tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91520923642538563492024-03-06T12:02:56.043-08:00...the beginnings of a new life...Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15572795811751194933noreply@blogger.comBlogger120125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152092364253856349.post-72927642120735714802016-01-11T06:22:00.001-08:002016-01-11T06:22:18.542-08:00Book Review #8I had the pleasure of reviewing this fun adult coloring book for Bloggingforbooks.com recently! With these coloring books being all the rage these days, I figured I would check it out. This particular book was a story and a coloring book. So throughout the book the story was told while the pictures were ones that you could color.<br />
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In my honest opinion, this wasn't my favorite approach to a coloring book. I would rather just have pages to color and the whole page be devoted to the drawing/coloring. Some of the drawings in this book were mystical and a bit strange to my liking but over all its a really unique concept to have a story book that you can color.<br />
I did love how some of the pages were easy to color and others were very intricate. Perfect for a time when you need to relax. :)Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15572795811751194933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152092364253856349.post-75946275730901468532015-12-07T07:18:00.001-08:002015-12-07T07:18:32.250-08:00Book Review #7What to Eat When You're Pregnant<br />
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(disclaimer: I am NOT pregnant. Got this for a friend who is pregnant so I can pass it along when I've written the review!)<br />
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This book was fascinating and full of lots of great information for while you are pregnant.<br />
If you've ever wondered about certain benefits of different foods during your pregnancy, this is definitely the book for you.<br />
The book goes through your pregnancy week by week and gives you lists of foods that are beneficial to you and the baby at this point and pregnancy and even includes some recipes to get the creative ideas flowing! Filled with charts, recipes, helpful tips and just some over all good reading, this book should be a wealth of information for any mom-no matter if this is your first pregnancy or your fourth. It is written in such a easy to read manner and is very encouraging to fuel your body in the right and healthy ways.<br />
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<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15572795811751194933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152092364253856349.post-48657321225300259532015-11-18T07:47:00.000-08:002015-11-18T07:49:10.081-08:00New York City! Brandon's 28th birthday fell on a Monday and months before hand, he had asked for his birthday off of work. One day we got to talking and just randomly threw out there about visiting his uncle in NY that weekend and I suggested taking off that Tuesday as well so we could have more time, if we actually went.<br />
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Our trip slowly became concrete plans and we decided to head up there after a friends wedding that saturday.</div>
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The trip from the location of the wedding was about 5.5 hours and the boys did fantastically. James slept most of the way and isaiah either watched a movie or looked at books.</div>
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The drive was relatively smooth and we arrived around 10 or 11.</div>
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That night we planned out what we would do the following day.</div>
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We wanted to see some of the "must sees" and also just wanted to be able to explore. So uncle Stephen gave us some ideas and we all set off. Stephen stayed with us for about half the day and gave us pointers on how to navigate the subway and where to go before leaving us.</div>
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Since we started in Brooklyn, we went to Brooklyn park, walked across the Brooklyn bridge and then started to explore Manhattan.</div>
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Wall Street.</div>
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9/11 memorial.</div>
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Grand central station was super beautiful and just a buzz with people.</div>
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We didn't get toooo close to the Empire State Building but we saw it :)</div>
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Times Square was next.</div>
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We took isaiah to the m&m store and the Lego store :)</div>
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We wanted to see Central Park before the end of the day so we had an hour or two to spend there :)</div>
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Central Park was/is HUGE! We didn't get close to even exploring most of it. But the boys loved all the boulders that were throughout the park.</div>
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It was the perfect place to stretch your legs and just relax.</div>
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On our trip we only brought the umbrella stroller so that we could easily navigate the subway and the ergo. The kids did great in both. The baby carrier was a life saver and james was able to take several naps whenever he felt like it through out the day :)</div>
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Brandons birthday started out with bagels from a local bagel shop and then a ride on the Staton Island Ferry.</div>
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We rather like free things and this was such a fun free ride! We got to see the Statue of Liberty from the ferry and it gave us a great view of the Manhattan skyline.</div>
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Every time we went down subway steps isaiah would pretend he was a bird and flap his "wings" :)</div>
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We walked the Highline trail that used to be a train trellace that went thru the city. It gave us some great views and we were able to find a local coffee place to stop and sit for a bit :)</div>
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We had a great view of some construction work going on and the boys thought it was the best thing ever!</div>
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After walking around for a bit longer, we met up with brandons cousin Sarah and her two girls to go to the Central Park zoo and then we went and got dessert for brandons birthday!</div>
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It was a great way to end the day :)</div>
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Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15572795811751194933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152092364253856349.post-49569862624760616042015-08-17T05:26:00.001-07:002015-08-17T05:26:05.485-07:00Canning and more canning!!We have been SO blessed this year with the amount of produce I've been able to buy/been given. I love knowing that this winter we will have plenty of blueberries, strawberries, peaches, peach jam, diced tomatoes and salsa in our freezer and in our basement. <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0pvX1RfX8EA8IW5ETLNXw-NGKNvOjAS7f6C9UiNda2ynvAsWAxiz97OQe6l68KMIujuDySBLSUXSO1_cPHvGbH8QdRv8cJ_KtA5h8xNm7NRXt2l00DKb54XCCaWo_qEo0tz6rpXxDl9n9/s640/blogger-image-1162947961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0pvX1RfX8EA8IW5ETLNXw-NGKNvOjAS7f6C9UiNda2ynvAsWAxiz97OQe6l68KMIujuDySBLSUXSO1_cPHvGbH8QdRv8cJ_KtA5h8xNm7NRXt2l00DKb54XCCaWo_qEo0tz6rpXxDl9n9/s640/blogger-image-1162947961.jpg"></a></div>I went blueberry picking twice and got 4 gallons. The blueberries are all organic and pesticide free and are currently sitting in my freezer just waiting to be used in smoothies, oatmeal, muffins-yu name it! Isaiah eats them frozen like they are candy :)</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoKUr83aAdKwRN8dp6dfL5vN-VKafDn5X15IpDTq-D6RxV3Fs6gS6iwLFLGAoSNvUHww2S1sd_FfX0eA6yekuY-uDStHdmUmPVxDRvI9pNbrLH7DDitEWeZW6LlYAyvMWhDvuNN9TKab9x/s640/blogger-image-441772721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoKUr83aAdKwRN8dp6dfL5vN-VKafDn5X15IpDTq-D6RxV3Fs6gS6iwLFLGAoSNvUHww2S1sd_FfX0eA6yekuY-uDStHdmUmPVxDRvI9pNbrLH7DDitEWeZW6LlYAyvMWhDvuNN9TKab9x/s640/blogger-image-441772721.jpg"></a></div>I was able to buy 50 pounds of peaches that were seconds quality and I made most of them into peach jam and peach syrup. The syrup is to die for and is incredibly delicious over pancakes!!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3HjJR0kLW-_wMqZzkwwPbnzFABP3DnFf1HWrg7z5lY9Jjf-yohTpu965VYNpX0Oo286IUsykoEFdTf4I-FkGBgNNhv62pt1MSXzJFI5B_G-RwR6ZW-9Qs5as-BRQvRKMR_bzxw4mXoQe/s640/blogger-image--671021128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3HjJR0kLW-_wMqZzkwwPbnzFABP3DnFf1HWrg7z5lY9Jjf-yohTpu965VYNpX0Oo286IUsykoEFdTf4I-FkGBgNNhv62pt1MSXzJFI5B_G-RwR6ZW-9Qs5as-BRQvRKMR_bzxw4mXoQe/s640/blogger-image--671021128.jpg"></a></div>Before the process began!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GAD67SLjxqHmrI_jpalrX8wVOcElNUEUV8Sk-WpF5s7m15gid-5rS97mZqC_Up0Og1Cb9-e1JayJ9fZVZJ7ksSE0dKbEcXaei7jTJ95Vfyn5EmxqLEAuE9NQdZk4WR0r7-n6bV8qwIlc/s640/blogger-image-475608738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GAD67SLjxqHmrI_jpalrX8wVOcElNUEUV8Sk-WpF5s7m15gid-5rS97mZqC_Up0Og1Cb9-e1JayJ9fZVZJ7ksSE0dKbEcXaei7jTJ95Vfyn5EmxqLEAuE9NQdZk4WR0r7-n6bV8qwIlc/s640/blogger-image-475608738.jpg"></a></div>Hot water to be able to get the skins off.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGsLsNcO-nTHpwLVtxlp5makNvAo_7jEfHPcp3-rdAQ97OBKR0NDI_QqXuGiQhFa3P6DuC2ToPmy6yfeoQMvZ-LVEW1cndbe5Zdj3eZ9gyT1q_bcG0Yy_FubiUBTfdNjsXrNxzGcybOwYV/s640/blogger-image--178060597.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGsLsNcO-nTHpwLVtxlp5makNvAo_7jEfHPcp3-rdAQ97OBKR0NDI_QqXuGiQhFa3P6DuC2ToPmy6yfeoQMvZ-LVEW1cndbe5Zdj3eZ9gyT1q_bcG0Yy_FubiUBTfdNjsXrNxzGcybOwYV/s640/blogger-image--178060597.jpg"></a></div>Cold water to make it even easier.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxlS1-_pXTv110tSlGxJU-k6OpXK_nkZvaeKXFrj3z8fXHGsN6PvWO05lnhRCZ8ayGLx883r2wwWJViTPMecK_gtRVX93fFgF2V1x0k-qwFXpLXVMAkDdepbBKE4N5y3omPxX6bmXy7qVt/s640/blogger-image--1049203261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxlS1-_pXTv110tSlGxJU-k6OpXK_nkZvaeKXFrj3z8fXHGsN6PvWO05lnhRCZ8ayGLx883r2wwWJViTPMecK_gtRVX93fFgF2V1x0k-qwFXpLXVMAkDdepbBKE4N5y3omPxX6bmXy7qVt/s640/blogger-image--1049203261.jpg"></a></div>These are the two huge bowls that contained the peach purée for the jam.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61f9ZbahRrZ1WUdEKPEJ4Odqkrr6y0KUpwwS2pf9DFKYaFcxr3psni-i3p9k7fP3tn2p7OHYHPxZAgiGdQxtL66cBEZrO-6XMD1oWt2d7n3PkKidF_8epE5yOWyoRV3_0YWMDZxG9aAV_/s640/blogger-image-199350814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61f9ZbahRrZ1WUdEKPEJ4Odqkrr6y0KUpwwS2pf9DFKYaFcxr3psni-i3p9k7fP3tn2p7OHYHPxZAgiGdQxtL66cBEZrO-6XMD1oWt2d7n3PkKidF_8epE5yOWyoRV3_0YWMDZxG9aAV_/s640/blogger-image-199350814.jpg"></a></div>The stove was quite busy :) tomato sauce simmering, peaches cooking down for the jam and then peach syrup heating up.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSkyw4BJi26RhlACupb6hcAoP9Wr4Sb8Szn0rCVylw8g2PJUfCaHplMinO1FPzV9HyC5pSLOZp9CibjTkkRzxEPiYeIVH6GImgTpiAkf_d4NSurPCi9zgE2dw1jnwgt6miyc7OrvjUKRD/s640/blogger-image--900077715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSkyw4BJi26RhlACupb6hcAoP9Wr4Sb8Szn0rCVylw8g2PJUfCaHplMinO1FPzV9HyC5pSLOZp9CibjTkkRzxEPiYeIVH6GImgTpiAkf_d4NSurPCi9zgE2dw1jnwgt6miyc7OrvjUKRD/s640/blogger-image--900077715.jpg"></a></div>For the syrup, I used my blender to make it. It was done in approximately 10 seconds. This blender is a beast.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYi5lSDakJSnT3tIof7qViE_XjctFOWUWNuIYung4P2dxH_O7dnpzrs3ZYS84fGucWQaPntvlVuSxOtHlHqSCpN2FaPdIj1SimiSGyTknBfpBdIWP9_pFq_kZLa6kDAY4UMxeNs8NjSdYc/s640/blogger-image-338821014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYi5lSDakJSnT3tIof7qViE_XjctFOWUWNuIYung4P2dxH_O7dnpzrs3ZYS84fGucWQaPntvlVuSxOtHlHqSCpN2FaPdIj1SimiSGyTknBfpBdIWP9_pFq_kZLa6kDAY4UMxeNs8NjSdYc/s640/blogger-image-338821014.jpg"></a></div>After a long day, I was finally finished. Definitely worth all of the work!!</div><div>Two days later I set to work on a ton of tomatoes my mother in laws neighbor gave us!</div><div>Her garden is simply amazing and she uses it to bless others by giving away TONS of the produce!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIx_hqoQIVCNhncuz5x0LgBpC0TK48tll-qiE14l5_iVX5P-uS1FKMDf3I8c4grYnpGL3vi1_UwpOkCJ1YfbooVQ37NISApvcP5Amhczay-0JRDFo8V7WpZylJVwB_Mm8Ypk7wuO4doqC/s640/blogger-image--1441470517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIx_hqoQIVCNhncuz5x0LgBpC0TK48tll-qiE14l5_iVX5P-uS1FKMDf3I8c4grYnpGL3vi1_UwpOkCJ1YfbooVQ37NISApvcP5Amhczay-0JRDFo8V7WpZylJVwB_Mm8Ypk7wuO4doqC/s640/blogger-image--1441470517.jpg"></a></div>This is only a fraction of the garden.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGATC-B66AdsARVAB5XCYbM2EMFgm56LyqbjAn-5rA1gA7hHh1lIYHbVqmXp0BOdY89x-k_CI1x7Z9TcW6r4GFtyG7fb86tdHhy2_-mbjZVFIomg0-HGpSndmLZYlszl51mV62bh8uPwk/s640/blogger-image-1086539301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGATC-B66AdsARVAB5XCYbM2EMFgm56LyqbjAn-5rA1gA7hHh1lIYHbVqmXp0BOdY89x-k_CI1x7Z9TcW6r4GFtyG7fb86tdHhy2_-mbjZVFIomg0-HGpSndmLZYlszl51mV62bh8uPwk/s640/blogger-image-1086539301.jpg"></a></div>Mhmmm! She gave us all of these tomatoes, some bell peppers, and some delicious red potatoes!!! We were and are so grateful.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZbUAd9yxE-z27GlvAaIwlfviDNplQoK3Byb3I5pdJbrGVVCu9iAOavkF6DpB6cPFWPXx1Mhwl1OcxSI9_bdIwqd8rQbgT8dxeJWS9RzhQVqmsH4UTrwhd3nPlY-FOyb58w4ACbb43QmM/s640/blogger-image-885500962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZbUAd9yxE-z27GlvAaIwlfviDNplQoK3Byb3I5pdJbrGVVCu9iAOavkF6DpB6cPFWPXx1Mhwl1OcxSI9_bdIwqd8rQbgT8dxeJWS9RzhQVqmsH4UTrwhd3nPlY-FOyb58w4ACbb43QmM/s640/blogger-image-885500962.jpg"></a></div>The tomatoes took a very long time to prep-but thanks to a little boy sleeping in until 10 am, I got everything ready to can.</div><div>(While isaiah watched Frozen :) )</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpo5iRWNVnwViNs0j_zRhoSRCjG01yzPnhxFtfzNqpOUZjRxAx4XKlSbGWz4StLAHfN8f07WQtvjdhYqJr7v9PFzEE_6zL9NIazL6-rpEk98ilEEh4Yu52Ql-_eRiANwlR5GBfaMs61Z8/s640/blogger-image-270308361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpo5iRWNVnwViNs0j_zRhoSRCjG01yzPnhxFtfzNqpOUZjRxAx4XKlSbGWz4StLAHfN8f07WQtvjdhYqJr7v9PFzEE_6zL9NIazL6-rpEk98ilEEh4Yu52Ql-_eRiANwlR5GBfaMs61Z8/s640/blogger-image-270308361.jpg"></a></div>The tomatoes were a particularly messy process-and I honk my floor is still somewhat sticky because of them :)</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4tG3ZMXF3VlbXcLAlU1aE96VW_ko_EBQfH1rjOtU55QCgyeO_umdRHNNHEAPByS3AQI0cOPPOuLEw1jXFO8JlHw6YHfnS2S5n88gUP5xxtX0A5ef-lfV7AQVf2yjXG_xOnLTDfCgjQ2Y3/s640/blogger-image-1028228158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4tG3ZMXF3VlbXcLAlU1aE96VW_ko_EBQfH1rjOtU55QCgyeO_umdRHNNHEAPByS3AQI0cOPPOuLEw1jXFO8JlHw6YHfnS2S5n88gUP5xxtX0A5ef-lfV7AQVf2yjXG_xOnLTDfCgjQ2Y3/s640/blogger-image-1028228158.jpg"></a></div>Tomatoes were everywhere :)</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheuNbS75xtKjbZgc3i2lnVYNIb1jfXGRk3hGeYigPmU3FmBOnJKzwCY8Mr4VDxuxHnkAXNq5qof_TCDncNzYkRTusnGdtVN_3aYOeShy1kjraziDLfm6ciIto7ls0_CSSH1ShMy1j2JADs/s640/blogger-image-1169171962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheuNbS75xtKjbZgc3i2lnVYNIb1jfXGRk3hGeYigPmU3FmBOnJKzwCY8Mr4VDxuxHnkAXNq5qof_TCDncNzYkRTusnGdtVN_3aYOeShy1kjraziDLfm6ciIto7ls0_CSSH1ShMy1j2JADs/s640/blogger-image-1169171962.jpg"></a></div>I was able to get 24 quarts of diced tomatoes and I have a bag or two of tomato sauce in the freezer. </div><div>I was just given a few more tomatoes and I plan to can some salsa this evening with them.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyDfIM4SQsidVumnzBDxTntJDq9ymOZM-O1yrMvwDEPoddMriMeMD8zOCqZy4vOAqV-h7G55bkPv8tsZ5ZbqO-RybkRcGTUF5k_Yag7L95Wk5sDwIORfXQSPKKwysRKqhTrR09kNrqGFh/s640/blogger-image--1760994257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyDfIM4SQsidVumnzBDxTntJDq9ymOZM-O1yrMvwDEPoddMriMeMD8zOCqZy4vOAqV-h7G55bkPv8tsZ5ZbqO-RybkRcGTUF5k_Yag7L95Wk5sDwIORfXQSPKKwysRKqhTrR09kNrqGFh/s640/blogger-image--1760994257.jpg"></a></div>See? Just a few ;)</div><div>Maybe one day I'll have a garden to where we can grow our own winter supply of food. And summer dinners. That would be awesome. For now, I'll just dream about it :)</div><div><br></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15572795811751194933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152092364253856349.post-72074625122346212802015-07-17T05:08:00.001-07:002015-07-17T05:26:22.416-07:00The tale of homemade coffee creamerOkay. Confession. I am a coffee creamer addict. <div>It has to be <i>creamy.</i> And sweet. Can't forget the sweetness. Oh, and it has to have flavor. Caramel is my favorite.</div><div>Recently we, as a family, have been become vegetarian. Mainly because it's cheaper but also because we are striving to make healthier habits for ourselves. That being said, I've been working on cutting out most forms of sugar and processed foods and it's amazing how much we don't miss any of that. We have been able to see a difference in the way we feel and even look by adding more veggies and green smoothies into our diet and less sweets and it's been great! We love it.</div><div>(Im not saying that because we are vegetarian {while at home} we are super healthy. Because you can still be vegetarian and unhealthy. We just try to do what's best for us and take little steps at a time)</div><div>But I wasn't going to give up my coffee creamer. The stuff that was delicious and creamy and full of all sorts of chemicals to make it that way and that i ingested <i>every.single.day.</i></div><div><i><br></i></div><div>Time went on and as I slowly started evaluating other things we ate, (we still don't eat perfectly!) I knew I wouldn't be able to keep drinking my coffee every day with this creamer added to it and the thought of drinking it black was not even a thought in my mind.</div><div>I didn't want to give up my creamer.</div><div>So I resorted to Pinterest and I looked up home made coffee creamers.</div><div>The result was pages and pages of beautiful looking creamers in glass jars and recycled coffee creamer containers perfectly photographed. And flavor choices upon flavor choices! I was so excited to stumble into this land of diy coffee creamer. I knew I wouldn't have any trouble finding a recipe that suited my tastes.</div><div><br></div><div>I pulled up several recipes that looked promising. I had everything on hand-coconut milk, dates, vanilla, cocoa powder, maple syrup, cream....and I went to work ( over the period of several days).</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirKrhX1IOyEWin-iWeqTnN9lp-AfWrpWqkwOBdHrwdSl2YL5FSK6i5VCmakMVZ4oHy-qrCg5M49vroZVHGxjg-Jxsujr_142oZn51Ux78uIzEFquJ8jiv4SDQpyoZyV49fr09r-WeyQz-J/s640/blogger-image-527394041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirKrhX1IOyEWin-iWeqTnN9lp-AfWrpWqkwOBdHrwdSl2YL5FSK6i5VCmakMVZ4oHy-qrCg5M49vroZVHGxjg-Jxsujr_142oZn51Ux78uIzEFquJ8jiv4SDQpyoZyV49fr09r-WeyQz-J/s640/blogger-image-527394041.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Every single recipe I tried out failed.</div><div>It was bitter.</div><div>Not sweet.</div><div>Not creamy.</div><div>Lacked flavor.</div><div>It was disappointing and I was not pleased. Especially after spending money on pure maple syrup pure vanilla extrac and dates amongst other things.</div><div>I figured I was doomed to give up coffee because I really didn't want to continue drinking the creamer I had been(such a turn around from where I started!).</div><div>Then. Someone told me about a more natural line of creamer that Coffeemate actually produces. It's called Natural Bliss.</div><div>It has four ingredients. </div><div>Milk. Cream. Sugar. Natural flavor.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Q11J20AmW00agZMarSTktkS5p2fBAOYI8bKxWML0f0Vr7k61wljkqNCY1SPm-AFuKSNl41Uh3DwzLKImm1hcAufWxZSa8rczkjALT2EMvmVZW9nmN_G4XiicAqGbGn6C-Oy19ld_Jvrw/s640/blogger-image--1979502981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Q11J20AmW00agZMarSTktkS5p2fBAOYI8bKxWML0f0Vr7k61wljkqNCY1SPm-AFuKSNl41Uh3DwzLKImm1hcAufWxZSa8rczkjALT2EMvmVZW9nmN_G4XiicAqGbGn6C-Oy19ld_Jvrw/s640/blogger-image--1979502981.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>That's it. Nothing added to it to make it creamy-it was just those four simple ingredients. I could live with those :) and though it's not healthy per-se, it's something I feel much better about putting into my body on a daily basis.</div><div><br></div><div>The creamer only comes in small bottles and is more pricey than the other creamer I had been buying, therefore making me limit myself to only one cup a day(occasionally two on a weekend ;) ) to save myself money and at the same time not make myself fatter. It's a win win. And my coffee creamer search was over.</div><div><br></div><div>I might eventually try my hand at making a creamer again-but I'm going to give it some time. I wish I knew where I had messed up after trying several recipes!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnbiGBLWB8Glk22KnZGKEHga64tDPtsGC0O1ZpGwAvFC-LqoD6b9_j1GrohyphenhyphenGPWxhmzuNpAC87jEfkjssdOKwKR_d5ZtsnalxpbNp774EbdLxLritajStVrR2FdgIWxdPZjcwExuL4vti/s640/blogger-image-612640882.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnbiGBLWB8Glk22KnZGKEHga64tDPtsGC0O1ZpGwAvFC-LqoD6b9_j1GrohyphenhyphenGPWxhmzuNpAC87jEfkjssdOKwKR_d5ZtsnalxpbNp774EbdLxLritajStVrR2FdgIWxdPZjcwExuL4vti/s640/blogger-image-612640882.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15572795811751194933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152092364253856349.post-75434206165704497402015-06-15T07:01:00.002-07:002015-06-15T07:01:55.872-07:00Book Review #6<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-KqyXB23BD1nNOAEhyphenhyphengVG1nhiIdd8SIpyNaOHjlDWXQy-fPe924qEC_6PUjGhmm9xGGyp1Pn2vHdb0KFt2qH6tHh72YxMT5xIOi8gCrozTLLtU0JTES68dXJbN67x3nCW5p8wz4aUd17/s1600/download+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-KqyXB23BD1nNOAEhyphenhyphengVG1nhiIdd8SIpyNaOHjlDWXQy-fPe924qEC_6PUjGhmm9xGGyp1Pn2vHdb0KFt2qH6tHh72YxMT5xIOi8gCrozTLLtU0JTES68dXJbN67x3nCW5p8wz4aUd17/s1600/download+%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
I received this book from Blogging for Books for free to write a review on it.<br />
<br />
When I was looking for a book to review, this one caught my eye instantly. I've been on a healthy kick recently and really have been curious as to what is in foods that we eat every day.<br />
I recently gave up drinking my favorite flavored coffee creamer because it had so many ingredients in it that I couldn't pronounce! If it had words that I couldn't understand or pronounce, why was I putting that into my body EVERY. SINLGLE. DAY? And sometimes multiple times a day? Therefore my quest for coffee creamer began. Pinterest became my friend and I book marked tons of recipes on DIY coffee creamer.<br />
None of them worked for me.<br />
So I went to google and to online forums to find a premade, all natural coffee creamer. (Thinking there was no such thing.) Much to my surprise, Coffee Mate makes a brand called "Natural Bliss" and there are three flavors that I can find locally. (apparently there are MORE than three!! Including caramel...I need that in my life. Like right now.)<br />
<br />
They come in the small bottles and are more expensive...but the ingredients. They had me sold. :)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdkl8FL1Ng7U3Q9aL_0aet46iBojosLAi9y15kymyfNR4nB-bc5ML8_WYVDOQx59JztRYFEJj5tpZLHVgcF2RQyYA-6yEcI5oR5C3l9THzXJQ9ujxLBL-KmxeahJwBL-SjCX6cJk2sw5I/s1600/coffee-mate-natural-bliss-creamer-ingredients.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdkl8FL1Ng7U3Q9aL_0aet46iBojosLAi9y15kymyfNR4nB-bc5ML8_WYVDOQx59JztRYFEJj5tpZLHVgcF2RQyYA-6yEcI5oR5C3l9THzXJQ9ujxLBL-KmxeahJwBL-SjCX6cJk2sw5I/s320/coffee-mate-natural-bliss-creamer-ingredients.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Those are the type of ingredients I can handle with a clear conscience :)<br />
Anyway, back to this book.<br />
It was an interesting read on every day things you eat and drink and use including coffee, deodorant, laundry detergent, cool whip etc.<br />
Each subject has a list of ingredients along with what that actual ingredient is! This book definitely helps enlighten you on what you put in/on/around your body.<br />
While I may not read the backs of every single thing I use or eat, I am making little changes in my daily life slowly.<br />
Definitely check this book out to learn more. :)Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15572795811751194933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152092364253856349.post-57953751534696614942015-04-29T03:14:00.001-07:002015-06-15T07:17:01.153-07:00Whirlwind Road TripThe last weekend in April, Brandon was able to ask off for two days so we could join his family and extended family down in Florida for the celebration of his grandpas 80th birthday.<div>Thankfully, we decided to split up the trip down there and drove half way to Charleston, SC on Friday and the rest of the way on Saturday.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmd_QxwRU0gRXilXQhaq7EuIB0pdJropadEfu6tDShQo4Vp-Ea7olQb3llgJ6bc3mwjNGdb-FwBECMtjEQA4Q60AJ8T9dBR49WA8_mRSOt3qSbje44GtA9DUrqA5qXOT6k4qt06pmbvZh/s640/blogger-image-1370631362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmd_QxwRU0gRXilXQhaq7EuIB0pdJropadEfu6tDShQo4Vp-Ea7olQb3llgJ6bc3mwjNGdb-FwBECMtjEQA4Q60AJ8T9dBR49WA8_mRSOt3qSbje44GtA9DUrqA5qXOT6k4qt06pmbvZh/s640/blogger-image-1370631362.jpg"></a></div>With two small kiddos it was a good idea to split the trip in half. The 6 hour drive took us about 8 hours total. It was so nice to take our time and stop when we wanted/needed.</div><div>Isaiah kept talking about going to "Charlies house"! It was so cute to see how excited he was to go on a road trip. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWk_gsGx7IzNltWgAI9ozmCti-OEcWumnx9e54S19vFkOdKbQXDRWf-3bopN1DejRkuSEk51l9w9QB1ebtEsCmkc9fRIYMGxtqnnqLER4DiYIWxQJ5HKlyNyQ1fjVm6SZTHu4KAltFPR3/s640/blogger-image--493919324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWk_gsGx7IzNltWgAI9ozmCti-OEcWumnx9e54S19vFkOdKbQXDRWf-3bopN1DejRkuSEk51l9w9QB1ebtEsCmkc9fRIYMGxtqnnqLER4DiYIWxQJ5HKlyNyQ1fjVm6SZTHu4KAltFPR3/s640/blogger-image--493919324.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">He would ask us when we would go on a road trip and we would have to keep telling him we were *on* the road trip right now! The most common phrase we heard was "I don't want to go home!!"-and we had to assure him that we were not headed home for several days :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgk5NJgST_wsXm-CCzuwPn93Enz_Y4uOeWsgrI2KF4u34oB9zkHXQ6_hgzENq8aDb9Dh3hc6fZp9TZx5Rjf8z-YSjz4fTFTqDfAFQ_J-cd_Wio59EbtnuauUNdxmtt6OrDQNBFmUdcNPU0/s640/blogger-image--1022707500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgk5NJgST_wsXm-CCzuwPn93Enz_Y4uOeWsgrI2KF4u34oB9zkHXQ6_hgzENq8aDb9Dh3hc6fZp9TZx5Rjf8z-YSjz4fTFTqDfAFQ_J-cd_Wio59EbtnuauUNdxmtt6OrDQNBFmUdcNPU0/s640/blogger-image--1022707500.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxdZE9znjWISyWEWoouS-Z8iYrnQerKc3Ehcf821ExRa3SEnoG_FntV_AV0VP5QeMPc1bQX551YzdtR3tdo31NqNNiShG6joUQ1EQzcPSkDKwjcKY53aVm9m7TlBqty14FzzHuj-GerpC/s640/blogger-image-758772307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxdZE9znjWISyWEWoouS-Z8iYrnQerKc3Ehcf821ExRa3SEnoG_FntV_AV0VP5QeMPc1bQX551YzdtR3tdo31NqNNiShG6joUQ1EQzcPSkDKwjcKY53aVm9m7TlBqty14FzzHuj-GerpC/s640/blogger-image-758772307.jpg"></a></div>Saturday morning isaiah slept til 7:30 which is an hour and a half more than what he normally sleeps to on any given morning so that was a nice little surprise. :) once we ate breakfast at the hotel we got on the road again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJ6aqUG4y6Rg7qclCoFnXY-E1Hq_lXbWA6eknPZPEum0ZSMDxcOqrIalDNlpTfNC-19F5EDYhK5VsHRKXWlCiYKCcDz8g_TgtDraMvKQ8AreianZNxnp5RsWzhbKXhmTBOJ1a6I6_fEaZ/s640/blogger-image-1376387144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJ6aqUG4y6Rg7qclCoFnXY-E1Hq_lXbWA6eknPZPEum0ZSMDxcOqrIalDNlpTfNC-19F5EDYhK5VsHRKXWlCiYKCcDz8g_TgtDraMvKQ8AreianZNxnp5RsWzhbKXhmTBOJ1a6I6_fEaZ/s640/blogger-image-1376387144.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqlWJQGMMXLO7-h3WLdiqZCodr_LtKaWssu72D9pXhKRBtx_U_a75MBItLDf-DG5oDBk6JqPx23faNqRMtFk9thfAa5P-UjQ938mIUs4kI2HgTM8DMdMhqijumuE0qRo2BgkpL3WxDcM7t/s640/blogger-image-294811051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqlWJQGMMXLO7-h3WLdiqZCodr_LtKaWssu72D9pXhKRBtx_U_a75MBItLDf-DG5oDBk6JqPx23faNqRMtFk9thfAa5P-UjQ938mIUs4kI2HgTM8DMdMhqijumuE0qRo2BgkpL3WxDcM7t/s640/blogger-image-294811051.jpg"></a></div>We were blessed with very safe travel mercies and escaped heavy rains and tornado watches and warnings.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We arrived at Brandon's aunts house where we were graciously housed and fed for the next two nights!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYl2Wvyi-qv-dW0QecSnxcQhWto-Ou94deZaAvQN4MpbndDSYnj6TCswwK3ig8Mh-YBkzIMy_Kl2_4AbVRMcbwPwWb7U5izwW3v3pSnOWn6GcdqKRMvpqiGAh-XNg3YySfsakV4Wf5k0GE/s640/blogger-image--41663119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYl2Wvyi-qv-dW0QecSnxcQhWto-Ou94deZaAvQN4MpbndDSYnj6TCswwK3ig8Mh-YBkzIMy_Kl2_4AbVRMcbwPwWb7U5izwW3v3pSnOWn6GcdqKRMvpqiGAh-XNg3YySfsakV4Wf5k0GE/s640/blogger-image--41663119.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71PW_YFSMBsqp4ZZenXhIpnVLDmQYQYO1dREdxNJSAbh7jp0JjwsT4DYVOoyDGUa_4b1zcZuvca-yllIx6JMU50S-IUyxVPEWLrua17XiwFu4ZVaOMkzK2WkC6oHWr5yc7sc1X_xiYLdh/s640/blogger-image--2120188352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71PW_YFSMBsqp4ZZenXhIpnVLDmQYQYO1dREdxNJSAbh7jp0JjwsT4DYVOoyDGUa_4b1zcZuvca-yllIx6JMU50S-IUyxVPEWLrua17XiwFu4ZVaOMkzK2WkC6oHWr5yc7sc1X_xiYLdh/s640/blogger-image--2120188352.jpg"></a></div>We had a great time catching up with family and just being out of the car!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sunday we went to church and then the party followed immediately after. It was held in a screened in pavilion which made for a beautiful breezy afternoon protected from the downpour that ensued half way through.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5Te0_xC_xeEtUfr8gMSXYx8Fbusd7Cciu3ZtGnYLsEeF6APuS-tZStrW0Ilz36X9FIkQ2ywJcoG0YBfVOTp3Y_8UdwgwfrntQfsPOeVigiBDgLTO5C5Ge3MNvrxk32DoirVJnfM2nv_m/s640/blogger-image--1565747910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5Te0_xC_xeEtUfr8gMSXYx8Fbusd7Cciu3ZtGnYLsEeF6APuS-tZStrW0Ilz36X9FIkQ2ywJcoG0YBfVOTp3Y_8UdwgwfrntQfsPOeVigiBDgLTO5C5Ge3MNvrxk32DoirVJnfM2nv_m/s640/blogger-image--1565747910.jpg"></a></div>It was a wonderful time celebrating Howard's 80 years of life. So glad we were able to be there for it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It was also nice to be in summer type weather for a day :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghOUErSFlAP1EwBXOlAlg2oZ9ZnG53a4WPw3k17p9tdvYo-yrKR7UTmkO2YR96p50J0RA784QdYQFYloF6CkmJLX3lHJYLsgZm6v5FHF9YyfAoE5jfJ3axFtdMpDsWQxa3fMDoxZFnIjLy/s640/blogger-image-1713612026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghOUErSFlAP1EwBXOlAlg2oZ9ZnG53a4WPw3k17p9tdvYo-yrKR7UTmkO2YR96p50J0RA784QdYQFYloF6CkmJLX3lHJYLsgZm6v5FHF9YyfAoE5jfJ3axFtdMpDsWQxa3fMDoxZFnIjLy/s640/blogger-image-1713612026.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy3sMcfTmMgSg09Db4vfgLIlcz93lch_-uL3D_2WkrqbxgdTgk5OGK9iBFhOPS108WxWlQ_lZ5VELKIY4WVWk5jmR137vv6q9fJMlmU1pDg3jhMGdR7fv6VfojYgX4kACvJvbcxbzKMupH/s640/blogger-image--224837132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy3sMcfTmMgSg09Db4vfgLIlcz93lch_-uL3D_2WkrqbxgdTgk5OGK9iBFhOPS108WxWlQ_lZ5VELKIY4WVWk5jmR137vv6q9fJMlmU1pDg3jhMGdR7fv6VfojYgX4kACvJvbcxbzKMupH/s640/blogger-image--224837132.jpg"></a></div>The day went by quickly and once the festivities were over we headed back to our abodes and just relaxed for the rest of the evening.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We headed back home early on Monday morning around 6:15 and spent about 17 hours on the road. It was a long day and the kiddos did so well. When we had about four hours left they started to just be over the whole road trip thing. Who can blame them??</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWL26fOp_afYZokAeDTL0TYvApj5hemccvgNzyNm3Cyox8X7BSYwECk8hkSqQh7rV4FzreNJKJpuL9jYmSphD4x4HsRhA7KVMOX_B6c42WuUUjy8vqLkXmrvCGhpG_7-scKUYDLWmVW0wF/s640/blogger-image--1515259378.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWL26fOp_afYZokAeDTL0TYvApj5hemccvgNzyNm3Cyox8X7BSYwECk8hkSqQh7rV4FzreNJKJpuL9jYmSphD4x4HsRhA7KVMOX_B6c42WuUUjy8vqLkXmrvCGhpG_7-scKUYDLWmVW0wF/s640/blogger-image--1515259378.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij16faMCybarUoCxZh6K5zgZTxnBkMfkcIN27oCUZdTJsuv3ZeIkv8I_QQbGbcVOHRUA5pLAAJzYqL2v0QpYARsLll3P3tcsPYwVrmk5HcqZV0ls4V9c3dM_k_OXXI9mKOlBzDF3e7MUsY/s640/blogger-image--2020072577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij16faMCybarUoCxZh6K5zgZTxnBkMfkcIN27oCUZdTJsuv3ZeIkv8I_QQbGbcVOHRUA5pLAAJzYqL2v0QpYARsLll3P3tcsPYwVrmk5HcqZV0ls4V9c3dM_k_OXXI9mKOlBzDF3e7MUsY/s640/blogger-image--2020072577.jpg"></a></div>One of our stopping points was the beach-isaiah was so thrilled and it was the perfect place for him to stretch his legs for a little bit :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPa_7im6JbAZaoGHQVnZodosxrvAcG5cSMcYe0DK7pMMMVgNzlbmj-vp0bhTTezTRzOuXltFmHc7ExcD54sBz_f-nvZ4SBwSHxpezxm5l1n4OHW0OKX3NXMpVWbo5a3qPiiOX4q9Hx4AAu/s640/blogger-image-118528723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPa_7im6JbAZaoGHQVnZodosxrvAcG5cSMcYe0DK7pMMMVgNzlbmj-vp0bhTTezTRzOuXltFmHc7ExcD54sBz_f-nvZ4SBwSHxpezxm5l1n4OHW0OKX3NXMpVWbo5a3qPiiOX4q9Hx4AAu/s640/blogger-image-118528723.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LQJ6JWaDT0jPvzh9RRdmJikIFFU8RHj9zOTUWFtw7GZTLNwhfr2Lwq1mNdlVtnfALZfGU3KOEQ8i9ExSrWp6o9xeVB3zCXn9BzGly7yj26egCGgoHUa0AasKZTQIpPAeFbdO9cmv3wcp/s640/blogger-image-793040945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LQJ6JWaDT0jPvzh9RRdmJikIFFU8RHj9zOTUWFtw7GZTLNwhfr2Lwq1mNdlVtnfALZfGU3KOEQ8i9ExSrWp6o9xeVB3zCXn9BzGly7yj26egCGgoHUa0AasKZTQIpPAeFbdO9cmv3wcp/s640/blogger-image-793040945.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EWgfO9rVtC_EXi7JSdyMSaVILXGpmxK5Z6078CZXmOhXnEuJynXsWduHruwWRUZeGUWSY4Aed6DZedAUJ1-lXekx1ni-Bt-v87MIqwZr0gW6bnPWCTaZRsRmCF7VVDP0v0-sktBHlgFe/s640/blogger-image--1830496441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EWgfO9rVtC_EXi7JSdyMSaVILXGpmxK5Z6078CZXmOhXnEuJynXsWduHruwWRUZeGUWSY4Aed6DZedAUJ1-lXekx1ni-Bt-v87MIqwZr0gW6bnPWCTaZRsRmCF7VVDP0v0-sktBHlgFe/s640/blogger-image--1830496441.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhruWrzVJHvADSJvxBlwycXrWxqMKs8hx5-aGtdgYpbvb959IZlHarLNtX1R8nMEmTLaeuZGTBz5ZkLgxTxPSWevVxkwFHgTFWUgyh4I5_D34GTgHvpNtfPa2LMxu2-HVokzhTwoqx7_7Xk/s640/blogger-image-1893948594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhruWrzVJHvADSJvxBlwycXrWxqMKs8hx5-aGtdgYpbvb959IZlHarLNtX1R8nMEmTLaeuZGTBz5ZkLgxTxPSWevVxkwFHgTFWUgyh4I5_D34GTgHvpNtfPa2LMxu2-HVokzhTwoqx7_7Xk/s640/blogger-image-1893948594.jpg"></a></div>This was James' first experience of the ocean :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicIN3J_plzLJSxptN26w48rOVYErDvwwkxPhvTbkG8jeTuqFdsfw1dwHZ3NBn7IFt6tapBYEqylRY1o-ED329wo65-N84sD5VBbl7OMbtu6fXH98g4JvwEmkrf-sBwRZYlgKqFtziCPvxG/s640/blogger-image-336669863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicIN3J_plzLJSxptN26w48rOVYErDvwwkxPhvTbkG8jeTuqFdsfw1dwHZ3NBn7IFt6tapBYEqylRY1o-ED329wo65-N84sD5VBbl7OMbtu6fXH98g4JvwEmkrf-sBwRZYlgKqFtziCPvxG/s640/blogger-image-336669863.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNx8fsrAkPKuKhP8C8KOukx3GVYLD5iDkFZgT0WQEZ2VpxZtlup8KSlxRqVo-_TjwI64zCNNjDDp4momL87Qhk9UEwyCFF1gc2ddFsbLao0wf3lThb5i8vhtH6RDhAjqyrxXvmk9iYho9r/s640/blogger-image-600234689.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNx8fsrAkPKuKhP8C8KOukx3GVYLD5iDkFZgT0WQEZ2VpxZtlup8KSlxRqVo-_TjwI64zCNNjDDp4momL87Qhk9UEwyCFF1gc2ddFsbLao0wf3lThb5i8vhtH6RDhAjqyrxXvmk9iYho9r/s640/blogger-image-600234689.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhz-RRpOn3VZBQNsHqwvL-UvHaBu7R4j9cZjvWwxEGu1ob3j6WkmcRcSATPJY-AroQuNpGrLZKlEHcS7dNgzpcrwxVL-D_HXPvUGR26dm1Uv_L-BFM382Yt8FN7d2A95_okeq8f4b_JPmL/s640/blogger-image-636259696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhz-RRpOn3VZBQNsHqwvL-UvHaBu7R4j9cZjvWwxEGu1ob3j6WkmcRcSATPJY-AroQuNpGrLZKlEHcS7dNgzpcrwxVL-D_HXPvUGR26dm1Uv_L-BFM382Yt8FN7d2A95_okeq8f4b_JPmL/s640/blogger-image-636259696.jpg"></a></div>It was a nice little stop and I'm glad we did that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD86RAR1sQK-1TnScOszpxXF7CGrSQtBgK7Ts6140PyLzEQd-i3UFR2fuAPlcFrRnNe7UB3Y1rxFexyKtomZlEJZ56FZRpMo_7ckVOycfrY3UBZJpoG0tbhy_U3-k9hXd2lIANhhi9_ASG/s640/blogger-image-858690258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD86RAR1sQK-1TnScOszpxXF7CGrSQtBgK7Ts6140PyLzEQd-i3UFR2fuAPlcFrRnNe7UB3Y1rxFexyKtomZlEJZ56FZRpMo_7ckVOycfrY3UBZJpoG0tbhy_U3-k9hXd2lIANhhi9_ASG/s640/blogger-image-858690258.jpg"></a></div>We found a great little coffee shop for our next real stop which was more than worth it. The kids needed more attention and time to stretch since we were doing so much in one day!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGM_MzVLJ3e1pc3jH_1Q7yLduom-hVBfoL_2jOh60ccKf47aV7LOjQ8Od6bdId_uJy577CPSG2lJpWVfm3khfJ0NepJIA6hd1pVgD-rKwxU75kppmMvok4qb8Y_MK3bgxqWGofZSO92Tz/s640/blogger-image--62488322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGM_MzVLJ3e1pc3jH_1Q7yLduom-hVBfoL_2jOh60ccKf47aV7LOjQ8Od6bdId_uJy577CPSG2lJpWVfm3khfJ0NepJIA6hd1pVgD-rKwxU75kppmMvok4qb8Y_MK3bgxqWGofZSO92Tz/s640/blogger-image--62488322.jpg"></a></div>The kiddos did so well considering we spent about 16 hours on the road coming home-we had about an hour or so near the end that was just screaming and whinning, but man, they really did well :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Needless to say, we were all so very glad to be home!</div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15572795811751194933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152092364253856349.post-70831056705417781982015-04-14T17:31:00.000-07:002015-04-14T17:31:12.095-07:00Book Review #5The Barefoot Queen<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNMXixRSCs9exbTIGLJDbjF8F5dGmCHtjPr7vmqvivDiMZghlrKo2GFXDij_xKCc6DN2VlcBdf6Q7wXkTDXsZUKNUIXjfNNckXz9QzGH3aJmeXysG385zefWwTRVynMQIjVN0GcB7YaMaV/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNMXixRSCs9exbTIGLJDbjF8F5dGmCHtjPr7vmqvivDiMZghlrKo2GFXDij_xKCc6DN2VlcBdf6Q7wXkTDXsZUKNUIXjfNNckXz9QzGH3aJmeXysG385zefWwTRVynMQIjVN0GcB7YaMaV/s1600/download.jpg" /></a></div>
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I had no idea what this book would be like when I got it and quite frankly it was not my favorite.<br />
This is a story from the view of a freed Cuban slave and her best friend who is a gypsy set in the 1700's and the book was slow going. I had a hard time connecting with the characters and the goings on.<br />
I can see how this story would appeal to some, but for my taste it was a bit too dark with it containing many scenes of abuse towards the women in this book. The way the abuse and violence was written was in a very casual manner and that just ruined the book for me.<br />
The Barefoot Queen is definitely written very well-just suited to a mature audience and one who doesn't mind reading graphic portrayals of that type of scene.<br />
<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15572795811751194933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152092364253856349.post-14248005360942469922015-03-02T07:24:00.001-08:002015-03-02T07:24:35.332-08:00De-clutteringOkay. Deep down inside (and it shows outwardly as well), I am a pack rat.<div>There's a problem that comes with that, unfortunately. Clutter.</div><div>I hate clutter.</div><div>If you asked my mom 5 years ago she would say "what?! You hate clutter? Never. Look at your room!"</div><div>Well, a lot has changed in 5 years and having a house of my own has more than likely changed my perspective on clutter.</div><div><br></div><div>Brandon and I go thru phases where everything is nice and clean, everything has a place and then...boom. Things are not in their place and I get stressed just looking at our room or our living room. So we get into cleaning mode and tear the room apart and put it back together-then we can breathe.</div><div>It's wonderful!</div><div><br></div><div>One of the recent snow days we had resulted in a more organized and clean kitchen! I finally got to the point where I couldn't stand looking at our kitchen. Ours is small and we don't have a pantry and we have very limited cabinet space.</div><div>So Brandon and I worked on tackling the top of the fridge first and then the pots and pans and the tuppaware.</div><div><br></div><div>Often times when we do this type of thing I can be irrational and just want to get rid of EVERYTHING! And start over.</div><div>But that just isn't practical. Which is why I am thankful to have a very level headed husband beside me when we do these types of projects :) he reins me back in when I have the impulse to trash everything we own and gives me alternatives and brain storms with me on how we can make it better. How we can use our space wisely.</div><div><br></div><div>We downsized our plastic storage containers and got rid of some pots and pans and other containers that we either don't use or really just don't need. It was so freeing.</div><div>All of the things we got rid of went into a big pile on the kitchen floor.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmPvza0YA1A9xOUiON4DkKJDlC8KNTk22GHo2H3JM91NOE3CyyRtoZQPXza0hA_bWDu6yFKCIcOr80WOHooHmyMQjF3gATvrrCfJGJaMzya-7UfudNbMUFsUrB4x0xnshL8XuNsKduEBo/s640/blogger-image-1817169271.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmPvza0YA1A9xOUiON4DkKJDlC8KNTk22GHo2H3JM91NOE3CyyRtoZQPXza0hA_bWDu6yFKCIcOr80WOHooHmyMQjF3gATvrrCfJGJaMzya-7UfudNbMUFsUrB4x0xnshL8XuNsKduEBo/s640/blogger-image-1817169271.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>It was then bagged up and put in the basement until our $.50 yard sale my sister and I are having at the end of this month! </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjI84pbsb-y2XaD2cn-cCyqUOokUP6GJ5EJsk8kduaSONe4YvlLMMEylva0WWlu8fujMkJM7yDS0oOBh_t6ymstU3W784WhUjg5vBtMZVUq2ZkgBKmK4GgBsWnnZVuLrpGs5hruhgXICy/s640/blogger-image-960628725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjI84pbsb-y2XaD2cn-cCyqUOokUP6GJ5EJsk8kduaSONe4YvlLMMEylva0WWlu8fujMkJM7yDS0oOBh_t6ymstU3W784WhUjg5vBtMZVUq2ZkgBKmK4GgBsWnnZVuLrpGs5hruhgXICy/s640/blogger-image-960628725.jpg"></a></div></div>Everything is now so much more accessible and orderly looking. It makes living with a tiny kitchen in a rental a little bit more bearable :)</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1NRd9nVhBlArnqabSyqKV7gqZbsJh8v9USEXDmPUQAT16BAEy44Thw4G4kEGABdpWf4l7dO_832XaWnA88P611SVOKlbzC09BI84VC83UDJV9-SgWbVv7dnH4xi72rZ3zex48WAX-tnSM/s640/blogger-image--1450688541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1NRd9nVhBlArnqabSyqKV7gqZbsJh8v9USEXDmPUQAT16BAEy44Thw4G4kEGABdpWf4l7dO_832XaWnA88P611SVOKlbzC09BI84VC83UDJV9-SgWbVv7dnH4xi72rZ3zex48WAX-tnSM/s640/blogger-image--1450688541.jpg"></a></div>Our next project is our "pantry". I am hoping to be able to use some of our household budget soon to buy organizing containers to help contain the mess and make it look less of an eye sore :)</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSr4vZtlaSNMRTSeY8JTQ152OJro5Dzi53sK0R6JIln6C8XGyQPpjkE-NJ3AdeNxg6QNgGYZHvJxksbLfYzeetzxkFclq_tp-H4Hc0ONf1SggBShIuArr6kTR9zVlgMpKhXXblOf2PvRT/s640/blogger-image--873323777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSr4vZtlaSNMRTSeY8JTQ152OJro5Dzi53sK0R6JIln6C8XGyQPpjkE-NJ3AdeNxg6QNgGYZHvJxksbLfYzeetzxkFclq_tp-H4Hc0ONf1SggBShIuArr6kTR9zVlgMpKhXXblOf2PvRT/s640/blogger-image--873323777.jpg"></a></div>It's pretty unsightly.</div><div>I am thankful for our cash system (more on that later) and our budget because I KNOW that we will have the money soon to be able to slowly decorate/make over our house! It's quite exciting :) It might be a slow process but it's definitely worth it.</div><div><br></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15572795811751194933noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152092364253856349.post-47701625321133167322015-02-26T07:18:00.001-08:002015-02-26T07:18:36.324-08:00Snowy daysRecently we have had our fair share of snow and sick days, which means we have been stuck in the house for a couple of weeks! The first snow we got was almost 10" inches of fluffy white stuff and I thought isaiah would be excited to go out and play in it.<div>So, I spent about 25 minutes bundling both of the kids up and putting james in the ergo baby carrier and making sure we didn't have any skin showing. By the time we were headed out the door I had worked up a sweat.</div><div>Isaiah thought the snow was cool. Until he stepped into it. It came above his knees and he couldn't walk by himself. I probably heard the phrase "hold you mommy!!" (Aka- "hold ME, mommy!") twenty times in the short time we were outside.</div><div>I found our beach boogie board in the basement and put isaiah on the boogie board and pulled him around on that for approximately 1.5 minutes at which point I just let him sit on it and eat freshly fallen snow.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFotU-FfL8g5M8KEnftruACq8krD9BwDoF-C3jIad2y-4wuHi9BKeg9ZDRKwauIW6CgBQO-zlvKnbscixL2orVeDB_NIcriwN2q_nFCXs28zU06gwWhUmIKCVY77lzWYhzEO1Bn3UnrWc/s640/blogger-image-1082065312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFotU-FfL8g5M8KEnftruACq8krD9BwDoF-C3jIad2y-4wuHi9BKeg9ZDRKwauIW6CgBQO-zlvKnbscixL2orVeDB_NIcriwN2q_nFCXs28zU06gwWhUmIKCVY77lzWYhzEO1Bn3UnrWc/s640/blogger-image-1082065312.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>He thought that was the best thing ever and was content staying there eating snow for a while, which was great because I was determined to stay out there longer than the amount of time it took us to get ready to play in the snow . ;)</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUubfXfY4ItiY9V7bVeZ4EJ65vSgGaKC9hoSissvWf1V2WIV_5Jc3jexpzYbfJRUPOUU4_HeXpyjosuhQwwKUKOlloh_mSl00O6-bHUG1oVmVFi45ww5Z2F0SIJgua3t-iXWiUPC3Du_j/s640/blogger-image--1481736040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUubfXfY4ItiY9V7bVeZ4EJ65vSgGaKC9hoSissvWf1V2WIV_5Jc3jexpzYbfJRUPOUU4_HeXpyjosuhQwwKUKOlloh_mSl00O6-bHUG1oVmVFi45ww5Z2F0SIJgua3t-iXWiUPC3Du_j/s640/blogger-image--1481736040.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>After that one adventure out into the snow, isaiah had no desire to go out again. Therefore I resorted to Pinterest for indoor activities for toddlers.</div><div>Let me tell you-I think we could do several activities a day and never exhaust the endless ideas out there!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQsyEeEFV4fkNAvqLnSKdHD77Yeeb27MLDguMzaVL7X_QFSIFaKVCeKk_E_ylJNwD_3QnawpPu73fdpRxg1xADTTTm2whvOIhqaB5g_hneBf3T0CmdkOeyOPAu2eg_qandKjpElidL7oQ/s640/blogger-image-2144941985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQsyEeEFV4fkNAvqLnSKdHD77Yeeb27MLDguMzaVL7X_QFSIFaKVCeKk_E_ylJNwD_3QnawpPu73fdpRxg1xADTTTm2whvOIhqaB5g_hneBf3T0CmdkOeyOPAu2eg_qandKjpElidL7oQ/s640/blogger-image-2144941985.jpg"></a></div>We did all sorts of things. Since we had so much snow we piainted snow.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLe5LfU29_awhf0XtVCN0fdTBPnwDZy9HiT0XnZvHSFK3dQmXAnY39HAJ9mNlS9Qm0Qllz7DkyU6Yk5agIKpkfxK0z1SxQfbLq3oAvRtcxL63uHCThma_qTNvQpUCqArx3EwVG3zdt0CK/s640/blogger-image-149885237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLe5LfU29_awhf0XtVCN0fdTBPnwDZy9HiT0XnZvHSFK3dQmXAnY39HAJ9mNlS9Qm0Qllz7DkyU6Yk5agIKpkfxK0z1SxQfbLq3oAvRtcxL63uHCThma_qTNvQpUCqArx3EwVG3zdt0CK/s640/blogger-image-149885237.jpg"></a></div>He transferred water from one container to another with a water dropper.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEXX1mKI9pgykWpgF2E7Ij6Ief8DnMo5OqURM0pMcIcb7LfDVSsshEuIjHZnbSRYOx7g8ylbb_iV4G_iTBQxrm_nIHVs2-uk_IpK2Vkz8yBnmSJGtpKV1EqrVOSpPAuqOzGWErqCMhSFpJ/s640/blogger-image-1401813532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEXX1mKI9pgykWpgF2E7Ij6Ief8DnMo5OqURM0pMcIcb7LfDVSsshEuIjHZnbSRYOx7g8ylbb_iV4G_iTBQxrm_nIHVs2-uk_IpK2Vkz8yBnmSJGtpKV1EqrVOSpPAuqOzGWErqCMhSFpJ/s640/blogger-image-1401813532.jpg"></a></div>We also used a teaspoon.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbxOZcf3tJUFQufTowYdzADv0Ui2wceoEroxMX3HxAakrSpU611N-LPHvtF6KxtYKxgYQhHVVnXES9IcxpKzdDD1Hp55rQKV79F4TayaqXT5Q13u3CLxlm0ggvnVlabJNY3DeEvNDMhlt/s640/blogger-image--797352945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbxOZcf3tJUFQufTowYdzADv0Ui2wceoEroxMX3HxAakrSpU611N-LPHvtF6KxtYKxgYQhHVVnXES9IcxpKzdDD1Hp55rQKV79F4TayaqXT5Q13u3CLxlm0ggvnVlabJNY3DeEvNDMhlt/s640/blogger-image--797352945.jpg"></a></div>We made cloud dough. (2 parts cornstarch one part hair conditioner)</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHNtrYJfDl73H2md6I6yS06E0kY3eYyZLUwAwtxsP0Q_8XG2VWeRATF6ZWS38jVRcAtd7besl8b0NqHCgCtH_HRu_VGzYsyhtnx8uAppC4Wj4ctBNz5DnppuIxALAmKnhiVGiBjfv2aIp/s640/blogger-image-235811970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHNtrYJfDl73H2md6I6yS06E0kY3eYyZLUwAwtxsP0Q_8XG2VWeRATF6ZWS38jVRcAtd7besl8b0NqHCgCtH_HRu_VGzYsyhtnx8uAppC4Wj4ctBNz5DnppuIxALAmKnhiVGiBjfv2aIp/s640/blogger-image-235811970.jpg"></a></div>We washed out trucks and cars in bubbles.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQathVJPUICxWXrlCqyZehA9tpFJWJHHU-cTXp8jPuknesN_TrM7YntLyy5rdS9uzj6QRGinM155-tSvNsHNh7SOHJPpMnJQ_YWrrVmTfPqHBrAnxScO-CQUbU86-7EL39MY7cORJIGYIX/s640/blogger-image--410142331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQathVJPUICxWXrlCqyZehA9tpFJWJHHU-cTXp8jPuknesN_TrM7YntLyy5rdS9uzj6QRGinM155-tSvNsHNh7SOHJPpMnJQ_YWrrVmTfPqHBrAnxScO-CQUbU86-7EL39MY7cORJIGYIX/s640/blogger-image--410142331.jpg"></a></div>We dropped colored vinegar onto a bed of baking soda. It fizzes and is really cool!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_tZ_kTvQ_CJg3YKcfA3DToQER92fuAHXDokHlUMP83v5qP503ddgK5qGRjS1Dya78c0TykRVCuxgAqY5dtL2jYUQ-Z5s7EiBVhPtR79epYdFMCguww-JcL2RBx-dp0_H7IceYLhtZO7g0/s640/blogger-image--1680088297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_tZ_kTvQ_CJg3YKcfA3DToQER92fuAHXDokHlUMP83v5qP503ddgK5qGRjS1Dya78c0TykRVCuxgAqY5dtL2jYUQ-Z5s7EiBVhPtR79epYdFMCguww-JcL2RBx-dp0_H7IceYLhtZO7g0/s640/blogger-image--1680088297.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1lxMdudlZ4wfRASSOpd7Bp9RCCDzvUWs_MfbU7Jo16WCw9H9VbDgrQABdAw99rhtLcchgH_vfIM4KuMepBQPWSRLaKjph8YGdJ1adhf7ueheNPzpXlid8fJKFodj_PDXDld3CQ1UTzLzr/s640/blogger-image-551281773.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1lxMdudlZ4wfRASSOpd7Bp9RCCDzvUWs_MfbU7Jo16WCw9H9VbDgrQABdAw99rhtLcchgH_vfIM4KuMepBQPWSRLaKjph8YGdJ1adhf7ueheNPzpXlid8fJKFodj_PDXDld3CQ1UTzLzr/s640/blogger-image-551281773.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>We have lots of other ideas too and I'll bedefinitely incorporating these into every day life. They keep him entertained so well!</div><div>Pinterest is the place to go to figure out WHAT to do with your kids when stuck inside for days on end :)</div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15572795811751194933noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152092364253856349.post-38725344677126441932015-01-26T06:59:00.004-08:002015-01-26T06:59:59.127-08:00Book Review #4Love Without Limits<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWs8fQ5lL_zAy1Lj8iI0Xts_NVESP17kVk0pU6UnWBxg-u0NYsn1ZHcpHYMRn49iXetxJMlyesAQhIkQN3PLrry4FykpDbsvg1iGX9j2VvBbzErisqnWZ5yhc4WNPrbehVaDZUO09-INl/s1600/Love-without-limits-book-cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWs8fQ5lL_zAy1Lj8iI0Xts_NVESP17kVk0pU6UnWBxg-u0NYsn1ZHcpHYMRn49iXetxJMlyesAQhIkQN3PLrry4FykpDbsvg1iGX9j2VvBbzErisqnWZ5yhc4WNPrbehVaDZUO09-INl/s1600/Love-without-limits-book-cover.png" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
I had seen Nick Vujicic's story on Facebook and other news sites and such and was always intrigued by his sweet story-I was excited to be able to read the book about his journey.<br />
Nick Vujicic was born with out arms and legs and yet while reading this book and I am sure even meeting him in person, you wouldn't even notice. His personality really comes out in this book and its upbeat, honest and real. This book lets you be in on all the little details on his love story with his beautiful wife Kanae and along the way they give some advice, tips and pointers for keeping your eyes on Christ thru it all.<br />
The trials and bumps in the road that he and his wife faced during their story and the ways they overcame and trusted God are surely inspiring.<br />
This book takes you along with them in a very real way from the Nick telling about past failed relationships to him and Kanae being united as one in marriage. It's such a sweet story and I highly recommend it!Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15572795811751194933noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152092364253856349.post-90405397782027167462015-01-25T17:54:00.001-08:002015-01-26T07:40:02.132-08:00A day in my lifeI've seen a lot of other "mommy bloggers" do posts where they document their every day life in pictures and I've always found those posts so interesting. <div>So, I got the notion to try it out myself. Not that I consider myself a mommy blogger, because I am not. I just thought it would be fun and totally doable.</div><div><br></div><div>It wasn't. </div><div><br></div><div>These photos took me about three days to take and I STILL never remembered to take photos after lunch time :p</div><div><br></div><div>And. My days aren't that interesting. I tried documenting on a week that would show what a normal day for me looked like at home with the boys. So here it goes. :) </div><div><br></div><div>Another disclaimer. I'm not funny.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53wYywuCkvygGSpz4We9J0ii9SV9BoS9eQnTNBw6HnI4FGqAArd5QSSR0oSUT23acLdIbFtpuiTvJl0aybo7j26X4xnTtaO9FB1DM0-1eFZuOZI2FWjBMNHy1IrJDi-PuirzOEofzMw2l/s640/blogger-image-1633183973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53wYywuCkvygGSpz4We9J0ii9SV9BoS9eQnTNBw6HnI4FGqAArd5QSSR0oSUT23acLdIbFtpuiTvJl0aybo7j26X4xnTtaO9FB1DM0-1eFZuOZI2FWjBMNHy1IrJDi-PuirzOEofzMw2l/s640/blogger-image-1633183973.jpg"></a></div><br></div>My days start out at 5 am usually. I crawl out of bed and go down to the basement to do my insanity workout.</div><div>I don't get it done every morning so sometimes it happens midday-especially of i have a child who decides that as soon as i leave the room, he needs to wake up too.</div><div><br></div><div>Around 5:45 or 6, I come up the stairs and have my coffee and read/talk to brandon/get his lunch ready before he heads off to work.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2EtzydD98LcXi3hPohPzMHGt1D_pXr4LOq50Wlr12s_MyNPQEK69SI3VIwnkdWNx5HwK1xB4ocqh-BcaNEhir9Rmy3ZdOR8YeR0GX2TyLrONRDsQIMjM8JuvNS_rvhHEJs-pegTQj-ayr/s640/blogger-image-757267008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2EtzydD98LcXi3hPohPzMHGt1D_pXr4LOq50Wlr12s_MyNPQEK69SI3VIwnkdWNx5HwK1xB4ocqh-BcaNEhir9Rmy3ZdOR8YeR0GX2TyLrONRDsQIMjM8JuvNS_rvhHEJs-pegTQj-ayr/s640/blogger-image-757267008.jpg"></a></div>(Usually James decides to go back to sleep)</div><div>Brandon leaves at 6:30 and I head into the kitchen to do dishes and try to clean up before the kids wake up.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGESE5aI9k9T9BLc1979bjLcEcuCjDMCN8rA1rgEUJL-h5-T3HD1OcH91uRmwRfA0b7UVUy2NUVjQecxEwOf403tMxLUT4duznJ0Q1IecNiEVcwgNJ-vxEHZL_8X3ph9MZDZNmOm1dLa3x/s640/blogger-image-1193447617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGESE5aI9k9T9BLc1979bjLcEcuCjDMCN8rA1rgEUJL-h5-T3HD1OcH91uRmwRfA0b7UVUy2NUVjQecxEwOf403tMxLUT4duznJ0Q1IecNiEVcwgNJ-vxEHZL_8X3ph9MZDZNmOm1dLa3x/s640/blogger-image-1193447617.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><div>Around 7-7:30 isaiah wakes up and we get breakfast and I make a smoothie.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7v6774TdEM36S59SsR3ujHtcgX6s_Cmz6gXs-_vD-6qud_zseYhyphenhyphenkjdWrAyAkBW4r0b9ik7r8yoMl6uiKYgh5rhGaIy2-_RdI4feohJaKgJzms6vYr62MNi44UvD1jxup5gW7kv6UcQfh/s640/blogger-image-1496207572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7v6774TdEM36S59SsR3ujHtcgX6s_Cmz6gXs-_vD-6qud_zseYhyphenhyphenkjdWrAyAkBW4r0b9ik7r8yoMl6uiKYgh5rhGaIy2-_RdI4feohJaKgJzms6vYr62MNi44UvD1jxup5gW7kv6UcQfh/s640/blogger-image-1496207572.jpg"></a></div> </div><div>After breakfast around 8 I clean the kitchen floors and sweep. It's amazing how i can do this every day and they STILL need to be done every day. Sad.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxcQHMrpFFdwEANuJeFKMuKsqKLB2ln3agIT_RfvWOiK4iSR1o79C9qRa4D2rES8mzzgwb9INaapeGlw8-jB31lcgplGWOsMbQ7o9eB3yivFd41hmWB0zTlG6dQ4odRXe6Xn42vdO-55g/s640/blogger-image--511802639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxcQHMrpFFdwEANuJeFKMuKsqKLB2ln3agIT_RfvWOiK4iSR1o79C9qRa4D2rES8mzzgwb9INaapeGlw8-jB31lcgplGWOsMbQ7o9eB3yivFd41hmWB0zTlG6dQ4odRXe6Xn42vdO-55g/s640/blogger-image--511802639.jpg"></a></div>I spot clean my floors. I don't know why.</div><div>Once finished with that rag-I throw it on the top of my basement stairs along with all the other random dirty laundry I'm too lazy to take down the stairs.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJku-k25LwFsus056ulwIBRMuiIbDNf3zajNu9p4cC0uFyGyCuS_qkpfluxOxzt2HL3vkOzSKQzCnerU4sEZOdOBrbnB-aSzvAXZAZfgN9EgZK2OJ9RvY8aFRXNSu1KpGn51nUWbdY4R7/s640/blogger-image--371297192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJku-k25LwFsus056ulwIBRMuiIbDNf3zajNu9p4cC0uFyGyCuS_qkpfluxOxzt2HL3vkOzSKQzCnerU4sEZOdOBrbnB-aSzvAXZAZfgN9EgZK2OJ9RvY8aFRXNSu1KpGn51nUWbdY4R7/s640/blogger-image--371297192.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>James decides he wants to wake up and eat next. So I feed him and try to avoid the unavoidable spit up. Doesn't matter where the burp cloth is-he will miss it somehow and I will get covered.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRCe3HuiEOOPT4Kl5KxBBWhCZrCZEytYC88tYTkalIqGAxw7fQCgiRGB64vzYC4LbQzH3SYREqYsAgzaCTTDsYDixzsAf1djQP-WBv-IKhgpkJFizmvw28oYnWZxtdaten0nMF-0A_b8p/s640/blogger-image-649829920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRCe3HuiEOOPT4Kl5KxBBWhCZrCZEytYC88tYTkalIqGAxw7fQCgiRGB64vzYC4LbQzH3SYREqYsAgzaCTTDsYDixzsAf1djQP-WBv-IKhgpkJFizmvw28oYnWZxtdaten0nMF-0A_b8p/s640/blogger-image-649829920.jpg"></a></div>Next it's usually story time for isaiah. We almost always read the same five books that happen to always be downstairs-they just never make their way upstairs to his room so they have automatically become our morning , noon and evening story time books.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhf3v33sX_YZXLtD1X7c5KfkT4t8Q2dxIpviXFLZIfXkzHE0PtKkZWJgqH_yZ7ISkUnlGGcMn79B5Eny7wugbMJSl6qaEiGUb9DC2aPBCDDVvAfiHwImjb2eKFe8rVHDQW88RFsj7qE6D2/s640/blogger-image-1388021306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhf3v33sX_YZXLtD1X7c5KfkT4t8Q2dxIpviXFLZIfXkzHE0PtKkZWJgqH_yZ7ISkUnlGGcMn79B5Eny7wugbMJSl6qaEiGUb9DC2aPBCDDVvAfiHwImjb2eKFe8rVHDQW88RFsj7qE6D2/s640/blogger-image-1388021306.jpg"></a></div>I walk into the kitchen to get the broom to sweep the living room after noticing it really needs a good sweep.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvq1RWQP3WJaO11zzzvYe3U0iOq60xeltzW51VAp9kTEcBgKizG_ZOGVQgTWH4tgb1X3Ap7hhEtr5IRnpeKGwgJmeNTII8xVUsPJ51mU7PaSQXrDOOjOvRP3N5W6DmztohSVWUJBaL_BXB/s640/blogger-image--1259474515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvq1RWQP3WJaO11zzzvYe3U0iOq60xeltzW51VAp9kTEcBgKizG_ZOGVQgTWH4tgb1X3Ap7hhEtr5IRnpeKGwgJmeNTII8xVUsPJ51mU7PaSQXrDOOjOvRP3N5W6DmztohSVWUJBaL_BXB/s640/blogger-image--1259474515.jpg"></a></div>Wait!!! How are there already dishes that need to be done??</div><div>They never.ever.end.</div><div>I grab the broom anyway and go sweep.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4co2EbJts-7YMDZe8-JMumcKd8zVf7El-zqINRc-3OOL-Ct3RrRw6kwQwwrdbaV4FzGGu8dLWqUy4thXNkEG8M_KeiknQ0zGqmsNtuqE28rI6UcrUiBLxDcubBX5V9rnqAfcN_BpNdx2/s640/blogger-image--426276934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4co2EbJts-7YMDZe8-JMumcKd8zVf7El-zqINRc-3OOL-Ct3RrRw6kwQwwrdbaV4FzGGu8dLWqUy4thXNkEG8M_KeiknQ0zGqmsNtuqE28rI6UcrUiBLxDcubBX5V9rnqAfcN_BpNdx2/s640/blogger-image--426276934.jpg"></a></div>Isaiah is usually trying to be a big help. Usually.</div><div>Other times he does this.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimG3EJ3YUyZ1Ujn7zyDPTu876zHboRys5jPnrENwAja3H_0iLnDLLiUiZHSwUPfUzgOzVRKsFbFbGsXpGY5fUEBekDZA7pMpQFfHpS6xm4XChtfnYPHXUlI8TlQ65NvvhyhsiK659_7hP2/s640/blogger-image-1736625370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimG3EJ3YUyZ1Ujn7zyDPTu876zHboRys5jPnrENwAja3H_0iLnDLLiUiZHSwUPfUzgOzVRKsFbFbGsXpGY5fUEBekDZA7pMpQFfHpS6xm4XChtfnYPHXUlI8TlQ65NvvhyhsiK659_7hP2/s640/blogger-image-1736625370.jpg"></a></div>Next I go get the laundry from the basement to fold. It's probably been sitting down there for quite some time.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4eBNVMswm5X7MlJP3hshv15kF5vbIB4VmzjaLdrvhOU17Uq5gpBBZuV4AZ5vGu5AqYiq458rqX5ieXwqgKlYX_a6QHO3h-gj_wbkQhaQV9PP59k-8eBSrLiLoFpDMWCY59m48clY8kSbW/s640/blogger-image--1747486928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4eBNVMswm5X7MlJP3hshv15kF5vbIB4VmzjaLdrvhOU17Uq5gpBBZuV4AZ5vGu5AqYiq458rqX5ieXwqgKlYX_a6QHO3h-gj_wbkQhaQV9PP59k-8eBSrLiLoFpDMWCY59m48clY8kSbW/s640/blogger-image--1747486928.jpg"></a></div>Laundry gets folded and I leave it there until nap time when I can put it away. I don't know why I do that-because I then spend the rest of the morning refolding items. Weird thinking/processing on my end.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUitwZKeVAHZAe6CzLslqaQZB7jocUQs8NymHtUk_LFfwvL4Oa17fvjy0v3NQ0DEwGRwyBDSBthBkq1VKefmsXk3-S-OYp6OElfMpUrCym8UQlJJVeeAGgfRde-lXNg9POvRpb1PAx8fTm/s640/blogger-image-2004807263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUitwZKeVAHZAe6CzLslqaQZB7jocUQs8NymHtUk_LFfwvL4Oa17fvjy0v3NQ0DEwGRwyBDSBthBkq1VKefmsXk3-S-OYp6OElfMpUrCym8UQlJJVeeAGgfRde-lXNg9POvRpb1PAx8fTm/s640/blogger-image-2004807263.jpg"></a></div></div><div>James gets in some playtime and by this point in the day I completely forget about documenting my day and my whole "plan" is pushed to the back of my mind and I realize I won't be like those other "mommy bloggers". and that's okay with me. I'll just stick to reading their great blogs and not try to replicate them.</div><div><br></div><div>My days are plenty exciting for me and probably only me and I'm okay with that :) every day is different and I don't always stick to a routine. That's just life. And life with 2 kiddos :)</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15572795811751194933noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152092364253856349.post-27830611730566185052014-12-31T04:35:00.001-08:002014-12-31T04:43:32.575-08:00Homemade Laundry Detergent<div>In our small household we go through so much laundry detergent with all the loads of laundry we do with 2 littles AND cloth diapering! The cost of detergent is so expensive so I started looking into making my own. </div><div><br></div><div>My mother in law makes her own and so she let me have some to try it out on Brandons work clothes that smell because of the environment he works in (even though it's an office building-it reeks) as well as his workout clothes. I washed them all in her detergent and they came out smelling great! I was definitely impressed.</div><div><br></div><div>So as soon as I finished my box of Gain I had been using, I spent about an hour making the laundry detergent with the 3 simple ingredients that Louanne just GAVE me! They are really cheap anyways and you can get it all at Walmart or Kroger!</div><div><br></div><div>The "hardest" part of the whole process was grating the bar of soap-and that wasn't even "hard"! I now have a 5 gallon bucket sitting in my basement that will allow me to fill up my detergent container many times-making a total of 10 gallons of soap. I think we are set on laundry detergent for quite some time. :)</div><div><br></div><div>This is the recipe that I followed. And here are some step by step photos of my process!</div><div><br></div>http://www.duggarfamilyblog.com/2011/03/duggar-recipe-liquid-laundry-soap.html?m=1<div><br><div><div align="justify" style="text-align: start;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap</b></div><div align="justify" style="text-align: start;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">(Front or top load machine-best value)</b></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><div style="text-align: start;"><u><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ingredients: </b></u></div><div class="t-body"><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">4 Cups - hot tap water</span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">1 Fels-Naptha soap bar*</span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font>1 Cup -</font><b> <a href="http://www.meijer.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=117533&parentCategoryId=1498&categoryId=1582&subCategoryId=1587" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: none;">Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda</a></b><font>**</font></span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">½ Cup Borax</span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><u><div style="text-align: start;"><u><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Directions: </b></u></div></u><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">-Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.</span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.</span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)</span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.</span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.</span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)</span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)</span></div></div></div></div><div><br></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdQS4luZufblauL1Fsv1fqHHdCGj3ylAxB-A3IDjX04JgEGizxbP5gtuYxSrSQinO67gv5LyIlNHe31O74zF7qpzr-OlVToWLRF5w9-M3WqLaVaDSMy-4vmFOtoArD6d7G2N1_SW4XVa7/s640/blogger-image-440144530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdQS4luZufblauL1Fsv1fqHHdCGj3ylAxB-A3IDjX04JgEGizxbP5gtuYxSrSQinO67gv5LyIlNHe31O74zF7qpzr-OlVToWLRF5w9-M3WqLaVaDSMy-4vmFOtoArD6d7G2N1_SW4XVa7/s640/blogger-image-440144530.jpg"></a></div>Grating the soap</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrRVw9tWH3Ic_D6KXQk7JvwF1jYMQzAan8jDeSwOdaL3z-j_MLZpV3HxCUVzYCeUTGV5X2tlnMEOj_NNKlJr67euhvHFL8pTAkUxS3Z5Vxdw7VJHMK-FyNxDcmXapPiy99ryGnryMrk9gq/s640/blogger-image--782147463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrRVw9tWH3Ic_D6KXQk7JvwF1jYMQzAan8jDeSwOdaL3z-j_MLZpV3HxCUVzYCeUTGV5X2tlnMEOj_NNKlJr67euhvHFL8pTAkUxS3Z5Vxdw7VJHMK-FyNxDcmXapPiy99ryGnryMrk9gq/s640/blogger-image--782147463.jpg"></a></div>Melting it.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8PbYXMhhCKkKjPslyNi5FlR2VcbxKh5icT4Fu_aq5Kmo13vEtw_sdODtMZ6ugfSIEyuZJ8WoU_ASRBW14THgdMtwWD6QdW1ltFoGhjzAlrL_M1T5ezkUvY5ogrPYG2o7-YxZxT0A4gZzu/s640/blogger-image--1372017741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8PbYXMhhCKkKjPslyNi5FlR2VcbxKh5icT4Fu_aq5Kmo13vEtw_sdODtMZ6ugfSIEyuZJ8WoU_ASRBW14THgdMtwWD6QdW1ltFoGhjzAlrL_M1T5ezkUvY5ogrPYG2o7-YxZxT0A4gZzu/s640/blogger-image--1372017741.jpg"></a></div>Adding and stirring in the washing soda and borax.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQgoX6M02V5aeSbuY0IXhM001FhIJXkJ_YGLnZGceAJQBxOh3naQXchvoFTY2vZKEwh17NLsIaEgtGhCSfmom5ZRw86HZoB2qCcWrFj-fHjS9TVxM8i5WvuDfq1oyh3NlSUL-j3QY98O5/s640/blogger-image-1113108715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQgoX6M02V5aeSbuY0IXhM001FhIJXkJ_YGLnZGceAJQBxOh3naQXchvoFTY2vZKEwh17NLsIaEgtGhCSfmom5ZRw86HZoB2qCcWrFj-fHjS9TVxM8i5WvuDfq1oyh3NlSUL-j3QY98O5/s640/blogger-image-1113108715.jpg"></a></div>Last step! Filling it the rest of the way up with water and then letting it sit over night!</div><div><br></div><div>I did add some lavender essential oil to it to give it a slight lavender smell.</div><div>And that's it! Laundry soap for a lonnnng time! I'm very pleased :)</div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15572795811751194933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152092364253856349.post-60393980964444163382014-12-15T10:43:00.000-08:002014-12-15T10:43:36.436-08:00Book Review #3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYlo1LcGB6iDYf9CurY0Biw9VZBJh26Zh3V0jUqvIaco4HI0-srCIhMhsSCDKcPGdQ4Ck7BuV9ceoCAAuLsjXco-EX2MHQXfxndh3XfEPqZYxXyE5u2jKBZzAJgBaYgt5Brd2LHca0E_a/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYlo1LcGB6iDYf9CurY0Biw9VZBJh26Zh3V0jUqvIaco4HI0-srCIhMhsSCDKcPGdQ4Ck7BuV9ceoCAAuLsjXco-EX2MHQXfxndh3XfEPqZYxXyE5u2jKBZzAJgBaYgt5Brd2LHca0E_a/s1600/download.jpg" /></a></div>
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I had the privilege once again to review a book for bloggingforbooks.org. </div>
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A Love Undone is a different sort of Amish romance. 19 year old Jolene is very ambitious and spunky and through a series of events is left virtually alone with just her siblings having her heart broken and shattered in many different ways. This book shows more than the "romantic" side of the Amish life, a side you don't see too often in these types of books!</div>
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Her journey during this book is inspiring with the many ways she picks up and goes and her strength is displayed in such tremendous ways. You easily fall in love and become attached to the characters of this book and rightfully so! There are quite a few twists in this book which makes it intriguing and fast paced. </div>
<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15572795811751194933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152092364253856349.post-9352923742709824192014-11-01T11:56:00.001-07:002014-11-01T12:05:06.883-07:00New wardrobe!I've been desperately wanting to revamp my wardrobe lately and start changing out my style from teenager to early 20's/youngmom look. Not quite sure what a "young mom" look is-but figured it's different than what I had been wearing. <div>Only problem was that I didn't have any extra money to spend on buying new/new to me clothes. </div><div>That's where Twice comes in. Twice is an online clothing consignment type website for women's name brand clothing. A friend of mine posted her referral link on Facebook not too long ago and said that she got $50 worth of clothing for just $5! I was immediately intrigued :). So off I went and followed the instructions on how to get $20 worth of credit and then 50% off my first order. I then started browsing the site and added things into my cart that totaled up to $50 so I could get free shipping.</div><div>Once I finished and clicked the check out button-I paid a grand total of $6.90 for everything in the photo below!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnI6qLgZhMDpLwG8dwOz_ZzrRQ_N43jmelQOL17e1yQxu60Mo4t-Ahi0BdLHj8nN1CpFm9g4qVFEwRAgtnseoVOLib3_f2Aa-_e8F3rysnjzIBTfH9-AxBEnR4dcBBUmBr_dQOAlvdhZQf/s640/blogger-image--1232821713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnI6qLgZhMDpLwG8dwOz_ZzrRQ_N43jmelQOL17e1yQxu60Mo4t-Ahi0BdLHj8nN1CpFm9g4qVFEwRAgtnseoVOLib3_f2Aa-_e8F3rysnjzIBTfH9-AxBEnR4dcBBUmBr_dQOAlvdhZQf/s640/blogger-image--1232821713.jpg"></a></div>Needless to say-I was hooked :)</div><div>I went ahead and shared the instructions along with my referral code on Facebook and waited to see if anyone would sign up. (When you sign up with my link you get $10 automatically added to your account and $10 to mine!)</div><div>People did.</div><div>Eventually I was able to go on quite the shopping spree for completely free! I had $200 in credit!</div><div>So. This is what I got.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTwbforIZfkwRqixnM7HgnRMHaTDq3HisdOoNawJsEnBPdX6QZXKSVtpeJajGxJ2QOcjl0FK7K7hEmvJbii4QBUnPaCW_vgwEnaoAkwqd1T2lfgQLZo-yvv0hqCB4fz5G3lepvtDhbbgTb/s640/blogger-image--1397267875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTwbforIZfkwRqixnM7HgnRMHaTDq3HisdOoNawJsEnBPdX6QZXKSVtpeJajGxJ2QOcjl0FK7K7hEmvJbii4QBUnPaCW_vgwEnaoAkwqd1T2lfgQLZo-yvv0hqCB4fz5G3lepvtDhbbgTb/s640/blogger-image--1397267875.jpg"></a></div>13 shirts (long, 3/4 length and short sleeved) that were all very, very nice name brands!</div><div>And:</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbcAcDfIpQDgs7utRVEw9rnkUbsjKi49nYJbRCo8LNCo97zSBzsDwKo-XRONL_ul5eJ1Te0CcjbTr2INBkMI2Oxl7jQR3qYMee6P5eNL8ubU2P4bDp5hYkjlGng7JGa_p2-kF1p4AUB6W9/s640/blogger-image-1905025009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbcAcDfIpQDgs7utRVEw9rnkUbsjKi49nYJbRCo8LNCo97zSBzsDwKo-XRONL_ul5eJ1Te0CcjbTr2INBkMI2Oxl7jQR3qYMee6P5eNL8ubU2P4bDp5hYkjlGng7JGa_p2-kF1p4AUB6W9/s640/blogger-image-1905025009.jpg"></a></div>Three pairs of jeans. I went ahead and got a size bigger than what I wore before pregnancy, just incase, because I know bodies change :)</div><div><br></div><div>When I opened my box from them, I was SO pleasantly surprised with how it all was presented! It was definitely like Christmas morning. :)</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr7Li1xSFAioJtTlrruhvweJw7R0gbz5YP0k0NT2WyD1Bc6MC5wEO294tU58D4jJy7pEG833EyWiw6mlp9MVfYlE_KbCbiM0g8TpD5PShA0QSrpMkbhn0GBkUlBVkMG2jLUkBSBdgYjkKI/s640/blogger-image-781162782.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr7Li1xSFAioJtTlrruhvweJw7R0gbz5YP0k0NT2WyD1Bc6MC5wEO294tU58D4jJy7pEG833EyWiw6mlp9MVfYlE_KbCbiM0g8TpD5PShA0QSrpMkbhn0GBkUlBVkMG2jLUkBSBdgYjkKI/s640/blogger-image-781162782.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxtI1Uh_18skyG0jlL5y5cHj8U8AnDAh0ALiFS4u8oLB8uDxVgbcP0T0xA7151pSe3Jtb9nJ12ioPHFEcNkQDVCFJgVYbjU4gQlQRR6uOPw-boQAzE2PV5JT-__70YxN4B1deMIgMkTQE/s640/blogger-image--1188135465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxtI1Uh_18skyG0jlL5y5cHj8U8AnDAh0ALiFS4u8oLB8uDxVgbcP0T0xA7151pSe3Jtb9nJ12ioPHFEcNkQDVCFJgVYbjU4gQlQRR6uOPw-boQAzE2PV5JT-__70YxN4B1deMIgMkTQE/s640/blogger-image--1188135465.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>They have a great 30 day return policy so if anything doesn't fit I can send it back to them for a refund-minus the shipping! Not too shabby!</div><div><br></div><div>The greatest part about my $200 order is not that I didn't pay a cent, but how much I SAVED! I couldn't believe the number :)</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyH5vYd9pF6M5yHbUkRmbV6DLb1Xub8n7oTbu1wfDSy6AyIoQh-F0d0F9_J9FK9jS_5fzJJisF_0xSKcFx2I6qbLQJxYHZ1gYPoqqFJ0BfqBHlGNZgqnpH8_IlOtG7RT2VwX1p5XyHl4l/s640/blogger-image--1550426543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyH5vYd9pF6M5yHbUkRmbV6DLb1Xub8n7oTbu1wfDSy6AyIoQh-F0d0F9_J9FK9jS_5fzJJisF_0xSKcFx2I6qbLQJxYHZ1gYPoqqFJ0BfqBHlGNZgqnpH8_IlOtG7RT2VwX1p5XyHl4l/s640/blogger-image--1550426543.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Do you see that in the red down at the bottom?? I saved $908.47 by shopping at Twice! Um-yes please and thank you!!</div><div><br></div><div>So if you haven't already, you totally need to go sign up AND download their app if you have an apple device! (Android will only give you 50%off-but that's still fantastic!)</div><div><br></div><div>Here are the instructions on how to get your first order for as low as $5!</div><div><br></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">1. Click on referral link below and get a $10 credit for signing up.<br>2. Download the Twice app - get another $10. ( I downloaded on my iPod!!)<br>3. Visit this blog for a 50% off coupon (link in the blog): <br><a href="http://www.sundaycharmblog.com/2014/09/heres-deal-and-10-for-you.html?m=1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;">http://www.sundaycharmblog.com/2014/09/heres-deal-and<span class="" style="display: inline;">-10-for-you.html?m=1</span></a><span class="" style="display: inline;"> <br>4. Free shipping on orders over $49, which is applied BEFORE the $20 credit and 50% discount...so if your order total is $50, you get free shipping, 50% off brings to $25, then $20 credit means you pay $5 for a $50 order.</span></span></div><div><br></div><div><a href="https://liketwice.com/MjYvj">https://liketwice.com/MjYvj</a></div><div><br></div><div>This has been such a blessing and I can't wait to go through my other clothes and start getting rid of stuff!! :)</div><div><br></div><div>*i have not been asked to write this post-I have just had such wonderful customer service and a fantastic overall experience with them I WANTED to write this! *</div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15572795811751194933noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152092364253856349.post-62674898328631616652014-10-27T15:23:00.001-07:002014-10-27T15:23:58.458-07:00James AlexanderWe welcomed our 2nd born son into this world 11 days over due, just like his big brother! :) <div>October 23rd at 7:25 pm, James Alexander was born at home after a 3.5 hour labor. The labor was fast and intense but we are so thankful for a safe delivery and a very healthy little boy! He weighed in at 8 pounds 8 ounces and 21.5 inches long. He is quite the squishy little man and we are so in love with him :)</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxKSxL4AnFAt8fpFzeyJUcVrPk_lu5JDCDUSZn9bC6NTaq6U5YYaXJ7eDy2b7DiTfWU-Tt9DrFCzZ9ZjYR6pEqd2u7GkUYClfPdTVhfYXepYSvirjyFo8PjbihEvvaWeo19oT6BBVXwilz/s640/blogger-image--1877279325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxKSxL4AnFAt8fpFzeyJUcVrPk_lu5JDCDUSZn9bC6NTaq6U5YYaXJ7eDy2b7DiTfWU-Tt9DrFCzZ9ZjYR6pEqd2u7GkUYClfPdTVhfYXepYSvirjyFo8PjbihEvvaWeo19oT6BBVXwilz/s640/blogger-image--1877279325.jpg"></a></div>Because of the labor being so short our midwives spent about a grand total of 5 hours at our house. </div><div>We are so thankful for both of our midwives and the wonderful support they are-can't imagine doing any of this with out them!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_W8OpDnKdpUVkoML7RybafNH1Ir71V8bj1QSCAt0hIPORbIdnZfKcHQzrPAWMQvght8jZXrLW5nvlexYQz0eE37GFHC2eW4revRg3C7E3j0sY0nMDC0cCfpUbASD8OiM43dKAbLRiFH6/s640/blogger-image--1560224981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_W8OpDnKdpUVkoML7RybafNH1Ir71V8bj1QSCAt0hIPORbIdnZfKcHQzrPAWMQvght8jZXrLW5nvlexYQz0eE37GFHC2eW4revRg3C7E3j0sY0nMDC0cCfpUbASD8OiM43dKAbLRiFH6/s640/blogger-image--1560224981.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dND8xJOIPp4d9MCbkJ1aPommX4sGn6YV3nvwtaI02gNqRFauZjWPdezLjDaOf1aEMwtHw-1P0DONp2NhIrqdEuVioXHmkxBUwTYux1IIRLzxaKkfK2w4qIbGHwmnwP7iaxmvSulDBN-f/s640/blogger-image-553074212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dND8xJOIPp4d9MCbkJ1aPommX4sGn6YV3nvwtaI02gNqRFauZjWPdezLjDaOf1aEMwtHw-1P0DONp2NhIrqdEuVioXHmkxBUwTYux1IIRLzxaKkfK2w4qIbGHwmnwP7iaxmvSulDBN-f/s640/blogger-image-553074212.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSE506Hzpm_B4bgXatOt61jxbmz5GEs-bCgFqOQeGykyhO0WVZHu7EkhK_3oHYh_OITMJtgDehVdXAk9kBkFrhvDtge-pLglusyKGoGi7GshS_tMWEwIXK3wU6Pde0l7MT2KBl_khbRmx/s640/blogger-image-1488792841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSE506Hzpm_B4bgXatOt61jxbmz5GEs-bCgFqOQeGykyhO0WVZHu7EkhK_3oHYh_OITMJtgDehVdXAk9kBkFrhvDtge-pLglusyKGoGi7GshS_tMWEwIXK3wU6Pde0l7MT2KBl_khbRmx/s640/blogger-image-1488792841.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzpzIW8DuuRrKOc_-OV6vGLRbSxBCSGtJbDv06lL9cPwC2q0hYJyG3ZGZDPoaYFyCcUxfhvhJBnZ2cK4Yj-AjzhrsHU3_RHqaG43yTuw39y1Mutcawb1nx7zTTBIntMNvJsPCquzjnJVt/s640/blogger-image-74907441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzpzIW8DuuRrKOc_-OV6vGLRbSxBCSGtJbDv06lL9cPwC2q0hYJyG3ZGZDPoaYFyCcUxfhvhJBnZ2cK4Yj-AjzhrsHU3_RHqaG43yTuw39y1Mutcawb1nx7zTTBIntMNvJsPCquzjnJVt/s640/blogger-image-74907441.jpg"></a></div>When Isaiah got to meet James for the first time-he wanted to take a picture of him-but that was it! He was not interested in him at all :)</div><div>He is now settling into life with a younger brother. It's not easy and he seems to be getting sick/filled with energy but we know he will adjust :)</div><div>Brandon has off work for a while and goes back to work on Thursday! So thankful for this time with him to help out!</div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15572795811751194933noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152092364253856349.post-82162192058766726592014-10-21T13:32:00.001-07:002014-10-21T13:32:24.802-07:00Canning apples!To answer everyone's questions-yes! I am still pregnant. No signs of baby coming any time soon but that's okay-we have a week for him to make his appearance naturally before induction. So prayers appreciated that he would :) Isaiah came at 41 wks 4 days so it's definitely possible!<div><br></div><div>About a month ago I got a huuuuge bag of horse apples to make into applesauce, fruit leather and dried apples. The weight of my bag was over 70lbs and I only paid $14 for the entire bag!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6h5jUc9rTLn-UUQ3jaBW0zOgmjRNR2sN0Ap67MmjX_d0thWYwuYdNUayBpZi7Kvtqo9ddm2ry1stllsCM69F9SiLyAu0bLFFWA__H1yq4aqmqM1cUgg5qPmyS9G02nwvG-0EV4WgClSV/s640/blogger-image-1012371283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6h5jUc9rTLn-UUQ3jaBW0zOgmjRNR2sN0Ap67MmjX_d0thWYwuYdNUayBpZi7Kvtqo9ddm2ry1stllsCM69F9SiLyAu0bLFFWA__H1yq4aqmqM1cUgg5qPmyS9G02nwvG-0EV4WgClSV/s640/blogger-image-1012371283.jpg"></a></div>I finally had a day where I could dedicate to just apples and took the opportunity and got going! </div><div>It was a little rough starting out-I wasn't feeling great and had to take lots of breaks to sit down and rest/eat/throw up etc. oh the joys of being just about 9 months pregnant at the time!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMyi2kzJ_hKrGngFtOiEwvvkJgs-qmuMloF4FzCZ1xlQCFHg6P-5EuAxAdbvUFPdgmFi9HOxNVLD3mRdwcoZZx8Zr0G6UEkbUEc-rx_k0U92vt2qCAk6l11-tWxQY3jZ0y-uUlaeo1ah3/s640/blogger-image-392218894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMyi2kzJ_hKrGngFtOiEwvvkJgs-qmuMloF4FzCZ1xlQCFHg6P-5EuAxAdbvUFPdgmFi9HOxNVLD3mRdwcoZZx8Zr0G6UEkbUEc-rx_k0U92vt2qCAk6l11-tWxQY3jZ0y-uUlaeo1ah3/s640/blogger-image-392218894.jpg"></a></div>Thankfully though, this year I borrowed my mother in laws Vitamix. Best invention ever and made the apple sauce process SOO fast compared to previous years. It obviously still took me all day since I was working by myself and afore mentioned reasons for sitting down/resting very frequently.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL2wH9GCL1_HoQe6EF4Zrtj3524BzOwQweugjwQkcuhcHF-Q5VWYBom5LfYD5TRTdi5JTtd7v1t8kw_lapf0S-2yyT8QyhVkyD2QNdWxINOFsdQWHAsN91qIhT-6V4XgX_gErhaBkmUmnT/s640/blogger-image-151571460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL2wH9GCL1_HoQe6EF4Zrtj3524BzOwQweugjwQkcuhcHF-Q5VWYBom5LfYD5TRTdi5JTtd7v1t8kw_lapf0S-2yyT8QyhVkyD2QNdWxINOFsdQWHAsN91qIhT-6V4XgX_gErhaBkmUmnT/s640/blogger-image-151571460.jpg"></a></div>With the vitamix, all I had to do was cut the apples into quarters and dump them into the blender. Once it was full, I turned it on and it took about 15 seconds or less to turn into wonderful, delicious applesauce!</div><div>I would then transfer it to a big pot and hear it up.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBx6omNk6bwbB_0S2nEVIcS1tROjsSSDFIbmWbFdlGpDaypyh8DONuzXmiNLvDnEJU7OIhP26AyWms5XXqmshnUMV4VqIeLym4-Qo1xkK-GIU_YzVBzZfwB3zOXxMZIEdwT1E98RsI1Ch5/s640/blogger-image--2141246811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBx6omNk6bwbB_0S2nEVIcS1tROjsSSDFIbmWbFdlGpDaypyh8DONuzXmiNLvDnEJU7OIhP26AyWms5XXqmshnUMV4VqIeLym4-Qo1xkK-GIU_YzVBzZfwB3zOXxMZIEdwT1E98RsI1Ch5/s640/blogger-image--2141246811.jpg"></a></div>Once it was heated through, I would put the applesauce into jars and put them into the water bath! It was such a quick and easy process!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKFX2nocOJJnY7H8ic6v0qdYwqKD_4T0CY5P_sGAimn9Tjm6s07ITpIvVdaN3wILd2L7fy4dmiZGc8sLTQ7g_Kk72A0NIebjKn_qmUs_uc63RZhMFOoKlVrNmkN1ICVX9q_o9yW8IjR0F/s640/blogger-image-51701843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKFX2nocOJJnY7H8ic6v0qdYwqKD_4T0CY5P_sGAimn9Tjm6s07ITpIvVdaN3wILd2L7fy4dmiZGc8sLTQ7g_Kk72A0NIebjKn_qmUs_uc63RZhMFOoKlVrNmkN1ICVX9q_o9yW8IjR0F/s640/blogger-image-51701843.jpg"></a></div>This applesauce is even better for you because it's made with the skins and there is not a drop of added sugar!!</div><div>I then went on to use a mandolin slicer and did quite a few apples that way-and dehydrated them.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4znMx2X1Uj6oIL_KDkapsTXX1qlAb7JemJQpyMXCg5NvTvaI__NWOUbk1W0VynQ0LSuy_zpnx8AJQbdbB8orUVskI9iL0tgwnSU3PZimpPSNBq1PktgwZPhbcvr_fupW3NS8GFJ0jTrB/s640/blogger-image-783433508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4znMx2X1Uj6oIL_KDkapsTXX1qlAb7JemJQpyMXCg5NvTvaI__NWOUbk1W0VynQ0LSuy_zpnx8AJQbdbB8orUVskI9iL0tgwnSU3PZimpPSNBq1PktgwZPhbcvr_fupW3NS8GFJ0jTrB/s640/blogger-image-783433508.jpg"></a></div>And THEN I made fruit leather out of left over apple sauce that I didn't have enough jars for :) I think I worked off an on for about the entire day :) </div><div>I'm very thankful to have it all stored up-although, the fruit leather is totally gone now, thanks to Isaiah :) it makes the absolute perfect snack! I think I want to get another bag just to turn into fruit leather and dried apples :) mmm!</div><div><br></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15572795811751194933noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152092364253856349.post-73502310236524611312014-09-29T18:15:00.001-07:002014-09-29T18:16:47.197-07:00Chia VitalityChia Vitality by Janie Hoffman<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtoLnTbQ9RawvDkV2u_eQ2tRFpt9x4yIDumKEGJPPMxjnNvmInUDgG7YEa-4cQHpkS33g5ZsxTji_4Qfm1l3K-NLBW5151qAfQtw3isK2v34tVbzHc75HiT_hnyy18ZrNBRjAO-wKxrue0/s1600/51ZtYCBO-2L._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtoLnTbQ9RawvDkV2u_eQ2tRFpt9x4yIDumKEGJPPMxjnNvmInUDgG7YEa-4cQHpkS33g5ZsxTji_4Qfm1l3K-NLBW5151qAfQtw3isK2v34tVbzHc75HiT_hnyy18ZrNBRjAO-wKxrue0/s1600/51ZtYCBO-2L._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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This book caught my eye because I've been so curious about all the health benefits of chia seeds and needed ways to use up my huge container of chia seeds that I currently have sitting on top of my fridge!<br />
Janie Hoffman, the author, has put together a fantastic source of information on the many uses of chia seeds, a menu plan and has even incorporated a yoga routine to go along with all of this.<br />
Some of the suggestions or information was a little too "out there" for my liking, but I did come away with more knowledge about all of the things you can do with chia seeds/what they do for you.<br />
These tiny little seeds are a great source of Omega 3's, protein, fiber and antioxidants! Just a tablespoon or two a day will give you a boost of energy PLUS keep you fuller for longer! Add them to your smoothie, your oatmeal, chili, soups-whatever! You can even grind them into a powder and use it as an egg substitute. There are just so many ways you can incorporate these little seeds into your every day diet and you won't even notice them half of the time!<br />
My favorite part of her book was the recipe section towards the end of the book. What a fantastic resource for healthy recipes incorporating chia seeds! I'd highly recommend getting this book if you are curious about all things related to chia! I don't think you'll be disappointed!Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15572795811751194933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152092364253856349.post-70370789097723581892014-09-14T05:37:00.001-07:002014-09-14T05:37:21.055-07:00A Day in LynchburgIsaiah and I made a little day trip to L-burg before my friend Bethany had her first baby.<div>Figured it'd be a good time to get caught up before her life changes in many different ways!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpVDOgdRWpjuSmt2HBD_3G8LrzQ8HWnPNI8aqnjz6qZkb8ldx23p5QsJ8uQtVBUkpfUhpKjEDuNlnnrH2FUsZRnmGEC3H44ylNeGq3cLQ7RTgnQHWB84TqZN18Htz1jVIoQZiwcuntWz0/s640/blogger-image-298508616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpVDOgdRWpjuSmt2HBD_3G8LrzQ8HWnPNI8aqnjz6qZkb8ldx23p5QsJ8uQtVBUkpfUhpKjEDuNlnnrH2FUsZRnmGEC3H44ylNeGq3cLQ7RTgnQHWB84TqZN18Htz1jVIoQZiwcuntWz0/s640/blogger-image-298508616.jpg"></a></div>We had a lot of fun baking together, seeing their nursery all set up and playing ball-yes! In the house ;)</div><div>We then headed right up the road to a little ice cream truck called Mr Goodies. So yummy!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlhdVmdGj8oo2SAWqdZHehc_jaYWepIydyzDgJfkWtmcix2wq9pr-cRqU-X8918G11GqNf6d4aEHPbW2pO3bpJui_W2Pz3Bq8lXKeLbqEXvWgyXn2hh3neBdfD6SgYQxnKFq0HsKGwLwA4/s640/blogger-image--1447764092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlhdVmdGj8oo2SAWqdZHehc_jaYWepIydyzDgJfkWtmcix2wq9pr-cRqU-X8918G11GqNf6d4aEHPbW2pO3bpJui_W2Pz3Bq8lXKeLbqEXvWgyXn2hh3neBdfD6SgYQxnKFq0HsKGwLwA4/s640/blogger-image--1447764092.jpg"></a></div>They gave Isaiah his very own tiny little cone. It was the perfect amount for him-made him happy and let mommy eat her cone in peace :)</div><div>While we were there Amy and Asher showed up to visit as well. So much fun. I love seeing Isaiah and Asher play together-they are such great friends and cousins!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVLJkNGNy9JUd6ouD28k12A4bcoJd5purLEqcX67lTr6GG-LcNCeu5hsGLyqkr4sWsFOt9PlUWWucEWk2OK5PMSbEfjjODK53kwZPUxnA9DwSld1DIhHnU7ZeA-u3EN0WJrUa5xZU_KjGb/s640/blogger-image--1638011448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVLJkNGNy9JUd6ouD28k12A4bcoJd5purLEqcX67lTr6GG-LcNCeu5hsGLyqkr4sWsFOt9PlUWWucEWk2OK5PMSbEfjjODK53kwZPUxnA9DwSld1DIhHnU7ZeA-u3EN0WJrUa5xZU_KjGb/s640/blogger-image--1638011448.jpg"></a></div>It was a great and busy day :)</div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15572795811751194933noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152092364253856349.post-64602762069196141882014-09-11T14:39:00.001-07:002014-09-11T14:39:43.531-07:00<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiaJk0Ql70wC0qw9L_m_D1WTwsHXY5EjKTGgGRuAUyMHuP-HSfSGFIDlo8WgzswfWeHZBr2c5Qo_Dzca92Wzou8xw2gENOQ8PgvxgJxkEGcYmgGYP-k8coAPpF6Qb2cL5upYcTMSFd6btp/s640/blogger-image--1892535915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiaJk0Ql70wC0qw9L_m_D1WTwsHXY5EjKTGgGRuAUyMHuP-HSfSGFIDlo8WgzswfWeHZBr2c5Qo_Dzca92Wzou8xw2gENOQ8PgvxgJxkEGcYmgGYP-k8coAPpF6Qb2cL5upYcTMSFd6btp/s640/blogger-image--1892535915.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We unfortunately got hit with the dreaded Hand Foot and Mouth virus. I hope we never have to experience that again. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXei90eGwc4jZxjzJpU4ubqCRFfPTSXqTpoUi-5dp9YKM4Z_L852zkwTGc3JdTxH1MR9VVPytIBAV_THlGiX6UqZQeTCaxwB_QHV68-M7z4KblQPfqGI3CTO7rmjjO0cAPSvWKBmF8xyn/s640/blogger-image--531919759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXei90eGwc4jZxjzJpU4ubqCRFfPTSXqTpoUi-5dp9YKM4Z_L852zkwTGc3JdTxH1MR9VVPytIBAV_THlGiX6UqZQeTCaxwB_QHV68-M7z4KblQPfqGI3CTO7rmjjO0cAPSvWKBmF8xyn/s640/blogger-image--531919759.jpg"></a></div>Isaiah definitely got hit the hardest. It was about 4 days with him whinning and crying over everything(which is way out of the norm), feeling feverish, a 2-year molar coming in, sores all over, and a headache eye. (Also on top of a runny nose and cough!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The poor guy was so miserable and it made life very difficult, but! We made it through!! :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDiEMsjuLBzQnOXXj03uAHFNVshOUi4Fr-ksPk5yLnIyKQVkNGm4aVKXyDc64iNGltL-T_Vc2jiS6KXJeDtaiFDn-e1mmhsoKToIK7nsGQ7o_w2EX3UtGJSgJaCQqMLQJrcKvoCeGhkPb/s640/blogger-image-195932760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDiEMsjuLBzQnOXXj03uAHFNVshOUi4Fr-ksPk5yLnIyKQVkNGm4aVKXyDc64iNGltL-T_Vc2jiS6KXJeDtaiFDn-e1mmhsoKToIK7nsGQ7o_w2EX3UtGJSgJaCQqMLQJrcKvoCeGhkPb/s640/blogger-image-195932760.jpg"></a></div>Brandon and I also got mild cases of it ontop of colds. We stayed away from people for 2 weeks to make sure we didn't contaminate anyone. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We are very thankful to all be back to good health and our normal, happy routine!</div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15572795811751194933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152092364253856349.post-77871455797039252272014-09-09T09:04:00.001-07:002014-09-10T15:12:54.757-07:00Lake day!We joined my brother and his wife and son at Smith Mountain Lake one day last month and the boys had a blast! My dad and the three youngest kids showed up as well :)<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghgrGy9C605fYyJ4hk7RrT_Nz0E0SKcYa9T8NP16dD9W8Us_ydW0QkuHsgFCLGaPugOGCGZeTNkWSPkBD4XdITbf3VLmkgkjiB07xABfWt0uDm3jjVSq3X5yw5dxa9Qd3pP5JgV5M6daQB/s640/blogger-image-117250323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghgrGy9C605fYyJ4hk7RrT_Nz0E0SKcYa9T8NP16dD9W8Us_ydW0QkuHsgFCLGaPugOGCGZeTNkWSPkBD4XdITbf3VLmkgkjiB07xABfWt0uDm3jjVSq3X5yw5dxa9Qd3pP5JgV5M6daQB/s640/blogger-image-117250323.jpg"></a></div>We had such a great time eating and playing in the sand and water! </div><div>The shallow area was great for their ages and they had a wonderful time splashing and playing ball!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtBWj8ea8ZTP1AUj8-YdnxadUq0r3na4T1ygBenK7DH_rUKN266ofghZ_vTNA5eveLWY9PmeHjoOqBYeW4znqJO8CNWln8P-c6K8bESpAr6MPF3HWF2yCCSU08WetbbrCYSGI3nYm_MP1-/s640/blogger-image-529254229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtBWj8ea8ZTP1AUj8-YdnxadUq0r3na4T1ygBenK7DH_rUKN266ofghZ_vTNA5eveLWY9PmeHjoOqBYeW4znqJO8CNWln8P-c6K8bESpAr6MPF3HWF2yCCSU08WetbbrCYSGI3nYm_MP1-/s640/blogger-image-529254229.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9bHVR2erwndsDuLcCH0HNG6JlQfVIqx-5XA82A0kL860ZTn69sjQdr-Ub0J0xOPzb0bAWeZrPf2z3lEUFrj162uecDmsk6s021ge6hgfpmvq1Bmx2yLTtSFP3YRw-mdr_vUYA9cS60yk7/s640/blogger-image-1234741898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9bHVR2erwndsDuLcCH0HNG6JlQfVIqx-5XA82A0kL860ZTn69sjQdr-Ub0J0xOPzb0bAWeZrPf2z3lEUFrj162uecDmsk6s021ge6hgfpmvq1Bmx2yLTtSFP3YRw-mdr_vUYA9cS60yk7/s640/blogger-image-1234741898.jpg"></a></div>Next summer we will have to go back again. The price was a bit steep for one day-but the beach there was really nice and so it might be worth it to go a few times next year :)</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiivzqXAC4D8a5hyefd6PfZGAXwDe2w7UnEX4Dkqgh9-URhSS6WhjFeYhV0Gk1yzwjMSjVb8MEn97eeaoCtwqowx2931Jd_uHRXhyafIrLeb0OUVyGOYqogBAkt5b8TckykLee6j-rHB1-/s640/blogger-image-1827545392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiivzqXAC4D8a5hyefd6PfZGAXwDe2w7UnEX4Dkqgh9-URhSS6WhjFeYhV0Gk1yzwjMSjVb8MEn97eeaoCtwqowx2931Jd_uHRXhyafIrLeb0OUVyGOYqogBAkt5b8TckykLee6j-rHB1-/s640/blogger-image-1827545392.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15572795811751194933noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152092364253856349.post-60691621414792418392014-09-09T08:59:00.001-07:002014-09-09T08:59:49.035-07:00Meeting a new cousin!Last month Isaiah got to meet his brand new cousin, Caleb! He was absolutely enthralled with him and most definitely did not want to let go of him when we let him hold him.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZm0F87Zbvl3T4r0hQ9AXHNU0NSI6HQ5kFQ8dIMoiixNOH2JygZFchFkzR0MdzKCaqZJ4wJi6WhQaE8VVx0oVQ0Kuic9eri4EmSXAaA0WeduB1b5SPFCcrS9uapUNt599JgNHd4KpvnFQF/s640/blogger-image--2103577506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZm0F87Zbvl3T4r0hQ9AXHNU0NSI6HQ5kFQ8dIMoiixNOH2JygZFchFkzR0MdzKCaqZJ4wJi6WhQaE8VVx0oVQ0Kuic9eri4EmSXAaA0WeduB1b5SPFCcrS9uapUNt599JgNHd4KpvnFQF/s640/blogger-image--2103577506.jpg"></a></div>My sister Stephanie delivered a perfect 10lb baby all naturally and at home. Talk about amazing. The little guy is such a cute chunker!!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Fh6bJfs_GOROChQY-E4dMhXZOYNkfXrW9vXNgp5BBk6h0q9iKmIM9QIUv5oAJNjuNcFEMznqb_C78v8fUDadPmypRYfNAMHgU7hZTQDFz7QDfIAXZjBDioBv9PtMbu850CoS-inuBonn/s640/blogger-image-1929817679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Fh6bJfs_GOROChQY-E4dMhXZOYNkfXrW9vXNgp5BBk6h0q9iKmIM9QIUv5oAJNjuNcFEMznqb_C78v8fUDadPmypRYfNAMHgU7hZTQDFz7QDfIAXZjBDioBv9PtMbu850CoS-inuBonn/s640/blogger-image-1929817679.jpg"></a></div>We are now eagerly awaiting the arrival of baby cousin Henry any day now! And then Isaiah's very own baby brother in about 5 weeks!</div><div>Where has the time gone? </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuT0cg1kgBlwTEZoL7frMi_0R0jctQZWPl8jzV3Bv_DX19ZU6zhp2NpnGVzQStBmpzXlHQKjs6eoGjRkb2khNXbUMofqLP5GN8vJy2nM4-I8LKNsYiJaXvbMKf7zFYCVjzB-fApAQYcg5l/s640/blogger-image--1962070772.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuT0cg1kgBlwTEZoL7frMi_0R0jctQZWPl8jzV3Bv_DX19ZU6zhp2NpnGVzQStBmpzXlHQKjs6eoGjRkb2khNXbUMofqLP5GN8vJy2nM4-I8LKNsYiJaXvbMKf7zFYCVjzB-fApAQYcg5l/s640/blogger-image--1962070772.jpg"></a></div>I can't wait to see how all three of these new/soon to be cousins grow up together! </div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15572795811751194933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152092364253856349.post-21643076460238545392014-09-09T08:39:00.001-07:002014-09-09T08:42:40.193-07:00Book Review :)I was finally able to finish reading the book I had selected to review for Bloggingforbooks.org! <div>What a great website-free book to read and all I have to do is write a review. I could get used to this!</div><div><br></div><div>The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn by Lori Benton</div><div><br></div><div>Lori Benton is a very skilled author when it comes to writing historical romance. This was my first book to read written by her and I was most definitely not disappointed. </div><div>The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn is riveting right from the start and filled with suspense and sweet, pure romance set in the mid 1700's. The whole story is set in the beautiful mountains of Watatuga, North Carolina. The descriptions of scenery make you feel like you are right there in the snow with each of the characters, feeling their pain or joy.</div><div>I was wishing the story wouldn't end when I was nearing the last few pages. It now makes me excited to read more by this author!</div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15572795811751194933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152092364253856349.post-49762489578957948642014-08-11T05:30:00.001-07:002014-08-11T05:30:00.190-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Last Saturday Brandon and I had the privilege to photograph his cousins wedding. The whole wedding was very laid back and low key which made it a fairly easy wedding to photograph :)<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgussbyXLY7rR4VYd_Bn2EgZDCrxpEyOIOOxmVw53UUDG6zwQokSYcA3P00jnTN-JrpaZHOf9HlSNxsypsYtDxKRn1mQ40hnhIhN-lQvPZzDE4w2ZWYmaXFwHj8F-2ErwIQdqMW2kyUpe0g/s640/blogger-image--1998400542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgussbyXLY7rR4VYd_Bn2EgZDCrxpEyOIOOxmVw53UUDG6zwQokSYcA3P00jnTN-JrpaZHOf9HlSNxsypsYtDxKRn1mQ40hnhIhN-lQvPZzDE4w2ZWYmaXFwHj8F-2ErwIQdqMW2kyUpe0g/s640/blogger-image--1998400542.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Being 30 weeks pregnant at the time-my main thought going into it was if I had enough food on hand to sustain me while being on my feet for several hours :). I packed bananas and trail mix and other dried meat/fruit that was easily accessible in my camera bag. And my water bottle followed me around everywhere as well. It all turned out quite well :)</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6gavqZTlFWq4dufKqZFfmfA5QXXxfxRCtQBMQnsvLKnlaHwZl0EZvDROK2Q4KfVN5t-fIwMlqlD0Qdmro-xymUlShnBVDUfubxECd6KtdfBNFPmSKsIGWNf-BuEL5ASGZIGWKrm-r8Eic/s640/blogger-image-1159345824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6gavqZTlFWq4dufKqZFfmfA5QXXxfxRCtQBMQnsvLKnlaHwZl0EZvDROK2Q4KfVN5t-fIwMlqlD0Qdmro-xymUlShnBVDUfubxECd6KtdfBNFPmSKsIGWNf-BuEL5ASGZIGWKrm-r8Eic/s640/blogger-image-1159345824.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Thankfully Hannah, Brandon's younger, most amazing sister, kept up with Isaiah the entire day so we could focus on the wedding. It was such a blessing knowing he was totally fine through out the day and that when he saw us-he wouldn't care because he had Auntie Hannah to play with. :)</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQq_wpFneWzEAZRI2iwzHw7jUUwE06Mspm_rTmjMY8dIOmZYGI1oomrTO4QlrTgVLO75gk0Is85mBG820Uz03vhDM81i2a_WMy1cEPoogOzn69VBpgUU4jsuyxeVkXY5S1jkLCxYABMUL/s640/blogger-image-836659884.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQq_wpFneWzEAZRI2iwzHw7jUUwE06Mspm_rTmjMY8dIOmZYGI1oomrTO4QlrTgVLO75gk0Is85mBG820Uz03vhDM81i2a_WMy1cEPoogOzn69VBpgUU4jsuyxeVkXY5S1jkLCxYABMUL/s640/blogger-image-836659884.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>By the end of the day we were all exhausted and were ready to relax at home-and I was able to put my feet up.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgLO3M9OITQjghtZ7My2nsWBezs0aOFwZsMD9HhRwBhwQRSdMiGBEindesbLGzYENzIgdH1vXNlaUsz3LzVcuuY8HfkmM2XXWSUFZuZHMi9_jmzj8tiss6hW_1imuHgJaQtGLPyc6HhZj/s640/blogger-image--1119624293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgLO3M9OITQjghtZ7My2nsWBezs0aOFwZsMD9HhRwBhwQRSdMiGBEindesbLGzYENzIgdH1vXNlaUsz3LzVcuuY8HfkmM2XXWSUFZuZHMi9_jmzj8tiss6hW_1imuHgJaQtGLPyc6HhZj/s640/blogger-image--1119624293.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8lLhyphenhyphen-tekq3xlGAD2jwztvg8XDFQOYmShNCzwCz7h3M5BcM3MRch_tbOiLOFKy3CcQhYg0heMK2doh8b_0ypBHOuZENI6495mGxpXw4QwYIxApk3XPIrpfNWjabearjXVBEWBFZgloe7w/s640/blogger-image-1960540260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8lLhyphenhyphen-tekq3xlGAD2jwztvg8XDFQOYmShNCzwCz7h3M5BcM3MRch_tbOiLOFKy3CcQhYg0heMK2doh8b_0ypBHOuZENI6495mGxpXw4QwYIxApk3XPIrpfNWjabearjXVBEWBFZgloe7w/s640/blogger-image-1960540260.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioTdyYtETCIrPlV4YDbimrnOS5IrBFzz5vn8RfzH-LPzQuJejjmb1EKJUlCE-lmWurnbs0q57kBpxa7m3jM521-jCqpjppOjeyjMnc0x5Ova8h4C7W9gRKj8a9Ie8_bxYVTj63cOkvc-EK/s640/blogger-image--1511838742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioTdyYtETCIrPlV4YDbimrnOS5IrBFzz5vn8RfzH-LPzQuJejjmb1EKJUlCE-lmWurnbs0q57kBpxa7m3jM521-jCqpjppOjeyjMnc0x5Ova8h4C7W9gRKj8a9Ie8_bxYVTj63cOkvc-EK/s640/blogger-image--1511838742.jpg"></a></div>Isaiah really enjoyed all of the cameras that were around that day-maybe a future in photography? Along with soccer and foot ball and every other sport? ;)</div><div><br></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15572795811751194933noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152092364253856349.post-58713739132702297232014-07-20T13:51:00.001-07:002014-07-20T13:51:49.989-07:00Blogging has taken such a back burner lately. I do miss it-but not toooo much :) sometimes it feels like a hassle to come out and update this poor neglected blog, but if I get into the groove of things again-it shouldn't be hard, right? <div><br></div><div>So here I am once again, with grand plans to keep this blog alive! I know I have friends out there that this is one of the only ways they can keep up with me-so this is for you friends :). I also have recently signed up for a site called bloggingforbooks.org. Basically they will send me a book and I read it and write a review about it using my blog within 90 days and then I get to KEEP the book! Talk about a great deal-aaaand it'll hopefully keep me in the groove of updating my blog!</div><div><br></div><div>Since my last post, things have obviously changed. In a ton of different ways. One of the things that's changed is that I'm growing another baby. A boy baby at that. He is still nameless and will probably stay that way until he pops out, unfortunately. That being said-if you have a name recommendation that has a good meaning attached to it, please share :). This child is "due" to arrive around October 12th of this year, so I am officially in the 3rd trimester as of today. Exciting to be nearing the end and getting to see Isaiah interact with his baby brother.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsNw1yLCsdKCYoBqG_bUyUYTJ8PUD_vT1ddD07nkcsQyo_9vaV6NQqwbRDrvZWjEXO7mzofsNmX0OZrx04eiPx-iiTvXvGMHZHZViN1YBAZrXhLxQmgnKORBmeqD9uLK50Bg_FYDyVLTmv/s640/blogger-image--1403676397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsNw1yLCsdKCYoBqG_bUyUYTJ8PUD_vT1ddD07nkcsQyo_9vaV6NQqwbRDrvZWjEXO7mzofsNmX0OZrx04eiPx-iiTvXvGMHZHZViN1YBAZrXhLxQmgnKORBmeqD9uLK50Bg_FYDyVLTmv/s640/blogger-image--1403676397.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Speaking of Isaiah-he is now 20 months old and talking up a storm. He loves books and being read too-almost as much as he loves food (namely, blueberries!). We are adoring this fun time of life with him and are still amazed that he is ours and we get to watch him grow up{wayyy too fast!!}! He is quite gentle with other peoples babies and so it makes me feel like he will be a great older brother come October. My belly has gotten many a hug and kiss from this sweet boy who keeps asking "where's baby?".</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8WGRu9jnYM7JUR7g9Hp9-ZA9aoCKO0TRIEhpUyeMOGB1kY9G-Dd1edpGdyEfg1KIfD-57gdZwWbTIkf9oyfTdPU92Chi1Q067s__KFAfhRS29uyrskj3SzV3okl9wwiDmkWCYHh5avyp/s640/blogger-image--1207618670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8WGRu9jnYM7JUR7g9Hp9-ZA9aoCKO0TRIEhpUyeMOGB1kY9G-Dd1edpGdyEfg1KIfD-57gdZwWbTIkf9oyfTdPU92Chi1Q067s__KFAfhRS29uyrskj3SzV3okl9wwiDmkWCYHh5avyp/s640/blogger-image--1207618670.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Brandon has landed a pretty fantastic job recently! He just completed his first week at a company called MFX Hosting. He is in training(for the next 6 months) as a Computer Monitor. He will monitor 12 different screens with different servers on them and fix any problems that present themselves. It's a lot to learn-but such a great job with wonderful hours/pay/benefits! We are very blessed and thankful to be done job searching after almost a year of odd jobs/internships/applying for jobs. Praise God! Brandon will pick back up with school in the spring semester so he can concentrate on learning this job fully and to the best of his ability.</div><div>So for now, we are staying here in Roanoke!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpetQmOKbKws3CM8Gt25oNiQ8ED3x7z1INYMk6Lxkk8n2WZ-I2QAjZsIGnAk36eL65CsMTzw4n48m1xfFqVYb5oudBY5GRKkC2s6WpjBj_3ZhhJoIwf0osUwRk0PraWicvs1Opit21qbFO/s640/blogger-image--1507846606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpetQmOKbKws3CM8Gt25oNiQ8ED3x7z1INYMk6Lxkk8n2WZ-I2QAjZsIGnAk36eL65CsMTzw4n48m1xfFqVYb5oudBY5GRKkC2s6WpjBj_3ZhhJoIwf0osUwRk0PraWicvs1Opit21qbFO/s640/blogger-image--1507846606.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Life has been busy and full for us lately and I hope I can continue to blog about it, especially since it's so easy these days with a blogging app on my iPod and all the pictures I take are mostly on my iPod :)</div><div>So stay tuned for updates in our little family's life!</div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15572795811751194933noreply@blogger.com4