tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18448167011646777342024-03-13T09:32:57.678-05:00bean and birdieAlihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12545449133201115037noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844816701164677734.post-88952502819681916622012-09-06T15:55:00.000-05:002012-09-06T15:55:11.242-05:00I heart faces photo challenge- Summer Fun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo Challenge Submission" src="http://www.iheartfaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/I-Heart-Faces-button.jpg" title="I Heart Faces Photo Challenge Submission" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/IMGP3956.jpg" width="810px" />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
As soon as I noticed the September challenge at <a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/">I heart faces</a>, I immediately knew which picture I would submit. Nothing says "summer fun" like a baby running through a sprinkler (or in this case the splash pad)! I love this picture of my little munchkin. She was super excited and loved her first splash pad experience! <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/?action=view&current=heartsig_edited-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/heartsig_edited-1.jpg" /></a>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12545449133201115037noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844816701164677734.post-66979478015401232102012-06-11T17:52:00.001-05:002012-06-11T17:52:38.086-05:00Summer Loving !!<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="font: 12.0px Foglihten; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
</div>
<div style="font: 18.0px Foglihten; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">We love summer! The Texas heat and humidity, not so much. Actually, I will take the heat over freezing cold temperatures any day! Honestly though, the heat here is a little bit ridiculous. My girls are not indoor people, I cannot keep them inside! Thank goodness they didn't inherit their mama's freckled, fair-skin. I love being outside, but hate having to live in a constant lather of sunscreen! No, my kids get these lovely, golden tans in the summertime and look like they should be sitting on a California beach. Meanwhile, my legs are glowing like a pale, white light, with an occasional freckle scattered here and there! </span>To beat the heat, our summers are filled with lots of swimsuits and cold treats.</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/My%20family/IMGP1798copy.jpg" width="810px" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Foglihten; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Foglihten; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
My budding, little-fashionista in the making. Seriously, this girl pairs up the craziest things. The funny thing is: she makes them work! If only I had her fashion sense! I love seeing her personality developing a little bit more each day!</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/My%20family/IMGP1801copy.jpg" width="610px" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Foglihten; font-size: 18px;">The<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> girls spend lots of time in their swimsuits and sunglasses. They make so many cute sunglasses for kids nowadays! Somehow, she always winds up on wheels.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/My%20family/IMGP1855copy.jpg" width="810px" /><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Foglihten; font-size: 18px;">I love the innocent confidence that children have. Oh, to walk around all day, in a swimsuit, with no regard as to how you may look! I hope my girls always keep that child-like self-confidence. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/My%20family/IMGP2324COPY.jpg" width="810px" /><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Foglihten; font-size: 18px;">Texas summer’s would not be the same without a good old-fashioned sno-ball. We have the best sno-ball place around with flavors from dill pickle to chocolate cream. My girls are partial to the bubble gum flavored ones! </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/My%20family/IMGP2465COPY.jpg" width="810px" /><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Foglihten; font-size: 18px;">Of course, the occasional sno-cone is fine too! </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/My%20family/IMGP3015_edited-1.jpg" width="810px" /><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="font: 18.0px Foglihten; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Never underestimate the value of a good ice pop. Especially, if you can color-coordinate it with your outfit!</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/My%20family/IMGP3405copy.jpg" width="810px" /><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Foglihten; font-size: 18px;">Nothing brings back childhood memories like running through a sprinkler on a scorching day! Swimsuits optional. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/My%20family/IMGP3766copy.jpg" width="810px" /><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Foglihten; font-size: 18px;">One of my favorite things about summer, all the beautiful flowers blooming! These are my first zinnias, and they are oh so lovely. How is your summer going?</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Foglihten; font-size: 18px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Foglihten; font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<br />
<a href="http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/?action=view&current=heartsig.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/heartsig.jpg" /></a>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12545449133201115037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844816701164677734.post-85873822256920614742012-04-03T08:47:00.000-05:002012-04-03T10:09:02.029-05:00I heart faces photo challenge- Happiness<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/"><img alt="Photo Challenge Submission" src="http://www.iheartfaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/I-Heart-Faces-button.jpg" title="I Heart Faces Photo Challenge Submission" /></a></div>
<br />
I really love the <a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/">i heart faces</a> photo challenges. I haven't done one in over a year and really miss the interaction with such a great community of photography lovers! I see that they have changed their challenges from weekly to monthly. I can definitely put together one photo for their monthly challenge. This months theme is Happiness. The first thing that makes me think of happiness is my children. To see the innocence in their sweet faces brings me so much joy! It was hard to just choose one picture to submit!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/My%20family/IMGP6169copy.jpg" width="810px" /><br />
<br />
<br />
I love the happiness that is shared between my children. From the start, you can see just how much she loves her big brother! As much as my teen says his little sisters annoy him, you can tell that their adoration makes him happy! One of my favorite times of the day is when he comes home from school and they "rush" him! They are truly priceless moments that I wouldn't change for the world!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/?action=view&current=Untitled-1.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/Untitled-1.png" /></a>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12545449133201115037noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844816701164677734.post-51104454335034735082012-03-30T19:47:00.000-05:002012-03-30T19:47:45.773-05:00Sisterly Love<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Two and a half years apart, my sweet girls...like night and day. One came into the world wide-eyed, so afraid to miss a thing. The other, such a laid-back, sensitive soul. They already butt heads. The teenage years are going to be interesting! Yet, they have their sweet little moments that just make my heart skip a beat. Girls- already so much more complicated than their sweet, older brother. They are going to be the best of friends and competitors. There will be lots of laughter and plenty more tears. I plan on relishing every little moment of it!</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/My%20family/Sisters.jpg" width="810px" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="huge" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Is solace anywhere more comforting than that in the arms of a sister.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="bodybold" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Alice Walker</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/?action=view&current=Untitled-1.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/Untitled-1.png" /></a></div>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12545449133201115037noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844816701164677734.post-19061262773395736942012-03-29T23:15:00.003-05:002012-03-29T23:29:27.455-05:00A New Spring<img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/BLOG%20PHOTOS/IMGP0134copy.jpg" width="810px" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>So that whole starting over thing didn't quite work for me last year. So much craziness with the new baby (who is getting so big) and all. With so many changes it was hard to find time for me. Now, I'm ready for this outlet again. I'm looking forward to sharing, learning, and growing. After all, it is spring and a time for all things fresh and new. Can't wait! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/?action=view&current=Untitled-1.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/Untitled-1.png" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12545449133201115037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844816701164677734.post-62800044226592185762011-03-10T08:05:00.004-06:002011-03-10T09:03:46.258-06:00Starting New<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">So....here I go, once again, starting a new chapter of my life.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';"> I have consumed so much time the past two years searching for myself. I went through a period of so many changes in such a small period of time, and to be perfectly honest.....I couldn't keep up! I felt like such a failure. I had spent the previous 14 years playing superwoman in a career where failure was not an option. So this was all new to me. I don't know exactly what made me wake up and realize that I couldn't keep going on like this, I just know that I was making myself and everyone around me a total mess. That's when I decided to stop searching so hard for "me" and just let myself be. I stopped attempting to squeeze myself into a perfect little mold. There are so many different sides of me that it was getting exhausting! It was sort of like trying to squeeze into those size 6 jeans that you still hold onto because you just know you are going to wear them again someday! Okay, well maybe size 8 jeans, but you get the idea! It wasn't all gonna fit! So now, I'm just taking it one day at a time and embracing whatever that day may hold: the good, the bad, and the ugly, and you know...it's so much easier!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Now, the past year has taken us to Japan and back home again(long story). So many lessons learned from that experience, but let's just say the grass isn't always greener! I did manage to get pregnant with number three while there, so something good came of the experience! We were blessed with another girl who was born in January! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';">It's a little different, okay a lot different, having two little ones under the age of three at home. It's getting easier everyday though! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">So what's in store with this blog in the upcoming year? Who knows... a little bit of everything! It should be interesting!</span></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/?action=view&current=alisig.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/alisig.jpg" border="0" alt="newsig" /></a>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12545449133201115037noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844816701164677734.post-25594645947842700932011-03-01T08:17:00.006-06:002011-03-01T08:40:36.754-06:00Back in the saddle again....<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> Wow! Has it really been almost a year since my last post? That is just crazy! Well, I have been super busy...but I'll save that for the next post. I really miss my little ol' blog and I am ready to start anew! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Thought that I would start this with another <a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/">i heart faces</a> weekly challenge (which I haven't done in almost a year as well)! The photo that I have selected will give you a little peek at one of the main things that has kept me preoccupied this past year!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><br /><center><a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/" mce_href="http://www.iheartfaces.com"><img src="http://www.iheartfaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/I_Heart_Faces_noborder_125x100.jpg" mce_src="http://www.iheartfaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/I_Heart_Faces_noborder_125x100.jpg" /></a></center><br /><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/bemine.jpg" width="810px" /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's a little peek of my newest Valentine! I just love them when they're this tiny! Too bad they don't stay this way for very long! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Have a great week!</div><div><br /></div><a href="http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/?action=view&current=alisig.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/alisig.jpg" border="0" alt="newsig" /></a>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12545449133201115037noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844816701164677734.post-17417986075366013012010-04-12T02:11:00.001-05:002010-04-12T02:24:43.276-05:00Juggling...<img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/IMGP4281efw.jpg" width="810px" /><br /><br /><br /><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> I have been so, so, busy lately that I just haven’t had time to work on my little ol’ blog. I have never exactly been little Miss Consistent on this thing, but I really have missed it so! This is such therapy to me and reading my little list of favorite blogs is always a great way to spend a few minutes of everyday!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> So, what have I been up to lately, you may ask? Well, after 15 years of graduating from high school and fourteen of those in the Marines, I am working on my higher-learning. Yep, that’s right I am a full-time college student! So full-time mom + full-time college = very little time for everything else! Let’s just say that I am a little bit stressed right now! I’m working out the kinks though, and hopefully will have a pretty solid routine down soon (a girl can dream right!)</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> I still so want to find time for my therapy (blogging & photography). Why do we women think that we have to do everything? I guess that, for now, I will keep juggling with the best of them!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; ">Happy Monday! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; "></span><a href="http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/?action=view&current=alisig.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/alisig.jpg" border="0" alt="newsig" /></a></div>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12545449133201115037noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844816701164677734.post-36492415256932064722010-03-28T23:13:00.002-05:002010-03-28T23:27:29.899-05:00i heart faces "Dramatic b&w"<center><a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/"><img src="http://www.livinglocurto.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/I_Heart_Faces_noborder_125x100.jpg" /></a></center><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This weeks challenge at <a href="http://www.iheartfaces.blogspot.com/">iheartfaces</a> is “Dramatic black & white”. I just love how converting you pictures to black and white changes the whole “feel” of the picture. Depending on what theme or idea you are going for you can change so much by removing the color. This is one of my favorite shots of my little girl. I think that I have posted it on here before but it definitely changed the mood by removing the color. I think that it is certainly “dramatic”!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><br /></p><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/birdie/IMGP1660efw.jpg" width="810px" /><br /><br /><br /><div><div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Happy Monday!</span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/?action=view&current=alisig.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/alisig.jpg" border="0" alt="newsig" /></a></div>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12545449133201115037noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844816701164677734.post-1722853739701099852010-03-23T18:23:00.002-05:002010-03-23T18:35:13.701-05:00i heart faces "Angles"<center><a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/"><img src="http://www.livinglocurto.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/I_Heart_Faces_noborder_125x100.jpg" /></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/birdie/IMGP2954efw.jpg" width="810px" /><br /><br /><br /><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This weeks i heart faces challenge is angles. Something a little different from your average straight-on shot.</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19px; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I have already posted this photo on here but thought it was perfect for this challenge. I love the way that this turned out by standing above and slightly behind her. I love that I captured her love for splashing in the water here. She never comes in dry after taking a walk in the backyard! I really need to get her some rain boots!</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19px; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; ">Check out all of the different angles at <a href="http://iheartfaces.blogspot.com/">i heart faces</a>! </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; "></span><a href="http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/?action=view&current=alisig.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/alisig.jpg" border="0" alt="newsig" /></a></div>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12545449133201115037noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844816701164677734.post-54171594922326119702010-03-17T19:02:00.003-05:002010-03-18T03:54:35.422-05:00Letter to my boy.<img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/My%20family/IMGP3992efb.jpg" width="810px" /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Dear Cameron,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> It’s not easy being a teenager. You are going through so many changes right now and it can be hard to keep up. You are in a place that is not quite man, not quite child. You are walking a fine line in between what the world says to do and what your heart tells you is the truth. It can be hard, so hard.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> Just remember to take it slow. There’s plenty of time to be a man and make all the grown-up decisions. Just enjoy the fleeting days of your childhood, for they are going so fast. Don’t worry so much about trivial things, trust me, you will do this more than enough when you get older! Follow your heart, it will never lead you astray. Go for your dreams, and know that you can accomplish anything. Remember, it’s okay to change your mind too and that doesn’t make you a failure.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> School is just school. I’m not saying that it isn’t important to do a good job. Challenge yourself, you just might be surprised with the outcome! I’m just saying that all of the social issues and pressures are... just that. They don’t determine what kind of man you are going to be. Only you can determine that. Twenty years from now, all of that insignificant stuff won’t matter.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> Remember to smile more and always be yourself, because yourself is far greater than anyone else’s idea of who you should be. Smile at the little things, and keep the big things in perspective, often they end up being not so big after all!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> Know this, I am always proud of you and there will never come a day when I don’t love you a little bit more than the previous one!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Love, </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Mom </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">p.s. Can you clean your room now, it’s disgusting?</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'American Typewriter', serif;font-size:17px;">xoxo </span><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/My%20family/IMGP4004efw.jpg" width="810px" /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/?action=view&current=alisig.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/alisig.jpg" border="0" alt="newsig" /></a></div>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12545449133201115037noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844816701164677734.post-54337275484479846992010-03-12T07:02:00.002-06:002010-03-12T07:45:55.914-06:00A new neighbor.<div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I have a new neighbor. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; ">We were introduced this morning, well....sort of. </p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I don’t normally meet my neighbors half-naked, fresh from the shower, </span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">wrapped up in a towel. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Alas, it just couldn’t be avoided. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">You see, I was hardly out of the shower, when to my surprise I noticed someone looking through my window! </span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; ">Can you imagine? </p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">It surprised me so much that I just had to do what any other budding photographer girl would do, and grab my camera.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'American Typewriter', serif;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;"></span></span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'American Typewriter', serif;font-size:180%;"><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Yes indeed, how else was I going to prove that the new neighbor is nosy, if I don’t have a picture?</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'">Don't believe me? Well, you just go right ahead and see for yourself then!</p></span></span><p></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/nature/IMGP3533.jpg" width="810px" /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; "><div style="text-align: center;">What did I tell ya? </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> You just never know about your neighbors nowadays. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">She was totally watching me, checking me out, trying to get a feel for me. </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">You know, all the sort of things that nosy neighbors do. </div></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'American Typewriter', serif;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'American Typewriter', serif;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; "></span><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/nature/IMGP3601.jpg" width="810px" /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; ">Later that day, she made another appearance. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; "> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; ">We were formally introduced. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'American Typewriter', serif;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; ">She apologized for our previous meeting and swore up and down that she has never </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'American Typewriter', serif;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; ">done such a thing before. She was a little embarrassed. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; "> </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; "></span><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/nature/IMGP3606.jpg" width="810px" /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; ">Her name is Hildegard. Hildegard A. Hawke to be exact.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'American Typewriter', serif;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; ">Isn’t she lovely? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; "></span><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/nature/IMGP3573.jpg" width="810px" /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; "><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; ">I have decided that we are going to make great neighbors. She can give me some </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; ">tips on feathering my nest, and I can point out all of the neighborhood rats!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; "> {hee, hee, I really need some sleep} </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; "></span><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/nature/IMGP3866.jpg" width="810px" /></span></div></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Hope you have a wonderful weekend filled with lots of love and great neighbors!</span></p><br /><a href="http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/?action=view&current=alisig.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/alisig.jpg" border="0" alt="newsig" /></a></div></div>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12545449133201115037noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844816701164677734.post-45480158133473026412010-03-10T02:15:00.004-06:002010-03-10T04:01:48.566-06:00Coastal Inspiration<div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">We have been living on this island now for a couple of months and we are trying to make our little duplex feel more comfy and homelike. Prior to moving, we were told that the homes here are a lot smaller than what we are accustomed to and advised to bring only the necessities. What a perfect way for a fresh start and a more simpler lifestyle, right? </span></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19px; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Now, I am working on making our humble abode, homey for the next couple of years. I am really loving the coast and all of the bright, sunshiny, weather. I am drawing inspiration from the lovely colors of the sea and sand around me. </span></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19px; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Let’s take a little look at some things that are inspiring me at the moment</span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">...shall we?</span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RWmI0ER5Zrs/S5dVwZF14nI/AAAAAAAAASk/8kXpAPuhuMM/s1600-h/coastal+living6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: 600px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RWmI0ER5Zrs/S5dVwZF14nI/AAAAAAAAASk/8kXpAPuhuMM/s400/coastal+living6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446916564185375346" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I don’t think that it would be possible to ever be in a bad mood in this beauty! Everything is just so bright and beautiful! Love the vintage appliances!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><br /></p></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RWmI0ER5Zrs/S5dVncevFQI/AAAAAAAAASc/fsMbWkWB_P0/s1600-h/coastal+living+5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: 600px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RWmI0ER5Zrs/S5dVncevFQI/AAAAAAAAASc/fsMbWkWB_P0/s400/coastal+living+5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446916410476270850" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I love everything about this bedroom, and I love the subtle mix of the blues and yellow with the white. Love the iron bed, ruffled bedskirt, and that knobby-legged side table is gorgeous! Wouldn’t mind staying in bed for awhile in this beauty!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><br /></p></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RWmI0ER5Zrs/S5dVmwLOUMI/AAAAAAAAASU/bV1xPyepOLs/s1600-h/coastal+living4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: 600px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RWmI0ER5Zrs/S5dVmwLOUMI/AAAAAAAAASU/bV1xPyepOLs/s400/coastal+living4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446916398583271618" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I want an outdoor bath/shower area. Ideally somewhere near the coast, in my backyard, surrounded by a fabulous garden (gotta have a little privacy, ya know). That turquoise column and painted claw-foot tub just takes my breath away! Do you see it? A little peek of a mirror in the corner surrounded by some sort of vines, at least I think it’s a mirror. Whatever it is, it’s lovely!</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><br /></p></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RWmI0ER5Zrs/S5dVmcjlYDI/AAAAAAAAASM/pEuMa233Xiw/s1600-h/coastal+living3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: 600px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RWmI0ER5Zrs/S5dVmcjlYDI/AAAAAAAAASM/pEuMa233Xiw/s400/coastal+living3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446916393316737074" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Now this one....I just love the little pops of color in an otherwise neutral space. What really caught my eye was that lovely chandelier. Be.still.my.heart. Isn’t she lovely? She would look so pretty in a number of places. This might be doable very soon with all of the cool shells that I am finding!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><br /></p></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RWmI0ER5Zrs/S5dVmBJdXWI/AAAAAAAAASE/tx-_MvtQHkI/s1600-h/coastal+living2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: 600px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RWmI0ER5Zrs/S5dVmBJdXWI/AAAAAAAAASE/tx-_MvtQHkI/s400/coastal+living2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446916385959402850" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Loving the linen slipcovered chairs here and the little wheeled coffee table. Of course the paneling on the walls is lovely as well as the neutral sea grass looking rug. What really drew my attention though, is the bright colors of the couch. I’m not normally into the really bright colors but maybe I should re-think that, it really makes the room here!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><br /></p></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RWmI0ER5Zrs/S5dVl02fmXI/AAAAAAAAAR8/WlkFGkcwt80/s1600-h/coastal+living+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: 600px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RWmI0ER5Zrs/S5dVl02fmXI/AAAAAAAAAR8/WlkFGkcwt80/s400/coastal+living+1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446916382658632050" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">all photos courtesy of {</span></span><a href="http://www.coastalliving.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Coastal Living</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">}</span></span></div></div><div><br /></div><div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Just loving the little hints of blue and yellow, aren’t those chairs cute? Ooh whee, that little peek of checkered floor, just what is it about a checker-floored kitchen? Oh, is that a breadbox I spy? I am looking for a really cool breadbox. It is super humid here and my bread keeps getting moisture in it. Any ideas?</span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Thanks for letting me share some of my inspiration with you today. Hopefully I will have some before/after pictures for you soon of our humble Okinawa abode.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'American Typewriter', serif;font-size:17px;">Happy Tuesday. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'American Typewriter', serif;font-size:17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><a href="http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/?action=view&current=alisig.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/alisig.jpg" border="0" alt="newsig" /></a></span></span></span></p></div>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12545449133201115037noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844816701164677734.post-78961420053750775912010-03-08T18:20:00.004-06:002010-03-08T19:42:55.804-06:00My weekend...<div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Not much got done around here this weekend. Although it wasn’t quite as crazy as a weekend filled with earthquakes and tsunami warnings, it was a crazy one nonetheless! My plans of refinishing my little dining room table had to be put off, once again.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">My little birdie was sick and so our weekend started out on Friday evening with a trip to the ER. Amelia just hadn’t been herself since Thursday evening and I couldn’t get her to shake her fever for long. So after a reading of 104.3 it was time to go. We arrived at the ER at around 7:00 pm and didn’t leave until close to 1:00 am! Gotta love the ER! Let me tell you for a 19 month old that was not feeling well, she’s got a lot of fight in her. She didn’t want to be bothered. Let’s just say that the doctor was slapped around a bit! We left with a diagnosis of adenovirus.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I felt so bad for my poor sick little birdie, she just wasn’t herself. My little girl normally doesn’t sleep too much and is a nonstop ball of energy. I have never seen her sleep so much, which normally would be great, but she wouldn't let me leave her side. If I moved, she would wake up and fuss until I was close at hand.</span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/birdie/IMGP3539.jpg" width="610px" /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; ">Saturday was a beautiful day but we spent the majority of the time relaxing and watching “Up” too many times to count. Is it just me, or does that opening scene of Carl and Ellie’s life just make you cry everytime? </span><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; "></span><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/birdie/IMGP3550.jpg" width="610px" /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; ">As the day progressed, my little birdie mustered the strength to read a book or two. I just love that she is fascinated with books. She sits down and really gets into them. I wonder what she is thinking? </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'American Typewriter', serif;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; "></span><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/birdie/IMGP3548.jpg" width="610px" /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; ">By the time Sunday rolled around, she was still feeling pretty miserable. She wouldn’t eat, she wouldn’t drink. She only wanted to nurse. Did I just say that? Yes, my 19 month old {gasp}<i><b>still</b></i> nurses. We are working on this. Since we have moved, she wants to more than ever. Any thoughts, advice, help on this would be greatly appreciated! </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; "></span><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/birdie/IMGP3644.jpg" width="610px" /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; ">As the day progressed, she was starting to get closer to her normal self. Still not eating, but fever was pretty much gone. I was so happy to see that pretty little smile again! </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; "></span><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/birdie/IMGP3637.jpg" width="610px" /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; ">By late afternoon, we decide that maybe a little fresh air would do us all some good and decided to head outside. The day was warm and overcast, yet so beautiful! Have I mentioned that even the rainy days are pretty here? </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; "></span><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/nature/IMGP3679copy.jpg" width="610px" /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; ">The boys decided to play some football while the girls went out searching for sea glass and pretty shells. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; "></span><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/My%20family/IMGP3717copy.jpg" width="610px" /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; ">Birdie decided that she didn’t want to look for sea glass and instead wanted to play ball with the boys. She didn’t respond too well to their reluctance to let her play. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; "></span><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/birdie/IMGP3726.jpg" width="610px" /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; ">All was well once daddy caved in and gave her the ball. She has him so wrapped around her little finger! She always wants to play with the boys, might have a tomboy in our future. I don’t think they ever got the ball back! </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; "></span><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/birdie/IMGP3741.jpg" width="610px" /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; ">What started out as a crazy weekend, ended up turning out pretty well! Although I didn’t get much done, it was okay! I love my little family. I am truly blessed. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; "></span><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/My%20family/IMGP3766.jpg" width="610px" /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; ">Gotta run! My silly little birdie is back to normal so I don’t expect this nap to last very long! Have a wonderful week! </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; "></span><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/birdie/IMGP3794.jpg" width="610px" /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/?action=view&current=alisig.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/alisig.jpg" border="0" alt="newsig" /></a></div>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12545449133201115037noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844816701164677734.post-11407491650817980042010-03-07T17:27:00.002-06:002010-03-08T00:26:06.715-06:00i heart faces "Jump for Joy"<center><a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/"><img src="http://www.livinglocurto.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/I_Heart_Faces_noborder_125x100.jpg" /></a></center><br /><br /><div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This weeks photo challenge at <a href="http://iheartfaces.blogspot.com/">i heart faces</a> is “jump for joy” and can feature up to 5 of your favorite jumping photos.</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19px; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I immediately knew which photos that I would use for this.</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19px; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">My brothers kids were staying with us last summer while they were visiting Texas and I had to keep them preoccupied. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">With the temperature being close to a million degrees, there was really only one thing that they wanted to do!</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19px; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">So there was a lot of jumping going on at our house last summer!</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19px; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Here are 5 of my favorites!</span></p></div><div><div><br /><br /><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/My%20family/IMGP5572.jpg" width="810px" /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">“<b>Jump on 3</b>”</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19px; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; ">The oldest in the middle was going to count to 3 and then jump. Little did his brother and sister know, he had other plans! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'American Typewriter', serif;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; "></span><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/My%20family/IMGP5564.jpg" width="810px" /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">“<b>Cannonball</b>” </span></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19px; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; "><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; ">Of course there were tons of cannonball competitions! </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; "></span><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/My%20family/IMGP7421.jpg" width="810px" /></span></div></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">“<b>Crazy Cameron</b>”</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19px; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; "><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; ">Setting the stage for the little guys, Cameron had to do some crazy stunts! </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; "></span><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/birdie/IMGP5619.jpg" width="810px" /></span></div></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">“<b>Amazing Amelia</b>”</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19px; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; "><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; ">Not to be outdone, Amelia did her own sort of cannonball, assisted by daddy of course! She looks like she is crying but, she was squealing with delight!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; "></span><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/IMGP7529.jpg" width="810px" /></span></div></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">“<b>Sophie the Flying Fish</b>”</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19px; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Sophie even got in on the action! I love this picture! It looks like Sophie was jumping out of the water rather than into it!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'American Typewriter', serif;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;"></span></span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'American Typewriter', serif;font-size:180%;"><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">That was fun! </span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Check out all the joyous jumping pictures this week at i heart faces.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><br /></p></span></span><p></p></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/?action=view&current=alisig.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/alisig.jpg" border="0" alt="newsig" /></a></div></div>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12545449133201115037noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844816701164677734.post-47226715174857937962010-03-03T21:53:00.002-06:002010-03-03T22:20:40.380-06:00a new love....<p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I have a new love. This new love makes me so happy! </span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I have had a thing for this “love” for a little while now but never like this. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Living on this island now for the past three months has </span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">reintroduced me to my love of......sea glass. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Oh, the colors are just like the ocean! </span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">All the various shades of blue and green that I adore.</span></p><br /><br /><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/BLOG%20PHOTOS/seaglass.jpg" width="810px" /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Never before have I lived on a coast where there is such an abundance of the beautiful treasures. I feel like a little kid on an easter egg hunt every time we head out into the backyard. I never leave the beach empty-handed! </span></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19px; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Now, I just need to be creative and figure out what I am going to do with all of it.</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19px; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I think that it would make a pretty cool wind chime. Perhaps a way to pretty up and old chandelier or pendant lamp maybe?</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19px; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">The various colors of the sea glass are my inspiration for fixing up our little duplex for the next couple of years.</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19px; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I foresee lots of projects and pictures to come in the immediate future!</span></p><br /><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/BLOG%20PHOTOS/seaglass1.jpg" width="810px" /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/?action=view&current=alisig.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/alisig.jpg" border="0" alt="newsig" /></a></div></div>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12545449133201115037noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844816701164677734.post-48482111113127370652010-03-02T03:08:00.002-06:002010-03-02T03:51:03.817-06:00My big girl<img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/birdie/biggirlhaircut.jpg" width="810px" /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Somebody got a haircut and it’s not me! </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Now I want to cry. My baby looks like such a big girl. It is amazing how 1/4 of an inch off the bangs can change the entire way that my little girl looks! I think as soon as her hair was cut that she acquired a more “big girl” attitude too! I’m not ready for her to be a big girl yet. She needs to stay my baby for awhile.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; ">Oh, and by the way, it so wasn’t me that cut her hair! Nope, won’t even go there. I still have flashbacks to when I attempted to cut Cams’ hair for the first time! Poor baby, his hair kept getting shorter and shorter! I vowed to leave it to the pro’s from there on out. I think that he did a pretty good job, don’t you? </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; "></span><a href="http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/?action=view&current=alisig.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/alisig.jpg" border="0" alt="newsig" /></a></div>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12545449133201115037noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844816701164677734.post-41991555899124701062010-03-01T07:56:00.003-06:002010-03-01T08:55:51.820-06:00I heart faces "Hilarious Outtakes".<center><a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/"><img src="http://www.livinglocurto.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/I_Heart_Faces_Photography_125.jpg" /></a></center><br /><br /><br /><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">So, I have decided to try and get back on board with the i heart faces photography challenges. If you have never visited the i heart faces blog and you love photography I suggest that you check it out!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">So much inspiration! So this weeks challenge is “hilarious outtakes” and here are the photos that I decided to submit:</span></p><div><br /></div><div><br /><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/My%20family/outtake4.jpg" width="810px" /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/My%20family/outtake3.jpg" width="810px" /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/My%20family/outtake2.jpg" width="810px" /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/My%20family/outtake1.jpg" width="810px" /><br /><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'American Typewriter', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: -webkit-xxx-large;"><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">These pictures always makes me smile and they ended up being the favorites I shot that day! I really wanted to get a couple of nice shots of both of my kids and Cameron was willing to cooperate that day. Amelia, on the other hand, was not. I asked Cam to do whatever he needed to do to get her smiling and looking at the camera! It worked and I love to see how she responds to her big brother! She adores him and it showed in the pictures that day! I even managed to get a handful of “good” pictures of the both of them! Still...the “outtakes” are my favorites!</span></p></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'American Typewriter', serif;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:17px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'American Typewriter', serif;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:17px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'American Typewriter', serif;font-size:17px;"></span><br /><a href="http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/?action=view&current=alisig.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/alisig.jpg" border="0" alt="newsig" /></a></div></div>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12545449133201115037noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844816701164677734.post-40837488779471517992010-03-01T06:53:00.005-06:002010-03-01T06:59:31.830-06:00Tsunami's and earthquakes and sirens...oh my!<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Okay, so apparently there is a downside to living on a beautiful, tropical-island with an average annual temperature of 72 degrees!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Saturday, we were rudely awakened by a 7.0 earthquake 55 miles off the coast of Okinawa. Earthquakes scare the living daylight out of me! After living in California for about 8 years total I am not a complete newbie to tremors or small earthquakes but this was an entirely different experience!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">We were awakened by shaking that (at the time) felt like it lasted forever! In actuality the shaking lasted for about 15-20 seconds, which is entirely too long for me.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Let me just tell you, this was scary! I was ready to run for the hills with my babies! Did I ever mention that I have this huge phobia about tsunami’s? Beyond paranoid really, I dream of these suckers! Oh and by the way, we live on the beach, right in the backyard! </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">What were we thinking?</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I spent the entire weekend under a giant cloud of anxiety. Didn’t help that there was a possible giant-tsunami on the way after the Chile earthquake. Scary stuff guys! Oh, and the sirens....necessary but gives me the heebie jeebies! Don't care if I ever hear that sound again!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Alas, we survived the weekend and in all reality it could have been much worse. I am praying for the poor people in Chile. All this craziness in the world is just horrible.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Count your blessings and hug those babies a little bit tighter today!</span></p><br /><br /><a href="http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/?action=view&current=alisig.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/alisig.jpg" border="0" alt="newsig" /></a>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12545449133201115037noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844816701164677734.post-63117203613974994742010-02-25T22:59:00.003-06:002010-02-25T23:54:27.786-06:00My Thirty-four.<div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'American Typewriter'"></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">So, about a month ago, I found myself turning 34. What the heck? Where have the past 10 years gone? I mean wasn’t it just yesterday that I turned 24? Wow, 24, I thought that I knew everything! I had no idea! Every year time flies by just a little bit faster than the previous. Before I know it, I will be 35 and wondering how in the world I got there so fast! I want to make this year count. Make 34 a little bit different then the rest. So, I have made a list of 34 things that I want to accomplish in my 34th year.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc"> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; color:#da1e17;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px ;color:#000000;"> 1. Start college (</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">as of January 25th, I am a full-time college student</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px ;color:#000000;">).</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc"> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> 2. Sew something, anything.</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc"> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> 3. Learn to play an instrument.</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc"> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> 4. Read the bible in its’ entirety.</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc"> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> 5. Stop the excuses and start having date nights with my husband (we always feel so guilty, and bring the kids).</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc"> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> 6. Lose the “Amelia weight.”</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc"> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> 7. Stop calling it the “Amelia weight.”</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc"> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; color:#da1e17;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px ;color:#000000;"> 8. Live in a foreign country for at least a year (</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">okay, so this is sort of cheating but I have always wanted to do this, so it counts right</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px ;color:#000000;">)?</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc"> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> 9. Finish my photography class and organize the thousands of photos I took last year.</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc"> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> 10. Learn to be comfortable in my skin.</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc"> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> 11. Give up my coke habit (or any other soda pop for that matter, gee what kind of “coke” were you guys thinking)!</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc"> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> 12. Be more consistent with my blogging. This is my “free-therapy” after all!</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc"> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> 13. Laugh more often (I am entirely too serious most of the time).</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc"> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> 14. Go to a karaoke lounge and sing (I absolutely love to sing but am too terrified to actually do it in public)!</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc"> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> 15. Run another marathon.</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc"> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> 16. Make a monthly date with my son, just me and my boy, doing something together that we have never done before.</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc"> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> 17. Take more pictures of me with my kids (lots of the kids, hardly any of me and the kids)!</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc"> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> 18. Try going vegetarian or vegan for an entire month and see how it makes me feel!</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc"> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> 19. Look in the mirror every morning and say something positive about myself.</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc"> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> 20. Exercise everyday, even if it is just going for a walk.</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc"> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> 21. Stop wasting energy on things that have happened in the past, no regrets!</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc"> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> 22. Make more time for prayer.</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc"> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> 23. More effectively communicate with my husband. (I tend to do the hold it all in and brood thing)!</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc"> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> 24. Learn how to cook something complicated that I have never made before.</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc"> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> 25. Print out and frame some of the pictures that I love for our walls.</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc"> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> 26. Send more snail mail to friends/family, after all, in these days of technology, who doesn’t love to open up the mailbox and get a sweet little postcard or note?</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc"> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> 27. Start and finish all of my re-finishing projects (old table, old bench, etc.) and take lots of pictures in the process!</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc"> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> 28. Get rid of all the clothes that I am honestly never going to wear again, therefore creating WAY more space in my closet!</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc"> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> 29. Learn at least a little conversational Japanese. </span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc"> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> 30. Wear my hair down more often and take pictures for proof!</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc"> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> 31. Get a fabulous new haircut, therefore making it much easier to accomplish previous number!</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc"> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> 32. Treat everyday as if it were a Monday. Every day can be a fresh start.</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc"> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> 33. Dance a little bit everyday, even if it’s only in the shower!</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc"> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> 34. Don’t beat myself up if everything does not get accomplished!</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> So, there you have it. My crazy little list of things that I want to accomplish in my 34th year. This will be interesting to see how many of these that I will actually accomplish and just maybe I will learn something new about myself in the process!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Happy Friday blog world!</span></p><p></p><p></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/rawmecopy.jpg" width="510px" /><div><br /></div><div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Me, in all of my freckle-faced, sans-makeup, glory!</span></p><br /><br /><a href="http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/?action=view&current=alisig.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/alisig.jpg" border="0" alt="newsig" /></a></div>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12545449133201115037noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844816701164677734.post-43145352768628504452010-02-14T23:25:00.003-06:002010-02-15T01:45:19.229-06:00Fresh<img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/nature/hb1copy.jpg" width="810px" />
<br />
<br />
<br /><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; ">Some people dread Monday. Not me. </p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; ">Monday is my absolute favorite day of the week! </p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "> There is nothing like a fresh start, a clean slate, to make you feel better when you have been sort of "out of it". I always start new projects or goals on Monday's. </p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; ">The week is just starting out and I can accomplish everything! </p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; ">Okay, so I don't always get everything done, but there's always the next Monday to start all over on the "to do" list.</p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 19px; ">
<br /></p> <div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; ">Happy Monday!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 17px; "></span>
<br />
<br /><a href="http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/?action=view¤t=alisig.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/alisig.jpg" border="0" alt="newsig"></a>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12545449133201115037noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844816701164677734.post-38998191049560431952010-02-13T17:48:00.002-06:002010-02-13T17:55:52.369-06:00Happy Valentine's Day!<img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/birdie/valentineskiss.jpg" width="810px" /><br /><br /><br /><div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal 'Apple Chancery'; ">Here<span style="font: 18.0px Kokonor"> </span>is<span style="font: 18.0px Kokonor"> </span>a<span style="font: 18.0px Kokonor"> </span>Valentine's<span style="font: 18.0px Kokonor"> </span>Day<span style="font: 18.0px Kokonor"> </span>kiss<span style="font: 18.0px Kokonor"> </span>for<span style="font: 18.0px Kokonor"> </span>you!<span style="font: 18.0px Kokonor"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal 'Apple Chancery'; "><span style="font: 18.0px Kokonor"></span>Wishing<span style="font: 18.0px Kokonor"> </span>you<span style="font: 18.0px Kokonor"> </span>a<span style="font: 18.0px Kokonor"> </span>day<span style="font: 18.0px Kokonor"> </span>filled<span style="font: 18.0px Kokonor"> </span>with<span style="font: 18.0px Kokonor"> </span>love<span style="font: 18.0px Kokonor"> </span>and<span style="font: 18.0px Kokonor"> </span>lots<span style="font: 18.0px Kokonor"> </span>of<span style="font: 18.0px Kokonor"> </span>hugs<span style="font: 18.0px Kokonor"> </span>and<span style="font: 18.0px Kokonor"> </span>kisses!</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/?action=view&current=alisig.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/alisig.jpg" border="0" alt="newsig" /></a></div>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12545449133201115037noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844816701164677734.post-63001021587163334872010-02-11T20:37:00.006-06:002010-02-12T03:09:34.334-06:00I heart cherry blossoms!<p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'Pea Mique Bold'; ">A couple of weekends ago, we went to our first Okinawan festival. It was cherry blossom season here and so we decided to go and check out the Cherry Blossom Festival in Nago City. Once the trees bloom, they only last for about a week or two, so every year folks line up to see the delicate flowers. These trees are a sight when they are in full bloom and if you ever get the chance to see them, you won't be disappointed! I think that the cherry blossom might be my new favorite tree. I would definitely like to plant a couple at our house in Texas. I wonder where we could find them at?</p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'Pea Mique Bold'; ">
<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'Pea Mique Bold'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Pea Mique Bold', serif;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:17px;"></span></span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Pea Mique Bold', serif;font-size:180%;"><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'Pea Mique Bold'">Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the festival.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px 'Pea Mique Bold'">
<br /></p></span></span><p></p><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/Cherry/cherryblossom1.jpg" width="710px" />
<br />
<br /><div>
<br /></div><div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'Pea Mique Bold'; ">The streets were crowded with all sorts of interesting people. The streets were lined with vendors selling all sorts of fragrant foods and treats. There were also tons of carnival-type games as well as live music and performances.</p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'Pea Mique Bold'; ">
<br /></p></div><div>
<br /><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/Cherry/cherryblossom2.jpg" width="710px" />
<br />
<br /></div><div>
<br /></div><div>
<br /><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/Cherry/cherryblossom3.jpg" width="710px" />
<br />
<br /></div><div>
<br /></div><div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'Pea Mique Bold'; ">I just love the contrast here between the delicate blooms and the tropical foliage.</p></div><div>
<br /><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/Cherry/cherryblossom4.jpg" width="710px" />
<br />
<br /></div><div>
<br /></div><div>
<br /><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/Cherry/cherryblossom5.jpg" width="710px" />
<br />
<br /></div><div>
<br /></div><div>
<br /><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/Cherry/cherryblossom6.jpg" width="710px" />
<br />
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Pea Mique Bold', serif;font-size:17px;">Aren't the cherry blossoms just lovely?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Pea Mique Bold', serif;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:17px;">
<br /></span></span></div><div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'Pea Mique Bold'; ">The Japanese word for cherry blossom is Sakura. Due to their short blooming time, the cherry blossom is often a metaphor for how fleeting life is and is used throughout Japan as an emblem of love, affection, and good fortune.</p></div><div>
<br /></div><div>
<br /><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/Cherry/cherryblossom7.jpg" width="710px" />
<br />
<br /></div><div>
<br /></div><div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'Pea Mique Bold'; ">As we were leaving and the sun was setting, some of the local women performed a lovely dance. They were all adorned in beautiful pink tops and it was a sight to behold! </p></div><div>
<br /><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/Cherry/cherryblossom8.jpg" width="710px" />
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Pea Mique Bold', serif;font-size:17px;">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Pea Mique Bold', serif;font-size:17px;">Here is my very own cherry blossom. She loved the festival with all of the new things to look at!</span><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/Cherry/ameliacb.jpg" width="710px" />
<br />
<br /></div><div>
<br /></div><div>
<br /><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/Cherry/ameliacb2.jpg" width="710px" />
<br />
<br /></div><div>
<br /></div><div>
<br /><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/Cherry/vintagecherrycopy.jpg" width="710px" />
<br />
<br /></div><div>
<br /></div><div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'Pea Mique Bold'; ">We had a lovely time and look forward to our next Okinawan festival!</p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'Pea Mique Bold'; ">
<br /></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal 'Pea Mique Bold'; ">Have a great weekend!</p></div><div>
<br />
<br />
<br /><a href="http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/?action=view¤t=alisig.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/alisig.jpg" border="0" alt="newsig"></a>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12545449133201115037noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844816701164677734.post-56322970632309061072010-02-10T07:52:00.006-06:002010-02-12T04:33:43.876-06:00Driving Lessons<p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal 'Pea Sue', 's Print'; ">Since moving to Okinawa, we have had to learn to do several things that we aren't accustomed to. One of the most obvious is to learn to drive on the WRONG side of the road while seated on the WRONG side of the car. It takes a little getting used to but it you can be taught to drive in a foreign country.</p>
<br />
<br /><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/birdie/confidentdriver.jpg" width="810px" />
<br />
<br /><div>
<br /></div><div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal 'Pea Sue', 's Print'; ">First of all, you must always start out with a confident attitude! You are in charge of this vehicle, not the other way around. So what if you are used to sitting on the other side of the car and haven't figured out how to estimate the distance to the curb yet! After running up on that left side curb about three times, you'll get the hang of it! Remember, confidence.</p>
<br />
<br /><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/birdie/smiledriver.jpg" width="810px" />
<br />
<br /></div><div>
<br /></div><div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal 'Pea Sue', 's Print'; ">A smile can go a mile! Everyone say it with me. It helps to keep a positive attitude. When you cut that person off during your right<span style="font: 18.0px 'Lucida Grande'">-</span>hand turn because you're used to having the right of way during your right-hand turns, just flash them a smile. 'Cause who can REALLY be mad at somebody with a beautiful smile?</p>
<br />
<br /><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/birdie/staredriver.jpg" width="810px" />
<br />
<br /></div><div>
<br /></div><div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal 'Pea Sue', 's Print'; ">Now, if you flash that smile and they still get mad and yell or worse, make crazy gestures that you don't want to understand, don't hesitate to use the STARE! Works every time, </p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal 'Pea Sue', 's Print'; ">I promise!</p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal 'Pea Sue', 's Print'; ">
<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal 'Pea Sue', 's Print'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/birdie/radiodriver.jpg" width="810px" /></span></p><div>
<br /></div><div>
<br /></div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal 'Pea Sue', 's Print'; ">You will need some serious patience here. People drive like they're crazy. I mean it. They stop in the middle of the road, turn on their hazards, get out, and go into the store! They might pull slightly over if you get lucky! Also the highest speed limit I have ran across is 60 km, which is only 37.28 mph! So turn on your favorite tunes, it's gonna be awhile!</p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal 'Pea Sue', 's Print'; ">
<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal 'Pea Sue', 's Print'; ">
<br /></p><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/birdie/outofthecar.jpg" width="810px" />
<br />
<br /></div><div>
<br /></div><div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal 'Pea Sue', 's Print'; ">When you FINALLY make it to your destination, feel confident in knowing that you are considered a "professional driver" in this country! Oh yeah, and when you depart the car, you have to get out on the right-hand side!</p>
<br /><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/birdie/carseat.jpg" width="810px" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Pea Sue', 's Print';font-size:18px;">There are apparently no child-restraint rules over here. It is the craziest thing! I see little kids half-hanging out of the windows and in various different spots inside the car. The other day I saw a tiny baby being held in the front seat, just crazy! </span></div><div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal 'Pea Sue', 's Print'; "></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal 'Pea Sue', 's Print'; ">
<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal 'Pea Sue', 's Print'; ">This makes me sad. My baby is growing up too fast! She just had to sit in her "baby" car seat for the last time today. We sold it to a nice girl who was having her first baby. Don't worry, she hasn't used this thing for months!</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal 'Pea Sue', 's Print'; ">
<br /></p><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/birdie/babycarseat.jpg" width="810px" />
<br />
<br />
<br /><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal 'Pea Sue', 's Print'; ">This was only around 9 months ago! How time flies! She has changed so much!</p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal 'Pea Sue', 's Print'; ">
<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal 'Pea Sue', 's Print'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Pea Sue', 's Print';font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;"></span></span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Pea Sue', 's Print';font-size:180%;"><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal 'Pea Sue', 's Print'; ">Thanks for "driving" in Japan with us today! Next time, how to "fake" communicate when you don't know a lick of Japanese!</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px 'Pea Sue's Print'">
<br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px 'Pea Sue's Print'">
<br /></p></span></span><p></p><a href="http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/?action=view¤t=alisig.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/alisig.jpg" border="0" alt="newsig"></a>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12545449133201115037noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844816701164677734.post-75904205971963877912010-02-09T07:05:00.004-06:002010-02-12T03:18:31.271-06:00Amelia and the beach...<img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/birdie/ameliasplash.jpg" width="810px" />
<br />
<br /><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Pea Mique Bold'; "></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'Pea Mique Bold'">Amelia has found the beach and from the first moment, she was in love! She has always been an outdoor kind of girl from the moment she was brought home from the hospital. If she was fussy, a short trip outside would calm her down. Now that we live on the beach, she thinks that every trip outside means we are going there. Outside to check the mail, "beach". Trip to the store, "beach". Going to pick up brother from the bus stop, "beach". She doesn't like being told no and this has made it extremely hard to get her strapped into the carseat!</p><p></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Pea Mique Bold'; min-height: 32px; ">
<br /></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Pea Mique Bold'; min-height: 32px; ">
<br /></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal 'Pea Mique Bold'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:14px;">I love seeing the look of joy on her face as soon as we start walking toward her beach. </span> </p>
<br />
<br /><div>
<br /><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/birdie/amelialookingdown.jpg" width="810px" />
<br />
<br /></div><div>
<br /></div><div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Pea Mique Bold'; ">She also loves searching for hermit crabs and is both fascinated and horrified by them! She picked one up today and dropped it as soon as she saw the little legs poking out. The expression on her face was priceless! Too bad I didn't capture it.</p></div><div>
<br /></div><div>
<br /></div><div>
<br />
<br /><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/birdie/softbeach.jpg" width="810px" />
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Pea Mique Bold', serif;font-size:14px;">I love this picture of my sweet baby girl. It just reminds me of how innocence is so fleeting. It reminds me of that verse in the song "I Hope you Dance" by LeeAnn Womack. "I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean"<span style="font: 14.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><b>.</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Pea Mique Bold', serif;font-size:14px;"><span style="font: 14.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><b></b></span></span><a href="http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/?action=view¤t=alisig.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss293/ALLYCAT1205/blog%20design/alisig.jpg" border="0" alt="newsig"></a>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12545449133201115037noreply@blogger.com2