tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18066276114402355502024-03-06T02:56:18.962-05:00From Colfax To XelaGypsies at heart, we’ve packed up our apartment, left our jobs & said our goodbyes with hopes of making a difference in the lives of many as well as our own Share in our adventure as we uproot ourselves from the mile high city & road trip through Mexico, on our way to a new home & new way of life in Guatemala.Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271660576870843649noreply@blogger.comBlogger410125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806627611440235550.post-7973307212865845352011-11-23T06:00:00.000-05:002011-11-23T06:00:14.829-05:00Say cheese, Baby!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1miTPHeZwZeGolos9W68QSFn5LR3_FBagE-FDximpC_TowwUg_ar_E0KLBp7LChP9kKHPb7_XYi0NG73PNKe_GEDEuYx77w4mZkbqirDJhujawu2H6vDgrOTpumZbWWk1WZEyLGstPFG/s1600/DSC_0459.jpg"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUX-nlZ9zHCTKH9g_VChbGGosvaQLn0M9ed3ZUu2JferRW-G6f5RbGMthXK5uBDsw4EobfXJJwwmwwEjqClwGQ7-m_KRgcAfZj52Jb701dCJsLKJfI23sr0S3prsAzBghSxKD18JvZITz1/s1600/DSC_0379.jpg"></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Obviously if you've been around this blog for a while you have probably noticed that I'm a bit of an amateur photographer - more like a hobbyist. I really love it, but never really dedicate the time to enhancing my abilities. I feel like setting up and framing the photos is natural to me, but my technical shooting and editing skills need some intervention. When you have a really interesting subject (um, hello Guatemala) though, it's pretty hard to take a bad photo.<br /><br />This past year however, I've found myself less than inspired photographically speaking. Most of our home photos are more for documentation purposes rather than "art" and quite honestly we don't really go anywhere worth toting along the old Nikon. </span> <span style="font-family:arial;">Recently though, I've found myself newly inspired by some seriously cute baby girls in my life!<br /><br />Back in August my good friend Julie gave birth to a sweet baby girl Finley Grace. Coincidentally Julie and I share a serious passion for all things creative & decor (especially when it comes to the color gray) so back in October of course we found a way to translate our passions (and </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.pinterest.com/">pinnings</a><span style="font-family:arial;">) into the most adorable Halloween project that could ever exist. This project required 4 easy things.<br />1.) an adorable baby (that was easy)<br />2.) a pumpkin<br />3.) a pretty back drop<br />4). a camera<br /><br />Put those 4 ingredients together and this is what you get.<br /><br /></span> <div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;">Little Pumpkin Finley.....and her beautiful mama.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUX-nlZ9zHCTKH9g_VChbGGosvaQLn0M9ed3ZUu2JferRW-G6f5RbGMthXK5uBDsw4EobfXJJwwmwwEjqClwGQ7-m_KRgcAfZj52Jb701dCJsLKJfI23sr0S3prsAzBghSxKD18JvZITz1/s1600/DSC_0379.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUX-nlZ9zHCTKH9g_VChbGGosvaQLn0M9ed3ZUu2JferRW-G6f5RbGMthXK5uBDsw4EobfXJJwwmwwEjqClwGQ7-m_KRgcAfZj52Jb701dCJsLKJfI23sr0S3prsAzBghSxKD18JvZITz1/s400/DSC_0379.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678042351715955410" border="0" /></a><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjnuFCf-9NY3VcCLYfwV93OmkvB19zoZ7SDu63qkzo81Q5_0D7_4NJSrw7ezMpO3rX9kxXuItI2HFhJ0nWAUgejjYGZ1TCHNNCELAogO5BNs5BrHcSGzw6bGCfHFd41FwHeqWnhq1O_a9/s1600/DSC_0379.jpg"></a> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Isn't that photo just about the most precious/hilarious/freakin' cute thing you've ever seen? </span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />I seriously don't know if I will ever think of anything that could top a baby in a pumpkin. I won't go into the funny details as to how Little Pumpkin Finley came to be because you can read it on </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://spaghettiwaffles.blogspot.com/2011/10/put-her-in-pumpkin-shell_21.html">Julie's blog</a><span style="font-family:arial;">, but this is the day that resparked my love for photography. </span> <div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Here's another cute one from that day too. </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZqnNh55toe5EDytym3Sp9PrOXfVeUmpIu6I9myhIutJ60uHWz-U-9Vps4HqL4QIpl_HxMv11-UcpVbgYw9ViLKeDp4gV6ZrXhgOYoffG-dTeBNXGgHib7bLEQji1UY-BNbesFBem4SUlu/s1600/DSC_0459.jpg"></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Can you think of a better job than taking photos of babies? or kids? or families? </span> <span style="font-family:arial;">I don't know if I can.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">Except for maybe starting up a interior design business with Julie. </span> <span style="font-family:arial;">(PS. Keep me in mind as your personal assistant when you decide to go off on your own, Julie.)<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1miTPHeZwZeGolos9W68QSFn5LR3_FBagE-FDximpC_TowwUg_ar_E0KLBp7LChP9kKHPb7_XYi0NG73PNKe_GEDEuYx77w4mZkbqirDJhujawu2H6vDgrOTpumZbWWk1WZEyLGstPFG/s1600/DSC_0459.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1miTPHeZwZeGolos9W68QSFn5LR3_FBagE-FDximpC_TowwUg_ar_E0KLBp7LChP9kKHPb7_XYi0NG73PNKe_GEDEuYx77w4mZkbqirDJhujawu2H6vDgrOTpumZbWWk1WZEyLGstPFG/s400/DSC_0459.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678042356317781890" border="0" /></a></div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Then again just last week, we joined forces again for Finley Photo Shoot #2. This time the objective was to capture <strike>our</strike> her baby girl amongst some beautiful Autumn foliage.<br /><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Objective Achieved.<br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> <a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFC0k-Pzr-OLN39t4C4LPLpxz7A96D-XSIsSmDrp2Q4ZYNauM6Sg8AvlJe_sXxg1N-OKXk2zQm_m_ENfpPHdUg9Ajc7X0IJssri7tBuAgxdgRpJlgEpXzMW6RkyDTrP3CJdcnrtA_Gb3qB/s1600/DSC_0425.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFC0k-Pzr-OLN39t4C4LPLpxz7A96D-XSIsSmDrp2Q4ZYNauM6Sg8AvlJe_sXxg1N-OKXk2zQm_m_ENfpPHdUg9Ajc7X0IJssri7tBuAgxdgRpJlgEpXzMW6RkyDTrP3CJdcnrtA_Gb3qB/s400/DSC_0425.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678020468278697730" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />My oh my, how Finley has grown! Look at that personality!<br /><br /></span> <a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBke6iGATxh222CAWK_FbKxbE0Q8CtOgc1FFyMC0LxaQEbugAyhXMCry5UOE2E2fDGtK_uNOAfLWdREFX7Wmz0_DIAtoX3n-QDO7dRCDjJFyS5vtv2czgymwv3qsJQIQ37Ifba3FHI8z4g/s1600/DSC_0405.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBke6iGATxh222CAWK_FbKxbE0Q8CtOgc1FFyMC0LxaQEbugAyhXMCry5UOE2E2fDGtK_uNOAfLWdREFX7Wmz0_DIAtoX3n-QDO7dRCDjJFyS5vtv2czgymwv3qsJQIQ37Ifba3FHI8z4g/s400/DSC_0405.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678020431701230018" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />That baby girl really loves her mama & so do I!<br /><br /></span> <a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTjGl47zhqBZ_bpJ1KEm4LIqmt-C55Yuur6uQc7jmRyF-jNfPX2alZ2bpJ3IGVymhbQ0oYscfuj438J68O-uB-n680g-9furIXepE-HrGfxxu647GyuDKa-8LzTfK8w79Ln8HM2SRZT82U/s1600/DSC_0400.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTjGl47zhqBZ_bpJ1KEm4LIqmt-C55Yuur6uQc7jmRyF-jNfPX2alZ2bpJ3IGVymhbQ0oYscfuj438J68O-uB-n680g-9furIXepE-HrGfxxu647GyuDKa-8LzTfK8w79Ln8HM2SRZT82U/s400/DSC_0400.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678020417313343778" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Hamming it up, Finley G!<br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3XuyHdfJdy3lMmi_FabpDd2xPlIvRBwyWr2zJyDZPS5zKF03l57p73GoH8ofy2NbObHSW-LEvo-Gl_MefqyqS2NJB8TU4s60l0dQztOrYJ3EqcV9veT1Bx-7Ou3eaufpqVV6vfIucCp6V/s1600/DSC_0479.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3XuyHdfJdy3lMmi_FabpDd2xPlIvRBwyWr2zJyDZPS5zKF03l57p73GoH8ofy2NbObHSW-LEvo-Gl_MefqyqS2NJB8TU4s60l0dQztOrYJ3EqcV9veT1Bx-7Ou3eaufpqVV6vfIucCp6V/s400/DSC_0479.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678040782967864226" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">There's now where she'd rather be than propped in her Bumbo in a bunch of tall grass.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7O0eu6Ptz3MIohPhETRyHNY92jLUK22nfZSPlZFDIw4DcHBHKvxJ8S46YDFJnvB1WEs4zHZB1ee9YNmoY1ALNmmmjU7DyXtH5VAO3uvt7L1Yb6E0TCRHw4yPDJaHYGXwapT2iPkscKqw7/s1600/DSC_0490.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7O0eu6Ptz3MIohPhETRyHNY92jLUK22nfZSPlZFDIw4DcHBHKvxJ8S46YDFJnvB1WEs4zHZB1ee9YNmoY1ALNmmmjU7DyXtH5VAO3uvt7L1Yb6E0TCRHw4yPDJaHYGXwapT2iPkscKqw7/s400/DSC_0490.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678040792214222498" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">She was really taken by Mia & smiled really big each time she barked.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> <a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5exqt_VyHdWMospxD4hf87m1AdYPYqd8bqrPAnnT-u1AGSmvwSZ7bvDLOnr89blUct2vx50TOBsM-gJdM3oBPLJc36AKOvm-ht7w_a3zy8C5Wr4Me6I3QUb8kL_8aN20-vndlkGcJo4T/s1600/DSC_0328.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5exqt_VyHdWMospxD4hf87m1AdYPYqd8bqrPAnnT-u1AGSmvwSZ7bvDLOnr89blUct2vx50TOBsM-gJdM3oBPLJc36AKOvm-ht7w_a3zy8C5Wr4Me6I3QUb8kL_8aN20-vndlkGcJo4T/s400/DSC_0328.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678019605978772882" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Doesn't she look like an opera singer here? So funny!<br /><br /></span> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">On a side note, my mom knitted those baby legs for Finny. Aren't they the cutest? Julie should be a stylist. She really knows how to put together a great look!</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />The day we shot the photos, the weather was perfect. We had lunch, we shopped & then we ended up in Freedom Park, which is pretty much Charlotte's equivalent to Washington Park in Denver. I don't know if I've ever seen the park look so stunning. We joked that I should set up a card table with some signage and cute props in the park and sell inpromptu photo sessions at $25 a pop. It was sort of a joke, but it kind of got me thinking. <br /><br /></span> <div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_C-VFzWDIJfI1iJ1AKloejTtV0RKrn9sPoSuN_VPOqX6enpTgRco6-4krQydXmN1wwf8Xr3FhI3NxkK2KJAFTD7RpsSDLXhuLIc5QyJB-oz831pElcLNujBTEb5YvlexBkaDhkRgvuMQ/s1600/DSC_0387.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_C-VFzWDIJfI1iJ1AKloejTtV0RKrn9sPoSuN_VPOqX6enpTgRco6-4krQydXmN1wwf8Xr3FhI3NxkK2KJAFTD7RpsSDLXhuLIc5QyJB-oz831pElcLNujBTEb5YvlexBkaDhkRgvuMQ/s400/DSC_0387.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678020412410803218" border="0" /></a><br /><br /> <span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsuKT1ff8Ju1HGqR3P4B3jvUPJ5T6QChyphenhyphenEvCdPDZe0vgH-tjGLzYEtiUKPlDrJdVgz9c9xVLwHDC5HQefYEJ48C0YzFhWxIbLxpHFyvdwGHeojkjgObAf2GIfhUvwkBn5ARoxoAmsjRcS/s1600/DSC_0371.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsuKT1ff8Ju1HGqR3P4B3jvUPJ5T6QChyphenhyphenEvCdPDZe0vgH-tjGLzYEtiUKPlDrJdVgz9c9xVLwHDC5HQefYEJ48C0YzFhWxIbLxpHFyvdwGHeojkjgObAf2GIfhUvwkBn5ARoxoAmsjRcS/s400/DSC_0371.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678019627875816514" border="0" /></a> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />It was a day amongst many that I will hold very near and dear since it was one of the last outings that Julie and I had together before she moved back to Texas. Sadly (for me) but happily for her, today Julie and her little family of three will board a plane to Dallas where their families live, and settle into a new life there. I suppose this is what life is all about, meeting amazing people, opening up your life to them and creating wonderful memories together - whether it be over decades or just a couple of months. By this point in my life, I've made many friends and unfortunately also said goodbye to many of them too. I can't say that it ever gets easier, but each time it happens it does remind me that I've been very blessed. Every so often one of those friendships slips itself into a special little place in heart and mind, a place where I know that no matter where life takes us, we'll always share a connection. While they are few and far between I've been fortunate enough to fill my heart with a handful of these special friends and Julie, you are one of them. I wish you much luck in Dallas, but always know how much you & your little Finnikins will be missed here in Charlotte. Safe Travels friend!<br /><br /></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271660576870843649noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806627611440235550.post-66056108080752807042011-11-17T21:12:00.005-05:002011-11-17T22:33:23.977-05:00MissingIt's gone. We lost it. Not lost as in it can't be found, but rather lost like we know exactly where it is. Our insurance company took it away. We're getting reimbursed, but we'd rather just have it back....in working condition.<br /><br />Are you confused? Let me explain what I'm talking about. Our Vespa.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">This Vespa.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCka2S9BVAVar4t8UaGdksMN3rCRBbbuk1mlPjr5dkM9NtPzTEu6krMTi57duMTtC9v0WJzgLkndJ7Yw1-ewEPP3nZP5daEHy6O3NWY7v_1Q6tHlxhcfYo_F0bxO88l_7wrTaraFnGZOjJ/s1600/DSC_0286.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCka2S9BVAVar4t8UaGdksMN3rCRBbbuk1mlPjr5dkM9NtPzTEu6krMTi57duMTtC9v0WJzgLkndJ7Yw1-ewEPP3nZP5daEHy6O3NWY7v_1Q6tHlxhcfYo_F0bxO88l_7wrTaraFnGZOjJ/s400/DSC_0286.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676153263783170146" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Back in 2007, 3 years after living as a 1 car family we made the decision to purchase a new set of wheels. Since we didn't really have a need for a new car, but we did sometimes need a secondary mode of transportation, a scooter was the logical choice. We shopped around and fell in love with the ever classic Vespa. Sure, it was the most expensive option, but it was also the best investment. Yes, I was scared at first. Scared to be on the road with big scary cars. Scared to ride it by myself, but soon became comfortable with it and was zipping all over town, loving life. Even when we went to live in Guatemala, the scooter still was loved, this time by our friend Brian who took very good care of her (I used to call her Midnight Rider).<br /><br />Fast forward a couple of years to Charlotte. Like I mentioned a couple of posts ago, this city has race car fever. That in combination with not knowing my way around with my GPS glued to my nose meant that our beloved scooter wasn't getting much use. So last spring, determined to put her to good use, we devised a plan to take at least 1 night a week around the uptown area - exploring the city and spending time together having fun (not working on the house), just like old times. Our first night out we hit the First Friday Art Walk in NoDa. It was fun....you know, fun for here. Since our house doesn't have a garage and our outside basement entrance has some seriously steep stairs we agreed to triple lock it to a tree at the end of our driveway.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Exhibit A.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-kqCjnk5ltCMpM55Ut8C_JxbWVWOLDSQ2DBNimwN9OGz9wm_TLQjJ9JnlFmB9RchE4hXKRBAY50RhgWE9lgabxqsagNr8NyGS6S6rI8Nmfqh7EwgG26PUNvXhOzxzsnS314ThKRVa4QZ/s1600/DSC_0299.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-kqCjnk5ltCMpM55Ut8C_JxbWVWOLDSQ2DBNimwN9OGz9wm_TLQjJ9JnlFmB9RchE4hXKRBAY50RhgWE9lgabxqsagNr8NyGS6S6rI8Nmfqh7EwgG26PUNvXhOzxzsnS314ThKRVa4QZ/s400/DSC_0299.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676167996230996930" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Things were going fine and our little neighbor Layne was loving sitting on it and taking it for a "ride" each afternoon. But then one day I came home from work and found our scooter facing the opposite direction. I just figured that Ben had taken it out for a spin, but that notion turned out to be negative. Scratched up from top to bottom, it was obvious that our poor scooter had been dropped and dragged through the gravel.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Exhibit B<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1u_5ud3xatV6FeS4GCj_fAdVZWZY9A12yFFpQas0UUF-731oSH-_tuyRC2Ey0RsEKQoPUdceG2xfsahLXiAfipLMm_r_sRv2jUntp0xJjOJ0GAVA46Or5wv4ezvxwM6xekULbGUtBeSMM/s1600/DSC_0287.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1u_5ud3xatV6FeS4GCj_fAdVZWZY9A12yFFpQas0UUF-731oSH-_tuyRC2Ey0RsEKQoPUdceG2xfsahLXiAfipLMm_r_sRv2jUntp0xJjOJ0GAVA46Or5wv4ezvxwM6xekULbGUtBeSMM/s400/DSC_0287.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676153265178608818" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />Further inspection proved to us that it has been tampered with, so Ben moved it to the back yard and we took a closer look. It wasn't good. Whoever messed with it damaged it bad enough that it would start. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Exhibit C<br />(a jacked up ignition)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tyqyxsC-kICJN85UD_79t2zvvMkUgO6wsIRa0r-tiU_h3pV1U9Xq1SmR2nQnv_fPJEVeLUhvr750n3kepn-EfMzw17H_tnHWq1-Y4PtlAcDfaauBKKFe2ARgYG6cBEpl1eEvYNbx72kw/s1600/DSC_0290.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tyqyxsC-kICJN85UD_79t2zvvMkUgO6wsIRa0r-tiU_h3pV1U9Xq1SmR2nQnv_fPJEVeLUhvr750n3kepn-EfMzw17H_tnHWq1-Y4PtlAcDfaauBKKFe2ARgYG6cBEpl1eEvYNbx72kw/s400/DSC_0290.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676153274973377122" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Some investigation led us to the Charlotte Vespa shop, but after several frustrating phone calls with the morons that work there and we decided that their lax attitude toward helping us proved to us that we didn't really want those kind of people working on our scooter anyway. So we turned to the only other place we knew, The Charlotte Scooter Shop, just up the street from our house. They don't sell Vespas, but they were kind enough to help diagnose our issues over a period of time (like a month). Unfortunately the outcome was grim. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Exhibit D<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJptY0obaBq14BOfwM66Dnf4f4AX6J3rNVD8EdcaVn4GjmzFEi8M9WLF6x9DaQv-2qd5BslxVU2V3qpxAI4-gjL5g4bPPUnCa_L5FdSYJztG4ekyw7QyMwrucyC_Om3iMJn2Q0xXz8AlJf/s1600/DSC_0296.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJptY0obaBq14BOfwM66Dnf4f4AX6J3rNVD8EdcaVn4GjmzFEi8M9WLF6x9DaQv-2qd5BslxVU2V3qpxAI4-gjL5g4bPPUnCa_L5FdSYJztG4ekyw7QyMwrucyC_Om3iMJn2Q0xXz8AlJf/s400/DSC_0296.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676153279976789394" border="0" /></a><br /></div></div></div></div></div><br /><br />The frame was cracked....in multiple places. They told us they would be able to weld it back together but we weren't big fans of that idea. One of the reasons we purchased a Vespa to begin with was as an investment, but if even if we had this cracked frame fixed it's value had already been compromised, no longer making it a good investment. Replacing the frame was our next option, but that turned out to be more costly that purchasing a new scooter. The truth was really sad - it was time to talk to the insurance company about totaling our faithful friend. And now here we sit today, no scooter in our driveway, waiting for our check to arrive.<br /><br />And now for even sadder news. We will not be replacing Midnight Rider. We really wish the circumstances were different, but the truth is that here in Charlotte we just can't justify spending the money on something that is just going to sit (unsafely) in our driveway. So instead we'll just talk the money and run.....straight to the bank.......to help pay off some of the debt we've accrued with the renovation of our home. There's nothing fun about that. <br /><br />And for the record, we parked that Vespa on Colfax Avenue (one of the diciest streets in Denver) for a couple of years and never had one single incident. Reason #6, Charlotte won't be our forever home. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Exhibit E<br />(happier times)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXM7_AMlBBrrJIDXzOaVGJa1iBs7GbrPZ3EGzzta47MwT_8cmHikAPzuWOZ9kFpyIEtdfDK8W4e08HnJBYCEIci2kmxD2gPmq_K8uQm5ciG2JylQhD1fV_NvFthrPZavRwZXgmhmqUAICJ/s1600/DSC_0041.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXM7_AMlBBrrJIDXzOaVGJa1iBs7GbrPZ3EGzzta47MwT_8cmHikAPzuWOZ9kFpyIEtdfDK8W4e08HnJBYCEIci2kmxD2gPmq_K8uQm5ciG2JylQhD1fV_NvFthrPZavRwZXgmhmqUAICJ/s400/DSC_0041.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676162071940609074" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271660576870843649noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806627611440235550.post-56418820891154049592011-11-10T21:15:00.005-05:002011-11-11T11:11:29.367-05:00Not quite yet<span style="font-family:arial;">Last week we finally finished up the big work in the upstairs reno and got our house keys back from the carpenter (who has been letting himself in our home for 8 months now). We thought today would be the big day, as in close out the permit big day. But alas, it looks like this accessory is going to stay put in our window for a just a bit longer. </span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4H5sHXLRTp-siJ_mQZXn4lp4gD-1yv6IaNHG9Fd1XVgoU8i2ShKfJozawR53X-Jgbe9XGc9j3OA0NMBmfeaOTNzUypIGL_3V4S42He2IGQmbOufpR3rGYEZWe7h9Fh0hKVGwNPUxVDKoo/s1600/-1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4H5sHXLRTp-siJ_mQZXn4lp4gD-1yv6IaNHG9Fd1XVgoU8i2ShKfJozawR53X-Jgbe9XGc9j3OA0NMBmfeaOTNzUypIGL_3V4S42He2IGQmbOufpR3rGYEZWe7h9Fh0hKVGwNPUxVDKoo/s400/-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673556219248971586" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">The inspector came by this morning. He didn't like a couple of things, namely the position of the light in the linen closet, the lack of a carbon monoxide detector (we have one on the 1st level) & the fact that our ugly duct work has not been boxed in. Ben also made a mistake and didn't call in the electrical & plumbing trades for the inspection. To his defense he was only doing what the carpenter/pseudo contractor (Ben is the real contractor) told him to do. So it looks like we've got a bit more work to do before we can get this monkey off our backs.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE6te72uqiisvtsKVfPBdZOA7P7IF6F9XFZ4D1k5JSmaHv_BU7vEMZ1hfg0BmrOGmh-1S6Hqbbl15Wg6xAtPD5YG9ObXIRNHE6eA3F9HIqeP7KOjo6e6yAAgYwNO5wn3v_05sQmQHLHu18/s1600/DSC_0355.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE6te72uqiisvtsKVfPBdZOA7P7IF6F9XFZ4D1k5JSmaHv_BU7vEMZ1hfg0BmrOGmh-1S6Hqbbl15Wg6xAtPD5YG9ObXIRNHE6eA3F9HIqeP7KOjo6e6yAAgYwNO5wn3v_05sQmQHLHu18/s400/DSC_0355.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673770384501135154" border="0" /></a></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">This is an older photo - now it's at least framed in, but we have to add the drywall. The worst part of it all though is that empty looking space in front of the windows is now chock full of stuff. Looks like we'll be spending our weekend having tons of fun. <strike>Sometimes</strike> Lots of times renovating your home while living in it really sucks. </span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /></span></div></div>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271660576870843649noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806627611440235550.post-44327517569828172042011-11-10T20:39:00.000-05:002011-11-10T21:06:56.289-05:00A few words<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBJS5VwEWqrh7QytDLAUs04LPiDzIunzinTbYQy3a9BFy71NFyhOk9k24QPPuaHTCy3-_yF4X7e1IRNoIq4zgbN8fugwULOoZj5C0aLskkc2Pcyt-SimlOnockcmkba3FKsKwS8G0CEKM/s1600/nittany-lion-tear.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 203px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBJS5VwEWqrh7QytDLAUs04LPiDzIunzinTbYQy3a9BFy71NFyhOk9k24QPPuaHTCy3-_yF4X7e1IRNoIq4zgbN8fugwULOoZj5C0aLskkc2Pcyt-SimlOnockcmkba3FKsKwS8G0CEKM/s400/nittany-lion-tear.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673551024905147170" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Despite current circumstances, the truth of which will most likely emerge in weeks to come, I am still proud to be a Nittany Lion. While I don't condone the acts of the involved parties or the rioting that has ensued, I feel for JoePa, Graham Spanier, and all the students & alumni as much as I do for the victims of this terrible situation. Maybe you see my side. Maybe you share my Nittany Lion pride, but I'm sure many of you don't understand. Generally, we don't try to explain. Unless you are a Buckeye, Fighting Irish, or Wolverine you probably don't get how an institution embeds itself in a student's life and remains for a lifetime. And that is fine, you don't have to understand, but some of us do. I do.</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-doPie5gBp13Z4aK6MMi50isMieh9lD7cjLB3fZuCgN6OZ6QNFWYRMxicRbg3ija1M7DrwMsntEs1tz3iOYw_TrMJURBDkkjL4iSh6ErvgG7Lcw8iF5Eyxo8Ywon20TIYjzyeTqu6N2E/s1600/381112_2608784458003_1206694767_32985720_241648804_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-doPie5gBp13Z4aK6MMi50isMieh9lD7cjLB3fZuCgN6OZ6QNFWYRMxicRbg3ija1M7DrwMsntEs1tz3iOYw_TrMJURBDkkjL4iSh6ErvgG7Lcw8iF5Eyxo8Ywon20TIYjzyeTqu6N2E/s400/381112_2608784458003_1206694767_32985720_241648804_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673548664633538530" border="0" /></a>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271660576870843649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806627611440235550.post-87280713373877015872011-11-09T18:24:00.009-05:002011-11-13T20:49:35.829-05:00Here it is.<span style="font-family:arial;">Things have been falling into place on the house front around here lately. We've been quite busy - working from early morning until the sun goes down all weekend long, so sorry for the lack of recent posts. I'll try to follow up soon with photos of the finished & nearly finished projects. Our upstairs permit reno is finally coming to a close. Hopefully we'll be getting our final inspection this Friday. After that we just need to clean, hang the wallpaper (we'll be hiring out) & mount some shelving in the linen closet and our bathroom will be open for business. YAY!! After that permit is closed out we can officially begin the rest of the work up there. Maybe we'll even be moving in upstairs by late next spring.....maybe! </span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />My real reason for writing this post however is because today is the day I am finally going to say what's been on my mind (& Ben's too - we're in agreement about all of what's to come) for </span> <span style="font-family:arial;">the past 1 year, 2 months & 6 days. In other words, exactly how long we've been living in Charlotte. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />First let me start with a couple of warnings. </span> <span style="font-family:arial;">What you are about to read (#1) will not contain any photos so if you tune if to look at the pretty pictures you should probably just close out this window and move on to some other blog. (#2) You may be offended by what you are about to read. It's not all bad, but there is quite a bit of negativity about to be written so if you'd rather not be bogged down, Goodbye. I hope you come back for future posts. To <strike>my</strike> our defense though, this is a written diary of our lives, projects & experiences, not a fairy tale with a happy ending - real life.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">If you don't like it, go write your own.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">This post has not been premeditated, nor has it been carefully written, reread or revised. It does not reflect all aspects of our lives here nor is it final. It's just the way I'm feeling right at this moment. That's my disclaimer. I'm human. Things are always subject to change.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Honestly, it's not that we don't like Charlotte, because we do - or at least we are </span><strike style="font-family: arial;">learning</strike><span style="font-family:arial;"> trying to. It's just that the culture here is so different from the laid back, friendly, peaceful ways of Colorado that we are simply noticing, experiencing & reflecting on the differences. There are a lot of great things about North Carolina in general that we've come to love. To prove it, here's a quick list off the top of my head. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">What we ♥ about NC: BBQ, trees, the diversity (definitely more than CO has), having mountains, beaches & other cities nearby, the physical beauty of the city of Charlotte, the quaint bungalow homes & many of the people we've met, including various co-workers & neighbors (except for the crazy one in the pink house across the street).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">There are a couple of major issues that we however also have with Charlotte. Bear in mind that I am speaking in generalizations. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">#1. People are overly focused on money & things</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Everybody around here seems to want you to know that they have money. From their shiny, flashy luxury or want-to-be luxury vehicles to their beach or mountain houses, the old money speaks loudly here in Charlotte & the new money is equally as vocal. It is my observation that the longer the drawl the more dough they want you to believe is stored away in their bank account! Seriously though, it seems like every young person here drives some sort of luxury vehicle - almost like a rite of passage. You're nothing unless you've spent a lot of money on your wheels. It just annoying to us because we're used to a sea of Subaru's that haven't been washed in months & after living in Guatemala, who really cares what kind of car you drive? Like Ben often says, a car is the worst kind of investment. The minute you drive it off the lot it loses value! And if it isn't the car, it's the house(s) & stuff for in them. Maybe I have a biased viewpoint on this one since I do work at the "it" mall in the area & interact daily with Charlotte's most elite. Regardless, we understand that money is necessary to live, but money isn't our reason for living.<br /><br />#2. The gossip mill is fierce down here y'all.<br />In general this place just feels like it breeds gossip. Whether it be one neighbor talking about another or a co-worker whispering behind your back, the overall atmosphere just feels more gossipy than we are used to. Granted I do think there is something about retail that breeds gossip but Ben has also found himself in all wrapped up in it too. Really, there are times when we both feel like we've been thrown back into Jr. High. We both believe in the philosophy of saying it to your face if/when the situation calls for it, but jumping on board the gossip train seems to be the preferred method here. Maybe what I'm not so eloquently saying is that we miss our non-gossipy friends.</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> Enough said.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">#3. We stand firm in believing that Nascar is not a sport.<br />Unfortunately our beliefs are the minority and the rest of the greater Charlotte area is the majority. Together we have been nearly run off the road more times in the year that we've lived here than we ever have since being awarded our driver's licenses 15 & 18 years ago. (OMG, I just realized that I have been driving nearly half of my life. Now I really feel old.) Charlotte has race car fever. A simple drive to work often feels like you're taking laps around the track. Forget ever trying to merge lanes or have a friendly driver allow you the right of way. Not going to happen. Additionally, it's like taking your life in your own hands to ride a bicycle (although nothing will ever stop Ben from riding his bike & it makes me sick with worry).<br /><br />#4. Our mindset doesn't really seem to gel with the majority.<br />You know how many people ask us about living in Guatemala? Nobody really. We're not looking to gush over how amazing our experience was there, it's just that when you hear something that unique about a person it's a natural thing to talk about. And it was a really huge part of our lives that we now would claim really defines us - a changing point, if you may. Here though, we think it's just so foreign that no one really knows what to think about it. The general population here doesn't seem to be as well traveled as we were used to in Colorado, and especially not to developing countries. Plus the whole renovating the house ourselves thing seems to make us a bit odd too. Literally we have people just stare at us while we work in our yard. And when they do talk it's always about how much work we are doing ourselves - ie. rather than hiring it out. It wouldn't have been weird in Colorado, but I suppose it makes us strange ducks here.<br /><br />#5. Living in the city gets you nowhere here.<br />One of the most frustrating things about where we live in Charlotte is how inconvenient it is to do the everyday things that life requires. We love our city neighborhood and if there ever was going to be a place where we felt "at home" here in Charlotte, it's in this neighborhood. Unfortunately the city of Charlotte doesn't put much priority on the up and coming neighborhoods like ours - rather they prioritize the higher end ones. It's sad especially considering how much work we (and many of our neighbors) put into renovating our historic homes. But back to the point at hand. I spend so much time driving across town just to run errands that used to be so quick and easy. Fortunately we live close to a Target & Trader Joes but really that's it. I have to drive literally 15 miles to the nearest Bed Bath & Beyond. That's pure crazy. Charlotte is a suburban city & caters to those that live there. We took for granted how many conveniences were located within the city of Denver and since we don't ever think we'll live in the 'burbs (where things would be more convenient) it just doesn't feel like this city will be home forever.<br /><br /><br />Well, there you have it - a quick stream of consciousness about our lives here. I really hope that you haven't been offended by what you read. </span><span style="font-family:arial;"> A lot of you have been asking when I would post something on how we are liking things here, and for some reason today just felt right. </span><span style="font-family:arial;">I didn't mean for it to sound like whining either; rather just a frank conversation about how we see it. While there are some negatives, we are making the best of our situation and don't believe in feeling sorry for ourselves. We try to have a positive outlook and are optimistic that Charlotte will continue to feel more and more like home as time goes on. Of course we'd jump at the chance to be back with our friends, but hopefully that will come in good time!</span>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271660576870843649noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806627611440235550.post-27700294395190953192011-10-24T08:25:00.000-04:002011-10-24T08:25:00.746-04:00Baby Steps<span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >With the permit phase of the upstairs reno almost coming to an end, there are just a few little projects that need to be finished up. A few of them were checked off the list last week.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;">Install cedar beam<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3R3BFbR_zfHlTdPCoReB8wEZ9r44IgjcWv4CzLbdomjUMEg5CERLjilsOrD4NTpDvvzCs2dGmtSaXEvt-iKhSLO2VrOiqXQQgn4iUK01UiYJkYmxZ9z_OvIQEvDWwAjT1ptD7fDanIwp/s1600/DSC_0346.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3R3BFbR_zfHlTdPCoReB8wEZ9r44IgjcWv4CzLbdomjUMEg5CERLjilsOrD4NTpDvvzCs2dGmtSaXEvt-iKhSLO2VrOiqXQQgn4iUK01UiYJkYmxZ9z_OvIQEvDWwAjT1ptD7fDanIwp/s400/DSC_0346.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664838923151873602" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;">Check.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;">Mount fixtures and connect electricity<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQN62iJ4CDkLOAlf01-RrLqfYwZGVLYU1xL79e8yS1oimg2h4uveEAKWA6TuSOtA43x6ZD8-3CvYG2_4xglsSg-pwirDIrslo_XfZyzwtr5ymbDsBMl0rfIcLI9MYFjzl1IXA3IZ536I3/s1600/DSC_0348.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQN62iJ4CDkLOAlf01-RrLqfYwZGVLYU1xL79e8yS1oimg2h4uveEAKWA6TuSOtA43x6ZD8-3CvYG2_4xglsSg-pwirDIrslo_XfZyzwtr5ymbDsBMl0rfIcLI9MYFjzl1IXA3IZ536I3/s400/DSC_0348.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664838928587886258" border="0" /></a><br />Check.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Trim out linen closet & begin priming everything.</span><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGEIXkNT1VmFmWFFGAXA4-q6qeqXpX_YfhDn9LVviIuHg_mLyXoLrbUO9q4nnavI8abEiaLNihIEribhUF52FuUG2SLGfgV3qFRDNR5GXWizclwhQgJD9h-WXrqxmETOC1-bTER5MEk-J/s1600/DSC_0349.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGEIXkNT1VmFmWFFGAXA4-q6qeqXpX_YfhDn9LVviIuHg_mLyXoLrbUO9q4nnavI8abEiaLNihIEribhUF52FuUG2SLGfgV3qFRDNR5GXWizclwhQgJD9h-WXrqxmETOC1-bTER5MEk-J/s400/DSC_0349.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664838929601404946" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Check.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Things still left to do:</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">- install linen closet doors</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">- install 2nd faucet (when it finally arrives)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">- prime walls</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">- paint all trim</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">- track down crystal dummy knobs</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">- connect bathroom fan</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">- wallpaper</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">- make & install shelving</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Little by little, we'll check off the list. I'm praying my patience holds out.</span><br /></div></div>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271660576870843649noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806627611440235550.post-48780442947435256792011-10-21T10:01:00.000-04:002011-10-21T10:01:00.716-04:00Mmmmmm!<span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >I go through phases of feeling domestic. This week was one of them. After a visit to our local farmer's market I got an itch to make apple butter. Since Ben was off on a fishing adventure with his dad, I turned our kitchen into my lab.</span> <span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" ><br /><br />A couple of years ago while in Guatemala, I developed a serious craving for apple butter. Sadly, it could not be found anywhere. After a bit of research, </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://fromcolfaxtoxela.blogspot.com/2009/11/dreams-do-come-true.html">I set out to make my own</a><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >. So this time of course I turned back to </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://flythroughmywindow.blogspot.com/2008/10/apple-butter.html">Darby's amazingly easy crockpot recipe</a><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >. Once again, it did the job!</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;">half bushel of mixed apples<br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDznHDPZY9d5gnFHdTfwD1xFdQDmDoz-N70XH-3ahPpNONQGpLLNDXHfh4q9LR3F5fp1v0nvUqJSFqTEdgMd7vD7FlP3vv8XvcVu2bsHhr8Dj02w5ciM9GGalwHF505Ve1-2m_5BlpoNP3/s1600/DSC_0336.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDznHDPZY9d5gnFHdTfwD1xFdQDmDoz-N70XH-3ahPpNONQGpLLNDXHfh4q9LR3F5fp1v0nvUqJSFqTEdgMd7vD7FlP3vv8XvcVu2bsHhr8Dj02w5ciM9GGalwHF505Ve1-2m_5BlpoNP3/s400/DSC_0336.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664834748126933042" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;">add spicy goodness<br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Odq8aOtFd1LtGsFRD31_iQ_MUsFrDRDycSNZ5Nd_EYt29TNd4hMSM2IIOZFU6Q-2yVpdgvbS2GVkwqCz7MEnkrBNyiafnIKiIya6SpnQRxQAU26UGLlN7BhLfRfEA0GztHt8M4RIVeL7/s1600/DSC_0337.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Odq8aOtFd1LtGsFRD31_iQ_MUsFrDRDycSNZ5Nd_EYt29TNd4hMSM2IIOZFU6Q-2yVpdgvbS2GVkwqCz7MEnkrBNyiafnIKiIya6SpnQRxQAU26UGLlN7BhLfRfEA0GztHt8M4RIVeL7/s400/DSC_0337.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664834752921628322" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><br />mix thoroughly<br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4e3wyG72BxibNwpZuoS9M1EeXNEW-H55XQqocbFSxHFud5sonhQctPyf447zfQ4MNNL2gAU1yXuWc7OvKJY-M_T17Zu1JKFo5Pv1e_f6r21bedwK9QwG4OTdxC7EZ7Pft42cdI3urvrbT/s1600/DSC_0338.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4e3wyG72BxibNwpZuoS9M1EeXNEW-H55XQqocbFSxHFud5sonhQctPyf447zfQ4MNNL2gAU1yXuWc7OvKJY-M_T17Zu1JKFo5Pv1e_f6r21bedwK9QwG4OTdxC7EZ7Pft42cdI3urvrbT/s400/DSC_0338.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664834207936245298" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><br />slow cook for 8 hours<br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnZH0QlXCRsrLg2bAoR3pOX4JcVjYa9p1TVcImCOuCRUVwB2_PNDmmDEhcJ91ljBtCB3-a3EL_i-fZOELgg9TMrs3wrMIsCxGqjrvzrybSujILjk0g_NK1CGLhapcl_f6MHwwRdiWhzLF/s1600/DSC_0340.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnZH0QlXCRsrLg2bAoR3pOX4JcVjYa9p1TVcImCOuCRUVwB2_PNDmmDEhcJ91ljBtCB3-a3EL_i-fZOELgg9TMrs3wrMIsCxGqjrvzrybSujILjk0g_NK1CGLhapcl_f6MHwwRdiWhzLF/s400/DSC_0340.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664835727718197474" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">And since was feeling especially domestic, I decided to try my hand at canning. After a quick run to Walmart I returned home with this.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKTAd9-QCr6QF6-hOjimYWWKzBEXoS3ZXLtM2uxv2s-V5BFOernHocnutSUXbMDkSjHgxGOy904GZkveOJhYRAhUaSzsbvCksBzNImcT1uieCbPYaAESRaaOG23VXC0b3VazVMDCuzN4Y/s1600/p118482z.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKTAd9-QCr6QF6-hOjimYWWKzBEXoS3ZXLtM2uxv2s-V5BFOernHocnutSUXbMDkSjHgxGOy904GZkveOJhYRAhUaSzsbvCksBzNImcT1uieCbPYaAESRaaOG23VXC0b3VazVMDCuzN4Y/s400/p118482z.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664835267243615746" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I had initially set out to find a larger canning pot & metal rack, but since I don't think I'll be canning all that much, I decided on a less costly option. It actually works great & stores away easily.<br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDfzPvLrFo640-qCsaIe3jaslHk2iEFf3aGZbyndUMG2sN3eqqz02DZ612h-IbBaXO-ect8sYCX07Tc4fyBC695QBsrhPoIvnAaHTedQVGNEaseFdtfEDw4ZoLdoatPUu_A4I343F1awd/s1600/DSC_0341.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDfzPvLrFo640-qCsaIe3jaslHk2iEFf3aGZbyndUMG2sN3eqqz02DZ612h-IbBaXO-ect8sYCX07Tc4fyBC695QBsrhPoIvnAaHTedQVGNEaseFdtfEDw4ZoLdoatPUu_A4I343F1awd/s400/DSC_0341.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664834761071013826" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The only sad part is that after all that slow cooking, the recipe only yields 4 pints!<br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCV31UP5xNnrrckH5wMRBZsGVTg92zaLdhye_pZtiFYMBMiYEVXTFsN-N4Qo4u99wotSeusjaVRYs7kkGd00wirGnxX86tplYKrw9vZvDFKSk-71wAMwi5uCszpn-Aicja4AXk55DJxFvA/s1600/DSC_0344.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCV31UP5xNnrrckH5wMRBZsGVTg92zaLdhye_pZtiFYMBMiYEVXTFsN-N4Qo4u99wotSeusjaVRYs7kkGd00wirGnxX86tplYKrw9vZvDFKSk-71wAMwi5uCszpn-Aicja4AXk55DJxFvA/s400/DSC_0344.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664834230154746018" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">So I repeated the whole process again! No big deal.<br /><br /><br />There was one small catastrophe.<br /></div></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: left; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZVxRwV5gel1DmZSUeYs8ZSzYvJ5KGgPlv4_0DWb6sfeDRU9ZlpqPeofiGmChsa1__v0G3KlwfeXEZH0hi4AhKOl6yNGpZnovhXtVfaLY38VSA07013mDKuD6YBMR1sQsjGsszuGrU5xYn/s1600/DSC_0343.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZVxRwV5gel1DmZSUeYs8ZSzYvJ5KGgPlv4_0DWb6sfeDRU9ZlpqPeofiGmChsa1__v0G3KlwfeXEZH0hi4AhKOl6yNGpZnovhXtVfaLY38VSA07013mDKuD6YBMR1sQsjGsszuGrU5xYn/s400/DSC_0343.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664834212071309522" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Apparently it's not a good idea to sit your crockpot on top of the seam where your laminate countertops connect. Oops.<br /><br /><br />And as if 8 pints of apple butter wasn't enough. I also whipped up some <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Pumpkin-Butter/Detail.aspx">pumpkin butter</a>.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLehyxq5Q7NU-i8RDZ_lnHqLNUxm68WXRXH2mKzbB0_bLU1lCk9sRPbN_GZJN7yLLx14Jj7E4QGlLQVwwFegm6C2yHkGZCrzAY5jiuov2MxD7vstnNZHT3Y82c-lsbc5zrQsfJe_IHsnkn/s1600/DSC_0345.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLehyxq5Q7NU-i8RDZ_lnHqLNUxm68WXRXH2mKzbB0_bLU1lCk9sRPbN_GZJN7yLLx14Jj7E4QGlLQVwwFegm6C2yHkGZCrzAY5jiuov2MxD7vstnNZHT3Y82c-lsbc5zrQsfJe_IHsnkn/s400/DSC_0345.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664834233046532690" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Watch out Martha!</span><br /></div>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271660576870843649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806627611440235550.post-81271211039172398282011-10-20T09:19:00.000-04:002011-10-20T09:19:00.260-04:00On the road again<span style="font-family: arial;">Amidst all the yard work we've been trying to squeeze in before the cold settles in, we were able to squeeze in a short vacation to the land of where trees turn pretty colors - Pennsylvania. Although our original intention was to partake in Clarion's big Autumn Leaf Festival, we ended up spending most of our time away from the crowd, enjoying some amazing Indian summer weather instead.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;">Fall in PA<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzNpQ1Bf6R2bUEsDyschlA0G2WQSByWyQQuPPxmu0BizYn4gYa4Y-ia8N2jL0Ba8DjcfLRCYvod5l7yGMC_vXPYwN4zk0q0d6wZf2XsSMtbBn_VPXruarQZ4GdqQOYKJq4nXatx8EDzUO/s1600/DSC_0309.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzNpQ1Bf6R2bUEsDyschlA0G2WQSByWyQQuPPxmu0BizYn4gYa4Y-ia8N2jL0Ba8DjcfLRCYvod5l7yGMC_vXPYwN4zk0q0d6wZf2XsSMtbBn_VPXruarQZ4GdqQOYKJq4nXatx8EDzUO/s400/DSC_0309.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664824568444141586" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My M&D<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyZorW7qHW0C6W3SW5Tc0H-SHytBvL2K-yrEJ8pzFmzQjIHTxZ2oSRLXthyphenhyphenBtsEsGQJYqnMjLc4jfNjNAhxvB-wDqIWArDJXoo-8Lk-mtDQsLhTebb4F1B2RYrknFUFY93YNiS2-EutKg/s1600/DSC_0320.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyZorW7qHW0C6W3SW5Tc0H-SHytBvL2K-yrEJ8pzFmzQjIHTxZ2oSRLXthyphenhyphenBtsEsGQJYqnMjLc4jfNjNAhxvB-wDqIWArDJXoo-8Lk-mtDQsLhTebb4F1B2RYrknFUFY93YNiS2-EutKg/s400/DSC_0320.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664824585121895154" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Enjoying the warm weather<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtpP1KD21HYU5V3qtlbrHWaqLstqCnBbyjHT4_yMtoYsR3-GYeN85fm-E8o6psxEBk7AnWRG6YK0fLYf9gD4MAy5d5o8bPflew7lAc4laiZUibMrHXYeUsxKoajG9LrS7bCW2QJYRKv4d/s1600/DSC_0321.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtpP1KD21HYU5V3qtlbrHWaqLstqCnBbyjHT4_yMtoYsR3-GYeN85fm-E8o6psxEBk7AnWRG6YK0fLYf9gD4MAy5d5o8bPflew7lAc4laiZUibMrHXYeUsxKoajG9LrS7bCW2QJYRKv4d/s400/DSC_0321.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664824600005653618" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Beer on the bank of a river<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8AqA5I85iHzX9cjcOoVbXNev7fTYYr14bwvVe6bcq1VIz3w1AeYUKkbWu04DCV4MR2Ey1lRSJmitQcPZtlRex1CdFP9iqP6zUPPGe5hsxfID38GEw99zA51-MCEkXKcVfxjNy0ezTb7S/s1600/DSC_0326.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8AqA5I85iHzX9cjcOoVbXNev7fTYYr14bwvVe6bcq1VIz3w1AeYUKkbWu04DCV4MR2Ey1lRSJmitQcPZtlRex1CdFP9iqP6zUPPGe5hsxfID38GEw99zA51-MCEkXKcVfxjNy0ezTb7S/s400/DSC_0326.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664824604602916258" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Cutest animal ever (wearing some granny knitted baby legs)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh3SHFhQEW5dogP4hfnRFbIBQ5yuzZ7XtxqTpu21rfFBcivA5O0DYqVTINESLLGCW-cQMf0vetP35tUOXG9F0HqlVlzkfGtaJAlaG-v3bwTu1JsgFPKlCx0_0uFSfDs-13HYUpwywu6Phf/s1600/DSC_0335.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh3SHFhQEW5dogP4hfnRFbIBQ5yuzZ7XtxqTpu21rfFBcivA5O0DYqVTINESLLGCW-cQMf0vetP35tUOXG9F0HqlVlzkfGtaJAlaG-v3bwTu1JsgFPKlCx0_0uFSfDs-13HYUpwywu6Phf/s400/DSC_0335.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664825234777139986" border="0" /></a><br /><br />2nd cutest animal ever. Alpaca.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUL9TlGVtmpjQ7cCFKrUGZYUoM3G_qj74luae8KK8bS258mAl4B1imw_BYSVHs7N94hj_SvmOIExoaqjHVjJ05JEnUsO2E5uLPbOGuoS8JGzzWjW88uAfGYa7ZTbaEp1P0gOxgyuvs9yr/s1600/DSC_0311.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUL9TlGVtmpjQ7cCFKrUGZYUoM3G_qj74luae8KK8bS258mAl4B1imw_BYSVHs7N94hj_SvmOIExoaqjHVjJ05JEnUsO2E5uLPbOGuoS8JGzzWjW88uAfGYa7ZTbaEp1P0gOxgyuvs9yr/s400/DSC_0311.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664824572380771426" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Here in Charlotte the leaves have been falling, but the whole changing color thing isn't quite as spectacular as it is up north. With 3 pecan trees & 1 walnut tree in our postage stamp yard, we're not loving the work that comes along with the change of the season!</span>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271660576870843649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806627611440235550.post-9437696208943658092011-10-18T09:42:00.004-04:002011-10-18T10:01:38.160-04:00backyard mud wrestling<span style="font-family: arial;">Now that the rain has finally ceased I'm ok with talking about it, but a week ago I was beside myself stressed out. Here's why.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5W1PdzM9SBP5lWnif7aBEXDEGJZspyJRsQabN77iFQHRFy_B2rSBxmyv-NiwXXiV8gAKeUy7kYm9sp77bVTIYXVRbdI7h-Q4DdQVm7ACs0gVkvDFSpxmtxH6kZ4LttXMQZT1L3qUAJgUk/s1600/P9230216.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5W1PdzM9SBP5lWnif7aBEXDEGJZspyJRsQabN77iFQHRFy_B2rSBxmyv-NiwXXiV8gAKeUy7kYm9sp77bVTIYXVRbdI7h-Q4DdQVm7ACs0gVkvDFSpxmtxH6kZ4LttXMQZT1L3qUAJgUk/s400/P9230216.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664827940818758674" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left; font-family: arial;">This is what happens when you till up your whole yard in preparation of installing a sprinkler system and sod....and then it rains for a week straight.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left; font-family: arial;">Let me explain a my stress with this simple equation.<br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">4 legged friend (who recently was groomed so pretty)</span><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtcIDbBQ-WFY7bRsZL4Ftfvzk-5IoC7uqWgHhSSx1Enh2_3dw99w1ZNe3py4-e8z7y-8D-Ao_8lP4txlisJUNsbF0hIRLA19gZzF7z2BwSaeuo5hZmtmF0eG_PAmxgqwXVeaRIzIKTVdwn/s1600/P9200206.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtcIDbBQ-WFY7bRsZL4Ftfvzk-5IoC7uqWgHhSSx1Enh2_3dw99w1ZNe3py4-e8z7y-8D-Ao_8lP4txlisJUNsbF0hIRLA19gZzF7z2BwSaeuo5hZmtmF0eG_PAmxgqwXVeaRIzIKTVdwn/s400/P9200206.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664827920736150898" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">+</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">a doggie door</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">+</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">mud pit backyard</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">+</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Type A never ending need for a clean home</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">__________________________</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:180%;" >STRESS!!</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">You can only imagine how happy I was that week.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left; font-family: arial;">So when the rain finally ceased & it became somewhat possible for us to install our sprinkler system & already cut sod (that was waiting in the bed of Ben's truck), we donned our finest & got to work.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Good thing he brought those muck boots back from Guatemala!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hKwI68hJVxW7vyM4PqgXo5mOnw1wK1CVCWGnbs52yd-yCJLgiMPk741VTt5h-2dks5MK_sD_pM7FoMMTU_CsxCU9yO4LLZwVmtZJXVIO6iNGz2xYtsLVNJrKMqCdrdiGcbpOkcsGG_Fo/s1600/P9230218.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hKwI68hJVxW7vyM4PqgXo5mOnw1wK1CVCWGnbs52yd-yCJLgiMPk741VTt5h-2dks5MK_sD_pM7FoMMTU_CsxCU9yO4LLZwVmtZJXVIO6iNGz2xYtsLVNJrKMqCdrdiGcbpOkcsGG_Fo/s400/P9230218.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664827943129502322" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Do you even know how hard it is to till & rake & level mud?<br /><br />Let me tell you.<br /><br />Nothing about it was fun.<br /><br />Nothing.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-CkZXe2Zlt2Dqs9P98rdFWAfGNWcBKFAseYhkXfVz_d6ciPYFZWCUBgrNK5BEJl9v5Tzy6dCPvXN-4_FmajKIfsEHGzPNTsuD184WZ8kbYwLpGQQefZ-Pr2dQdk5zQyZ3ocg3WVm0DkB/s1600/P9240227.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-CkZXe2Zlt2Dqs9P98rdFWAfGNWcBKFAseYhkXfVz_d6ciPYFZWCUBgrNK5BEJl9v5Tzy6dCPvXN-4_FmajKIfsEHGzPNTsuD184WZ8kbYwLpGQQefZ-Pr2dQdk5zQyZ3ocg3WVm0DkB/s400/P9240227.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664827959086724146" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It was especially not fun for the Princess of our porch who was dying to romp around in the mud.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKt8Rl6tROSBdR-UfeAhdbjFDWFL-9TdvNPxlCq80AvYYDcIxZscZzvdFrZV5xtkC2fN8_NiLJNO3GFo-o6zc5QG7W4S5dt7dhyH05-37y0AVQhnhfCPSn4psYB0_4qa1xoz1BPTxArQkE/s1600/P9230213.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKt8Rl6tROSBdR-UfeAhdbjFDWFL-9TdvNPxlCq80AvYYDcIxZscZzvdFrZV5xtkC2fN8_NiLJNO3GFo-o6zc5QG7W4S5dt7dhyH05-37y0AVQhnhfCPSn4psYB0_4qa1xoz1BPTxArQkE/s400/P9230213.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664827921308758818" border="0" /></a><br /></div></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Finally when the day was done the yard looked like this.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJi86J3_6PNVhTyOsBh_mMBTvNGkl4gs6b-4KjJ8mOf25IeZt5vMOPPGwdqcSdMRB40lATTCmpTwbTEKVBoMWjQgDqDRZnDmTGMu7Sz0kdvUei4ZSxPqhyy9HAGS0AohM8S6OIEI9paTI0/s1600/DSC_0497.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJi86J3_6PNVhTyOsBh_mMBTvNGkl4gs6b-4KjJ8mOf25IeZt5vMOPPGwdqcSdMRB40lATTCmpTwbTEKVBoMWjQgDqDRZnDmTGMu7Sz0kdvUei4ZSxPqhyy9HAGS0AohM8S6OIEI9paTI0/s400/DSC_0497.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664831420312292834" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">(The mud in the corner is where we plan to build some raised garden boxes).</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left; font-family: arial;">We didn't have enough sod to finish completely, but that was ok since we have plans for this side of the yard in the spring. For now we'll make due with a temporary walkway and some grass seed.<br /></div><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnSJ42cmMFaccCwcClDxFDQ5MY-iO9PrqiQFHxB-JXDsJXyPp9jmO9SO4X625tT_zMoNAABjoiXgmkwEB82OklWTkrS_fb5WUnf57vnCArrL2LJgqsyeg4yNF2IqA9x9jT7SWixijKpcc/s1600/PA030242.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnSJ42cmMFaccCwcClDxFDQ5MY-iO9PrqiQFHxB-JXDsJXyPp9jmO9SO4X625tT_zMoNAABjoiXgmkwEB82OklWTkrS_fb5WUnf57vnCArrL2LJgqsyeg4yNF2IqA9x9jT7SWixijKpcc/s400/PA030242.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664831416421275394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271660576870843649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806627611440235550.post-48593497215021407432011-10-10T07:41:00.001-04:002011-10-10T07:41:00.501-04:00My doppelgänger<div style="text-align: left; font-family: arial;">Don't they say that all of us have a look-alike out there somewhere? Well someone that I work with recently found mine -<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><em style="font-style: italic;">the French</em> President Nicolas Sarkozy's wife, Carla Bruni.<br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;" class="st"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijwzBY37EvL2EDQzy-u-DJv0yaHOhs8HJfcsF3EzsZOIvRDJnWwa7NcnvIaWpZPhgMzPYIWbwgjX_aid9HPCrerIkfmlrAsBVKnHO8x5lASiYDwuePvL-F56lMUOFqT9vaBpJ6chIksII5/s1600/carla-bruni-300.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijwzBY37EvL2EDQzy-u-DJv0yaHOhs8HJfcsF3EzsZOIvRDJnWwa7NcnvIaWpZPhgMzPYIWbwgjX_aid9HPCrerIkfmlrAsBVKnHO8x5lASiYDwuePvL-F56lMUOFqT9vaBpJ6chIksII5/s400/carla-bruni-300.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660219386361887218" border="0" /></a><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;" class="st"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Typically when people say that you look like some celebrity we don't usually see it....at least I don't. It's probably because I get a lot of Lindsay Lohan (gag) & Claire Danes (My So Called Life era). Once I even was told that I look liked Kelly Preston, John Travolta's wife. That one I didn't see at all. They are all good looking women, but just because we share the same hair color doesn't mean we look alike. I must admit though, having never seen this Carla woman before in my life, I was actually taken back a bit when I first saw this photo. I think I actually do look like her - at least in this photo. After a quick Google search for some other images, I'm chalking it up to this particular photo, but I'll take it - she's a model, singer, actress, songwriter. It could be way worse, right?</span><span class="st"><em><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Who is your doppelgänger?</span><br /></em> </span>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271660576870843649noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806627611440235550.post-82660803932305914412011-10-06T09:58:00.000-04:002011-10-06T09:58:00.169-04:00Evolution of a Bathroom<span style="font-family: arial;">Since this project has been going on FOREVER, here's a little reminder of where our little 'build master bathroom project' began.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">When we purchased the house the attic had been "semi-finished". By "semi" it meant a bad drywall job, falling down popcorn ceilings & some nasty carpeting. So we had to take a few steps backward to just plain "unfinished," so that we could start from scratch.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Here's what the master bath space looked like right when we moved in.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Her5Mb8i6-DyOie5yNNv0xKIZHegfhagVeIRwOt8N_VwjK9CHN2rrmhSaSuB8kwL2pH9frqV8-1dzZGC1tMsqpPhRMUazevKCsWYr9KZmFOteWMgmpgN61jDdG93Vd_54MzBjhtsU_yZ/s1600/PA310045.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Her5Mb8i6-DyOie5yNNv0xKIZHegfhagVeIRwOt8N_VwjK9CHN2rrmhSaSuB8kwL2pH9frqV8-1dzZGC1tMsqpPhRMUazevKCsWYr9KZmFOteWMgmpgN61jDdG93Vd_54MzBjhtsU_yZ/s400/PA310045.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660195316263991458" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The most organized it has been this whole year!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">After months of planning & interviewing contractors, demo finally began on April 6th - Ben's birthday.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQznb4ove2yOajhZJ68xPah80aiFz4XsniTv6MqfAGYX6Amhxnkz-GE_axsaSrFLWE-NuZSKBUpS_0p7oLUcR7xmUn8TIWFYuQJu62PcPtmPbqhWgKhfDjhUewBJ9fJmCqa9fQXYDnN_ze/s1600/DSC_0254.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQznb4ove2yOajhZJ68xPah80aiFz4XsniTv6MqfAGYX6Amhxnkz-GE_axsaSrFLWE-NuZSKBUpS_0p7oLUcR7xmUn8TIWFYuQJu62PcPtmPbqhWgKhfDjhUewBJ9fJmCqa9fQXYDnN_ze/s400/DSC_0254.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660195324421890562" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />The framing took awhile. It was the shower that held things up. The carpenter wanted it to be 4 feet. I wanted it to be 5 feet. In the end, I won. That decision & the little niche seat that I pushed to add pretty much took this bathroom from standard to custom.<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIqoW0TxOVhi8LUBTHZzWyusm3EqNj-CnYPXDArDM92118dPvPyMtcZCkZwyh-45tdLNGlA3C6rSULSVtD7DebEMd2QJ8Btftb5QpVwmOcX17R0s6bd77Dh_tdWx2etmu2MuGOBxLeYvBp/s1600/DSC_0291.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIqoW0TxOVhi8LUBTHZzWyusm3EqNj-CnYPXDArDM92118dPvPyMtcZCkZwyh-45tdLNGlA3C6rSULSVtD7DebEMd2QJ8Btftb5QpVwmOcX17R0s6bd77Dh_tdWx2etmu2MuGOBxLeYvBp/s400/DSC_0291.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660193637891990818" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">Still though, it wasn't a real bathroom. We needed plumbing.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-bvlJ3c-drdr_Va5D63lwj_YFdT7BuskYlAE57Y6BNm4piYqsY3YE-4rONEcPdYTInUesEggensInB6G3iFWiB6Dg2FwAxg5LQ90Av55bG6W2WJlxYgez2uyrlIOeopO-XQ1DscdILYs/s1600/DSC_0352.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-bvlJ3c-drdr_Va5D63lwj_YFdT7BuskYlAE57Y6BNm4piYqsY3YE-4rONEcPdYTInUesEggensInB6G3iFWiB6Dg2FwAxg5LQ90Av55bG6W2WJlxYgez2uyrlIOeopO-XQ1DscdILYs/s400/DSC_0352.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660195320238771250" border="0" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">That will do it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Then came insulation. We got the spray foam kind - Icenyene. This 90 year old house is going to have an air tight 2nd floor for sure.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoy7-hVt8-_1_aNygf_IWHw8Ru-H5cUmc07DPELAy-DU2myOdCXGnhUy5otWlJWKaqK6OnTN9XEVW6JPMnKXx7PJe4Sbm29r7mSEvxeRC5Kit2SJSIVb-bu5DpPWCFsbOhe_XXlrZXtLHu/s1600/DSC_0292.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoy7-hVt8-_1_aNygf_IWHw8Ru-H5cUmc07DPELAy-DU2myOdCXGnhUy5otWlJWKaqK6OnTN9XEVW6JPMnKXx7PJe4Sbm29r7mSEvxeRC5Kit2SJSIVb-bu5DpPWCFsbOhe_XXlrZXtLHu/s400/DSC_0292.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660195330028132626" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Then came drywall & backer board & floor tile. There were set backs with the tile too but we worked it out fairly easily.<br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0HgrlHQVS1CmMjuTzeYZTA_DVjVqZV4BezbSbdtvoqOHSDOugmEbGNteSORVpoSNdDMoZ0SezfpCinDVGe28XqUGlfec_OhnK68qnJgSlI8UVWXZXTOGBPGRBJ_yBaIs8-szTJVdL6Pf8/s1600/DSC_0433.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0HgrlHQVS1CmMjuTzeYZTA_DVjVqZV4BezbSbdtvoqOHSDOugmEbGNteSORVpoSNdDMoZ0SezfpCinDVGe28XqUGlfec_OhnK68qnJgSlI8UVWXZXTOGBPGRBJ_yBaIs8-szTJVdL6Pf8/s400/DSC_0433.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660195334430977442" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">During the tile wait period, the new windows went in, the vanity was ordered & the linen closet was framed out too.<br /><br />The linen closet will has a 36" opening to accommodate 2 18" shutters that will act as doors. The inside is big but odd because of the slanted wall & sloping ceiling.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1kOckWovI2w3VPGW2IRfyB02NRHkBQLRkYm4vq1OyEch9s_hWL3jA4u5P0k3kpugHNLMTB4cBlfzzOW1HmUCqnEI2NcplzyU-UqKx4RPh7Jzf7h-KfLnkpPWeqLxHkBnD_t4KNxpfYeN/s1600/P9150181.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1kOckWovI2w3VPGW2IRfyB02NRHkBQLRkYm4vq1OyEch9s_hWL3jA4u5P0k3kpugHNLMTB4cBlfzzOW1HmUCqnEI2NcplzyU-UqKx4RPh7Jzf7h-KfLnkpPWeqLxHkBnD_t4KNxpfYeN/s400/P9150181.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660211940299532002" border="0" /></a></div><br />We ended up going with a charcoal gray (almost black) 18" porcelain tile on the majority of the floor. Originally we had planned to offset it with 4" square tiles of the same color, but when they came in the color was off, so we opted to omit them. I'm actually glad we did. I think a more simple look will be better once we add the wallpaper. In the shower we did a unglazed 1x1 hexagon for a bit of texture. I also have a "thing" for the hexagon. Plus since the wallpaper is all hex, I felt compelled to get it in there somewhere. Everything was grouted in black.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLcxkfRnpC5wKu_ZrIveRUsjpP-N1sXlX4v2IETrVDe6MdKi7ad2nahXeJKLBI0uYuOaz1zHiiYSUl5dVkn5K3X0Gpp_AO4qUO7dRjcgaf_tq3yHEaKI0ta-mUhAFatRHOcwfiCVMfoLQB/s1600/P7270051.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLcxkfRnpC5wKu_ZrIveRUsjpP-N1sXlX4v2IETrVDe6MdKi7ad2nahXeJKLBI0uYuOaz1zHiiYSUl5dVkn5K3X0Gpp_AO4qUO7dRjcgaf_tq3yHEaKI0ta-mUhAFatRHOcwfiCVMfoLQB/s400/P7270051.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660211805073545506" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The white dot must have been on my camera lens.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left; font-family: arial;">This is the completed tile job on the shower before the glass door installation. The walls are a simple white 3x6" subway in gloss white. The niche is accented with a herringbone pattern in the same tile. The seat in the niche was made from a remnant of black soapstone & the corner shelves are a white quartz (I think).<br /></div><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1tbWV8AVvQTTZ1xaXQR3Ie9N-1FPHcj4YiS2G-puHc4H9qBy9enEH79epa-KWirEUMZydjAA2QJkX2lh0bUdu8p0mWMJJ1p6JktNjCzbwkLuHwn3Lw-21f8zDF2MbjXH4Tt0cp3i2P5e/s1600/P7270048.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1tbWV8AVvQTTZ1xaXQR3Ie9N-1FPHcj4YiS2G-puHc4H9qBy9enEH79epa-KWirEUMZydjAA2QJkX2lh0bUdu8p0mWMJJ1p6JktNjCzbwkLuHwn3Lw-21f8zDF2MbjXH4Tt0cp3i2P5e/s400/P7270048.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660193641354273170" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I'll take some close up pics as soon as the carpenter finishes some grout touch-ups this week.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Finally last week the glass door that was backordered was installed & the plumbing fixtures too. We splurged for a european sliding style door rather than the traditional hinged open style. It really was the only thing that made sense for the space. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">For the fixtures we stuck to Delta since our plumber really wouldn't consider much else. The carpenter who works with him a lot swears he is a great guy, but I can't work with someone who can't/doesn't communicate. I don't think he'll be coming back in the future. It turned out fine though - with Delta I mean. I found a traditional chrome style that works well in the space and then branched out to another brand for the hand shower slide bar. I really really wanted something that had the old school cross handles and found it with Alson's (I think). It ties in nicely with the cross handle faucet we got for the double vanity from Pottery Barn.....one of which is still backordered from May! Don't even get me started. If it weren't for my discount we would have abandoned ship on those PB faucets months ago.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdbsK2aA6OQ-gun8BEAMQUHKGxUr5OqOejTb9Gx_YHDjRh_8vG82QEUzHjucF0z_my4fPtsPXKTSWcwCn5gsfdyKs7qOtXn_dAq1gX9mzKASqPHfiOCf8kkJrErvWaHqwZLaHUtv8zlWSN/s1600/P9150184.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdbsK2aA6OQ-gun8BEAMQUHKGxUr5OqOejTb9Gx_YHDjRh_8vG82QEUzHjucF0z_my4fPtsPXKTSWcwCn5gsfdyKs7qOtXn_dAq1gX9mzKASqPHfiOCf8kkJrErvWaHqwZLaHUtv8zlWSN/s400/P9150184.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660217166460564962" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The list of projects left to complete is getting smaller by the day, but still includes finishing up the electrical, trim paint, ceiling & closet paint, wallpaper primer, wallpaper, installing shelving....& that last blasted sink faucet! When it's all done, I can't wait to put on the finishing touches. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">So there you have it friends. It's far from finished, but at least now it resembles a bathroom. I almost can't believe that it was just an empty dormer before this all began. It's been 6 months of construction men letting themselves in and out of our home. We'll probably get a few weeks of peace before the next set of guys starts doing the same thing when we move onto the bedroom/den/laundry space. What will we ever do when we don't have these daily visitors? Ha! </span><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271660576870843649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806627611440235550.post-25216090952979367452011-09-29T22:21:00.000-04:002011-09-30T08:14:51.625-04:00More Mia....<span style="font-family:arial;">When we first got Mia while living in Guatemala, one of our friends told us we should have named her Mi Amor....Mia More.......it means "my love" in Spanish. Isn't that so cute? We loved it, so it stuck but only as a nickname since her full name had special meaning to us as well - Semilla Maya, "Mayan seed" in Spanish. She was such a tiny little thing and we were lucky to have a chance to see her </span><strike style="font-family: arial;">sprout</strike><span style="font-family:arial;"> grow. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Growing is what our little seed has done & just a few weeks ago she turned 2! We can hardly believe it. Our baby is 2! Since I was on my blog-cation over her birthday, I missed posting photos. I hope it isn't too late, because here they are now! Mia had the best birthday - or at least I hope she did. Luckily I had the day off, so I got to spend it with her. We went on two long walks, played ball several times, had an outing to PetSmart, a swim in the lake, dinner out & dessert at home. We love our girl! </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3u428zYw23JGvVveS06jSOPzm0RLaVY_-W1uSbHFI_7SVaGounrU9jMkNHd-0NrkMg-EgbLEBu4IdwyPJHh-7TKayOMKuUlXR6cmT37S_Wr0G97zcMnV1sysrNu-yx87i5ZqlmizH9pF6/s1600/DSC_0286.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3u428zYw23JGvVveS06jSOPzm0RLaVY_-W1uSbHFI_7SVaGounrU9jMkNHd-0NrkMg-EgbLEBu4IdwyPJHh-7TKayOMKuUlXR6cmT37S_Wr0G97zcMnV1sysrNu-yx87i5ZqlmizH9pF6/s400/DSC_0286.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650179739215831346" border="0" /></a>We sang Happy Birthday to her.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzm4VuWvcoJFFaySBP3ikXSm0S4UoukNXxT34x1rF7bZXsrxrCPBcZwNpNE93ty4Eo2CH1Wo0TG7niaZadxogPOlW0kq2oxTJ87miZtnIlTkK57QlTku2zKXvOZi9XhVDAzJwcqZncAkMd/s1600/DSC_0289.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzm4VuWvcoJFFaySBP3ikXSm0S4UoukNXxT34x1rF7bZXsrxrCPBcZwNpNE93ty4Eo2CH1Wo0TG7niaZadxogPOlW0kq2oxTJ87miZtnIlTkK57QlTku2zKXvOZi9XhVDAzJwcqZncAkMd/s400/DSC_0289.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650179744829329682" border="0" /></a>She sat very still and listened. It was too cute!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZuhAJV4K36bk1n7i2mrdlCm9cm2j-t3l_BrRlEIebIEKt5dJVzedXa6JBKAloL9JJ91EepVHMkpN7EW5OG-frV_T66VJBa4ZESGlD_yKSjhtwKJzbhyS5qZ-8Id5Tw1U735NmjHyXu2Jp/s1600/DSC_0292.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZuhAJV4K36bk1n7i2mrdlCm9cm2j-t3l_BrRlEIebIEKt5dJVzedXa6JBKAloL9JJ91EepVHMkpN7EW5OG-frV_T66VJBa4ZESGlD_yKSjhtwKJzbhyS5qZ-8Id5Tw1U735NmjHyXu2Jp/s400/DSC_0292.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650181773855693634" border="0" /></a>Getting a special birthday kiss from her mama.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPevXzkbtTLMrvKksgBQwLIQyM0ZP3OgAbQPcm0uW-xK26gMWDUkbTuUfPOWmoR-Y-3wG57o8lp4afL7WVCZl9zDZCv1RUuvKRkhohuS2jNfhuCJPIlxg44fdf99wgGlvjBlldakAQr8R/s1600/DSC_0290.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPevXzkbtTLMrvKksgBQwLIQyM0ZP3OgAbQPcm0uW-xK26gMWDUkbTuUfPOWmoR-Y-3wG57o8lp4afL7WVCZl9zDZCv1RUuvKRkhohuS2jNfhuCJPIlxg44fdf99wgGlvjBlldakAQr8R/s400/DSC_0290.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650179747610116274" border="0" /></a>Her first lick of birthday cake deliciousness.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidhyz8aKFDCLF-5PPR5axCdtslZ7TKME14fmSEgyc6ej1SaAcnqflZ3eGLjt5IwVnkei1rgl3eyod4XRKsVc_hYtO5rbrQE4SwIYPmS69vpFsW6bhVo0e3lQ1Ys9jaRSUubyGV63h04zR3/s1600/DSC_0300.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidhyz8aKFDCLF-5PPR5axCdtslZ7TKME14fmSEgyc6ej1SaAcnqflZ3eGLjt5IwVnkei1rgl3eyod4XRKsVc_hYtO5rbrQE4SwIYPmS69vpFsW6bhVo0e3lQ1Ys9jaRSUubyGV63h04zR3/s400/DSC_0300.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650181779094907922" border="0" /></a>Our best attempt at a birthday family photo.<br />Sleepy girl didn't want to get up from the cool tile floor!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Yes, I realize that the majority of you think we are crazy. The rest of you probably just think we need a baby. We know - all of you are right. But for now (& for always) we will love our little Goldie Girl just like we would any other baby!<br /></div></div>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271660576870843649noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806627611440235550.post-26510606971919814912011-09-22T07:35:00.000-04:002011-09-22T07:35:00.218-04:00Worth the wait<span style="font-family: arial;">All forms of indoor decorating ceased over the summer while we slaved away on our fence but now that we are wrapping up and Fall is setting in, I'm beginning to think about the inside of the house again. Really there has been zero point in putting nice things inside thus far because they either get covered in drywall dust from upstairs or mud from our backyard. It's been a year of living with ugly things & I'm so over it so I'm working on a plan of action that will be ready to go when it's finally time to pull the trigger.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Since our dining room is the center point of our somewhat open first floor, I'm starting in there. French doors connect it to the living room and it can also be seen from the kitchen. In general I feel like dining rooms are a difficult place to incorporate pattern. There are typically 3 options in which it can come into play - the walls, the rug or the windows. At our house it's going to be the windows.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Back when we moved in we had a 5 foot high white wainscoting installed to enhance the bungalow look of our home and a few months later we painted the upper portion of the wall a deep greige. It's Benjamin Moore Eagle Rock at 200% so it ended up being just a tad shy of Bear Creek. It flows nicely from our kitchen which is one shade lighter - Willow Creek. The contrast between the white wainscoting and dark walls is great - I love contrast.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizCXJEAhUunl_PZn2ddhg1PjP2ERAkL33BVUM-Fnm5qtDc5o0nZWPf3KUJRRAHYpl_tWpjl-p8eI9pyOYnWgGSokID-CRzquNxjfNW1QnygIs-04Z1vAbD6c7rTW39VJE-6bTgaulwGtMY/s1600/4755224992_9582ebd9bb_m.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizCXJEAhUunl_PZn2ddhg1PjP2ERAkL33BVUM-Fnm5qtDc5o0nZWPf3KUJRRAHYpl_tWpjl-p8eI9pyOYnWgGSokID-CRzquNxjfNW1QnygIs-04Z1vAbD6c7rTW39VJE-6bTgaulwGtMY/s400/4755224992_9582ebd9bb_m.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654816851983970434" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Since we are using the Heywood-Wakefield dining set I inherited from my grandparents which is very different from our typical style, I wanted to use a color that complimented the wheat wood tone of the furniture while staying true to what we naturally gravitate toward.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5U7vt1VqwuAajrnR6zVbXfMP-Z59lrzf5wI0sEiBUu8pvsJQMgsYLTxvS13e15O4kL2JeSF6l5BJqWlhrKRvVmmVCqIOaSf3AMkml0-tqLeLQuTtzNc8ppd6resEpgjCjMEitODXAmOg/s1600/m197g.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 252px; height: 177px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5U7vt1VqwuAajrnR6zVbXfMP-Z59lrzf5wI0sEiBUu8pvsJQMgsYLTxvS13e15O4kL2JeSF6l5BJqWlhrKRvVmmVCqIOaSf3AMkml0-tqLeLQuTtzNc8ppd6resEpgjCjMEitODXAmOg/s400/m197g.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654818996103401602" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjN3d3ahSO8zwXmCP0cvPUYeAvvwTcVKnZCMxOvfKPolh_7geciEZiS9QEI3_Y5ObAU1jIAEczlsoSAupWy56jHYTqyw-O4EVUtMfKTo1EspZUOYaCpb9VWKeO2mVj4wm78OrrAzfoNzw/s1600/m154c.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 132px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjN3d3ahSO8zwXmCP0cvPUYeAvvwTcVKnZCMxOvfKPolh_7geciEZiS9QEI3_Y5ObAU1jIAEczlsoSAupWy56jHYTqyw-O4EVUtMfKTo1EspZUOYaCpb9VWKeO2mVj4wm78OrrAzfoNzw/s400/m154c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654818989766063634" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Then to offset the furniture's wheat wood tone with the warm grain our of floors we brought the wall color back into the floor in the form of Pottery Barn's Heather Chenille Jute Rug in Espresso. Normally I wouldn't recommend a jute rug for areas where there may be spills, but the dark color of this one will camouflage any accident we may have! And quite honestly, my discount is what really talked me into it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWp4MNzRo6xbGt7UVuZ6LZWi5Z2GpWcQmTk974TnWpA4jwiZnAmARgWxoe354I6YzUADzKtknsvdvFlHrmBw_iiahuvHQBWBs4p95C_G6YMLw7_tgXgfjfEH3IEFoMW1qIjLasgqLC49Z/s1600/img50m.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 383px; height: 344px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWp4MNzRo6xbGt7UVuZ6LZWi5Z2GpWcQmTk974TnWpA4jwiZnAmARgWxoe354I6YzUADzKtknsvdvFlHrmBw_iiahuvHQBWBs4p95C_G6YMLw7_tgXgfjfEH3IEFoMW1qIjLasgqLC49Z/s400/img50m.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654820090485318114" border="0" /></a><br />So far we're looking pretty neutral Nelly, right?<br /><br />Well, knowing that we would never find a buffet to match Heywood-Wakefield's wheat, we sought out in search of something with a mid-century feel that needed a little TLC in the form of paint. Luck have it we stumbled on this guy for about $100 at the Salvation Army down the street.<br /></div></div><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFdK-bspB2x0Gdo5bq8LM4l7ZLHaK-zacifOKZHvH8cU1mZbwjQ6nVGY9WZImMHYTE0GZNmGPZpru79uPvdzRztJbk0hC6wzjzb6Y6w9f2o5URovh3tDt5fX1ohIAhPkmYbKAhDvOYJKj/s1600/P2080045.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFdK-bspB2x0Gdo5bq8LM4l7ZLHaK-zacifOKZHvH8cU1mZbwjQ6nVGY9WZImMHYTE0GZNmGPZpru79uPvdzRztJbk0hC6wzjzb6Y6w9f2o5URovh3tDt5fX1ohIAhPkmYbKAhDvOYJKj/s400/P2080045.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635526176469099986" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">It's really dresser that someone used as a media unit (there's a giant hole cut out of the back), but it fit the style we wanted. Ben said repairing the hole was an easy fix, so home it came with us. Honestly, price aside, I really like it. It's solid wood with great lines and is going to look amazing painted a bright bold color. I'm thinking something like this......I'll explain why in a minute.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37zOUHmNWCnlygD7-BruQGCB5xrcVdCIeQlB3_TZG8vsbyqwCwc0alHEMgOzFqakbxJb97N79tH_FfwBOUaa1psFMYSglUSlAQCE8wPlue_qPwaw91R59EUqsrGJPRzm5T68KA2yIF_Uh/s1600/yhst-13463548100242_2177_53742147.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 201px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37zOUHmNWCnlygD7-BruQGCB5xrcVdCIeQlB3_TZG8vsbyqwCwc0alHEMgOzFqakbxJb97N79tH_FfwBOUaa1psFMYSglUSlAQCE8wPlue_qPwaw91R59EUqsrGJPRzm5T68KA2yIF_Uh/s400/yhst-13463548100242_2177_53742147.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654821913227885474" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />So then I was left with the real hunt - fabric for drapery panels. Who would have guess it would ever be so hard? There have been dozens of samples brought home and taped to the wall. Let me show you just a few of the early contenders.....keeping in mind that the turquoise for the dresser was not yet finalized during the hunt.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5M9Y1QO6ipc0HNmfPh9bEezD6k1DwcNwR0LgKoCtbFlMWbXp0sjrxWlV5ZpVPgXxOkHGlyxXSDaTB41S4CsrbFUT1Y2B85FkXIOgafeCVKCZ4mavdXN4pb0yz8SZMINB-7mTqBPAqKNH4/s1600/DSC_0300.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5M9Y1QO6ipc0HNmfPh9bEezD6k1DwcNwR0LgKoCtbFlMWbXp0sjrxWlV5ZpVPgXxOkHGlyxXSDaTB41S4CsrbFUT1Y2B85FkXIOgafeCVKCZ4mavdXN4pb0yz8SZMINB-7mTqBPAqKNH4/s400/DSC_0300.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635525595277743442" border="0" /></a>{Iman Home from Calico Corners}<br />Ben hated it...and so did I. <br />You can't tell in this photo, but the turquoise is actually furry.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpiUUHCAOJCXfBpsTZ_m5sCwGbm7qu5eIZ5A770igvQ2E4nNQ-mtYwiG0MBx32knW3_Dv5pEuGwZY84pX_oPcWd0fL2Mz-cyof3aOXWZTg5v-LvgrUn0DXLw5R-52axk1HLgEGH3xrF65H/s1600/DSC_0286.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpiUUHCAOJCXfBpsTZ_m5sCwGbm7qu5eIZ5A770igvQ2E4nNQ-mtYwiG0MBx32knW3_Dv5pEuGwZY84pX_oPcWd0fL2Mz-cyof3aOXWZTg5v-LvgrUn0DXLw5R-52axk1HLgEGH3xrF65H/s400/DSC_0286.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635525589519108802" border="0" /></a>{An ikat found at Mary Jo's}<br />Not enough color.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioT0duMlzQPYTXhyvmNJIadraXQ66rSlIbg1RxlzJzaDEH3HRHrm32QuCXFx39s-DvoqrklqvnHSawED_j-gvV2U9_MFmTRe_R2-P74eRacqTbD1gn1NXQSrSnRWGE7TlgtCrTY7kYtI2o/s1600/DSC_0279.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioT0duMlzQPYTXhyvmNJIadraXQ66rSlIbg1RxlzJzaDEH3HRHrm32QuCXFx39s-DvoqrklqvnHSawED_j-gvV2U9_MFmTRe_R2-P74eRacqTbD1gn1NXQSrSnRWGE7TlgtCrTY7kYtI2o/s400/DSC_0279.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635525580267049426" border="0" /></a>{Another ikat}<br />Too blah.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFE6AxSMcup3zKwhBD-QIaKsIOq1zeGyxuoXzxSg5_apUMSGjnJjHr9c1CiHxNEffHO74QIThuaW6tlKfErc8PhqNRt077WHYzYmcny0bJMiRbsGUktjxk-_QjI_oRJgYnTpY3rKnRwSv/s1600/DSC_0282.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFE6AxSMcup3zKwhBD-QIaKsIOq1zeGyxuoXzxSg5_apUMSGjnJjHr9c1CiHxNEffHO74QIThuaW6tlKfErc8PhqNRt077WHYzYmcny0bJMiRbsGUktjxk-_QjI_oRJgYnTpY3rKnRwSv/s400/DSC_0282.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635525586238089458" border="0" /></a>{Thomas Paul by Duralee}<br />Getting closer - a good match, but still not enough color.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Finally I came across these premade panels at World Market that were just what I was looking for and looked great with the walls & furniture, so I bought them. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC7zlu6PIrH0vPxtVStkWPU1nAEivSP2bvU7ZB1qxlXUX4vmn0mln2edh2cu0tKHLo3T-iqZz6Wlu6ibcJ0n5ltxRJ5lwGq0CqXL-AqCgs3BXZQyhXqw5qG5fVjfxWlatwGAbe1KMogDvH/s1600/DSC_0301.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC7zlu6PIrH0vPxtVStkWPU1nAEivSP2bvU7ZB1qxlXUX4vmn0mln2edh2cu0tKHLo3T-iqZz6Wlu6ibcJ0n5ltxRJ5lwGq0CqXL-AqCgs3BXZQyhXqw5qG5fVjfxWlatwGAbe1KMogDvH/s400/DSC_0301.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635526162264183506" border="0" /></a><br />As time went on though, I couldn't get over the "cheap" quality of the fabric. They weren't lined, but I felt certain that was an easy fix. The real problem though was the quality of the pattern. It was screen printed on and just looked sloppy up close. While browsing in the store one day I realized that the same print was available in a table cloth and for some strange reason the quality of the fabric & pattern seemed to much better. It took forever but I was able to track down the largest size with hopes of making my own lined drapes. So I brought them home and let them marinate in the space for a while, but still something just didn't feel right. <br /><br />You see, I had a secret. In the mean time had secretly fallen in love with a designer fabric that I was comparing all the rest to.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5mrsxgCzj8nEuNTn1dH3xCIRlFMjaRAc7iOLfNcJ0yOj1l7dzQXM1zBG2_Xnpa7TaRbWvS6toYsDIZomxzYcAew79nGvZdAZY0nx3kW8mUCy1ijGfC_W_Vtlb3AJgW3GRmqNAnQ4XLnO/s1600/5001063.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5mrsxgCzj8nEuNTn1dH3xCIRlFMjaRAc7iOLfNcJ0yOj1l7dzQXM1zBG2_Xnpa7TaRbWvS6toYsDIZomxzYcAew79nGvZdAZY0nx3kW8mUCy1ijGfC_W_Vtlb3AJgW3GRmqNAnQ4XLnO/s400/5001063.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635526175011106834" border="0" /></a>{Schumacher's Chiang Mai Dragon in Alabaster}<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The only problem was the price per yard - too high for me to even mention! Why is it that I have a knack for falling for the most expensive thing in a store without even looking at the tags? I'm cursed with fabulous taste, I guess!<br /><br />I wouldn't even let myself consider something so pricey, so I kept going back to the World Market near miss. Still though, I couldn't live with them! But then I got some advice from a designer friend of mine. Yes, she agreed, it would be a splurge, but it could also be the stepping stone that we've been searching for to set the tone for our whole home. Plus it's a quality fabric in a timeless print that could always be sold or repurposed in another home. Not to mention, she added, we only had 1 window - luckily not more! While I heard what she said and knew she was right, the budget still lingered on my mind. Feeling overwhelmed and stressed out I mentioned my dilemma to Ben one evening and much to my dismay, he agreed with my friend. Yes, it will be a ridiculously expensive splurge but we loved it and needed an inspiration piece for the rest of the house. <br /><br />So here I am today, slowly but surely saving up my pennies to splurge on the fabric of my dreams. Since we've got so many other projects going, it's going to take a while, but when I finally save up enough, I know it will make our dining room the design center piece that we will use as inspiration for our entire first floor. <br /><br />Now on to accessorizing.......... ;)<br /></div></div></div></div></div></div>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271660576870843649noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806627611440235550.post-34041412366663936212011-09-20T10:41:00.000-04:002011-09-20T10:41:00.202-04:00Prepare yourselfYou are about to look at some of the cutest photos you've ever seen.<br /><br />Of course they all involve the love of my life. My goldie girl Mia.<br /><br />Prepare yourself. You may die and go to cute puppy heaven.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Exhibit #1.</span> Look at those puppy teefers!<br /><br />If you look real close you can see her adorable little bottom teeth. The front two aren't lined up with the rest - they are pushed forward just a bit which allow her to be the perfect nibbler. They remind me of a super cute jack-o-lantern!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOu7qGGHDHwTxz71yRwi8gpfrZH8ZtOVUHCiTI2FQ8_mto4wGOZzKVfR0tuLwrFVAxK3rc19G8OOt8mMYHLpsHcdvYi-4e4cqpiwTrYUzksXdexyJrKYaod5-qfMwakdNiLMzTADwSqHi/s1600/DSC_0301.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOu7qGGHDHwTxz71yRwi8gpfrZH8ZtOVUHCiTI2FQ8_mto4wGOZzKVfR0tuLwrFVAxK3rc19G8OOt8mMYHLpsHcdvYi-4e4cqpiwTrYUzksXdexyJrKYaod5-qfMwakdNiLMzTADwSqHi/s400/DSC_0301.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650185136018959442" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Exhibit #2. </span> She let's us play dress up with her.<br /><br />Seriously. This little girl has played every role from baby Jesus all wrapped up in a swaddling clothes at bath time to Mother Teresa in a kitchen hand towel!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LWC5bejGvLLmUyziiKIbi_BYeIWadRgPPpVs3MZHh7yJ6nX9EcrItLPcEtDFox645LP1qhRaF4iv70O0D07y0JaEYM2dWyD3XvgW4mgFQbOcGO-6iOssqeQUsXofr5SKAAFUF037rFmP/s1600/DSC_0306.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LWC5bejGvLLmUyziiKIbi_BYeIWadRgPPpVs3MZHh7yJ6nX9EcrItLPcEtDFox645LP1qhRaF4iv70O0D07y0JaEYM2dWyD3XvgW4mgFQbOcGO-6iOssqeQUsXofr5SKAAFUF037rFmP/s400/DSC_0306.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650185140576184882" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Exhibit #3.</span> She is always a good sport.<br /><br />Ever since she was a little puppy girl, she has loved watching sports with her papi.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEgafqK9dMeTZpS6C0ZGWVXRzmlq4WH6y2LyVtRiFfvx2GZppjWKTG9bfI5bhIynZzkcXjgD8ho7L9fGIi0dLcvkzIlUFd2DO0gWGNmqQ2HRnWszln5Jmgvi79A9FzOGK1s5FqNB8iVbl/s1600/DSC_0058.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEgafqK9dMeTZpS6C0ZGWVXRzmlq4WH6y2LyVtRiFfvx2GZppjWKTG9bfI5bhIynZzkcXjgD8ho7L9fGIi0dLcvkzIlUFd2DO0gWGNmqQ2HRnWszln5Jmgvi79A9FzOGK1s5FqNB8iVbl/s400/DSC_0058.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653473678974045122" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4v-EyVWa3rrvdnzZ9r5epeH7xfE8DEWdG5eH551ETdCfIQ0ZLsEpVkNCwrI-vjaAvatOZ21CSPhqck_PUKc1CwZ-z7Q2zAKEx02orvpm-zy2fmScBtmFwEVlwm_z2uP8DfZKJqeK9pbRm/s1600/DSC_0303.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4v-EyVWa3rrvdnzZ9r5epeH7xfE8DEWdG5eH551ETdCfIQ0ZLsEpVkNCwrI-vjaAvatOZ21CSPhqck_PUKc1CwZ-z7Q2zAKEx02orvpm-zy2fmScBtmFwEVlwm_z2uP8DfZKJqeK9pbRm/s400/DSC_0303.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650185139918966146" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Exhibit #4</span>. How can we ever get mad at her?<br /><br />Even when she is naughty, she's so stinkin' cute! (This is an old pic, but nothing has changed!)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYcH6U9FTt-3M9mqy59ElvRKcCeXzUhlGEHt4ot0zwZh-QeyfBHknpWHwcOhXVQZcuuk6c5FXaspyi6I-YosIWdd8476l7uHZ0MRffX8QaM27I-y2kS8ePk74q_bfuPK19qERWFzt1IkVp/s1600/PA190036.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYcH6U9FTt-3M9mqy59ElvRKcCeXzUhlGEHt4ot0zwZh-QeyfBHknpWHwcOhXVQZcuuk6c5FXaspyi6I-YosIWdd8476l7uHZ0MRffX8QaM27I-y2kS8ePk74q_bfuPK19qERWFzt1IkVp/s400/PA190036.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653473683966214626" border="0" /></a><br />And finally....<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Exhibit #5.</span> She loves to be the center of attention.<br /><br />From falling down at random stranger's feet & rolling over onto her back to demand a belly rub to riding in the cart at her most favorite place in Charlotte (Lowe's), girlfriend doesn't have to seek out attention - she just gets it!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQBVrMAj7boeP7wyZoEuyx3M3iVS1xtBN0hfuRwAjzDcRaHtIiMEasgl0jfm4GD2mgMftDAMH74Zz6rmmTpIXk26XXFdXWdrQ_uCgtXYsG6gGiOz0dweKyEqqMBvjV0siv_XTQlg_jVOOs/s1600/P9060161.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQBVrMAj7boeP7wyZoEuyx3M3iVS1xtBN0hfuRwAjzDcRaHtIiMEasgl0jfm4GD2mgMftDAMH74Zz6rmmTpIXk26XXFdXWdrQ_uCgtXYsG6gGiOz0dweKyEqqMBvjV0siv_XTQlg_jVOOs/s400/P9060161.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653473686642219682" border="0" /></a>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271660576870843649noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806627611440235550.post-8206582776023454512011-09-17T18:04:00.000-04:002011-09-17T19:13:47.030-04:00Porch appeal<span style="font-family: arial;">I know I said I'd return with a looky looky at our nearly completed fence, but the priorities have changed for now. Rather than working on the fence the past couple of weeks, Ben has been assisting our carpenter with the trim work in the upstairs renovation. Together they've been able to get a good deal of it done which means we can start thinking about soon (like in a few months) closing out those open permits and beginning the Phase 2 demolition - master bedroom, family room & laundry room.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">In his spare time, which hasn't been much, Ben put the finishing trim on the fence but not yet the stone. I've been hitting up the paint desks at Lowe's & Home Depot trying to make sense of the exterior stain selection. It's daunting - let me tell you. Those little chips they display look nothing like what the stain actually is. On top of that there are so many choices - solid, semi-transparent or toner. We were convinced we'd do a semi-transparent for a saturated color but still wood grain look, but now after sampling a nearly a dozen or so & not really diggin' any of them, we're reconsidering toner. We did upgrade to a better quality wood, so why not show it off a bit! Not to mention that we need to make sure this color we works with all of our other finishes - the stone for the columns, the flagstone we are considering for our future patio, our existing brick, possible future house paint colors & our new sod. It's overwhelming when there are still so many unknowns.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Now let me get to the topic I had intended to post about. Our new found curb appeal. Did you realize that Labor Day weekend marked our 1 year anniversary in this house? That's right - we've officially been living in the South for 1 whole year, y'all! While I do hope to one day write a reflection on what we've experienced & learned this past year, I need to give that one some thought first. Obviously these days I'm finding fewer and fewer moments to devote to this poor little blog, but that's an important one that I want to give my whole attention to. In the mean time, let me share with you the curb appeal that it only took us one whole year to create! (Seriously - attention had to be given to the inside before the outside.)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Along with our newly green yard, we've gotten our landscaping under control. Gone are the nasty overgrown azaleas from the front and our pair of camellia trees have been trimmed back a bit. Obviously our pecan trees have still not been touched...nor have the stickers been taken out of our new upstairs windows!</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4aYwrcCLWZqvbjLCgtfmlvxLfp0S1Ll5p0woqp9-AhOEmQF00SIHpyQBzGg1ZPbTCSNenhqBYPWfh0IZ_0QvZRE4nQbNLZfd3Oxh6O-xtSL4FsL7QcSa5IvLV2K5uKeNUqIFfIHf7ipD/s1600/P9080123.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4aYwrcCLWZqvbjLCgtfmlvxLfp0S1Ll5p0woqp9-AhOEmQF00SIHpyQBzGg1ZPbTCSNenhqBYPWfh0IZ_0QvZRE4nQbNLZfd3Oxh6O-xtSL4FsL7QcSa5IvLV2K5uKeNUqIFfIHf7ipD/s400/P9080123.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650175581320442562" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">I know it doesn't look like anything special, but you have to admit it has come a long way from what it once was. I no longer feel like we are living in the cob-web covered haunted house on the corner!</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9W2kPqjuM7WGEBVdEBrlFX3Htd_c3ILkgPY-WOnH_-9Pv0Wj6ERTbyiLbrrTMjUJPX7cSVNFxiFfuTCRM_aOs5Gm_8YsmTW3HpX06A4QrxAqsleySGQldGe5jXbhB1RogGtBMGx3XuzCZ/s1600/IMG01133-20100809-0747.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9W2kPqjuM7WGEBVdEBrlFX3Htd_c3ILkgPY-WOnH_-9Pv0Wj6ERTbyiLbrrTMjUJPX7cSVNFxiFfuTCRM_aOs5Gm_8YsmTW3HpX06A4QrxAqsleySGQldGe5jXbhB1RogGtBMGx3XuzCZ/s400/IMG01133-20100809-0747.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653460808045047074" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Really from a distance the changes to the green part of the year don't look very different, but if you could have seen it all up close, you'd know it wasn't good.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Now how about a closer look? Without spending much over $50, I worked some porch magic.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIll1ofRGvj-eoHNWHtesBRUzXxHXbiFxUCjnoY6ayzxGNJXuZSEUF7s0-UDpQsGAAEzTIuH2mG8wn9lGkAO_skGPeo4fyf295h3A_YdMI5F5FjjAmRJko4aVd30hR0qc9b4UjmwQ3BqLa/s1600/DSC_0316.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIll1ofRGvj-eoHNWHtesBRUzXxHXbiFxUCjnoY6ayzxGNJXuZSEUF7s0-UDpQsGAAEzTIuH2mG8wn9lGkAO_skGPeo4fyf295h3A_YdMI5F5FjjAmRJko4aVd30hR0qc9b4UjmwQ3BqLa/s400/DSC_0316.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650175576673013250" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJq_ux2TZA1r3s7sblVzh4jg5JkURJ2Ug0ELXorVxvzbhRLZDUjLA_L6JfbMH0Q91a2QnehNd1R97giEdz3sXnPFzHA_awdWcMyGdCVzNmjdiJAlg77QsxFyqra45fLu1LGIFv2LTXWg_C/s1600/DSC_0323.jpg"><br /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">It's still not where I want it to eventually be, but it's a good start - at least I think. Let me walk you through some of the details.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">If you've been around here for a while, you may recall this $5 Craigslist purchase once looking like this.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4pYYO-lB54IpdYtihyphenhyphen71lgQQ27O9pKDemG0kDIMaEK-UNEKgGQmkAWESIDeBU0a77P23eS4EOycWv54ADEf6BgjuxRdve59s_yDG2DN_6awP8QD43bHpSMYepPKJ36sJnHCmaIEGzUuB/s1600/P4050059.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4pYYO-lB54IpdYtihyphenhyphen71lgQQ27O9pKDemG0kDIMaEK-UNEKgGQmkAWESIDeBU0a77P23eS4EOycWv54ADEf6BgjuxRdve59s_yDG2DN_6awP8QD43bHpSMYepPKJ36sJnHCmaIEGzUuB/s400/P4050059.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650178238644243602" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Isn't it amazing what a little creativity & paint can do?</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBE5qjlqgP1rV1qM0g6_SjeTu1chTp1TdpFeQc2l22zfrKfcdRrCDZ8l6djGtlfBh7U7MANTITVHvX8Cux90uxHwNyJGyrnECTw28sc6R32g2guW2e56ZU0EkUL_piVIgvW7Vgn0YKOeA/s1600/DSC_0321.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBE5qjlqgP1rV1qM0g6_SjeTu1chTp1TdpFeQc2l22zfrKfcdRrCDZ8l6djGtlfBh7U7MANTITVHvX8Cux90uxHwNyJGyrnECTw28sc6R32g2guW2e56ZU0EkUL_piVIgvW7Vgn0YKOeA/s400/DSC_0321.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650175591259170210" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Then there is this trio.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1o2ahuwnuoxk2aapska2aeDi9S6IyOExeizOzw0uPpM5W_eXqcD8O-tPo0xHXzUKfN9rIAVMqA72gzz6NKp1R_hjqotulzl6rzGcD2NWn7Nukp700Qk5JUGyB2txWmtmFYMy2jD8RFobd/s1600/DSC_0315.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1o2ahuwnuoxk2aapska2aeDi9S6IyOExeizOzw0uPpM5W_eXqcD8O-tPo0xHXzUKfN9rIAVMqA72gzz6NKp1R_hjqotulzl6rzGcD2NWn7Nukp700Qk5JUGyB2txWmtmFYMy2jD8RFobd/s400/DSC_0315.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650175587720290162" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">The retro metal chairs belonged to my Ma & Pa. I remember bouncing on them in their sun porch way back when I was a little girl. They were rusty white when we inherited them, but after some sanding and spray paint, they look brand spankin' new! The little black and white table in the middle was also Ma's. It's a ballot box. Would you have ever guessed? See that slot on the top? That's where you cast your vote. Ma was a jury commissioner extraordinaire for many years so she must have acquired it during that time. When I inherited it, the top was covered in wood grain contact paper. Talk about retro! The pillows are a little something I whipped up with some Sunbrella fabric I found for cheap online. I will never get enough of classic black and white stripes.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Then there was this project. I loved me some paint chips back in college, but long gone are those days. The Ikea table though is a keeper. </span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ30DY6MgMVvFya0cFfV0ScAYvnpuZXx51bsnRv4R70ysLkVbEQb61-L0YPBYD-qWTFmxfkl2YMJJ2k8mRiOaq2Qym1F0hAg9cfaDz5xHPsGrWkHuwY8gZ8fpLiayKJ36CixWrtIrXd3go/s1600/DSC_0321.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ30DY6MgMVvFya0cFfV0ScAYvnpuZXx51bsnRv4R70ysLkVbEQb61-L0YPBYD-qWTFmxfkl2YMJJ2k8mRiOaq2Qym1F0hAg9cfaDz5xHPsGrWkHuwY8gZ8fpLiayKJ36CixWrtIrXd3go/s400/DSC_0321.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653462936595965250" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Can you spot it now? </span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJq_ux2TZA1r3s7sblVzh4jg5JkURJ2Ug0ELXorVxvzbhRLZDUjLA_L6JfbMH0Q91a2QnehNd1R97giEdz3sXnPFzHA_awdWcMyGdCVzNmjdiJAlg77QsxFyqra45fLu1LGIFv2LTXWg_C/s1600/DSC_0323.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJq_ux2TZA1r3s7sblVzh4jg5JkURJ2Ug0ELXorVxvzbhRLZDUjLA_L6JfbMH0Q91a2QnehNd1R97giEdz3sXnPFzHA_awdWcMyGdCVzNmjdiJAlg77QsxFyqra45fLu1LGIFv2LTXWg_C/s400/DSC_0323.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650175892140738850" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">The wood/white combo is another current fave of mine. In fact we we are hoping to tie it into the other side of the porch with a variation on this as a coffee table sometime in the near future. Ben has his eye on the perfect pallet for me at work. Now we're just waiting until it becomes available.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISRHepYU8uM0KR8zm7GC5Tf-AMHRhmaeD7YmFRxpMFWZp7FvgdsGFklBfsB6EetICzSBeb6x_59f0oZYh74VzIK_KVEDOzZ4MvcwlJ1KLDUiIOSNboa_6Mqn7zrVJzObFrfRmXjph5AOW/s1600/84854990_c4uStdlJ_c.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISRHepYU8uM0KR8zm7GC5Tf-AMHRhmaeD7YmFRxpMFWZp7FvgdsGFklBfsB6EetICzSBeb6x_59f0oZYh74VzIK_KVEDOzZ4MvcwlJ1KLDUiIOSNboa_6Mqn7zrVJzObFrfRmXjph5AOW/s400/84854990_c4uStdlJ_c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653466464048811730" border="0" /></a>{<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/206639881/">via</a>}<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">And let's not forget about my 'late night jazz up your boring door mat' project. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEAp9wUG_8SgdqVTbs2f6IWgcwCSgsJ-n6JKKbShIj23Ghz8rhEwpxSoSh55VxgHjf25GXPiS9oqR7hMM0OZun5xHCfrZOHUek0nCeFdIAvyt1CSg_ImALa3laRIAF-_ulycSsE-oIkO8/s1600/DSC_0324.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEAp9wUG_8SgdqVTbs2f6IWgcwCSgsJ-n6JKKbShIj23Ghz8rhEwpxSoSh55VxgHjf25GXPiS9oqR7hMM0OZun5xHCfrZOHUek0nCeFdIAvyt1CSg_ImALa3laRIAF-_ulycSsE-oIkO8/s400/DSC_0324.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650175896517936210" border="0" /></a><br />Spray paint - I can't live without it people. With all my spraying, you probably think I must be high on fumes by now! ;)<br /><br />The old porch swing also got a new coat of paint - but not the spray kind.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MeP60g3-RNdlcx2sF2z5V9wvm-6GAa-TmHO9GdjGp0opzebFGtFZYceuMHD01Cv5HIXvxjZ3HEyPm-Ovz3i-AcWGx88r_iJUaiywDwOoBjgkJykkZdPVPYsWvj4GC9NzA7nAeivTiFgF/s1600/DSC_0320.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MeP60g3-RNdlcx2sF2z5V9wvm-6GAa-TmHO9GdjGp0opzebFGtFZYceuMHD01Cv5HIXvxjZ3HEyPm-Ovz3i-AcWGx88r_iJUaiywDwOoBjgkJykkZdPVPYsWvj4GC9NzA7nAeivTiFgF/s400/DSC_0320.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650175572448067490" border="0" /></a><br />Top the whole thing off with a couple of Pottery Barn outdoor faux fiber pillows, some Homegoods blue ceramic planters & my mildly artistic green thumb & that's how our house got some long awaited curb appeal!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><br />*Since the writing of this post there have been some additions - I'll try to remember to photograph & share them soon.</span><br /></div></div>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271660576870843649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806627611440235550.post-9442271477307554622011-09-08T21:39:00.004-04:002011-09-08T22:04:34.895-04:00Lots of Labor<span style="font-family: arial;">Forget Labor Day. We had a Labor Weekend! Actually most of the work done over the weekend was more like the icing on the cake. There was a bit of heavy laboring, but most of the prep work was done during weekends prior, but now it's done....well, at least in the front yard!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I didn't get a chance to take before photos before the work got underway, but just imagine our front yard looking like two big dirt patches.....the ones that we prepared over our anniversary weekend two weekends ago. Did I mention that we gave up giving each other gifts this (7th) anniversary in turn for a giant pallet of sod? Romantic, huh? Being on a budget really sucks sometimes!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Remember how I mentioned that my parents were coming to town? Well they did & we certainly put them to work for 2 days before we all sneaked away to the beach for a couple of days. While mom and I did a bit of shopping (yay for Charlotte's new Container Store), dad and Ben got started on the work in the front yard. Sprinklers & sod. </span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYLdsTxUrekb_Ob7KOeonJqp5d6USgZw-_1_BbmYyCeFuCsDNHtsufDsZSXzdqhdC0N03BeUsacdEUtpzipg9bfWD9zpM1Hz1gBimHo7phptrsQHt9b6pBZkm1t5tpTehukUg3VwUW7zc/s1600/DSC_0311.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYLdsTxUrekb_Ob7KOeonJqp5d6USgZw-_1_BbmYyCeFuCsDNHtsufDsZSXzdqhdC0N03BeUsacdEUtpzipg9bfWD9zpM1Hz1gBimHo7phptrsQHt9b6pBZkm1t5tpTehukUg3VwUW7zc/s400/DSC_0311.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650169930992491282" border="0" /></a>My dad did the heavy lifting & left Ben to tend to his baby.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WO4BTAuRKQ7NwarwZjOk66NCVV7MzQONrug8rUMeCW4eqVH-gpcxctYtCTLF0T1gjDbN0wQfrpg291vAoNFMV0gywcHu-bHgVD6nB_hOokinJAMh_Y7bGFqupq9aByL4eJBEw-_DFZWu/s1600/DSC_0328.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WO4BTAuRKQ7NwarwZjOk66NCVV7MzQONrug8rUMeCW4eqVH-gpcxctYtCTLF0T1gjDbN0wQfrpg291vAoNFMV0gywcHu-bHgVD6nB_hOokinJAMh_Y7bGFqupq9aByL4eJBEw-_DFZWu/s400/DSC_0328.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650169942042147394" border="0" /></a>Can you even guess how happy he was to revive his old machete?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj584na1qpUoJLQRGvXzSUNRekOfYiC9f9bS-b0V8kwFSqKWrKdbzn7oUW3kXCOQ1jSgdQsCddjnV7kclTFlV0z2OU3mWEBwpQul4iCMF9T2YzD3Vfcy0L8EH9ZbGHohE-LWCKtoQWT_jMa/s1600/DSC_0312.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj584na1qpUoJLQRGvXzSUNRekOfYiC9f9bS-b0V8kwFSqKWrKdbzn7oUW3kXCOQ1jSgdQsCddjnV7kclTFlV0z2OU3mWEBwpQul4iCMF9T2YzD3Vfcy0L8EH9ZbGHohE-LWCKtoQWT_jMa/s400/DSC_0312.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650169932945484690" border="0" /></a>Our finished puzzle patch grass.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />We ended up having a bit extra so rather than let it go to waste, we prepped a small section of the back side yard. The rest of the back yard is still a total mud pit, but remember - <span style="font-style: italic;">poco a poco</span>.<br /></div></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiN76T821dUaVGnD3vJhHLlyG_dCih6Cncuady6iYtD1whJKTXZJ7ud1n7DGuDdAtI7MAE2r2MnmSEl2b6EMlmAhCrNtgpi4AqZdhs4qH9B653bPW727g7yS2Zkawgjn057zUFVAefuia8/s1600/P9080147.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiN76T821dUaVGnD3vJhHLlyG_dCih6Cncuady6iYtD1whJKTXZJ7ud1n7DGuDdAtI7MAE2r2MnmSEl2b6EMlmAhCrNtgpi4AqZdhs4qH9B653bPW727g7yS2Zkawgjn057zUFVAefuia8/s400/P9080147.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650173115982315618" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Never mind the flagstone - just playing around with some ideas for a walkway.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left; font-family: arial;"><br />Oh yea, and don't forgot to go back and oogle the fence. It's not quite done yet. We still need to stain & install the stone on the columns, but HALLELUJAH it's almost done. I'll be back with a better look at it later this week. Later!<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271660576870843649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806627611440235550.post-50294335209269493782011-09-01T09:10:00.004-04:002011-09-01T09:34:59.567-04:00I know, I know<span style="font-family: arial;">The other day I said I was back but it just may have to wait until after this holiday weekend....sorry! We've been working hard all summer on some projects that we're in the midst of finishing up and it feels like my attention should be directed toward them! I'll give you a hint - our backyard no longer looks like this.</span>
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<br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0JUw381SjbpyR5nHTTplFsm3BeB9eaHmUv8fn17NS-M8__bkTSY0LTA7RChJ-SjFGqdimoRtOJkCR-71msjSPHOFXl05bPYf1_vzVPb79gMYUe7RLFVtpJjh2MhuUHo7MbkXXM_9tS_m2/s1600/DSC_0393.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0JUw381SjbpyR5nHTTplFsm3BeB9eaHmUv8fn17NS-M8__bkTSY0LTA7RChJ-SjFGqdimoRtOJkCR-71msjSPHOFXl05bPYf1_vzVPb79gMYUe7RLFVtpJjh2MhuUHo7MbkXXM_9tS_m2/s400/DSC_0393.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647381982041104914" border="0" /></a>the really sad & hideous fence is gone!
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<br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Literally all summer (since Memorial Day weekend) Ben has been slaving away on a new fence - he insisted on doing it all himself. It is in the final stages we just need to finish up some trim, install the stone on the columns and then stain, stain, stain. But soon friends you will get to see it. If I do say so myself, it's awesome. Thank goodness our yard is the size of a postage stamp because otherwise we'd probably be working until next Memorial Day weekend! And the best part of it all is that this little girl is no longer sequestered to the deck. She's got her yard back - albeit nothing but dirt!</span>
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<br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUvPxs3CpK1D5LN1Uqa3Q1I3cDVP3U5W0cogDLzrT2dtKU-rnqBeV_fDvvFwShZlBB4nZRlnRcJGTqx1PXbxCazgWyEBMeDbnyBvB3YtusIkX2p6B6lTEdeFv_iZ1cixJppt-RtXHevCa/s1600/P5290019.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUvPxs3CpK1D5LN1Uqa3Q1I3cDVP3U5W0cogDLzrT2dtKU-rnqBeV_fDvvFwShZlBB4nZRlnRcJGTqx1PXbxCazgWyEBMeDbnyBvB3YtusIkX2p6B6lTEdeFv_iZ1cixJppt-RtXHevCa/s400/P5290019.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647381975098371618" border="0" /></a>poor little girl was without freedom all summer!
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<br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Speaking of dirt, our front yard is about to undergo a bit of a makeover as well. If the backyard is postage stamp sized, the front is .....well so tiny there isn't really a fair comparison! </span>
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<br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFeio5vOputqADcLTR6detXu8dnCDFzgZ3KlS02Ev2tzBdgqiUrRyMpmuYf5cO9wQ-dh2wlIqTS5hlHYhqD6ey6rEq90kDv2tP_E3VfwfLEXgfO-ab7TnaEKgxyz6VYGZBoZiNaPCRnzz/s1600/P9080013.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFeio5vOputqADcLTR6detXu8dnCDFzgZ3KlS02Ev2tzBdgqiUrRyMpmuYf5cO9wQ-dh2wlIqTS5hlHYhqD6ey6rEq90kDv2tP_E3VfwfLEXgfO-ab7TnaEKgxyz6VYGZBoZiNaPCRnzz/s400/P9080013.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647382474235837842" border="0" /></a>overgrown & dead
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<br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;">In the fall/next spring we plan to do some real landscaping but for now we're at least going to trim things back and turn that lawn green. To save face for summer we threw some seed down and got a bit of grass - fescue . We watered a lot, but it still ended up looking dead. So after some research Ben decided to kill it off, so from about July 4th on it looked like a haystack! Last weekend we traded in what was supposed to be a little anniversary trip to the mountains for the chance at giving our house some very much needed curb appeal - in the form of sod. So instead of hiking and hanging out in Brevard, we chopped & tilled the front yard (and side yard) & ordered our sod....to be installed this weekend. Yay! Good thing my parents are coming to town to help us! (Do you like how we tack on a bit of work to all family visits to NC? It's bonding time, right?)</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family: arial;">So prepare yourselves (well not too much - I don't want to let you down). The next time you see photos of our yard it WILL be green. The yucky old paint job on the front porch will still be there and so will those giant bushes (at least some of them), but there will be changes. Effort has been made. <span style="font-style: italic;">Poco a poco</span>, right? We're not miracle workers - just DIYers!</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Happy Holiday weekend!</span>
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<br />Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271660576870843649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806627611440235550.post-32728805331130845922011-08-26T09:00:00.002-04:002011-08-26T09:08:14.321-04:00Excuse Me!<span style="font-family: arial;">Please forgive me. I gave myself permission to take a blog-cation to enjoy the rest of the summer with my peeps. </span>
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<br /><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8uaYhzujE0E7yTodv3oTg0tue7lfLGSBetgE0a9wK0plxgcQl5MzdYlk7V4cZsW1WnF2A8xdypazU728YC1CbqP4USuUW9R3qBfz_pendE4m-pgXA1ORu4BhFTMX5_EV08WGXaa_RAL6m/s1600/1548d7ad25b848bb9354934c711eadaf_7.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8uaYhzujE0E7yTodv3oTg0tue7lfLGSBetgE0a9wK0plxgcQl5MzdYlk7V4cZsW1WnF2A8xdypazU728YC1CbqP4USuUW9R3qBfz_pendE4m-pgXA1ORu4BhFTMX5_EV08WGXaa_RAL6m/s400/1548d7ad25b848bb9354934c711eadaf_7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645149886524169010" border="0" /></a>
<br /><span style="font-family: arial;"> I should have announced my decision, but I didn't really realize until a few days in & by then it felt like an after thought. Anyway, I'm back now. And I'm going to try to stay on top of this blog thing. Realistically that may only mean a couple of posts a week. A couple is better than none though, right? </span>
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<br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Thanks for your patience!</span>
<br />Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271660576870843649noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806627611440235550.post-61441768476328208862011-07-15T06:39:00.002-04:002011-07-25T09:49:07.169-04:00Hello Goodbye<span style="font-family:arial;">Do you remember when we first said goodbye to Colorado in March of 2009?</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieotCom1nQWoeAFC9DaFC0g_KR1KsrxIpSUyu-lN6N7yy-RMPtWFXoAxiM4krDNyRQLkB-wg1PwGekzBcjqVgOwd6_Je7yIprdqG3EmM7kk2uH8ORFMa5M7UE5h-LZ9izWjUQSZtVfO3va/s1600/DSC_0104.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieotCom1nQWoeAFC9DaFC0g_KR1KsrxIpSUyu-lN6N7yy-RMPtWFXoAxiM4krDNyRQLkB-wg1PwGekzBcjqVgOwd6_Je7yIprdqG3EmM7kk2uH8ORFMa5M7UE5h-LZ9izWjUQSZtVfO3va/s400/DSC_0104.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629341561451782530" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Then a year and half later in August of 2010 when we said hello again old friend?</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnD4LOfi5reACUGCYnhJs-SucHSNhNFlLYLCVpKMpvC-aESOpdacDIdoOY2HhqdPv2vZY2JyujXXHsV5azCLr2VfzZ8_aR04HKQVmgu3NfIAJYeytL6Dwi3SPaoR4v9c-qCeWIeD7e9Vc/s1600/P7300037.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnD4LOfi5reACUGCYnhJs-SucHSNhNFlLYLCVpKMpvC-aESOpdacDIdoOY2HhqdPv2vZY2JyujXXHsV5azCLr2VfzZ8_aR04HKQVmgu3NfIAJYeytL6Dwi3SPaoR4v9c-qCeWIeD7e9Vc/s400/P7300037.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629341579725850146" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">And then quickly said another sad goodbye only a month later?</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0eG2fm_lzwK7xcL6_zq9lQ6L_i-t-sW4dDKd2SjuJXZ4EcLAn4yr3LN36wwimlGb1459W8jsLX9A7seKy8cNGHDekmRNeibFYfeWE_xfyL_56n4Jp2xGjvTG8bv7tZvLYrdF78tyNUBE/s1600/P8290047.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 342px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0eG2fm_lzwK7xcL6_zq9lQ6L_i-t-sW4dDKd2SjuJXZ4EcLAn4yr3LN36wwimlGb1459W8jsLX9A7seKy8cNGHDekmRNeibFYfeWE_xfyL_56n4Jp2xGjvTG8bv7tZvLYrdF78tyNUBE/s400/P8290047.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629341569680489554" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Well we're about to reunite with our old friend, Colorful Colorado once again.<br /><br />We leave for a visit today! With the temps in North Carolina in the 98 degree range with the heat index soaring around 105, we cannot wait to breathe in that fresh mountain air. Now let's just hope we can easily readjust to the altitude!</span>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271660576870843649noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806627611440235550.post-52421042971568349142011-07-11T12:10:00.000-04:002011-07-11T12:34:59.043-04:00Roadtrippin' in style<span style="font-family:arial;">You'd have to be blind to not know that we are mad about road trips around here, especially with tricked out campers. We love <a href="http://fromcolfaxtoxela.blogspot.com/2009/05/ecamper-in-action.html">our Dewey</a> to death even despite some of his pesky flaws (like a zipper that has jumped the track and refuses to close), but if we ever had a chance to hit the road again I'd love to do it in one of these.<br /><br /><br /></span> <div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;">Meet <a href="http://www.caravanolic.com/">Caravanolic</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXsp9LGCouXIgdbTq1Ucz8dgDNZDVzYNfi2alpuBI0c3GoqemLrZn_UdPTX-XxSDn_yuj8GM2A1wNeaV_-1Gncy0lO7ofaKLuj4NDejGeC-4hUmmoglFnf0BbBrlvjP92YMvVpV6nCQDqw/s1600/6a0120a5c8d9a9970c01348696bddc970c-400wi.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXsp9LGCouXIgdbTq1Ucz8dgDNZDVzYNfi2alpuBI0c3GoqemLrZn_UdPTX-XxSDn_yuj8GM2A1wNeaV_-1Gncy0lO7ofaKLuj4NDejGeC-4hUmmoglFnf0BbBrlvjP92YMvVpV6nCQDqw/s400/6a0120a5c8d9a9970c01348696bddc970c-400wi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628129313882711474" border="0" /></a><br />With the help of <a href="http://www.viceversainteriorismo.com/">Viceversa Interiorismo</a> they have made my camping dreams come true. Born just 1 year ago, this duo is redefining the world of camping. No longer do girls like me have to eat Ramen over a camp stove under a blue tarp canopy. Instead I could cook up a real meal in style - all while allowing the sweet husband to have the camping experience he "needs" to have!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOF4NS6Zt5ukAXNgqb0ZKdt7MVDyr5L2TZSoTGMKkJqb2OSHixdaAavP2B-dwbG3aXn4N9HHvp1sbUhRbDDYLEdGc4YSKeOFcTCuLg2oslYOrIORT6sYuthru_j4sXG_ENiEGogbxEhKi/s1600/6a0120a5c8d9a9970c0133f37270ee970b-400wi.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 302px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOF4NS6Zt5ukAXNgqb0ZKdt7MVDyr5L2TZSoTGMKkJqb2OSHixdaAavP2B-dwbG3aXn4N9HHvp1sbUhRbDDYLEdGc4YSKeOFcTCuLg2oslYOrIORT6sYuthru_j4sXG_ENiEGogbxEhKi/s400/6a0120a5c8d9a9970c0133f37270ee970b-400wi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628129309519817026" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXsp9LGCouXIgdbTq1Ucz8dgDNZDVzYNfi2alpuBI0c3GoqemLrZn_UdPTX-XxSDn_yuj8GM2A1wNeaV_-1Gncy0lO7ofaKLuj4NDejGeC-4hUmmoglFnf0BbBrlvjP92YMvVpV6nCQDqw/s1600/6a0120a5c8d9a9970c01348696bddc970c-400wi.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2-pqFiVPOYqB3E3Wiq6ZYwJ952lM7XX0piwDD4ji4Hidmsgr8IhgENSMTveYHbXu6A6PzxxvUIiogEULR3vU4JjVhQO2VrjSDOhYWpXiRyIB7aHphc7XSeVAiH-rHRMLhOgPMCWE9kzX/s1600/6a0120a5c8d9a9970c0133f372715d970b-400wi.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 302px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2-pqFiVPOYqB3E3Wiq6ZYwJ952lM7XX0piwDD4ji4Hidmsgr8IhgENSMTveYHbXu6A6PzxxvUIiogEULR3vU4JjVhQO2VrjSDOhYWpXiRyIB7aHphc7XSeVAiH-rHRMLhOgPMCWE9kzX/s400/6a0120a5c8d9a9970c0133f372715d970b-400wi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628129107864021074" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kauFGKLN1IXXQswxFW9cNMf4ixnS4wOQcgn603-1pg6ROCTysrI1fqsHwTalia5sdAuLqE__3HwUkR_GgnfSXUN44YGlrh0pKv0i1ZKHjz5nAn66x72mujUVsE6Vij-mjASE2_34-s_c/s1600/6a0120a5c8d9a9970c013486967b63970c-400wi.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 302px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kauFGKLN1IXXQswxFW9cNMf4ixnS4wOQcgn603-1pg6ROCTysrI1fqsHwTalia5sdAuLqE__3HwUkR_GgnfSXUN44YGlrh0pKv0i1ZKHjz5nAn66x72mujUVsE6Vij-mjASE2_34-s_c/s400/6a0120a5c8d9a9970c013486967b63970c-400wi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628129104564965986" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSj8_7UrjD-gbgeCvToKtfl-8P2f61glvIY6DkRCggb0sAHTFHCClZ3RP13vWuNZP6vgxi5YjMl6t8BaHGzfKWbtl85-hP-Cvcl8QTJQG5o4fNGJyHDp5z-SrXNgIL7aUTUcKuWXJdVY7L/s1600/6a0120a5c8d9a9970c013486967c6f970c-400wi.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 302px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSj8_7UrjD-gbgeCvToKtfl-8P2f61glvIY6DkRCggb0sAHTFHCClZ3RP13vWuNZP6vgxi5YjMl6t8BaHGzfKWbtl85-hP-Cvcl8QTJQG5o4fNGJyHDp5z-SrXNgIL7aUTUcKuWXJdVY7L/s400/6a0120a5c8d9a9970c013486967c6f970c-400wi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628129098848631154" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_GCkMKymGzJTS7juawP1Sd6_79jSvxihFkGQIXqc4UsRBEtKTetRBWrrKIHtpBg4NHBF2RDq6JUa-8DjzG_ux9AUJr24bDg330kF79EsSQ6T4VZ_vDKETQh05hQqvLo012ETkV97YzJd/s1600/6a0120a5c8d9a9970c013486967c45970c-400wi.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 302px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_GCkMKymGzJTS7juawP1Sd6_79jSvxihFkGQIXqc4UsRBEtKTetRBWrrKIHtpBg4NHBF2RDq6JUa-8DjzG_ux9AUJr24bDg330kF79EsSQ6T4VZ_vDKETQh05hQqvLo012ETkV97YzJd/s400/6a0120a5c8d9a9970c013486967c45970c-400wi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628129092104464450" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXWoC2JPwVtkHpTR12qqkwh2KeLrhkIN4G6zplSdJFv0HMM1gW21YKjX34j_UKoJwWOt7idWKsOx1kjAJLiI6QDX1f6zKqPuvnZIKhK4SeyD1jSRn9mGnP7sDk3tCoCzCX8h76nYCyZ4oB/s1600/6a0120a5c8d9a9970c01348696869a970c-400wi.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 302px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXWoC2JPwVtkHpTR12qqkwh2KeLrhkIN4G6zplSdJFv0HMM1gW21YKjX34j_UKoJwWOt7idWKsOx1kjAJLiI6QDX1f6zKqPuvnZIKhK4SeyD1jSRn9mGnP7sDk3tCoCzCX8h76nYCyZ4oB/s400/6a0120a5c8d9a9970c01348696869a970c-400wi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628129091158239282" border="0" /></a><br />Isn't it amazing? If we took one of these babies on our next road trip to Guatemala we wouldn't even have to find a house to live in when we got there! And it really isn't even that far fetched since Ben has always said that he would love to own an <a href="http://www.airstream.com">Airstream</a> one day...... Even if I can't win him over on a Caravanolic, this wouldn't be so bad either. <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6lIAc15uKFyUGuJLNbT_21fO41w77ZJCOmG-6nuP7Ect4TVjV-Gox8AjOj2ytmgsACG4UCGiIkEvkkT4tGns9LLnMTk5rOxywUzl1wz_DoOE2YmfaKUghLrx5i6XRZOu8D_pO4FsbYnu/s1600/2008-airstream-basecamp.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6lIAc15uKFyUGuJLNbT_21fO41w77ZJCOmG-6nuP7Ect4TVjV-Gox8AjOj2ytmgsACG4UCGiIkEvkkT4tGns9LLnMTk5rOxywUzl1wz_DoOE2YmfaKUghLrx5i6XRZOu8D_pO4FsbYnu/s400/2008-airstream-basecamp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628132659405885026" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxp4_mflMH-q9Y_3_sFOc0f9yrwsa7bSF8rtDjNvNOkk5rFOrK1osdmXvrgeFfaDslkb1kA8BlaBZrzWh8TO7jQ1OOcnSoYb6x6Lxk3sdkXPlMHss98lqSSC53TXeJqQMJKOOwKcUbFHWd/s1600/2008-airstream-basecamp-interior.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 243px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxp4_mflMH-q9Y_3_sFOc0f9yrwsa7bSF8rtDjNvNOkk5rFOrK1osdmXvrgeFfaDslkb1kA8BlaBZrzWh8TO7jQ1OOcnSoYb6x6Lxk3sdkXPlMHss98lqSSC53TXeJqQMJKOOwKcUbFHWd/s400/2008-airstream-basecamp-interior.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628132662169064594" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Oh boy. I think I hear the open road calling us again!<br /></div><br /></div></div>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271660576870843649noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806627611440235550.post-2641099473762650732011-07-08T10:54:00.000-04:002011-07-11T09:27:51.597-04:00The many faces of Mia<span style="font-family:arial;">A couple of weekends ago we took a last minute trip to the beach outside of Charleston. Ben was working in the area and Mia and I drove down to meet him. We never take time to relax here at home, so a weekend away was just what we needed. We only wish it could have been longer!<br /><br />While hanging out on Sullivan's Island beach one evening during our trip I decided an impromptu photo session was in order for our beach loving girl. Honestly I think it's the happiest I we have seen her since......well, since we were last at the beach nearly a year ago in Mexico. What can I say? She's a girl after her own mother's heart!</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">You may not think that dogs are very human like, but I disagree. These expressions say it all. She is certainly not "just a dog!"<br /><br /></span> <div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRny71roAhedWE0CwwFawAczDa9xLfPM24S-kyq3IzavUXxLHxnfy7uy22QHyaD5RZ0WKNzQZUvtOumnfZpBPXue5TxNdbVSZOfrzE3WNCDZKK1z7T2-cn6rKLdaGp6dc9Pzsb4F6FN8mX/s1600/DSC_0362.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRny71roAhedWE0CwwFawAczDa9xLfPM24S-kyq3IzavUXxLHxnfy7uy22QHyaD5RZ0WKNzQZUvtOumnfZpBPXue5TxNdbVSZOfrzE3WNCDZKK1z7T2-cn6rKLdaGp6dc9Pzsb4F6FN8mX/s400/DSC_0362.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626253392709121618" border="0" /></a>"Ah, thanks guys! You've made me so happy."<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEganjCRUuhmMGtubJEthnLXmxF_NEyGJhUDlRyTmkHnUaQZqoI5t7_Z7WVd4rLj79cj1O1lbYrOyBVmuE9zuxipc5NcPahpkFggVX9rBl4h-LWzx2726hpD0VZidvaVNKH-5JA5gLZTnX6n/s1600/DSC_0363.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEganjCRUuhmMGtubJEthnLXmxF_NEyGJhUDlRyTmkHnUaQZqoI5t7_Z7WVd4rLj79cj1O1lbYrOyBVmuE9zuxipc5NcPahpkFggVX9rBl4h-LWzx2726hpD0VZidvaVNKH-5JA5gLZTnX6n/s400/DSC_0363.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626253389309003090" border="0" /></a>"Wait, what was that? We have to leave already?"<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTnyLFFBY6G7_EqgJhOu8qFBc2yTr1c2PcrPRRXYbtocgBmIwj5RsWouBZECGlS4Xv94in2g4l9fPYTBOl3JgMOSZpJmnXWCW6oN8A3BYxeGG0O4t-FeaoXrAcZC3dHKrGbZSy4VvuIIsa/s1600/DSC_0364.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTnyLFFBY6G7_EqgJhOu8qFBc2yTr1c2PcrPRRXYbtocgBmIwj5RsWouBZECGlS4Xv94in2g4l9fPYTBOl3JgMOSZpJmnXWCW6oN8A3BYxeGG0O4t-FeaoXrAcZC3dHKrGbZSy4VvuIIsa/s400/DSC_0364.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626253380243002402" border="0" /></a>"You can't make me go!"<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_xhBpsLid75u6Y3RCAlQoYh_eXCawUiedKeAUH22MK4XNG5f4235Lg6XG9r91RwWGQ9vlKcUVXx0UYkQaq30pC5VKptO1A_PbWZut96MmTX5GJALQToj48E1wm8JIEA8wafM6J8udmfd/s1600/DSC_0365.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_xhBpsLid75u6Y3RCAlQoYh_eXCawUiedKeAUH22MK4XNG5f4235Lg6XG9r91RwWGQ9vlKcUVXx0UYkQaq30pC5VKptO1A_PbWZut96MmTX5GJALQToj48E1wm8JIEA8wafM6J8udmfd/s400/DSC_0365.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626253362100320082" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">"What? We can stay a a little longer?"<br /><br /></span> <a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlU-rtw5XBqWRR7w8d1EJV77ZL2tzgt5tEri7qdjCy7gO61v38zEWIfX5LVpYh3KZ5daZ5euqx4jW_9wnlchJ3kEFHEj3eQG0H0MP_hwWf0dOGuq6A1aaDVS-lh9HK4U7QUgWTpgsLB-Cd/s1600/DSC_0320.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlU-rtw5XBqWRR7w8d1EJV77ZL2tzgt5tEri7qdjCy7gO61v38zEWIfX5LVpYh3KZ5daZ5euqx4jW_9wnlchJ3kEFHEj3eQG0H0MP_hwWf0dOGuq6A1aaDVS-lh9HK4U7QUgWTpgsLB-Cd/s400/DSC_0320.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626256125940426754" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">"Yipee!!"<br /><br /></span> <a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilu_kaFM7BoEMJGjZXl7fNqiPX3cUhITMZ82YIPWpKRmrdTODkzY87X9JKrut4kk8X8D-Ohu1cISovVs2inzVlISUjpS8DNZEYGf54yoX5uLCaHGA5zr-4BKAXWa-O8XZsFpZP2Uk-jKcy/s1600/DSC_0358.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilu_kaFM7BoEMJGjZXl7fNqiPX3cUhITMZ82YIPWpKRmrdTODkzY87X9JKrut4kk8X8D-Ohu1cISovVs2inzVlISUjpS8DNZEYGf54yoX5uLCaHGA5zr-4BKAXWa-O8XZsFpZP2Uk-jKcy/s400/DSC_0358.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626256741934554322" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">"Ok mama, I'll let you take these silly pictures of me."<br /><br /></span> <a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRpQpl-5TZHM4r8MrWRAkBxG9LAHHZnpIQr6yKc3u9JE2br_5oZI59j4-AeeRCnc2uOCv89IRuwJuhtgew65iNobGkOX3makxdgKW0RB2BCZz1JTAioR4ZgAmUwg1utR8huyVb_Zxj-7T/s1600/DSC_0389.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRpQpl-5TZHM4r8MrWRAkBxG9LAHHZnpIQr6yKc3u9JE2br_5oZI59j4-AeeRCnc2uOCv89IRuwJuhtgew65iNobGkOX3makxdgKW0RB2BCZz1JTAioR4ZgAmUwg1utR8huyVb_Zxj-7T/s400/DSC_0389.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626256149045793634" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">"Hey, make sure you get my serious side."<br /><br /></span> <a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbP9D-XcuKMzKsQUwRDFqq1wCCPhdQOHYQ7XG6BtQnQXSrd_EOCuWZglwQkAacRHxhVFUj2tO1C-tAJKjX5PKEMBtWfW82wu2Uemz-A9QFBGo-uzs6Us21taYUmlZifdoDPw_2jAxv0owM/s1600/DSC_0325.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbP9D-XcuKMzKsQUwRDFqq1wCCPhdQOHYQ7XG6BtQnQXSrd_EOCuWZglwQkAacRHxhVFUj2tO1C-tAJKjX5PKEMBtWfW82wu2Uemz-A9QFBGo-uzs6Us21taYUmlZifdoDPw_2jAxv0owM/s400/DSC_0325.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626256141604610210" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> "I love you guys!"<br /><br /></span> <a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_OuuCpZIaGDSlWw2HMDlEkMKRfM8Fi-4lf0lrIArBk2h_tJgMNr7Kc3V6r0aQMdgF77vXbXF5Qn2-2-Leo84UFuc0_qza9_hMssr9uyDR9UmdBEhaiQJc-lvuQ0K8ZVyloVPULDfI4G-E/s1600/DSC_0334.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_OuuCpZIaGDSlWw2HMDlEkMKRfM8Fi-4lf0lrIArBk2h_tJgMNr7Kc3V6r0aQMdgF77vXbXF5Qn2-2-Leo84UFuc0_qza9_hMssr9uyDR9UmdBEhaiQJc-lvuQ0K8ZVyloVPULDfI4G-E/s400/DSC_0334.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626255263240744018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">"Hee hee! You can't see me now!"<br /><br /></span> <a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDHQG0mMlGPGRHMySO34mJp_E1pRexil3Zjtdbv3PzoKxoBIiLdhPzijvS3YbNPY1TYmd4A3WjjJAUbbACeu_VczX5xwcl4R4VEaNINu_Am642aQIf4XApbNDck5MVCx1xEHWqHbq6Pp7/s1600/DSC_0338.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDHQG0mMlGPGRHMySO34mJp_E1pRexil3Zjtdbv3PzoKxoBIiLdhPzijvS3YbNPY1TYmd4A3WjjJAUbbACeu_VczX5xwcl4R4VEaNINu_Am642aQIf4XApbNDck5MVCx1xEHWqHbq6Pp7/s400/DSC_0338.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626255271829769090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">"Stop messing with me Papi and just throw the darn toy!"<br /><br /></span> <a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAn0vTb52hLNpK57BJUYa8Z0Z-3OL2BPoImb8AsPEXM4D6u67QW1PoKFth5TTNVI_ZtnlASBHFTZOb4Uon9rDnRNpQZtAVh1j2q7WTWXXhJIpi0KaLLieTQDlVGAVAGLQYBrjMfWD1iDO/s1600/DSC_0396.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAn0vTb52hLNpK57BJUYa8Z0Z-3OL2BPoImb8AsPEXM4D6u67QW1PoKFth5TTNVI_ZtnlASBHFTZOb4Uon9rDnRNpQZtAVh1j2q7WTWXXhJIpi0KaLLieTQDlVGAVAGLQYBrjMfWD1iDO/s400/DSC_0396.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626260566096735778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">"I'm getting tired, but please don't stop. I'm having too much fun!"<br /><br /></span> <a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9oZqm2vtMJsgRGjxQFwQedFdn54tOROWIZWqedLG6BOzqoujet08VTrdwWK67EaLHKv4MUEXyZIq6KNyNsGfapI0RPjlHnVX1_TcMaWWKRMqNzJVxf3p4XrIWTWo8r-fzoXI8JUq4Qjxd/s1600/DSC_0341.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9oZqm2vtMJsgRGjxQFwQedFdn54tOROWIZWqedLG6BOzqoujet08VTrdwWK67EaLHKv4MUEXyZIq6KNyNsGfapI0RPjlHnVX1_TcMaWWKRMqNzJVxf3p4XrIWTWo8r-fzoXI8JUq4Qjxd/s400/DSC_0341.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626255281302985314" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">"This is the life!"<br /><br /></span> <a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwoe6lCZXhDQ_xscVCNTP41eAc71hbPT0YCjCMwzbRMxdOwAkilnc2YbZF7udZpyOipXK_KvHRssp5dTPd_fkjcHAKfE5xqmpaT8PRkCOxpuHDHyrWga3sKc65EiuMGTECADvQ151UpjuY/s1600/DSC_0371.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwoe6lCZXhDQ_xscVCNTP41eAc71hbPT0YCjCMwzbRMxdOwAkilnc2YbZF7udZpyOipXK_KvHRssp5dTPd_fkjcHAKfE5xqmpaT8PRkCOxpuHDHyrWga3sKc65EiuMGTECADvQ151UpjuY/s400/DSC_0371.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626253348091641026" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">"Please guys? Let's stay. I don't want to leave!"<br /><br /></span> <a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8EJChyphenhyphenufhwCeR587bkFdSQrrk0SGx9kGTL37QQJdcDSWKCGzqBUXIssLVZ_LOknGnXdV6U9ZadH85P1LCt6b9QoXD4gB4g6vAn0xukH25xkagDtH6ZMuZQP-95kcZjjOg0LYYstE1MTol/s1600/DSC_0385.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8EJChyphenhyphenufhwCeR587bkFdSQrrk0SGx9kGTL37QQJdcDSWKCGzqBUXIssLVZ_LOknGnXdV6U9ZadH85P1LCt6b9QoXD4gB4g6vAn0xukH25xkagDtH6ZMuZQP-95kcZjjOg0LYYstE1MTol/s400/DSC_0385.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626256154124052514" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">"Seriously. I'm not leaving."</span><br /><br /></div>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271660576870843649noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806627611440235550.post-35576566636344026422011-07-07T10:02:00.000-04:002011-07-07T22:36:20.500-04:00Call me crazy....<span style="font-family:arial;">You know those people that love their dogs so much it makes them kind of crazy, like coo-coo Leona Helmsley?<br /><br /></span> <div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnu949HzLckhEfmWG0hOB0IKjz8SNozZ6eZylRiBYaDjfOb4DNeNVX8RbfpKLpAWJUj3aFh8MzbqATMl16dUYoe2qPJcBavTj8veOiLECyLpN__dTPXnbmQYJ6jji1AkfUP0zKBoVxAR0n/s1600/Leona-Helmsley%252527s-dog-heir-dies.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 325px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnu949HzLckhEfmWG0hOB0IKjz8SNozZ6eZylRiBYaDjfOb4DNeNVX8RbfpKLpAWJUj3aFh8MzbqATMl16dUYoe2qPJcBavTj8veOiLECyLpN__dTPXnbmQYJ6jji1AkfUP0zKBoVxAR0n/s400/Leona-Helmsley%252527s-dog-heir-dies.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624385473797010066" border="0" /></a>{<a href="http://dailydumper.blogspot.com/2011/06/leona-helmsleys-dog-heir-dies.html">via</a>}<br /><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;">Well, </span><strike style="font-family: arial;">I think</strike><span style="font-family:arial;"> I'm pretty sure I'm one of them.<br /></span> <a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2dJW_LLPY5h4kg_oNLbWA2zHJvqxBsKriSlxAHHwB1FSchU4yR0BfuIyQwBpdpteaMX-axSP2InuHJ8eaoyQbLVBS1UF0lJKaTfiOncuXcLPNiiD4YdruHmFYJ2cz_eYY2RAAe8-z5jm/s1600/P3250293.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2dJW_LLPY5h4kg_oNLbWA2zHJvqxBsKriSlxAHHwB1FSchU4yR0BfuIyQwBpdpteaMX-axSP2InuHJ8eaoyQbLVBS1UF0lJKaTfiOncuXcLPNiiD4YdruHmFYJ2cz_eYY2RAAe8-z5jm/s400/P3250293.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624385479696899986" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />I may not have 12 million dollars to leave my Goldie girl when I die, but I do plan to love her like crazy while I'm alive.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">So you can call me crazy, you can call me whatever you want, but remember this is my blog (and my life) and I'll do/say/write whatever I want. I prefer to think of it as being a good dog mom. After all, she is our 1st baby. So she may be a little bit furry and have 4 legs instead of 2, but we love her just as much as..... (get ready for it).....you love your kids.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">She's the first thing I think of in the morning when I get up.....she likes to get her belly rubbed to her and I may or may not sing her cute songs while doing so. She's the entertainment in our home at night. She's the star of all our vacation photos and she gets spoiled with uber healthy dog food and delicious doggie snacks on a daily basis.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Last weekend we took a trip to the beach. There may not be a ton that we love about living in Charlotte, but it's somewhat close proximity to the beach is top of the list (and by somewhat close I mean in comparison to Denver). Ben was working in the South Carolina/Georgia area, so Miss Mia and I drove down to Charleston to meet up with him for a weekend away. It was very last minute, so finding a place to stay with a dog during the height of vacation season was a bit of a challenge, but we made out ok (not great - just ok). It didn't really matter anyway where we stayed because we were only there to sleep. The rest of the time was spent frolicking on the beach with our water-loving beach baby.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">It had been nearly 1 whole year since she had ridden the waves and rolled in the white sand on the Mexican beaches, but she sure didn't lose her love for all things beach during her time away. Unfortunately the rules at American beaches for dogs are much stricter and they generally can't even be on the beach during the day at most places, but we made it work and then lucked out finding 2 great beaches in the area that allowed her the freedom she was desperately needing.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7K8xrr7bWaJ1YkVoSc0KCogHuGCN6HdExIpyeBEsIc0xYCksTT5lb3Qt2dZXKtWqVWR4_ryzq0MXOAFRZRXtl-foSvLR-NhHKyv6QKNGqVXOgnIaj5EK5fccBz4pLmDAVPCw1YyX_ohq6/s1600/DSC_0317.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7K8xrr7bWaJ1YkVoSc0KCogHuGCN6HdExIpyeBEsIc0xYCksTT5lb3Qt2dZXKtWqVWR4_ryzq0MXOAFRZRXtl-foSvLR-NhHKyv6QKNGqVXOgnIaj5EK5fccBz4pLmDAVPCw1YyX_ohq6/s400/DSC_0317.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626392591376893058" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">a little roll in the sand always feels good!</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Fast forward to this week when I did something else a little crazy. I bought a couple of these.<br /><br /></span> <div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4-BtdETfxFgF_hiZ09J9h9hWCd4UK-miUmKpLBMTOFw2rsWksFPchoKAj3l7rTjJDJEaNGLwVZePx3fd37EY3cNF6i4rjypqW6C13jWFApsNx89h-FTPqS4Y3j4l9iU6oOTep50vCDCR/s1600/img61m.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4-BtdETfxFgF_hiZ09J9h9hWCd4UK-miUmKpLBMTOFw2rsWksFPchoKAj3l7rTjJDJEaNGLwVZePx3fd37EY3cNF6i4rjypqW6C13jWFApsNx89h-FTPqS4Y3j4l9iU6oOTep50vCDCR/s400/img61m.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624390192784769426" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">{</span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/beaba-multiportion-baby-food-freezer-tray/?pkey=e%7Cbeaba%7C12%7Cbest%7C0%7C1%7C24%7C%7C3&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH%7C%7CNoFacet-_-NoFacet-_-NoMerchRules-_-">via</a><span style="font-family:arial;">}<br /><br /></span> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Most popularly known to work in conjunction with the </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/beaba-babycook-baby-food-maker/?pkey=e%7Cbeaba%7C12%7Cbest%7C0%7C1%7C24%7C%7C1&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH%7C%7CNoFacet-_-NoFacet-_-NoMerchRules-_-">Beaba Babycook Baby Food Maker</a><span style="font-family:arial;">, these silicon freezer trays are used for storing home prepared baby food for future use. Now don't jump to any conclusions. I'm not expecting - not yet. But I do have an immediate plan for these things. I'm using to store my homemade doggie ice cream treats! Since I do have an awesome discount at William Sonoma and one day plan to have a baby and probably make my own baby food, why not take advantage now? </span> <span style="font-family:arial;">You see I'm tired of spending $5 for 4 measly Frosty Paw treats just so that my girl can enjoy a snack on a hot summer day.<br /><br /></span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRThqRgVOc40DX9rSPRgm7MpnmpG51KGy4H7YWxkgukXGYVHwCKiOZHlCI2wxe8cV-Q5j3uC6zqtEentM6-zHkj5uSAJzWvmsg3G9qJfwDSjPhKo7PBNnfsryJzT0sVTXcOcjvEeyvxBY4/s1600/lens17969462_1305893936frosty_paws.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRThqRgVOc40DX9rSPRgm7MpnmpG51KGy4H7YWxkgukXGYVHwCKiOZHlCI2wxe8cV-Q5j3uC6zqtEentM6-zHkj5uSAJzWvmsg3G9qJfwDSjPhKo7PBNnfsryJzT0sVTXcOcjvEeyvxBY4/s400/lens17969462_1305893936frosty_paws.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624391427104247122" border="0" /></a> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:arial;">{</span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.squidoo.com/make-frosty-paws-doggie-ice-cream-right-at-home?utm_source=google&utm_medium=imgres&utm_campaign=framebuster">via</a><span style="font-family:arial;">}<br /><br /></span> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Our sweet little dog is an ice cream monster. It's our fault. We created the monster, but we can't really blame her. We both love ice cream too much too. It all started somewhere in the middle of Mexico with a frosty from Wendys and now we only so much have to open the freezer door and she comes a running! </span> <span style="font-family:arial;">I've been known to make her baked dog treats in the past, so her own ice cream isn't that much of a stretch. And it makes me feel good knowing that (1) we're not getting ripped off and (2) it's much healthier for her. </span> <span style="font-family:arial;">And it makes her so happy! Does this still sound like crazy to you?</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />If you're a little crazy too, try this recipe for easy doggie ice cream. And here's </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.pedigreedpups.com/Dog-Ice-Cream-Recipes.html">a link</a><span style="font-family:arial;"> for some other good sounding dog recipes too.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><br /><br />Mia's Ice Cream Minis</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />32 oz. plain yogurt (I actually only used half)</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />1 mashed banana</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />2 T peanut butter</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />3 T honey</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />Mix all the ingredients together, portion and freeze.<br /><br />If you aren't wild about buying the Beaba silicon freezer tray, just use ice cube trays or old yogurt containers for a bigger snack. *I've also tried churning the mixture it in our electric ice cream maker before freezing it. It does tend to freeze a bit quicker, but other than that it doesn't appear to make much of a difference to the end result.</span><br /></div></div></div></div>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271660576870843649noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806627611440235550.post-38918561974773889982011-07-05T22:23:00.000-04:002011-07-06T10:04:55.258-04:00One year ago today....<span style="font-family:arial;">July 5th, 2010 was our last official day as expats living in Guatemala. It was a really sad day for us. Sometimes it's really hard to believe that we have been gone for one whole year. While we remember every detail just like we were just there yesterday the year itself feels like it has gone by really slowly.....at least in comparison to the year that we spent in Antigua. I suppose we've struggled with adjusting to our old American lives a bit more than we realize. Honestly, I think we still struggle with it, but I'm glad that we do because that means that our experience left a lasting impression on us. Coming back to the States, a big fear that we had was that we'd fall right back into place a little too easily - in essence forgetting the hardships we saw & endured. While the past year hasn't exactly been our favorite one, we certainly have both learned and reflected a lot.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBbheYho2OlAmyLYH1L8cmy3eHNzK-fjHZBFragfcffIgV27iSj1pCL5vTmPa14Dc33KEqpIUFea7CaWHwg_Yf5HOKsoSJUlQ3hHxmV7BXYItXxIEnfaBISQmVt61RD-n-CukxPZXb-eb/s1600/P7020007.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBbheYho2OlAmyLYH1L8cmy3eHNzK-fjHZBFragfcffIgV27iSj1pCL5vTmPa14Dc33KEqpIUFea7CaWHwg_Yf5HOKsoSJUlQ3hHxmV7BXYItXxIEnfaBISQmVt61RD-n-CukxPZXb-eb/s400/P7020007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626062609707992130" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">It was more like a year and half that we lived Antigua, but we didn't really form our good friendships until after we had been there for a couple of months. My expat bestie Abby reminded me this weekend that the first official time we hung out outside of work was at a 4th of July party 2 years ago. It was the beginning of some great friendships for both Ben & I and although we aren't there anymore, we know that the special bond we formed with everyone in Guatemala is something that will always hold close to us.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSzuI1Etd-2CpJ3hcBIs-sNXOctbBfaUN4nGk5ogs29V4xPOx9HBsbepRNaQkWicy8ApZyqEidOl4nBiNDx1Rf-v23MOkAmIZe86lEOwx5vqHTuYWgf5h_Hud-QkyDccK3-XCzHzhJstW/s1600/P7020027.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSzuI1Etd-2CpJ3hcBIs-sNXOctbBfaUN4nGk5ogs29V4xPOx9HBsbepRNaQkWicy8ApZyqEidOl4nBiNDx1Rf-v23MOkAmIZe86lEOwx5vqHTuYWgf5h_Hud-QkyDccK3-XCzHzhJstW/s400/P7020027.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626062644365197826" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">I love you Abs!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left; font-family: arial;">For our last hooray in Guatemala, we spent a weekend (4th of July weekend) at one of our favorite destinations - Lake Atitlan. To make it even more special, we went with our other besties, Carlos & Britt. We met them while living in our first apartment in Antigua. They were our neighbors - the ones that were always parking us in (we had to park single file down a long driveway)! After a few weeks of tiptoeing around, we finally knocked on their door one evening to chat (car talk) and it wasn't long until we were spending all of our free time hanging out with them at Carlos' favorite place, The MonoLoco bar. Ironically, Britt held my job at Common Hope before I arrived......it's a small world after all!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_IACZ0KEEU3ATDIHs3lwVbqmgHpum8FaheryyxZdyskmfS3SElmXY53L8CWA8rmuZkNT8mKUrZldYl9cod9KLwvehav1QgybWuj-zWrKozJkNuxQYBQPxXpneUMZubsl5-DSdq8pM2CS/s1600/P7030130.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_IACZ0KEEU3ATDIHs3lwVbqmgHpum8FaheryyxZdyskmfS3SElmXY53L8CWA8rmuZkNT8mKUrZldYl9cod9KLwvehav1QgybWuj-zWrKozJkNuxQYBQPxXpneUMZubsl5-DSdq8pM2CS/s400/P7030130.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626062651426710850" border="0" /></a>We love you Uncle Carlos & Aunt Britt<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">It was a difficult decision for us to leave Guatemala - much more difficult than it was to decide to relocate there. We really didn't want to go, but after a lot of thought we realized that while we had an amazing experience our life there felt very temporary. Under the right circumstances we would have settled down for the long run in Antigua, but our situation didn't feel permanent. It was heartbreaking to come to the realization that we had to say goodbye to the country that had grown to feel like our second home, but we are confident that one day we will return and make Guatemala a more permanent part of our lives. Hopefully it will be waiting for us with open arms when we finally return, because we will always love it and it's amazing people!</span><br /><br /></div><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAz34mr5E6aFoEX4-Fgj8JoQ-rvW2HGEJ951fyTbqt1EJqp8uPG2i-8MTHwnmFOFEuWpDKmNNuvegn9tU52_WUSvo0FeOW1Ergg6cnaop4zvAaOc2G_g2i5cjhLsHuksPr0LHZoyvuF9EL/s1600/P7020066.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAz34mr5E6aFoEX4-Fgj8JoQ-rvW2HGEJ951fyTbqt1EJqp8uPG2i-8MTHwnmFOFEuWpDKmNNuvegn9tU52_WUSvo0FeOW1Ergg6cnaop4zvAaOc2G_g2i5cjhLsHuksPr0LHZoyvuF9EL/s400/P7020066.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626062636699837186" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">We love you Guatemala!</span><br /></div>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271660576870843649noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806627611440235550.post-83385285022824411552011-07-01T10:27:00.000-04:002011-07-01T10:47:02.697-04:00I scream, you scream....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhubycDLgXATmUZKUcK4reKoecgMHxyk7UH1907aQUb75zdNru6Tg1JE-r-f8S9K601oKILV0Oc1wVgoUJy3eVxBRhlgV1z0TRn9k9dzTtEp5PFeEndTXMB6xace4tI5p-7eWxj7md7Fep1/s1600/DSC00878.JPG"><br /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">We all scream for ice cream!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">If we have one downfall as a family, it's that we love ice cream - all 3 of us - a little too much.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">Luckily it isn't something we keep on hand at all times. We sort of go in spells. Now is one of those times. Maybe it's the heat? Maybe it's my new found interest in cooking? Maybe it's just that time of year? What ever it is, I've revived the electric ice cream machine that we received as a wedding gift from Ann & Jim almost 7 years ago and we've been indulging in all sorts of frozen delights! (BTW, I do believe that out of all the gifts we received this </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-ICE-20-Automatic-2-Quart-Ice-Cream/dp/B00000JGRT">Cuisinart Automatic Ice Cream Maker</a><span style="font-family:arial;"> <strike>was</strike> is without a doubt our very favorite gift!)<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">A year or so after receiving it and exhausting nearly all of the recipes that came along with it, I invested in </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Scoop-Sorbets-Granitas-Accompaniments/dp/158008219X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1309358060&sr=1-1">The Perfect Scoop</a><span style="font-family:arial;">. It's chock-full of ice creams, sorbets, granitas, and sweet accompaniments - more than one person could ever dream of. I should pull a Julia Fairchild, and <strike>mix</strike>, <strike>whip</strike>, churn? my way through the book. Wouldn't that be fun? My butt would probably become enormous, but my tummy would be happy!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Here's a favorite revival that I first discovered a few years ago & then re-discovered this week.<br /><br /></span> <p face="arial" style="font-style: italic;"><strong>Strawberry Sour Cream Ice Cream</strong></p><p face="arial" style="font-style: italic;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhubycDLgXATmUZKUcK4reKoecgMHxyk7UH1907aQUb75zdNru6Tg1JE-r-f8S9K601oKILV0Oc1wVgoUJy3eVxBRhlgV1z0TRn9k9dzTtEp5PFeEndTXMB6xace4tI5p-7eWxj7md7Fep1/s1600/DSC00878.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhubycDLgXATmUZKUcK4reKoecgMHxyk7UH1907aQUb75zdNru6Tg1JE-r-f8S9K601oKILV0Oc1wVgoUJy3eVxBRhlgV1z0TRn9k9dzTtEp5PFeEndTXMB6xace4tI5p-7eWxj7md7Fep1/s400/DSC00878.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623778389424944322" border="0" /></a></p><p style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;">{<a href="http://cococakeicecream.blogspot.com/2011/05/strawberry-sour-cream-ice-cream.html">via</a>} </span></p><p style="font-style: italic; font-family: arial;">Source: The Perfect Scoop by David Lebovitz</p> <p style="font-style: italic; font-family: arial;">Makes about 1 1/4 quarts</p> <p style="font-style: italic; font-family: arial;">1 pound fresh strawberries, rinsed and hulled</p> <p style="font-style: italic; font-family: arial;">3/4 c. sugar</p> <p style="font-style: italic; font-family: arial;">1 tbsp. vodka or kirsch<br /></p> <p style="font-style: italic; font-family: arial;">1 c. sour cream</p> <p style="font-style: italic; font-family: arial;">1 c. heavy cream</p> <p style="font-style: italic; font-family: arial;">1/2 tsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice</p> <p style="font-style: italic; font-family: arial;">1) Slice the strawberries and toss them in a bowl with the sugar and vodka or kirsch. Stir until the sugar begins to dissolve. Let stand at room temperature for 1 hour, stirring every so often.</p> <p style="font-style: italic; font-family: arial;">2) Pulse the strawberries and their liquid with the sour cream, heavy cream and lemon juice in a blender or food processor until almost smooth, but still slightly chunky.</p> <p style="font-style: italic; font-family: arial;">3) Freeze in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions.</p><p style="font-family: arial;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: arial;">To top it off, this time I added some frozen dark chocolate chunks with about 5 minutes left in the mixing. It's absolutely, perfectly, delicious!</p><br /><p style="font-style: italic;"></p>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271660576870843649noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806627611440235550.post-91799322853265780352011-06-16T19:57:00.000-04:002011-06-29T10:19:25.005-04:00Now we're cooking!<span style="font-family:arial;">Recently I was flipping through a copy of.......(I'm almost embarrassed to admit this).......Better Homes & Gardens (it's actually got some great decor stuff in it), when I came across a recipe that sounded delicious. So I added the ingredients to my shopping list and the next time I came home from the store I was prepared to fix us some Stacked Sweet Corn, Bean & Beef Casserole. </span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRFxjvodyUdr6vuBjptlb08O-LIzkuUNGih0h4nPRtXtWkRS-aDD_4XrU6sp5yLOUYuCWxujin1wjwRLJHK1x9NYgRDwTqclHAjlwX3-v8xsWEUTtDa7qY6xjwP8NiUZh6-v9OZl-_4EUC/s1600/550_R162985.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRFxjvodyUdr6vuBjptlb08O-LIzkuUNGih0h4nPRtXtWkRS-aDD_4XrU6sp5yLOUYuCWxujin1wjwRLJHK1x9NYgRDwTqclHAjlwX3-v8xsWEUTtDa7qY6xjwP8NiUZh6-v9OZl-_4EUC/s400/550_R162985.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623641696010427154" border="0" /></a><br />{<a href="http://www.bhg.com/recipes/from-better-homes-and-gardens/better-homes-and-gardens-may-2011-recipes/#page=3">via</a>}</div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Now we're not a beef family. Really we're not even much of a meat family, but every once and a while we do indulge and considering our love of all things Mexicano, this recipe sounded like the the right way to take the plunge. It was fairly easy to make and definitely a crowd (Ben & Mia) favorite. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I won't get into details about the recipe, but here's the link (</span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.bhg.com/recipe/pork/stacked-sweet-corn-bean-and-beef-casserole/">Stacked Sweet Corn, Bean, and Beef Casserole Recipe</a><span style="font-family:arial;">) - I strongly suggest you try it for yourself. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I will however make a few comments/suggestions based on my experience.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">* I left out the chorizo (Mexican sausage) - not a fan.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">* In leaving out the sausage, I think we lost a bit of the spice, so next time I think I'll add some taco seasoning to the beef.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">* Actually, next time I think I'll use ground turkey. I firmly believe that there's a time and a place for making the turkey instead of beef substitution. Definitely not in burgers (when you've really been craving the real deal) - we made that mistake recently, but I think with all the other flavors going on in this casserole, it would be fine. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">* Most definitely use a springform pan if you have one. It really helped hold the whole thing together nicely, but during the prep & after the baking.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">* You must must must top it with sour cream. It makes all the difference. (I'm a sour cream fanatic!)</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">If you know me well, you probably know that I'm not much of a cook. I can cook, but I just don't really like to do so on a regular basis. Now if we're entertaining that's a different story - I tend to break out all the pots & pans, but I find complicated cooking for just the 2 of us too boring to do daily. Lucky for me, I have a husband that (1) is ok with that & (2) likes to cook, so we get by just fine. But something has come over me this summer and I'm all about holing up in the kitchen. Maybe it's the fact that summer is my favorite season but here in the south it's just too unbearable to play outside so I'm channeling my energy into cooking. I wonder how long this will last? Well until it's gone, I'll be sharing my favorite recipes right here. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">And if you're wondering about that little old renovation project we've got going on upstairs, it's still there. There was a slow spell due to some tile setbacks, but this week things are back in action. Hopefully I'll have some photos to share by the weekend. Until then, happy cooking!</span>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271660576870843649noreply@blogger.com2