tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82447360457176111892024-03-13T12:47:11.374-04:00...and I blog.Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780099929873041448noreply@blogger.comBlogger226125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8244736045717611189.post-61455566331602416272011-03-09T12:22:00.007-05:002011-03-09T13:03:38.422-05:0040 Bags in 40 DaysThe Christian season of Lent begins today, on Ash Wednesday. While we Presbyterians don't focus heavily on giving up things for Lent, <a href="http://www.faithandfamilylive.com/blog/40_bags_in_40_days/">this challenge</a> really spoke to me. In short, the challenge is to purge your home of 40 bags (size of your choosing) of whatever-you-need-to-get-rid-of during Lent. In recent years Christians have often been encouraged to add something spiritually beneficial to their lives rather than making a token sacrifice that really doesn't have much to do with our faith lives. My giving up french fries a couple of years ago (40 days of torture) probably benefited my arteries, but didn't do much in the way of bringing me closer to the savior. <br /><br />My 2011 word of the year, a la <a href="http://www.bigpictureclasses.com/onelittleword.php">Ali Edwards</a>, is simplify. Less <span style="font-style:italic;">stuff</span> in my life means more space and time for the people and the Lord that I love. Our house is small and we're not packrats (except for Annamarie, bless her heart), so forty bags sounds like a lot. But I'd bet I can get a quarter of that from our craft/computer room, and I'll enjoy this room a lot more when it's less cluttered. <br /><br />My first bag is actually a box. I've been reorganizing my scrapbook supplies and some purging is overdue. Anyone want this box?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w_rm_390Pn0/TXe9bnpyuNI/AAAAAAAABnM/ke2FWwTzm10/s1600/IMG_0882.JPG"><img style="align:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 315px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w_rm_390Pn0/TXe9bnpyuNI/AAAAAAAABnM/ke2FWwTzm10/s320/IMG_0882.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582138545347410130" /></a><br /><br />I'm excited about this challenge, and I'm going to keep track of my progress, including how I dispose of the stuff. I am a big fan of <a href="http://www.freecycle.org/">Freecycle</a>, which keeps useful items out of the landfill and ideally gets things to people who really want or need them, rather than into the giant pile of stuff at the Salvation Army store. (I do take donations there as well, but usually only if I want it gone immediately.) By Easter, I hope to be 40 bags lighter in my home and my soul.<br /><br />So who wants to join me?Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780099929873041448noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8244736045717611189.post-88789065097252157622010-11-07T15:33:00.005-05:002010-11-07T15:55:18.872-05:00Let's just pretend like I've been here all along, shall we?I've had this cool Crafter's Workshop template for a while, but no photos to go with the peace sign theme. When Annamarie started flashing a peace sign in every picture (What's up with that? Judging from the pics I see on Facebook, it's a middle school girl epidemic.) I knew I had my photos. I used about six colors of Glimmer Mist with the template and then decided it didn't "pop" quite as much as I wanted, so I stitched (badly) around the shape in black. I love the look and I also love the new Maya Road bingo pieces-- so fun! Here's another layout using a Crafter's Warehouse template: <a href="http://cyndimichener.blogspot.com/2010/03/i-have-really-been-on-glimmer-mist.html#comments">The Proposal</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/TNcOnxsD7SI/AAAAAAAABhg/abq4WP0_SQg/s1600/Peace+sign-lr.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 397px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/TNcOnxsD7SI/AAAAAAAABhg/abq4WP0_SQg/s400/Peace+sign-lr.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536910343391145250" /></a>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780099929873041448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8244736045717611189.post-36555409834430079422010-04-03T12:22:00.009-04:002010-04-05T20:54:51.285-04:00A Stash Busting WeekendRecently I've done a lot more gallery surfing and shopping than actual scrapping, but I'm on a roll this weekend. Shimelle's class has me in "use it or lose it" mode, and I feel a big purge coming on. <br /><br />I am a big fan of Doodlebug Design, and notoriously unable to part with any of their products, no matter how old. See the tokens on the layout below? 2003. And that's one of my last remaining Heidi Swapp bling circles. I love them and they are very hard to find these days. The rub-ons are Making Memories, also from 2003, and they are still the best quality rub-ons around...they go on like buttah.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S7dsVVLcJrI/AAAAAAAABY0/Qjuk6dFAIFg/s1600/Bulldog-Basketball.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 390px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S7dsVVLcJrI/AAAAAAAABY0/Qjuk6dFAIFg/s400/Bulldog-Basketball.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455948587300824754" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S7dsVPuwUVI/AAAAAAAABYs/hrppMJ665Ss/s1600/Oakland-Soccer-Fall-07.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 196px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S7dsVPuwUVI/AAAAAAAABYs/hrppMJ665Ss/s400/Oakland-Soccer-Fall-07.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455948585838334290" /></a><br /><br />I am a sucker for the paper pads Michaels sells, especially the glitter and spot-embossed ones, but I wish they were about a third of the size. Who needs 54 sheets of paper from the same line? The background on the layout below is from one of those pads, and I never thought I'd use it, but I kind of like it here. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S7dsUn6-yYI/AAAAAAAABYk/wEPKTCbIR6c/s1600/Thomas-8th-grade.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 394px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S7dsUn6-yYI/AAAAAAAABYk/wEPKTCbIR6c/s400/Thomas-8th-grade.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455948575152195970" /></a><br /><br />Annamarie and I are off to get haircuts and have some lunch, and the boys are shopping for new sneakers. Thomas has clearly hit that growth spurt we've all been waiting for. It's nice to see him actually eating for a change but he is, in true teenage boy fashion, eating us out of house and home. <br /><br />Wishing everyone a blessed Easter. He is risen!Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780099929873041448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8244736045717611189.post-47788478220584893192010-03-20T11:36:00.005-04:002010-03-20T16:19:59.099-04:00A Little LiftI ran across an <a href="http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/gallery/member/342441-vinnie-pearce/1606742-cute-lift-this-challenge/?c=t">adorable layout on Two Peas</a>, and I knew it would be perfect for a rare photo of my friend Sandy and me. (Both of us would much rather be behind the camera than in front of it.) Lifting this layout would also allow me to play with the Maya Road mini banners that are my single favorite thing out of all the winter CHA releases. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S6Ut3CcEy0I/AAAAAAAABXM/lGTj46bVFt8/s1600-h/Christmas-Shopping.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 395px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S6Ut3CcEy0I/AAAAAAAABXM/lGTj46bVFt8/s400/Christmas-Shopping.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450813347572534082" /></a><br /><br />Now I'm off to run some errands with my girl. We have shoes to return and fabric to buy and perhaps coffee to sip.Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780099929873041448noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8244736045717611189.post-22801792804995598222010-03-13T01:00:00.003-05:002010-04-03T12:44:33.407-04:00I have really been on a <a href="http://www.mytatteredangels.com">Glimmer Mist</a> binge recently, and I received some extra inspiration to play with it when the Scrapdoodles design team got to try out some new templates from <a href="http://www.thecraftersworkshop.com">The Crafter's Workshop</a>. I had heard people raving about the Marshmallow Limited Edition Glimmer Mist, so of course I had to get my hands on some. It adds a beautiful sparkle and shine to white cardstock, but it really wowed me when I used it on black.<br /><br /><center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S5sqM9euntI/AAAAAAAABTg/cMMApccSH_k/s1600-h/Proposal.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 393px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S5sqM9euntI/AAAAAAAABTg/cMMApccSH_k/s400/Proposal.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447994576384990930" /></a></center><br /><br />I took this detail photo to try and show how sparkly it makes the page...perfect for the photos of this romantic proposal while ice skating after dark in the snow! <br /><br /><center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S5sqNPgUpII/AAAAAAAABTo/o7gs51Gxk-I/s1600-h/proposal-detail.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S5sqNPgUpII/AAAAAAAABTo/o7gs51Gxk-I/s400/proposal-detail.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447994581223515266" /></a></center><br /><br />I don't actually know the couple, but Ron and I were watching the kids skate at National Harbor the day of the huge December blizzard (don't know why I never blogged about our being snowbound in Maryland for three days). All of a sudden this guy knelt down in front of his girlfriend and I started squealing to Ron, "He's going to propose!" Naturally I had been snapping photos of Thomas and Annamarie, so I kept shooting. Because of the snow and extremely low light, the picture quality is pretty bad, but I love the dreamy silhouette look. We congratulated them and got their email address, and they were planning to use the photos on their save-the-date cards. What does it say about me that I scrapped photos of strangers before the ones of my own children skating?Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780099929873041448noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8244736045717611189.post-17674229646558999672010-03-11T02:15:00.004-05:002010-03-11T02:46:02.337-05:00Attacking the stash<center><a href="http://www.shimelle.com/classes/683/a-new-online-scrapbooking-class-something-from-almost-nothing/"><img src="http://www.shimelle.com/images/1080.jpg" /></a></center><br /><br />After hearing many rave reviews, I finally signed up for one of Shimelle Laine's online classes. Let's just say the topic spoke to me. I am HIGHLY qualified for this particular class, whose goal is to get us to actually use the stash of supplies we've been hoarding. The first "assignment" was to think and journal about why we purchased those supplies and why we haven't used them yet. The simple answer, for me, is that it's often much easier to find inspiration to shop than to sit down and create. I have been realizing lately that the actual scrapping part was simpler in the days when all of my supplies fit neatly into my Crop-In-Style XXL bag. Don't get me wrong, though--I love my stuff.<br /><br />In the past couple of years I have become better about not buying every embellishment in a line, so the bulk of my embellishment stash is several years old. Compared to paper and cardstock, these little items don't take up a huge amount of space, so I am less ruthless about purging them. There are an awful lot of them, though... this drawer alone contains three layers of these storage boxes. <br /><br /><center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S5iZJKDknPI/AAAAAAAABTY/RBTGdytGpJM/s1600-h/IMG_0944.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S5iZJKDknPI/AAAAAAAABTY/RBTGdytGpJM/s400/IMG_0944.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447272131901824242" /></a></center><br /><br />And then there are a few jars.<br /><center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S5iZIYEtGzI/AAAAAAAABTQ/W1t3JFIOZfg/s1600-h/IMG_0946.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S5iZIYEtGzI/AAAAAAAABTQ/W1t3JFIOZfg/s400/IMG_0946.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447272118484802354" /></a></center><br /><br />And a couple of Clip-It-Ups. And if I must be perfectly honest, that chest over there on the left is full too.<br /><br /><center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S5iZH9j2l1I/AAAAAAAABTI/OOXnpikx0JM/s1600-h/IMG_0947.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S5iZH9j2l1I/AAAAAAAABTI/OOXnpikx0JM/s400/IMG_0947.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447272111367690066" /></a></center><br /><br />I can't wait to get started!Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780099929873041448noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8244736045717611189.post-36196807704114025952010-03-06T19:28:00.004-05:002010-03-06T20:06:47.524-05:00Most days I consider it a major accomplishment when I get myself showered, dressed, and fed all in the same 24 hour period, and then there are days like today. Annamarie and I went to breakfast with a friend, and then to the supermarket, where we proceeded to spend the equivalent of Haiti's gross national product. Not only had the cupboard been bare for quite a few days, Ron and I are responsible for feeding dinner to our church's youth group tomorrow night. Almost exactly a year ago we invited some friends over for dinner, and the day before they were to arrive I realized that I did not own enough glasses or silverware to serve everyone. At 14 people, that was the largest group I had ever cooked for. I don't know what possessed me to agree to cook dinner for 50 ravenous teenagers, but back in September when I signed up, March 7 seemed awfully far in the future. We lucked out though because the high school youth are on a retreat this weekend and we only have to feed about 20 middle schoolers. <br /><br />Anyway, I have prepared an unimaginable quantity of salad which, if my own children are any indication, none of them will touch. I made Pioneer Woman's <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/06/the_best_chocol/">Best Chocolate Sheet Cake Ever</a>, and only had to start over once when I didn't follow directions. I won't detail all of the preparations, but I have to say this non-cook is very proud to be almost ready to serve spaghetti (with meat <span style="font-style:italic;">and</span> vegetarian sauces), garlic bread, salad and chocolate cake to a horde of young people who would probably have preferred Domino's pizza.<br /><br />Much more within my comfort zone, I also whipped up this card to go with a gift for a new baby who is soon to join our family (extended family --- my brother's stepson's girlfriend, seriously). I've only had the wrapped gift sitting on my desk for about two months. I really really hate going to the post office, but the baby isn't due for another couple of weeks. Nothing like waiting until the last minute.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S5LzUXsZLsI/AAAAAAAABSo/mQeOCoUPSng/s1600-h/it%27s+a+boy.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 313px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S5LzUXsZLsI/AAAAAAAABSo/mQeOCoUPSng/s400/it%27s+a+boy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445682430727499458" /></a>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780099929873041448noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8244736045717611189.post-68789783626292849192010-03-05T00:16:00.003-05:002010-03-05T00:25:39.531-05:00I wanted to share a couple of layouts that I did this week for <a href="http://scrapdoodlesblog.blogspot.com/">Scrapdoodles</a>, where I have the honor of being the coordinator for the store's very talented design team. If you are within driving distance of Fredericksburg VA, do not miss Scrapdoodles. In a world where we are losing so many of our precious scrapbook stores to the sagging economy, Scrapdoodles survives and thrives because of its sheer awesomeness. It is packed to the rafters with amazing product, and the staff there is knowledgeable and always helpful.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S5CVikVA8cI/AAAAAAAABSY/YiKmd7ouvAE/s1600-h/Spring-Bloom.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S5CVikVA8cI/AAAAAAAABSY/YiKmd7ouvAE/s400/Spring-Bloom.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445016370590839234" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S5CVjNDMKWI/AAAAAAAABSg/SeIKPYahgtw/s1600-h/characters.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 399px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S5CVjNDMKWI/AAAAAAAABSg/SeIKPYahgtw/s400/characters.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445016381521930594" /></a>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780099929873041448noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8244736045717611189.post-44657064226922571672010-02-07T23:29:00.002-05:002010-02-07T23:42:53.740-05:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S2-TYh9UysI/AAAAAAAABG0/eqVKL0G84J4/s1600-h/Hello-2010.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S2-TYh9UysI/AAAAAAAABG0/eqVKL0G84J4/s400/Hello-2010.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435725324901206722" /></a><br /><br />A little birdy brought me some Crate Paper goodies from CHA (not a new line, but one I didn't own), and I used it to document our low-key New Year's Eve celebration. It's a shame that amidst all these snow days I have only been able to crank out one layout. Not only do I have both kids home all day every day, my accounting class is kicking my butt. It just reminds me how much going back to work is going to cut into my leisure time.Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780099929873041448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8244736045717611189.post-55584841035457000752010-01-30T17:04:00.004-05:002010-01-30T18:08:22.760-05:00Someone's enjoying itMy kids are holed up in the house, each snuggled up to a computer or TV, while Ruby is outside having a ball with her BFF Bartlett. (I love the snack breaks.) And yes, I am filming this through the window because it is 18 ding dang degrees out there and I do not have a fur coat.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyRIL-SvvFHe0KwDBwjE04KX7-J8lJ9pMqzSWgUMa7gyr_9LvhQHL6qlkDjurp7IHas-eTW-egxWJuAppVMeQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S2S6BjGZuiI/AAAAAAAABFc/nnQ88NNvbbI/s1600-h/032.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S2S6BjGZuiI/AAAAAAAABFc/nnQ88NNvbbI/s400/032.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432671586280389154" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S2S6BEG_4II/AAAAAAAABFU/w-aMfCVJg5Q/s1600-h/023.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S2S6BEG_4II/AAAAAAAABFU/w-aMfCVJg5Q/s400/023.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432671577961390210" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S2S6AxaHQPI/AAAAAAAABFM/S7zfC6rp6GQ/s1600-h/013.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S2S6AxaHQPI/AAAAAAAABFM/S7zfC6rp6GQ/s400/013.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432671572941291762" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S2S6AeWyETI/AAAAAAAABFE/6kaA-pgsxeI/s1600-h/010.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S2S6AeWyETI/AAAAAAAABFE/6kaA-pgsxeI/s400/010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432671567827046706" /></a>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780099929873041448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8244736045717611189.post-63824549178666475322010-01-30T12:16:00.003-05:002010-01-30T13:31:14.842-05:00You have got to be kidding me<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S2R25ciLeTI/AAAAAAAABE8/M6gYl3lZiHY/s1600-h/IMG_0823.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S2R25ciLeTI/AAAAAAAABE8/M6gYl3lZiHY/s400/IMG_0823.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432597779799832882" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S2R25GIqIsI/AAAAAAAABE0/LkVACm8QFb0/s1600-h/014.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S2R25GIqIsI/AAAAAAAABE0/LkVACm8QFb0/s400/014.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432597773787210434" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S2R24lisDSI/AAAAAAAABEs/76FOtVpL2M8/s1600-h/017.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S2R24lisDSI/AAAAAAAABEs/76FOtVpL2M8/s400/017.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432597765038017826" /></a>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780099929873041448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8244736045717611189.post-25201621215133888772010-01-26T01:23:00.003-05:002010-01-26T02:00:20.044-05:00Today<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S16KktrzBSI/AAAAAAAABEE/eZwGAPcq6Kw/s1600-h/IMG_0819.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S16KktrzBSI/AAAAAAAABEE/eZwGAPcq6Kw/s400/IMG_0819.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430930563998614818" /></a><br /><br />So many little pieces of my day in this photo... I'm working on making valentine cards and I was planning on posting some on etsy for sale, but it's probably too close to Valentine's Day at this point. Maybe they'll be ready for next year. My kids feel like they're too old for homemade cards. There's also a tiny peek at a <a href="http://www.magisticalmemories.com/">Magistical Memories</a> chipboard album I'm playing with. I keep re-painting/misting/glittering it trying to get just the color combination I have in mind. The chipboard will likely be an inch thick by the time I get it just right.<br /><br />A highlight of my day (which started off with kids home from school because of widespread flash flooding in our area) was receiving a letter from Victor, the child I sponsor through Compassion. So exciting to get new photos of him and his whole family posing with the clothes and food bought with our Christmas gift. I love this kid from Togo who I've never met but who always draws fish or soccer balls or handbags on his letters to me.<br /><br />On top is part of the homework I spent 4 hours on today. I'm taking an accounting class at the community college and, silly me-- I thought it would be a piece of cake because I took several accounting classes back in college. After all, that was only 25 years ago. That can't be true, can it? Anyway, this class is kicking my butt in the first week! Tons of details for my feeble old brain to remember.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S16LsLRRttI/AAAAAAAABEM/lgdFVoOYTFk/s1600-h/IMG_0809.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S16LsLRRttI/AAAAAAAABEM/lgdFVoOYTFk/s400/IMG_0809.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430931791711155922" /></a><br /><br />I also took Annamarie to ice skating lessons, which she started a few weeks ago (she's in the pink coat). It was a beautiful day after the torrential rain stopped, and after skating we stopped into a gifty little shop on the Downtown Mall. Annamarie got a Pandora-style charm bracelet for Christmas and this shop carries Pandora charms, so we went in to take a look. To be honest, we don't shop down there on the Mall very often because the people working in the shops can be pretty snooty, especially with children. The man working in this store could not have been any nicer, and spent a long time patiently showing Annamarie the charms, even knowing that she was unlikely to buy any (they're pricey!). When it's time for her birthday, though, I will be back at that store because that man took a few extra minutes to be nice to me and my children. Isn't it a sad state of affairs that good customer service is something out of the ordinary enough to inspire a blog post?Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780099929873041448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8244736045717611189.post-19684382009475136822010-01-18T00:54:00.001-05:002010-01-18T00:54:00.229-05:00And also, layouts!I've had a backlog of layouts to scan since my scanner decided it wasn't compatible with Windows 7. Their differences were apparently irreconcilable and I had to get a new scanner, which is much faster and also has clean, adhesive- and glitter-free glass.<br /><br />I love, love the Life Stories line from My Mind's Eye.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S1PglVl-_aI/AAAAAAAABA4/h03WUcnang8/s1600-h/Thankful-09.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 394px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S1PglVl-_aI/AAAAAAAABA4/h03WUcnang8/s400/Thankful-09.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427928907967823266" /></a><br /><br />And also Pink Paislee's Amber Road collection.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S1PglPWMYqI/AAAAAAAABAw/gNle6VQ0CyQ/s1600-h/Home+10-09.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 390px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S1PglPWMYqI/AAAAAAAABAw/gNle6VQ0CyQ/s400/Home+10-09.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427928906290979490" /></a><br /><br />Using the last of this wonderful Chatterbox line from about two years ago. 2010's resolutions include using more stuff and buying less. Blah, it sounded more fun in my head.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S1Pgk6fk0mI/AAAAAAAABAo/6969eiyvL7s/s1600-h/Celebrating-Family.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 393px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S1Pgk6fk0mI/AAAAAAAABAo/6969eiyvL7s/s400/Celebrating-Family.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427928900693185122" /></a>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780099929873041448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8244736045717611189.post-13690106962520997522010-01-17T21:36:00.004-05:002010-01-17T22:19:37.217-05:00Playing catch-upI'm not going to even mention my lack of blogging. Just pretend like I've been here every day, providing you with interesting, inspiring, and funny content, and let's move on. Our holiday season was derailed a bit by the Blizzard of '09 and by our being trapped in a Maryland hotel for three nights. I'm blaming those events for the fact that I didn't get my cards mailed until December 26, and also for our totally forgetting that we had purchased (not cheap) tickets to see the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes show in Richmond. The show was on December 23rd, and I was so excited about it, having heard from friends that it is an amazing show. On the 27th, I was sitting at my mom's house and suddenly realized that we had forgotten to go. I am additionally going to blame that one on my obviously perimenopausal state, which--who knew?--apparently makes one dumb as a box of rocks. <br /><br />I didn't do a whole lot of homemade gifts this year, but I did make this house on a gift box, which was heavily inspired by <a href="http://lilybeanpaperie.typepad.com/lilybeans_paperie/2009/12/spit-spot.html">Melissa Phillips</a>. Mine is much simpler than hers, but I love it and the recipient seems to as well, or else she is just very kind and a good actress.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S1PPKnQUPQI/AAAAAAAABAI/WcRlnVjauso/s1600-h/pink-music-house.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S1PPKnQUPQI/AAAAAAAABAI/WcRlnVjauso/s400/pink-music-house.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427909757154639106" /></a><br /><br />Annamarie and I made several kinds of sweet and spicy nuts for teacher gifts, during which project I burned $30 worth of almonds to a crisp (see aforementioned box of rocks). We made candied pecans, chipotle honey peanuts, Mexi-cashews, and cajun spice pecans, and now my mouth is watering.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S1PPLvoXWcI/AAAAAAAABAg/_2WCg9Ypkdc/s1600-h/National+Harbor+001.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S1PPLvoXWcI/AAAAAAAABAg/_2WCg9Ypkdc/s400/National+Harbor+001.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427909776582859202" /></a><br /><br />Every year I intend to send handmade Christmas cards, and even though they were late getting in the mail, I actually did it this year! These cards are so sparkly and glittery in real life.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S1PPKyri0qI/AAAAAAAABAQ/brfkXLhGmjk/s1600-h/MME+joy.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 169px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S1PPKyri0qI/AAAAAAAABAQ/brfkXLhGmjk/s400/MME+joy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427909760221631138" /></a><br /><br />Last but not least, I promised to post a better photo of the banner and window frame I made. I haven't decided whether I am going to remove the banner and photos and redecorate the window, or whether I'll put it away as is for next Christmas.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S1PPLcbIuJI/AAAAAAAABAY/qxaSCfjZn4Q/s1600-h/Xmas+078.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 368px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/S1PPLcbIuJI/AAAAAAAABAY/qxaSCfjZn4Q/s400/Xmas+078.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427909771427100818" /></a>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780099929873041448noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8244736045717611189.post-84264060048189777192009-12-13T16:11:00.005-05:002009-12-14T00:42:43.843-05:00Nester's Tour of Homes<center><a href="http://thenester.com/"><img alt="Christmas Tour of Homes with The Nester" src="http://graphicallydesigning.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/ontour.png" title="Christmas Tour of Homes with The Nester"/></a></center><br />Hey, y'all! I thought I was getting a head start over here so I'd be all ready for Nester's Christmas Tour of Homes, but that tricky Nester started a day early. No telling whether I'll get any visitors being so far down the list, but if you made it this far, welcome and rest your tired touring feet...uh, fingers. <br /><br />Somehow we ended up with a cute little itty bitty tree this year, which is a result of either a) waiting until all the 7-8 foot trees are gone from the lot, b) letting people under 5 feet tall select the family tree, or c) both. Every time I walk past the living room I giggle ruefully, because it is such a wee little thing. It smells divine, though, and that's the most important thing to me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SyW9xjd7VdI/AAAAAAAAA-U/EHr7wWEj0DQ/s1600-h/Xmas+041.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SyW9xjd7VdI/AAAAAAAAA-U/EHr7wWEj0DQ/s400/Xmas+041.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414942786014893522" /></a><br /><br />This paper angel has topped our tree for 16 years, since my mom gave it to us the year we got married. Her halo is a little crooked, but heck, so is mine.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SyW9xUxVYNI/AAAAAAAAA-M/34tsbc-LUWU/s1600-h/Xmas+024.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SyW9xUxVYNI/AAAAAAAAA-M/34tsbc-LUWU/s400/Xmas+024.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414942782069760210" /></a><br /><br />This is one of several nativity sets that grace our living room. My mom bought it for about five bucks when the kids were small, and it has remained intact. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SyW9xNWczEI/AAAAAAAAA-E/HAd103JBekw/s1600-h/Xmas+042.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SyW9xNWczEI/AAAAAAAAA-E/HAd103JBekw/s400/Xmas+042.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414942780077952066" /></a><br /><br />Here's another one that sits on the coffee table. It was a gift from one of my Sunday School students years ago.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SyW9wV46taI/AAAAAAAAA90/mjdvrEe3lQw/s1600-h/Xmas+051.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SyW9wV46taI/AAAAAAAAA90/mjdvrEe3lQw/s400/Xmas+051.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414942765190133154" /></a><br /><br />This is the "main" nativity set, from Jim Shore's Heartwood Creek collection, which my hubby gave me a couple of years ago. I cannot tell a lie: This photo was taken last year, but it looks just the same this year minus the garland in the background.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SyXK2MMJb-I/AAAAAAAAA-c/g3vDlQAZeyo/s1600-h/Dec+08+153.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SyXK2MMJb-I/AAAAAAAAA-c/g3vDlQAZeyo/s400/Dec+08+153.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414957159316811746" /></a><br /><br />Our fireplace is gas and has no mantel, so for years we have hung our stockings from pushpins stuck into wood shims wedged under the TV. We are very fancy over here. This year I finally stuck some of those 3M Command hooks on the fireplace and the kids wanted to know where our "regular hangers" were. You get used to a certain standard of living and it's hard to let it go. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SyW9wn3QcSI/AAAAAAAAA98/AW81SX0DeRQ/s1600-h/Xmas+048.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SyW9wn3QcSI/AAAAAAAAA98/AW81SX0DeRQ/s400/Xmas+048.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414942770015007010" /></a><br /><br />Here's my Hoosier cabinet in the kitchen, stuffed full of Christmasy stuff. It's maybe a little busy, but it makes me happy when I eat my cereal.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SyW9TynBbeI/AAAAAAAAA9s/KiXIaleKcKc/s1600-h/Xmas+054.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 398px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SyW9TynBbeI/AAAAAAAAA9s/KiXIaleKcKc/s400/Xmas+054.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414942274683497954" /></a><br /><br />This is the living room area that's just inside the front door. It's mostly the same as last year, except for the ladder which I picked up recently at a cute antique store and the relocated cookie cutter garland which is no longer looking over Bethlehem. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SyW9TmY2kaI/AAAAAAAAA9k/Zz4XLxh6Hck/s1600-h/Xmas+055.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 346px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SyW9TmY2kaI/AAAAAAAAA9k/Zz4XLxh6Hck/s400/Xmas+055.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414942271402840482" /></a><br /><br />We are trying something new this year called "Not Spending More Money Than We Have," which has required me to not buy any new decorations. I did, however, buy $4.99 worth of mixed evergreens when we bought our tree, and I split them between a wooden caddy on the Hoosier and the two arrangements shown below. I like to think that Nester would be proud of my thriftiness and shopping my house for the other stuff. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SyW9TGGLuvI/AAAAAAAAA9c/TPYDlUk0G-g/s1600-h/Xmas+058.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 256px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SyW9TGGLuvI/AAAAAAAAA9c/TPYDlUk0G-g/s400/Xmas+058.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414942262734600946" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SyW9S_MbJdI/AAAAAAAAA9U/HufoxEB_PHg/s1600-h/Xmas+059.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SyW9S_MbJdI/AAAAAAAAA9U/HufoxEB_PHg/s400/Xmas+059.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414942260881728978" /></a><br /><br />And finally, I bought this window really cheap at the same antique store where I got the ladder, added a banner I made using scrapbook supplies, and several years of Christmas photos. This will hang on the wall as soon as I can track down some picture hanging wire. I'll take a better photo of it then too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SyW9SXhUDSI/AAAAAAAAA9M/rmUwBETWiqE/s1600-h/Xmas+065.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 368px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SyW9SXhUDSI/AAAAAAAAA9M/rmUwBETWiqE/s400/Xmas+065.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414942250231926050" /></a><br /><br />Merry Christmas, and thanks for stopping by!! I'm off to visit the other homes on the tour.Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780099929873041448noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8244736045717611189.post-37369518629984475892009-09-07T17:52:00.004-04:002009-11-29T01:07:22.358-05:00The agony of defeatThanks so much to all of you who voted for my layout in the Queen of Paradise contest. I didn't win, and didn't even make the top 4, but I was inspired to create several pages that I really like so it's all good. Thanks to the design team at <a href="http://www.croppinparadise.com">Croppin' Paradise</a> for hosting a really fun contest. I posted my first two challenge layouts earlier, so here are my submissions from rounds 3, 4, and 5.<br /><br />Challenge 3: Create a page about the person you'd want to be with if you were stranded on a desert island.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SqWCpj0cbvI/AAAAAAAAA8U/liN7zPEQVLs/s1600-h/shipwrecked.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 393px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SqWCpj0cbvI/AAAAAAAAA8U/liN7zPEQVLs/s400/shipwrecked.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378848980465381106" /></a><br /><br />Challenge 4: Scrap your favorite book.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SqWCpDeLLcI/AAAAAAAAA8M/ioJ2eIEljSU/s1600-h/My-favorite-book.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 392px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SqWCpDeLLcI/AAAAAAAAA8M/ioJ2eIEljSU/s400/My-favorite-book.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378848971782041026" /></a><br /><br />Challenge 5: Use only products more than six months old.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SqWCo7AAXFI/AAAAAAAAA8E/iz2y1I_kWiY/s1600-h/You%26Me-Thomas.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 395px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SqWCo7AAXFI/AAAAAAAAA8E/iz2y1I_kWiY/s400/You%26Me-Thomas.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378848969508019282" /></a>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780099929873041448noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8244736045717611189.post-18060386640088666482009-08-16T22:41:00.003-04:002009-08-16T23:39:09.788-04:00Help a sister outI'm visiting my mom and dad for a few days, so this will be a short post. Don't bother going to my house to rob it, because a) there is absolutely nothing worth your trouble and b) my husband and incredibly vicious dog are still home. <br /><br />Anyway, voting is now open for the round two challenge at Croppin Paradise. If you are so inclined, go vote for your favorite card. <a href="http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/1882332/">http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/1882332/</a> You don't have to register or anything. Thanks, and if you are lucky I will soon return with a video of my 2 year old nephew singing "Boom Boom Pow." <br /><br />Oh, and the voting is only open for 24 hours.Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780099929873041448noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8244736045717611189.post-31982243471569862942009-08-11T22:54:00.003-04:002009-11-29T01:07:57.755-05:00Queen of Paradise UpdateTonight over at <a href="http://www.croppinparadise.com/">Croppin Paradise</a> they announced the immunity winners from round two, and I didn't get immunity this time. Boo hoo, boo hoo. Tomorrow we'll find out what the next challenge will be, and those entries will be posted for voting on Sunday. <br /><br />For the round two challenge, we were shown a photo of a tropical beach scene and told to create a layout using at least two colors from the photo. I made these two and chose (with a little help from some friends) to submit the first one.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SoIyFtaE5eI/AAAAAAAAA7U/iIst9KM2quY/s1600-h/Lily-%26-A.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 393px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SoIyFtaE5eI/AAAAAAAAA7U/iIst9KM2quY/s400/Lily-%26-A.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368908779448755682" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SoIyFSoBoHI/AAAAAAAAA7M/iSoSEfCVQeY/s1600-h/I-Love-This-Boy.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 393px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SoIyFSoBoHI/AAAAAAAAA7M/iSoSEfCVQeY/s400/I-Love-This-Boy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368908772259504242" /></a>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780099929873041448noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8244736045717611189.post-57470454712775634112009-08-06T12:56:00.008-04:002009-08-06T19:02:10.916-04:00We will not be expecting an Oscar*Yesterday Thomas "graduated" from <a href="http://www.oaklandschool.net/">Oakland</a>, the small private school he has attended for the past two years. When I posted photos from the ceremony on my Facebook page, a couple of people commented that they couldn't believe it had been two years already, and we certainly share that feeling. It was no small decision to make the substantial financial commitment to give Thomas this opportunity, but we believe it is an investment that will pay off big in his future. The Oakland School's literature refers often to "the Oakland Way," and whatever that "way" is, it works. Thomas said yesterday that Oakland feels like a big family because students of varied ages all have the chance to really get to know one another, their teachers, and the staff. My bright but distractable and disorganized son is so much more confident and responsible than when he began at Oakland, and he has been loaded up with skills that should (fingers crossed) help him continue his success when he returns to public school in three weeks. He will start eighth grade working well above grade level.<br /><br />Each graduating student chooses a teacher to deliver a brief speech about them at the ceremony, and Thomas chose his main reading teacher, Jamie. This video is pretty awful, both because of where we were seated and the unspeakably dreadful lighting in the gym. (If we had any more money, I swear I'd give a donation earmarked for improving the gym lighting in the interest of saving the photographic sanity of future parents.) The audio is excellent, though.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx5QfekZnY3OpgyKYS06c3A-OWDNSRx0XkAMpJ8lZr3FRUXbwz9xnYMAOIe8GSfv2dsBltBQdriRV11rcFHHw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Before I show you a few more photos, I want you to know how bad it really was. This first one is straight out of the camera, and this was the BEST of the white balance options. (I know that only my few photography <strike>geek</strike> buff friends will care about this.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SntErxXzcoI/AAAAAAAAA7E/TaNu_2tE28o/s1600-h/IMG_588soc7.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SntErxXzcoI/AAAAAAAAA7E/TaNu_2tE28o/s400/IMG_588soc7.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366958899720319618" /></a><br /><br />So that should make my edited shots look pretty good by comparison. Here is Thomas listening to speeches.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SntC8Fus2II/AAAAAAAAA6k/FW68sIgh_cE/s1600-h/IMG_5887.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SntC8Fus2II/AAAAAAAAA6k/FW68sIgh_cE/s400/IMG_5887.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366956981039716482" /></a><br /><br />Receiving his certificate.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SntC8eWMATI/AAAAAAAAA6s/dkBOWl_-qaw/s1600-h/IMG_5889.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SntC8eWMATI/AAAAAAAAA6s/dkBOWl_-qaw/s400/IMG_5889.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366956987647787314" /></a><br /><br />Thomas and Oakland director Carol Williams.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SntC8vFEahI/AAAAAAAAA60/z3GRQ_sQWRg/s1600-h/IMG_5893.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SntC8vFEahI/AAAAAAAAA60/z3GRQ_sQWRg/s400/IMG_5893.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366956992139389458" /></a><br /><br />With his favorite teacher, Jamie. (Is that my little boy or a junior senator?)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SntC9L0LF7I/AAAAAAAAA68/SOne4ovikYg/s1600-h/IMG_5896.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SntC9L0LF7I/AAAAAAAAA68/SOne4ovikYg/s400/IMG_5896.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366956999853152178" /></a><br /><br />*The post title refers to the bad video, but it also reminds me that in the annual dorm awards, Thomas was voted "Most Likely to Be a Movie Star." Help me, Rhonda.Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780099929873041448noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8244736045717611189.post-135759124935449712009-08-04T23:05:00.004-04:002009-08-04T23:39:27.524-04:00I have the immunity idol!So I entered the Queen of Paradise contest at <a href="http://www.croppinparadise.com/">Croppin Paradise</a>. It's a Survivor-style contest where everyone participates in a challenge, and then the "locals" choose four participants to receive immunity for that round. Those who aren't granted immunity participate in a mini-challenge, and their projects are voted on by the general public, and the lowest vote-getters are eliminated. <br /><br />The first round's challenge was to create a layout about your favorite restaurant, and the round winners were announced tonight. I was lucky enough to be one of the four who received immunity, so I am safe until the next round. Can I get a "woohoo"? <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/Snj5RC___9I/AAAAAAAAA6c/mkTTTvozjbU/s1600-h/Dinner-in-Paradise.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 389px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/Snj5RC___9I/AAAAAAAAA6c/mkTTTvozjbU/s400/Dinner-in-Paradise.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366313027270344658" /></a><br /><br />I am very nervous about what will happen if I don't get immunity and have to move on to a voting round, because a) I don't have tons of online friends who will vote, and b) I am reluctant to browbeat those I do have. But for now, I am thrilled that my torch was not snuffed out.<br /><br />We went to Cheeseburger in Paradise Saturday night so that I could take photos for the layout, and my coaster had a picture of a drink called a Pink Flamingo Rita, with a pink plastic flamingo pick in it. Thinking that the pick would be a cute page accent, I said to the waiter on one of his visits, "Could I possibly have one of those pink flamingos?" As soon as he left, it occurred to me that he was, of course, going to bring me the drink. Never let it be said that I have not sacrificed for my craft.Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780099929873041448noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8244736045717611189.post-19546993655780939512009-08-04T13:16:00.006-04:002009-11-29T01:08:33.862-05:00School Days ScrappingLast week I picked up a cute school-themed paper pad by My Mind's Eye, and it's got me in school-scrapping mode. I am really ready for school to start, not because my kids are bored and driving me crazy, but because <span style="font-style:italic;">I</span> am bored and ready to get back into a routine. Both children have been at camp all day for weeks, and I miss them. I am at loose ends with nothing to do, and feeling a bit useless. I realize that this is a problem many moms would love to have, but I am ready for fall and back-to-school and church activities and an upcoming trip to Chicago with some wonderful friends. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SnhxI7JwXOI/AAAAAAAAA6U/SkHHjuGXbgo/s1600-h/Day-One--Fifth-Grade.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 389px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SnhxI7JwXOI/AAAAAAAAA6U/SkHHjuGXbgo/s400/Day-One--Fifth-Grade.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366163354143448290" /></a><br /><br />These papers have wonderful texture, spot embossing, and glitter, which makes even these very simple pages look a little bit fancier, and somehow sparkly school buses are perfect for Annamarie.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SnhxILbASXI/AAAAAAAAA6M/qPG6J0JKtN0/s1600-h/Day-One--Fifth-Grade-detail.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SnhxILbASXI/AAAAAAAAA6M/qPG6J0JKtN0/s400/Day-One--Fifth-Grade-detail.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366163341330893170" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SnhxH4vFzeI/AAAAAAAAA6E/WtHIe1e5xhg/s1600-h/Last-Day-4th-grade.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 389px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SnhxH4vFzeI/AAAAAAAAA6E/WtHIe1e5xhg/s400/Last-Day-4th-grade.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366163336314867170" /></a>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780099929873041448noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8244736045717611189.post-48108074405250477642009-07-31T00:54:00.000-04:002009-07-31T00:54:37.061-04:00Year of the RabbitWe live in a suburban neighborhood that is surrounded by wooded areas, so we are no strangers to wildlife. We have deer in our front and back yards fairly frequently, and Miss Ruby will just stand and watch them, wagging her tail humbly, as if to say, "I recognize that you are much bigger than I and have sharp hooves." She doesn't bark at the deer. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SnE16VVlkAI/AAAAAAAAA5c/By7PUm4TmZw/s1600-h/IMG_0501.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SnE16VVlkAI/AAAAAAAAA5c/By7PUm4TmZw/s400/IMG_0501.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364127907451342850" /></a><br /><br />The rabbits are another matter entirely. We have only rarely seen bunnies around here until this year, and they have been in our front yard almost daily this summer, feasting on the fine crop of tender clover we have cultivated in lieu of actual grass. (I was not hiding behind the bushes...I took this photo through the kitchen window. Maybe the shrubs need a little trimming? If you click on the photo you can see the cute little bunny.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SnE2hb2eIBI/AAAAAAAAA5s/7lls6B0iH90/s1600-h/july+09+115.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SnE2hb2eIBI/AAAAAAAAA5s/7lls6B0iH90/s400/july+09+115.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364128579214778386" /></a><br /><br />For some reason, the rabbits make Ruby totally lose her mind. Is it a breed thing (from one of the many unknown breeds in her questionable heritage)? Is it their sheer cheekiness as they sit there calmly chewing while she barks and whines and tries to claw her way through the kitchen window?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SnE2g67UGjI/AAAAAAAAA5k/iJrj5MDGEhk/s1600-h/july+09+116.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SnE2g67UGjI/AAAAAAAAA5k/iJrj5MDGEhk/s400/july+09+116.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364128570376722994" /></a><br /><br />All I know for sure is that it is exhausting work barking at those bunnies.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SnE3jGCiD1I/AAAAAAAAA50/KfWMr2XcoMM/s1600-h/july+09+112.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SnE3jGCiD1I/AAAAAAAAA50/KfWMr2XcoMM/s400/july+09+112.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364129707231154002" /></a>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780099929873041448noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8244736045717611189.post-713458029947611062009-07-30T16:25:00.001-04:002009-11-29T01:09:12.190-05:00Simple Vacation AlbumI have been working on an album for the big American Southwest vacation we took last year. Because we took so many photos, a couple thousand at least, I am using a very simple style with a lot of photos per page. For the title page, I printed out a map of our route that Ron created using Microsoft's Streets & Trips software. (Have I ever mentioned how that man loves to plan a trip? He is a trip-planning fool.)<br /><br />Here are the first few pages, created mostly with cardstock, scraps, and the Making Memories Slice and the Travel cartridge. I plan to add at least a little embellishment to the plainest pages, but right now I am all about getting the photos and journaling (done by Mr. Trip Planner on the laptop as we traveled!) down on the page. <br /><br /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="600" height="400" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fcmichener286%2Falbumid%2F5364099248182965569%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCMaVifjqo8TWXA%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780099929873041448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8244736045717611189.post-45794944533132231492009-07-30T00:14:00.006-04:002009-07-30T02:15:18.302-04:00So, is anyone else watching "More to Love" and willing to admit it? Those poor women...they were all lovely women but it was really painful to watch, and I'm just glad I'm already married so I won't have to resort to joining them next season. One poor girl felt compelled to tell the guy right off the bat that she'd never been on a date, one jumped into the pool in her evening gown much to everyone else's discomfort, and one calmed her nervousness with wayyyy too many free beverages. I was a bit disappointed to see that the guy apparently sent home the five largest girls. Way to make it not about the weight, dude.<br /><br />In other TV related news, next week is the season finale of So You Think You Can Dance, and I hate this part. The final six dancers are all so talented that I can't stand to think of any of them being eliminated. That said, someone clearly has to go home and I voted (multiple times) for everyone except Evan and Kayla. I can't express how much I love this show and how much I wish I could dance like they do, but if I could I would obviously have to overcome some boundary issues. By the end of the season, those dancers have been in very close proximity to the sweaty crotches of all of the other dancers. (Is "sweaty crotches" a search term that is going to get me a lot of weird visitors?) <br /><br />Um, let's see, what else? Yesterday we had the sunniest rainstorm I have ever seen. The sky was blue with almost no clouds, yet it was raining. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SnEqjZDgwSI/AAAAAAAAA40/HYEZWP1CSVg/s1600-h/july+09+145.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SnEqjZDgwSI/AAAAAAAAA40/HYEZWP1CSVg/s400/july+09+145.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364115418684375330" /></a><br /><br />I took that photo on the way to pick Annamarie up from "Colt Camp," where she gets to ride horses and swim and apparently, be hosed down with dirt on a daily basis. She has never been one of those kids who likes to get dirty--it is no secret that she is a girly girl--but she comes home absolutely filthy every day. In the photo below, she is wearing a regular t-shirt, but it has taken me eight days of camp to convince her that anything with rhinestones and/or sequins is overkill for camp. This was on the way home, and that is her stuffed horse <strike>Misty</strike> <strike>Stacey</strike> <strike>Beer</strike> whatever she's calling the poor floppy, broken-necked thing this week.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SnEs3PsuBOI/AAAAAAAAA48/3BJmqfUYhHc/s1600-h/july+09+147.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SnEs3PsuBOI/AAAAAAAAA48/3BJmqfUYhHc/s400/july+09+147.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364117958793495778" /></a><br /><br />And with scintillating news like that to report, you'll surely wonder why I am not posting every day.Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780099929873041448noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8244736045717611189.post-9717835505946565692009-07-17T18:12:00.005-04:002009-11-29T01:09:38.578-05:00I will never sleep tonightHI! HOW ARE YOU? I'M GOOD, REALLY GOOD. I was feeling pretty draggy before I went to pick Thomas up from summer camp for the weekend, and I thought a cup of hot cranberry tea might perk me up a little, and now I AM PERKY. "Bouncing off the walls" might not be an overstatement. We're getting ready to head out to dinner with a friend, but I thought I'd use some of this excess energy to post a couple of layouts. Maybe after we get home I'll have some more tea and whip out 15 or 16 pages before I crash.<br /><br />Many times I have considered signing up for a kit club but haven't actually bitten the bullet until Margie Romney-Aslett and her daughters announced the opening of <a href="http://www.thegirlsloft.com/kits.html">The Girls' Loft</a>. I love Margie's style and knew that I'd love the things she threw together, and I was not disappointed when I received my first package this week. Look at all of this pretty pink-and-greenness.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SmD81pA7mbI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/44Gr_gVLCBQ/s1600-h/july+09+119.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 220px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SmD81pA7mbI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/44Gr_gVLCBQ/s400/july+09+119.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359561555043916210" /></a><br /><br />Both of the pages below were done with the Girls' Loft kit. The first one is an older photo that I have scrapped before, but it's one of my favorites.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SmD82Nw2hRI/AAAAAAAAA2g/MCnKlgHPnAs/s1600-h/AM-%26-Shadow.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 389px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SmD82Nw2hRI/AAAAAAAAA2g/MCnKlgHPnAs/s400/AM-%26-Shadow.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359561564908586258" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SmD81_7YuoI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/3guobPlxrb8/s1600-h/St-Augustine.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_glksF-MEuB0/SmD81_7YuoI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/3guobPlxrb8/s400/St-Augustine.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359561561194674818" /></a>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780099929873041448noreply@blogger.com1