tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17945496796868810072024-03-05T21:03:22.737-05:00Uncontrolled ExperimentM.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06501450783401709540noreply@blogger.comBlogger343125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794549679686881007.post-82762975245018347932016-01-25T22:55:00.001-05:002016-01-26T08:58:50.538-05:00The Light FantasticClearly I didn't settle in to regular posting about our idyllic new life as New Englanders, despite best intentions, given that my last post was over 6 months ago. I swear I had them (the best of intentions), with a camera memory card full of "before" photos of our new (and now not so new) house to prove it. Let's hope that a lack of follow-through is not what I become known for in my decidedly "middle aged" years.<br />
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Speaking of middle age...<br />
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This is what it looks like to turn 40. It's brilliant and blinding. And I'm not just talking about the candles.<br />
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I can only hope that I can do so with as much grace and enthusiasm (I'll let you know next year!). <br />
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To show you that we are, indeed, embracing this (bracingly cold) New Hampshire life, here are a few photos from our first trip to the local sledding hill (not that this is our first time sledding, mind you - any hillock is fair game around here!):<br />
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The sledding hill is known as Wagon Hill, because it has (as you can see) a delightful old wagon parked at the top. It's apparently one of the most photographed sites in the area, for obvious charming and beautiful reasons. This view catches some of the sunset, and one of these days I'll get myself there early enough to capture the view at sunrise, too. What you can't tell from these photos is that just over the hill and down a little path is the coast. We are finding so much to love about this area - it's a stone's throw from the ocean and marvelous little cities like Portsmouth, a short drive from the mountains, and a hop, skip, and jump from one of my favorite places on earth - Maine. I must admit, I do miss Maryland (perhaps more than I thought I would) and all the people we love there, but this feels like the place where we're supposed to be. So cheers to a new year and a new decade, a new us, and a new you.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04738641472687270029noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794549679686881007.post-40859367767591597512015-07-06T21:11:00.001-04:002015-07-06T21:11:56.884-04:00ReturnedAfter a nearly 8-month hiatus, a dusting off of this blog is in order, it seems. A lot has happened between last November and now. When I left off, irresponsibly (and predictably) falling short of my promise to put up a blog post every night during M.'s trip to Morocco, I neglected to mention the potentially life-altering situation that was afoot. A couple of days before M.'s trip, you see, he was offered a new job - a dream job, really. And while everything was crazy and uncertain and roller coastery for a while, I'll make a long story short by saying - we moved!<br />
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A few weeks after Christmas, we packed up the kids, the cat, and all our belongings, and left Maryland for the seacoast of New Hampshire. Did you know that New Hampshire has a seacoast? It's a whopping 13 miles of coastline sandwiched between Massachusetts and Maine. It's tiny but action packed, and we are about 20 minutes west of the actual coast, in a small-ish town with a great school system. <br />
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While we arrived just in time for the snowiest, longest winter of our lives (ha! understatement), we have been loving it up here. M.'s commute, which was typically nearly an hour and a half each way in D.C., is now 15 minutes. We live less than an hour from my parents (and many other friends and relatives!), and an hour and a half from my parents' house on Sebago Lake. We've been living in a rental house which is actually the original farmhouse on a working apple orchard. I've been working from home, and I feel very fortunate that I'm able to do that. It's insanely bucolic and ideal and everything we had been hoping for, but never thought we'd get. Srsly.<br />
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And now, NOW - we bought a house. Here are a couple of photos, most of which were already posted on Instagram and Facebook (sorry!). More to come...<br />
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M. and I toasting the night we closed on the house. We are happy, exhausted, and poor, can you tell?</div>
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The front of the house. Dear Readers, I HAVE A YARD!!</div>
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A tiny peek at the kitchen, with flowers snipped from the front of our rental house.</div>
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And finally, a sighting of my disheveled, sweaty children who tried so hard (and failed so miserably) to be patient while we scurried around cleaning and moving boxes and sanding and spackling this weekend. </div>
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Happy 4th, indeed!!A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04738641472687270029noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794549679686881007.post-59825481131819938012014-11-18T22:10:00.000-05:002014-11-18T22:10:01.783-05:00Medina, Belly Dancers, and MoreUh oh, guys - it's only Tuesday, and I'm just about out of wine. I didn't plan this well.<br />
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So yes, it's Tuesday, and things have been going well for both me and M., with only one small exception. Poor little Annie did, indeed, kick the bucket. We had a little funeral for her in front of the toilet. We sang. Lucy sobbed. Then we went to school and work. Finn took it pretty well, actually, even though she was his fish - probably because he's already seen so much fish death over the last year. He's jaded.<br />
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I didn't post photos from M. last night because I was tired and cranky. Not for any specific reason, though - the kids have actually been pretty good. So far. Well, Lucy's been a bit much, but that's kind of typical for her lately and nothing I'm not used to. My point, though, is that tonight you get TWO days worth of Morocco photos to look at, courtesy of M. No photos from me, mostly because I completely forgot to take any.<br />
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This was M.'s breakfast in the hotel courtyard yesterday morning:<br />
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Another pic of the hotel grounds:<br />
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See this tree with hanging lanterns?:<br />
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Here they are at night - pretty!:<br />
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This is a mosque M. passed on the way to the medina (shopping area). While he was in this plaza, a man put a snake on his neck! He did not ask first, because I don't think M. would have said yes! No photo, because they would have had to pay the guy:<br />
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Mosque/plaza up close:<br />
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On the way to the medina:<br />
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Cool doors:<br />
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More cool doors:<br />
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A shopping stall at the medina:<br />
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Lots of people and lots of smells, according to M. He said everything at the medina smells like camel, which kept him from pulling the trigger on any fabric related gifts like rugs or scarves:<br />
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Which reminds me - I need to ask him why he hasn't sent me a picture of a camel yet!.<br />
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Another photo of the medina:<br />
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The medina photos were all from yesterday, when M. had some time to do some sightseeing. Today he worked all day, and then apparently relaxed with a local beer:<br />
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While watching belly dancers. This was at the hotel restaurant/lounge:<br />
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M. said the belly dancers were just phoning it in. I'm not sure how he knows that...?A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04738641472687270029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794549679686881007.post-86949697261233947112014-11-16T22:47:00.002-05:002014-11-16T22:47:56.169-05:00SundayNot much to report today. M. didn't make it to his hotel until about 4 pm Moroccan time, after a layover in Germany. The kids and I spent a lot of time in our jammies. I did take Finn to a birthday party and (pause)<br />
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Let me just note that M. is the one who picked out the birthday gift for this particular party, and he chose one of those Minecraft swords, because Minecraft is apparently THE thing to love if you are an eight year old boy. He nicely bought me some wrapping paper, just in case, so we could wrap the gift and be prepared for the party. But he did not actually wrap the gift himself before winging his way to Morocco, he left that to me. Have you ever tried to wrap a sword? Real or, um, flattened and foamy? It's not easy. I speak from experience. <br />
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(unpause) we all got dressed (I even showered!), I did a little grocery shopping with Lucy (who was HORRIBLE today, god what is WITH her?), and also conducted other routine household chores like taking out the trash and cooking and whatnot. But we did not do anything remotely worth photographing, so I have nothing to share. I do have a few photos M. sent me, and I'll put them up in a second. Just know that I would ALSO have photos of our day, if our day had anything remotely remarkable contained within it.<br />
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Actually, that's not true, there were a couple of SORT OF remarkable things that happened, though they were not photographable. First, the kids and I started listening to Christmas music. Now, normally I am of the "not until after Thanksgiving" mindset with all things Christmas. But we were in the car, and the kids heard an ad on Sirius XM radio for their holiday channels, and insisted I tune in to one of them (channel 17 - Holly - for those who want to know). And from there, it was all over. We got home, and I turned on Pandora and sampled Pentatonix, Straight No Chaser, and Trans Siberian Orchestra channels. There is no going back, I'm hooked. <br />
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Second, we almost had to hold a funeral today. In striking (for us) news, Finn's fish that he's had the longest (remember how we gave him a fish tank for his birthday just over a year ago? Oh, wait, I just checked, and I never actually blogged about that. Sorry! But to catch you up, we gave him his very own fish tank for his 7th birthday), Annie, is about to die. His small, 2.5 gallon fish tank has seen it's fair share of death, but Annie has been the constant. And she was floating belly up today. I scrambled to change the tank's filter and some of the water, but it's a desperate move that isn't likely to work. She's still hanging in there, but just barely. I had to turn the tank's pump off so she wouldn't get stuck to the intake, that's how weak she is. So expect an update on tomorrow that Annie Is Dead. It will be a sad, sad day.<br />
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OK, on to M.'s pictures, so I can get to bed (I meant to post earlier, but I got caught up in an episode of The Good Wife). <br />
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Here is a view of his hotel from the patio at night:<br />
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He had mint tea this afternoon after getting a grand tour of the hotel and getting some things set for the coming week:<br />
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The hotel lobby has some unique umbrella lights:<br />
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Tomorrow he's off to the big "market" area (I'm blanking on the name - Medina, I think?) - he has most of the day to do some sightseeing before things ramp up with work related stuff. He claims he will NOT bring home a rug or anything big like that. We'll see...A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04738641472687270029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794549679686881007.post-90698769318448350002014-11-15T21:15:00.000-05:002014-11-15T21:15:07.737-05:00Is This Thing On?I'm dusting this site off, at least temporarily. M. is winging his way to AFRICA* for work (god, he gets to go to the coolest places for his job), and I'm holding down the fort at home. While he's out for the next week, I'm hoping to post a few photos here from him (so we can all be jealous when he has dinner with a KING), and some photos of us (to remind him of the glamorous life he's missing).<br />
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Since he's still en route, and the kids and I did nothing interesting after he left this afternoon, I don't actually have anything interesting to post right now. Instead, I thought I'd put a few recent-ish photos up, since it's been so long that you may have forgotten what we look like :-).<br />
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Here's one from the first day of school - Finn as a second grader, and Lucy as a kindergartner:<br />
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I missed documenting a few other big milestones on this blog, two of which happened on the same day - on October 20th, Finn turned 8, and Lucy lost her first tooth. If I had been laboring under any lingering illusions that my kids are still babies, I am now quite thoroughly disillusioned.<br />
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The year has been speeding along. Can you believe there are Santas and wreaths EVERYWHERE already? Even Christmas lights!?! Before we forget that fall happened (is still happening, damn it!), here's a quick snap of the kids during Halloween. Note that Finn (zombie) is sporting homemade guts spilling out of his shirt, lovingly prepared by M. using paper towels, flour, water, food coloring, and a pair of panty hose. Rather creative and gross, no?<br />
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I forced everyone to take a "picturesque fall walk" so I could try to capture photos for a Christmas card. I let the kids try taking pictures of us. This was the best of the lot, and spoiler alert, it did not make it into our card (which I have already ordered, by the way, in the only act to date that has given me any sense of feeling prepared for the rushing onslaught of Christmas):<br />
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Finn, at eight:<br />
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Lucy at five and a half:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2y5wI_fOVoM_umE9q6xqhMplMFwPDe4FHKkLCk2nKeKI3t-m-d4bWUoZ7t-vbdvOl1rXItqexBWKxoQggCBcgWqaxINS-9UT8bQMPO9DDY8hNtiINYLwApz_a99NfEtddkGRTeT9NPf-/s1600/Scenery+and+Fall+Photos+077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2y5wI_fOVoM_umE9q6xqhMplMFwPDe4FHKkLCk2nKeKI3t-m-d4bWUoZ7t-vbdvOl1rXItqexBWKxoQggCBcgWqaxINS-9UT8bQMPO9DDY8hNtiINYLwApz_a99NfEtddkGRTeT9NPf-/s1600/Scenery+and+Fall+Photos+077.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Still the cutest things I've ever seen:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWk5QtoYpZe8I2q2L_1xcnZmLyTPJnwjizv0n_PooJZfiBRTwbn4LYMPYxHc2D14N1wSpx_JdUOkeeKW7AHzzmalkOawx4pEQQScW_yyyvkKX4SBNOzKv0yo4XTsdCe2ZTZiAlZJCbHlM/s1600/Scenery+and+Fall+Photos+079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWk5QtoYpZe8I2q2L_1xcnZmLyTPJnwjizv0n_PooJZfiBRTwbn4LYMPYxHc2D14N1wSpx_JdUOkeeKW7AHzzmalkOawx4pEQQScW_yyyvkKX4SBNOzKv0yo4XTsdCe2ZTZiAlZJCbHlM/s1600/Scenery+and+Fall+Photos+079.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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The End, at least for tonight.<br />
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*Not the ebola-ridden part, in case you were wondering. Morocco, in fact.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04738641472687270029noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794549679686881007.post-38459372685086415442014-05-21T23:29:00.002-04:002014-05-22T08:50:06.971-04:00838 PhotosI finally managed to plug my iPhone into my computer and download all the photos I've taken since I bought it. 838 of them, and only about 400 are blurry. So I figured there must be SOMETHING worth posting, for posterity and all. Because I find that if I haven't put it here, a few months later it feels like it never happened. But be aware that these go WAY back. And of course, I picked the best ones. So we look happy and instaperfect and enviable. But there were plenty of cranky, shouty, rusty, sticky moments mixed in. Full disclosure.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI6effzcjAhJiE48eRr8YM6WoHx-0wDKyeHfRJHmisPFJFd0K_1r-7C1bLcEAA-jnMWmV2YpsGP0vAbwNhEP07r0ccjYOOe4jD6_o03WEW6yubd4xsnwhUCx2PpjmnuYDjdJoKwrQmu7gs/s1600/Allison+iPhone+Sep+2013+to+May+2014+157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI6effzcjAhJiE48eRr8YM6WoHx-0wDKyeHfRJHmisPFJFd0K_1r-7C1bLcEAA-jnMWmV2YpsGP0vAbwNhEP07r0ccjYOOe4jD6_o03WEW6yubd4xsnwhUCx2PpjmnuYDjdJoKwrQmu7gs/s1600/Allison+iPhone+Sep+2013+to+May+2014+157.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Big Man, Bigger Chair</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZBHihS7tKVvfCW9cX9NfnLESJkSdKBZL9N-2x0RatCpVNX9ZRIhwqJ8IO4mKDG9rc6yqUxlXTt9Gb0A1oQtYc5VBlws3l_oa54rU3ph1xerAjbEMme75YbPCt34rhLc1IvLNaoODVqlh4/s1600/Allison+iPhone+Sep+2013+to+May+2014+173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZBHihS7tKVvfCW9cX9NfnLESJkSdKBZL9N-2x0RatCpVNX9ZRIhwqJ8IO4mKDG9rc6yqUxlXTt9Gb0A1oQtYc5VBlws3l_oa54rU3ph1xerAjbEMme75YbPCt34rhLc1IvLNaoODVqlh4/s1600/Allison+iPhone+Sep+2013+to+May+2014+173.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Snuck lipstick out of my purse</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJAiSnPOYfy-w3fvvAOu94cftZv8QV8jxSGS69xzOoC_Oap7QILUZtEhK6hyBjfbOvtb90A6G0RlevDueLIRHrOBrXaOFBHiIz-8NKvFuv_znb-btHl-yoc5O0wRTUM7brdlu82WHJiC6c/s1600/Allison+iPhone+Sep+2013+to+May+2014+186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJAiSnPOYfy-w3fvvAOu94cftZv8QV8jxSGS69xzOoC_Oap7QILUZtEhK6hyBjfbOvtb90A6G0RlevDueLIRHrOBrXaOFBHiIz-8NKvFuv_znb-btHl-yoc5O0wRTUM7brdlu82WHJiC6c/s1600/Allison+iPhone+Sep+2013+to+May+2014+186.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Bike, sunlight</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOGPbhGcVWrwFAp7J_y19emOOTB0onHPp7H3f1ctPY-XqA008m0E7WUmP5m1Y9eP4IsEvYTcauTVaqmiBjy23tL8ILLwc-zCzS5cVAeea5JDsE_g3oiPjPZ_5RFspoMKPjVOZSIHJrtj8/s1600/Allison+iPhone+Sep+2013+to+May+2014+195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOGPbhGcVWrwFAp7J_y19emOOTB0onHPp7H3f1ctPY-XqA008m0E7WUmP5m1Y9eP4IsEvYTcauTVaqmiBjy23tL8ILLwc-zCzS5cVAeea5JDsE_g3oiPjPZ_5RFspoMKPjVOZSIHJrtj8/s1600/Allison+iPhone+Sep+2013+to+May+2014+195.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Crazy pretty sky, the kind of which my great grandfather used to call a sheep sky (looks like a flock of sheep as seen from heaven)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioCDHQtHVnD-b031fTCURpNGfuB_sdM3cN8o26JvyNeZWT0XZiJ_FajGAs96tdv4G7LuokvLCrbehqmBxllv9hCXs7XhBvbvxSXX9JHtBRSSbGdf1Sg9rVs6lodj_Ma6GuFl_OlwslFcDI/s1600/Allison+iPhone+Sep+2013+to+May+2014+211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioCDHQtHVnD-b031fTCURpNGfuB_sdM3cN8o26JvyNeZWT0XZiJ_FajGAs96tdv4G7LuokvLCrbehqmBxllv9hCXs7XhBvbvxSXX9JHtBRSSbGdf1Sg9rVs6lodj_Ma6GuFl_OlwslFcDI/s1600/Allison+iPhone+Sep+2013+to+May+2014+211.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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We are dedicated zoo-goers</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3zezyz1P1V1F_5YUpUAYtpdZxBX9plf2O6tnauVwD_6AqizyZC3LscsNMFITbj4b-5AmrDbsbd41KyGkgp1Y6kx85lxr-bUDtNhAzCXvYWLJC07L2_7h8wvf_6GLbYi6IehTzwkz-D82/s1600/Allison+iPhone+Sep+2013+to+May+2014+236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3zezyz1P1V1F_5YUpUAYtpdZxBX9plf2O6tnauVwD_6AqizyZC3LscsNMFITbj4b-5AmrDbsbd41KyGkgp1Y6kx85lxr-bUDtNhAzCXvYWLJC07L2_7h8wvf_6GLbYi6IehTzwkz-D82/s1600/Allison+iPhone+Sep+2013+to+May+2014+236.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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B&W selfie</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUPdb7F-Bn6rLJvkZHSyTnVzpIl65ghnJVW1llYYrnD7E5GnMWOs7a9WOj6ASsEOD8g7a3sMrasrG61FRc3_d4TDbQYwp7TsGmiai-jChGzMWK-pePMZOq-Y58Fj3UikXmr8GMLVbmaMl/s1600/Allison+iPhone+Sep+2013+to+May+2014+243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUPdb7F-Bn6rLJvkZHSyTnVzpIl65ghnJVW1llYYrnD7E5GnMWOs7a9WOj6ASsEOD8g7a3sMrasrG61FRc3_d4TDbQYwp7TsGmiai-jChGzMWK-pePMZOq-Y58Fj3UikXmr8GMLVbmaMl/s1600/Allison+iPhone+Sep+2013+to+May+2014+243.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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My daughter the newscaster</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-by-bRfzSOQqGGDhA_XURHQaHJpfeBoeTShpxZnrkDmCY5bN89Ea1WwwiYURs82_YGDQG2kWQuu5MvsE_l4ZN4Ch0cRn9pBaeAz-EQMskftNZseBCKXfo4XIXyqwy_8o_Ojse148qm3N0/s1600/Allison+iPhone+Sep+2013+to+May+2014+256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-by-bRfzSOQqGGDhA_XURHQaHJpfeBoeTShpxZnrkDmCY5bN89Ea1WwwiYURs82_YGDQG2kWQuu5MvsE_l4ZN4Ch0cRn9pBaeAz-EQMskftNZseBCKXfo4XIXyqwy_8o_Ojse148qm3N0/s1600/Allison+iPhone+Sep+2013+to+May+2014+256.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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And ballerina</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZVWLVQmMyWyJbIGFeifG1lUC2fbpKZFt7xPvQwKTr7vb1502g6joVEuP1NRbLUrwZwiu_cmzPFzpq5NSMJ-G8wIHjFLbAurkCuqtzHM8Hr95AxiJpQWpgU2psU0aU5vHxunp-bOItJVB1/s1600/Allison+iPhone+Sep+2013+to+May+2014+280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZVWLVQmMyWyJbIGFeifG1lUC2fbpKZFt7xPvQwKTr7vb1502g6joVEuP1NRbLUrwZwiu_cmzPFzpq5NSMJ-G8wIHjFLbAurkCuqtzHM8Hr95AxiJpQWpgU2psU0aU5vHxunp-bOItJVB1/s1600/Allison+iPhone+Sep+2013+to+May+2014+280.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Christmas happened</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXvd6n3YDDIWvFA4mKy2y0zU_Xv-EggBrUF8vwvLH-iFDx3zOI_1oMq70Z_wTymWitAaCIaUKmfHsJrYGMbsJpiORmG59JxLM-_7CenjiVICM1QQkI-5oBafx16hwO_xOThwq0fTPoEej/s1600/Allison+iPhone+Sep+2013+to+May+2014+311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXvd6n3YDDIWvFA4mKy2y0zU_Xv-EggBrUF8vwvLH-iFDx3zOI_1oMq70Z_wTymWitAaCIaUKmfHsJrYGMbsJpiORmG59JxLM-_7CenjiVICM1QQkI-5oBafx16hwO_xOThwq0fTPoEej/s1600/Allison+iPhone+Sep+2013+to+May+2014+311.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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It was pretty</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglWq9-RybqVHcmZTCHfwzLPan0mFJyrK8YketqHvIuNbO5oigYNrkTnc4CcZx9i8w58opiQalnwbjO9lN_O_sdA0QLdZ7gGBbkFC92cqX1lZhDIoYtBwum9V0ceIUbIvx5sHaGWeagP1eD/s1600/Allison+iPhone+Sep+2013+to+May+2014+342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglWq9-RybqVHcmZTCHfwzLPan0mFJyrK8YketqHvIuNbO5oigYNrkTnc4CcZx9i8w58opiQalnwbjO9lN_O_sdA0QLdZ7gGBbkFC92cqX1lZhDIoYtBwum9V0ceIUbIvx5sHaGWeagP1eD/s1600/Allison+iPhone+Sep+2013+to+May+2014+342.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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It snowed. A LOT.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38hzkVH0G7QJLbsIdF8Y33qFErLO-BqEbBSlrPSnyC3AdGNtI4TS9bwGL4EbENwVwcnhfd-bKJGJZKss10um8483LMEjBSWVWwRro0eGcymWc0tgDNUJN1WxsjjvHyqhUTuNjj6HMjlun/s1600/Allison+iPhone+Sep+2013+to+May+2014+352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38hzkVH0G7QJLbsIdF8Y33qFErLO-BqEbBSlrPSnyC3AdGNtI4TS9bwGL4EbENwVwcnhfd-bKJGJZKss10um8483LMEjBSWVWwRro0eGcymWc0tgDNUJN1WxsjjvHyqhUTuNjj6HMjlun/s1600/Allison+iPhone+Sep+2013+to+May+2014+352.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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But we kept having fun with it. Mostly.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHTeEsVwPIwbPJ6jcIvf9CFiEqQADtt4kTP_3TaadIvYDutgATGz5C00N1K5FoSGIbJwj6VLAfIa4Nz4lyEhOKfRtfEbUSAWYcOAjJMuv1ZfEXpHVfofdMZDrONlZjmWKVyhNjBvYB9yD/s1600/Allison+iPhone+Sep+2013+to+May+2014+357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHTeEsVwPIwbPJ6jcIvf9CFiEqQADtt4kTP_3TaadIvYDutgATGz5C00N1K5FoSGIbJwj6VLAfIa4Nz4lyEhOKfRtfEbUSAWYcOAjJMuv1ZfEXpHVfofdMZDrONlZjmWKVyhNjBvYB9yD/s1600/Allison+iPhone+Sep+2013+to+May+2014+357.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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And mixing drinks when times got rough</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzK8yuHd-ikXpzIsOgLnhH45lpurUNvWVBhOY7BpwT4Ybuu04-UPZARtiXlnMd23iZz8LVf-bT8G6GNJvpXKMrGfWE6xMb1omV5-yQKXc3vzjiIcHGCrqy67T8eWrFElGh4cY5-W3sqAZJ/s1600/Allison+iPhone+Sep+2013+to+May+2014+374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzK8yuHd-ikXpzIsOgLnhH45lpurUNvWVBhOY7BpwT4Ybuu04-UPZARtiXlnMd23iZz8LVf-bT8G6GNJvpXKMrGfWE6xMb1omV5-yQKXc3vzjiIcHGCrqy67T8eWrFElGh4cY5-W3sqAZJ/s1600/Allison+iPhone+Sep+2013+to+May+2014+374.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
We ate a lot of cookies, too. That always helps.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9x2UcMB2SGalVr5tzWNugmJLQkBe2N0rhmnv_RzT2MBQegJR8iWZkxQx0QVtPUL6WkxP77J891iM-DUlDB-3JLpfoJqJoX_4YBM1CzHP2wsziBVSkSUuVJUuBU72VQY7iUQptsRPNdrX3/s1600/Allison+iPhone+Sep+2013+to+May+2014+390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9x2UcMB2SGalVr5tzWNugmJLQkBe2N0rhmnv_RzT2MBQegJR8iWZkxQx0QVtPUL6WkxP77J891iM-DUlDB-3JLpfoJqJoX_4YBM1CzHP2wsziBVSkSUuVJUuBU72VQY7iUQptsRPNdrX3/s1600/Allison+iPhone+Sep+2013+to+May+2014+390.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Lucy continued to push style boundaries.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHGMt_tCFjJLU5PTqKyNI1n4HHRttdbwbiZRtDrWKIkTEWa9Egl6Sg9byBuw5oChPVR-TDhMzHmqnerKqz4uNVmwfehSivQ9hOqyeI41071UMx4rnG8M7C8nlJJ_OSBWXPEvDxBl7n2Tp/s1600/Allison+iPhone+Sep+2013+to+May+2014+400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHGMt_tCFjJLU5PTqKyNI1n4HHRttdbwbiZRtDrWKIkTEWa9Egl6Sg9byBuw5oChPVR-TDhMzHmqnerKqz4uNVmwfehSivQ9hOqyeI41071UMx4rnG8M7C8nlJJ_OSBWXPEvDxBl7n2Tp/s1600/Allison+iPhone+Sep+2013+to+May+2014+400.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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We enjoyed Christmas with my sister and her family.</div>
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There was a lot of plaid.</div>
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We began our <a href="http://uncontrolledexperiment.blogspot.com/2014/01/resolving.html" target="_blank">year of doing something new every week</a> with ice skating. If I ever get off this non-blogging rut, I'll go into some more details about our adventures.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2jgdVOoF1ny1cprvBUbW9onkK6MbTxXm4AkzjYcUxN-hVW7Wuhtm0-DKUZDKYM_6Ge3x5rhDYA04cJpN-AJ7dBOWXN9htQvq7vY76WPYxAyx1_SGkLzq_RUacylaqaO_QN3oigPxdr6QC/s1600/Allison+iPhone+Sep+2013+to+May+2014+481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2jgdVOoF1ny1cprvBUbW9onkK6MbTxXm4AkzjYcUxN-hVW7Wuhtm0-DKUZDKYM_6Ge3x5rhDYA04cJpN-AJ7dBOWXN9htQvq7vY76WPYxAyx1_SGkLzq_RUacylaqaO_QN3oigPxdr6QC/s1600/Allison+iPhone+Sep+2013+to+May+2014+481.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Lucy celebrated 100 days of school by dressing up as an old lady. If they ever reboot the Golden Girls, I'm having her audition.</div>
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Finn discovered a love of basketball</div>
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M. turned 38, and was presented with the now-traditional Wisconsin birthday cake.</div>
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Finn passed his first belt test in Tae Kwon Do</div>
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We celebrated Ground Hog's Day, Pinterest style</div>
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I made miso soup. And I'm only showing this photo because I'm realizing that I should make this again. Yum.</div>
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Lucy wore leg warmers.</div>
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Finn lost one of the big front teeth.</div>
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We got more snow. By now it was mid-February, and we were less cheerful. Also it was a ridiculous amount.</div>
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The kids goofed around.</div>
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We thought it was spring. We went to Rehoboth for a weekend.</div>
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Then we got more snow.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYFYZnI7AIHW7qkiD2451P3CV1RJOSGqOvGqqKkH1K5N7kxmBpVv7eTvhtUwF9aP8umdlmvsBk6429ntKLjjM-VQja1K5aWceZt1CW1fntSVf3HMJ2FphZudd8ES84eYwqneTxgrqjX6N/s1600/Allison+iPhone+Sep+2013+to+May+2014+689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYFYZnI7AIHW7qkiD2451P3CV1RJOSGqOvGqqKkH1K5N7kxmBpVv7eTvhtUwF9aP8umdlmvsBk6429ntKLjjM-VQja1K5aWceZt1CW1fntSVf3HMJ2FphZudd8ES84eYwqneTxgrqjX6N/s1600/Allison+iPhone+Sep+2013+to+May+2014+689.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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And even more. This was practically April. I was pissed.</div>
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But the skies cleared, the brown started fading to green, and we dined outside. Spring was here.</div>
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M. and I went on a date to celebrate my 27th birthday. Ahem.</div>
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We went to Texas to visit this lady. </div>
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And Texas bluebonnets (better pics are on the big-girl camera)</div>
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And somehow, impossibly, Lucy turned 5. And got registered for Kindergarten. I don't even know.</div>
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We've had some more fun family outings, like this one to the National Building Museum.</div>
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Spring days in DC are awesome. Why don't we go more often?</div>
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Lucy discovered a love of pretend tea with real china.</div>
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And I breathed a sigh of relief that spring was here to stay when our dogwood tree bloomed.</div>
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We are now enjoying most evenings on the deck, with cool beverages, until the heat of summer drives us inside.</div>
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While the kids spend lots of time staring at the Kindles. Party poopers, but at least it gives us some grown-up time.</div>
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And we are having fun.</div>
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A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04738641472687270029noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794549679686881007.post-47985208610521519612014-01-02T10:11:00.000-05:002014-01-02T10:11:32.951-05:00ResolvingLast year I sat out on making any New Year's resolutions. I'm not entirely sure why - perhaps because I've had pretty limited success meeting the goals of <a href="http://uncontrolledexperiment.blogspot.com/2011/01/in-this-new-year.html" target="_blank">my previous</a> <a href="http://uncontrolledexperiment.blogspot.com/2012/01/yet-another-new-years-resolution-post.html" target="_blank">resolution posts</a> (note that while I am linking to them here, I am not doing a report out of how well I did. However, astute readers will notice that some of what I will write below will look familiar, so surmise what you will). But, I don't know - there's something about new starts and writing down goals and the positive outlook that just SHOWS UP on January 1st, and I think I should take advantage of that. Even if I'm doomed to failure or ennui or self-sabotage in a month or a week or tonight. So here we go:<br />
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1. Do something new every week with the kids. This one is actually M.'s idea, stolen from someone he works with. This person is, for the second time in her life, taking up the challenging of having one new experience a week for the whole year. Her list includes things like staying in a hotel made out of ice. I don't think we will be going quite that drastic, but we are aiming above things like "going to the latest Disney movie we haven't ever seen." Adventures like visiting a cave, going camping, hiking (a small) part of the Appalachian trail. And smaller scale stuff, too, of course - maybe having a movie night of Kung Fu movies or a documentary instead of Despicable Me, or making our own sushi (and getting the kids to eat it). I'm excited, M.'s excited, the kids are excited. We've started a family list using the Wunderlist app, and there's only a dozen or so ideas on it so far, so please comment and give us more!<br />
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2. Do something active every day. This is a bit different than a "lose weight/hit a goal weight" resolution - partly because the scale is stressing me out lately, but mostly because my body feels weak and aging and full of betrayal. When I stand up and start walking, I limp. When I crouch down, my knees hurt. When I sit on my legs next to the tub in order to bathe the kids, my ankles ache. When I walk up the stairs to our bedroom, my heart races and my lungs protest. This needs to change, I need to be able to be more active. I WANT to be more active. So I will do something active every day. Maybe some days it will be 45 minutes on the treadmill, and other days it will just be 10 minutes of stomach crunches or a quick walk around the block at work. Whatever I can fit in, I just need to DO IT already. I'm already a bit down for the count on this one since, as you may have noticed, it is January 2nd, and not January 1st. And I did absolutely NOTHING active yesterday, the actual first day of the year. I could blame it on allowing the kids to stay up until midnight (which they did, with flying colors and more energy than I had, though Finn did end the evening in a sobbing fit because ABC didn't actually show the ball dropping and apparently he has "always wanted to see the ball drop," despite not knowing that such a ball existed until 11:45 that evening), but instead I will blame no one and just move on. Today is a fresh start. In an effort to encourage myself, I'll try to blog here once a week or so to update how I'm doing and set some (reasonable, small) goals to further the cause. Because that's <a href="http://www.academomia.com/2014/01/a-new-year-new-project-to-quit-after.html" target="_blank">what Academomia is doing</a>, and she has lots of good ideas. She's calling her effort "Project MAN, I'd Like to be Fit" aka Project MILF. See how clever that is? I told you, lots of good ideas :-).<br />
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3. Broaden my career horizons. My job options are pretty limited. I work for a federal agency, and what I do doesn't translate well to other organizations. I'm pretty tied to the metro DC area, for better or worse. I don't necessarily want to leave my job right now, but I want to be better positioned for the possibility of a new job or even a new career. I don't know what this will mean, really - how this goal should look. I think first I need to figure out what I WANT, and then I need to figure out how to get there (and I imagine the getting there will take more than a year). If I really want to stay in "program management," maybe I need to get a Project Management Professional (PMP) credential. That would mean more opportunities in industry/business. Or maybe I want to move into science communication - if that's the case, there are some long distance science writing/communication courses I might consider taking. Maybe it's science policy, and I need to reopen the idea of a job inside the beltway. Maybe I want a job eventually that has nothing to do with science at all. I don't know, but I want to figure it out, this year.<br />
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4. Take at least one picture a day. I'm hoping I will do this mostly with my big camera, but the iPhone will do in a pinch. I'm not going to make a point of posting the pictures anywhere, as I think that adds an element of work and stress to this goal that I don't need. But I want to make sure I am capturing what life looks like more than I have been lately.<br />
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5. Make a photo book. And I'm not talking a little photo book of the past year that I put together to send to the grandparents for Christmas or Mother's Day. A big photo book that takes all my favorite pictures from the last few years and gets them into one PRINTED place that I can look at forever and ever.<br />
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6. Make a will, and meet with a financial planner. FTLOG.<br />
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7. Get passports for the kids. This year we already have too many family vacations planned out and too little vacation time in the bank to plan an out-of-country trip, but it's game on in 2015. M. and I want to take one adventurous/exotic/out of our comfort zone foreign trip with the kids every year, starting next year. This will probably be at the expense of seeing family (sorry, family). It may even be at the expense of going to Disney World (sorry, Mickey). But I want to see more of the world, and we want the kids to see more of the world. So step 1 is passports. Step 2 will be planning our first trip. Step 3 is ??? (and of course, <a href="http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/151040/the-underpants-business" target="_blank">step 4 is PROFIT</a>).<br />
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There we go. New Year's Resolutions, 2014 style. How about you? Are you making any resolutions this year? Also, is it allowable to make resolutions for OTHER people? Because if so, I would resolve that M. will use more vacation time this year. He is rolling over 6 weeks of banked vacation and has even more days that are expiring because there are rules about having too much vacation time banked. RULES about NOT USING ENOUGH VACATION TIME. For someone who has exactly 10 vacation days to use each year, I am flabbergasted and jealous and a little angry at all this time off that he COULD USE but DOESN'T. So I resolve that he will resolve to take at least 5 different vacation days during the year to go play golf. Or do nothing. But probably to play golf.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04738641472687270029noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794549679686881007.post-85874699379942616022013-12-15T22:08:00.000-05:002013-12-15T22:08:12.847-05:00Snowflake SoireeLucy's dance school hosts an informal recital every December at the end of the Fall/Winter semester. It's held onstage at a local theater, but there's no fancy costumes or all-out stage make up. It was held yesterday afternoon and, <a href="http://uncontrolledexperiment.blogspot.com/2012/12/dancing-night-away.html" target="_blank">like last year</a>, Lucy's class gave a ridiculously cute performance. They may not have known all (any) of the steps, but they looked so happy to be there, faces full of smiles. Even the girl who kept yawning.<br />
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Check it out: <br />
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Not to get all braggy or anything (said to denote that bragging will now follow), but I'm just blown away by what a performer Lucy is. She clearly had no idea what she was doing. She absolutely did not know the steps of the dance. Yet she stood there, smiling and serene and graceful, completely capturing the mood of the song and the ability to look good doing absolutely nothing. Between that and her flair for dramatics (every stubbed toe is a cause for transfemoral amputation), I think we may have a born actress on our hands.<br />
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Some stills from before and after her performance:<br />
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Backstage beforehand</div>
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The rest of our weekend was filled with tantrums (from both kids) and lots and lots of cookie baking. I think I went through 12 sticks of butter. I'm waiting for a few gifts to arrive at our house so I can package up a couple of boxes to mail out to family members, and I have a few more gifts to wrap and put under out tree. But I think I'm done actually BUYING gifts, as of today. That, my friends, is a nice feeling. Bring it, Christmas.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04738641472687270029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794549679686881007.post-8648463287619796472013-12-12T23:42:00.001-05:002013-12-12T23:42:45.758-05:00Fall and Photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Remember when I used to post here? That was nice. Gah, I hate that I haven't made time for this. I need to be posting here, need to be putting images and snapshots of our life here. It's so stupid - I don't even know why I feel like I'm too busy to do this lately. There's something about the kids being a little older, having a little more homework, going to bed a little later... I don't know, it all just seems insurmountable to add in extra stuff lately. Working out, blogging - they've both gone completely by the wayside, sacrificed to the comfort of the couch and the TV remote and a glass of wine. My Hulu account thanks me for being so up to date on my queue, but my waistline and digital memories do not.</div>
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Also, remember when it was fall? That was nice, too:</div>
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That's a Finn hidden under the leaves there.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWL7EPuScmixA7psc-0Dp5bF71xwYA4MpHH_LnW6HLFhrIImEHyEjksxBFKIovwmlFBFPFSP45EjB9mnSQjcVeNGy-eXAB-sBRRiW4dPgNuzVfme_nrZLjTdbEJ_O8bHHMAgXdWnxLRmhw/s1600/Fall+and+Xmas+Bokeh+2013+011+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWL7EPuScmixA7psc-0Dp5bF71xwYA4MpHH_LnW6HLFhrIImEHyEjksxBFKIovwmlFBFPFSP45EjB9mnSQjcVeNGy-eXAB-sBRRiW4dPgNuzVfme_nrZLjTdbEJ_O8bHHMAgXdWnxLRmhw/s320/Fall+and+Xmas+Bokeh+2013+011+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jB8wXSDFFTqA_noKB5kFX_dwESH1Ov1F5U5qSYbjPJ3-Z9vM7tl_VYY21cyt1UOHmzDaHRsInAFlL-0_TkgWZOvzke76DaEQqcak5qKXtLLffXcAdzn7vNdX_ApiG6G83_coBfhaHQms/s1600/Fall+and+Xmas+Bokeh+2013+017+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jB8wXSDFFTqA_noKB5kFX_dwESH1Ov1F5U5qSYbjPJ3-Z9vM7tl_VYY21cyt1UOHmzDaHRsInAFlL-0_TkgWZOvzke76DaEQqcak5qKXtLLffXcAdzn7vNdX_ApiG6G83_coBfhaHQms/s320/Fall+and+Xmas+Bokeh+2013+017+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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He kills me with how cute he is.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqkKzZdP5LelpAtFOXGnIM8gdByNXpak_rF_l-tH1_F0xMeT6hZFHt3u8lFfAPiRJ7ryjDMBHxuCSO-ZXqgFG3wPNxlg_INqDg-3Z7ULcZ0R7PLzQuXQhYkSXCXIuggn1lKG4IY4gKsQna/s1600/Fall+and+Xmas+Bokeh+2013+019+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqkKzZdP5LelpAtFOXGnIM8gdByNXpak_rF_l-tH1_F0xMeT6hZFHt3u8lFfAPiRJ7ryjDMBHxuCSO-ZXqgFG3wPNxlg_INqDg-3Z7ULcZ0R7PLzQuXQhYkSXCXIuggn1lKG4IY4gKsQna/s320/Fall+and+Xmas+Bokeh+2013+019+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then it was Thanksgiving. I set a pretty table, and my mom and dad joined us:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0d5f7HEPUXmiLjsP_-1zBLZA6piFRccKRXxDjh3ANn0B9nfK3fcMn1Nxq_CEdojsl6F6NWYu7aQiwQ-GMyDnzkZA_l8OWwpOsHVC4vG_rwwv8DifLxE2N67DnHJ63kB3n1LEJF6E9wVQH/s1600/Fall+and+Xmas+Bokeh+2013+044+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0d5f7HEPUXmiLjsP_-1zBLZA6piFRccKRXxDjh3ANn0B9nfK3fcMn1Nxq_CEdojsl6F6NWYu7aQiwQ-GMyDnzkZA_l8OWwpOsHVC4vG_rwwv8DifLxE2N67DnHJ63kB3n1LEJF6E9wVQH/s320/Fall+and+Xmas+Bokeh+2013+044+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfYOq2RyAXa5kdRbgluh8IYH5PJaQd0qqTTNPDWtJsQ5TtU7RwBrsXA23H9f3IsMxXy0fPNhQ5O0qZ50lC34U7Tkqq6EqYWHYW40Ii6mKtKnVH6tQSVwlKCrH6WZFAsSTjzwchqR0sHjb0/s1600/Fall+and+Xmas+Bokeh+2013+046+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfYOq2RyAXa5kdRbgluh8IYH5PJaQd0qqTTNPDWtJsQ5TtU7RwBrsXA23H9f3IsMxXy0fPNhQ5O0qZ50lC34U7Tkqq6EqYWHYW40Ii6mKtKnVH6tQSVwlKCrH6WZFAsSTjzwchqR0sHjb0/s320/Fall+and+Xmas+Bokeh+2013+046+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This little one woke up at five am Thanksgiving morning, throwing up. She rallied by late afternoon, and joined us at the dinner table (where she ate nothing, with style, and in pajamas)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQs1gVr_0P2PNiRiYbrE0I7aaeIl6pFb2h7ztDy9dO4-lKL9E2GUG33TOd05TgmCwbSwuIZLo83DG9x4WT2IvO7p1HuZgMieIElEF80ZfE0c7SiWemGVLwpxA_2tz2JyR3CL8Eg5JxaDC/s1600/Fall+and+Xmas+Bokeh+2013+048+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQs1gVr_0P2PNiRiYbrE0I7aaeIl6pFb2h7ztDy9dO4-lKL9E2GUG33TOd05TgmCwbSwuIZLo83DG9x4WT2IvO7p1HuZgMieIElEF80ZfE0c7SiWemGVLwpxA_2tz2JyR3CL8Eg5JxaDC/s320/Fall+and+Xmas+Bokeh+2013+048+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I even made fresh rosemary napkin rings. I channeled my inner Pinterest goddess.</div>
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He drank soda out of a grown up glass and thought he was in heaven.</div>
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The next day we busted out our Christmas decorations to get a move on a holiday that was less than 4 weeks away:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebhQkdE4Q4p92SEROnyZ0AZiYPAk_kfvo4N5LWkyQ1P56gWY7KAYQp3I-YTmQI59clQudG11d7LtEoa4KUlef8T9We_ZnM6jHK7hLpMrZgMBUKj_WG-IMBybQ7kfjUNUlj8FvDMDijQKY/s1600/Fall+and+Xmas+Bokeh+2013+056+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebhQkdE4Q4p92SEROnyZ0AZiYPAk_kfvo4N5LWkyQ1P56gWY7KAYQp3I-YTmQI59clQudG11d7LtEoa4KUlef8T9We_ZnM6jHK7hLpMrZgMBUKj_WG-IMBybQ7kfjUNUlj8FvDMDijQKY/s320/Fall+and+Xmas+Bokeh+2013+056+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQDAhLRh2IP0Vhhe4J-z3I29v9R6p5Y56Lt06Ncd108zmNMV4pibzgXxWrnQjgUJRGbTN2a-EzBzvM-by3iDNk1CB9gyAxqhq69QU86oEBXTP85CabCBzEvowwZRaEYMU-w1CMg_T2Ay1/s1600/Fall+and+Xmas+Bokeh+2013+060+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQDAhLRh2IP0Vhhe4J-z3I29v9R6p5Y56Lt06Ncd108zmNMV4pibzgXxWrnQjgUJRGbTN2a-EzBzvM-by3iDNk1CB9gyAxqhq69QU86oEBXTP85CabCBzEvowwZRaEYMU-w1CMg_T2Ay1/s320/Fall+and+Xmas+Bokeh+2013+060+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTGtBy-OhYS92-LqEGKuJXJ3kGH3BvsHcBs3mx5hcraozO-Y_dIEuq4U_l1Ticvi75f7Q4FS-hrrYZYeyBMXfGZHYu1LhgqFUnsGwCWJcbSoEd-cadJmhwpU_CSrDQn9t2fBY7iii19gE/s1600/Fall+and+Xmas+Bokeh+2013+063+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTGtBy-OhYS92-LqEGKuJXJ3kGH3BvsHcBs3mx5hcraozO-Y_dIEuq4U_l1Ticvi75f7Q4FS-hrrYZYeyBMXfGZHYu1LhgqFUnsGwCWJcbSoEd-cadJmhwpU_CSrDQn9t2fBY7iii19gE/s320/Fall+and+Xmas+Bokeh+2013+063+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And I tried my hand at some shaped Bokeh photography this week (see how the lights in the background are star shaped?):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyk3ztDFdxs8RKDi3G51dbPnz3mPIBP2_xxdHzeodaAN-jwQLrWy1PnyxUrS84piEUG9lbqErRtJY7oycZ19r4TyNl3Xs18FsRH1mpjStkevPRavkXO3FFDndT1skht5SDTcDdsNYUo9QO/s1600/Fall+and+Xmas+Bokeh+2013+069+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyk3ztDFdxs8RKDi3G51dbPnz3mPIBP2_xxdHzeodaAN-jwQLrWy1PnyxUrS84piEUG9lbqErRtJY7oycZ19r4TyNl3Xs18FsRH1mpjStkevPRavkXO3FFDndT1skht5SDTcDdsNYUo9QO/s320/Fall+and+Xmas+Bokeh+2013+069+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxBp9yX05miZAQkVGRn6UIcVLtGq2Vvy5BUPYtFC_ECgV5XagEPt56baQU8IWNOq4VFL7oBHaHQ8m8-NvZs2WWgdy3ZwfG5Ya-4yMXYVu7p30B3HdHvIfcYlV1oerjP4gp4VD5uP0tDOO/s1600/Fall+and+Xmas+Bokeh+2013+072+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxBp9yX05miZAQkVGRn6UIcVLtGq2Vvy5BUPYtFC_ECgV5XagEPt56baQU8IWNOq4VFL7oBHaHQ8m8-NvZs2WWgdy3ZwfG5Ya-4yMXYVu7p30B3HdHvIfcYlV1oerjP4gp4VD5uP0tDOO/s320/Fall+and+Xmas+Bokeh+2013+072+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoyI6yBM1-GMjUgnjr2xaKmeb5QWM4Pibdp3WEokGCcnD9zrrQFIxQdMrFMBwb-evEuWjYZkoTHukzcrRHU51MDao6LXfK9HRrVAWkHWrNmySOV4ZItTjuz6c1ohPDrjY1D3bTg_R6Fatc/s1600/Fall+and+Xmas+Bokeh+2013+073+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoyI6yBM1-GMjUgnjr2xaKmeb5QWM4Pibdp3WEokGCcnD9zrrQFIxQdMrFMBwb-evEuWjYZkoTHukzcrRHU51MDao6LXfK9HRrVAWkHWrNmySOV4ZItTjuz6c1ohPDrjY1D3bTg_R6Fatc/s320/Fall+and+Xmas+Bokeh+2013+073+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTuCr_xzN5xZoQ7m2ubpJAzaaXWDeSgm9vl1VkCOQaFv26TFS7Dlvz9GwNhS4s86fogmsUYGVLTWjoccLEjeo_33ulJh1O6pMlvAT2_rHDEzxZnk0bsbTs7Q3uTRyYQJPV_K_ygAefhDl/s1600/Fall+and+Xmas+Bokeh+2013+079+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTuCr_xzN5xZoQ7m2ubpJAzaaXWDeSgm9vl1VkCOQaFv26TFS7Dlvz9GwNhS4s86fogmsUYGVLTWjoccLEjeo_33ulJh1O6pMlvAT2_rHDEzxZnk0bsbTs7Q3uTRyYQJPV_K_ygAefhDl/s320/Fall+and+Xmas+Bokeh+2013+079+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Even attempted some Christmas card photos (out-takes below):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqQJl-K1ZqfEu7VdiEzEy52kRQsdhjctEGym2KTlDNEN7gXemaVAibjgrVgnYNCov7pjdPujmesFoDsSmnFZ1sflAgMxNghSa4kiOEQK-3bL1BgBNm4qPVfEfHUx1c6J5OFYfwRwHzdJx/s1600/Fall+and+Xmas+Bokeh+2013+084+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqQJl-K1ZqfEu7VdiEzEy52kRQsdhjctEGym2KTlDNEN7gXemaVAibjgrVgnYNCov7pjdPujmesFoDsSmnFZ1sflAgMxNghSa4kiOEQK-3bL1BgBNm4qPVfEfHUx1c6J5OFYfwRwHzdJx/s320/Fall+and+Xmas+Bokeh+2013+084+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZk5yezMfLOLjxmLBwMY39YbZTZbbWJY7rSwAsH9ItN9mbSCb9_b0KbpHBZSxPe1Q3DQjsqeL7vBAGHjOoN6gFJWV_LvdbcdRoPclyXN57DGQuMIuXhfKiBHEK180bdJ4LwfqByR6djKs/s1600/Fall+and+Xmas+Bokeh+2013+085+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZk5yezMfLOLjxmLBwMY39YbZTZbbWJY7rSwAsH9ItN9mbSCb9_b0KbpHBZSxPe1Q3DQjsqeL7vBAGHjOoN6gFJWV_LvdbcdRoPclyXN57DGQuMIuXhfKiBHEK180bdJ4LwfqByR6djKs/s320/Fall+and+Xmas+Bokeh+2013+085+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'm still working on this whole bokeh technique (you should have seen me trying to fashion a makeshift lens cover out of black construction paper that was 3 years old and seriously faded - it took a really, really long time), but I've at least had some beginner success (<a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/2011/12/shaped-bokeh-tutorial/" target="_blank">here is one</a> of the many tutorials you can find online). Then I broke my 50 mm/1.8f lens in a tripod accident (OK, I was a numbskull and let go of the camera when only 2 of the 3 tripod legs were at the same length) and was really upset with myself. Such a good lens! And a gift from my dad (it was an old Nikon lens of his that fit my camera). The glass/lens is completely cracked. A bit too late to remedy this for Christmas, but rhis is definitely going on my next birthday/mother's day wish list.<br />
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That was Tuesday of this week, day 2 of our two days of snow days. Now it's Thursday evening. M. is away on a quick work trip, and I am doing what I normally do when he's gone - staying up too late and gorging on TV shows he never wants to watch (3 more episodes of Scandal Season 1 are now in the bag). And while I'm not working out, at least I'm blogging. So that's something :-). And now, since it's practically midnight, and the small creatures of the family will be up in under 7 hours (not to mention the full work day I need to put in tomorrow), I'm going to bed. Goodnight!A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04738641472687270029noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794549679686881007.post-23167719321381904492013-12-05T21:28:00.000-05:002013-12-06T08:48:09.419-05:00Gift Ideas for the Panicky Shopper: 2013Yes, this is a gift guide of sorts, for those that need a little more inspiration. I'm surfacing from the blogging dead to help out people who, like me, are starting to feel a little overwhelmed with the holiday shopping season. With only 19 shopping days left before Christmas, perhaps you, as I am, are struggling with rounding out your gift lists. <br />
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The suggestions below are all things you can buy, wrap, and give. I'm fully in support of handmade or labor intensive gifts like making candles, photo books, and mason jars of goodies, but let's be honest - that's all a lot of work that I don't have time to do. The two hours I have between kid bedtime and my bedtime every night is already taken up by internet surfing, wine drinking, and TV watching, and handmade gifts just doesn't make the list.<br />
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Disclaimer #1: This is not comprehensive, cutting edge, or even slightly organized. It's just a collection of things that I've seen during my holiday shopping ventures this year that caught MY eye, and maybe they'll catch yours, too. <br />
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Disclaimer #2: This is not a sponsored post, and I have no affiliation with any of the products or stores mentioned here.<br />
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You may find inspiration in past gift posts I've done, too, though I can't verify whether the items themselves are still available: <a href="http://uncontrolledexperiment.blogspot.com/2011/11/holiday-gift-ideas-spotlight-on-paper.html" target="_blank">Spotlight on Paper Source</a>, <a href="http://uncontrolledexperiment.blogspot.com/2011/11/holiday-gift-ideas-for-guys.html" target="_blank">Gift Ideas for Guys</a><br />
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<strong><u>Kids</u></strong><br />
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I read somewhere that there is no "big new toy" this year, which means parents are reverting to the classics that have lasted generations. Probably a bunch of bunk, but I will say that I've seen a LOT of Barbies at Target lately, for what that's worth. In the same vein, another classic standby is good ol' LEGOs. It can be confusing figuring out which sets your little LEGO fanatic already has, what with the many, many ones there are to choose from (Star Wars, Harry Potter, LEGO City, Ninjago, LEGO Friends, just to name a few). Instead, how about a set of basic, classic LEGOs to foster a little creativity?:<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/LEGO-Ultimate-Building-Set-Pieces/dp/B000NO9GT4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1386087191&sr=8-2&keywords=legos" target="_blank">LEGO Ultimate Building Set</a> - 405 Pieces ($29.99 on Amazon)<br />
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You could pair it with a book for inspiration, like the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/LEGO-Play-Book-Ideas-Bricks/dp/1465414126/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1386087309&sr=8-2&keywords=lego+book" target="_blank">LEGO Play Book</a> or the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/LEGO-Ideas-Book-Daniel-Lipkowitz/dp/0756686067/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1386087309&sr=8-3&keywords=lego+book" target="_blank">LEGO Idea Book</a> (each is $12.83 on Amazon right now).<br />
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</a>A unique building set geared toward encouraging girls to love engineering is Goldie Blox, sets of books and accompanying construction sets that feature Goldie, a kid inventor. I've put in a request for this one for Lucy with the in-laws, I think it looks great!<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Goldie-Blox-The-Spinning-Machine/dp/B00BCXU3PQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386087656&sr=8-1&keywords=goldie+blocks" target="_blank">Goldie Blox and the Spinning Machine</a> ($29.99 on Amazon)<br />
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If you're buying for a child in elementary school, odds are they would love a Rainbow loom. And if they have one already, a bag of loom bands would make a great stocking stuffer.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rainbow-Loom-loom100/dp/B00DMC6KAC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386270809&sr=8-1&keywords=rainbow+loom" target="_blank">Rainbow Loom</a> ($17.59)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheX0wIdwVCWY8iX18DSUsTWP1Rm63a96OV8StbF8161kZaqkCbdPwP38Rxhg73WztpQDb8_PjHDfVy4icm7k7I6i5M8njmrOoEWohxUzdUIlwSNyzEljLyMJn7lEkOPMg0-yZYi6cr2Aw2/s1600/loom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheX0wIdwVCWY8iX18DSUsTWP1Rm63a96OV8StbF8161kZaqkCbdPwP38Rxhg73WztpQDb8_PjHDfVy4icm7k7I6i5M8njmrOoEWohxUzdUIlwSNyzEljLyMJn7lEkOPMg0-yZYi6cr2Aw2/s320/loom.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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To keep those different colored little bands at their fingertips, consider getting them an organizer like this one:<br />
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<a href="http://www.aimeeshallmark.com/toys-and-games/rainbow-loom/rainbow-loom-storage-case-with-adjustable-compartments/" target="_blank">Rainbow Loom Storage Case</a> with adjustable compartments ($16.99)<br />
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Or a How-To book on some of the different designs, like <a href="http://www.aimeeshallmark.com/toys-and-games/rainbow-loom/the-loomatics-interactive-guide-to-the-rainbow-loom/" target="_blank">The Loomatic's Interactive Guide to the Rainbow Loom</a> ($18.99)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OSr8PgG7-_CLE1bagdZWcWeYOWE8Ip6kn7LVK9BdLKjn9j27VVC4Mg6Dknu_sHvvWUTKuCW1uqTonoFFbq-KlMnsWFg0YUyCUFaHYPrwdv9JzK7ld_dbxE3L8cjm2NFHg4SJDT24Bull/s1600/loom+book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OSr8PgG7-_CLE1bagdZWcWeYOWE8Ip6kn7LVK9BdLKjn9j27VVC4Mg6Dknu_sHvvWUTKuCW1uqTonoFFbq-KlMnsWFg0YUyCUFaHYPrwdv9JzK7ld_dbxE3L8cjm2NFHg4SJDT24Bull/s1600/loom+book.jpg" /></a></div>
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This year I found a lot of great inspiration from the Hearthsong website (sorry for some of the teeny photos, I had trouble pulling larger ones off the website):<br />
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The <a href="http://www.hearthsong.com/Fairy-Toys/Woodland-Fairy-Home.htm" target="_blank">Woodland Fairy Houses</a> are ridiculously adorable ($26.98 for a house and two fairies). The website claims these are for ages 3 and up, but I think 2 year olds would love this, too.<br />
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The <a href="http://www.hearthsong.com/Gifts-$25-$50/Set-of-5-On-the-Go-Animals-and-Portable-Homes.htm" target="_blank">On-the-Go Animals and Portable Home</a> are similar to the fairy houses, and also ridiculously cute ($26.98)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpK82VD9tNv8ENGrGb2ua-iP50Xe_tK-1H_lXBEppMvjxVjnWwuUg21YrsYB-s_HTqBxKiod7tBpr64oze9lofX4uTyWRhlkixh0mkYzAofW6uCK1C5eWwLAnGwGFXrRjoYbaB_c_QRzLi/s1600/horse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpK82VD9tNv8ENGrGb2ua-iP50Xe_tK-1H_lXBEppMvjxVjnWwuUg21YrsYB-s_HTqBxKiod7tBpr64oze9lofX4uTyWRhlkixh0mkYzAofW6uCK1C5eWwLAnGwGFXrRjoYbaB_c_QRzLi/s1600/horse.jpg" /></a></div>
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The <a href="http://www.hearthsong.com/Collection-Accessories/Super-Finger-Flashlights-with-3-LED-Lights-and-Fiber-Optic-Attachments-Set-of-8.htm" target="_blank">Super Finger Flashlights</a> are a hit with any kid ($14.98 for a set of 8)<br />
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There are some great gifts for older kids, like a <a href="http://www.hearthsong.com/Outdoor-Play-Toys/20-Blue-Unicycle.htm" target="_blank">Unicycle</a> ($89.98)<br />
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or a <a href="http://www.hearthsong.com/Sewing-and-Knitting/Dressmaking-Workshop.htm" target="_blank">Dressmaking Workshop</a> ($44.97)<br />
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Lucy has her eye on these wonderful-looking <a href="http://www.hearthsong.com/Dress-Up/Monarch-Wings.htm" target="_blank">Monarch butterfly wings</a> ($15.98 each)<br />
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Moving on from Hearthsong, here is a great <a href="http://www.amazon.com/ALEX%C2%AE-Toys-Hair-Chalk-Salon/dp/B00E24BM2U/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1386273230&sr=8-4&keywords=hair+chalk" target="_blank">Hair Chalk set</a> ($22)that your dress-up afficionado will love (bonus, it can also be used for those random school "Crazy Hair" days)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-n0dOgzRMxvo4xInc9cRyZ_GvmqgdDuMZ5408Y0fl08kBbBh4GgnqbWPTfAPBCWgMkdCogGszUgr4Ml_H8CERDm-NtWV5uaFyqWJt5ctQL8G-DOIrZ2HHFUV9T1jpXivwJhfCEU-q7THb/s1600/chalk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-n0dOgzRMxvo4xInc9cRyZ_GvmqgdDuMZ5408Y0fl08kBbBh4GgnqbWPTfAPBCWgMkdCogGszUgr4Ml_H8CERDm-NtWV5uaFyqWJt5ctQL8G-DOIrZ2HHFUV9T1jpXivwJhfCEU-q7THb/s320/chalk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Do your kids love rocks as much as mine? We have an army of them out on our stoop, since I won't let the kids bring them in the house. For fellow rock lovers, consider this <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HGJJGI/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">Crystal Mining Kit</a> (currently $9.80):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvd8I3NOXyW4X0Vib_IgqdhoPhIu7rA3vWwgoWbRQi-ppn6eV_ZpElRaHrGb6z9UMBBx9jPwDdXXuWCoPglimezFWUdf9n8nzu6u36tGHoHO6fcuvSke9OmHzPRJF9nI54LY79v78LB8Ef/s1600/crystals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvd8I3NOXyW4X0Vib_IgqdhoPhIu7rA3vWwgoWbRQi-ppn6eV_ZpElRaHrGb6z9UMBBx9jPwDdXXuWCoPglimezFWUdf9n8nzu6u36tGHoHO6fcuvSke9OmHzPRJF9nI54LY79v78LB8Ef/s320/crystals.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Take it a step further with this <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Model-T-Kit-Rock-Tumbler/dp/B000066CMM/ref=sr_1_3?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1386274140&sr=1-3&keywords=rock+polisher" target="_blank">Model T Kit Rock Tumbler</a> ($102.99) and turn those random rocks into treasures:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3qO3ItXy2ApjvyAQfErRKnKqUcPXyE71vHa4zE84xLevmnrE2C7yseZmYpoyWuigShEisNrCP28XUwwMArSEcLnUDFzwWMdnZGHZqdrr8Eq5et-2ti-rKMt8C_YBYXd5wQiceuXC0hQT/s1600/tumbler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3qO3ItXy2ApjvyAQfErRKnKqUcPXyE71vHa4zE84xLevmnrE2C7yseZmYpoyWuigShEisNrCP28XUwwMArSEcLnUDFzwWMdnZGHZqdrr8Eq5et-2ti-rKMt8C_YBYXd5wQiceuXC0hQT/s320/tumbler.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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For the crafty child, this <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00468OC0Q/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2N5E2G7OIGR10&coliid=I33E5IN8ULFF7" target="_blank">American Girl Crafts Bears Sew and Stuff kit</a> ($12.16, ages 8 and up) looks great (there are owl and raccoon versions, too):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV6Um1i70rO2H8BFDXYFsCjbJz-PrR5MrAarIaOtUPlSZFu4nxDuBAhUkRu2-QYSnMru3qiQFPLIBGKw-DOHplNjffrBcuz63RXwQceK1qc0nGA6iWEOsX3xeHq-19kfTlOtXLllkiCBL8/s1600/AG+bear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV6Um1i70rO2H8BFDXYFsCjbJz-PrR5MrAarIaOtUPlSZFu4nxDuBAhUkRu2-QYSnMru3qiQFPLIBGKw-DOHplNjffrBcuz63RXwQceK1qc0nGA6iWEOsX3xeHq-19kfTlOtXLllkiCBL8/s320/AG+bear.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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For the wee littles, consider this neat scooter that doubles as a ride-on toy until your little one is big enough to figure out how to scoot - perfect for kids as young as 12 months (don't forget a helmet, too!).<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Micro-Mini-Kick-Scooter-Blue/dp/B009P9S3BK" target="_blank">Micro Mini 3-in1</a> ($114)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMCkmvAQHA15xGiwz000h3t0F9ioj9qFWzSsX9mVWA7x-E6EdD__tpLlwjMeyR8FTd_eXU5if0xro-s7dbIqRKcpZR2pFiw3XNNYpUBtwZFXhxIspNgkPw0MoI_Ygq87Len-zlSLV2ylR-/s1600/scooter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMCkmvAQHA15xGiwz000h3t0F9ioj9qFWzSsX9mVWA7x-E6EdD__tpLlwjMeyR8FTd_eXU5if0xro-s7dbIqRKcpZR2pFiw3XNNYpUBtwZFXhxIspNgkPw0MoI_Ygq87Len-zlSLV2ylR-/s320/scooter.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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<strong><u>Gadgets</u></strong><br />
Major electronic and gaming system items are some obvious choices for holiday gifts, and I'm in no position to recommend which ones are best. However, there are a few neat, small gadgets I want to list here that might make nice gifts for the tech-lover in your life.<br />
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The <a href="http://photojojo.com/store/awesomeness/holga-iphone-lens/" target="_blank">Holga iPhone Lens</a> ($30 at Photojojo) attaches to iPhones and provides 9 different filters (including a macro lens) for those of us who find ourselves relying on our smart phones for most of the photos we take (guilty of this myself, lately!). Fits the iPhone 5/5S and 4/4S, but doesn't specifically state whether it will work for the 5C (frowny face for me!). <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwQswr0QUpO9Y7IYrXBkirGaWWJFFUzAmP1_wVOyfPCaw8EP-P0dISI9JqoekjWT7WJpakILm_sEPBasxWm_Pl-q9oTNvDNt2HL44tmj6hhRfB5POcUTQLTBk3zUkR-44Ha4dZdkT_V-U/s1600/iPhone+lens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwQswr0QUpO9Y7IYrXBkirGaWWJFFUzAmP1_wVOyfPCaw8EP-P0dISI9JqoekjWT7WJpakILm_sEPBasxWm_Pl-q9oTNvDNt2HL44tmj6hhRfB5POcUTQLTBk3zUkR-44Ha4dZdkT_V-U/s320/iPhone+lens.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://photojojo.com/store/awesomeness/une-bobine/" target="_blank">Une Bobine</a> ($25 at Photojojo) is a unique phone charger that can also act as a tripod:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-ZYvRyCKNt8TkzGpB5h-lb8x5SOrv782R8hXy5tMvOj9qO23TTdh7boT9F3TGtcyYNYHHuzqtxsZxzxszOSr8-5Vm3zEba9w4pUXZ3RcrYXRQj-YxyB0kvdtEENDBYBfcma2mv2seokp/s1600/Bobine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-ZYvRyCKNt8TkzGpB5h-lb8x5SOrv782R8hXy5tMvOj9qO23TTdh7boT9F3TGtcyYNYHHuzqtxsZxzxszOSr8-5Vm3zEba9w4pUXZ3RcrYXRQj-YxyB0kvdtEENDBYBfcma2mv2seokp/s320/Bobine.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.firebox.com/product/5078/Grippy-Pad" target="_blank">Firebox's Grippy Pad</a> ($11.49) will magically keep your phone or iPad or whatever you want propped up on your dashboard (I want this!)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrPW7EXeTqjAO7oh3PpPAlLtdrZVQimJbEokL0x3plPbgqfhr1eLKH0U6NGeWvt7AkfO0-CUyYXo3Wvslz7KSTafVPIiPk1ELDnwzi1DV6VtUhiOZlabAtaAFDKPg0pxB5SULUsmVq9xv2/s1600/grippy+pad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrPW7EXeTqjAO7oh3PpPAlLtdrZVQimJbEokL0x3plPbgqfhr1eLKH0U6NGeWvt7AkfO0-CUyYXo3Wvslz7KSTafVPIiPk1ELDnwzi1DV6VtUhiOZlabAtaAFDKPg0pxB5SULUsmVq9xv2/s320/grippy+pad.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong><u>Women</u></strong><br />
I am loving everything on the Fossil website. Why have I never shopped there before? <br />
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Everyone needs a pair of <a href="http://www.fossil.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=12052&langId=-1&catalogId=25005&categoryId=406585&cm_vc=406585&pn=&productId=22498143&imagePath=MS4147650" target="_blank">aviator sunglasses</a> ($48).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSSnUYP_DOGJ3_eJhiu-B5GOdjY7mJOIoRvNmmQr_KZdVfR-faFoWduS2hI1W6DdBXj2FeInJtR5duJ9QjanQjp2ARwrj8QP-5rEiuj21OyAathcaqzMJXjasrL84rrEWOJfFaABg21llq/s1600/aviators.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSSnUYP_DOGJ3_eJhiu-B5GOdjY7mJOIoRvNmmQr_KZdVfR-faFoWduS2hI1W6DdBXj2FeInJtR5duJ9QjanQjp2ARwrj8QP-5rEiuj21OyAathcaqzMJXjasrL84rrEWOJfFaABg21llq/s320/aviators.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This <a href="http://www.fossil.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=12052&langId=-1&catalogId=25005&categoryId=406584&cm_vc=406584&pn=&productId=22509674&imagePath=SL4432791" target="_blank">fox change purse</a> ($48) is adorable, and feeds into my love of the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jofNR_WkoCE" target="_blank">"What does the Fox Say?"</a> YouTube video sensation (don't judge).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeF1vFxEiIEuvDn1LYWj-CCVkbe_kPJaG4lIJUhb4jLyguxyKdWp0-2WdKFMQle2KKqCcZALAos6rSePm0gcyV_Z-ikwePeKCfMRVVxorG9xgdnnZFEQJ-d7WujRrh9txf0joEXdUyJYpN/s1600/Fox+purse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeF1vFxEiIEuvDn1LYWj-CCVkbe_kPJaG4lIJUhb4jLyguxyKdWp0-2WdKFMQle2KKqCcZALAos6rSePm0gcyV_Z-ikwePeKCfMRVVxorG9xgdnnZFEQJ-d7WujRrh9txf0joEXdUyJYpN/s320/Fox+purse.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A chic <a href="http://www.fossil.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=12052&langId=-1&catalogId=25005&categoryId=406584&cm_vc=406584&pn=&productId=22447442&imagePath=JF00920710" target="_blank">tortoise bangle</a> ($68) would complement any outfit.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHsnM__jzZIyWwkGuMWHsAsJeDoTP5E-fApAfCYsQS1CMgM9MIJ7urZn0tXmKJEKN9ED9hHzl6y3mf5rt80ucDPmEIOsFq1EkBdQrRqtvYsrX85Yl9OXQUwO0y3tAzhucX3x2v5E2ZdguN/s1600/bangle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHsnM__jzZIyWwkGuMWHsAsJeDoTP5E-fApAfCYsQS1CMgM9MIJ7urZn0tXmKJEKN9ED9hHzl6y3mf5rt80ucDPmEIOsFq1EkBdQrRqtvYsrX85Yl9OXQUwO0y3tAzhucX3x2v5E2ZdguN/s320/bangle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A wonderful <a href="http://www.fossil.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=12052&langId=-1&catalogId=25005&categoryId=406585&cm_vc=406585&pn=&productId=22488858&imagePath=CW1061415" target="_blank">scarf</a> ($48) and <a href="http://www.fossil.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=12052&langId=-1&catalogId=25005&categoryId=406585&cm_vc=406585&pn=&productId=22488845&imagePath=CW1058447" target="_blank">hat </a>($38)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiOrBon7gaBEV-jQkUW8kP9ZOt0yOThxPCYsa6z2PjKmrYug4RtkHWw_bfS-nC6USGlNO7CfcMFsBG7YZLlfkdkmBfyKR_0gjNZNQNODiLg3QobhIc4TLBWwqDW6N-RzY5Wf8zbZ17PSNS/s1600/scarf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiOrBon7gaBEV-jQkUW8kP9ZOt0yOThxPCYsa6z2PjKmrYug4RtkHWw_bfS-nC6USGlNO7CfcMFsBG7YZLlfkdkmBfyKR_0gjNZNQNODiLg3QobhIc4TLBWwqDW6N-RzY5Wf8zbZ17PSNS/s320/scarf.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRAV0y-XEq-irvUruXqdqk9XLg0ZOljkqcVy11H5DvsUxCzZBOyGwmI4YXP4Re6kmDRaUGx9pV13_HUjt840QX2i5SEQuLqkihem1zOYMMb5_LUMKNQ41hASCnPb0Nf7NBZCeeoPxH2Q2t/s1600/hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRAV0y-XEq-irvUruXqdqk9XLg0ZOljkqcVy11H5DvsUxCzZBOyGwmI4YXP4Re6kmDRaUGx9pV13_HUjt840QX2i5SEQuLqkihem1zOYMMb5_LUMKNQ41hASCnPb0Nf7NBZCeeoPxH2Q2t/s320/hat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
With matching <a href="http://www.fossil.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=12052&langId=-1&catalogId=25005&categoryId=406585&cm_vc=406585&pn=&productId=22488837&imagePath=CW1056429" target="_blank">color block tech gloves</a> ($38) so you can use your smart phone to your heart's delight in the blustery winter air.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTWIs1bs_rl-d6S527dH0gzfnzhmnioWeJVXvrDoqraPJx11rOxy-I5BMxQSksZyb86D-4hGyGXr1LYPqhk5PHYq4EhrG3iraY67chVT3wDUxt5Daw98Oc1-JpduqwQdqOj2n_jahZ7HX/s1600/gloves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTWIs1bs_rl-d6S527dH0gzfnzhmnioWeJVXvrDoqraPJx11rOxy-I5BMxQSksZyb86D-4hGyGXr1LYPqhk5PHYq4EhrG3iraY67chVT3wDUxt5Daw98Oc1-JpduqwQdqOj2n_jahZ7HX/s320/gloves.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And let's not forget what Fossil is best known for - it's wonderful watches and wallets and bags. It was difficult to pick just one or two to post here, so I encourage you to go and browse - guaranteed that you will find something perfect for someone on your gift list. But here are a couple that caught my eye:<br />
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<a href="http://www.fossil.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=12052&langId=-1&catalogId=25005&categoryId=406587&cm_vc=406587&pn=&productId=22444434&imagePath=ES3352" target="_blank">Decker Chronograph Stainless Rose Watch</a> ($125)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUajsSHCbZQvt7nfyi4B2EIIf3LMXyl3YILkrv1-yfsnKDaW3OJ0xKMJpaMxgZvg52S2pjLBD_DqBMcFuNczyheI99P9xEOgXxpsNx5nLrZpXb2tM4CSFde9blszoFQEwXG-bQ5h9DSjxO/s1600/watch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUajsSHCbZQvt7nfyi4B2EIIf3LMXyl3YILkrv1-yfsnKDaW3OJ0xKMJpaMxgZvg52S2pjLBD_DqBMcFuNczyheI99P9xEOgXxpsNx5nLrZpXb2tM4CSFde9blszoFQEwXG-bQ5h9DSjxO/s320/watch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.fossil.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=12052&langId=-1&catalogId=25005&partNumber=SL4421P&cm_vc=PDPZ1" target="_blank">Sidney small zip pouch</a> ($75)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-Ms3JWhCaGiIIriIBZxb0ZRm00v9ssIF7z9_oaVMAG00nuL7e8A0FNxr_FPidGiiFy1WqgHbO-vJM3Wcl6mkHDjNKO89qdDtDjPnw8hN5LTZZE1-QX3OCgOhE62zPHkCKBOYpcMQVwNS/s1600/Clutch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-Ms3JWhCaGiIIriIBZxb0ZRm00v9ssIF7z9_oaVMAG00nuL7e8A0FNxr_FPidGiiFy1WqgHbO-vJM3Wcl6mkHDjNKO89qdDtDjPnw8hN5LTZZE1-QX3OCgOhE62zPHkCKBOYpcMQVwNS/s320/Clutch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Moving beyond Fossil, I'm a firm believer in anything from Kate Spade, like this <a href="http://www.amazon.com/kate-spade-new-york-Necklace/dp/B00FMBGDNU/ref=sr_1_82?ie=UTF8&qid=1386279086&sr=8-82&keywords=kate+spade+necklace" target="_blank">Opening Night Wrap Necklace</a> (a splurge at $128)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8slNn6DNy7Q7ZyqPhyJdhZ9JP2euPrb8HkgdgirJ2DRNwnpwezWvKaL_l2mpREHo44RVTtLzZLI2zj-6SZ_hCSjY8kI-GoQAq7qh2IsJM2VzLu9MK-nvW_dwVeTnowaFIdYVoeAjfsYt/s1600/kate+spade+necklace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8slNn6DNy7Q7ZyqPhyJdhZ9JP2euPrb8HkgdgirJ2DRNwnpwezWvKaL_l2mpREHo44RVTtLzZLI2zj-6SZ_hCSjY8kI-GoQAq7qh2IsJM2VzLu9MK-nvW_dwVeTnowaFIdYVoeAjfsYt/s320/kate+spade+necklace.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
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Or the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Spade-Gold-Tone-Idiom-Bangle-Bracelet/dp/B00405R7KC/ref=sr_1_1?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=jewelry&ie=UTF8&qid=1385492495&sr=1-1" target="_blank">"As Good As Gold" Bangle Bracelet</a> ($42, and comes in several other colors/finishes)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSIrBrNPnpsuktJXw0s9_GIVE9Ba-fit4qb3OyW1yR1MVow2kYGD2WRqgkkqkNADj8SDal5NyGpRsAbyo-V4tw7_2_vTCfwtOypoMVP8l_ag5UXmoURvbCVbVfyR_za4QXDXvDM-KWGdfy/s1600/bracelet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSIrBrNPnpsuktJXw0s9_GIVE9Ba-fit4qb3OyW1yR1MVow2kYGD2WRqgkkqkNADj8SDal5NyGpRsAbyo-V4tw7_2_vTCfwtOypoMVP8l_ag5UXmoURvbCVbVfyR_za4QXDXvDM-KWGdfy/s320/bracelet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This <a href="http://www.target.com/p/essie-nail-color-2013-holiday-gift-set/-/A-14776777?ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001&AFID=Google_PLA_df&LNM=%7C14776777&CPNG=Health+Beauty&kpid=14776777&LID=PA&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=14776777&gclid=CLeB-LfS87oCFUVp7AodsmEATA" target="_blank">Essie Nail Color 2013 Holiday Gift Set</a> ($14.99) is currently unavailable online, but the colors are perfect, and you may have luck finding one at a Target near you. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQICwYuNDbtKXNMkcnPWZ_L-hygeAiG6pxHj1ay4OsTWcasGqOMeQabMNTgjsHaOoMQPXNLV9YJwwZ0Hj5VG6XsvUBJded-TH2IfDxHjyjqQOl9pcaEkuKWFobmKzYa25GT67SWiEy6EPd/s1600/nail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQICwYuNDbtKXNMkcnPWZ_L-hygeAiG6pxHj1ay4OsTWcasGqOMeQabMNTgjsHaOoMQPXNLV9YJwwZ0Hj5VG6XsvUBJded-TH2IfDxHjyjqQOl9pcaEkuKWFobmKzYa25GT67SWiEy6EPd/s320/nail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong><u>Men</u></strong><br />
<strong><u></u></strong><br />
Kick it old school style with these <a href="http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/12d3/?itm=adwords_labelsHome_%26_Office_and_adwords_labelsRegular_Price&rkgid=1132043420&cpg=ogho1&source=google_home_office&device=c&network=g&matchtype=&gclid=CIu12pG_hbsCFUho7Aodd2wAdg" target="_blank">Tetris shaped fridge magnets</a> ($5.99, unfortunately out of stock right now, but hopefully back soon; can also be found <a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA0190GA2277" target="_blank">here </a>and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Paladone-Products-JAN131883-Tetris-Magnets/dp/B008HFMEE0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386337555&sr=8-1&keywords=tetris+magnet" target="_blank">here</a> for a little higher price)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPZeLJgk9g4qUWd77zf1iji9doP40Uqe2LF0PuRantqcrDiQZr5lpY6z_FmF8I4YfLznsBFgBzKPdHcZvCZNrH9dfXSdWtBa_ZkEtuS9B3kDePGVZ_hZmGEqasD7XvloG04TUpJv1oxGk/s1600/TETRIS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPZeLJgk9g4qUWd77zf1iji9doP40Uqe2LF0PuRantqcrDiQZr5lpY6z_FmF8I4YfLznsBFgBzKPdHcZvCZNrH9dfXSdWtBa_ZkEtuS9B3kDePGVZ_hZmGEqasD7XvloG04TUpJv1oxGk/s320/TETRIS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The LL Bean <a href="http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/69688?feat=fleece lined flannel shirt-SR0&page=men-s-fleece-lined-flannel-shirt" target="_blank">Fleece Lined Flannel shirt</a> ($59.99), with which we gifted most of the adult men we know last year, is still hands-down the best gift suggestion I have for the men in your life. It's awesome, trust me.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHojJm3ciVkxssNX9pwsBV5wnY9oZoOuqevCZhVjau9EjAZxiEQFzzKR8w4tmiJiiMykndS_YOwk3thG7cw-RwUYzTaK_bD3suw-Xa8BoW6n0rwLuw28fP9A8QadqPtowtIfGXR0HFEUG8/s1600/flannel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHojJm3ciVkxssNX9pwsBV5wnY9oZoOuqevCZhVjau9EjAZxiEQFzzKR8w4tmiJiiMykndS_YOwk3thG7cw-RwUYzTaK_bD3suw-Xa8BoW6n0rwLuw28fP9A8QadqPtowtIfGXR0HFEUG8/s320/flannel.jpg" width="277" /></a></div>
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They even make a <a href="http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/80458?feat=fleece lined flannel shirt-SR0&page=boys-fleece-lined-hooded-flannel-shirt" target="_blank">hoodie version</a> now ($44.95), which might be great for your much-loved, too-cool-for-school teenage hooligan:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JUrTJOIK0_9SRhyuTg_7eq5we8VD0oc5r2AtIctLIJ70SG4RyhbyJXnk33h6tvO_dOrnNDyacesujCR4Fp3E5vQJlCqQ5WR-qL2vFgu07YCtzXjSfyAAZ9U7CJZUy49trTebkFa0aS2m/s1600/hoodie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JUrTJOIK0_9SRhyuTg_7eq5we8VD0oc5r2AtIctLIJ70SG4RyhbyJXnk33h6tvO_dOrnNDyacesujCR4Fp3E5vQJlCqQ5WR-qL2vFgu07YCtzXjSfyAAZ9U7CJZUy49trTebkFa0aS2m/s320/hoodie.jpg" width="277" /></a></div>
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A FitBit would be a great gift for men or women - it's a pedometer and so much more (I have one and really like it!). I think men are more apt to go for the wrist-worn versions. Of the two available, I'd recommend the <a href="http://www.fitbit.com/force" target="_blank">FitBit Force</a> ($129.95) because you can view your stats on the wristband itself.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiVLd13Ct4IB1ef-hB0BhMHSyrKXjhSr2bHO4-U7YRS3u5ga5UbSqphPvCEhGvVHWl4N75L6qNGkzfgUlsHPjchjm8dlmeZgGfAPPh_LePChi82veOenvmgQUTYrjW3guGxKjyIsPmcBF3/s1600/force.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiVLd13Ct4IB1ef-hB0BhMHSyrKXjhSr2bHO4-U7YRS3u5ga5UbSqphPvCEhGvVHWl4N75L6qNGkzfgUlsHPjchjm8dlmeZgGfAPPh_LePChi82veOenvmgQUTYrjW3guGxKjyIsPmcBF3/s1600/force.png" /></a></div>
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My dad is raving about the <a href="http://www.automatic.com/" target="_blank">Automatic Smart Driving Assistant</a> ($99.99), which has gotten great reviews. It plugs into your car and sends your smart phone information, like your gas mileage, what the malfunction code means when one pops up on your dash, and where you parked at the mall. I can't find an image file that I can pull down for this post, but it looks like a little gadget. Apple stores are apparently selling them, too.<br />
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The <a href="http://dropandcatch.com/collections/bottle-openers/products/porter" target="_blank">Drop and Catch Bottle Opener</a> ($60, but the website is offering $10 off with the coupon code holiday right now) is a great idea<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBacq1bpHEImr2SebBcSqNn0zc3M2E7sKhTJBr3T1aUWvcJsWqZgaCKIp-leJgfvSBulN7vSLOguFpQfJmLN9pcWqDEDoiIXZg2BevBA10qv-F3TODqKwgxAPNCqQzOE7qevTO8WyzIPL/s1600/bottle+opener.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBacq1bpHEImr2SebBcSqNn0zc3M2E7sKhTJBr3T1aUWvcJsWqZgaCKIp-leJgfvSBulN7vSLOguFpQfJmLN9pcWqDEDoiIXZg2BevBA10qv-F3TODqKwgxAPNCqQzOE7qevTO8WyzIPL/s320/bottle+opener.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I've raved about the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Thermos-Stainless-16-Ounce-Leak-Proof-Midnight/dp/B002PY7AYS/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1386282692&sr=8-4&keywords=thermos" target="_blank">Thermos Stainless King Leak-Proof Travel Tumbler </a>(currently on sale for $18.99) before - hands down the best travel coffee mug I've found. Get it - the coffee drinkers in your life need this.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWagKHuaXyLcCjaDyUeZvkMEzYV6aC1bCFoXNxJ4x8HuAxbP2G4KjVqOsCsyzEOwbUCJLzDuddWI7G4Bahw09450VClvDQMVXtIvT82jArdnR0J3PXiPNd7srbXe4SdCPpFITtujXSH6c/s1600/thermos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWagKHuaXyLcCjaDyUeZvkMEzYV6aC1bCFoXNxJ4x8HuAxbP2G4KjVqOsCsyzEOwbUCJLzDuddWI7G4Bahw09450VClvDQMVXtIvT82jArdnR0J3PXiPNd7srbXe4SdCPpFITtujXSH6c/s320/thermos.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>
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To pamper your guy, try the Art of Shaving's <a href="http://www.theartofshaving.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-TAOS-Site/default/ProductAB-Show?pid=00670535711124&tmt=productA1&start=1&cgid=kits-and-gifts-shaving-kits&navid=kits-and-gifts-shaving-kits" target="_blank">4 Elements of the Perfect Shave kit</a> ($60 for the mid size version; they also have a smaller one for $25 and a full size version for $100 or so). You can buy it from many other sites, too, including Macy's, Sephora, and Amazon.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0gAnyguuBwdqdQ-aLa7mDcC9_J39N54TklCfG4u2H4pIPHME780fDPlUZyLIVLlNipj3_g4x4NfvVongawyNb457I66a4F5JkPgDSVDaHcZsWKanZz1aGkYv7o_O-1QSzDzWbOp_MLR4u/s1600/shave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0gAnyguuBwdqdQ-aLa7mDcC9_J39N54TklCfG4u2H4pIPHME780fDPlUZyLIVLlNipj3_g4x4NfvVongawyNb457I66a4F5JkPgDSVDaHcZsWKanZz1aGkYv7o_O-1QSzDzWbOp_MLR4u/s320/shave.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong><u>Host/Hostess</u></strong><br />
I generally don't like to recommend Anthropologie gifts, because I think their products are ridiculously overpriced. However, I've had my eye on their <a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?navAction=jump&id=B25972571&color=089&cm_sp=PRODUCT_DETAIL-_-RECOMMENDATIONS-_-B25972571" target="_blank">Poppy Ring Brownie Dish</a> ($36) for over a year now, and the price is actually pretty good.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHSPY7XhEiGkGmn17FQl2Up7cVIUPhJUXoEk1iQP28s7fEPQpVIfy-9hnmXcDyGEfG26t8CIE1XL3nXBoQ1EFw5i8q4D_TDD_cAyq2tgD9nh_gQQS-iIGPshFoK5PhPVN3AzL8-_JYWMUd/s1600/brownie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHSPY7XhEiGkGmn17FQl2Up7cVIUPhJUXoEk1iQP28s7fEPQpVIfy-9hnmXcDyGEfG26t8CIE1XL3nXBoQ1EFw5i8q4D_TDD_cAyq2tgD9nh_gQQS-iIGPshFoK5PhPVN3AzL8-_JYWMUd/s320/brownie.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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The <a href="http://www.target.com/p/threshold-gold-cocktail-shaker/-/A-14657115#prodSlot=large_1_2&term=cocktail+shaker" target="_blank">Threshold Gold Cocktail Shaker</a> ($14.99) is gorgeous and would be perfect paired with a nice bottle of liquor and/or matching tumblers (or was it stemless wine glasses?) that I can't find on the Target website, but did see in my local Target store.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcDq2vnbAZ3gJA6rtDV6TVlD2iuqYtXR40CvKqMstbi34QenXJWr1ZrvvQEwC-Mg7yyi_n5OLJ4PdE89nM6SsOzjIqVf6B5LGtP6zwpTlpJBNh5vCfuyMDWpNGrNr3QyfLmNLy1q8WPSKO/s1600/shaker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcDq2vnbAZ3gJA6rtDV6TVlD2iuqYtXR40CvKqMstbi34QenXJWr1ZrvvQEwC-Mg7yyi_n5OLJ4PdE89nM6SsOzjIqVf6B5LGtP6zwpTlpJBNh5vCfuyMDWpNGrNr3QyfLmNLy1q8WPSKO/s320/shaker.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-With-The-Rat-Pack/dp/B00E34A9BO/ref=pd_sim_m_4" target="_blank">Christmas with the Rat Pack</a> ($7.00) would be a great addition to any host's music collection.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6eP7NwCO2QHP-3teLbkV0I0j7TBkxI9SpqzvqrPMTIR5W-qGu8GD5wukkkXdfTrC8q394u5UQ52IDQeOJm-T0GBG2QDJwIKOvyW86BxJYN3CcQv2SowNZTGYCNeGNz7pAsjgHDNYQWaP/s1600/rat+pack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6eP7NwCO2QHP-3teLbkV0I0j7TBkxI9SpqzvqrPMTIR5W-qGu8GD5wukkkXdfTrC8q394u5UQ52IDQeOJm-T0GBG2QDJwIKOvyW86BxJYN3CcQv2SowNZTGYCNeGNz7pAsjgHDNYQWaP/s320/rat+pack.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Alright, I'm stopping there, because I need to get back to my own shopping. Speaking of which, what are you buying? Any good ideas for me to use? I'll be getting some of the stuff on this list for my unsuspecting family and friends, but am on the look out for more. Share in the comments!A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04738641472687270029noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794549679686881007.post-23614397488143504222013-10-27T21:54:00.002-04:002013-10-27T21:54:59.984-04:00Requisite OctoberSOMEONE in this house up and turned 7 last week. And determined that his front upper tooth is decidedly wiggly. <br />
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SOMEONE ELSE in this house is having trouble with all of this "growing up" nonsense.<br />
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We waffled on the idea of a birthday party - they are so much work, and the kids just EXPECT them now, like it's a first amendment right. We thought about letting Finn just invite 2 or 3 friends to go to the movies instead, but in the end we couldn't pass up a deal - the new Tae kwon do studio the kids take lessons at was having a special on birthdays, so big birthday party it was.<br />
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[Wait, what?? Just saw a commercial for a showing of the Sound of Music starring Carrie Underwood. With Heidi braids. What the what? I don't think this will go well. What was wrong with just showing the original, eh? Gah.]<br />
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Side note over.<br />
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He also wanted me to make him a Tae kwon do themed cake, so this is what I did:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBviBHnC2siE9UX1FLfvh_qkeDWuaIDBrhBBuXZXzlj2AofZoLQ8y6MLxfoT-HD5TSStErp7TffUR7fy6WkJLcSb8jGZ70b43z89uH_Iem8OtWeMgOjaFGPwF-gUKkCgZnitgkLS-zVisq/s1600/Birthday+and+Pumpkin+Patch+2013+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBviBHnC2siE9UX1FLfvh_qkeDWuaIDBrhBBuXZXzlj2AofZoLQ8y6MLxfoT-HD5TSStErp7TffUR7fy6WkJLcSb8jGZ70b43z89uH_Iem8OtWeMgOjaFGPwF-gUKkCgZnitgkLS-zVisq/s320/Birthday+and+Pumpkin+Patch+2013+003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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It's supposed to be a Gi with a black belt (though Wikipedia tells me that Gi is actually the name of the karate uniform, and the Tae kwon do uniform is called a dobok? We'll go with Gi since it's shorter and I'm lazy). You'll notice, of course, that the belt is not actually black, but is in fact yellow. I decided to try my hand at making fondant (I made the marshmallow kind, if anyone is interested in that kind of thing) for the collar and belt of the Gi (the rest of it is frosted with buttercream because it tastes much, much yummier than fondant). I made a big batch of fondant (which is white), and then tried to color half of it black. The amount of black food coloring I had to add, and resultant cocoa powder to sop up the extra gel/liquid, to make something actually black rendered the stuff useless. So yellow it was!<br />
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I figured it was all the same to a kid who's only a white belt, right? Plus yellow is his favorite color at the moment.<br />
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Working with fondant is not for the faint of heart. This is what my kitchen looked like afterward:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4K17VreTfBZfX1ur_Hre7P28nxQTe0nPrw5mpUVfPJic4EhUfV8m-m1HrHXAZCEpbJAyicr07sKDcQ6I0Y3vKslJEXL6UPihiIRW3OK0T_DKayu_nSZ3Z5gqGX56W7jtIL3wpo8QeEMkp/s1600/Birthday+and+Pumpkin+Patch+2013+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4K17VreTfBZfX1ur_Hre7P28nxQTe0nPrw5mpUVfPJic4EhUfV8m-m1HrHXAZCEpbJAyicr07sKDcQ6I0Y3vKslJEXL6UPihiIRW3OK0T_DKayu_nSZ3Z5gqGX56W7jtIL3wpo8QeEMkp/s320/Birthday+and+Pumpkin+Patch+2013+001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Just keeping it real</div>
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The party was a big hit. They ran the kids through their paces for about an hour, and then we sped through pizza and cake. Finn got to cut the cake with a "Samurai" sword:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyUOJfzmxQtqghlw6J1NYQPprfwARVh1d12VuipReQjkZyAUXT6KtgxMwTxwFcvTjmL2m5PbxuHe9elri_N-6YhlOghAptdFJMR2ZkC3POamYZ9mHEF1qePrYGfkFDmZlFx0kyn6BxKUC/s1600/Birthday+and+Pumpkin+Patch+2013+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyUOJfzmxQtqghlw6J1NYQPprfwARVh1d12VuipReQjkZyAUXT6KtgxMwTxwFcvTjmL2m5PbxuHe9elri_N-6YhlOghAptdFJMR2ZkC3POamYZ9mHEF1qePrYGfkFDmZlFx0kyn6BxKUC/s320/Birthday+and+Pumpkin+Patch+2013+023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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After</div>
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(sorry, am too lazy to white balance the photos)</div>
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You can see more photos of the rest of the birthday weekend, including Finn's breakfast in bed and his new fish (PETS! We gave him his very own pets for his birthday) if you follow me on Instragram. I don't know how to link to that here. Hmm. My handle is allisonmilutinovich if you want to look for me, and I will see if I can figure out a way to create a link in the sidebar of this blog. I've been taking lots of photos and sticking them on Instragram, and it is not easy to collect them all into a blog post (unless it is? And I don't know the trick? I just end up e-mailing myself each photo if I want to download it and stick it in a blog post. So mostly I don't, which means all these photos will eventually disappear into the Instagram ether, I'm afraid). So if you are interested in seeing them, follow me! <br />
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That was all LAST weekend. THIS weekend, we went to a pumpkin patch. We did a search for "Maryland corn maze" and pretty much went to the first place that popped up - <a href="http://summersfarm.com/" target="_blank">Summers Farm</a>. It was a HUGE hit with the kids - we were there for about 3 hours before we even contemplated heading to the pumpkin patch. There was a bouncy thing (not a moon bounce - more like a huge bubble lying on the ground?), slides, goats, ducks, apple guns, homemade doughnuts (though not as good as Smolak's, Massachusetts peeps), a big corn pit, random games, and a ridiculously large corn maze. <br />
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Entering the corn maze. Full of energy, bounding ahead.</div>
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By the end, M. was carrying Lucy. It took almost an hour. Lucy claims now that she was mostly just disappointed that M. and I didn't abandon her and Finn in the maze to make it out on their own. But I know the truth - girlfriend is NOT fond of walking.<br />
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Finally on the tractor toward the pumpkin patch</div>
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And after, with their spoils.</div>
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And since Halloween is only a few days away, we couldn't let any moss gather, or whatever that expression is. We dug right in with the scrapers and serrated knives as soon as we got home, elbow deep in pumpkin guts. The results are good, as are the roasted pumpkin seeds. The pumpkin on the far right is Lucy's (she went with an arching cat design), and the one that looks like it's just at the bottom left edge of our front door is Finn's (it's a reaching, claw-like mummy thing). The other two that are lit up are actually fake. </div>
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Posing near their creations.</div>
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Am officially exhausted. But glad I've finally posted SOMETHING here. :-)A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04738641472687270029noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794549679686881007.post-23536205292845435372013-10-14T21:37:00.000-04:002013-10-14T21:37:05.144-04:00The Most Valuable Thing I Learned in Grad SchoolIn a former life, I was a fruit fly geneticist. I spent many hours sorting flies (separating the boys from the girls), collecting virgins (true story), looking at flies, talking to flies (probably), and above all, killing flies. I keep saying that if karma really is a bitch, I am due for a huge swarm of fruit flies to descend on me and dump me in a vat of caustic liquid any day now.<br />
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I learned many things as I toiled away on my dissertation research, but I think that killing fruit flies is the one practical thing I have put to use most. I thought I had shared the simple art of fruit fly trap-making with my entire family by now, but just this past summer I schooled my uncle, who may be a retired Navy Commander of a nuclear submarine AND a lawyer AND current Ph.D. candidate, among other accolades, but he did not know how to properly get rid of the fruit flies buzzing around his kitchen.<br />
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And now I will share it with you. All you need are a handful of items you probably have in your house right this very second:<br />
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Some paper (an index card, probably the 4X6 size, would also work great), vinegar (I used red wine vinegar, but any type would work - please don't use expensive, high quality vinegar!), liquid soap (hand, dish), a jar or cup of some kind, and tape. I also needed scissors (not pictured).</div>
<br />
Take the paper and tape, and make a funnel out of it. The funnel is going to sit in the opening of the jar/cup, so you need to make sure that it is not so long and/or thin that it will touch the bottom of jar. To achieve this, I first cut my paper (regular computer paper) in half:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0SrZJf8V3Ma4RbfEeiFgBceuWOSFP35FzFyvexUheCW_JUYO8y52VN5CBLMyuvCrQ-Fk6AKPEhWz37_lSo7bf9ODHb-FMkwcJkJWmjIpOma4oV1kdO9T6K14xJv69Rru9PMIgMOX7Ms4n/s1600/Fly+Trap+004+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0SrZJf8V3Ma4RbfEeiFgBceuWOSFP35FzFyvexUheCW_JUYO8y52VN5CBLMyuvCrQ-Fk6AKPEhWz37_lSo7bf9ODHb-FMkwcJkJWmjIpOma4oV1kdO9T6K14xJv69Rru9PMIgMOX7Ms4n/s320/Fly+Trap+004+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Now, when you take one of these half sheets of paper and make it into a funnel/cone shape, you can see that it's still a little too long for the jar:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqlmHWl6npO7ImkSsqqCvtt0TJe1cFLsC2f8MvzXskPjYDYh7xbSUH3LTq4s8BznvKUtTKTQOsEUWkBujLjcrkZYVQ_Id26leILoSxL2tGkUokesF7QDrncXoIGaFXCi5nT61h7gKJ3rI/s1600/Fly+Trap+006+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqlmHWl6npO7ImkSsqqCvtt0TJe1cFLsC2f8MvzXskPjYDYh7xbSUH3LTq4s8BznvKUtTKTQOsEUWkBujLjcrkZYVQ_Id26leILoSxL2tGkUokesF7QDrncXoIGaFXCi5nT61h7gKJ3rI/s320/Fly+Trap+006+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I snipped off an inch or so of the bottom (narrow) part of the funnel, and then re-formed the funnel so that the bottom was much narrower than the top, securing it with tape:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUL_ccuxAljvcaz4107fkAQXDT5avq1C8gZ9oN8qFcfOAnoGZiHGKTJmC68PZiH1MWpAhuMEQKB2qiaSeZ5FGDXlAczpJz9uKUIr3Z98hD5AgQRGOt_o0YLC1tJ9ZFlFjMSquT5i90kHdw/s1600/Fly+Trap+007+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUL_ccuxAljvcaz4107fkAQXDT5avq1C8gZ9oN8qFcfOAnoGZiHGKTJmC68PZiH1MWpAhuMEQKB2qiaSeZ5FGDXlAczpJz9uKUIr3Z98hD5AgQRGOt_o0YLC1tJ9ZFlFjMSquT5i90kHdw/s320/Fly+Trap+007+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then I added a little vinegar and 2 pumps of hand soap to the jar before resting the cone in the opening:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0wTiGwv7y6NI4EAKuGnywLAEufedzU26z1BrM4gRLVkQUkNDLl9ez7VQpPXcX9YFU0IMML62Bh3hOs6MhTGDg8KI2QSTwAHVA_3JtngNHujHOGziSLrtDbwUYDuaIO6Fu7crm5ZB1yw8/s1600/Fly+Trap+008+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0wTiGwv7y6NI4EAKuGnywLAEufedzU26z1BrM4gRLVkQUkNDLl9ez7VQpPXcX9YFU0IMML62Bh3hOs6MhTGDg8KI2QSTwAHVA_3JtngNHujHOGziSLrtDbwUYDuaIO6Fu7crm5ZB1yw8/s320/Fly+Trap+008+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The cone should not be touching the vinegar</div>
<br />
Simply place the trap somewhere prominent/near where your fruit flies have been appearing. I put mine on the edge of the pass-through between the kitchen and the living room:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZUFMThdTeI2cW0aDSndQf86QcqU0r43uKV_SKFSccpTSXn8jgpud2WDUoTmLCX8rKv57OzHGKjeDPEQyel54hNLbBPIXJBVm2oG8nI7aqcuf2Vc_nMVXxtHoOVJX2_nzE3yEuTe_OG-h/s1600/Fly+Trap+011+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZUFMThdTeI2cW0aDSndQf86QcqU0r43uKV_SKFSccpTSXn8jgpud2WDUoTmLCX8rKv57OzHGKjeDPEQyel54hNLbBPIXJBVm2oG8nI7aqcuf2Vc_nMVXxtHoOVJX2_nzE3yEuTe_OG-h/s320/Fly+Trap+011+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then I left to go help M. finish up bedtime with the kids. When we got back downstairs, less than half an hour later, I already had 5 fruit flies at the bottom of the jar: <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPk5LVoY839AELz_N3vdap84OVaKIQ5n5xBgIMBxCMZeBVuwIO3ITMdQ5D7jz5sROYETLP-zZpx2VT3E4EyMUNSoSjijRN3I86d0qRS0IaxoAEc3NJYRF7Hixiqm49DI6CH7SPJd4AG9VN/s1600/Fly+Trap+014+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPk5LVoY839AELz_N3vdap84OVaKIQ5n5xBgIMBxCMZeBVuwIO3ITMdQ5D7jz5sROYETLP-zZpx2VT3E4EyMUNSoSjijRN3I86d0qRS0IaxoAEc3NJYRF7Hixiqm49DI6CH7SPJd4AG9VN/s320/Fly+Trap+014+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I would expect this in my mom's house, where the empty wine bottles outnumber the people by about 16 to one. But we've been living off of boxed wine (no empties!) and the occasional beer, and I've only seen the occasional fruit fly buzzing around, so I wasn't expecting such a quick response. It's like magic! Or science!<br />
<br />
Now you, too, can amass bad karma by going forth and killing fruit flies. But please remember - with great power comes yadda yadda...A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04738641472687270029noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794549679686881007.post-60000282182835386722013-09-15T22:32:00.002-04:002013-09-15T22:32:27.452-04:00iWantI'm loving all these book recommendations - please, keep them coming! So far I haven't begun a new book - I'm weighing my options. I finally figured out how to borrow e-books from my library, but unfortunately, everything I looked up was already taken out. So I have 4 or 5 books requested for hold right now - I have a feeling that it will take a while to get them.<br />
<br />
In other news, I think I may finally give in and buy myself an iPhone. I've been living with my non-data plan, bare bones/basic phone quite happily for a long time, and I've been reluctant to upgrade to a phone that will cost me an extra $30 a month. But M. got an iPhone a few months ago (he already had a Blackberry, which was no bueno - and I can attest to this, as I also have a Blackberry supplied by my job and it, too, is no bueno - so the only extra cost for his iPhone was the phone itself), and what can I say? I'm jealous. I want a cute phone case (I will get a super cute and probably not-at-all-practical one, I have already decided this. Just haven't decided on WHICH super cute case), and I want to amuse myself with the Internet and Pinterest and Facebook and Instagram and all kinds of other crap all. the time. I want it, I do. <br />
<br />
I've usurped M.'s phone to a degree - I set up an Instagram account for myself on it. This is because M. does not "believe" in Instagram; he's all "why would you want to take a perfectly good photo and ruin it?" Jerk. Anyway, I knew he wouldn't want to set up his own account, so I went ahead and did it. But every time I want to take a photo, I'm not holding the damn phone. Because it's not mine, of course. And I want to take ALL THE PHOTOS. All the time. Capture the moments, what have you.<br />
<br />
AND. And. My 10th anniversary is coming up. The "celebration" gift for 10 years is tin, and there is some tin in the iPhone (albeit apparently<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-using-illegally-mined-tin-in-iphone-2013-7" target="_blank"> illegally mined</a>), so this is totally legit, right? Plus, M. will be GONE on our 10th anniversary, and he won't be just anywhere, he will be in ALASKA. Because he gets to go to all the fun places. I get to <a href="http://uncontrolledexperiment.blogspot.com/2013/09/drive-on.html" target="_blank">drive back and forth to Northern Virginia.</a><br />
<br />
I think I deserve two iPhones.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04738641472687270029noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794549679686881007.post-19120475535447671102013-09-14T08:10:00.000-04:002013-09-14T08:10:00.526-04:00Trapped in StorylandI'm on a reading kick lately - gobbling up books left and right. I almost feel as though I spent the last 7 years in book jail, separated by lack of time, effort, and energy from throwing myself into books, and I've finally been liberated.<br />
<br />
I don't know why I have this feeling right now. Ever since I became a parent, I typically climb into bed somewhere between 10:00 and 11:00 at night, pick up a book (when I manage it), and struggle behind half-open eyes to read a few pages before conking out for the night. It's not that I haven't read any good books in the last 7 years - I have! - it's just that I'm so. tired. every. night. And as a result, it's takes me such an agonizingly long time to read each book that I lose the connection to the characters, the setting, the flow, each time I put the book down. I spent an embarrassingly long time reading the Game of Thrones series (I did finally prevail, but refuse to re-read them all when the next book in the series comes out), and I think it broke me. My Kindle lay fallow for months while I settled for Facebook or Pinterest or a half-hearted perusing of Entertainment Weekly before heading off to dreamland.<br />
<br />
But NOW! I climb into bed and read far too late into the night for the 6:00 a.m. wake-up of my alarm. I snatch moments here and there - while the kids are playing in the tub, at Lucy's dance class, while M. watches football on TV - much to M.'s annoyance. I served on jury duty last week, and the extended recesses and lunch breaks while the judge and lawers worked out various law-ish things was like manna to my furiously-reading eyes. I 've taken to carrying my Kindle in my purse, just in case opportunity knocks, and sometimes I'm so engrossed that I fleetingly consider grabbing it at red lights (would never. but want).<br />
<br />
I'm not reading high-brow literature here, so don't be too impressed. Mostly I find my books through family, or from recommendations by a couple of the bloggers I read who regularly update on what they are reading. I'm trying to be better about adding titles to my Amazon wish list when I come upon particularly glowing reviews, so that when I finish a book, I don't have to face that sad "but what will I read now that I'm done?" feeling for long.<br />
<br />
Here's what I've been reading lately, in case anyone else is looking for inspiration, too. I would do a "thumbs up/thumbs down" thing here, but honestly, I liked every book I read. Am I easy to please? Perhaps:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Enders-Game-The-Ender-Quintet/dp/0812550706/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379102264&sr=8-1&keywords=ender%27s+game" target="_blank"><strong><u>Ender's Game</u></strong> by Orson Scott</a> Card (sci-fi) - I borrowed this from my mom, because I wanted to see what all the fuss was about, but felt conflicted about giving the author any of my money what with his whole "gay people shouldn't get married" stance. So this way I could read (her battered, very old copy) for free! It was a GREAT plot, especially considering how long ago it was written, but suffered from a lack of development in the latter half of the book. Card spent so much time delving into Ender's experience in Battle School that everything that came after that seemed so rushed. Also the Peter and Valentine storyline was obfuscating. But I really, really liked the book and will probably (eventually) see the movie. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Speaker-Dead-The-Ender-Quintet/dp/0812550757/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_z" target="_blank"><strong><u>Speaker for the Dead</u></strong> by Orson Scott Card</a> (sci-fi) - the sequel to Ender's Game. It took me a while to get into this one - the beginning is wordy and has little connection to Ender's Game, so it's not like you're picking up right where that book ended. Plus, Card continued his "let's name the aliens something off-putting" (in Ender's Game, the aliens involved were called "buggers") convention by basing the storyline around an porcine-ish alien species he called "piggies." Hard to feel connected with THAT. But get into the book I eventually did, and it was another good read. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Snow-Child-A-Novel/dp/0316175668" target="_blank"><strong><u>The Snow Child</u></strong> by Eowyn Ivey</a> (fiction, of the regular-but-slightly-magical kind) - this book was absolutely beautiful to read. Every description was perfect, but there wasn't TOO much description. I was engrossed. Not one of those "excellent literature is dense" books - very readable. And beautiful. Highly recommend.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cinder-Lunar-Chronicles-Marissa-Meyer/dp/1250007208/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1379099906&sr=1-1&keywords=cinder" target="_blank"><strong><u>Cinder</u></strong> by Marissa Meyer</a> (young adult/fantasy) - I'm not much of a young adult fiction reader. I skipped the Twilight series, and liked-but-not-loved the Hunger Games series (Mockingjay was such a disappointment). I borrowed this from my mom after both my sisters tore through it because I was running out of reading material on vacation. This is the first book in a series of four books (called the Lunar Chronicles), and like my sisters, I tore through it. A quick read, and the storyline - I'm not sure if it's meant to be a bit of a twist? Probably not. I hope not - the storyline is hinted at mightily from the beginning, so there are no real surprises. But I still loved it. A take-off on the Cinderella fairytale, it had all the right elements of YAF - a not-too-pretty heroine with a short catchy name, a suspenseful plot, bad guys (or in this case, gals), and romance. It was engrossing and also made me a bit swoony.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Scarlet-Lunar-Chronicles-Book-2/dp/0312642962/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_y" target="_blank"><strong><u>Scarlett</u></strong> by Marissa Meyer</a> (as above) - I bought book 2 of the Lunar Chronicles as soon as I finished Cinder. For a second book (they are never as good, don't you think?), it was actually really well done. Cinder's story continues, but intersects with Scarlett's. Took me forever to realize Scarlett was supposed to be a take off on Little Red Riding Hood - I kept thinking Snow White for some reason (stuck in princess mindset? Ruby red lips?). And there are even wolves that feature prominently, so I don't know what my problem was. I raced through this book as fast as Cinder, and got all excited when I saw the third book available for purchase on Amazon. Only to discover that it was a pre-order purchase, and the next book (called Cress) isn't due out until February of next year. I was sad. Want more now.<br />
<br />
So I went looking for more young adult fiction, because it's cheaper and a quick read and gah, fine, I just apparently really like it. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fault-Our-Stars-John-Green/dp/0525478817/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1379100771&sr=1-1&keywords=the+fault+in+our+stars+john+green" target="_blank"><strong><u>The Fault In Our Stars</u></strong> by John Green</a> (young adult) - This was really, really good, but also really sad. What possessed me to read a book about teenagers with cancer? Only a small part of me held out hope for a happy ending, so it's not like I was blindsided. And I guess the end is a bit uplifting? Very good, but bring tissues.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Divergent-Veronica-Roth/dp/0062024035/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1379100909&sr=1-3&keywords=divergent" target="_blank"><strong><u>Divergent</u></strong> by Veronica Roth</a> (young adult) - I had heard the name of this book before, something along the lines of it being the next Hunger Games, etc. That's not why I read it, though - I bought it because it was super cheap on Amazon, and I needed something to entertain myself during jury duty. It IS another "dystopian future" book, with a female protagonist with a short, catchy-but-tough name (Tris). There were so many parts of the storyline I found implausible. What's with all the empty trains that circle the city, just so that the Dauntless faction can jump on and off of them? Why don't they have cars, or at least bikes? They'd at least be cooler than taking the bus, I suppose. Plus, the whole scale of things was mystifying. How many people live in this fenced-in, destroyed version of Chicago? Why do none of them seem to know each other by sight, but it seems like there can't be more than a couple hundred in each faction? Why are is everyone allowed to choose their own faction, when everyone is supposed to exhibit all the same qualities (though I guess maybe that's sort of the point, now that I've finished the second book? Jury still out on that)? Wouldn't you just give everyone an aptitude test, and then stick them in whatever faction they line up with?<br />
<br />
I could go on. But plot implausibilities aside, I was so INTO this book. I don't even know why. Oh wait, yes, probably the romance. Sucker. I am apparently a sucker for it. Reliving the angsty teenagehood I never really had, perhaps? Anyway, read this book. It's really good.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Insurgent-Divergent-Book-Veronica-Roth/dp/0062024043/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_y" target="_blank"><strong><u>Insurgent</u></strong> by Veronica Roth</a> (young adult) - Book 2. Not as good as Divergent (see above, re: second books never as good), but did I care? Nope. I didn't care. I was NOT going to be able to get anything done until I had finished it, that much was clear, so after I finished my jury duty and faced the prospect of no more gobs of undisturbed reading time, I made M. watch football one night while I sat next to him and read to the end. The next day, I pre-ordered the third (and final) book, Allegiant, even though I think pre-ordering is lame, especially for a Kindle. But it's out next month, and I WILL be reading it, so whatever. I figured it can only get MORE expensive, not less (bought it for $9.99) for the foreseeable future. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Eleanor-Park-Rainbow-Rowell/dp/1250012570/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1379102494&sr=1-1&keywords=eleanor+and+park+by+rainbow+rowell" target="_blank"><strong><u>Eleanor and Park</u></strong> by Rainbow Rowell</a> (young adult) - Most of the books in my Amazon wish list are books that <a href="http://princessnebraska.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Princess Nebraska</a> has recommended. She reads A LOT (probably as much as you, Stacey, or maybe EVEN MORE, which I never thought possible), and is not easily impressed (unlike me), so if she likes it, it must be good. Eleanor and Park is one she recommended highly. I bought it because I had a Divergent-sized hole in my life to fill. But I didn't want another series - I had to get back to normal, controllable, only-a-little-bit-of-reading life. This is just a single book, so I figured I would be safe. How engrossing could it be?<br />
<br />
I started reading it on Monday, about 10 minutes before I had to get ready to head down to my meeting in Viriginia. Just a couple of pages, to have something to look at while I ate lunch. I started, and within minutes I couldn't put it down. I brought it up to the bathroom with me, and read it while I brushed my teeth, and in between each makeup step. If I could have brought it in the shower with me, I would have. I don't even know why it's so engrossing, but it is. When I was reading it, I would get this weird buzzy feeling in my hands, which - I don't really know what that was about, but I think it's just a testament that I just felt this book so hard. I had FEELINGS about it. So, yeah, I absolutely loved, loved, loved this book. I'm so sad it's over.<br />
<br />
And now I am reading nothing, despite my long Amazon wish list. Because I should probably take a break from reading for a bit. Definitely. The rest of my life is missing me.<br />
<br />
But just in case I don't - what are you reading lately?A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04738641472687270029noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794549679686881007.post-30849639878839130622013-09-13T08:44:00.003-04:002013-09-13T08:44:47.637-04:00You Probably Think This Song Is About You<em>"Do you think I'm pretty?"</em><br />
<em></em><br />
<em>"Do you think I'm the prettiest?"</em><br />
<em></em><br />
<em>"I need to bring this mirror with me so I can look at myself at school."</em><br />
<br />
A littany from Lucy, lately. She drapes herself in accessories and baubles and crazy outfits, steals my chapstick, begs for make-up. And asks us if we think she is pretty.<br />
<br />
Have we done wrong by her? Told her she is pretty, or cute, or adorable... too much?<br />
<br />
<em>"Well, yes, Lucy, you are pretty. You're also smart, and funny, and wonderful." </em>That's what I usually say. And then I think - but don't say - why are you asking me that? Is that what is important to you? Is that what you think is important to US?<br />
<br />
M. ignored the crux of her question one day, and answered back that she is smart.<br />
<br />
I want her to know that, I do very much. But I don't want her to think she isn't pretty.<br />
<br />
Every girl should think she is pretty. Every girl IS pretty.<br />
<br />
So I chimed in and told her she was.<br />
<br />
When she asked Finn the other night, he responded by saying <em>"You shouldn't ask me whether your are pretty. The most important thing is whether <strong>you</strong> think you're pretty." </em>He's pretty smart sometimes, that kid. I thought, maybe that's something he learned at school? At daycare? But he says he knows this because we taught it to him, and we told him that the most important things about someone are on the inside. I guess he listened.<br />
<br />
I guess we're doing something right.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04738641472687270029noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794549679686881007.post-51018354863139622512013-09-11T21:18:00.000-04:002013-09-12T09:47:35.490-04:00Drive OnI've confirmed my near-constant suspicions that Jill cannot be trusted.<br />
<br />
Jill is my GPS.<br />
<br />
I've been wary of her directions ever since her predecessor, Emily, and then she herself joined our collection of devices. Her choice routes are almost never MY choice routes (why, oh why, with the constant insistence that I travel in the local lanes of the highway, rather than the express lanes, even when I'M NOT GETTING OFF!?), and her continual inability to account for the occasional (or in my case, nearly constant) red light when calculating the ETA is always a source of frustration. Yet she is my only source of directions on the fly if I find myself in unfamiliar territory. So we struggle along, Jill and I. And sometimes I even humor her, taking her directions, even when I'm pretty sure mine are better. If only to avoid the endless chime of "Recalculating." But I also secretly think it makes her happy, as if inside that little black screen is an actual person who is mentally screaming "idiot" at me as she politely asks me to make a U-turn when I've disregarded her directions.<br />
<br />
Why wax poetic about my GPS? I've been making the trek back and forth between our Maryland house and a nondescript hotel near the Dulles airport in Northern Viriginia this week. The Department of Defense (my employer), along with lots of other government agencies, has eliminated all "non-essential" overnight travel in a mostly-admirable attempt to save money and cut down on misuse of funds. No one wants to be the next group slammed in a new article about conference-attending employees drinking champagne in bathtubs with strippers. I get it, I do. I don't like being part of the well-behaving majority that is getting punished for the sins of a few, but I do get it. Unfortunately, it means that my colleagues and I now have to drive back and forth from our homes to attend the research review meetings hosted on behalf of our own office - not an easy feat when you live in one of the traffic capitals of the nation.<br />
<br />
To make my 8:00 a.m. meeting start time, I rush, rush, rush to get out of the house so that I can sit, sit, sit with thousands of my best friends on a packed highway. The morning ride in isn't too bad - I have a steaming mug of coffee and NPR to keep me company. It's the afternoon that's much worse. I turn on the car and set Jill for Home, and then I eye the little red circle on the left hand side that tells me the length of the delay I'm about to encounter. It goes something like this: Car on, route set. Delay reads 3 minutes. I glance over 20 seconds later, and we're hovering at a 5 minute delay. Not too bad, but we're only getting started. Within about 5 seconds, the GPS is registering a 30 minute delay.<br />
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And I haven't even left the parking lot yet.<br />
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I then watch as the delay fluctuates wildly between 20 to 49 minutes from moment to moment, up and down, up and down. I don't have much else to do as I sit on the entrance ramp for the D.C. beltway, waiting for my turn to wrestle into the slow moving traffic. Occasionally I call M. with an update, trying to figure out if I'll make it home for dinner, for back-to-school night at school, for bedtime.<br />
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I know the way, of course. These meetings are almost always at the same hotel, and I've been driving to it for years. But I bring Jill along with me to give me reassurance when night has fallen. Her voice is more pleasant then, when the cars aren't squished around me, but my fear of not seeing the road, or an obstacle, or the exit ramp presses in, making my hands grip the steering wheel tightly. I hate driving at night. And during the daylight, when traffic is at its worst, I imagine I can count on her to re-route me when the delays get too bad. That's why I had her on yesterday, when traffic was already looking ominous, and it took me 15 minutes just to traverse the ramp between one highway and another. Unfortunately, there's no such thing as an "alternate route" until after the Potomac - one must cross it to get from Virginia to Maryland, and opportunities to do so are few and far between. Three crossings, in fact, and I kid you not, one of them is an actual auto ferry boat (the lines of cars waiting to get on. THE LINES. This is not an actual, sane option), while the other brings me far north of where I actually live. So I have no choice but to cross the Woodrow Wilson bridge on the D.C beltway, regardless of traffic conditions. After, though, there's at least one other route choice that involves leaving the highway that could take me home, one I've never actually driven, but I know it exists. I figured Jill would tell me if I needed to use it. I crawled along, flipping radio stations (could we PLEASE play songs other than "Blurred Lines," PLEASE?), for 4 miles. Jill was happy with my progress, and complained not a whit.<br />
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And then, of course, when I was ON TOP OF the alternate route exit, she decided to re-route me. Onto the exit ramp that was 0.1 miles and 5 lines of traffic away. Thanks, Jill.<br />
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Needless to say, I did not make it. Didn't attempt it, even. Just crawled along with half of humanity on my original route. Eventually I spotted a pair of cars stopped in the middle lane of the highway. It's too hard to say if their presence was really a major factor in the traffic or not - was the traffic worse because they were stopped? Or did they have an accident because the traffic was worse than usual? Everyone flowed around them with minimal issue, and little change in speed. Possibly because we were all already going so slowly.<br />
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Interestingly, I saw a car stalled in the exact same lane and spot on my way home today, too. This time, Jill didn't try to re-route me. Maybe I'm training her.<br />
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The sad thing is that in both cases, none of the traffic reports I heard mentioned the stopped cars. It's a bit invalidating when a drive that should have been 40 minutes takes 2 hours, and not one bit of it bears mentioning on the radio. Which is probably just testament to the idea that speeds of 12 miles an hour are pretty much par for the course around D.C. at commuting time. <br />
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Tomorrow I head back to my office via my usual 30 minute commute. I think I'll leave Jill at home.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04738641472687270029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794549679686881007.post-34765666397452201682013-08-26T21:49:00.003-04:002013-08-26T21:49:50.931-04:00Me, Too! Me, Too!Judging by Facebook, I'm a little late to the game with my official "first day of school" photos - such is life with a big fancy camera but no iPhone, I guess. But I have them! And I will share them here, even though I am still woefully behind on posting the rest of the photos from our Maine vacation. <br />
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The first day of first grade was fine - great, even. But mostly just normal. The nervous excitement from last year (for all of us!) is pretty much gone. Many of the faces are familiar, the schedule is familiar, even (especially) the paperwork (all the paperwork!) is familiar. We're right back to last year's routine, almost like summer never happened.<br />
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Except for the lingering tans and full memories, of course.<br />
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Without further ado, I give you....<br />
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First Grader Finn!<br />
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And his flashy new backpack with his name AND a WOLF. He is stoked.</div>
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And I also give you...<br />
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Pre-K2 Lucy!<br />
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Not to be outdone, with her Cinderella backpack</div>
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These two kids kill me with how cute they are.</div>
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Seriously</div>
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And for good measure, one of the photos from last year:<br />
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A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04738641472687270029noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794549679686881007.post-76325899966836515202013-08-15T21:51:00.000-04:002013-08-15T22:23:34.973-04:007 Quick TakesI'm behind on my photo posting, I know, I know. They will come, as soon as I rouse my lazy behind to edit the rest of them. In the meantime, here are some things:<br />
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1) This past weekend was a flurry of house projects that required the kids to "entertain themselves" (aka complain and mess shit up), back-to-school shopping, laundry, and pool time. By the end of the day Sunday, the house was a disaster. M. and I agreed that night that it was a damn good thing that it was not a "cleaning lady" week, because there is no way we could get the house in order by Tuesday morning.<br />
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Except we were all screwed up from being on vacation, and it apparently WAS a cleaning lady week. OOPS! Now she knows how we really live. So embarrassing. Also, the poor thing cleaned up so many of our messes, and we didn't even leave her a check. I feel terrible. But I'm also completely surprised that this is the first time in over 4 years that we have made this mistake. So, bright side?<br />
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2) In a growing panic over the thought of not watching a lick of football this season, M. went out and bought a new antenna to try - something designed for the military, apparently. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mohu-Ultimate-Amplified-Indoor-Antenna/dp/B00APPDX86/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376615859&sr=8-1&keywords=leaf+ultimate" target="_blank">This thing.</a> We now have over 20 broadcasted stations on our basement TV (where we do all our evening TV watching), including FOX, NBC, CBS, and ABC. And also a bunch of crappy other stations. M. is watching a Ravens game as I type (blergh), and I'm thrilled at the prospect of actually watching The Good Wife and How I Met Your Mother in decent quality (streaming to the TV from a computer just isn't that good). He may not catch much of his beloved Badgers this year, but at least we can now watch the Super Bowl.<br />
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3) If they gave out degrees in "getting the last drop of wine out of the wine box," I would be at the top of the class.<br />
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4) I'm seeing a podiatrist right now. God, doesn't that make me seem old? I FEEL old. I even have orthotics I'm supposed to wear. That doesn't fly with cute dress shoes, though - I can't seem to fit them in my most of my existing shoes without entering severe blister territory. You don't even want to know the kinds of desperate Google searches I've been doing lately - "orthotics for heels," "orthotics for dress shoes," "dress shoes with removable inserts," "orthotic shoes," "shoes with arch support,"... it's so depressing. God I'm so old. I have plantar fasciitis, which Dr. Google told me, and then my podiatrist confirmed. Score one for Dr. Google! Anyway, it's depressing because I haven't been able to run much at all without at least 24 hours of intense pain afterward. But I think it's getting better? My mom bought me this foot stretcher thing, which seems to be helping. That's how you get rid of it, by the way (though you're always at risk for it coming back) - by stretching the crap out of your calves and feet. I can now say my left foot is LIMBER - sexy, no?<br />
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By the way, my podiatrist's name is Dr. Footer. Reminds me of how the anesthesiologist that administered my epidural when Finn was born was named Dr. Payne.<br />
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I can't even make this stuff up.<br />
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5) I did squeeze in a short jog two nights ago, and decided that this is my new favorite running song:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/2zNSgSzhBfM" width="560"></iframe><br />
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Macklemore & Ryan Lewis's "Can't Hold Us."<br />
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Finn introduced us to the song, and knows far more of the words than we do. It's ridiculously adorable to watch him singing it.<br />
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Lucy's favorite song right now is this one (we downloaded the clean version to our iTunes library):<br />
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Icona Pop's "I Love It" - also a super catchy, good-for-running song.<br />
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6) Tomorrow marks the end of my "Furlough Fridays." In good news for my paycheck and bad news for all my PLANS, the DoD decided to cut short the civilian furlough, from 11 days to 6. I had so many things I was going to do with that time! But also, I was feeling so broke! So this is really for the best, and I do think that I made the most of my furlough days. Even though too much of it was spend scrubbing grout (because any grout scrubbing is too much).<br />
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Anyway, in celebration of the last furlough day (and because he's been working so hard lately), M. is taking tomorrow off, too, and we're going to spend it together. We are heading in to D.C. for lunch and a visit to the National Portrait Gallery, where my friend Jen's work is part of an exhibit - she won second place in a <a href="http://portraitcompetition.si.edu/" target="_blank">national portrait competition</a>! I'm so excited to see it, and to have a grown-up day with M. while the kids are at daycare...<br />
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7) ...where they will be showing off "their" science project. And by their, I mean the one they helped with a little bit. Or a tinsy bit, as the kids are fond of saying. A study on different conditions that grow mold on bread. Mostly conceived and executed by yours truly and M., in exactly the kind of dick parent's move that I hate. But who are we kidding - when prompted for Ideas, Finn suggested some really complicated thing, as always, and Lucy studiously ignored us. So instead, the bread mold project. And as I type, there are 9 baggies of moldy bread affixed to a piece of poster board up on my living room couch.<br />
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Ah, learning.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04738641472687270029noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794549679686881007.post-65957454861667944462013-08-07T21:34:00.003-04:002013-08-07T21:34:59.727-04:00Maine, Round 1I'm barely a quarter of the way through all the photos, and I'm already overwhelmed. So many good ones to choose from! Must post for posterity! Whelp, I'm afraid I'm just going to have to bore you with multiple photo-heavy, text-light posts. <br />
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We left off at the end of our first day of vacation, merrily swimming in the lake and falling into exhausted heaps (what with the whole "4 a.m. wake-up" we suffered through). Our first full day in Maine had us heading up the Songo River. We boated in style:<br />
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Wasn't it a beautiful quiet morning for a boat ride?</div>
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SOMEONE demanded a snack within the first 10 minutes of the outing, per usual. </div>
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Then again, the rest of us WERE having Bloody Mary's, so I guess it was only fair</div>
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M. and Finn fished (no takers to be had)</div>
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My mom :-)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_xJh0Xs13MUedijUc5y9O4mhb3kpoRXimHbMQCjhEyokTvJy2sO82xCp2t1bTReAth3YE8tMMBP8SLzKmgDZRtO94u4YHN_Dhyphenhyphenxwdo58EhMaHXianv4CbyDJSNFLjnFgexJ0hPWc8-B_/s1600/Maine+Vacation+2013+039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_xJh0Xs13MUedijUc5y9O4mhb3kpoRXimHbMQCjhEyokTvJy2sO82xCp2t1bTReAth3YE8tMMBP8SLzKmgDZRtO94u4YHN_Dhyphenhyphenxwdo58EhMaHXianv4CbyDJSNFLjnFgexJ0hPWc8-B_/s320/Maine+Vacation+2013+039.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Sporting some new Spiderman sunglasses</div>
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We traveled through the Songo River lock before stopping to take a quick dip off the boat in Brandy Pond. Then we headed under the bridge into Long Lake (scene of the <a href="http://www.bridgton.com/crane-boom-topples-into-channel/" target="_blank">Great Crane Crash of 2011</a>) for lunch and ice cream at Rick's:<br />
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Have you ever seen a cuter ice cream face?</div>
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Lucy fell asleep on the chilly, quick ride back home, just like this - on her Grammy's lap, clutching a teddy bear, snuggled under a blanket</div>
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Later that night we roast marshmallows and made s'mores</div>
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The next day, Monday, started out rainy/cloudy, so Lucy played dress up with a flower girl dress that I wore when 6-year-old me was in my Aunt Robin and Uncle Tom's wedding (handmade by Robin's mom!):<br />
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My dad took me, M., and Finn on a 3-mile hike/walk that involved some fun woodsy scrambling and WAY too many horse flies, while Lucy and my mom baked brownies. At some point (that day? the next day?), there was more beautiful scenery and fishing: <br />
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There was also kayak-purchasing (we added two kid-sized kayaks to my parents' collection of boats), ice cream eating, actual kayaking (Finn was a rock star! Lucy mostly just let us do all the work while we towed her along), and jet ski driving (not my favorite activity!), and lots more swimming and hot-tubbing.<br />
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Tuesday afternoon my sister Kristin arrived with her three kids (and thus ended the quiet part of our vacation).<br />
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Next up - more photos! Of cousins! Stay tuned.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04738641472687270029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794549679686881007.post-23173895677239795412013-08-06T21:51:00.001-04:002013-08-06T21:56:30.343-04:00Back to LifeBack to Reality<br />
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Come on, you were thinking it too, right? A little <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB54dZkzZOY" target="_blank">Soul II Soul</a>?<br />
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Moving along. Yes, we are back from a great, fun-filled, altogether too short (even though it was 8 days!) vacation in Maine. Yesterday found us, yet again, cursing the New Jersey turnpike (common theme of every return car trip from up north) and scrambling for alternate routes. But we made it back, safe and sound, only 4 Lucy meltdowns and 12 hours after leaving Lake Sebago. And we are back to reality with a bang - a kitchen full of ants (gah!), last-minute brown bag lunches for the kids with the scraps of bread I managed to find in the fridge, a weird beeping noise coming from our Verizon internetty-box-thing, a less-than-functional air conditioner in M.'s car, hundreds of e-mails to sort through, and piles of luggage contents to put away.<br />
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But first M. and I made our vacation last just a teensy bit longer with Thai take out and a (far-too-expensive) bottle of wine in front of the TV last night. <a href="http://uncontrolledexperiment.blogspot.com/2013/03/austerity.html" target="_blank">Austerity</a> be damned, I guess! <br />
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I have over 200 photos to sort through for a proper debriefing (assuming I get around to doing one). But I will share a few photos now from our first day of vacation, which was perhaps the most horrible and also most glorious. From 4:25 a.m. on, we spent about 9 happy-ish hours in the car with the kids (yes! I said happy! Good moods all around, and the kids were really good!). Then we hit the Saturday afternoon Massachusetts/N.H./Maine beach traffic, and groaned through the last 3+ hours of our trip. It was painfully slow, and we got to my parents house about 2 hours later than I wanted to.<br />
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Within minutes, we had swim suits on, coolers packed, and we were off on the boat for an early evening cocktail cruise and swim. We anchored the boat just off shore, and jumped right into the lake. All the stress of the drive was rinsed away in the just-the-right-temperature water. The kids goofed around with my parents, my brother, and his girlfriend, we had some snacks and drinks, and we watched the sun get lower in the sky. It was the perfect start to a vacation, really.<br />
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Who gave this kid a license?</div>
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Even scarier :-)</div>
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See? Relaxing.</div>
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Maine, we will be back!!A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04738641472687270029noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794549679686881007.post-92035672992872334382013-07-29T18:58:00.000-04:002013-07-29T18:58:49.553-04:00Gone Fishin'4:15 in the morning on Saturday found us doing this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimetpVmw1218ci_bnuU8SLYtNHwgtukXXwGgX_ucXCSGiWBLq6TI8hQqxbwcXdOwN6tEx634ShDN2hlHQZoIZtTjoWVJMk1mRGldiBSu_FK1wcGv7ey-M9k5pNPzVaGN3a3XfaZt4za4J7/s1600/Delaware.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimetpVmw1218ci_bnuU8SLYtNHwgtukXXwGgX_ucXCSGiWBLq6TI8hQqxbwcXdOwN6tEx634ShDN2hlHQZoIZtTjoWVJMk1mRGldiBSu_FK1wcGv7ey-M9k5pNPzVaGN3a3XfaZt4za4J7/s320/Delaware.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Driving... (Delaware's largest feature)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja25QoJDOscBiOYCxB-PW0wRa-53yNrLOhdWkOe6x-ZJThVqL0fimgFQeLrRgGdPRkSo46TzxpXzSM1oeTriR0NdnpSPdsmVdHf3uglI6esEC2SaNre4EODkxqW480IpQnqboLLrkzn2Fy/s1600/Sleeping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja25QoJDOscBiOYCxB-PW0wRa-53yNrLOhdWkOe6x-ZJThVqL0fimgFQeLrRgGdPRkSo46TzxpXzSM1oeTriR0NdnpSPdsmVdHf3uglI6esEC2SaNre4EODkxqW480IpQnqboLLrkzn2Fy/s320/Sleeping.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Sleeping (for a bit)</div>
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Not sleeping - at all</div>
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Admiring my fun, vacation-colored toes</div>
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And after many, many hours of driving (12 and a half, to be exact), we made it here:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRP6QiMx4tm8gK_H6iKFY6wVk3DUl32N0vFEwGsjm71IbEsuWLj8J7IRz3FMVlmLaNjU8jvDbAbvIteZILQruqtQSvp8jXBhqrMuL59VR0uqeC0_pDoOb64wjbjowLv8jVPx2kPJKjEFXg/s1600/View.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRP6QiMx4tm8gK_H6iKFY6wVk3DUl32N0vFEwGsjm71IbEsuWLj8J7IRz3FMVlmLaNjU8jvDbAbvIteZILQruqtQSvp8jXBhqrMuL59VR0uqeC0_pDoOb64wjbjowLv8jVPx2kPJKjEFXg/s320/View.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Worth it, no?</div>
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There has been boating</div>
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And hiking</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinlemb1-BEzHN-EJ4gR7CszbaCi9_B3sw3bdr9QS4mOyrpbCKSt1hfGTRa0LmDpWSfTrzysImC8nCK30d2-CTWgNmEQJ0qEa7NGOnLq7avqlQ_x2aNKv7em1Tmtd9tD-H9VKaXVrzdgaqg/s1600/Finn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinlemb1-BEzHN-EJ4gR7CszbaCi9_B3sw3bdr9QS4mOyrpbCKSt1hfGTRa0LmDpWSfTrzysImC8nCK30d2-CTWgNmEQJ0qEa7NGOnLq7avqlQ_x2aNKv7em1Tmtd9tD-H9VKaXVrzdgaqg/s320/Finn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Right after this photo, I raced this guy up a super steep hill. We got to the top and he reached out to feel my racing heart, a huge grin on his face. Vacationing rocks (literally and figuratively).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssJXcIRZu8t_qQUizI5EzTs6Wk-vgdocYjd4txHqmqtHtyS_Ql8xQdB5-b3_Xd4sHCZvOgJyAOfdg-wdajS2uqQ-4Nph_KXCRCBhVwBzQu4D6s3s-OxZANozfcuYztKbG3L0c4teQdcoU/s1600/Kayaks!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssJXcIRZu8t_qQUizI5EzTs6Wk-vgdocYjd4txHqmqtHtyS_Ql8xQdB5-b3_Xd4sHCZvOgJyAOfdg-wdajS2uqQ-4Nph_KXCRCBhVwBzQu4D6s3s-OxZANozfcuYztKbG3L0c4teQdcoU/s320/Kayaks!.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And kayaking (that's the kids in the mini kayaks behind us - new acquisitions for the "On The Rocks" flotilla (On The Rocks being the name of my parents' lake house)</div>
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We're still busy relaxing, more photos to come later!<br />
<br />A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04738641472687270029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794549679686881007.post-7148940553370925092013-07-21T22:33:00.000-04:002013-07-22T12:14:31.366-04:00DIY Window Blinds and WeekendingI'm exhausted from my three-day weekend - it appears that "relaxation" is not something I've included on my long "Furlough Friday" to-do list. M. and I scurried around and knocked out some tasks around the house like a boss (or, I suppose, bosses). On Friday, I jogged (sort of - the insane heat forced me to walk now and then), and spent a good three hours refreshing the trim paint in our kitchen. Then Saturday, I set to work creating some new blinds for our kitchen windows, to complement the new backsplash/paint/countertops we have going on (full reveal post to come soon, I promise!). This was an idea I got from a <a href="http://www.younghouselove.com/2012/11/pink-orange-for-da-bean/" target="_blank">Young House Love blog post</a>. They called it a "15 minute window shade" project, but it took me over 3 hours and required some assistance from M. Then again, I don't DIY for a living the way they do. And either way, I am so, so thrilled with how it all turned out:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5Hq4gQla9ys/UFEtOf6ar9I/AAAAAAAADvk/_tv6S0bdsmo/s1600/Kitchen%252C+Bathroom%252C+Bowling+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5Hq4gQla9ys/UFEtOf6ar9I/AAAAAAAADvk/_tv6S0bdsmo/s320/Kitchen%252C+Bathroom%252C+Bowling+006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here is an old "before" photo, where you can kind of see the curtains we used to have - cheap, shabby chic-ish curtains from Target that were now more grey than white.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip9vGcyAON4ZtHaK8rfjMCghw4cfb5S08umwOLSiOZJYs8VqIXL6SOjCPt9qRGnr58arUd2OS1KGUnpK9rl1zX9MhlLSmIMk3Pclr2Sxj5Y42fVZ4UdAUOFx1AuiRfce0RWqfpWWiCZHuM/s1600/Shade+Project+003+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip9vGcyAON4ZtHaK8rfjMCghw4cfb5S08umwOLSiOZJYs8VqIXL6SOjCPt9qRGnr58arUd2OS1KGUnpK9rl1zX9MhlLSmIMk3Pclr2Sxj5Y42fVZ4UdAUOFx1AuiRfce0RWqfpWWiCZHuM/s320/Shade+Project+003+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here is where we were starting yesterday - the old curtains had been thrown away, the curtain rods removed/holes patched, and the walls painted with Benjamin Moore's Nimbus Grey. Oh, and also lovely fresh trim in Behr's Creamy White.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6SQAMWrCpvD-w54cPTcK159-_3v0GCw-1R093xO1hw1l0fo917gt08TbSNFBI9D1EOi44Xf1ddWOURDHvzg7jJ7-3HAf-JHdEALYRVznSJ4EXwCwliY4wiU7gUrxx-DnHhDQ6JdGJLWEf/s1600/Shade+Project+004+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6SQAMWrCpvD-w54cPTcK159-_3v0GCw-1R093xO1hw1l0fo917gt08TbSNFBI9D1EOi44Xf1ddWOURDHvzg7jJ7-3HAf-JHdEALYRVznSJ4EXwCwliY4wiU7gUrxx-DnHhDQ6JdGJLWEf/s320/Shade+Project+004+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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M. was working on his own project while I got going with the shades, but more on that another day - it's not quite done yet.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6bwHa8i_qJXxSVWRlp07m-klo0abCki-FCyM-UQwpArarSZGY4XJrwyYfpixBb0b4PePkq8GubFtF6ZI54gQOZTDMoz3d2mk7snvkq4r_Llw_SA2x-xdF6uh984OXHk7s8QuJYZc0hAfe/s1600/Shade+Project+008+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6bwHa8i_qJXxSVWRlp07m-klo0abCki-FCyM-UQwpArarSZGY4XJrwyYfpixBb0b4PePkq8GubFtF6ZI54gQOZTDMoz3d2mk7snvkq4r_Llw_SA2x-xdF6uh984OXHk7s8QuJYZc0hAfe/s320/Shade+Project+008+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I measured my windows carefully, then added 2 inches to the width and 4 inches to the length to account for hemming my fabric and mounting the shade at the top to a piece of 1 X 2. So, for example, I wanted my shade to cover an area of 30 inches wide (from inside frame to inside frame) and 25 inches long for the larger window on the left. So I cut my fabric to 32 inches by 29 inches. The other two were the same length, but only 22.25 inches wide, so I cut that fabric to width of 24.25 inches.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsTPbqIwEAIEZuMnxeU0vDQrI81V_uMsTcc56SN6yIcplv-bugwbcBucL6mrG9-S33S_kICK5WdL1CCxa54XanlTZH-cGNLxsvQlTIyRlPHWNQpL3xiexeKbs8g6Htge5PRL9XGG0ihQd0/s1600/Shade+Project+009+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsTPbqIwEAIEZuMnxeU0vDQrI81V_uMsTcc56SN6yIcplv-bugwbcBucL6mrG9-S33S_kICK5WdL1CCxa54XanlTZH-cGNLxsvQlTIyRlPHWNQpL3xiexeKbs8g6Htge5PRL9XGG0ihQd0/s320/Shade+Project+009+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here is one piece of fabric, ready to go. Note the iron at the ready? That's because no sewing needles were harmed in the making of these shades. Instead, I used Heat and Bond for iron-on hems:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit00LR1FoitSdzUjJX3TVOsmkY_6QFwkaBpQWmbWoTZE5zWI3wBAqVh4Vux8dbF8MtG37vtsGgn03YjQL5mvs31Vs-5wltqXryYE5vTvPTMLQeghw9vw9-wG4lu-177x5KaP1g5ir8Hvc4/s1600/Shade+Project+025+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit00LR1FoitSdzUjJX3TVOsmkY_6QFwkaBpQWmbWoTZE5zWI3wBAqVh4Vux8dbF8MtG37vtsGgn03YjQL5mvs31Vs-5wltqXryYE5vTvPTMLQeghw9vw9-wG4lu-177x5KaP1g5ir8Hvc4/s320/Shade+Project+025+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHcHsQPoqz0b82VaQ-fjGcOl-vKcGJGRFdpFGpeWvnZf4a0tuhrzqNH4-KyItWJ8hOP6YdMlnJwh5shEqapQzm1hxzZKTp5QFhLXN7KoCAqTvLZqF0L-JDoTuOfhvhKd7jIh0G9jgtVU1G/s1600/Shade+Project+010+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHcHsQPoqz0b82VaQ-fjGcOl-vKcGJGRFdpFGpeWvnZf4a0tuhrzqNH4-KyItWJ8hOP6YdMlnJwh5shEqapQzm1hxzZKTp5QFhLXN7KoCAqTvLZqF0L-JDoTuOfhvhKd7jIh0G9jgtVU1G/s320/Shade+Project+010+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I applied the tape along each side of the fabric (paper side up), ran the iron over it fairly quickly (directions say 2 seconds), and allowed it to cool a little. Then I peeled the paper off the adhesive, folded the fabric over, and applied the iron again, for longer this time (8 seconds). As you can see, Cinderella was helping me.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAyyKIYBfeXov7tMiZZus3hdPup8M2fsMTSvZ1zyzMBMex_NlqVbCcKPHBXMxAN2mCDt_3t25VcPbXz9-hsVaQbCTLqyNK5c4TynO7xN7Li1k6BfdyMFW3PJk4ps22XyCCCPJ1p9iuHiNU/s1600/Shade+Project+011+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAyyKIYBfeXov7tMiZZus3hdPup8M2fsMTSvZ1zyzMBMex_NlqVbCcKPHBXMxAN2mCDt_3t25VcPbXz9-hsVaQbCTLqyNK5c4TynO7xN7Li1k6BfdyMFW3PJk4ps22XyCCCPJ1p9iuHiNU/s320/Shade+Project+011+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then I repeated the process on the ends of the fabric.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaby2K48tAifAAjnMWoTkof8KV1q1foSkEst8l77JGKxXljpgl2PNQX4ajMxxMkaaxCWH8kyN55NK4aOTbZFat2Jpm4yFWpn1BtyDfgfi1ag9JL2sf5WGTSQffTwsKOJ6CN4dQk5auiUg/s1600/Shade+Project+012+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaby2K48tAifAAjnMWoTkof8KV1q1foSkEst8l77JGKxXljpgl2PNQX4ajMxxMkaaxCWH8kyN55NK4aOTbZFat2Jpm4yFWpn1BtyDfgfi1ag9JL2sf5WGTSQffTwsKOJ6CN4dQk5auiUg/s320/Shade+Project+012+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And voila! A nice, neat panel of fabric, ready for hanging (that's a Finn hiding under there).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WSfWAUNsF0nvUy87dm5H1-NZYRcckIuXlLvO-R470ItBPlh2BAPDmu4EvmuCk2VCqGTHAJhH8wXjsg2wemjNLTYzkvwAgPLAd-xGGl56Ky9iVw85LJX1YPdveII1B8Y-48T6xPB2P6-o/s1600/Shade+Project+013+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WSfWAUNsF0nvUy87dm5H1-NZYRcckIuXlLvO-R470ItBPlh2BAPDmu4EvmuCk2VCqGTHAJhH8wXjsg2wemjNLTYzkvwAgPLAd-xGGl56Ky9iVw85LJX1YPdveII1B8Y-48T6xPB2P6-o/s320/Shade+Project+013+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Once all three panels of fabric were hemmed, I cut a 1 X 2 down into three pieces the same width as the panels, and mounted the fabric over it using a staple gun.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-MzXs892p6m-FTTQLYaTKl0Q-c_d8ebc5zrbbKiVVDUfV-pMsoSkBLB-rJSYN2GD5QtiFiJE3CpBUXTYL6bTz-V6v4akZNIq2dm4c2H5U4dkEmbqFXmvwFOTEWN_xdKZuNe99v1cmIW4/s1600/Shade+Project+014+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-MzXs892p6m-FTTQLYaTKl0Q-c_d8ebc5zrbbKiVVDUfV-pMsoSkBLB-rJSYN2GD5QtiFiJE3CpBUXTYL6bTz-V6v4akZNIq2dm4c2H5U4dkEmbqFXmvwFOTEWN_xdKZuNe99v1cmIW4/s320/Shade+Project+014+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then it was time to hang the panels, but I immediately ran into a problem. In holding up the shades, I realized they wouldn't fit - there were small tabs sticking out of the window frame up at the top that I hadn't accounted for when I was measuring:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmucbXFuCezaKUHFgxrGfMi6b1tQAd9mFo7MQraSneIVIGGcrzjqOGK2OMgaxSbJ53xGFRx6GdrmyaL1CC24RDaK1-vT5xj0mUI4kyHCvdt6fNC7AOhSITQJ84HfihpXHOZYbhXm3Me7HL/s1600/Shade+Project+015+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmucbXFuCezaKUHFgxrGfMi6b1tQAd9mFo7MQraSneIVIGGcrzjqOGK2OMgaxSbJ53xGFRx6GdrmyaL1CC24RDaK1-vT5xj0mUI4kyHCvdt6fNC7AOhSITQJ84HfihpXHOZYbhXm3Me7HL/s320/Shade+Project+015+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Just as M. was gathering up his jig saw to try to come to the rescue, I realized that I could just pop the plastic tabs out:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQGiq4QGhyphenhyphenPYZlqwfKsYJucrS1h96Nea5zmTszhywcz0NyFrcVTXQ2E8kXzYUO_-teO-Y7ERs_SbQ8lq_MsQvsdlXKLOoTD4w9v6MRMIs94dbUcdC5FxzEx1aai9T_e0v3mebjRlqDHG_t/s1600/Shade+Project+016+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQGiq4QGhyphenhyphenPYZlqwfKsYJucrS1h96Nea5zmTszhywcz0NyFrcVTXQ2E8kXzYUO_-teO-Y7ERs_SbQ8lq_MsQvsdlXKLOoTD4w9v6MRMIs94dbUcdC5FxzEx1aai9T_e0v3mebjRlqDHG_t/s320/Shade+Project+016+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Ah, much better. Not sure what those tabs are actually for, but I hope they aren't important!</div>
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To mount the shades, we pre-drilled holes into the 1 X 2, and in the process, realized that we needed to do something about the fabric. Because of the way the shade is mounted, the fabric runs between the 1 X 2 and the window frame, and we were worried that it would rip or bunch up when we screwed the wood in (this happened a little with the first hole that we pre-drilled). So once our holes were pre-drilled (making sure the fabric was out of the way), we made small holes in the fabric over the screw holes. Then I dabbed a little clear nail polish around the holes to make sure the fabric wouldn't fray or run down the line:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbnU4uRgQgZRVhg7Gt-DQznbE4S_HiBFMy7u3Agk1YmmVwfdsLQqbA6OMAqALwWpLzskaXr9KYQfIZX6qKzYHAXX_9_BVbse0430uCgL1p2SYCso_MNq-o0TzB_ao_zb1oiRhWFqd-Nx2/s1600/Shade+Project+018+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbnU4uRgQgZRVhg7Gt-DQznbE4S_HiBFMy7u3Agk1YmmVwfdsLQqbA6OMAqALwWpLzskaXr9KYQfIZX6qKzYHAXX_9_BVbse0430uCgL1p2SYCso_MNq-o0TzB_ao_zb1oiRhWFqd-Nx2/s320/Shade+Project+018+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Trust me, there's a hole there.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT879rybawFL85iIFXYRcZuqFrnwbfl8SDLuAiFb_iotEpFHoIz7t_uROI28oslgXqffY4oB5XXETMKtSiiflR7o5u_DXUgSCZVSPDjdXSi7gR9w7Cfsj__Eso1OBG9JQX5Qmp_xPdFgVP/s1600/Shade+Project+020+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT879rybawFL85iIFXYRcZuqFrnwbfl8SDLuAiFb_iotEpFHoIz7t_uROI28oslgXqffY4oB5XXETMKtSiiflR7o5u_DXUgSCZVSPDjdXSi7gR9w7Cfsj__Eso1OBG9JQX5Qmp_xPdFgVP/s320/Shade+Project+020+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then the entire thing was screwed into the top of the window frame - two screws for the smaller windows, and three for the larger one. Beware - because the screws need to go through the thick part of the 1 X 2 (so, 2 inches) and into the window frame, long screws are needed for this. This was something I hadn't prepared for, but luckily we had enough spare screws of the right size on hand.</div>
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And this is what we ended up with:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qwFm9FIx582MIstzrE2sTIYdBPzIxUkW8NHWDFwNdXzixMPQ_21vAg4p1bWY1xaVMCgdO8lTF2RRgMJU223dUFujPVBYHzyy8DkTVUu0VLx4V50r3mMIT4GYiP8jyuHp0D4YTiL78olj/s1600/Shade+Project+022+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qwFm9FIx582MIstzrE2sTIYdBPzIxUkW8NHWDFwNdXzixMPQ_21vAg4p1bWY1xaVMCgdO8lTF2RRgMJU223dUFujPVBYHzyy8DkTVUu0VLx4V50r3mMIT4GYiP8jyuHp0D4YTiL78olj/s320/Shade+Project+022+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'm still in shock that somehow, all three shades are the same length. I was SURE that somehow things would get uneven during the whole process, even though I spent about an hour of my three + hour project carefully measuring.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcN4mi7TdsPlyVBTcOGtuRs5oYeuv8ZywJrsTrvjPjl8U9S6acWbtT-XmnXY04iZITotfD1s_C0zzzHmvdkFEW9un5ncpSsztc8VDOhzYPV9PyWDnfKIloMaWxpJ0Jbk0QagRmKp6jWF_s/s1600/Shade+Project+024+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcN4mi7TdsPlyVBTcOGtuRs5oYeuv8ZywJrsTrvjPjl8U9S6acWbtT-XmnXY04iZITotfD1s_C0zzzHmvdkFEW9un5ncpSsztc8VDOhzYPV9PyWDnfKIloMaWxpJ0Jbk0QagRmKp6jWF_s/s320/Shade+Project+024+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I love how they turned out - I think they add a great little flash of color when you look from the living room into the kitchen, and they coordinate nicely with our new backsplash (which, I swear, I will show you one day!). And the cost couldn't be beat:<br />
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Fabric (2 yards, on sale for 50% off): $23.50<br />
1 X 2: $1.15<br />
Heat and Bond: $4<br />
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Three shades for under $30!!<br />
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A few other things I can't resist sharing from the weekend:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu2xVHUgjtHD3RWlgjjM3dOsmjMqyLgqYGDZzNaJP27cftL2bfC22pGWHX7IxNaU1oewK4qRqAkzWmxol7aVTxiJkdFwjLFM69hXKssSGZScc0yCWraINrwML9Ad09rJFGuYxwUJua_vII/s1600/Shade+Project+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu2xVHUgjtHD3RWlgjjM3dOsmjMqyLgqYGDZzNaJP27cftL2bfC22pGWHX7IxNaU1oewK4qRqAkzWmxol7aVTxiJkdFwjLFM69hXKssSGZScc0yCWraINrwML9Ad09rJFGuYxwUJua_vII/s320/Shade+Project+001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Finn went to see Turbo in 3-D with a friend on Friday - I can't even begin to tell you how excited he was about this! I picked him up from camp before 1 p.m. - oh, the thrill of leaving early! And for a play date with his best friend?! He was bouncing off the walls. Anyway, the movie was a hit, as was the play date, and Finn has spent most of the last 48 hours wearing his 3-D glasses.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7wEgz8w6hHSpTvMeUw2FosVR_WO_c9fmG9qAHRCZqx6eUtg6LNuFlMnc_P3PmV_RuUZR9E6z_C71g1W5SS71rJQ5XgEFysGOONetr_8qGd9xoJIaAvvVhIJ0i7PssVuMXwHDvAzBlWBI/s1600/Food+and+Cutting+Boards+004+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7wEgz8w6hHSpTvMeUw2FosVR_WO_c9fmG9qAHRCZqx6eUtg6LNuFlMnc_P3PmV_RuUZR9E6z_C71g1W5SS71rJQ5XgEFysGOONetr_8qGd9xoJIaAvvVhIJ0i7PssVuMXwHDvAzBlWBI/s320/Food+and+Cutting+Boards+004+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I made <a href="http://acooksquest.blogspot.com/2011/04/102-blueberry-muffins.html#more" target="_blank">these blueberry muffins</a>. If they taste half as good as they look, I will be in heaven. I had to fight M. and Lucy off with a stick, so determined were they in sneaking one before dinner (and yes, that is a peek at the new backsplash!).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFk8SoBnavZFNuj7TkGw8Z6SIkfGd4HOxN6csZG6dMO3jQBORobrivGxMz9axM_GKVKMgvc95vRam4052M42ONaPM8byypt6nV6rnWamaWOGbP-xzSGTNtUBv3DfyQpEEn40Gk6PuzI2J/s1600/Food+and+Cutting+Boards+007+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFk8SoBnavZFNuj7TkGw8Z6SIkfGd4HOxN6csZG6dMO3jQBORobrivGxMz9axM_GKVKMgvc95vRam4052M42ONaPM8byypt6nV6rnWamaWOGbP-xzSGTNtUBv3DfyQpEEn40Gk6PuzI2J/s320/Food+and+Cutting+Boards+007+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I took all this (crazy) squash...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAupBn39Ju-ELU60KotvZ0kqFTbg14ey1ZBqSaIakuxbRIvYuML9ueFD4Y3DCguAWsTUiT3pjpDT7_WR2fEKbD6ExprTXpRp7uOj3is5hCofGD_WQkmZvyKWTxXSoCdKiGDgfeSgQmnRlQ/s1600/Food+and+Cutting+Boards+008+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAupBn39Ju-ELU60KotvZ0kqFTbg14ey1ZBqSaIakuxbRIvYuML9ueFD4Y3DCguAWsTUiT3pjpDT7_WR2fEKbD6ExprTXpRp7uOj3is5hCofGD_WQkmZvyKWTxXSoCdKiGDgfeSgQmnRlQ/s320/Food+and+Cutting+Boards+008+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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chopped it up...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmIRJN6ORDn861XDNICFT2qZkc5Idk2yM5qKTMtqyLYYVFRBrKpu39yhcBcPAEvH9ZSh1Q83TAXieb_fcAdU6JCwyAlYSAVLRnbv4vRtVUzdy3BoAE4eZ5lu_bD9Nv66X8cIM6PQawF8C/s1600/Food+and+Cutting+Boards+014+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmIRJN6ORDn861XDNICFT2qZkc5Idk2yM5qKTMtqyLYYVFRBrKpu39yhcBcPAEvH9ZSh1Q83TAXieb_fcAdU6JCwyAlYSAVLRnbv4vRtVUzdy3BoAE4eZ5lu_bD9Nv66X8cIM6PQawF8C/s320/Food+and+Cutting+Boards+014+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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and turned it into <a href="http://www.ourbestbites.com/2013/07/zucchini-gratin/" target="_blank">this Zucchini Gratin</a> from Our Best Bites.</div>
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It was fabulous - M. and I scarfed it up. I made the kids each try a bite. Finn gagged. Lucy actually threw up. So... mixed results. But a win for the grown-up crowd, and I highly recommend it.<br />
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While I cooked, the kids tore apart the house and piled many toys, blankets, and themselves in the middle of the living room:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXv8SKeTIE4ebEyVsG_wZoM52KWnqP1UzTjgcAJjeFUr8mmnMa9eApM6qjUnsZQW-ohKitdLITYFob6QOVJvoDiXNo96BNNz1KchVm3KeavhS6ZvrPoJf9T9phUkeaO5W-pqvs3dkK65lg/s1600/Pillow+Fort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXv8SKeTIE4ebEyVsG_wZoM52KWnqP1UzTjgcAJjeFUr8mmnMa9eApM6qjUnsZQW-ohKitdLITYFob6QOVJvoDiXNo96BNNz1KchVm3KeavhS6ZvrPoJf9T9phUkeaO5W-pqvs3dkK65lg/s320/Pillow+Fort.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Whew, I'm exhausted just typing this! And I didn't even mention the kitchen shelves M. is refinishing, or the loads of trim we painted (once you start, it's so hard to stop!), the pool time, the grocery shopping, the laundry...<br />
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Thank god it's almost Monday?A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04738641472687270029noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794549679686881007.post-91098582004941245192013-07-17T21:50:00.000-04:002013-07-17T21:50:28.796-04:00Travelin' (Day I Can't Remember)The theme this week at daycare is "On Vacation," and tomorrow all the kids are going to bring in suitcases and whatnot, and pretend to go to Jamaica. Lucy's class made passports, and the kids were told to pack their own bags - no help from parents allowed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPBT_ZNXdkOjHVEjj__sx9HUz6-oYyfjUjr1pig48BcnB_fmg5zfG1Z9wFdXAvtnJxGhL3uXZcZ7hN8QB3tjtSPp1D9quqsLYz6AWvsRlxjRJrJzKQu8a_2pa6ov9gN7ZGwOmfAeK8VYUT/s1600/Lucy+packing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPBT_ZNXdkOjHVEjj__sx9HUz6-oYyfjUjr1pig48BcnB_fmg5zfG1Z9wFdXAvtnJxGhL3uXZcZ7hN8QB3tjtSPp1D9quqsLYz6AWvsRlxjRJrJzKQu8a_2pa6ov9gN7ZGwOmfAeK8VYUT/s320/Lucy+packing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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You should see the stuff they have in these bags. Guaranteed there are no socks, and they both almost forgot underwear. But Finn has a ghost stuffed animal and Lucy grabbed quite a bit of jewelry, so all set, right?<br />
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I think I'll probably do the packing when we leave for Maine at the end of the month.<br />
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The sad thing is that Lucy is convinced they actually ARE going to Jamaica. She's already managed to melt down on us when we've tried to correct her, so we've resorted to nodding and agreeing when she tells us about the plane she's going to ride on tomorrow. We'll let her teachers take the hit on that one.<br />
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Speaking of going on planes and vacationing (a bit), I spent the past Saturday, Sunday, and Monday up in Massachusetts with my family. I flew up for my grandfather's memorial service, and the timing was such that it also allowed me to join in on a casual bachelorette party for my friend Helen, who's getting married in a couple of weeks. Even though I was up for a sad purpose, I absolutely loved seeing so much family and hanging out with friends I don't get to see enough. <br />
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Here are some photos from the bachelorette part of the weekend. My sister Stacey stole my thunder by posting a lot of these on Facebook already, but I'll take photographer's liberty by posting them again:<br />
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The bride in her mandatory accessories</div>
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We decked out the Mom-mobile we drove</div>
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From left: Amy, Natalie, Helen, Kristin, Stacey, me</div>
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First stop was <a href="http://www.chaunceycreek.com/" target="_blank">Chauncey's Creek</a> in Kittery Point, ME, for waterside lobstahs and BYOW (bring your own wine)</div>
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Wearing a bib and playing with her food... :-)</div>
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The second stop was a scenic overlook for some more pictures:<br />
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They "made" my sisters and me pose like Wilson Phillips on these rocks</div>
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The third stop was at the New Hampshire state liquor store (not pictured, but awesome), then it was on to ice cream at <a href="http://bensonsicecream.com/" target="_blank">Benson's</a>:</div>
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Finally, we headed back to my parent's house for some presents, pizza, games, and movies (Pitch Perfect, which I still love, second time around).<br />
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I'm super excited to come back up in just a week and a half - this time, M. and I will be driving with the kids all the way up to<a href="http://uncontrolledexperiment.blogspot.com/2011/08/maine-vacation.html" target="_blank"> my parents' place in Maine</a>, and then we'll head down to Massachusetts by ourselves one night for Helen's wedding. Can't wait!A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04738641472687270029noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794549679686881007.post-55449228340103969882013-07-12T22:03:00.001-04:002013-07-12T22:04:36.607-04:00Fearless (Day 4)I must say, I could get used to this furlough thing. Picture this day, if you will: I woke up at close to my usual time, but with an extra tap of the snooze button. AND - I didn't really have to get dressed. Woot! I threw on some deodorant and workout clothes, and headed downstairs. M. left for work early (before 7!!), and I had a peaceful 20 minutes of reading and drinking coffee before Finn woke up. He skipped downstairs and asked me to read to him, which I happily agreed to - though the reading material was a "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" book, and I must say that I'm not too impressed (so much greediness! Negative thoughts about people! Don't like). After 15 minutes of reading that doubled as snuggling, we went upstairs to rouse the beast (Lucy).<br />
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The morning was fun, because we weren't rushing rushing rushing. I got the kids to daycare at a leisurely 8:45. Rain scrapped my running plans, but I found a yoga video on Netflix instead. Lunch and shopping with a friend (yes, I spent too much money on my furlough day), picked up a couple of things at Target (WAY over my limit on Target trips for the month - oops!), and then I got the kids a bit earlier than usual. It was gray out, so I gave them a choice - pool time, or movie night. They opted for pool time, so we ignored the ominous skies, packed up a slacker dinner (lunchables, which I view as a FAIL, but the kids absolutely love), and headed over. Finn wowed us with his prowess on the diving board - this kid is seriously fearless. Behold:<br />
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The launch</div>
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The turn</div>
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The fracking flip. My 6-year-old does flips off the diving board.</div>
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He runs</div>
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And flings himself wildly. He loves it.</div>
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Maybe he'll try diving, too:</div>
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Gets in position...</div>
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Launches himself...</div>
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And belly flops</div>
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Maybe this time?</div>
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Nope.</div>
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How about this time?</div>
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Nope again.</div>
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He is never disheartened, and always enjoys the ride. He pops up from the water, usually smiling, and always already swimming. Like a puppy. So, so cute.<br />
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And this one. Goodness. Thinks she can swim. But oh, how she cannot. It takes an eagle eye with her. Don't you just love her blue and white striped bathing suit, though? It was an impulse buy from (where else?) Target. I wanted to get a shot of her running in to the water, as she loves to do repeatedly. But it was cold, and I was too busy trying to keep her from drowning. So a couple of landlubber photos that I was able to snap once M. showed up (he came home early! Because he left for work early! I love this!) will have to do:<br />
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Prancing toward the deep end. Even though (because?) I told her not to. Had to ditch the camera and wrestle her into her swimmie right after this was taken.</div>
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Probably drowning.</div>
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Love the little red rose! Want one for my suit!</div>
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Not so warm once we're out of the water - lots of shivers all around tonight.</div>
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Not sure if I'll make it on here the next few nights - headed up to Massachusetts EARLY tomorrow morning (I should be packing as we speak), and won't be back until Monday night. But maybe...<br />
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Hope you all have wonderful weekends, whether they started last night or tonight!A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04738641472687270029noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794549679686881007.post-26334870221353703982013-07-11T21:41:00.000-04:002013-07-11T21:41:04.361-04:00Day 3Finn just called from his bedroom when he should have been sleeping. He was apparently pondering the deep, deep question "Do you need to count to 100 one hundred times to get to 1000?" He was not happy with my answer that no, you only need to count to 100 ten times. He kept insisting that would make only 110. I think we were having some communication issues, and I promised that I would attempt to explain multiplication in the morning, but for now, GO TO SLEEP.<br />
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Goodness, though, I'll take math contemplation over a nightmare any day as a sleep interruption. This kid is so excited to learn lately. Tonight we watched a bunch of videos from NASA on YouTube - he's very into space at the moment. He was fascinated by the Air and Space Museum's planetarium show on exoplanets this weekend (I have to say, I was too - lots of stuff I didn't know!). And his favorite pastime on the weekends is to watch all kinds of faux documentaries about life in the land of dinosaurs. Thank you, Netflix!!<br />
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Lucy has very little patience for any of these activities, and would prefer to watch He-Man or Jake and the Never Land Pirates, thank you very much. We're still working on her.<br />
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Sooooo, this week marks the first week of my 11 weeks of furlough. I'm trying to stay positive about the 20% pay cut. Friday is the mandated furlough day, so I'm hoping I can take advantage of the "three-day weekend" aspect of it by planning some fun things to do each week. Tomorrow I hope to kick it off with a morning jog (and not an insanely early morning jog - I discovered the hard way with a foot injury that 5 a.m. is not a time that my body likes to be up and running), lunch with a friend I haven't seen in way too long, and maybe some later afternoon pool time with the kids. Other weeks I plan to tackle some DIY projects around the house, go into D.C. to have lunch with M., and take the kids on some fun outings (splash park, Baltimore's Port Discovery).<br />
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Of course, I should probably make sure these things are as cheap as possible, what with the aforementioned 20% pay cut that accompanies all this newfound free time.<br />
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At some point the realization that "Thursday is the new Friday" should sink in, but for now I feel a little frantic. I'm not actually ALLOWED to do any work tomorrow, so I felt this crazy sense of "must get everything done" urgency today that is not very relaxing. Probably compounded by the fact that I'll be away on Monday, too - I'm heading up north for my grandfather's internment service. Which I expect to be both sad and fun - saying the official "goodbye" will be tough, but seeing all of my family and several of my friends will be great. Plus, I'm going up alone, so I'll have just me to take care of - what luxury!<br />
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Finally, a teaser photo of the kitchen renovations M. and I are having done right now - painting (did that ourselves), new countertops, and a new backsplash. The granite is in, and official before and after photos will come once the new backsplash is finally installed! <br />
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A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04738641472687270029noreply@blogger.com3