-LZMVIL43cctTb4FsKD0u_E72MYpYjv6UQrGmAuKpqs5G9BajrUvMTGBfbpVO47evhrnyR4aeEadL2y6a8_12SzNYisRvPfy2_Ho-auXFDEyTNTA/s1600/lushbathbars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3KutaE_CD03p-K96AfQPal-we7nq-LZMVIL43cctTb4FsKD0u_E72MYpYjv6UQrGmAuKpqs5G9BajrUvMTGBfbpVO47evhrnyR4aeEadL2y6a8_12SzNYisRvPfy2_Ho-auXFDEyTNTA/s320/lushbathbars.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Their collection of bubbly bath bars!</span></div><br />
I probably spent 30 minutes looking around and talking with the consultants who were very helpful and passionate about the products they were selling. They also promote sample sizes of their products so you can trial what you are buying.<br />
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There is a minor catch, and I'm not sure if you could even call it that, but this stuff is slightly expensive. But I think the added cost of knowing that your products are fresh, handmade, the ingredients are fair-traded and a large percentage are actually vegan is worth it!<br />
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My first purchases consisted of:<br />
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1. The "Twilight" bath bomb (described as a "creamy crepuscular fizzer.") $4.95<br />
2. The "You've Been Mangoed" mango flavored bath melt $5.95<br />
3. The "Ultimate Shine"' solid shampoo bar $9.95<br />
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I know what you're thinking $10 for a shampoo bar? I thought the same thing but the catalog and the consultants claim that one solid bar was the equivalent of 3 bottles of shampoo. So really, it's not a bad deal at all.<br />
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I haven't used the bath bomb or the bath melt yet just because I haven't enjoyed a nice soak yet, BUT I did use the shampoo bar this morning....WOW, I've never experienced such a rich lather and it made my hair super shiny and soft. You're supposed to keep it in a cool dry place in order to maximize it's life span, so I went to my local HomeGoods store and bought a mini-bakeware dish and placed it just outside my shower so it's within easy reach but not getting soaked 24/7.<br />
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I'm really enjoying these products and they're making me want a nice large, jacuzzi tub.....ahhhh just thinking about it relaxes every muscle in my body.<br />
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Anyway, if you haven't you should check these products out, they have everything for beauty and bath (way to much to even try to mention here).<br />
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P.S. they would make GREAT Christmas gifts (you're welcome! lol)Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970543675221062958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779081180744349021.post-38743357184321368092010-12-12T08:53:00.001-05:002010-12-12T08:55:00.917-05:00Did Everyone get their Shots?This past Friday was my last day at physical therapy school....ever, I'm graduating in 3 days!! The moment is completely bitter sweet and has got everyone remembering special moments, good times and great events that have consumed our lives for the past 3 years.<br />
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My friend Michelle and I were reminiscing this past week and I remembered a funny, albeit, awkward time in my educational experience about a year ago. Apparently I bonded with our cardiopulmonary and geriatrics professor so much so that she started sending me e-mails individually.<br />
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I remember one afternoon checking my email and I received this hilarious joke (it was very appropriate at the time if you remember all the hoopla about the "flus")<br />
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"What's the difference between bird flu and swine flu?"<br />
"For the bird flu you need 'tweet'ment and for the swine flu you need 'oink'ment"<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5OWKPtKpVEljsO-nnCd7hMlvvgOAH-MEeVlvjQhLNV8GQ4kD9AwGteLcLkNZ9PDQMJMrAMZQWIV9tv9UYAcIvtw4-zv81hPTEnKT7DiDnM90svYQ0fUsmwNhIVbqAw4XQK8Ji5nPJRs/s1600/swine-flu1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5OWKPtKpVEljsO-nnCd7hMlvvgOAH-MEeVlvjQhLNV8GQ4kD9AwGteLcLkNZ9PDQMJMrAMZQWIV9tv9UYAcIvtw4-zv81hPTEnKT7DiDnM90svYQ0fUsmwNhIVbqAw4XQK8Ji5nPJRs/s320/swine-flu1.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I thought the joke was hilarious and found it to be even more so when I discovered that I was the only one to receive the e-mail... I didn't know we were that close!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970543675221062958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779081180744349021.post-24023964163985658492010-12-07T21:58:00.000-05:002010-12-07T21:58:53.917-05:00A Hunting we will Go!On Sunday, Stephen and I joined his parents, their goddaughter and her parents for a joyous afternoon spent at a local orchard and winery picking out Christmas trees and just enjoying the place in general. First off can I say it was C-O-L-D! Oh my goodness, it was freezing, this past weekend was oober cold and I was definitely not prepared.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqeSS5nJqOaRXPDraBlX9D-mfV-njaCad8qVp5m7ZIhEM0J2HmI4iONAptL1hVmRKT6kUIEKFKp2OmVkN0512I0QuZbeUOnwzsZsrNOo8bSfWdXkrFd3Qa7pQEohmgOaIKB10a0U5A-CA/s1600/PC051462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqeSS5nJqOaRXPDraBlX9D-mfV-njaCad8qVp5m7ZIhEM0J2HmI4iONAptL1hVmRKT6kUIEKFKp2OmVkN0512I0QuZbeUOnwzsZsrNOo8bSfWdXkrFd3Qa7pQEohmgOaIKB10a0U5A-CA/s320/PC051462.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Stephen's Dad, mom and himself waiting for the tractor to take us to cut our tree! </div><br />
Anyway, almost as soon as we got up there we ran into this jolly old man:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSSQL9-xeKv4QmJIBwlpSytfo7p5C-Y-JKIeTBda6jxxkKKsZjRocLJDc6wChyphenhyphenl0SDy5tFLdGcTf_SoxTjo8OOlKxFKpkW9yiuZKA79oYlrJK7bNLmzg09LWwZMqtQ0xAVDWSp1h8hqE/s1600/PC051461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSSQL9-xeKv4QmJIBwlpSytfo7p5C-Y-JKIeTBda6jxxkKKsZjRocLJDc6wChyphenhyphenl0SDy5tFLdGcTf_SoxTjo8OOlKxFKpkW9yiuZKA79oYlrJK7bNLmzg09LWwZMqtQ0xAVDWSp1h8hqE/s320/PC051461.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
It's mine and Stephen's first picture with St. Nick ever!<br />
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I kept running back and forth from outside to the winery and the market (enjoying some warm cider) trying to keep my nose from freezing off. Stephen's mom is from Iowa and Stephen apparently got the cold gene because he and his mother were right at home in the snowy weather.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0XPKtKBKxlLGgniJGF3P7Kd1GJEWfYHihyaMBTNj8NzJdGMZrgEbMkxMXPH5WoE9dwF68J6KKtuMwG3w7r0rTrdWLZf8_bD8SigcKmyTqp4xWazP5g9S0BPs5JKGTHDA9_WyYmOfI2DM/s1600/PC051463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0XPKtKBKxlLGgniJGF3P7Kd1GJEWfYHihyaMBTNj8NzJdGMZrgEbMkxMXPH5WoE9dwF68J6KKtuMwG3w7r0rTrdWLZf8_bD8SigcKmyTqp4xWazP5g9S0BPs5JKGTHDA9_WyYmOfI2DM/s320/PC051463.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Aboard the tractor to go cut our tree! </div><br />
Prior to boarding the tractor we had to figure out what kind of tree we wanted, ultimately we decided on the Norwegian Spruce.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHKQAlTm5ffl50R73dAOJd8obKDQNo5DPficaPItqRBK1VywO2JeI4hFAaP_TMbZNpluh9N01hvugg4Anywh6NzSbdsAAEBqvbNi6DXYMosFkZrVLtDFZEAjvFpXPt4gZn0i_q1ZJK6A/s1600/PC051464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHKQAlTm5ffl50R73dAOJd8obKDQNo5DPficaPItqRBK1VywO2JeI4hFAaP_TMbZNpluh9N01hvugg4Anywh6NzSbdsAAEBqvbNi6DXYMosFkZrVLtDFZEAjvFpXPt4gZn0i_q1ZJK6A/s320/PC051464.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
We spent very little time picking out the one we wanted, I think everyone was ready to head back to the winery and restaurant for something to warm us up!<br />
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Stephen and his mom and dad finally found a winner that everyone could agree on:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOPs2UzIvfpeiEdwYvmF6dbryDrrzCLGfmYto0z1s0UZMjMooP54SZn-ezYPuaAIHPemIM2T__A8cyO4DwHmbyUB2K3mYfugVeGg4MZUfNy3ds5utI4J2RQNeygiCKWu0O211vpOKuv8/s1600/PC051465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOPs2UzIvfpeiEdwYvmF6dbryDrrzCLGfmYto0z1s0UZMjMooP54SZn-ezYPuaAIHPemIM2T__A8cyO4DwHmbyUB2K3mYfugVeGg4MZUfNy3ds5utI4J2RQNeygiCKWu0O211vpOKuv8/s320/PC051465.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Unfortunately Stephen's brother couldn't join us this year so Stephen was stuck on the ground sawing the tree all by himself (I think he secretly enjoyed it!)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgae_rV7aDfKP7F22kVNBf1T48dO7qNgwAfJpNwC5FhP_BOelxEl4mUS7PdR6Ek2ee59iQ8Y4lFAau_ugB1jlMEa6_KsQsYaZlR2O0mOkn1DTnGFIWl2qwr8xXUof4y4wQTjcsyKdnmgic/s1600/PC051467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgae_rV7aDfKP7F22kVNBf1T48dO7qNgwAfJpNwC5FhP_BOelxEl4mUS7PdR6Ek2ee59iQ8Y4lFAau_ugB1jlMEa6_KsQsYaZlR2O0mOkn1DTnGFIWl2qwr8xXUof4y4wQTjcsyKdnmgic/s320/PC051467.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
After we, well, Stephen, cut the tree we drug it up to the dirt/mud road to wait for the tractor. We spent the rest of the afternoon sharing bottles of wine and eating gobs of yummy cheese then headed over to the restaurant for some fried chicken, ham, chicken and dumplings, green beans, corn and apple butter sweet rolls yum yum yum!!!!<br />
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We spent the rest of the evening decorating the tree (of course I forgot to take pictures of the final product). I love this time of year!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970543675221062958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779081180744349021.post-67342016029532560122010-12-07T21:42:00.000-05:002010-12-07T21:42:49.072-05:00All Grown Up!This is about a month and a half late but I love the pic sooooo much, I had to post it anyway. This was Stephen's first day of work at his new job as an investigator with the state:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyYYrJ54sBAAJXnipP8ZK0URVZPFCYNJzUjUIByrnHV_pzfEjZvCjpC2OzAHxHwJijy-TAzfkHzZxKUjwbdVDjze2ZjJHP6MhPujtCUIAtf3fKA9mbppnm55zrs1wwdXdiWpuCLEDtKZo/s1600/PB011450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyYYrJ54sBAAJXnipP8ZK0URVZPFCYNJzUjUIByrnHV_pzfEjZvCjpC2OzAHxHwJijy-TAzfkHzZxKUjwbdVDjze2ZjJHP6MhPujtCUIAtf3fKA9mbppnm55zrs1wwdXdiWpuCLEDtKZo/s320/PB011450.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
So professional, with his brief case and button up, awwwww! Well I was excited, I woke up and grabbed the camera just before he walked out the door, I felt like a mom with her child on his first day of school. I constantly texted him and checked in throughout the day just to make sure things were going okay also.<br />
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I can't wait for my "First Day of Work as a PT" photo!!!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970543675221062958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779081180744349021.post-4390011553128299462010-12-04T18:10:00.000-05:002010-12-04T18:10:04.658-05:00Gotta love product parties!Lately, I've been really getting into the whole "wifey" persona, attending and hosting pampered chef parties, jewelry parties and now most recently, a Thirty-One party.<br />
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My friend Michelle, from PT school, hosted a Thirty-One party this afternoon for her best friend who is a consultant with the company. I was familiar with the company as I had seen their catalog in the break room at the hospital I was interning at earlier this summer.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWrbaVAgY2k5_dGaxjZAGSVsrpFrqCd2pXr_0YK5KU65tkyGHNjCEHvPf2hE4CQFLHzMx1QezmJx6on95ZTW7xs7OOm18VB43YjrVCFn35LGwnxEpyHHfvuYkGf9-TTbJ2XA9ECQ20yY/s1600/3+girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWrbaVAgY2k5_dGaxjZAGSVsrpFrqCd2pXr_0YK5KU65tkyGHNjCEHvPf2hE4CQFLHzMx1QezmJx6on95ZTW7xs7OOm18VB43YjrVCFn35LGwnxEpyHHfvuYkGf9-TTbJ2XA9ECQ20yY/s320/3+girls.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Michelle (on the left) hosted the party and our friend Sarah (in the middle) and me (on the right) attended and had a great time picking out fun, personalized gifts for ourselves!</span></div><br />
For those of you who don't know, Thirty-One is an organization that caters to females. The sell super cute purses, totes, lunch boxes, luggage, accessories, wallets, etc... They're product line is so varied I think everyone could find something for them and what's even better is that you can customize your pieces with embroidery!<br />
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Here are some of the things I ordered today. I'm super excited about getting them and putting them to work!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggfwpn0if1Yk0eFRD98PoYO2IfBGk8FSgId9TrS3a2NPUmVG2px3yF2Dy71sOy5VGdxkMaUW9fJnG65Kz8aOMVwfWohUGUtIcy2uH8edgtKVJJ5Y7HYSKvZWwyp1qblGIqSoLcjamd_-A/s1600/2010+picnic+thermal+tote_medium.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggfwpn0if1Yk0eFRD98PoYO2IfBGk8FSgId9TrS3a2NPUmVG2px3yF2Dy71sOy5VGdxkMaUW9fJnG65Kz8aOMVwfWohUGUtIcy2uH8edgtKVJJ5Y7HYSKvZWwyp1qblGIqSoLcjamd_-A/s1600/2010+picnic+thermal+tote_medium.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
I got this exact pattern and our last name initial embroidered on. This is the large thermal tote. I'm thinking picnics, BYOB parties/cookouts, taking it on the boat, to the zoo, etc... It can hold 2 wine bottles :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3PIyi8NP0-W51vAkCcnFOfeZZTlr-jKvOZIQlln3Fa0elAFtYNvb3h6NOUS_QA1nQvqv8oY4jVRSQ_HBzjR4X1yEyvpHzuJf0vheTWTx-02_5Bhbz5iCBdYgSIlplSW-QzLY1FIAuDg/s1600/Cinch+Sack1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3PIyi8NP0-W51vAkCcnFOfeZZTlr-jKvOZIQlln3Fa0elAFtYNvb3h6NOUS_QA1nQvqv8oY4jVRSQ_HBzjR4X1yEyvpHzuJf0vheTWTx-02_5Bhbz5iCBdYgSIlplSW-QzLY1FIAuDg/s1600/Cinch+Sack1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I also got this Cinch Sack. I think it will be perfect for transporting gym clothes back and forth from the house, school and the gym.<br />
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If I had an unlimited income I probably would've bought the whole catalog. They have several various sized totes that could be useful for so many things. Several of them are very structured and would be great for keeping things organized in your trunk or the back of your SUV.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVlfXPiCO4LjLDg5f15ixwf5VuUGnT0XQWzLyS3bkdNDrMiQB7HZNJVgbryL7lkIg7cJ0r089uOfDdJzJAnTTtt0-yRkjdXqGy017DkFKCNHFTl6Sg-VgcF5JGhZQ8blQib9TTVws280/s1600/LargeUtilityTote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVlfXPiCO4LjLDg5f15ixwf5VuUGnT0XQWzLyS3bkdNDrMiQB7HZNJVgbryL7lkIg7cJ0r089uOfDdJzJAnTTtt0-yRkjdXqGy017DkFKCNHFTl6Sg-VgcF5JGhZQ8blQib9TTVws280/s1600/LargeUtilityTote.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The only thing I am/wasn't sure about was the quality of the pieces. It seems somewhat questionable, but there were several people at the party that had various Thirty-One pieces and absolutely raved about them, I'll keep you posted, but as of right now I recommend them!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970543675221062958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779081180744349021.post-14291429463620532212010-12-04T08:51:00.000-05:002010-12-04T08:51:16.649-05:00Job Security?I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday festivities going on around town!<br />
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So my mom bought me a Wii for a graduation gift (I know I'm a little behind, but I was excited!) I ordered it from Best Buy on Thanksgiving for $30 cheaper than what it regularly is (therefore...super excited!) and it arrived at my parents house yesterday unbeknownst to me. I had traveled to my parents to do some laundry and found my brother and my dad waiting for some new appliances to be delivered.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOQSap5H2hz-fG3zzFgFkGt2hUPZLMAIjCN_57buOOsmnKplEgVytc2HLqdQL5PDLnzHXneB7mtuTvMCFtEgBKkiXrZyrTLF2EQHxGyNHSSxdLUBHYE8Ve8H1pmYBPBE2UNtcDXSSEpA/s1600/black-wii.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOQSap5H2hz-fG3zzFgFkGt2hUPZLMAIjCN_57buOOsmnKplEgVytc2HLqdQL5PDLnzHXneB7mtuTvMCFtEgBKkiXrZyrTLF2EQHxGyNHSSxdLUBHYE8Ve8H1pmYBPBE2UNtcDXSSEpA/s320/black-wii.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I noticed the packaging on the kitchen table and asked my brother what that was all about. Well he told me that the Wii had been delivered and I tell you what... it was hard for me to spend anymore time at my parents as I couldn't wait to get it home and PLAY!!!<br />
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I finally got it home about 20 minutes before Stephen got home from work and he was excited as I was! We probably played for a total of about 2 hours last night and this morning... my right shoulder is, I'm not gonna lie, a little sore and Stephen was complaining of elbow pain last night.<br />
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This is what a search for "Wii Injuries" brought up on Google:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdEni-UCI9u2SOVVZunJQ8Hnf3RuxDCl1RZWJ-Y2vbdZZuIHnxGJub29Gyr7F9V3hZ9y5k1WFh_U4ZHp4NhfgGw96MY-KjLGeUeT86quJ0_j2uU44NfGzdJ25mE_8njjJpoBY1gQ2kLL8/s1600/wii+injuries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdEni-UCI9u2SOVVZunJQ8Hnf3RuxDCl1RZWJ-Y2vbdZZuIHnxGJub29Gyr7F9V3hZ9y5k1WFh_U4ZHp4NhfgGw96MY-KjLGeUeT86quJ0_j2uU44NfGzdJ25mE_8njjJpoBY1gQ2kLL8/s320/wii+injuries.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>...gulp, there are some pretty nasty ones.<br />
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So, I've realized the more Wii's there are, the more upper extremity injuries there will be, i.e. more patients for physical therapists!!! <br />
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That seems a little unethical though now that I think about it. I guess I'll give my arm a rest today...for a little bit, I can't resist playing!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970543675221062958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779081180744349021.post-54375677954064405622010-11-30T19:22:00.000-05:002010-11-30T19:22:40.479-05:00Go West Young (Wo)ManHave I told you before that I love, love, love traveling?<br />
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Since Stephen started his new job back in November we've known that he was going to have to fly out west for a few days in January for some training. Of course I looked at this as an opportunity for a mini vacay, but realistically it probably wasn't going to happen (sad face). However, Stephen had to go away for a day earlier this month and missed me so much (everyone all together now..."awwwwww") that he came home and decided we would not just take a mini vacay, but a full fledged week-long romp! I'm super pumped because I'm sure by the middle of January I will be so over the cold Kentucky winter and ready for a more temperate locale.<br />
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This will be neither of our first trip out west seeing as how his family is from Lancaster, CA and I've been to Vegas twice (amazing right?) but it will be our first time together and I've never been to New Mexico (which is where we will be going).<br />
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I'll keep you posted on the details!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970543675221062958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779081180744349021.post-6304413446792156522010-11-27T23:14:00.000-05:002010-11-27T23:14:00.553-05:00The End of an EraSo on Wednesday (before Thanksgiving) I finished my 3rd and final 8 week full-time internship as a physical therapy student. The next time I have patients I will be a fully licensed, board-certified, practicing physical therapist!!!! Um yea, I'm excited!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptNOHli1dUe9r9wr6zp0GVViW3aiqzphc5EZJNq6UTfKTXETZgi53DSxriT9HXensFTU0vvtH2sbLf3jJ7O8SLVIBUbUcGlGCdUDVkaUndAaunqDkEbsRdVleJIKzhfTWkDS1p0mReIw/s1600/pt+school+jacket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptNOHli1dUe9r9wr6zp0GVViW3aiqzphc5EZJNq6UTfKTXETZgi53DSxriT9HXensFTU0vvtH2sbLf3jJ7O8SLVIBUbUcGlGCdUDVkaUndAaunqDkEbsRdVleJIKzhfTWkDS1p0mReIw/s320/pt+school+jacket.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This was me way back in 2008 at the White Coat Ceremony as I began my journey through PT school.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I really enjoyed my last clinical rotation and I thought I'd take the time to talk a little about the facility and how it touched my heart. First off, it's an out-patient pediatric facility and I'm in love with kids (perfect match, I know). There were some hard times and some difficult patients but I can honestly say, that I loved gaining the trust of the kids I was treating and their families. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">With kids, you really feel like you are a part of the family since you see most of these kids for 6-12 months at a time. I loved learning what they liked, what their quirks were and how to "trick" each kid into doing the work and exercises I needed them to do :) It was honestly the most challenging clinical rotation I had. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Below is a YouTube video created by therapists and staff at the facility. I think it gives really good insight into what the facility is all about and what it's goals are and how it's helped so many children.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><object width="250" height="150"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PCjuk2Kldz8?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PCjuk2Kldz8?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">OH and I forgot the HORSES (I know, how do I forget eight 2000lb animals I dealt with for at least 4 hours a day). I loved working with the kids on the horses. I had heard of hippotherapy prior to this rotation but it was really great to be there and work hands-on for eight weeks with these amazing animals and see the improvements in the kids. Such a blessing!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970543675221062958noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779081180744349021.post-23367141244900069612010-11-27T22:47:00.001-05:002010-11-27T22:50:15.837-05:00We Wish you a... Country Christmas?Stephen and I have been getting the place decorated for our first Christmas together in our own place and so far it's been amazing as I'm a fan of the holidays and if it were up to Stephen, it'd be Christmas all year long.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCeAFWXBi5ZQ079JoWlQMZcF_V0PrAxUhwFDUKoACT5g6ZWFqtd4ywKpQKwQ0lVhyFRAOK4VV-Ab3iySmsePsPgefOMFmoKlDuxP7TkMft16u_KVNQzrIQoNE0PkkaqhCPq_VLLhN7hPg/s1600/xmas09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCeAFWXBi5ZQ079JoWlQMZcF_V0PrAxUhwFDUKoACT5g6ZWFqtd4ywKpQKwQ0lVhyFRAOK4VV-Ab3iySmsePsPgefOMFmoKlDuxP7TkMft16u_KVNQzrIQoNE0PkkaqhCPq_VLLhN7hPg/s320/xmas09.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A pic from Christmas Eve last year.</span></div><br />
It's been fun merging our family traditions and trying to figure out how WE will celebrate the holidays. We've had to each make compromises, but so far it's really worked out and I'm excited to see what the rest of the season has to bring. Here are some questions we've had to tackle:<br />
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<b>1. When do we put up the tree?</b><br />
My family has always put up our trees the weekend of thanksgiving. Generally we'll go shopping on Black Friday, come home, marvel at our awesome buys, get on some comfy clothes and bring out the Christmas stuff. My family usually does a Friday-Saturday marathon to get all the decorations out and put up that weekend.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVjBgaMA9lizo7a5UwzU_052a3wssVIBl0umLZ6OWuiBYaAjl-McxHVukW8feWg5jiK1QgD7x93rBpdSJSmF6V6oTSnf4FCQuPWqy88kqWns1aIQAM5qXQw8D8J6MT-z2QeOyWlf1LMrg/s1600/xmas093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVjBgaMA9lizo7a5UwzU_052a3wssVIBl0umLZ6OWuiBYaAjl-McxHVukW8feWg5jiK1QgD7x93rBpdSJSmF6V6oTSnf4FCQuPWqy88kqWns1aIQAM5qXQw8D8J6MT-z2QeOyWlf1LMrg/s320/xmas093.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Stephen stringing lights on the tree last Christmas.</span></div><br />
Stephen's family, on the otherhand, usually puts up the tree the first or second weekend in December. BUT since Stephen loves, loves, loves everything associated with Christmas, we were both excited to put up the tree the weekend of Thanksgiving!<br />
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<b><span style="color: black;">2. Real or artificial tree?</span></b><br />
Now this decision was hard for both of us. My mom absolutely refuses to have a real tree, so I've been brought up with artificial trees my whole life, save a few years when my dad "won" and we got a real tree.<br />
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Stephen's family, however, ALWAYS has a real tree. And I have to admit there's something magical about hiking through rows and rows of christmas trees in the snow, with your scarves and hats and axes searching for that perfect tree to bring home. I love mini day-trips and last year when I went with Stephen's family to chop down trees, I had a blast as we made a whole afternoon of it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjcSnMcHcFnxEc5EcYxcUbrPcLLd3Mwq-3eqeTjSwLvxhVXibx5E4ah2CNY6zODbFYItxzG8EQfiII9af1snG5Da3Q00UGuTd4gZxFAcGl_tdL9uXHkYeQJyoCUGUnmdylJ2PU1M4iV8/s1600/xmas092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjcSnMcHcFnxEc5EcYxcUbrPcLLd3Mwq-3eqeTjSwLvxhVXibx5E4ah2CNY6zODbFYItxzG8EQfiII9af1snG5Da3Q00UGuTd4gZxFAcGl_tdL9uXHkYeQJyoCUGUnmdylJ2PU1M4iV8/s320/xmas092.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">After chopping down Stephen's family trees last Christmas.</span></div><br />
BUT, seeing as how we are currently residing in an apartment, with new, pretty light colored carpet and neither of us is too partial to vacuums, we decided to go ahead and settle with an artificial tree this year.<br />
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<b>3. What kind of artificial tree do we want?</b><br />
Once we decided to go artificial, we had to figure out where and what kind of artificial tree we wanted for our place. We instantly feel in love with this beauty from Garden Ridge:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82afVS9y3veeh7AAW_1F9tVbG4fdyqtrFX7Ey0XTr99kz_HbJbGb0LGGiJmESKVsRY2qQ2mfDJrvWC8lYGp6f3WxWcrNYqiUjDztSPGpYIrS6g3D-d5-t3ZNaH6JzKT_7-WXUHfzh7DM/s1600/xmas10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82afVS9y3veeh7AAW_1F9tVbG4fdyqtrFX7Ey0XTr99kz_HbJbGb0LGGiJmESKVsRY2qQ2mfDJrvWC8lYGp6f3WxWcrNYqiUjDztSPGpYIrS6g3D-d5-t3ZNaH6JzKT_7-WXUHfzh7DM/s320/xmas10.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
It, however, was $400! And well, as a student myself and with Stephen just starting a new job, we definitly could not yet afford that. We did decide, however, that we could take the aspects that we liked about it and create the perfect, affordable, tree just for us. We loved the natural look of the above tree and the lighter, softer green of the pine. We liked the pine cones and how it felt a little "rustic." We decided to run with that theme<b>, </b>kind of a quasi country, rustic, home-made, traditional Christmas<b> </b>full of pine cones, home-made ornaments and vintage ornaments from both our parents' own ornament collections. My mom let us borrow one of her older artificial trees, so we ended up getting a tree for FREE! Which is always awesome!<br />
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<b> </b><br />
So these are the major hurdles we've had to cross (it's crazy that it's only the Saturday after Thanksgiving and we've got so much done!). I'm sure there will be a lot more of merging Christmas traditions and I can't wait.<br />
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I'll be sure to post more pics of this Christmas as the events unfold! Merry early Christmas!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970543675221062958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779081180744349021.post-76220074490082616622010-10-01T21:07:00.000-04:002010-10-01T21:07:45.078-04:00Eight QuestionsSo, I have to be honest, I've kind of lost my umph when it comes to blogging lately, but I still love reading them and tonight I found this game on Bluegrass Love and thought it seemed like fun and something easy to blog about.<br />
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Eight Question: you answer eight questions posed by a fellow blogger then ask 8 questions at the end and invite others to continue playing.<br />
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<strong>1. What DIY project are you most proud of? Share pictures.</strong> <br />
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This one I'm not sure about, while I love being creative with paper (scrapbooking anyone?) and I love yardsaling and craigslisting and making old things new again, I don't think I do enough to make it actually qualify as DIY. One this that does come to mind is a lamp base I bought for $3.00 at a neighborhood yardsale a couple weeks ago. I found it in this elderly couple's garage amidst a dozen more lamp bases and covered in dust and cobwebs. I thought the shape and the design was pretty cool and hey, for $3.00 how can you pass it up? <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzZoaqEW_RrSt1G0zHsP7DYB4iJRc1N0-3_8MTyZIVPuBNCABvOzA962Ap0qRQ7H-Jy8JxWQbQAd78wJwBHmkkKuOGqsvu0YXblnAlx0QxB7s20FnPnASWPOigeLNV32DEqdxd0KkWFs/s1600/lamp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzZoaqEW_RrSt1G0zHsP7DYB4iJRc1N0-3_8MTyZIVPuBNCABvOzA962Ap0qRQ7H-Jy8JxWQbQAd78wJwBHmkkKuOGqsvu0YXblnAlx0QxB7s20FnPnASWPOigeLNV32DEqdxd0KkWFs/s320/lamp.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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So I bought it, cleaned it up and topped it off with a modern white barrel shade. I'm still trying to decide if I want to repaint the base as I'm not convinced it works with the rest of the decor.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRiHNylNHL83nsafMI_O5cwrGSVzACNdhw8GEaj96IAb-No9-ZYdRJqKlP21UrNPuGjymOKVd68Sh9PY-KqEm0AQgNaZxtbDTLASXLR-fN7X64cqBXEZ7SzyM6je7NM9LwyZHrn_ZqCeg/s1600/lampe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRiHNylNHL83nsafMI_O5cwrGSVzACNdhw8GEaj96IAb-No9-ZYdRJqKlP21UrNPuGjymOKVd68Sh9PY-KqEm0AQgNaZxtbDTLASXLR-fN7X64cqBXEZ7SzyM6je7NM9LwyZHrn_ZqCeg/s320/lampe.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<strong>2. What are you most afraid of?</strong> <br />
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Bees, wasps, hornets, flyey stingy things...seriously anything that is tiny, can fly and have stingers scares the bajeezes out of me!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LrEvOC_2JVPlWAjM0_ujubhWMIT9JS3KVQm6k6tJdz7TwAWO0ByczyFx2WY3B3YOCtduYXcmE5ugLDO6cYgrRwJkF_cylZLsNmzykhO2g_gJilygEs0dN1txv1OCjMMpwEZJGVuxVA0/s1600/bee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LrEvOC_2JVPlWAjM0_ujubhWMIT9JS3KVQm6k6tJdz7TwAWO0ByczyFx2WY3B3YOCtduYXcmE5ugLDO6cYgrRwJkF_cylZLsNmzykhO2g_gJilygEs0dN1txv1OCjMMpwEZJGVuxVA0/s320/bee.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
Oh! I'm also super afraid of scary movies, I just can't handle the stress. We saw Wolfman in theaters...BAD idea, I think I would've had a heart attack had the movie been any longer. Heck, I didn't even really watch the movie most of the time, I seriously paid (well Stephen paid) to watch the floor of the theater during the movie. My heart and my sanity just can't take it!<br />
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<strong>3. Why do you blog? </strong><br />
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I was really just looking for a creative outlet and a way to let people know what was going on in my life especially since I had just gotten engaged when I began blogging. I also love reading other people's blogs and began to feel guilty about reading and not writing.<br />
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<strong>4. What color lipstick do you wear?</strong> <br />
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I don't, I'm a chapstick kind of girl. I've never worn lipstick but I have experimented with glosses but just can't find something that works for me.<br />
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_6yDLBKrFF_7g_OaLih4-SvpTS-WSDuyueRdFpvWFID6opu4GW1p3Xc8JWu6nRx1rDZUJYKipVTDt1yCB2FpnYJ7dCJG7fVUIbLRN7kS_mwRpVU4P5Ir2KiiPIJb2Fbu8m4yRm9GAxhA/s1600/chap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="309" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_6yDLBKrFF_7g_OaLih4-SvpTS-WSDuyueRdFpvWFID6opu4GW1p3Xc8JWu6nRx1rDZUJYKipVTDt1yCB2FpnYJ7dCJG7fVUIbLRN7kS_mwRpVU4P5Ir2KiiPIJb2Fbu8m4yRm9GAxhA/s320/chap.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<strong>5. What's your favorite go-to recipe? </strong><br />
<br />
I'm definetly not the chef in the relationship so I don't really have any recipes, but Stephen makes a mean home-made mac and cheese with vermont white cheddar cheese. It's delicious and in a bind I always suggest Stephen whip out the grater and the mac/cheese pot. YUM!<br />
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<strong>6. What's your favorite place to go (or thing to do) for a cheap date?</strong> <br />
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A walk in the park until it gets dark, an hour or so at half-price books then finishing up the evening with a birthday cake remix at Coldstone Creamery. Yes please!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUOJhI8nlMJs1TZkjJa9xPtseDTnDmDQv3GNmfajtjmmSOyVC-_LjrMziZ6xVrrufhGlSqR10-OfK9fl8DUmDkGZpfljH_6jrdJ8mqD0isqCbm9yFyVkxMJXazmhAZQS27u4gveK9s7E/s1600/cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUOJhI8nlMJs1TZkjJa9xPtseDTnDmDQv3GNmfajtjmmSOyVC-_LjrMziZ6xVrrufhGlSqR10-OfK9fl8DUmDkGZpfljH_6jrdJ8mqD0isqCbm9yFyVkxMJXazmhAZQS27u4gveK9s7E/s320/cake.jpg" width="293" /></a></div><br />
<strong>7. How many children do you want? Do you have a gender preference or names picked?</strong> <br />
<br />
Oh goodness, is it bad that I know the answer to this question and I'm not even married yet?! In my little world, I'm thinking 3 children, 2 girls and a boy. We've picked out Emma Kate, Ava ___ and William Bradley for the names thus far. Who knows, only time will tell I suppose, it is an exciting prospect though!<br />
<br />
<strong>8. What is your favorite fashion trend/look for the fall?</strong> <br />
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I've never gotten on the boot bandwagon and as I've seen them out in stores I'm secretly getting a little excited. I don't know if I'll have the gumption to actually buy and wear a pair, but it's definetly what I'm thinking about this fall.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hQ3OCwtGPytj9VhlVYC7WBVaLGU4xnLPrW82bPc9UiEytzUZfeJoqBDaD5LuIWWZhrr9XrMWEsFi2ojPBLvGmMNmlv4jGfRQhwedKgB2Av2CFSc_CGr8f4jXyX-OnsNfap9PdE6rBgM/s1600/boot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hQ3OCwtGPytj9VhlVYC7WBVaLGU4xnLPrW82bPc9UiEytzUZfeJoqBDaD5LuIWWZhrr9XrMWEsFi2ojPBLvGmMNmlv4jGfRQhwedKgB2Av2CFSc_CGr8f4jXyX-OnsNfap9PdE6rBgM/s1600/boot.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgEmIlFb72ahsZJ0H0holN1ycEmYS6Gq3amtl2GiCFj3ZIhtwyjaYmwgLpTGisxyq0Yt0jWN5Be_asCy8hAbQ7wRNbr56VaggkmZBD3S8se-zqnThJupxCjzyz23iHTjAKGdnI0JV7hXI/s1600/boot2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgEmIlFb72ahsZJ0H0holN1ycEmYS6Gq3amtl2GiCFj3ZIhtwyjaYmwgLpTGisxyq0Yt0jWN5Be_asCy8hAbQ7wRNbr56VaggkmZBD3S8se-zqnThJupxCjzyz23iHTjAKGdnI0JV7hXI/s1600/boot2.jpg" /></a></div>I'm torn because there are so many different styles of boots for so many different occasions. As you can see I'm all over the place with the styles that I like. Who knows, maybe I'll bite the bullet and get a pair eventually!<br />
<br />
Now it's your turn, answer these eight questions on your blog!<br />
<br />
1. What/where is your safe-place, your sanctuary, where you go to "get away from it all"?<br />
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2. If someone gave you a plane ticket good for anywhere in the world, where would you go?<br />
<br />
3. How do you express your creativity?<br />
<br />
4. Do you prefer wine or beer?<br />
<br />
5. What does your ideal family look like? Kids? Pets? Names?<br />
<br />
6. Where do you want to retire? (I know it's a long way away, but a girl can dream right?)<br />
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7. What do you always have stocked in the fridge?<br />
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8. Favorite TV shows? Why?<br />
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Looking forward to reading some of your answers!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970543675221062958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779081180744349021.post-75187581568612193792010-09-18T07:24:00.000-04:002010-09-18T07:24:12.863-04:00I'm in Love.......with the Command Center at my local Target store!<br />
<br />
I tell ya, those Command hooks and picture hanging tools are amazing. They come in great handy living in an apartment because honestly, the less holes you can put in the walls the better as far as I'm concerend.<br />
<br />
We've bought and used the hooks for several things around the apartment. I'm not a huge fan of how they look so they've come in handy in closets and behind doors. We've used them to hang our reusable grocery bags and other bags/purses that I wanted to get off the floor.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVEFYY1ELjz2f5X5jt2meznBx-KeJupZYnkT3Qn4ItqNd2qdugg3daKJzU8CNLN2iRmkr7mDVh98vuVWVO4pulbtFLtjIOpsjXqhmNDQ0sOJ1Llr91VoL3efCaDk_ZMVwINYnuR8DSC4/s1600/command+hooks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVEFYY1ELjz2f5X5jt2meznBx-KeJupZYnkT3Qn4ItqNd2qdugg3daKJzU8CNLN2iRmkr7mDVh98vuVWVO4pulbtFLtjIOpsjXqhmNDQ0sOJ1Llr91VoL3efCaDk_ZMVwINYnuR8DSC4/s320/command+hooks.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We've also used the picture hanging tools. Basically two pieces of velcro stuck together and stuck to the wall and the picture/whatever you are hanging. We've used them to hang a corkboard on the door (again you don't really want to put holes in the door to hang something) and to also hang other pictures on the walls. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbOrX3o4igbb8ZJgAw4zZrk4HZc2O5ojFhv4XqFCpW9-s60RHrQl203p5xzRBwiedqD7cNZFtAdaAuRNQMJ7NO32CHJBAObykmMn566bfR4pNW-oA1kROccgsQSrd3G_-E47PICOKq1E/s1600/picturehangingstrips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbOrX3o4igbb8ZJgAw4zZrk4HZc2O5ojFhv4XqFCpW9-s60RHrQl203p5xzRBwiedqD7cNZFtAdaAuRNQMJ7NO32CHJBAObykmMn566bfR4pNW-oA1kROccgsQSrd3G_-E47PICOKq1E/s320/picturehangingstrips.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Also, earlier this year we hung a set of hooks on the wall by screwing them into the wall. Of course we didn't hit studs and I use those hooks to hold heavy bookbags, purses, umbrellas and rain jackets so needless to say it starting to pull out of the wall. Command to the rescue!!!! All I need to do is go to the store and get them. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">They're great little tools. The picture hanging set comes with 3 sets and each set can hold 3 lbs. That means that if you used 3 sets of them to hold something up it can hold up to 9 lbs. So those little pieces are strongs!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">They've even got an entire <a href="http://www.command.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/NACommand/Command/">website</a> detailing their products and they've got coupons. You should check it out. We love them!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970543675221062958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779081180744349021.post-52344578896280699312010-08-13T22:38:00.000-04:002010-08-13T22:38:59.528-04:00True Confession Thursday (again on a Friday :))My feet HURT and... gulp... I have officially worn support hose (eek)!!!!<br />
<br />
I've been at this new internship at a local hospital for just two weeks now and my feet are killing me!! My clinical instructor told me to wear comfortable shoes but this is just crazy. I thought I could get by on wearing my tennis shoes which really aren't that old or worn out...um WRONG! <br />
<br />
So of course I told my mom and we just HAD to go shoe shopping to get something more suitable for my toesies (especially my little toe on the left foot). We went to a scrubs/uniform store where we had recently bought new super cool (if there is such a thing) scrubs. I ended up picking out a pair of black "nurse" shoes that came highly recommended by the sales lady and a pair of support hose since my calves have been killing me recently.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-IEWPJx18FcbnRzeYA2U-WyhGjn1zW71EALobmuIUQHZoUcMrUWxUsG6n_lI3RCJpPmaNFSCWtCsXedRy1Z34OAMxwL6cq23zQDy6xixZZfmC6xyQKeRiJ0AsGED-OMTiBPZBHT-gl8/s1600/shoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-IEWPJx18FcbnRzeYA2U-WyhGjn1zW71EALobmuIUQHZoUcMrUWxUsG6n_lI3RCJpPmaNFSCWtCsXedRy1Z34OAMxwL6cq23zQDy6xixZZfmC6xyQKeRiJ0AsGED-OMTiBPZBHT-gl8/s320/shoes.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">My new kicks ;)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>And on Monday I put on my gear complete with the new shoes and the support hose and made my trek into work. I don't know why I thought I could wear a brand new pair of shoes for 9 hours straight with no break at all because now my feet hurt even more and have blisters! Literally today everytime I was alone with a co-worker (not as creepy as I just made that sound) all I could think about is how they can stand for 9 hours with their feet not hurting, they must have super feet or something.<br />
<br />
Anyway I'm jealous of my co-worker's feet and the fact that they don't have to wear support hose. I'm glad it's the weakend so I can let my feet relax and we'll try this again on Monday.<br />
<br />
On a completely differenct note, Stephen's brother is coming into town from Germany tomorrow. I haven't seen him in two years since he allowed Stephen and I to stay with him and his partner for 3 weeks while we were touring Europe. He's staying for 3 weeks and it should be a good time. We're all excited!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvuWrHkX8VR5_R96qB32nfUWq8V3vaNaAIfBjQzYPm8EJxH2iI_6EliAhLRGRd1aVGSuTOPk0yMZ3RF1ocszLc2lK4v3Voxy6n6jTYJ3lAPvMHIRrdPGQb4wepYF96Ek8uauZ16hQmk4/s1600/Randy.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvuWrHkX8VR5_R96qB32nfUWq8V3vaNaAIfBjQzYPm8EJxH2iI_6EliAhLRGRd1aVGSuTOPk0yMZ3RF1ocszLc2lK4v3Voxy6n6jTYJ3lAPvMHIRrdPGQb4wepYF96Ek8uauZ16hQmk4/s320/Randy.bmp" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Randy (Stephen's big bro), Me and Stephen in Trier in the summer of 2008.</span></div><br />
Everyone enjoy the weekend!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970543675221062958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779081180744349021.post-33850354757763217962010-08-06T18:52:00.000-04:002010-08-06T18:52:04.716-04:00Back to School ShoppingWell, this year at this back to school time, it feels weird that my "back to school" lists don't contain the essentials I've needed to survive graduate school for the past 2 years including: 3 inch binders, highlighters, post-its, pens, pencils, etc...<br />
<br />
Instead, my back to school list included the following:<br />
<ul><li>New scrubs for rehab and acute care internships</li>
<li>Unattractive but comfortable shoes also for above internships and potentially the job I get next year</li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">New lunch box</li>
</ul><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0QGUlLic1Nw6tTZuYzWH7CTrFkGmFEnFZys4YEr-Lp1uVx7WVZMP_3iF61On5lbZVrwtFS_k0LCMWmLX0S3m4fbC2rnmG8KZonwZa2KUMaiwEtn1jzw11kalY1lJuIWvb-tiYfIA2DZ0/s1600/lunch+box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0QGUlLic1Nw6tTZuYzWH7CTrFkGmFEnFZys4YEr-Lp1uVx7WVZMP_3iF61On5lbZVrwtFS_k0LCMWmLX0S3m4fbC2rnmG8KZonwZa2KUMaiwEtn1jzw11kalY1lJuIWvb-tiYfIA2DZ0/s320/lunch+box.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">I'm liking theis from Target</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">Also...TGIF!!!!!</div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970543675221062958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779081180744349021.post-19943064853491531592010-08-02T21:23:00.000-04:002010-08-02T21:23:18.439-04:00Here we go Again! Rants and RavesRave:<br />
1 day down <br />
<br />
Rant:<br />
39 to go<br />
<br />
Is it bad that I'm already counting down the days to the end of my second clinical internship when I've only had orientation and haven't even met my clinical instructor yet?<br />
<br />
I think NOT!<br />
<br />
Rave:<br />
I am, however, excited about this experience. It is in the acute care field at a local hospital and I've heard from several good friends that they actually enjoyed the acute care setting more than they ever thought they would. I'm still anxious to meet my clinical instructor and to see what it really is like to be a physical therapist in the hospitals in acute care.<br />
<br />
Rave:<br />
Apparently several of my classmates are potentially in the same building as I am for this rotation, I do know for a fact, that one of my good friends, Nikki (check out her cute blog <a href="http://astheworldspinsmadlyon.blogspot.com/">here</a>), is there because we spent today in orientation together! It makes the day go by much better when you've got a good friend with you.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKslz0-qcgvJIVPSfkZlcX5qVmd2t_xdsSmXEx-iyfTrBuvF2ZwDwYgRiVFYH27j78oGRsBGTw9ey1T7_Tw5Z0yjLV8rhYLQzWlhyrMsoAJBl5SqHeetQiFmT7qBeEfbMFXo7Z1PFjFWQ/s1600/nikki.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKslz0-qcgvJIVPSfkZlcX5qVmd2t_xdsSmXEx-iyfTrBuvF2ZwDwYgRiVFYH27j78oGRsBGTw9ey1T7_Tw5Z0yjLV8rhYLQzWlhyrMsoAJBl5SqHeetQiFmT7qBeEfbMFXo7Z1PFjFWQ/s320/nikki.bmp" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Nikki and Me</span></div>Rant:<br />
Parking at a busy hospital...enough said.<br />
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All in all I'm excited to get this one going!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970543675221062958noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779081180744349021.post-6918588592431497922010-07-29T23:20:00.000-04:002010-07-29T23:20:21.282-04:00True Confession ThursdayI miss my friends...<br />
<br />
My two best friends in the whole wide world are hundreds of miles away. My friend Katie is living it up in Pennsylvania doing God knows what ;) and my friend Katybeth if off digging up rocks in Montana or Wyoming, some amazingly beautiful northwestern state. All of this adds up to...I miss my friends. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJgXpwlvYD6R4OuWcCwFquueZY8Uvc6dHt312KZItwqzc1Sj9wZsbKKFhE16_-65gl_t8D2g9RexmTPhpOf88UMeLuEwlCIo3NBnvdgybUPyCGZwhhAFGXSVbe04TktZLpfW8iQclVx0/s1600/Threesome.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJgXpwlvYD6R4OuWcCwFquueZY8Uvc6dHt312KZItwqzc1Sj9wZsbKKFhE16_-65gl_t8D2g9RexmTPhpOf88UMeLuEwlCIo3NBnvdgybUPyCGZwhhAFGXSVbe04TktZLpfW8iQclVx0/s320/Threesome.bmp" /></a></div><br />
I'm sure everyone can relate to missing those people that have been with you for sooooo long, those people that you have inside jokes going all the way back to 7th grade or those people that you always feel comfortable with. Luckily though, Katie is supposidly coming back around mid-August so I'll get to see here soon but unfortunately, Katybeth is probably not coming back til October.<br />
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So what will I do in the mean-time (aside from hanging out with some awesome people that are still in Louisville, working 40 hours a week without pay and trying to find time for myself)? well...I guess I could crack open a book and study for the boards :/Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970543675221062958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779081180744349021.post-6253334987619735232010-07-28T16:35:00.000-04:002010-07-28T16:35:10.897-04:00Caution! Wild Animals!Beware of the boxed wild Amanda! On Tuesday, Stephen and I took advantage of the cloudy, cool day and headed out to the zoo. I couldn't resist climbing into this crate and pretending to be an animal, I just couldn't stop laughing long enough to actually imitate an animal! <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykBCrDy2o3xEiJ_z1EgrN4L2cAwyA8RhDYQjQjuxY1iaGdgsZ6nM77gJfIubqKKOb6j4WvKvDYNf2Opmf9_k3Nl5460FkJUuYr7Z6nwrgycjuumuuZlDbMN3A8cF6UNGlVFgz02AAasc/s1600/P7261403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykBCrDy2o3xEiJ_z1EgrN4L2cAwyA8RhDYQjQjuxY1iaGdgsZ6nM77gJfIubqKKOb6j4WvKvDYNf2Opmf9_k3Nl5460FkJUuYr7Z6nwrgycjuumuuZlDbMN3A8cF6UNGlVFgz02AAasc/s320/P7261403.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We had a great time roaming the grounds and observing all the great animals and the construction going on. There was one disappointment though...I thought the polar bear exhibit would be up and ready...it wasn't :( So I guess I have to wait a little bit longer to see my lovely polar bears.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Anyway we had a great time watching all the other animals...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjGDfu6sGrcb7ehXsrhUqwhbvVO-rL6-4cOJkBiRl7k3deWzHMDxIi67eM97SzVNw1Tem5qBpFYKoHZUnHEz2GK9p3NOG9Q1y3pFplu4EKSVI1nasasc9nWD0ilH0LDC6yJaIoAliAcw/s1600/P7261402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjGDfu6sGrcb7ehXsrhUqwhbvVO-rL6-4cOJkBiRl7k3deWzHMDxIi67eM97SzVNw1Tem5qBpFYKoHZUnHEz2GK9p3NOG9Q1y3pFplu4EKSVI1nasasc9nWD0ilH0LDC6yJaIoAliAcw/s320/P7261402.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">The hippo!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_W4Pbpnz8MKTKsvZ1YEbcOgp03gYq69LYEzZFP787WPb410NcKgQot7UQM9dZe7qgcck6S4zyYp2lGG-ulIhw5Qlf8jYrphwx3fzaNcAd5C6j2jCGgHnuSmvrZJhzDxMZ1Af5jzWXIk/s1600/P7261383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_W4Pbpnz8MKTKsvZ1YEbcOgp03gYq69LYEzZFP787WPb410NcKgQot7UQM9dZe7qgcck6S4zyYp2lGG-ulIhw5Qlf8jYrphwx3fzaNcAd5C6j2jCGgHnuSmvrZJhzDxMZ1Af5jzWXIk/s320/P7261383.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">The monkey/orangutan/ape/some kind of primate!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOI7yyJVEtxoFPCdjzQb9edRILiXYcaNBVBdOQ5dL-VIXKEXM-L17UOW3j1bI66NgI3eOV-dZmU5QGnz7qiCUPyafAxjslV7EAt_8Qa7-B1y3ZQqnG50PiPXfnb9jIZAqrs7T_u9o85dg/s1600/P7261391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOI7yyJVEtxoFPCdjzQb9edRILiXYcaNBVBdOQ5dL-VIXKEXM-L17UOW3j1bI66NgI3eOV-dZmU5QGnz7qiCUPyafAxjslV7EAt_8Qa7-B1y3ZQqnG50PiPXfnb9jIZAqrs7T_u9o85dg/s320/P7261391.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">The penguins!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixh1FsLULV55dxr1jOWHkMSmkrnOti0mRim1rIih4Xb7diDADjrGeHrP43AeRQDyBGhiKGWgeiW-qXjCf_X-5FjBay204W7TsmDdRKsMKuOM0mgksNzxdQXtiZpMDBYDOz-zQk_GRBVk4/s1600/P7261382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixh1FsLULV55dxr1jOWHkMSmkrnOti0mRim1rIih4Xb7diDADjrGeHrP43AeRQDyBGhiKGWgeiW-qXjCf_X-5FjBay204W7TsmDdRKsMKuOM0mgksNzxdQXtiZpMDBYDOz-zQk_GRBVk4/s320/P7261382.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">A sculpture by Bob Lockhart!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-eybsVoTi1sgXK6XkS22D3b-t-3n_N1r5Ks0agfG1E54MZ8smrqmeyseIBvYCiHA0VJCbjax8Lmz_TkOqKLnWm2v1xSrvdvgWBZ2X4LIBPrvBH6xPYousS28Yp6ew8OtR3wSuWAKFI20/s1600/P7261394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-eybsVoTi1sgXK6XkS22D3b-t-3n_N1r5Ks0agfG1E54MZ8smrqmeyseIBvYCiHA0VJCbjax8Lmz_TkOqKLnWm2v1xSrvdvgWBZ2X4LIBPrvBH6xPYousS28Yp6ew8OtR3wSuWAKFI20/s320/P7261394.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">The elephants!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmAwrTCT257ioJC6tyca_p3DQJZNzPKK4if8Ovf3K1y5JCZ96UqB3IY7jIAKo6eIIbMuXV5LyHr7974EGMnBEsldhkZRKAsSW1ZoRMGZMbHEP8fzaYh4qOPYnseLvx754blheqKjyV4o/s1600/P7261393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmAwrTCT257ioJC6tyca_p3DQJZNzPKK4if8Ovf3K1y5JCZ96UqB3IY7jIAKo6eIIbMuXV5LyHr7974EGMnBEsldhkZRKAsSW1ZoRMGZMbHEP8fzaYh4qOPYnseLvx754blheqKjyV4o/s320/P7261393.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">The Stephen!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">All in all, Stephen and I had a great time at the zoo observing all the animals. We just don't get out there enough! Hope everyone else is enjoying the week so far.</div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970543675221062958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779081180744349021.post-85185231744939126962010-07-25T20:36:00.002-04:002010-07-26T22:47:26.901-04:003-D...Are you with me?Yesterday Stephen and I went and saw <i>Despicable Me </i>in 3-D. Stephen and I are suckers for animated films these days (love how they have subject matter that is above kid's heads so it makes it entertaining for adults as well, but they also always have a great story). Anyway, while this was not our first animated film in theaters as adults, it was our first experience with the mainstream theater 3-D film.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixlj0Vfv-4KfTlfEXg5gen2HO6EaqTFp327U8ely-Ny0emkFuvO2nGaHdzlIpfrfIv5MW80sA7dE-gYBHELqsUkvQe2gWlvkrpSy0PddZ4E9r0QAaFYXBrk9IlxxEEtoVagtsAKfv60c0/s1600/despicable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixlj0Vfv-4KfTlfEXg5gen2HO6EaqTFp327U8ely-Ny0emkFuvO2nGaHdzlIpfrfIv5MW80sA7dE-gYBHELqsUkvQe2gWlvkrpSy0PddZ4E9r0QAaFYXBrk9IlxxEEtoVagtsAKfv60c0/s320/despicable.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">-Image courtesy of Google search "Despicable Me"-</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Since the 3-D option became available I've always been hesitant. But I must say that our first experience was a great one. I really enjoyed the film and the 3-D element, I think, added to it. There was one scene in particular that was especially interesting with the 3-D; this was one with a roller coaster and it really felt like you were riding a coaster.<br />
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The 3-D coaster ride got me excited and thinking about the upcoming Kentucky State Fair! It's funny but up until I met Stephen I really hadn't been to the fair in literally years. But Stephen's family loves the fair and they've helped me to find a new love of the fair. Thinking about the fair got me thinking about yummy fair food. These are the foods I'm looking forward to (and thank goodness their only available once a year otherwise I'd be spending a lot more time in the gym :)):<br />
<ul><li>Corn dogs</li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMffqHuy_J6gVJR7PmnwwMCwn5FosQ2vSYUGQQ6khlsOpsiz5sXdgMdKEsvDyLxVplHAcp2QBjZgyJTRybqiGaeZ2foe2suzSSRoSY0P8z6C_rlO9LLq4eHJmnMKdMQT8pHNpGBAycwYk/s1600/corn+dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMffqHuy_J6gVJR7PmnwwMCwn5FosQ2vSYUGQQ6khlsOpsiz5sXdgMdKEsvDyLxVplHAcp2QBjZgyJTRybqiGaeZ2foe2suzSSRoSY0P8z6C_rlO9LLq4eHJmnMKdMQT8pHNpGBAycwYk/s320/corn+dog.jpg" /></a></div><ul><li>German roasted nuts</li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GrIUfJs9VHUILRDrgREfmt4aTSXiI8oSTrBqXZgY_nrTbr5mAVu7ozGM-HuI-nm0cVh83InuHNnzAr-4MnQ3WE5p0h39SQHYdZBaY_XwsFRUwczm4xz6GhqVKLia9nJsmklxFksndV4/s1600/nuts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GrIUfJs9VHUILRDrgREfmt4aTSXiI8oSTrBqXZgY_nrTbr5mAVu7ozGM-HuI-nm0cVh83InuHNnzAr-4MnQ3WE5p0h39SQHYdZBaY_XwsFRUwczm4xz6GhqVKLia9nJsmklxFksndV4/s320/nuts.jpg" /></a></div><ul><li>Grater Taters</li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2n6t30YVuPfohFHr7rhAJHDhfSNtovYr94hpNyaqkrRmT31tmgtcaY5FwgTFZeBxhdpIQE6UDjw0EbSzm-rpYdhIaa66DfFA0U6Rw61PShNjArZUsv019Hi2ff4fyV_FVYvgZAUgikI/s1600/grater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2n6t30YVuPfohFHr7rhAJHDhfSNtovYr94hpNyaqkrRmT31tmgtcaY5FwgTFZeBxhdpIQE6UDjw0EbSzm-rpYdhIaa66DfFA0U6Rw61PShNjArZUsv019Hi2ff4fyV_FVYvgZAUgikI/s320/grater.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">-Images courtesy of Google Images searched under the names of the foods-</span> </div><br />
Yummy! My mouth is salivating just thinking about it. Anyone have some favorite fair foods?!?Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970543675221062958noreply@blogger.com0