tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27671332217021173522024-03-05T10:39:05.702-08:00In KnotsAttempting a Handmade Life~ AKJ ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/06509064001406210098noreply@blogger.comBlogger578125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767133221702117352.post-61176006179398021462016-04-11T14:23:00.000-07:002016-04-11T14:23:33.242-07:00Opinion: Vote Because You CAN.<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>From time to time I like to stretch my article-writing muscles. I don't usually post them here, but have decided to share one every once in a while. Hope you enjoy!</i></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>When The Vote Doesn't Rock: Embracing Our Rights</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">by Ashley Johnson</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">More than ever this election season, I’m seeing my social media feeds light up with a mantra: “I don’t like anyone running, so I’m not going to vote”.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I think about those women in 1920, the Suffragettes, being drug away from rallies and sitting in a jail cell, all so I can get an envelope in the mail full of voting papers addressed to <i>me</i>, instead of just my husband. That’s a spur to my side. No one would take action to initiate a change for future generations if they knew the general consensus of that generation would be “…meh”.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.old-picture.com/womens-suffrage-index-003.htm">image</a></span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">And yet apathy reigns. Lots of industries prey on that apathetic hope; the weight-loss field, for one. People aren’t stupid. We know if we eat right and exercise, weight will come off. It’s a basic fact, and, let's face it, science. And yet pills and shakes and programs and surgeries are more popular than ever… Because we hope that the easy way out will pay off one of these times. We don’t want to put in the work, the time, the effort. We all want that neatly packaged quick fix. And really, is finding the next leader of our country any different? Tell me what you stand for, in a nutshell. If I agree, you get my vote. If I don’t, I’ll just stay here in my comfy bubble.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Those weight-loss success stories though, how do they begin? “I just got off the couch and started walking” or “I just decided to stop drinking soda”. A simple first step that made them better. And that’s how I have to think about my vote this time around. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Sometimes, choosing whomever you deem the lesser of two evils is the only way to move forward. Did the suffrage movement happen because women were passionately for or against James M. Cox? Did Warren Harding ignite the need to rally in the streets? No. But it was time - past time - for a move to be made. The fiery, fearless women who made it also made history. Who am I to look askance at that? Someone somewhere decided to tell her friend her thoughts on women getting the right to vote, and the step was taken.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3KLn94I-55E6IKpTwOkn8uHP_8MMcfGCUGi_7vUNmrwuJY7PGYTddRLk25SsS4D5xenHCKWCgyt1L2GDMgFrCP3ktlbq3UFI67RWzJy9u2Ce9CzKuva5fQkWIiZCWpP71K6MRg0bKA5k/s1600/women_unite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3KLn94I-55E6IKpTwOkn8uHP_8MMcfGCUGi_7vUNmrwuJY7PGYTddRLk25SsS4D5xenHCKWCgyt1L2GDMgFrCP3ktlbq3UFI67RWzJy9u2Ce9CzKuva5fQkWIiZCWpP71K6MRg0bKA5k/s640/women_unite.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.borgenmagazine.com/last-5-countries-to-grant-womens-suffrage/">image</a></span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Am I thrilled with my options this election year? Solidly, nope. But taking a step toward deciding who I like less is still a step. Casting my vote for that person, another. Right now, I have to rest in the knowledge that the steps might be hard to take, not exactly the direction I thought, and definitely not an easy choice, but at least I’m moving. I refuse to be a part of this movement of ‘meh’. For my country, for the women before me, and for myself. And I hope you do the same.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div>
~ AKJ ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/06509064001406210098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767133221702117352.post-32287334682931941512016-03-08T04:00:00.000-08:002016-03-09T11:27:04.131-08:00A Brand New Day*big deep breath*<br />
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I'm officially a stay at home mom. Exciting, terrifying, and a whole new world for me; someone who's had some sort of out-of-the-home job since high school summer breaks.<br />
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And lets be clear: Staying at home with a babe is a whole other kind of job. I love it though, this always-on-the-clock situation that I don't get paid for in money. The smiles, milestones, and TIME with my little guy are 150% worth the 24 hour shifts!<br />
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Luckily, even though I've left my 9-5 (or rather 6-2:30 in my case), I still have an outside gig to keep me in touch with adults. Remember when I told you about <a href="http://inknotswedding.blogspot.com/2015/07/facing-world-my-new-adventure.html">my new adventure</a> with Rodan + Fields skincare? Taking the role on while pregnant felt a little crazy at the time, but the products are so amazing and the opportunity so good, I knew it was the right choice.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPs_3gMoeFeOSqPlq-ZH3e4gn7KutZtU8SvrmWBhffV9yT7uOsSNd3crhjiW2m6zJG9zDd-QYbHCFbdV5tDZSblB7HiGmlIOFlqnIyw3gokwIxF0h1QlDwhle07IUlxe9JPRw_JhfFpd8/s1600/dreambuilder+quote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPs_3gMoeFeOSqPlq-ZH3e4gn7KutZtU8SvrmWBhffV9yT7uOsSNd3crhjiW2m6zJG9zDd-QYbHCFbdV5tDZSblB7HiGmlIOFlqnIyw3gokwIxF0h1QlDwhle07IUlxe9JPRw_JhfFpd8/s400/dreambuilder+quote.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
And happy to say I've been proven right many times over already. Becoming a R+F consultant has allowed me to connect with old friends and meet new, watch people gain confidence and joy through improved skin, and has played a role in allowing me this gift of staying home with Shep. I put in time when I want to, and can run my whole business from the palm of my hand. Heck, I made a phone call to my corporate office before taking my head off the pillow last week. It's an amazing business that is all mine, and fits into whatever nook or cranny I feel like finding.<br />
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Sounds intriguing, right? I'm actively hiring, and would love to know if you or someone you know wants in on this awesome gig. I'm surrounded by an incredible network of women and men who are supportive, excited, and ready to lend whatever kind of hand I need. There are even Registered Nurses on hand if I or a client have a specific question that requires deeper knowledge.<br />
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People are often skeptical of direct sales opportunities, but I'm here to tell you that this one is legit. I help people, I make friends, I get discounts, and I make money, all on my own schedule. What else is there to want?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpSu8hZSBLqaGzccCKlHmYTaZIE9Y6P-zdNAL5knQZt_dMMy5zHuRflNtA0Yskj-LyxLUp-Rz1WeiaUtKFZzjuHgCbISmOXhAihKIJP9iVF1TpF0bm4qw2fZ3pfkMR1MECP8S9Ep8pCI/s1600/corporate+ladder+r%252Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpSu8hZSBLqaGzccCKlHmYTaZIE9Y6P-zdNAL5knQZt_dMMy5zHuRflNtA0Yskj-LyxLUp-Rz1WeiaUtKFZzjuHgCbISmOXhAihKIJP9iVF1TpF0bm4qw2fZ3pfkMR1MECP8S9Ep8pCI/s400/corporate+ladder+r%252Bf.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
You know where to find me: RodanAndFieldsAshley@gmail.com<br />
Let's go!~ AKJ ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/06509064001406210098noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767133221702117352.post-25493340164159289342016-03-07T10:31:00.001-08:002016-03-07T11:34:04.217-08:00Random Round Up: On Being GentleWelp, here it is, a month after my last post, and I've clearly dropped the ball. Such is life with a babe, I guess. I've gone back and forth with being frustrated with myself for not making time to post, and realizing that some things are just gonna get out-prioritized, but truth be told: I miss this little corner of the world.<br />
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So, let's face facts: Posts may be sporadic at best, and content might be pretty mama-focused for a while, but I'm trying. And if that's my best right now, I'm going to try to be soft with myself and let that be okay.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No one doesn't look funny at the dentist.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Backyard camelia in full bloom already!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnabJ8r8hpSsrcDMKc0M00braC8l0UBp5PcqZwB3cMH3glUehE2Uz5mNaUbyyEF25g7WUrhtOvOHbodlqRMlbzVjjbHQ1QlIwPbVR88V8h25j7hR2ZVha6lbUGCqBfeS0-echrs5wPZ7A/s1600/R3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnabJ8r8hpSsrcDMKc0M00braC8l0UBp5PcqZwB3cMH3glUehE2Uz5mNaUbyyEF25g7WUrhtOvOHbodlqRMlbzVjjbHQ1QlIwPbVR88V8h25j7hR2ZVha6lbUGCqBfeS0-echrs5wPZ7A/s400/R3.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mirrors are super fun!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_yNegr5dQ2TUlW8S9HNYoMjZ6tnaOgBW62RS5D63qZVpWP0hfPWWvhqt6PRk9Vuu-NtbnQFfwWMv6gQuRZUifico9Pj8GirOIulSIARzFUkt5UY11KjyTJUR-IUqfqvX30FR5D7RGso/s1600/R4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_yNegr5dQ2TUlW8S9HNYoMjZ6tnaOgBW62RS5D63qZVpWP0hfPWWvhqt6PRk9Vuu-NtbnQFfwWMv6gQuRZUifico9Pj8GirOIulSIARzFUkt5UY11KjyTJUR-IUqfqvX30FR5D7RGso/s400/R4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty dinner fixin's</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigG4_dUhDN0GFtA5yTk3PGJZXLjBJ4tn26nirBbPm0DtDKGGJxcq4T9Q817oKblp6O1oohKgm6jflEgUlrohYMXCkI6-eZ1KU6bjK7FVmU9-4qwGhMROpo6FZYSvDALOZXm9s1akewcoo/s1600/R5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigG4_dUhDN0GFtA5yTk3PGJZXLjBJ4tn26nirBbPm0DtDKGGJxcq4T9Q817oKblp6O1oohKgm6jflEgUlrohYMXCkI6-eZ1KU6bjK7FVmU9-4qwGhMROpo6FZYSvDALOZXm9s1akewcoo/s400/R5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front yard cherry blossoms through a rain-soaked window.</td></tr>
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Three cheers for everyone giving it their best, whatever their best-right-now is! Get it, girl.~ AKJ ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/06509064001406210098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767133221702117352.post-15720645653864358462016-02-03T11:50:00.002-08:002016-02-03T11:50:58.314-08:00Random Round Up: Through The TreesYou know the old saying "can't see the forest for the trees"? It feels like I'm finally starting to see the world again: Taking pictures of things that aren't my son, venturing out into the world more and more. Refreshing!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijECEe8yVxzIFLxFYgUeMuSBnWj6JXJtjQRzSFsWXcB_IYnt1vTRTUVGWGdT8VwaJAE5Iia1EzUIXahivjAwzqeY33AcB8B-mWXBnmtT6Y0s816ZTypqYUHoCOAMjgx1iG5a7qznkZcB4/s1600/rr2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijECEe8yVxzIFLxFYgUeMuSBnWj6JXJtjQRzSFsWXcB_IYnt1vTRTUVGWGdT8VwaJAE5Iia1EzUIXahivjAwzqeY33AcB8B-mWXBnmtT6Y0s816ZTypqYUHoCOAMjgx1iG5a7qznkZcB4/s400/rr2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hate grocery shopping, but love the produce section.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWV_F54hiRhpyN7ODdohrGD5OpmxevOBH2wq-4xr9ryYrptiq-ID1iGkajjih2YgFrJ7tz26CSslGmbozuRWRHeY18BxRt335Rboxyk4HusQmT5VrLlrh6YADbMP4czdJI61XWMpXCNw/s1600/rr4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWV_F54hiRhpyN7ODdohrGD5OpmxevOBH2wq-4xr9ryYrptiq-ID1iGkajjih2YgFrJ7tz26CSslGmbozuRWRHeY18BxRt335Rboxyk4HusQmT5VrLlrh6YADbMP4czdJI61XWMpXCNw/s400/rr4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big shoes to fill... The pressure will get to ya! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQ1dXbA4qfNCRnURxJkY99_rosnCRuVUaKOi8rmBgTjciY6Ylpqv4GBkpQRr7ZdnTw6BuV74ligtDUh6LZ1HbFTrTT1vaQOMeTZ9tWgvxc1vZDbDKLsHrf88hNRxdo2d4_NGgbAipcK8/s1600/rr1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQ1dXbA4qfNCRnURxJkY99_rosnCRuVUaKOi8rmBgTjciY6Ylpqv4GBkpQRr7ZdnTw6BuV74ligtDUh6LZ1HbFTrTT1vaQOMeTZ9tWgvxc1vZDbDKLsHrf88hNRxdo2d4_NGgbAipcK8/s320/rr1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Obsessed with the 1-2 winter blasting punch of a once-weekly dose of Vitamin D and <br />a fool-proof sunless tanner. I asked my doc about the vitamins, and she asked for<br />ordering info; Now that's approval!<br /><a href="mailto:RodanAndFieldsAshley@gmail.com">RodanAndFieldsAshley@gmail.com</a> for more info.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGVFuZv5oJGw4Lsos_qN869tXoZn2ZD4VNiVMXk-WmQdc4Brce9LvY2YOWIMNAnt-Ue7INwKknDXbtybyRgjdnfPyVX2TymHkpJ_0Y-psVEkqYydOrDFcmxRSEsn-UTJqWe92gmT2ehZQ/s1600/rr5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGVFuZv5oJGw4Lsos_qN869tXoZn2ZD4VNiVMXk-WmQdc4Brce9LvY2YOWIMNAnt-Ue7INwKknDXbtybyRgjdnfPyVX2TymHkpJ_0Y-psVEkqYydOrDFcmxRSEsn-UTJqWe92gmT2ehZQ/s400/rr5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family Style</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHcKQMekdb6cb7BhdgOyF8-sD8gkjSKKsQODttQDHJN_BoXUbCSIUoLnVn7YpCvoTmAlZPjlXGz2WOraNRhoyMKneb-wKfJVKb5LJusjIDzmMoyxcnbVFVCWFk5p5PSgvpoPn0FsOzc4/s1600/rr3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHcKQMekdb6cb7BhdgOyF8-sD8gkjSKKsQODttQDHJN_BoXUbCSIUoLnVn7YpCvoTmAlZPjlXGz2WOraNRhoyMKneb-wKfJVKb5LJusjIDzmMoyxcnbVFVCWFk5p5PSgvpoPn0FsOzc4/s400/rr3.jpg" width="398" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Super Bowl isn't exactly how we Hawks fans hoped, but: GO <a href="http://www.peytonmanning.com/">PEYTON</a>!</td></tr>
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Have a great week! Hoping to deliver some more actual content soon.~ AKJ ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/06509064001406210098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767133221702117352.post-43173534980817559152016-01-25T13:18:00.002-08:002016-01-25T13:18:28.060-08:00Random Round Up: Wet & WonderfulTo say it was a bit damp around these parts this weekend would be putting it lightly. But the deluge didn't stop us - As Pacific Northwest lifers we know you can't let the rain keep you inside (because you'd nearly never get out). Bundled, covered, and out we went!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7YnaUUyoTHLOIaebdcQOL2PGEUB6BCNDlWyeU7s4A3AgJ0VY16XN5t1CiQcUfGetf8g65G_WNuxGveBnllkBKZHCgvIgzdOys0Cdzaf8n8po_3PF5N9asEy42BwDnd7fmsW9Hd5pi-Y8/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7YnaUUyoTHLOIaebdcQOL2PGEUB6BCNDlWyeU7s4A3AgJ0VY16XN5t1CiQcUfGetf8g65G_WNuxGveBnllkBKZHCgvIgzdOys0Cdzaf8n8po_3PF5N9asEy42BwDnd7fmsW9Hd5pi-Y8/s400/1.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This guy is doing great and really seems to like his new little bro.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04T7xTHul33E6TABBxxgI6g-Rc3YTws-Vemr-I4PGPUlnUSXHo1VCvwUSpaLFhXknNxCpDZmo5x89xiCELrmMb1-j6zAlRekpPg5z8A65CHxId6uqnO1E_EDOzxfkv4GZM_yCbEZV3_Q/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04T7xTHul33E6TABBxxgI6g-Rc3YTws-Vemr-I4PGPUlnUSXHo1VCvwUSpaLFhXknNxCpDZmo5x89xiCELrmMb1-j6zAlRekpPg5z8A65CHxId6uqnO1E_EDOzxfkv4GZM_yCbEZV3_Q/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my favorite places to walk, now even better since it's stroller-friendly.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7P2ATLs-YWm8ZzlkLaISdemXgVuUqMY0BjGAJU1134lF4mydxv4E0V1F8a0O5hkWINEhstrPSnesGS3aPfkvQODqu4Pnypj8tCQT2z_30AsDGKCPnk2f7laejjST8oRQp9F4ZjR23aso/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7P2ATLs-YWm8ZzlkLaISdemXgVuUqMY0BjGAJU1134lF4mydxv4E0V1F8a0O5hkWINEhstrPSnesGS3aPfkvQODqu4Pnypj8tCQT2z_30AsDGKCPnk2f7laejjST8oRQp9F4ZjR23aso/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little bit of wetland overflow...!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLLIXCtWEBJBB2lbYtAu1WEMGOIgeWJqqd5FXQRHmKr-AR7JP09svNM7Vt-Z_iLVvirr8CJsRMc0W3klbEouhuLxBpP2Sj6OWzNKqqhr_3Iz1tzjj4V1bPK1ro1piRTP3oJpyXWZ-JNs/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLLIXCtWEBJBB2lbYtAu1WEMGOIgeWJqqd5FXQRHmKr-AR7JP09svNM7Vt-Z_iLVvirr8CJsRMc0W3klbEouhuLxBpP2Sj6OWzNKqqhr_3Iz1tzjj4V1bPK1ro1piRTP3oJpyXWZ-JNs/s400/4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Washington's version of wildflowers.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSJ4edRY9hx9Npg-17gkYukReFOj2ktGZAjYedGUNB0717vyjT0DxGtMYYOLJiBYhdlM4Q-A0sIyLDXPWAJmI1gZcqmsdMrlFNY8tMAbjSC8UfH1mMU6wNEzrwqe5lNQRPQHLcX7UBe4/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSJ4edRY9hx9Npg-17gkYukReFOj2ktGZAjYedGUNB0717vyjT0DxGtMYYOLJiBYhdlM4Q-A0sIyLDXPWAJmI1gZcqmsdMrlFNY8tMAbjSC8UfH1mMU6wNEzrwqe5lNQRPQHLcX7UBe4/s400/5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking cover for a quick fam photo!</td></tr>
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I know you can't yet set your watch to my blog posts, but I'm working on the regularity. This kiddo has rocked my day to day timeline (no surprise there, I know), and it's taking me a hot second to grab my new normal and hang on.<br />
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Have a great week everybody!~ AKJ ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/06509064001406210098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767133221702117352.post-57259480171430235642016-01-11T04:00:00.000-08:002016-01-11T04:00:15.237-08:00Top 5 of 2015It seems unreal, but 2015 has already come and gone. And that means it's time once again to take a look back and see which posts drew the most attention last year. The annual top five, here we go!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Number One</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><a href="http://inknotswedding.blogspot.com/2015/07/facing-world-my-new-adventure.html">Facing the World - My New Gig!</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPlZxSiCDlIcDl14_nC3eaKNBJzm63JsXealen_VenH4zC1ICgaW6yHC2oeG0-WiqNGTrw8YKdPwVd6-L3u8jNA3pXOJ6V61dVqixkjEcpYiufUsxaAQzcP2xxHsxtPBA-rDtB_ZQp33g/s1600/r+and+f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPlZxSiCDlIcDl14_nC3eaKNBJzm63JsXealen_VenH4zC1ICgaW6yHC2oeG0-WiqNGTrw8YKdPwVd6-L3u8jNA3pXOJ6V61dVqixkjEcpYiufUsxaAQzcP2xxHsxtPBA-rDtB_ZQp33g/s400/r+and+f.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Woohoo! My exciting announcement that I'd taken a position as a consultant with skincare company Rodan + Fields had <i>far and away</i> the most hits. I haven't looked back for a second, and it's already been such a fun and gratifying ride only 6 months in! I'm growing my business by the day, and it's not only brought me residual income, but the fun of reconnecting with friends I haven't been regular with in years. If you - yeah, <b>you</b>! - have any interest in your skin, my products, or even joining me on this ride, give me a shout: <a href="mailto:RodanAndFieldsAshley@gmail.com">RodanAndFieldsAshley@gmail.com</a> I'm all ears!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Number Two</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><a href="http://inknotswedding.blogspot.com/2015/01/hawks-pox.html">Hawks Pox</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir69D5JqvrD1uDlvGPfJhTdpmQ_h_0GgsdcOzVs37dRJoXwW_Hph5aaeds6feQ89xsEfe1knNWEJW3SUS5eyXcfNaGBZXt9HB3vW7l5YNYXFzboh3dsaL7q9Uz6vGv4gKpkCTBZP4jgI8/s1600/hawkspox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir69D5JqvrD1uDlvGPfJhTdpmQ_h_0GgsdcOzVs37dRJoXwW_Hph5aaeds6feQ89xsEfe1knNWEJW3SUS5eyXcfNaGBZXt9HB3vW7l5YNYXFzboh3dsaL7q9Uz6vGv4gKpkCTBZP4jgI8/s400/hawkspox.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
The Seattle Seahawks went on quite a nail biting tear last year heading for their second Super Bowl, and this year is already shaping up to be no different (well, the nail biting portion anyway!). This post had all kinds of goodies, from the kind that taste delicious to the kind you can hang on the wall. Hoping I have to revisit it this February for the big game!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Number Three</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><a href="http://inknotswedding.blogspot.com/2015/03/random-round-up-land-of-az-revisited.html">The Land of AZ, Revisited</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOCiHd44c_chL_Bw71chFuFjPDAydRuPUYwuq5uJmXzf1lmcNKh11usm-bXLkyF5m-r4ysML1JnRHf3_5YZjwR90_q6dNq8ksgqxne7HBfaiZZqTl-RSdYnVPbDl7W2_o7i64DzDXudc4/s1600/grandcanyon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOCiHd44c_chL_Bw71chFuFjPDAydRuPUYwuq5uJmXzf1lmcNKh11usm-bXLkyF5m-r4ysML1JnRHf3_5YZjwR90_q6dNq8ksgqxne7HBfaiZZqTl-RSdYnVPbDl7W2_o7i64DzDXudc4/s400/grandcanyon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Oh, Arizona. It never fails to be a palm-tree-filled good time, and 2015's trip was made even better by hitting the Grand Canyon. This post was a bite-sized recap, followed up with a full who/what/where detail post <a href="http://inknotswedding.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-wizard-of-az.html">right here</a>.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Number Four</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><a href="http://inknotswedding.blogspot.com/2015/01/random-round-up-christmas-past.html">Christmas Past</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dvH1-4xfVXMakajSOG9ikdGLKKa-C4Qp0_YiAf18UJzVPwWL2wrW5IxV8U4dkG67H14PcHztv9aoH-T1Qm2WbJ49jWSZlC38i0YX3UBnW1tuoMILytQheToGmSyLU40glOV0imHH6ks/s1600/christmaspast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dvH1-4xfVXMakajSOG9ikdGLKKa-C4Qp0_YiAf18UJzVPwWL2wrW5IxV8U4dkG67H14PcHztv9aoH-T1Qm2WbJ49jWSZlC38i0YX3UBnW1tuoMILytQheToGmSyLU40glOV0imHH6ks/s400/christmaspast.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
There's always one surprise for me in what people view most, and this post was the one for last year. A few fun shots of our holiday time and nothing more, but maybe seeing some cozy holiday fun is happy for everyone.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Number Five</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><a href="http://inknotswedding.blogspot.com/2015/02/random-round-up-hangover.html">Hangover</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_E0VtGRfk_FqF7zplMUC0DL0puOeHnaKYGMcwx44ymxmLO4kkOHU7shMX6_-ldTdhU4WWc3M5jGQvePSfPqCJ8-eOhyPQfj8f5YCsKfycyD23sMWCXtT039PInCrvOsveq7ZJ274ZVVw/s1600/hangover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_E0VtGRfk_FqF7zplMUC0DL0puOeHnaKYGMcwx44ymxmLO4kkOHU7shMX6_-ldTdhU4WWc3M5jGQvePSfPqCJ8-eOhyPQfj8f5YCsKfycyD23sMWCXtT039PInCrvOsveq7ZJ274ZVVw/s400/hangover.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Not an appealing post title since, ew, who enjoys a hangover?! But bidding farewell to the Seahawks 2015 Super Bowl showing with a loss felt like just that. But as we said then, there's always next year... and here we are, maybe heading in the direction of The Big Show once again. Fingers crossed!<br />
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As always, I'm so grateful for each and every one of you who visit my little corner of this interweb world. For hanging through the photos, the trips, the projects, and the fundraising, I say thank you, thank you, thank you!<br />
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Can't wait to see what's happened this time next year.~ AKJ ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/06509064001406210098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767133221702117352.post-23752646649807298052016-01-07T04:00:00.000-08:002016-01-07T04:00:06.826-08:00Introducing...<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">Shepard - "Shep"</span></div>
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<i>8 pounds, 5 ounces</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji6zNwNcu0RMR2Rj5EsiCoMo9t9g0MqsyuTNjvQUYHc71uIBHJLAdCaQC_4_cOX59eL5GjVi7f8vlwB5Bo7Q2bJeiqFk682mF1NfSVC_JhQDb7kIqiemLu2Hiu5RgwbYqmXwZnOnHS2tM/s1600/shep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji6zNwNcu0RMR2Rj5EsiCoMo9t9g0MqsyuTNjvQUYHc71uIBHJLAdCaQC_4_cOX59eL5GjVi7f8vlwB5Bo7Q2bJeiqFk682mF1NfSVC_JhQDb7kIqiemLu2Hiu5RgwbYqmXwZnOnHS2tM/s400/shep.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
He was worth every minute of my 44 hour labor and our 4 days in the hospital. And let me tell you, that's saying something. Ha!<br />
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So much more to come on this little guy as we carry on on this new great adventure! What a ride already.<br />
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And for some good fun, here's Dad, Mom, and now Shep all around the 'brand new' time frame.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5G4xGM3zj72JvJ0RMlP8GWyoMtTGbqsS7EAtAmVZNgtFPrYCYkbeTBFb0da7UOYNqBvwABBCV5LkFH4GV2HejEheQMTg0rPQdoBDBUq61xMfqhzvfAQiZ00xZ_KpZVnGB1loXJu5R1A/s1600/FamilyBabes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5G4xGM3zj72JvJ0RMlP8GWyoMtTGbqsS7EAtAmVZNgtFPrYCYkbeTBFb0da7UOYNqBvwABBCV5LkFH4GV2HejEheQMTg0rPQdoBDBUq61xMfqhzvfAQiZ00xZ_KpZVnGB1loXJu5R1A/s640/FamilyBabes.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
I think he's a pretty good mix!<br />
<br />~ AKJ ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/06509064001406210098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767133221702117352.post-30210051838158357482016-01-05T11:14:00.002-08:002016-01-05T11:14:38.566-08:00The Land of the Living: I'm Back!Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year... I'm alive!<br />
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<a href="http://www.vacationcounts.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Calendar-Thanksgiving-Christmas-NewYears.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.vacationcounts.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Calendar-Thanksgiving-Christmas-NewYears.png" height="233" width="640" /></a></div>
This whole having a kid business is quite the game changer. I didn't plan on taking two months off from my beloved blog home, but welp, that's what happened.<br />
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I've got lots to share, beginning with the announcement of my pretty perfect son (Yes, I'm biased. No, I don't care.). Then of course we've got the annual Top 5 Posts of last year, a review of what happened with that guest-to-nursery room makeover, and a boatload of holiday activities.<br />
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I'm also toying with the idea of a new bi-weekly or monthly feature full of motherhood real talk. It won't be for the faint of heart, and I need to screw up some courage to put pen to paper ... er, fingers to keys... but I think it'll be not only interesting for me to look back on, but helpful for new moms and soon-to-be's as well. I'm pulling my inspiration and (hopefully) moxy from writer <a href="https://twitter.com/DCampoamor?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Danielle Campoamor</a>, a friend of my dear friend, and a balls-to-the-wall writer on a variety of topics.<br />
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So cheers to 2016 - Here we go!!~ AKJ ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/06509064001406210098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767133221702117352.post-30626830310155593612015-11-10T04:30:00.000-08:002015-11-10T04:30:01.450-08:00T1D Tuesday: Insulin Transplantation<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Every November I retire my Monday Random Round Up, and instead trot out T1D Tuesday for Type One Diabetes Awareness Month. </i></div>
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<i>You can learn about Juvenile Diabetes <a href="http://jdrf.org/">right here</a>, and even make a donation to further research <a href="https://www2.jdrf.org/site/Donation2?2376.donation=form1&df_id=2376">here</a>. </i></div>
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When you hear the word 'transplant', what do you think of? Heart? Liver? Plants, even? For most of us, something as abstract as insulin doesn't come to mind as a transplant option. What even IS it, exactly?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKBrZEXYy4ooO_y-IY5L_twv6aVbOaHybaMDIMIzIjwsanx1-42tpBnl0_8yvOgXqE5glS6AfZMZtjPoGEv9Uc7LIUq2TQa5TNVGje7o59VZ852fdxi87axUZniSg3-h0QO_mDZI5sdY/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-10-20+at+11.21.31+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKBrZEXYy4ooO_y-IY5L_twv6aVbOaHybaMDIMIzIjwsanx1-42tpBnl0_8yvOgXqE5glS6AfZMZtjPoGEv9Uc7LIUq2TQa5TNVGje7o59VZ852fdxi87axUZniSg3-h0QO_mDZI5sdY/s640/Screen+Shot+2015-10-20+at+11.21.31+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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And if that raises more questions than it answers:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlwAGkLw7Y-R0hILJ9hN83jGPJPAAkJ1r0Y_eQ9QeYya0I5KdCOcQm0iDvr4Pic7Z-RVgeACirQr5Emek-sOXi4cdyz-CY1MkKaCNvXfhEtbSaoo0FWovADvB9m6IesWSG4XEFIioWq3g/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-10-20+at+11.23.59+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlwAGkLw7Y-R0hILJ9hN83jGPJPAAkJ1r0Y_eQ9QeYya0I5KdCOcQm0iDvr4Pic7Z-RVgeACirQr5Emek-sOXi4cdyz-CY1MkKaCNvXfhEtbSaoo0FWovADvB9m6IesWSG4XEFIioWq3g/s400/Screen+Shot+2015-10-20+at+11.23.59+AM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
And who's smart enough to figure out how to transplant a hormone? Harvard, of course. We know that T1D is caused by the body attacking the beta cells in the pancreas. Well, a pack of brilliant Harvard minds has figured out how to produce those beta cells, making them theoretically available for manufacturing and transplantation.<br />
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What does that mean for T1D patients? NO. MORE. SHOTS.<br />
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A normal life, free from injections, with a body that can regulate it's own blood sugar. In a word: Amazing. In fact, a University College of London Professor of Regenerative Medicine, Chris Mason, is quoted as saying "If this scalable technology is proven to work in both the clinic and in the manufacturing facility the impact on the treatment of diabetes will be a medical game-changer on par with antibiotics and bacterial infections."<br />
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...Whoa.<br />
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I highly encourage you to <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/11151909/Cure-for-Type-1-diabetes-imminent-after-Harvard-stem-cell-breakthrough.html">read the whole article</a> on this research - It's pretty short and even in layman's terms so all us non-Harvard grads can understand. The implications are mind-blowing for the future of those with T1D. A cure is real and within reach. Let's spread the word and increase funding for amazing research like this!~ AKJ ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/06509064001406210098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767133221702117352.post-46160374764204398292015-11-03T04:30:00.000-08:002015-11-03T04:30:01.437-08:00T1D Tuesday: Get'cho Facts Straight<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Every November I retire my Monday Random Round Up, and instead trot out T1D Tuesday for Type One Diabetes Awareness Month. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>You can learn about Juvenile Diabetes <a href="http://jdrf.org/">right here</a>, and even make a donation to further research <a href="https://www2.jdrf.org/site/Donation2?2376.donation=form1&df_id=2376">here</a>. </i></div>
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Let's address something right off the bat this month: Type One Diabetes is not caused by what you eat or how much you exercise. Kids don't get it because they're parents are lazy, and adults don't get it because they're eating fast food.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Y_mYm3k9efDeniXXo5WDvAP3KOi_GYpG0-ETEuU6sOirmYURp5L_seXc81O-7JeN7a_scZ67NiRVMbKXiiTmHnEt5TDH-sQG633Sf250b3ubm0G44vArks-LB5PvfKOvFu9a1FoP7JM/s1600/diabetes+FACT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Y_mYm3k9efDeniXXo5WDvAP3KOi_GYpG0-ETEuU6sOirmYURp5L_seXc81O-7JeN7a_scZ67NiRVMbKXiiTmHnEt5TDH-sQG633Sf250b3ubm0G44vArks-LB5PvfKOvFu9a1FoP7JM/s400/diabetes+FACT.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Type One is a tricky business, and the pervasive belief that those diagnosed brought it on themselves somehow is a frustrating reality. It simply isn't true, and it hinders funding for research as people don't want to open their wallets for a 'self inflicted' disease. ARGH!!<br />
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So yes, this post is short and sweet. That makes it easy to pass on. We'll get into some mind-blowing developments in the march toward a cure next week, but for now, spread this word. This one, right here: Type One Diabetes is not a disease for the unhealthy, fat, lazy, uneducated, or sugar-addicted. It can hit anyone at any time. YOU, even. The faster we support finding a cure, the better it is for us all.~ AKJ ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/06509064001406210098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767133221702117352.post-69117066057770667462015-10-29T04:30:00.000-07:002015-10-29T04:30:01.281-07:00It's Important. REALLY Important.November is right around the corner, and that means it's <a href="http://jdrf.org/blog/2012/10/15/jdrf-is-true-blue-for-national-diabetes-awareness-month/">Type One Diabetes Awareness Month</a>! As you may recall, my Monday Random Round Up gets to rest for a month, and is instead replaced by T1D Tuesdays: A little spot where you can pop in, learn a little something, and spread the word.<br />
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The most incredible research is happening toward a cure, and I cannot wait to tell you about it (seriously, I save articles all year so I can tell you about 'em in November). You think the new Star Wars movie coming out is exciting? Ain't got nothin' on the real-life, special effects-type science happening in the T1D world.<br />
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And why do I care so much? In a word, Ella.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx787tS_dU3UJWySTVJ72Lo8ueaYXFz2W-hEVz6hTKoel5j_f96na1ry4rNqH_x5tpGMNKLHrtq6Kajya7Hy4S83DxW0RlP8u2gp7uL9weOTgy6Zhk3bcsfuYSu_DvWVnA4Zx-pHyUPTM/s1600/ella2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx787tS_dU3UJWySTVJ72Lo8ueaYXFz2W-hEVz6hTKoel5j_f96na1ry4rNqH_x5tpGMNKLHrtq6Kajya7Hy4S83DxW0RlP8u2gp7uL9weOTgy6Zhk3bcsfuYSu_DvWVnA4Zx-pHyUPTM/s400/ella2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
My cousin's daughter was diagnosed at age 7 with Type One, and it rocked our family's world. So much to take in, so much to learn, so many questions. Now, at age 10, Ella is a perfectly functional 4th grader: Sporty, fun, and brimming with life. She even takes charge of her own care, injecting herself with insulin and taking finger-prick sugar level readings without a flinch. She is a carb-calculating whiz, and educates other kiddos on her diagnoses with panache.<br />
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Basically, she's amazing. And why wouldn't I want to raise awareness to make her life - and that of so many others - better. T1D Tuesdays, comin' at'cha! Get excited.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://clinicalposters.com/anatomy/body/062.html">image</a></span></i></td></tr>
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<br />~ AKJ ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/06509064001406210098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767133221702117352.post-35697360334087016222015-10-26T13:13:00.000-07:002015-10-26T13:13:00.992-07:00Random Round Up: Waiting GameIf you know me, you know I'm not very graceful when it comes to handling 'go-with-the-flow' kinds of situations. So waiting around for this lil' babe... Tough. <div>
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So, a few snaps of my pastimes of late:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXhnBU-YoaNFBXFSW5jl2d9MBO8jSJEiiW8_MFeCmblvMH_BD_AbaQoEodhdIiCs7mm5qwt55yPy2qbWAvn-vtFaRrkL332oYITt1SR4pOKtjA03PBstJ0Wo2HZqECUYDH1cYVPVwq3jI/s1600/RR1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXhnBU-YoaNFBXFSW5jl2d9MBO8jSJEiiW8_MFeCmblvMH_BD_AbaQoEodhdIiCs7mm5qwt55yPy2qbWAvn-vtFaRrkL332oYITt1SR4pOKtjA03PBstJ0Wo2HZqECUYDH1cYVPVwq3jI/s400/RR1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A happy hour date, complete with Skookie (skillet cookie) for desert. YUM.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkllsci_JFxsnsxgiBLeLkhJ49fLjv8vAQfqXJgedhYEW1-Vd-mDGtj0XE2-Rv0-L7-9cfu4BK0GTHWTBZhkdo8e2oNF4GccKx6GSpyl35fzm7njtjUPUaWm797veIH6H31gsodukJ7pM/s1600/RR2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkllsci_JFxsnsxgiBLeLkhJ49fLjv8vAQfqXJgedhYEW1-Vd-mDGtj0XE2-Rv0-L7-9cfu4BK0GTHWTBZhkdo8e2oNF4GccKx6GSpyl35fzm7njtjUPUaWm797veIH6H31gsodukJ7pM/s400/RR2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So thankful I have a buddy at home.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgm47PA8Sj64wd-LGI64KxpBzXKl6QvFj8Ko6DvGwRV-YjcMhCLkfJocD2MCkVGjzUD9cTEf2baKfwF-qozZUhR4GPH6caWn6KXMoXOKN9chBHO7pDOq0y153meLTN5Get-IDbUWpxIMI/s1600/RR3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgm47PA8Sj64wd-LGI64KxpBzXKl6QvFj8Ko6DvGwRV-YjcMhCLkfJocD2MCkVGjzUD9cTEf2baKfwF-qozZUhR4GPH6caWn6KXMoXOKN9chBHO7pDOq0y153meLTN5Get-IDbUWpxIMI/s400/RR3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best $10 I ever spent - An adult coloring book! I found mine on Amazon, there are tons.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-cMUvSpZDTryIRBJQv2cTBLy2grAMCHFi1LmPx3b2FQZIy0RCmE5LRFV0cAhJTRd0jjAb9iFmSTP7itLMRgVRfc4ZfG4-i0vT2XPKP6JROTws8aXm73vuZt94kQy72m5Jxme22X7l7s/s1600/RR4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-cMUvSpZDTryIRBJQv2cTBLy2grAMCHFi1LmPx3b2FQZIy0RCmE5LRFV0cAhJTRd0jjAb9iFmSTP7itLMRgVRfc4ZfG4-i0vT2XPKP6JROTws8aXm73vuZt94kQy72m5Jxme22X7l7s/s400/RR4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finishing touches are finally done on the nursery, including this laundry hamper.<br />I plan to do a room reveal once he's here since a few decorations have his name incorporated.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8gi1lZkVTr7EljaK_YmUleLjhZbhcg4hEzfo9Xj1TDyLaLCwtckq6GnNZUWtpPkk_kVFQ-djTMUOnZqvS5ic8376dCPxBwC4M_f3aZNKFSWZpBVySJXg0oQWl3uRrypFaXTHHvRQRJMk/s1600/RR5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8gi1lZkVTr7EljaK_YmUleLjhZbhcg4hEzfo9Xj1TDyLaLCwtckq6GnNZUWtpPkk_kVFQ-djTMUOnZqvS5ic8376dCPxBwC4M_f3aZNKFSWZpBVySJXg0oQWl3uRrypFaXTHHvRQRJMk/s400/RR5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We're going for daily walks - C'mon kiddo!!</td></tr>
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Hope things are going smoothly for you guys! I'm crossing my fingers for a meet-n-greet with our new little guy SOON.</div>
~ AKJ ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/06509064001406210098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767133221702117352.post-4089253372116661612015-10-19T05:00:00.000-07:002015-10-19T05:00:08.657-07:00Random Round Up: Ready-ishOfficially on maternity leave, I'm trying to tie up loose ends around the house and put my feet up when I feel like it... Which, not gonna lie, that's pretty often. Striking that balance is still coming slowly, but I am sort of starting to get the hang of it.<br />
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Right before life changes again, eh? Welp, better late than never I suppose. A few recent snaps:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzDvSF4hQ2MsGKTgfk8R3oLEcmnO8UaQOxkAc7OOrtxtvDBkQXGeYm-MUB7Y9W-j7ePekArd3iia9uYsUNUGpTBkValud0DxtnCYyGj_KMkHTNzM2uemFx9Pz6VtcLCljJG_gLWANGfg/s1600/RR1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzDvSF4hQ2MsGKTgfk8R3oLEcmnO8UaQOxkAc7OOrtxtvDBkQXGeYm-MUB7Y9W-j7ePekArd3iia9uYsUNUGpTBkValud0DxtnCYyGj_KMkHTNzM2uemFx9Pz6VtcLCljJG_gLWANGfg/s400/RR1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A truly autumnal Washington morning - Not black and white, just foggy (and early).</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first day of maternity leave: Messy top knot and a celebratory Starbucks run.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrlJ1KNT6yN6OnY9xn4h7s2-4hakIfDq776wDAgbaWzm9Msv_GiNm1AfYfVTviB-MjCkFBh2_SgGY9K0T4rp_sY29zVvbqJtQ_rLSlF0ZuuUm7QAzLyig8F2PD2c6GJQrDLAm2asLrCc/s1600/RR3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrlJ1KNT6yN6OnY9xn4h7s2-4hakIfDq776wDAgbaWzm9Msv_GiNm1AfYfVTviB-MjCkFBh2_SgGY9K0T4rp_sY29zVvbqJtQ_rLSlF0ZuuUm7QAzLyig8F2PD2c6GJQrDLAm2asLrCc/s400/RR3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My lunch date.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQJtPH4EVKh3pczOPaou1TUg2qgixFrGHj1UDnbwBVXPdKSmFsVWhdFQXe0M7GMxDi-TDeDGKnqtRHFSMZldE_MOWU2LykG0WJnWwnxE4znmmwthBCj3heQimfwzTCnhnqmVur2hg6ZQ/s1600/RR4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQJtPH4EVKh3pczOPaou1TUg2qgixFrGHj1UDnbwBVXPdKSmFsVWhdFQXe0M7GMxDi-TDeDGKnqtRHFSMZldE_MOWU2LykG0WJnWwnxE4znmmwthBCj3heQimfwzTCnhnqmVur2hg6ZQ/s400/RR4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our annual try-all-the-pumpkin-donuts-at-<a href="http://www.frostology.com/menu/">Frost</a> day! YUM.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcgJhH2k6Zo9CzpeCEiq4IUn5zRc8zO1dgNB5Kfj8un1lWVVs8nnFO3mIcfqtTQYAtu7otJfRnWnCQaG-CT1f6kSq8XUudXyUoTXfkSEhej7MmHK2lgSFP-lTjsfOTyH0gr-VuBQyHeM/s1600/RR5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcgJhH2k6Zo9CzpeCEiq4IUn5zRc8zO1dgNB5Kfj8un1lWVVs8nnFO3mIcfqtTQYAtu7otJfRnWnCQaG-CT1f6kSq8XUudXyUoTXfkSEhej7MmHK2lgSFP-lTjsfOTyH0gr-VuBQyHeM/s400/RR5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready for the coming holidays? With under 70 days 'til Christmas a 60 day<br />Rodan + Fields product regimen will have you photo-ready for those parties and people.<br /><a href="http://ashleykjohnson.myrandf.com/">ashleykjohnson.myrandf.com</a><br />RodanAndFieldsAshley@gmail.com</td></tr>
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The countdown is on to Baby J 'round here, so don't be surprised if things are a little quiet. Nope, that doesn't necessarily mean he's here, but probably more that I'm just trying to finish his room and tame the dog hair situation before he shows up. Happy week ahead, guys!~ AKJ ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/06509064001406210098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767133221702117352.post-20951612096557925072015-10-12T08:27:00.000-07:002015-10-12T08:27:08.279-07:00Random Round Up: Slowing DownOkay... Trying to slow down is probably more of a truth. With only a couple weeks to go until Baby J's arrival, I get tired so much more easily but it seems like I have more to do than ever. How do you find the balance??<br />
<br />
That's not rhetorical guys, I really want to know. Help a girl out. "Just take it slow" doesn't really work for me and my constant need to close out to-do lists. <br />
<br />
Anywhoo, here's what happened - along with a lot of couch time and napping - this weekend:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcj0Zn-IOQr6ykk2lEQEIA6Gzja9nO-pLFjvMOIIX-NYrN8pCWMXlbJZYGAKG1gAIe7gxbx0UMc0T03U8Y8QM68mM-0RqPGSuSujj-RZl7TjfXjQY49tr0weIdXOscxaFjBXjUm0GU-tU/s1600/IMG_7827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcj0Zn-IOQr6ykk2lEQEIA6Gzja9nO-pLFjvMOIIX-NYrN8pCWMXlbJZYGAKG1gAIe7gxbx0UMc0T03U8Y8QM68mM-0RqPGSuSujj-RZl7TjfXjQY49tr0weIdXOscxaFjBXjUm0GU-tU/s400/IMG_7827.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The leaves in my neighborhood are just starting to turn. Love it!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNnTbBeerTM2FHC-7NQWGxjXxMFGaOCzFS25CTn52aeMQCKjLldxcIhkfJRpN832p89HUSE2lZiUPcBhZ_1FxkGuFluU-mPTq6xdnA8PS0Ejsiu7E7_GLI6INlSrag2E8m4q6NB5b3Fo/s1600/IMG_7839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNnTbBeerTM2FHC-7NQWGxjXxMFGaOCzFS25CTn52aeMQCKjLldxcIhkfJRpN832p89HUSE2lZiUPcBhZ_1FxkGuFluU-mPTq6xdnA8PS0Ejsiu7E7_GLI6INlSrag2E8m4q6NB5b3Fo/s400/IMG_7839.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A co-worker and her mom made a quilt for Baby J, amazing!!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-7V-QfRixzmEy_8f44Bw0BNAB-R8TxGwgNXXEkYpEfIkO_jYXvc3cl-FYI5i4-WpD81ZUENAM2FrsYiRqlNZf2B6gR5mv2fU1z0RpBTn-hks70qfNto5zlPywzlsEdUCi_WYdL4rx1U/s1600/IMG_7841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-7V-QfRixzmEy_8f44Bw0BNAB-R8TxGwgNXXEkYpEfIkO_jYXvc3cl-FYI5i4-WpD81ZUENAM2FrsYiRqlNZf2B6gR5mv2fU1z0RpBTn-hks70qfNto5zlPywzlsEdUCi_WYdL4rx1U/s400/IMG_7841.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Got all the clothes put away this weekend... Whoa.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_K4ZIc_sYISRL-28yFxoBJosKQed_fri5CYNWX173_slmnYgAR_U_lLq4TaCASNHX_fihUOtxluLnPzZFxohjwADXSVUo7fYeYI_a5inrv6jqm4zP9Pmllys_xWn7mBr4R-k9BKdeGzg/s1600/IMG_7851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_K4ZIc_sYISRL-28yFxoBJosKQed_fri5CYNWX173_slmnYgAR_U_lLq4TaCASNHX_fihUOtxluLnPzZFxohjwADXSVUo7fYeYI_a5inrv6jqm4zP9Pmllys_xWn7mBr4R-k9BKdeGzg/s400/IMG_7851.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My house may still be in relative shambles, but at least a few of my plants will <br />make it through the winter now. <br />I took a pre-nap to gear up and a then needed a couch sesh to recover. Ha!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHIZov_dtppvA4aLHi4OsgFuO6KfZ2ODZ8n0bK7CZGaXF0ZY-z-ZyXl7Q-ZPYrEO3G6ZL421simhfo2F3_aU8i50jqR14kBuWad2FLHwFWQL0B_HVwjS-kHpP6IczRhyphenhyphenNNvxb36_UCwc/s1600/IMG_7857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHIZov_dtppvA4aLHi4OsgFuO6KfZ2ODZ8n0bK7CZGaXF0ZY-z-ZyXl7Q-ZPYrEO3G6ZL421simhfo2F3_aU8i50jqR14kBuWad2FLHwFWQL0B_HVwjS-kHpP6IczRhyphenhyphenNNvxb36_UCwc/s400/IMG_7857.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cutting back the backyard for colder temps forced me to trim the last of the <br />hydrangea blooms. So pretty!</td></tr>
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Happy Monday, y'all!~ AKJ ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/06509064001406210098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767133221702117352.post-2092390501838461892015-10-08T09:17:00.000-07:002015-10-08T09:17:33.024-07:00Showered With LoveIn a word: Amazing. My baby shower, hosted by my Mother-In-Law and coordinated with my mom and two best buddies, was this past weekend, and I can't think of a word other than 'amazing' to sum it up. So much love, so much time invested, and so much gratefulness from me. Words can't do it justice, so enjoy these pics!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmSIlIY8u8nD5Jt-EAodA9cmwHxFpdj8MZukpbks4vL8goxwOB87UNb7GbYIAOQ6VGHEwhTD05HaObBQgfyOD0_DW7c5hS4jKU7xcGWfR_DMtor8yl_lY3v1x7Gru1_3mzxKeT5wu9Uw/s1600/IMG_7704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmSIlIY8u8nD5Jt-EAodA9cmwHxFpdj8MZukpbks4vL8goxwOB87UNb7GbYIAOQ6VGHEwhTD05HaObBQgfyOD0_DW7c5hS4jKU7xcGWfR_DMtor8yl_lY3v1x7Gru1_3mzxKeT5wu9Uw/s400/IMG_7704.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My MiL's amazing friend loaned out this 115 year old family heirloom crib<br />to hold gifts by the front door. So gorgeous!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0TPjhYximAtdO6NhVq31n3_h2sbRqAgkjvsjM8FhFC7hgSK50spj_9jZvxLmxG1Oey0IPheNotzGiiktu_E6IuFuEQ4qvkbpxDmJ7RXQXuOy5VYd7iORWCzKntv-tbLpFUZ8o2HIZBM/s1600/IMG_7706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0TPjhYximAtdO6NhVq31n3_h2sbRqAgkjvsjM8FhFC7hgSK50spj_9jZvxLmxG1Oey0IPheNotzGiiktu_E6IuFuEQ4qvkbpxDmJ7RXQXuOy5VYd7iORWCzKntv-tbLpFUZ8o2HIZBM/s400/IMG_7706.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My parents worked their magic on creating this diaper tricycle. So cute!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZpM3bA1LhFO3-FiNF0auAPaSWNuuSxfhfsGQTUX_R-7bRxSdrGMA2_aSdPZDuFQ4qxm9QOX3gm18GTM5-ZBIrNOr4nH_O0HKJoZrNrUBf9f-HrsP_OCCGuLCnpSsjgCjuRHevRjyaaGM/s1600/IMG_7707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZpM3bA1LhFO3-FiNF0auAPaSWNuuSxfhfsGQTUX_R-7bRxSdrGMA2_aSdPZDuFQ4qxm9QOX3gm18GTM5-ZBIrNOr4nH_O0HKJoZrNrUBf9f-HrsP_OCCGuLCnpSsjgCjuRHevRjyaaGM/s400/IMG_7707.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every detail accounted for - Check out those arrow-printed clothespins!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQVSD6QglruS0u9Vg3F5cHY8N_Ol83nJVbcoUsriRWrrp-Wfa0SQ7lb6tegFoksPKxIdiRUzbIYOwKUPBnkHvfNV5eo9DskoYRkT_Sku3lXkAFpv0GEOn5ln3chMYkXjtEqR-Od0WvXQ/s1600/IMG_7709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQVSD6QglruS0u9Vg3F5cHY8N_Ol83nJVbcoUsriRWrrp-Wfa0SQ7lb6tegFoksPKxIdiRUzbIYOwKUPBnkHvfNV5eo9DskoYRkT_Sku3lXkAFpv0GEOn5ln3chMYkXjtEqR-Od0WvXQ/s400/IMG_7709.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweetly framed invite, complete with pretty little accoutrements. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVUONkc4z8jX2ICfRStO9swkEDmtnRmk6axkixMNKeEIY9HeLyLPFvjfRJnKQSVR4jwVFf6IwrhddiKp5OKhrFDjpnBcJMihpj92rNds5Avl9NKrgj2P2B6_Ry9pNAWydnqfEd0s4SSU/s1600/IMG_7710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVUONkc4z8jX2ICfRStO9swkEDmtnRmk6axkixMNKeEIY9HeLyLPFvjfRJnKQSVR4jwVFf6IwrhddiKp5OKhrFDjpnBcJMihpj92rNds5Avl9NKrgj2P2B6_Ry9pNAWydnqfEd0s4SSU/s400/IMG_7710.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We played The Price Is Right... I lost after not even knowing the price of my own <br />Starbucks drink! D'oh! Haha</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDcb1VCFdI0Ee-Z1Va49RuYMqq8loDz8-ejpPBfkRU20gj7GJlZCF1kEbu-P_c_GZ_yqYaILqNXQSNUJu2b3J1gweCX72JMbvthlySqZb1-npQpn9LH_ecS3AR4v82TwnRxNKkoT1s5RA/s1600/IMG_7718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDcb1VCFdI0Ee-Z1Va49RuYMqq8loDz8-ejpPBfkRU20gj7GJlZCF1kEbu-P_c_GZ_yqYaILqNXQSNUJu2b3J1gweCX72JMbvthlySqZb1-npQpn9LH_ecS3AR4v82TwnRxNKkoT1s5RA/s400/IMG_7718.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gorgeous garden flowers on every surface.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeETy5SbaeSu57Nl0Uv1-Xk1MTh5W3WAKmu3hFFnigVMIGIE5O-6LkXfbyQQJZqb0ZlrLfO4018pEsXMppduppxb5xoC8IOXWe6SMtg3RHcecDL5okc-mx-kp0uH8mh71aPVuP0SDM8AY/s1600/IMG_7732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeETy5SbaeSu57Nl0Uv1-Xk1MTh5W3WAKmu3hFFnigVMIGIE5O-6LkXfbyQQJZqb0ZlrLfO4018pEsXMppduppxb5xoC8IOXWe6SMtg3RHcecDL5okc-mx-kp0uH8mh71aPVuP0SDM8AY/s400/IMG_7732.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My bestie from childhood, Rebecca. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJItPJnp_xxTkLtkpwSifYdC4TBThHq97gq6qo7eB8nXL1ns3pj1hjYOTfGhwG0wFCbvzDL_o-7XY9zvau7BOX_BxGNNO5JUm2MxCzLIDgRMH5REo5r0P9HkVaVKoUIZZrfS1m88GhgLQ/s1600/IMG_7722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJItPJnp_xxTkLtkpwSifYdC4TBThHq97gq6qo7eB8nXL1ns3pj1hjYOTfGhwG0wFCbvzDL_o-7XY9zvau7BOX_BxGNNO5JUm2MxCzLIDgRMH5REo5r0P9HkVaVKoUIZZrfS1m88GhgLQ/s400/IMG_7722.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seriously, EVERY detail. See the tiny blue pacifiers?!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtkwgBy-U5rrdyzhIQERr4aSR_oV7_x6GtKAxiXp4Z7qLWqd1Br9zJGGL22SCz2yd3XomONxieiNvysWv1x-BPoogo36-m7J5YUCG5GzZeovRQNEGGp47yHAjf4QRowqieNk9VT453sA/s1600/IMG_7724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtkwgBy-U5rrdyzhIQERr4aSR_oV7_x6GtKAxiXp4Z7qLWqd1Br9zJGGL22SCz2yd3XomONxieiNvysWv1x-BPoogo36-m7J5YUCG5GzZeovRQNEGGp47yHAjf4QRowqieNk9VT453sA/s400/IMG_7724.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mom and her neighbor whipped up the most delicious cupcakes<br />in three different flavors: Raspberry, orange, and chocolate coconut. YUM.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZ6tUjxejfBjINv1wGI2EKZrs4PrgbSN9H8lEws6_HkD1_Kpi4Q8v-tJerjk48qzq0C6B0k-GOpD6ASKuSC0oBEAgNjVr2A_l7QuFW2rDwkIxxgV_KJIDF7QAy8lEHmksbZu7X6f1_bA/s1600/IMG_7727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZ6tUjxejfBjINv1wGI2EKZrs4PrgbSN9H8lEws6_HkD1_Kpi4Q8v-tJerjk48qzq0C6B0k-GOpD6ASKuSC0oBEAgNjVr2A_l7QuFW2rDwkIxxgV_KJIDF7QAy8lEHmksbZu7X6f1_bA/s400/IMG_7727.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little candy favors all dressed up like onesies.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUHwhd6gmsVd8kyt05DdcOjqOufGcroZHOS3IziPCfaj6TPfqWP3Y1Gf3ENjsdxkSTM4zo8xKeInDBi-Smi4Ne8QmXff7_UAP66pzxb8tL27h-rNNVwXifI_V_0ozaHLv98ysExQz48Y/s1600/IMG_7745%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUHwhd6gmsVd8kyt05DdcOjqOufGcroZHOS3IziPCfaj6TPfqWP3Y1Gf3ENjsdxkSTM4zo8xKeInDBi-Smi4Ne8QmXff7_UAP66pzxb8tL27h-rNNVwXifI_V_0ozaHLv98ysExQz48Y/s400/IMG_7745%25281%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My girls. Fifteen years of friendship and counting!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTHY-qHzzAMlcgJEy4Z8LfyEkIIFLe7HZGpKjeLH0ERFwZzwHMyEA-RNZv0jW9gKiJG4l9xyIcVbBm-g8XfsG-gyAbC57dUfAO3DyhrtCsJnVKd8Vl2Urf5p_DISRrmK1ADZ1QyAhZv8/s1600/IMG_7751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTHY-qHzzAMlcgJEy4Z8LfyEkIIFLe7HZGpKjeLH0ERFwZzwHMyEA-RNZv0jW9gKiJG4l9xyIcVbBm-g8XfsG-gyAbC57dUfAO3DyhrtCsJnVKd8Vl2Urf5p_DISRrmK1ADZ1QyAhZv8/s400/IMG_7751.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So cute. Just everything: So cute.</td></tr>
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Thank you to all of you who contributed, came, sent good vibes, everything. I'm chock full o'love, and we have the luckiest lil' guy.~ AKJ ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/06509064001406210098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767133221702117352.post-57670839600050018492015-10-05T10:28:00.000-07:002015-10-05T10:28:01.987-07:00Random Round Up: Weekend o'LoveSuch a wonderful, love-filled weekend 'round here: My two besties were up to stay with me, and right in the middle was my baby shower. Guess what, world? People are NICE. The generosity and support were overwhelming, and the hubs and I were left feeling unbelievably special and loved. Couldn't ask for better!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfp8yV5DLZS5uLHz0MDHEDOhdW55NZ-_U30A3mi8VuOORVI66uy_IAVRRuvxk5vqvCJeAldNvV7LaHpdA9F1NRBLqmL-qlIF4HRiSdRTz8u6fBw0-70o5EjSYlFdhf00-eqz0JnM7xT7Q/s1600/IMG_7685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfp8yV5DLZS5uLHz0MDHEDOhdW55NZ-_U30A3mi8VuOORVI66uy_IAVRRuvxk5vqvCJeAldNvV7LaHpdA9F1NRBLqmL-qlIF4HRiSdRTz8u6fBw0-70o5EjSYlFdhf00-eqz0JnM7xT7Q/s400/IMG_7685.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Autumn is kicking off in a picture-perfect way.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7hbwik6x_LG-hW-NO01v2XFT62xZZmC7MROMc8NDfqreJvCA0Axja8XwvEt9VMYcItjYpOpG3xvQCdzrWtzVjlvLCemxhj5JAWqkVvJwxHd1tvhVJa5VplKYXpdTwrj5FjrDDWG55VU/s1600/IMG_7701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7hbwik6x_LG-hW-NO01v2XFT62xZZmC7MROMc8NDfqreJvCA0Axja8XwvEt9VMYcItjYpOpG3xvQCdzrWtzVjlvLCemxhj5JAWqkVvJwxHd1tvhVJa5VplKYXpdTwrj5FjrDDWG55VU/s400/IMG_7701.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Between the massage chair and the foot rub, this has been the BEST treat for myself.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgz_ANS9E4adQT01RYkKpvOgG3nRqmR-DR9MWquddpyGJJEJf_g27cA8uNTJm6C-2IJotWKANUuBBgjhQ4gyFUOZR_YGgXLNC9dqrGfh0W3vK3HkpwC4wGwteLjzpKFC_4tKRjawkqdlc/s1600/IMG_7736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgz_ANS9E4adQT01RYkKpvOgG3nRqmR-DR9MWquddpyGJJEJf_g27cA8uNTJm6C-2IJotWKANUuBBgjhQ4gyFUOZR_YGgXLNC9dqrGfh0W3vK3HkpwC4wGwteLjzpKFC_4tKRjawkqdlc/s400/IMG_7736.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two of the last teams in the nation to be undefeated so far went head to head. <br />My Huskies lost, but it was a hard fought battle. Hooray for volleyball season!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUx7RRDyYv0EmRWCiVGtmWt2-sucZOI3JvSE9sPa7-KbSVPAsNYNNdtHDF5I3Wr-g2OYAOXOpZRMwyUAXtld4QiVLQtLFivOlJrK63VHkkQz-UY6CsIhHT6Zumc00dyQOHJs7WtL8jKJ0/s1600/IMG_7745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUx7RRDyYv0EmRWCiVGtmWt2-sucZOI3JvSE9sPa7-KbSVPAsNYNNdtHDF5I3Wr-g2OYAOXOpZRMwyUAXtld4QiVLQtLFivOlJrK63VHkkQz-UY6CsIhHT6Zumc00dyQOHJs7WtL8jKJ0/s400/IMG_7745.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They are just the best ever.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0zsVtNqYGQ3xQEBPd9xdX6GGZr35Wg_8E20fnc0yXMto9feTomi47Cw18HcEFXoR4f80Wf_LkgAHB_DEd0jHroSrmtfPCud5waW11o3nACfGOCTKiYbDekH8qAQka6gaB8Ltt4RobgI/s1600/IMG_7763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0zsVtNqYGQ3xQEBPd9xdX6GGZr35Wg_8E20fnc0yXMto9feTomi47Cw18HcEFXoR4f80Wf_LkgAHB_DEd0jHroSrmtfPCud5waW11o3nACfGOCTKiYbDekH8qAQka6gaB8Ltt4RobgI/s400/IMG_7763.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swelling continues to be an every-morning issue... New meaning to <br />Beyoncé's '<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rH52wfHV8g">I Woke Up Like This</a>' line, eh?? HA. But why only really <br />bad in one hand?! Bizarre, per usual.</td></tr>
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I'll share some shower details later this week - My mother-in-law and her friend outdid themselves in design and decor, and my mom and two best girls followed up with perfect little touches of their own. Wonderful! And here's hoping the same for us all for the week ahead.~ AKJ ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/06509064001406210098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767133221702117352.post-37423600103035803322015-09-28T09:11:00.001-07:002015-09-28T09:11:13.596-07:00Random Round Up: Can A Girl Get A Nap Around Here?!As sleep gets harder to come by, my brain feels a little more addled by the day. So! With a grand flourish of absolutely <u><b>no</b></u> creativity: Here are some pictures from the weekend.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCf19apyAazEn1EpdevhLZomwMd9A6ShuL4eRdBnxY7LOczo5dRuy2x9mxODSxIBaPa9LeJntU5mDlzrpDVz2X_UoqQgCKichSPrPnT1lKmLsmrdcxUHx1j1F3cwfd5FL7S2DZzIAXqc/s1600/IMG_7614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCf19apyAazEn1EpdevhLZomwMd9A6ShuL4eRdBnxY7LOczo5dRuy2x9mxODSxIBaPa9LeJntU5mDlzrpDVz2X_UoqQgCKichSPrPnT1lKmLsmrdcxUHx1j1F3cwfd5FL7S2DZzIAXqc/s400/IMG_7614.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a good day to be a tailgating preggo when a Cinnabon truck pulls up with freebies!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMXlj6J7U7T0x1U18ruIPsXFBMVHOjLhZM9po95yBp4HmhAAz5oC8Q-3JV9DqyqVX6vUGIP5yYxieLY4peVQqjmsQch1iMInjntRRbvRpmsqiSQtkd12iEzgW3RAzgf6Pke3FRMQkFQ5M/s1600/IMG_7617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMXlj6J7U7T0x1U18ruIPsXFBMVHOjLhZM9po95yBp4HmhAAz5oC8Q-3JV9DqyqVX6vUGIP5yYxieLY4peVQqjmsQch1iMInjntRRbvRpmsqiSQtkd12iEzgW3RAzgf6Pke3FRMQkFQ5M/s400/IMG_7617.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last able-to-attend home game for us for the season. Sad, but ready for a break too<br />after three home games in a row.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3jbJX_p5H0jwUNdWFNjkuczN6tuZATD1CXUWT-ek1kln-xnOJC2Ph2hy8fyl1To2xBhIkvc4qvGomMejSh6urtaR3Kfh6fOw71usZ-RwkDSRkeWY12VMOKt00TP-O5LXrTVtISAZRhQ/s1600/IMG_7624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3jbJX_p5H0jwUNdWFNjkuczN6tuZATD1CXUWT-ek1kln-xnOJC2Ph2hy8fyl1To2xBhIkvc4qvGomMejSh6urtaR3Kfh6fOw71usZ-RwkDSRkeWY12VMOKt00TP-O5LXrTVtISAZRhQ/s400/IMG_7624.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early morning aircraft carriers in a base harbor nearby.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihYKxUdfKVNkZnbodgOp30KwFgjQSyb1zmED6RbPv7VWkVXLfFkUzEgiA5E_6TXYM5rJjnjB7goSdU0rPK8m4-jqyqwaATXTMjaXk3IJJKrNSXLyMN6_rRCUUzYMNORW7ajJssMwRbHyM/s1600/IMG_7639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihYKxUdfKVNkZnbodgOp30KwFgjQSyb1zmED6RbPv7VWkVXLfFkUzEgiA5E_6TXYM5rJjnjB7goSdU0rPK8m4-jqyqwaATXTMjaXk3IJJKrNSXLyMN6_rRCUUzYMNORW7ajJssMwRbHyM/s400/IMG_7639.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Color me <a href="http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/basic-bitch">basic</a>, but these are delicious!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeE-BHNofYJ5at68f_ig_U2lxgn3b87Gjvj2WEBxstdpfPLwLxbY7hmsvL9tlPJT4PuYDzLuwEy4WlVtfheRJMzK4R9UxFNDTKKovujGMBnis6_U10us01Bc4gEKOgM17Ip-Wb2wEiUdQ/s1600/IMG_7640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeE-BHNofYJ5at68f_ig_U2lxgn3b87Gjvj2WEBxstdpfPLwLxbY7hmsvL9tlPJT4PuYDzLuwEy4WlVtfheRJMzK4R9UxFNDTKKovujGMBnis6_U10us01Bc4gEKOgM17Ip-Wb2wEiUdQ/s400/IMG_7640.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tuck summing up how I feel in general today.</td></tr>
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Happy Monday - I'm going to go back to my anti-adulting today. ZzzzZZZZzzzZzz......~ AKJ ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/06509064001406210098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767133221702117352.post-20534545296119358132015-09-25T08:23:00.000-07:002015-09-25T08:26:25.276-07:00Ode To A Paint SprayerGuys. I can't say enough good things about this paint sprayer business. Buy one now, thank me later, you're welcome in advance.<br />
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You may recall, we sprung for <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/p/Wagner-Flexio-570-HVLP-Paint-Sprayer-0529011/204109763?keyword=flexio+570">this bad boy</a> a couple years ago, thinking it would be just the thing for our <a href="http://inknotswedding.blogspot.com/2014/11/kitchen-kompleted.html">kitchen cabinet overhaul</a> and repainting all our interior doors. Well, we ended up going with hand-rolling for the cabinets, and the doors have yet to be tackled. But the perfect opportunity to bust this guy out came with our new sections of replaced siding.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOW4erFRAyqrN1hQWeqoRdn9wf0qHAJpT3et75AJTCvQj4JOWxYzDYwebkXWYMK6lI7cCQYWO8mMhhNnRZQH8xzQWAfaETlChF0i7fHdnRF92g2BY05zix-S3vhItP2hxp6Qvk6DIv3EA/s1600/IMG_7504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOW4erFRAyqrN1hQWeqoRdn9wf0qHAJpT3et75AJTCvQj4JOWxYzDYwebkXWYMK6lI7cCQYWO8mMhhNnRZQH8xzQWAfaETlChF0i7fHdnRF92g2BY05zix-S3vhItP2hxp6Qvk6DIv3EA/s400/IMG_7504.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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We had a painter lined up, but after he accidentally rolled off someone else's roof, he was out of commission. With the rainy season bearing down, we needed to get our siding covered and ready for the elements. Nate took a chunk of the old siding into Home Depot and had some <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/p/Glidden-Premium-1-gal-Flat-Base-1-White-Exterior-Latex-Paint-GL6111-01/100675022">flat exterior Glidden</a> paint color matched to the piece of old stuff. It turned out perfectly! By far the best match we've ever had mixed, and probably due to the large size of swatch he took in for them to work from. Take note of that if you ever need a paint match: The bigger swatch, the better.<br />
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We poured the paint into the sprayer, and got to work. And what fast work it was! Even with Nate allowing me to do some (he couldn't have ALL the fun of trying a new tool!), the entire process took only two hours. If we had used a brush and roller, my guess is that time frame would have doubled.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0uZnJNHV9aD-W4BJjh7fpx2Bovid5VWLJnRG-NimLDGrXZNZfyTL33r4VkmX_MSvownzpdEKBgijeXjfa8nMmb6bO9KZd-B1ozyCLRIC9ZjuMm6d_mp-YDDfwV1UowsPg3LsXh-vkYfU/s1600/IMG_7509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0uZnJNHV9aD-W4BJjh7fpx2Bovid5VWLJnRG-NimLDGrXZNZfyTL33r4VkmX_MSvownzpdEKBgijeXjfa8nMmb6bO9KZd-B1ozyCLRIC9ZjuMm6d_mp-YDDfwV1UowsPg3LsXh-vkYfU/s400/IMG_7509.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was allowed to try 'er out on the no-ladder-required portions.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMdHKK6eFVEGuRnbLoGScgYHp0lLuzRKK65G9ri_o6LXgB9yJDt8GWOoB_s-wSpWDodDNYcpbMMjpc5CVKLnOFrXGXCT5Z0OfhwVfdvbGb3sVLU2ammM4xmlajN6CMk2X55NtX1eNJuzU/s1600/IMG_7516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMdHKK6eFVEGuRnbLoGScgYHp0lLuzRKK65G9ri_o6LXgB9yJDt8GWOoB_s-wSpWDodDNYcpbMMjpc5CVKLnOFrXGXCT5Z0OfhwVfdvbGb3sVLU2ammM4xmlajN6CMk2X55NtX1eNJuzU/s400/IMG_7516.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
Even, fast coverage: Wonderful! Lots of folks complain about over-spray with paint sprayers: Because this model has the option of a vertical or horizontal spray, we found it to not really be too much of an issue. Sure we have spots, but nothing major. It was fairly easy to control once we got the hang of it all.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzOfUFBpfXAYqaejFb2-CTBjSw85iIBWxBlFXmlIy3CSYR3z1lgj5LUOrXN8_wDSiwpXKA2ulLBHUTxogHwVFg1_mw8VxgZwrYTr7e8rozMd_nzgJsQLJ0HiHao-PnsKbgHzZGaktdis/s1600/IMG_7518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzOfUFBpfXAYqaejFb2-CTBjSw85iIBWxBlFXmlIy3CSYR3z1lgj5LUOrXN8_wDSiwpXKA2ulLBHUTxogHwVFg1_mw8VxgZwrYTr7e8rozMd_nzgJsQLJ0HiHao-PnsKbgHzZGaktdis/s400/IMG_7518.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Say hallo to mah leetle friend!</td></tr>
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We'll still be having the whole house painted as soon as the weather turns dry again (May-ish?), but in the meantime I'm so glad to have had a stretch of dry weather to get this taken care of ourselves. One less thing to have on our minds in this busy stretch o'life!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5hzeUmAiBu0QNjeET6pw6wsVo9haIguAFsJF5EnUxqqgnA6H4GUP17kb5XG_DioM8gUCdc7rK9ZBAUBXf23JK0CcrOW6XBaELxd1AwvB08tcaLIdhg-fpW4xN1dunPauNhxf-dbTU_c/s1600/IMG_7523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5hzeUmAiBu0QNjeET6pw6wsVo9haIguAFsJF5EnUxqqgnA6H4GUP17kb5XG_DioM8gUCdc7rK9ZBAUBXf23JK0CcrOW6XBaELxd1AwvB08tcaLIdhg-fpW4xN1dunPauNhxf-dbTU_c/s400/IMG_7523.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dG1Gg8olXQVVxjvxBgKm8zF8RGhR_54ftPn3eQqd5y8YiX4zEBtD1Rs8ka8b2b4NkEV5aXWEyKP4As8G0fSkVZxRV-Vh6EJfs5gfzsAglrilO5Lo8xAd4E-U2jJfEfLPboxVUZL9zek/s1600/IMG_7522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dG1Gg8olXQVVxjvxBgKm8zF8RGhR_54ftPn3eQqd5y8YiX4zEBtD1Rs8ka8b2b4NkEV5aXWEyKP4As8G0fSkVZxRV-Vh6EJfs5gfzsAglrilO5Lo8xAd4E-U2jJfEfLPboxVUZL9zek/s400/IMG_7522.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We'll be touching up those bare spots on the white garage arches this weekend.</td></tr>
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<br />~ AKJ ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/06509064001406210098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767133221702117352.post-25720352409189052092015-09-21T09:09:00.000-07:002015-09-21T09:09:13.371-07:00Random Round Up: Sickness & HealthI was 'encouraged' to get my very first flu shot this year due to landing in the high-risk category of being pregnant... They say it's not a live virus and you won't get sick, but my 1.5 days of missed work last week beg to differ. What gives?! No fun!<br />
<br />
Luckily the fever faded and I was up and about by the time game day came around on Saturday, and even got to get some much-needed house painting done Sunday. Check 'er out:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpHK7feIvE4-fzldjUEq4ZvfahbhBKE0XAphYwasQEkApi9TGpoft_6_BvIXBnReInR0R10_5ZdHEqRF6dYXia5NsyLy4zZ9L6AnYVyYi8bznFbmc_GDR-mCbPc3LHWxWUsbzfvkeHMgw/s1600/IMG_7455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpHK7feIvE4-fzldjUEq4ZvfahbhBKE0XAphYwasQEkApi9TGpoft_6_BvIXBnReInR0R10_5ZdHEqRF6dYXia5NsyLy4zZ9L6AnYVyYi8bznFbmc_GDR-mCbPc3LHWxWUsbzfvkeHMgw/s400/IMG_7455.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those under eye circles and orange juice kinda sum it up, eh?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjC00PHsr6g0QyYM6b-7b1tddUEHDI7AV22cU-7Uc0K4_ogg7c4aAaFYSi1Px5LG1-DScnFOBD3fMMGChne0Bujk02ggJnvEBBw32ocIH3n5fiXANMpGrboyNUZ4NR0IUK51ZlY9ToJ9Q/s1600/IMG_7461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjC00PHsr6g0QyYM6b-7b1tddUEHDI7AV22cU-7Uc0K4_ogg7c4aAaFYSi1Px5LG1-DScnFOBD3fMMGChne0Bujk02ggJnvEBBw32ocIH3n5fiXANMpGrboyNUZ4NR0IUK51ZlY9ToJ9Q/s400/IMG_7461.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sick day couch buddy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBAs_LUDh0TrUo1WjZ3Ox4fpw8JN3u6mU7GBake_GR-eOACxQRGYc6-R2qp3X-fw7zjwLDhPQEKjJw-h7SWzdTdikFLczJhm8bo0RWUWE8rHVnWTFQAZx9ud40zwWvmTRTcgiTlpv8wvo/s1600/IMG_7494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBAs_LUDh0TrUo1WjZ3Ox4fpw8JN3u6mU7GBake_GR-eOACxQRGYc6-R2qp3X-fw7zjwLDhPQEKjJw-h7SWzdTdikFLczJhm8bo0RWUWE8rHVnWTFQAZx9ud40zwWvmTRTcgiTlpv8wvo/s400/IMG_7494.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A much, much cooler game day than last week, thank goodness!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNwmrgn5HHgj3xISVJhWpi2t8gX9BkpAAYN_h-eB2sRorBHHLujCrNMkg8OuYLUSV9Cwuge21ajt8T2NhJGfVdPRVfVHQ2E27ckYtnvvpbaLQbGRyHBdP3bPem7YwLFkhPghlyJWFZN0/s1600/IMG_7526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNwmrgn5HHgj3xISVJhWpi2t8gX9BkpAAYN_h-eB2sRorBHHLujCrNMkg8OuYLUSV9Cwuge21ajt8T2NhJGfVdPRVfVHQ2E27ckYtnvvpbaLQbGRyHBdP3bPem7YwLFkhPghlyJWFZN0/s400/IMG_7526.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After our scheduled house painter took a tumble off someone's roof, we decided<br />to get our new siding set for the winter ourselves. LOVE the paint sprayer!!! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IK5_BPtLncleGEHeZmgaVrvAAKb0yY9xas0leHKhFZomhxJvxCScQytvwFjLhsUnRaByEjbtxnZEAsKAeMo_IAoGqTdRE_S806zH3eRMS2prFBi2ab0Brj_u10ecSDL5rTM1yZO_JLM/s1600/IMG_7530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IK5_BPtLncleGEHeZmgaVrvAAKb0yY9xas0leHKhFZomhxJvxCScQytvwFjLhsUnRaByEjbtxnZEAsKAeMo_IAoGqTdRE_S806zH3eRMS2prFBi2ab0Brj_u10ecSDL5rTM1yZO_JLM/s400/IMG_7530.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cleaning up while lying down.</td></tr>
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More on the painting later this week - I must say a paint sprayer is one of the best tools in our arsenal! Worth every penny! I'll give you the full run-down. 'Bout time we had a DIY post around here, eh? #BabyTakeover~ AKJ ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/06509064001406210098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767133221702117352.post-69636734857144430532015-09-17T14:15:00.000-07:002015-09-17T14:15:40.196-07:00Ding Dong the Ring is GoneWith last week came a sad day: I had to face the fact that I'm too vain for my own health. <div>
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Like every married lady, I love my wedding rings. So much so that I danced around taking and leaving them off until, well, it was way too late.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUa2oWt2j2YzZtcA6WlJJFx3SkI6qDHwB0wXoOuvLU81ccsUxqEmF2Do0qtnCJBVoVAwjDEX2YMxYPyps3r57z6X0Ipv2oSkJB9w-3GmpWvXEwoGEoUsKgYjqrEqFNRWO7TRglQT_T0lQ/s1600/ring1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUa2oWt2j2YzZtcA6WlJJFx3SkI6qDHwB0wXoOuvLU81ccsUxqEmF2Do0qtnCJBVoVAwjDEX2YMxYPyps3r57z6X0Ipv2oSkJB9w-3GmpWvXEwoGEoUsKgYjqrEqFNRWO7TRglQT_T0lQ/s400/ring1.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Five pounds of sausage in a one pound bag on Bourbon Street.</td></tr>
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<div>
I'd had some swelling, especially in the sweat fiesta that was New Orleans in May, but it had always gone back down. Until it didn't. I tried every lubricant, every method under the sun. I iced. I oiled. I wrapped with string. With tape. With wire. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-3wDnGCnkJUdpM2830l2O7t7BXfmraFIl-ZHyNrLoIn4Lw5m2SaP9wvjcV7LrJGu-Ga_ZwpjaGO8Q8isq83VA0xx74vpTRzJAFIkwDC0BvmhoHHv5vB7H4x6gRVkBNZvXhfTEJ19_Os/s1600/ring2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-3wDnGCnkJUdpM2830l2O7t7BXfmraFIl-ZHyNrLoIn4Lw5m2SaP9wvjcV7LrJGu-Ga_ZwpjaGO8Q8isq83VA0xx74vpTRzJAFIkwDC0BvmhoHHv5vB7H4x6gRVkBNZvXhfTEJ19_Os/s400/ring2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ice bath.</td></tr>
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<div>
I made it worse.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZB3JAqgsgj57hqpI-cWscm7J_7M8ehA32VDcste3gJpdhfDo7CmUNSj6mF5qK3CvN9QRivRgAOROqGKHdQjjp1YCI1-8cCOKk28xzwW5GRLMDBJqpSXDLjpL4hNsHnas3I56JPqeOADc/s1600/ring3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZB3JAqgsgj57hqpI-cWscm7J_7M8ehA32VDcste3gJpdhfDo7CmUNSj6mF5qK3CvN9QRivRgAOROqGKHdQjjp1YCI1-8cCOKk28xzwW5GRLMDBJqpSXDLjpL4hNsHnas3I56JPqeOADc/s400/ring3.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrDROoJAF4I">string method</a> worked best, and if I hadn't waited as long<br />to try probably would have solved my problem.</td></tr>
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<div>
So off I went with a heavy heart to the jeweler where they were purchased, ready to bite the bullet and have them cut off. The employees were so kind, telling me it happens all the time and they would be fixed whenever I was (physically) ready - Aka: healed and no more swelling, so post-babe. Sigh.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_N5dhlG530_5JJ8SsRJTbiapUeLorMaRK5Hq0qbm3TN9yGvw_7t3K_pCvbRIiVrIYQDPyVbcGb-cx0z8O6YJ2kkJIU8q_U3tPvpVkfItBRYuZWf6k8uma6pX3RSeiBmnEGAji-YslSA/s1600/ring5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_N5dhlG530_5JJ8SsRJTbiapUeLorMaRK5Hq0qbm3TN9yGvw_7t3K_pCvbRIiVrIYQDPyVbcGb-cx0z8O6YJ2kkJIU8q_U3tPvpVkfItBRYuZWf6k8uma6pX3RSeiBmnEGAji-YslSA/s400/ring5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The sweetest old Eastern-European jeweler toddled out and ever-so-gently hacked my rings in half. No really, it was moderately painless: They have a special tool that slowly and precisely cuts through the metal. Then with a tweak of some needle-nose pliers, my finger was free. And wow, did it need to be freed. I didn't think it was THAT bad until I saw the damage on my skin underneath.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76630Xwr7Geq7Uu5t3p4ADcc1cpVvBqhIRYb2pileuiF5drCML9i6x5dmCJ3yUKZMIlxVLUqYmBPJWXRk7X-iMS8Wv4pJRGQTQMY5hCnMKjzFZhX-7zL0XzVsQrSrdMlv_JfxxKsQk_Y/s1600/ring6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76630Xwr7Geq7Uu5t3p4ADcc1cpVvBqhIRYb2pileuiF5drCML9i6x5dmCJ3yUKZMIlxVLUqYmBPJWXRk7X-iMS8Wv4pJRGQTQMY5hCnMKjzFZhX-7zL0XzVsQrSrdMlv_JfxxKsQk_Y/s400/ring6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Luckily, thanks to my Rodan + Fields product love, I used some <a href="https://ashleykjohnson.myrandf.com/Shop/Product/SOTT050">Soothe 2</a> (a redness-reduction miracle product, seriously) and within 12 hours the swelling was way down and the redness all but gone. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMWC2V7BtLK0xR7QwOX9GojVTBBtFJFHFLbF7auAtcJ8-f67FWRIwnwJQz3xOfWzaRkASeRAlHpmZf59Ne68AD-1tjztg7_50wKvXjXB08T2PwxwRkyYyS52HWVgNJKteFktgtTgLz8y4/s1600/ring8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMWC2V7BtLK0xR7QwOX9GojVTBBtFJFHFLbF7auAtcJ8-f67FWRIwnwJQz3xOfWzaRkASeRAlHpmZf59Ne68AD-1tjztg7_50wKvXjXB08T2PwxwRkyYyS52HWVgNJKteFktgtTgLz8y4/s400/ring8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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In the meantime, I printed out a <a href="http://images.zales.com/images/popups/zales_ringsizer.pdf">ring measurement tool</a> and took stock of my finger. Turns out, I'm now about a size 9.5-10 on my ring finger... My wedding set is a 7. What?! But with that knowledge I was able to pop <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sterling-Silver-Classic-Love-Infinity/dp/B00MY8BWXK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1442523779&sr=8-2&keywords=silver+love+knot+ring">onto Amazon</a> and pick up a simple, low-cost, sterling wedding knot to keep my finger feeling a little less naked these last few weeks. It's actually a little too large, but I have a feeling I'll have days where I fill it out just fine.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCklBaNXSPcy5r8xTbbBn1AtPzaB8WCuxLMSt_Wz7tkPy4UL6txComyiaEOXolucWEayFadlnTxOCxf49A1f_0VThL7aTsB6SsrW-CWF0BVHWS89pFzMGlRkdNp87hOh9yhfvrl0AVm2Q/s1600/ring9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCklBaNXSPcy5r8xTbbBn1AtPzaB8WCuxLMSt_Wz7tkPy4UL6txComyiaEOXolucWEayFadlnTxOCxf49A1f_0VThL7aTsB6SsrW-CWF0BVHWS89pFzMGlRkdNp87hOh9yhfvrl0AVm2Q/s400/ring9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It's a weird and wild ride, folks. Can't wait to get my bands repaired and back on.</div>
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<div>
...Guess my vanity level hasn't resized.</div>
~ AKJ ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/06509064001406210098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767133221702117352.post-81720514554495083962015-09-14T08:33:00.001-07:002015-09-14T08:33:41.479-07:00Random Round Up: Recovery ModeWhew, what a week last week!! Even though I've been with my company for years, last week was one of the busiest I've EVER lived through, work-wise. As energy and brain power aren't exactly my strong suits right now, this weekend called for some recovery... After the first Husky game of the season, of course. Gotta rally for that.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbiVhEqmNrN_3HM-_aCBuO-X9RFC7kMrXPEMQ5ahJFqBPEaEPsN3GswB1ic0gHk1LnI1Y3pP7RjWdRU9W6TX16IAYfqU1bBT2VZ7evS0HGcnHNBWwgZZuvoshb8JpSPS28jf7GCfCFPaY/s1600/IMG_7288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbiVhEqmNrN_3HM-_aCBuO-X9RFC7kMrXPEMQ5ahJFqBPEaEPsN3GswB1ic0gHk1LnI1Y3pP7RjWdRU9W6TX16IAYfqU1bBT2VZ7evS0HGcnHNBWwgZZuvoshb8JpSPS28jf7GCfCFPaY/s400/IMG_7288.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caught in the act! Cooper hung out at our house for a few days.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZw5zAjyJ31_lSdWMXUpayK2Vbd7ZyUticEZjyHlceL0e-mfgf2InyyK_f5hBSo0sT_UjzQRbJuFf8v7dgztbNRupziJTeYZz_3K2LXHJZAB_RNt_nzwBvX_EW3GT4EmSbGPb1NIxDOVc/s1600/IMG_7325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZw5zAjyJ31_lSdWMXUpayK2Vbd7ZyUticEZjyHlceL0e-mfgf2InyyK_f5hBSo0sT_UjzQRbJuFf8v7dgztbNRupziJTeYZz_3K2LXHJZAB_RNt_nzwBvX_EW3GT4EmSbGPb1NIxDOVc/s400/IMG_7325.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A couple late bloomers still hanging on in the backyard!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PQTR2EbLu5YLC4T-m8Ij_Gd0w1IaHf9oBsFeDzyQq4VM52kvS9XkRG3Y_iuE-qluvX3eFGXInbKiNKYIJgu5UiK082d04NiIzyKvAkLmzgWuw3v_wmYVTXiq-KgAcnFRkZR85cOqKW4/s1600/IMG_7353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PQTR2EbLu5YLC4T-m8Ij_Gd0w1IaHf9oBsFeDzyQq4VM52kvS9XkRG3Y_iuE-qluvX3eFGXInbKiNKYIJgu5UiK082d04NiIzyKvAkLmzgWuw3v_wmYVTXiq-KgAcnFRkZR85cOqKW4/s400/IMG_7353.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying to stock the freezer a little for baby time - Banana bread baking fiesta.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihZf4wYk0UEMsT-Rz3pvpt78zc9uYz_RM73r0GM66qBOrSFEuKJlq2Ly40q97oQdpeXaR9iPaGb6riIYjvVs2c6yrq4ISimCCgySCpodGthDmsHVUchwYlpRot9J-wKc4SMC4v3MXuxg/s1600/IMG_7388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihZf4wYk0UEMsT-Rz3pvpt78zc9uYz_RM73r0GM66qBOrSFEuKJlq2Ly40q97oQdpeXaR9iPaGb6riIYjvVs2c6yrq4ISimCCgySCpodGthDmsHVUchwYlpRot9J-wKc4SMC4v3MXuxg/s400/IMG_7388.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Setting up our tailgating spot at 6am on Saturday! Nothing like a game day sunrise.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-TXYh7DSM-iakliAlPvRKeLqYQvVFmgdkc4yigdKxlb9gn_TLqkRbN_W7iLnEyM0JFntZ5p5oJur4Sl0-s0-DEWAkgxQrsmUgA5fvWhc8fhbfEHy5x5zFxxkHbg5oS5I6ghAtYC-MfZI/s1600/IMG_7399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-TXYh7DSM-iakliAlPvRKeLqYQvVFmgdkc4yigdKxlb9gn_TLqkRbN_W7iLnEyM0JFntZ5p5oJur4Sl0-s0-DEWAkgxQrsmUgA5fvWhc8fhbfEHy5x5zFxxkHbg5oS5I6ghAtYC-MfZI/s400/IMG_7399.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby J's first Husky game! Starting him young.</td></tr>
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Here's hoping this week is nice and smooth for us all - I've got a jewelry saga for you later in the week, stay tuned!~ AKJ ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/06509064001406210098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767133221702117352.post-13357109575849479522015-09-08T06:34:00.002-07:002015-09-08T06:34:17.807-07:00Random Round Up: IllusionsSo the reality of this past long weekend is that we cleaned. We cleaned and organized and cleaned some more. Does anyone want to see photos of that? Nope.<br />
<br />
So here's an illusion of the holiday - The prettier moments in an otherwise dusty, chaotic few days.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicg-IxzUqLRmO2y3ETqGKE6obMVTnk3A7BkrxZDtASxNy_ESV0W0hUlxUC00fXlogeg81aaToPORRtVvt-JaAM9bqfi82kWb9EQtXaNJbZ3rHezDPSUuY47I1KOpGcaEj6g1F8NBpVUnw/s1600/IMG_7174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicg-IxzUqLRmO2y3ETqGKE6obMVTnk3A7BkrxZDtASxNy_ESV0W0hUlxUC00fXlogeg81aaToPORRtVvt-JaAM9bqfi82kWb9EQtXaNJbZ3rHezDPSUuY47I1KOpGcaEj6g1F8NBpVUnw/s400/IMG_7174.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drafted and ready - Bring on Fantasy Football 2015!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-vk9Leg5BZ_gZjfZliWVmN6xS8Z0-qX-fgxSqCgiyB8cuqHBOLbC3DoutUB_yLZ2Ip_-C4_FCHMmHN6ax7pOVQazdftvFl32wPxsLRgnPrrQHfLB8Ks7LObcoF26icWLUhA4SBACJIc/s1600/IMG_7217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-vk9Leg5BZ_gZjfZliWVmN6xS8Z0-qX-fgxSqCgiyB8cuqHBOLbC3DoutUB_yLZ2Ip_-C4_FCHMmHN6ax7pOVQazdftvFl32wPxsLRgnPrrQHfLB8Ks7LObcoF26icWLUhA4SBACJIc/s400/IMG_7217.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Since it's September and feeling a little more fall-like outside, up goes the fall wreath.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6BnCaCqWvk7HRItMrMP9raDNW7qIMBWAO_-97SatcryZm94ktNRuJ9_OaIcJjQsq2Fxq7TN1gRpKngJak-0qb6MzqDScy9MFja-F6Yao5A9LRsEcCICACl9BXXxGxery72Zee_B30c8A/s1600/IMG_7218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6BnCaCqWvk7HRItMrMP9raDNW7qIMBWAO_-97SatcryZm94ktNRuJ9_OaIcJjQsq2Fxq7TN1gRpKngJak-0qb6MzqDScy9MFja-F6Yao5A9LRsEcCICACl9BXXxGxery72Zee_B30c8A/s400/IMG_7218.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have the the best husband of a preggo ever. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-ikEMP8h_VXMgP2yFpy93ua3ZE6P4FWjnA4C6NhNjIvg-vNjvrWO82WkNhXsUQWYe06wEH0oWhUoYyrRaSkEkT5hyphenhyphenqVvL7_5HNqSkgOdcUJPtMZ1FpSDQPAnY8NQMxLLhxVDyQU7Ly8/s1600/IMG_7304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-ikEMP8h_VXMgP2yFpy93ua3ZE6P4FWjnA4C6NhNjIvg-vNjvrWO82WkNhXsUQWYe06wEH0oWhUoYyrRaSkEkT5hyphenhyphenqVvL7_5HNqSkgOdcUJPtMZ1FpSDQPAnY8NQMxLLhxVDyQU7Ly8/s400/IMG_7304.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy, happy 40 (FOUR. OH) years to my lovely parents! What an amazing<br />example. Cheers to forty happy, zany, love-filled more!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9djAzihvhWRJeVVAH1KuYIJIjgJaTB-mznjlhlRC7ff23EiFqqx-5wVULvYy4dNPxcsXkXKBI5I4nvbkJ69DeBvt_iJrFZNLLxG6GMjGPOp6kRO7F4pom0YspYyirwqOhmwagrxJZyA/s1600/IMG_7323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9djAzihvhWRJeVVAH1KuYIJIjgJaTB-mznjlhlRC7ff23EiFqqx-5wVULvYy4dNPxcsXkXKBI5I4nvbkJ69DeBvt_iJrFZNLLxG6GMjGPOp6kRO7F4pom0YspYyirwqOhmwagrxJZyA/s400/IMG_7323.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Private school prep already?! Yeesh! (Thank you mother-in-law!)</td></tr>
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Have a great (short, woohoo!) week!~ AKJ ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/06509064001406210098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767133221702117352.post-87253443272736108792015-09-04T13:09:00.001-07:002015-09-04T13:09:44.989-07:00Pleasing Poms: Custom Rug Making<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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Since <a href="http://inknotswedding.blogspot.com/2015/05/re-rugd.html">my search</a> for the perfect living room rug took years, I decided finding a rug to add to the baby's room had to take a different route. We've only got months to work with after all!<br />
<br />
<br />
Pinterest to the rescue, per usual: I ran across <a href="http://sayyes.com/2014/08/diy-bedside-pom-pom-rug.html">these beautiful instructions</a> on how to make basic yarn pom-poms and how to then turn them into a rug. Perfection. And so simple! Can you move your arms? Can you tie a knot? Do you use toilet paper? Wait, don't answer that last one. I can figure it out myself.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimW8gsL0vEt4y9QXxNOX7toBwgWcCZCEtqall1tHpNVl1ioF0o2sc0EtOWzHsnEDPjYkK0VpmOpcEgcUZqyXsf8NCeWc_WECKBf9C1-_CHdHSe6a_vDltYdi3E6tYq6PVr4Jc7A6aIm8U/s1600/IMG_5313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimW8gsL0vEt4y9QXxNOX7toBwgWcCZCEtqall1tHpNVl1ioF0o2sc0EtOWzHsnEDPjYkK0VpmOpcEgcUZqyXsf8NCeWc_WECKBf9C1-_CHdHSe6a_vDltYdi3E6tYq6PVr4Jc7A6aIm8U/s400/IMG_5313.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<u><b>Items Needed:</b></u><br />
<ul>
<li>Skeins and skeins of yarn (my three GIANTs and two smalls earned me roughly 70 poms)</li>
<li>Scissors</li>
<li>Rug pad</li>
<li>Two empty toilet paper rolls</li>
<li>A place to corral your poms (I used an empty box) </li>
</ul>
...No really, that's <i>IT</i>.<br />
<br />
You should go to the more formalized instructions for the step-by-step (plus, their idea, not mine!), but in a nutshell, you wind your yarn around your toilet paper rolls, slide them out and make a nice tight knot in the middle, cut through all the loops (a lot of mine looked wonky, so I trimmed them up to make them more nicely domed), and tie them onto the pad.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9ihQK6NrqZarAEnxUtCE_BimaTElzDXIIOykLzBl6B7C59Xw4IPnzZpIyBW1CJZxNhy6Sj_zwA2i67aFBeK-_Fln0zvcjELyq-O1KiV1xRTNko934zcdyvZhRGWCQ_AQnnlfZoKtJz0/s1600/IMG_6845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9ihQK6NrqZarAEnxUtCE_BimaTElzDXIIOykLzBl6B7C59Xw4IPnzZpIyBW1CJZxNhy6Sj_zwA2i67aFBeK-_Fln0zvcjELyq-O1KiV1xRTNko934zcdyvZhRGWCQ_AQnnlfZoKtJz0/s400/IMG_6845.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rug pad - Larger than needed so you can cut to size. <br />I ordered this one on Amazon for under $12.</td></tr>
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I found it speediest to wind all my little donuts, then trim them all, then tie them onto the rug pad.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzd7BlCHMSw_5ckpWO1ZikgZ2EX4Q4PhdGA4E9fFPpuKglgbd6LUStS_QDgGEE5_69vcbUYsfOqNe4H3HQZSTUewuZqK25s30h-26kUkpunevwjY9F2O_1JjJm6f6T51Iru5uMaNrOsfw/s1600/IMG_7056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzd7BlCHMSw_5ckpWO1ZikgZ2EX4Q4PhdGA4E9fFPpuKglgbd6LUStS_QDgGEE5_69vcbUYsfOqNe4H3HQZSTUewuZqK25s30h-26kUkpunevwjY9F2O_1JjJm6f6T51Iru5uMaNrOsfw/s400/IMG_7056.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Donuts"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJACUuM-hK4HGhkAavj4Yy6vR6TnMCvmQlp3z7omAcl-1y89IRVPoTB-ZSiNA4nnz-O11YrP4qnW04MliPNguWABSKTsV5b841IcTGwNvK5DtZiAOTz6PPhrR4TBvq4weXDHD5Ptv_6ic/s1600/IMG_6846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJACUuM-hK4HGhkAavj4Yy6vR6TnMCvmQlp3z7omAcl-1y89IRVPoTB-ZSiNA4nnz-O11YrP4qnW04MliPNguWABSKTsV5b841IcTGwNvK5DtZiAOTz6PPhrR4TBvq4weXDHD5Ptv_6ic/s400/IMG_6846.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tying on the poms.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0hTTJ3HMyFyyaMIcTuM8CEEkjGiHSa6CO3xHr-x5MzIKmfReUe0GuAmG1vEW22BrkTab9XIMWPFxg76XCJH_03tZ4X55yGc7zT57lkvkc6O6bSN9QtJcvQNdx2sI-6-iDPk9XofDxmfg/s1600/IMG_6848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0hTTJ3HMyFyyaMIcTuM8CEEkjGiHSa6CO3xHr-x5MzIKmfReUe0GuAmG1vEW22BrkTab9XIMWPFxg76XCJH_03tZ4X55yGc7zT57lkvkc6O6bSN9QtJcvQNdx2sI-6-iDPk9XofDxmfg/s400/IMG_6848.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I made a simple knot, then finished any long pieces with a bow.<br />It'd be totally fine to just cut the extra length off too.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEbcWZnmvuV4mgtG-nh1EnNb5A2dF5FbwfbCF07BIHBFZck12JpvATSLVvO8_NflNv0wvze2EMc8I88Qbiv0Gya7AaANunYnJ9fBFq7EOZmAS4ejcb6rYYTa9_lULS06g4M0AMSWmr3g/s1600/IMG_6850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEbcWZnmvuV4mgtG-nh1EnNb5A2dF5FbwfbCF07BIHBFZck12JpvATSLVvO8_NflNv0wvze2EMc8I88Qbiv0Gya7AaANunYnJ9fBFq7EOZmAS4ejcb6rYYTa9_lULS06g4M0AMSWmr3g/s400/IMG_6850.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starting to take shape! Tie them close so you don't have any gapping.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The result is a super plush, machine washable (I used washable acrylic yarn), and custom rug. The only disappointment from the project was I'd actually planned the rug to be much larger. When I ran out of yarn and went to get more... They no longer make the yarn I used. I'd bought it on sale months back, and now even Ebay can't help me. That's what I get for procrastinating on this project!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0ivhxWiBTZkK_3sIK4gjPjdBsfcaXVCu2_PVvsbz0cdFkVh5zI1vL1c2_nXVBTeQCELUonx2-zPqdKyoEt51MzCK5l5koQTeSv92u2ygVbXOM322GsMnl61yAjEzL67CkvnDfFik00I/s1600/IMG_7181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0ivhxWiBTZkK_3sIK4gjPjdBsfcaXVCu2_PVvsbz0cdFkVh5zI1vL1c2_nXVBTeQCELUonx2-zPqdKyoEt51MzCK5l5koQTeSv92u2ygVbXOM322GsMnl61yAjEzL67CkvnDfFik00I/s400/IMG_7181.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The originally desired length shown by the rug pad, measured to run the length of the crib.<br />It ended up about half this length, and more like a square than a rectangle.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I haven't quite decided on where it's going to land in the nursery itself, so I'll have to post an update photo when I actually get it in the room. For now - Puggle tested, puggle approved. And save my yarn-needs miscalculation, a totally easy and successful project!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3OnukHDwwhCQte_dxKxyEO87mVx37gnMVLAnpEN9oTnql2S1vaDhZiWnFhxpoYcNWj5Tm-ybtzq20YGtPrY7xzYwKH-aLWgB48GZD-NRdOiNgLi5cGdQFYldUDnGYg9WPIkUUAANOZY/s1600/IMG_7187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3OnukHDwwhCQte_dxKxyEO87mVx37gnMVLAnpEN9oTnql2S1vaDhZiWnFhxpoYcNWj5Tm-ybtzq20YGtPrY7xzYwKH-aLWgB48GZD-NRdOiNgLi5cGdQFYldUDnGYg9WPIkUUAANOZY/s400/IMG_7187.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished product! Puggle not included.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />~ AKJ ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/06509064001406210098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767133221702117352.post-66184458530507420122015-08-31T08:30:00.004-07:002015-08-31T08:30:53.767-07:00Random Round Up: Miscellany A weekend full of change: From sun and humidity to 60+ mph winds and rain, and from decrepit siding on the house to replaced and ready for paint. More on that project later, but five pics first, as we do around here on a Monday.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjBGaeEk7uU1zccziI04xLqntSHhTqmVz5YIazg-Jp52JLso5D28WulDQiLe3_TkoRFzUgHzc4-5pA16p89ZJxXzUIho2rQNiLFBP04KRz9FQnnumSS8RJ8GHX4UgCusVt5gxe0gHhGF8/s1600/IMG_7128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjBGaeEk7uU1zccziI04xLqntSHhTqmVz5YIazg-Jp52JLso5D28WulDQiLe3_TkoRFzUgHzc4-5pA16p89ZJxXzUIho2rQNiLFBP04KRz9FQnnumSS8RJ8GHX4UgCusVt5gxe0gHhGF8/s400/IMG_7128.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The second-blooming of my rose bush! Sadly it took a beating in the storms,<br />
but there are still a few pretty petals hanging on.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOfyIXcnzCcojmHluqgzPBkncet8b0xAs6UgVYJd-QcNHJIWi1zROi0bOFE45D4NoyYQRep88FkbxyCkWNNlsLjWQclJsmLXcvbgCc1DNIyK9e4FROcQMbRKOk2NG0td7BXQuEtdIby4/s1600/IMG_7149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOfyIXcnzCcojmHluqgzPBkncet8b0xAs6UgVYJd-QcNHJIWi1zROi0bOFE45D4NoyYQRep88FkbxyCkWNNlsLjWQclJsmLXcvbgCc1DNIyK9e4FROcQMbRKOk2NG0td7BXQuEtdIby4/s400/IMG_7149.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I re-worked the styling of our <a href="http://inknotswedding.blogspot.com/2014/01/shelf-life.html">family room shelf</a> - Some<br />
natural shed antlers and a meaningful family heirloom flag. Much better!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKANXfa_MQ0BK52FoK_Cdq-crFXfVc77B8MAsbACBVzEpSLo0QaaYK3LlWlTLeo08YgcmFH6tuX0lyiu9KW4y9i7C-bjcWsSP0Cp5Ap__mjneNJBmkV2nfKSvvc-KH9w0rzhuTw4K-Meg/s1600/IMG_7161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKANXfa_MQ0BK52FoK_Cdq-crFXfVc77B8MAsbACBVzEpSLo0QaaYK3LlWlTLeo08YgcmFH6tuX0lyiu9KW4y9i7C-bjcWsSP0Cp5Ap__mjneNJBmkV2nfKSvvc-KH9w0rzhuTw4K-Meg/s400/IMG_7161.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who knew my boss' boss is so creative? Handmade bibs and a burp cloth cake. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9U9iMJcKqct-mXmoA18IvLpyGHl6pdKZpZ0a8qVNJ2Q_17MRtn1ZuLiyMUOOMlEAaLqZgePxJc46T9g9mpmZmmKwAPHjfDD3plZ_h7L2pIxkeF1V392EHDzje1yKUK9wTWYPdL61qPSw/s1600/IMG_7169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9U9iMJcKqct-mXmoA18IvLpyGHl6pdKZpZ0a8qVNJ2Q_17MRtn1ZuLiyMUOOMlEAaLqZgePxJc46T9g9mpmZmmKwAPHjfDD3plZ_h7L2pIxkeF1V392EHDzje1yKUK9wTWYPdL61qPSw/s400/IMG_7169.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Planning some baby room and master bedroom organization. Baskets galore!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24tbjJLdVyR-gfHHvW4n-yDd1iDeKMeCQ0NOUSS4PK_JbfZf6MWmqjdAdyiitEhPK9kdfhjT3OJEYkim__mVDIp0PpEsa8wihkwUZlP3R8x-qbQvn7hH8aEs9JVedYoh8vzFy8RR_1rQ/s1600/IMG_7180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24tbjJLdVyR-gfHHvW4n-yDd1iDeKMeCQ0NOUSS4PK_JbfZf6MWmqjdAdyiitEhPK9kdfhjT3OJEYkim__mVDIp0PpEsa8wihkwUZlP3R8x-qbQvn7hH8aEs9JVedYoh8vzFy8RR_1rQ/s400/IMG_7180.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This pretty much captures the weather this weekend: From sun to storm and back again.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I finished a baby room project this weekend too that I can't wait to show you - So do-able and so useful! Have a great week guys.~ AKJ ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/06509064001406210098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767133221702117352.post-35327470093296124442015-08-27T12:05:00.001-07:002015-08-27T12:07:20.584-07:00CravingsYou've all heard the tales of pregnancy cravings: Pickles and ice cream! Chocolate cake with sauerkraut! Cheese dipped in ketchup!<br />
<br />
<i>I kid you not - I googled "crazy pregnancy cravings" and those are from real people.</i><br />
<br />
Luckily for me, I haven't had a hankering for anything quite that extreme, and I don't think I've been too <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRTkCHE1sS4">Veruca Salt </a>about it all, but my tastes definitely have changed. Normally, I would take something sugary over anything else, any time of day, any day of the week. But now? All the salty, spicy, vinegar-y things are my new faves.<br />
<br />
Here's a little compilation of the last 32 (whoa, what?!) weeks' desires:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf_2nG8VDmXD18WnKi7xXyBgXSeS8a6NyDp_jvZqaeIL7xL95pk6Mh8Ty4GdQ-ZoLSUY3ezNour0E37O1SERhV8vZbcrD6mJszrbFrqiu8iqtlFkrdXUspeVEdkmKibZmYtf8c8kGMrho/s400/2.JPG" width="400" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5GBW7THE5HVo5dDIlrKrskwvTPyVZr9xVFYDigSyawrKQa1N3g3pG7ERRWT06p3T7iaBNCiW6T35bEhaB5IXm9S9Pv34xnrVfHBDz9ozrAiBn4m4p_aQ38hlopwzUQETV0kMILqJfDI/s1600/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5GBW7THE5HVo5dDIlrKrskwvTPyVZr9xVFYDigSyawrKQa1N3g3pG7ERRWT06p3T7iaBNCiW6T35bEhaB5IXm9S9Pv34xnrVfHBDz9ozrAiBn4m4p_aQ38hlopwzUQETV0kMILqJfDI/s400/1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbIILnQOw8f4ODWY9BQO1GmqMeU9Bbo0A25zsklqHRhbPMKQPSVfWYzgYxJ68aqliHqH_4Hat6P27amu9T_Zj4N6lL4TzMwMBrjOcEZnZn4uhNNRnhuPR4fWWOOx7EvBoVp9t-KWdJJ9Y/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbIILnQOw8f4ODWY9BQO1GmqMeU9Bbo0A25zsklqHRhbPMKQPSVfWYzgYxJ68aqliHqH_4Hat6P27amu9T_Zj4N6lL4TzMwMBrjOcEZnZn4uhNNRnhuPR4fWWOOx7EvBoVp9t-KWdJJ9Y/s400/3.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Veggie sandwich WITH PICKLES. Don't even bother if there aren't pickles.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinymor38rFKMReynymJUvpuIEvmJLg4aYddDxlPvreZ4EzmZTCZtr8XRMSyBc4GTD55czpBjBdo6MxsMTYsTL_xNo5CkZOU1lTQG0qv12zKeMTzjgd80W_Zf-3wScNMXo4PBlKyDWkgHM/s1600/4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinymor38rFKMReynymJUvpuIEvmJLg4aYddDxlPvreZ4EzmZTCZtr8XRMSyBc4GTD55czpBjBdo6MxsMTYsTL_xNo5CkZOU1lTQG0qv12zKeMTzjgd80W_Zf-3wScNMXo4PBlKyDWkgHM/s400/4.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNaygNw-W9XGoQ-nM8kZTkyc90myAtfR-gtraTO6kCt9r8PuURQL6wjAZyYHWSNrlQmswYVTCllc7tUbRxARGC1PBwW_prp3siVH7EjPkFoaHlJt3vawWfv7d08kUPEnXTm60rTP3Gxc/s1600/5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNaygNw-W9XGoQ-nM8kZTkyc90myAtfR-gtraTO6kCt9r8PuURQL6wjAZyYHWSNrlQmswYVTCllc7tUbRxARGC1PBwW_prp3siVH7EjPkFoaHlJt3vawWfv7d08kUPEnXTm60rTP3Gxc/s400/5.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Really good salads with really good dressing... Slobber.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxlRF21nCyQR0lBnUEsIEDuN9y-UyxQBamfN53aXOfjo7VyBD8yekqdSjgJvQKwgHtIxImzopq3w74eH30eUPijMFohx_leunrKksbO7lZeFs3hXBMFt2K-Lo12LNU2G3_mhKzWFXbcI/s1600/6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxlRF21nCyQR0lBnUEsIEDuN9y-UyxQBamfN53aXOfjo7VyBD8yekqdSjgJvQKwgHtIxImzopq3w74eH30eUPijMFohx_leunrKksbO7lZeFs3hXBMFt2K-Lo12LNU2G3_mhKzWFXbcI/s400/6.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheez-It crackers!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hpT2ZVhioromVSMxWETcMv10K9jDYjnIVMmraPSrAJylAPwjIjsan0P8-MwEehqqAIXBmGkOYt5Zi57oUvwJRENRIbjmzcxuIwaZZsQJ0nhkIuSf02B98UOmQZF3Q4n12ZGGlGa8DUg/s1600/7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hpT2ZVhioromVSMxWETcMv10K9jDYjnIVMmraPSrAJylAPwjIjsan0P8-MwEehqqAIXBmGkOYt5Zi57oUvwJRENRIbjmzcxuIwaZZsQJ0nhkIuSf02B98UOmQZF3Q4n12ZGGlGa8DUg/s400/7.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Showering Rama - A Thai dish that's spicy and peanut-buttery. Divine.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqsPhyphenhyphen0pfpPzWbZEeOmMnPYZRHHz8A5VW1SWpIQaegq-SZvZ5ciqrJoraooYGioX8Ylpx-VFzKZmINVszpJEakQpP5yZE9Akvk7d6QsTgP3HGdFaYjta0Zgfa6GCUBbDk3JuzCAiK-IYE/s1600/8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqsPhyphenhyphen0pfpPzWbZEeOmMnPYZRHHz8A5VW1SWpIQaegq-SZvZ5ciqrJoraooYGioX8Ylpx-VFzKZmINVszpJEakQpP5yZE9Akvk7d6QsTgP3HGdFaYjta0Zgfa6GCUBbDk3JuzCAiK-IYE/s400/8.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've never been a big soda drinker, but wow, a (not diet) Dr. Pepper is all I want sometimes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Not pictured: Sharp cheddar cheese, cranberry or grapefruit juice, and hard boiled eggs, to name a few more.<br />
<br />
I only have a handful of weeks left... I wonder what's next?~ AKJ ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/06509064001406210098noreply@blogger.com0