tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518449404901948472024-03-05T13:58:45.762-07:00A Plumber's Wife's LifeRaquelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861791279854856017noreply@blogger.comBlogger192125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551844940490194847.post-15908460044649555842013-02-19T13:32:00.000-07:002013-02-19T13:35:04.112-07:00Dear Ava<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4UWH7yubJiZHeewCe88D_hFB3hjTqBtAwAoIr9XS6HnYUBW4ycJO2E4dlGxjOA1mV42pNxTBH5IznAs0CVrS9VRSV8Hh1CO91iMeNVyBPrIGodjVppGhU4YQ2qySxlPeuIXRAH5xDG04/s1600/ava2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4UWH7yubJiZHeewCe88D_hFB3hjTqBtAwAoIr9XS6HnYUBW4ycJO2E4dlGxjOA1mV42pNxTBH5IznAs0CVrS9VRSV8Hh1CO91iMeNVyBPrIGodjVppGhU4YQ2qySxlPeuIXRAH5xDG04/s640/ava2012.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: large;">You're my little girl and always will be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">It's not always easy when the baby has to make room for a new baby!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">But you've handled it with true grace.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">There is not a day that goes by that Annie is not smothered with love and dozens of kisses by you alone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">You've graciously adjusted to sharing your time and have found your own way of contributing by becoming mom's big helper-- you have already nearly mastered the art of diaper changing!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Mostly, I am sincerely grateful that Annie has such a beautiful (inside and out), confident and smart-as-a-whip sister to look up to.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Sisters are so very, very special-- and my heart is full now that you have your very own.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">With love and happy tears,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mom</span></span></div>
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Raquelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861791279854856017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551844940490194847.post-27959875940767906662013-02-19T12:13:00.000-07:002013-02-19T13:35:22.285-07:00Dear Aaron<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignygWoINXVzl52ZEZEHcD0w0m7ssD2dUnd7asvlLYRtEc42k8xClLkV2i9b85d-hHErmZi9-AdePFeaMfbgRyqRx2p_4CQrYeo8GMrwxdS7ZRCsX_e5e5hb6lCXKnMtmPpFxaJ75h_RY/s1600/farm2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignygWoINXVzl52ZEZEHcD0w0m7ssD2dUnd7asvlLYRtEc42k8xClLkV2i9b85d-hHErmZi9-AdePFeaMfbgRyqRx2p_4CQrYeo8GMrwxdS7ZRCsX_e5e5hb6lCXKnMtmPpFxaJ75h_RY/s640/farm2012.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Thank you for being the world's best big brother.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Before Annie was even born, I knew you'd be an amazing big brother.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">I knew this because of how you are with your other sister, Ava.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">When Ava came along, you were still just a baby yourself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">But you loved her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">She made you giggle. She was your very own personal audience to delight and </span><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">entertain.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">And she loved you back.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">And yet somehow, I am still genuinely in awe at just how truly loving, tender, patient, playful and gentle you are with Annie.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">You are no longer a baby anymore, but a brilliant and mature young man.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">It is simply a beautiful dynamic to witness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">With love and pride,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Mom</span></div>
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Raquelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861791279854856017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551844940490194847.post-37799906755151408032013-02-19T11:39:00.000-07:002013-02-19T11:39:21.778-07:00Our Sweet Babou<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsbiyyfRYAa8Es9Z4pzjwph4_ghx_B5UvktLuYSIwhfeDiOnXmpVGlEC-Zah4YjnZmC7-Akdn5duWAIN1FTHd91zIrz2ynRu_9KKatDDEhi-GxKRmii-UbSAa80vEFj8KPMUy47LPHdY/s1600/Annie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsbiyyfRYAa8Es9Z4pzjwph4_ghx_B5UvktLuYSIwhfeDiOnXmpVGlEC-Zah4YjnZmC7-Akdn5duWAIN1FTHd91zIrz2ynRu_9KKatDDEhi-GxKRmii-UbSAa80vEFj8KPMUy47LPHdY/s640/Annie.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: x-large;">Audreanne</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">10:54am January 19, 2013</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">8lbs 4oz</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">Our sweet babou is finally here!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">And already one month old today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">We now have three kids-- THREE KIDS!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">While there have been many obvious adjustments made in just about every aspect of all four our lives-- it is easy to say, she fits in perfectly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Our days now mostly consist of: Sweet snuggles, poopy diapers, tiny clothes, sleepless nights & oodles and oodles of booby time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">And I'm soaking it all in and relishing every moment, the sweet and the trying...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">For before you know it,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">babes become toddlers,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">toddlers become children</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">& so on and so on it goes.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/336/0E62A4BD25429F72D8012144C83C930C.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a></div>
Raquelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861791279854856017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551844940490194847.post-46794163436244957132012-08-03T08:57:00.001-06:002012-08-03T09:06:57.816-06:00RPatz and KStew...<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QuwgoIFgQpY?fs=1" width="480"></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">This absolutely made my day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">Enjoy : )</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/336/0E62A4BD25429F72D8012144C83C930C.png" style="border: 0px currentColor !important;" /></a></div>Raquelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861791279854856017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551844940490194847.post-82818629510020140762012-08-03T07:58:00.001-06:002012-08-03T07:58:43.140-06:00Whoot<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EYd-VMFLuOw/UBvNV9QDJHI/AAAAAAAABlo/fCHJSeWRAcs/s1600/whoot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EYd-VMFLuOw/UBvNV9QDJHI/AAAAAAAABlo/fCHJSeWRAcs/s400/whoot.jpg" width="305" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">{I'm cute.}</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">Guys.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Are you seeing this?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">For realies...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">It's an owl.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><em>And</em>, a <span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://aplumberswife.scentsy.ca/Scentsy/Home" target="_blank">Scentsy</a></span> warmer.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Forgive me for edging on the side of blasphemy,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><em>but you know</em>--</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">fall is just around the corner (<em>eaaassy</em>...)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">and this guy, in all his wizened glory,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">would be the perfect warmer to snuggle up to, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">agreed?!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: x-large;">Perched atop your bookcase...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Perhaps, with a few cubes of Hazelnut Latte</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">deliciously swimming about up top?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">How's that for a picture painted?!</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">More importantly, <span style="font-size: x-large;">he's 10% off.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">But only for the month of August.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Along with everything else <span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://aplumberswife.scentsy.ca/Scentsy/Home" target="_blank">Scentsy</a></span>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">Everything. 10% off.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">Get yers gurrl/guy/owl adorer,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://aplumberswife.scentsy.ca/Scentsy/Buy/ProductDetails/DSW-WHOO" target="_blank"><span style="color: #a64d79;">here</span></a>!</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/336/0E62A4BD25429F72D8012144C83C930C.png" style="border: 0px currentColor !important;" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>Raquelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861791279854856017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551844940490194847.post-57970091383759936512012-08-02T09:33:00.000-06:002012-08-02T15:00:13.771-06:0015 + Weeks<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">Happy Summer, everyone!</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m6jCAE8Fp1E/UBqTZjf62SI/AAAAAAAABk4/uWOamYSt2qA/s1600/smoky2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m6jCAE8Fp1E/UBqTZjf62SI/AAAAAAAABk4/uWOamYSt2qA/s640/smoky2012.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Maybe you haven't heard...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">We've a bun in our oven.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">More specifically, a navel orange at this stage</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">And we are very excited to say the least.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">Aaron wants a brother.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">Ava, a sister...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">though she's told me she'd accept another brother if absolutely necessary.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">James, another hockey player.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Myself, not to want to eat everything in sight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;">--Seriously guys.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">And sadly, no bumpin' pictures yet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">I'm much too busy loathing this delicate 'inbetween' stage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">'Is that a baby in your tummy or did you just eat an entire buffet?'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Not to worry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">I'm sure to get over myself any day now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">And quite honestly, I'm rather enjoying myself along with my darling husband who so sweetly reads me my weekly <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/What-Expect-Youre-Expecting-Edition/dp/0761148574/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343920430&sr=8-1&keywords=what+to+expect+when+you%27re+expecting" target="_blank">What to Expect When You're Expecting</a></span> update.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">{Gosh, I love him}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">So, yes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">That's me in a nutshell so far this summer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Knocked up & flip floppin :)</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/336/0E62A4BD25429F72D8012144C83C930C.png" style="border: 0px currentColor !important;" /></a></div>Raquelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861791279854856017noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551844940490194847.post-33656474598534391142012-05-31T09:09:00.000-06:002012-05-31T09:56:11.150-06:00Around here...<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kFuRc5Txk0c/T8eINcbLDbI/AAAAAAAABkM/bD7p7XnCcAc/s1600/cherry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kFuRc5Txk0c/T8eINcbLDbI/AAAAAAAABkM/bD7p7XnCcAc/s640/cherry.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: large;">Cherry blossoms, from some'lucky'one else's yard.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0SMIoo6ZYUo/T8eIKv864sI/AAAAAAAABkE/YIWiBD1z8WQ/s1600/herbs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0SMIoo6ZYUo/T8eIKv864sI/AAAAAAAABkE/YIWiBD1z8WQ/s640/herbs.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: large;">My Herb Garden.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AfYNn7WwVU4/T8eIOuo7meI/AAAAAAAABkU/baTe9Noyvs0/s1600/gnome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AfYNn7WwVU4/T8eIOuo7meI/AAAAAAAABkU/baTe9Noyvs0/s640/gnome.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: large;">Mystery gnome found in my garden.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">I think I'll keep him : )</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/336/0E62A4BD25429F72D8012144C83C930C.png" style="border: 0px currentColor !important;" /></a></div>Raquelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861791279854856017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551844940490194847.post-49602271133096040232012-05-31T07:58:00.000-06:002012-05-31T09:57:19.861-06:00Priceless.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8dFNwpTC1tU/T8d2bJQFs3I/AAAAAAAABj0/6HJixkYJ09k/s1600/strawberry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8dFNwpTC1tU/T8d2bJQFs3I/AAAAAAAABj0/6HJixkYJ09k/s640/strawberry.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79;">Future Kat Von D?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">Imagine, if you will:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;">The look on James' face lastnight when Ava so boldly announces to him,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">'When she's all growed up, she's</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">going to get tattoos on her hands <em>AND</em> face.'</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">{Holy.Mother.Of.Pearl.}</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New;">{Insert small heart attack here}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">After some clarifying...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">she still considers tattoos to be temporary,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">like the ones we use on Canada Day and such.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Nothing the wipe of a warm face cloth wouldn't fix.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">Um,<strong> PHEW.</strong></span></div>
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</div>Raquelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861791279854856017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551844940490194847.post-5861733795784256752012-05-17T21:18:00.000-06:002012-05-17T22:13:47.310-06:00Soccer: Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">And in our spare time....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">HA!</span> Right--</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Spare time is a divine rarity,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">at least for these next two months.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">Welcome to Spring Soccer, friends!</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gPkEBciikDI/T7W44f8fZiI/AAAAAAAABjA/16H5nCZFu0c/s1600/bt2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gPkEBciikDI/T7W44f8fZiI/AAAAAAAABjA/16H5nCZFu0c/s640/bt2012.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">When Ava's not busy with The Bumblebee's,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">{her soccer team}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">we're off to the field to watch the dynamo known as, <span style="font-size: x-large;">The Blue Dragons.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BxM5e-IqMsI/T7W49YTNhKI/AAAAAAAABjQ/pb1qTdI2Syg/s1600/aaron2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BxM5e-IqMsI/T7W49YTNhKI/AAAAAAAABjQ/pb1qTdI2Syg/s640/aaron2012.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">And I realize that after my previous post, this may come off as being <span style="font-size: x-large;">somewhatborderlinebraggy...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">But.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Aaron has also proven to have quite the talent for soccer as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Yup. He's a champ :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"></span></div>Raquelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861791279854856017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551844940490194847.post-35489059116381206202012-05-17T20:46:00.000-06:002012-05-17T21:42:57.902-06:00Soccer: Part 1<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kBg9kQ7h9R0/T7WxSOnz8eI/AAAAAAAABiQ/qeVpdebxQ94/s1600/avasoccer12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kBg9kQ7h9R0/T7WxSOnz8eI/AAAAAAAABiQ/qeVpdebxQ94/s640/avasoccer12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">Can we take a moment to talk about what a beast Ava is at soccer?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">It's ridiculous.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Not only is she a tall drink of water out there (just like her daddy-o!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">but the girl is a force to be reckoned with.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">100% Determination.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">No fear.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">And at the risk of sounding like a crazed hockey mom</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">{no offence fellow hockey moms}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">just the right amount of aggression.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Which thrills me to no end, because... Well--</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;"><em>b-a-s-i-c-a-l-l-y,</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">she's everything I never was and wished I could be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">Athletic, brave & confident.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">...Which makes living vicariously through her that much more satisfying (<em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">wink</span></em> :)</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/336/0E62A4BD25429F72D8012144C83C930C.png" style="border: 0px currentColor !important;" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>Raquelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861791279854856017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551844940490194847.post-84147166821327352152012-05-17T20:12:00.002-06:002012-05-17T21:21:40.698-06:00Milestones<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Life is good for Miss Ava these days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Within the last three weeks</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">she has managed to accomplish the following 3 tasks:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">Ride a two-wheeler</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">Lose her first tooth</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">&</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">Learn to make her own peanut butter & jam sandwich</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">(She thinks her sandwiches are, <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">'The Best. They are <em>sooo</em> <em>good, </em>mama!'</span>)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">She hardly needs her poor old mum anymore :(</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/336/0E62A4BD25429F72D8012144C83C930C.png" style="border: 0px currentColor !important;" /></a></div>Raquelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861791279854856017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551844940490194847.post-17522785820658906082012-04-12T10:25:00.000-06:002012-04-12T10:30:51.567-06:0026 Things You Maybe Don't Know About Me?!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-os5T5ndWuxI/T4bz8wcqIZI/AAAAAAAABhU/oopSkGylU1Q/s1600/_DSC0067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-os5T5ndWuxI/T4bz8wcqIZI/AAAAAAAABhU/oopSkGylU1Q/s640/_DSC0067.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">{Yes, I'm aware this photo has absolutely nothing to do with this post}</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">But also, maybe it does.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">It's super springy out & I am finally feeling refreshed</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">after a lengthy abandonment from this dear blog of mine.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New;">{<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><em>I'm sorry, baby!</em> I'll never leave you again</span><span style="color: #c27ba0;">!</span></span>}</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">Moving on.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">I've always wanted to do my own <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">'25 Things You Don't Know About Me'</span> segment.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">All the celebrities do it!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Why shouldn't I?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Actually, what I was really thinking (and hoping I suppose) is that I may have some fresh faces just newly following, and some random <em><span style="font-size: x-large;">'did-you-know's'</span></em> might just be the ticket to welcome this new year of blog-y goodness.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">So, without further ado,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><u>26</u></span> <span style="font-size: large;">(just to be different)</span> <u><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Things You</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Maybe Don't Know About Me?!</span></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">1. The only nick-name I had growing up was 'Raquely-Belly' or 'Raquely O'Belly'.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">I was once called <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Raquelculator'</span> by a fellow peer in math class... And. <span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> I wish it would have stuck.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">2. I make it my life's mission, not to be late. <span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If anything, I'm 15 minutes early.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">3. I don't fart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Although, my husband is convinced he's caught me a few times...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">4. I wake up at 6:30 every morning, Mon-Fri. The early bird catches the worm, or at the very least, enjoys a peaceful 30 minutes to herself before the day begins.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">5. I keep an insanely impeccable calender. The Mom's Fridge-Magnet Calender to be precise. Appointment/activity/birthday.... you name it. It's on there. I'm certain <span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I spend nearly up to an hour collectively</span> staring at my fridge, daily.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">6. I've never been stung by a bee. Or wasp. Or ho</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">rnet, for that matter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">7. If I could choose which retired T.V. series I'd like to see do a reunion show, it would have to be <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Dawson's Creek</span>. Hands down.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">8. My first job was working at a movie theatre and <span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">my first boss had a wooden hand.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">9. When I was 20, I was accepted into hair college just a few weeks before finding out I was pregnant. And so, I dropped the course and became a mom. Ironically, <span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">just the change I was needing in life.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">10. I have no desire whatsoever to visit outer space. In fact, <span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm scared of space</span>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">11. I have one, and one only, tattoo. I got it when I was 16 with my dad's consent. And yes, it's a lame-o butterfly. Ugh.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">Thanks Dad :/</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">12. </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">I've always considered having my nose pierced, but am convinced I have too many freckles to pull it off.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">13.</span> I have a debilitating fear of snakes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">14. You'll never catch me jumping out of a plane. Ever. <em><strong>EVERRRR.</strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">(Unless there's snakes on it)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">15. I see 20/15. Astronaut vision.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">16. The first horror movie I ever watched, back when I was in grade 7, seriously traumatized me. Seriously.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">17. I secretly had a crush on Prince William (<em>Wills</em> back then) when I was in grade 8.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">18. I am, <strong>The. Worst. Video. Gamer. Ever.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">19. When it comes to baking, I strive for perfection. Taste and appearance. <span style="color: #c27ba0;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Anything else is unacceptable.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">20. I love to vacuum. I usually do it at least twice a day. Question is: Do I love it? Or is it obsessive compulsive disorder.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">(I always thought it might be neat to have one of those...)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">21. <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Office</span> is the only show on earth that can cheer me up, no matter what. I adore Michael Scott. Even when he embarrasses me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">22. I am the oldest of 5 children.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">23. I wish I knew how to use Photoshop <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">like a champ</span>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">24. I believe in a grey area. <span style="color: #999999; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Not everything is black and white.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">25. I love the Fillet O' Fish from McDonald's.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">26. </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">(*See admission #25) I hope we can still be friends.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/336/0E62A4BD25429F72D8012144C83C930C.png" style="border: 0px currentColor !important;" /></a></div>Raquelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861791279854856017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551844940490194847.post-53166413983985606432011-11-10T07:33:00.001-07:002011-11-10T13:51:04.099-07:00I.Like.Loaf.<br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">If you're like me...</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nHsKyYev0v0/TrvhmMqGTNI/AAAAAAAABcQ/Gw-K6uLdBk0/s1600/loaf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nHsKyYev0v0/TrvhmMqGTNI/AAAAAAAABcQ/Gw-K6uLdBk0/s640/loaf.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sierra-- She loves loaf, too.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">...you may occasionally find yourself asking,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">'what-to-do?'</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">with the leftover half of zucchini</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">your granny gave you.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">The answer-- clearly,</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">shred that bad boy up</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">and get your bake on.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Enter: Chocolate Zucchini Bread</span>, loaf, <span style="font-size: small;">surprise,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New;">thing.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">Delectable & moist, I promise you my friends.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Hence,</span> today's recipe compliments of <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">'</span><a href="http://www.joyofbaking.com/breakfast/ChocolateZucchiniBread.html"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Joy of Baking</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">'</span>.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>Ingredients</u>:</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">1 1/2 cups shredded raw zucchini from granny</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">1 cup flour</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder*, sifted</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">1 tsp baking soda</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">1/4 tsp baking powder</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">1/4 tsp salt</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">1/2 tsp ground cinnamon</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">1/4 tsp ground allspice</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">1/2 cup safflower or canola oil</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">1/2 cup granulated white sugar</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">1/2 cup light brown sugar</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">2 large eggs</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">1 tsp pure vanilla extract</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">3/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">*</span>you may opt to replace 2 tsp of the unsweetened cocoa powder with the 'secret ingredient'</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New;">I'll be incorporating further on in the directions below.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">Preheat oven to 350 degrees F & grease your loaf pan.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NjBUSqox5Hc/Trv8WTAdbVI/AAAAAAAABcY/zrzGE86zElk/s1600/grating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NjBUSqox5Hc/Trv8WTAdbVI/AAAAAAAABcY/zrzGE86zElk/s640/grating.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Get started grating your zucchini.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Who knew grating could be so much fun?!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Set grated zucchini aside.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">In a large bowl, measure out your flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon & allspice and set aside.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">Now.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;"> Here's where I switch things up.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TNkKXMTCt9Q/TrwCORUx3zI/AAAAAAAABcg/giJHM6QGfGw/s1600/secret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TNkKXMTCt9Q/TrwCORUx3zI/AAAAAAAABcg/giJHM6QGfGw/s640/secret.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">***SECRET INGREDIENT***</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">You may recall, <a href="http://milliondollarfam.blogspot.com/2011/05/secret-ingredients.html"><span style="color: #c27ba0;">way back when</span></a>,</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">my uncontainable excitement regarding my purchase of McCormick's Cocoa Chili Blend?!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Well, I happened to be feelin' particularly adventurous this day and decided this would be the perfect recipe to add a little heat to.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Baker's Confession</span></u>:</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I added way too much heat.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">So much so, <span style="font-size: x-large;">one bite of my loaf could put hair on your chest.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">.......Or burn it off.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Spicy. Very spicy.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">According to my <span style="font-size: x-large;">'newly revised'</span> calculations, replacing 2 teaspoons of the cocoa chili blend with the unsweetened cocoa powder should make for the perfect subtle hint of warmth.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New;">(so, 115 ml unsweetened cocoa powder & 2 tsp cocoa chili powder)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">And there you have it.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">Lesson learned.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">The hard way.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">Carrying on,</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">get all your dry ingredients blended together in a large bowl and set aside. </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CwS0lFl2TUw/TrwKjnZUuPI/AAAAAAAABco/LyV2bLcmjDU/s1600/dry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CwS0lFl2TUw/TrwKjnZUuPI/AAAAAAAABco/LyV2bLcmjDU/s640/dry.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">In yet another bowl (plenty of dirty dishes leftover after this recipe), use your electric mixer to thoroughly beat the oil, eggs, sugars, and vanilla extract until well blended. About 2 minutes.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jZ9b1J84Hkk/TrwMinwRkbI/AAAAAAAABcw/05UNYT50l2M/s1600/mixer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jZ9b1J84Hkk/TrwMinwRkbI/AAAAAAAABcw/05UNYT50l2M/s640/mixer.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Mm'y<em>esss, </em>a good time to get some reading under your belt...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">Once well mixed, fold in the grated zucchini.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">Add the flour mixture and stir until just combined.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">And lastly, fold in the chocolate chips.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lmX1FdjpBG0/TrwUVNL6DXI/AAAAAAAABdA/lNAYu3xiC7Y/s1600/batter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lmX1FdjpBG0/TrwUVNL6DXI/AAAAAAAABdA/lNAYu3xiC7Y/s400/batter.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">Scrape the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for about 55- 65 minutes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Once removed from the oven, let the loaf cool on a baker's rack for 10 min and then remove from the pan.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Continue to let the loaf cool completely.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ev-bATnQDsk/Trw3uCGfOUI/AAAAAAAABdI/OwuIl9llxHo/s1600/bread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ev-bATnQDsk/Trw3uCGfOUI/AAAAAAAABdI/OwuIl9llxHo/s400/bread.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">Other than the fact that <em>my</em> loaf was hotter than two goats in a pepper patch, it was deliciously rich and delectably moist.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">I do say, it's good to spice things up every once in a while :)</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/336/0E62A4BD25429F72D8012144C83C930C.png" style="border: 0px currentColor !important;" /></a><br />
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</div>Raquelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861791279854856017noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551844940490194847.post-83899067823667837332011-10-24T22:03:00.000-06:002011-10-24T22:03:54.839-06:00I solemnly swear I've been up to no good.<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">What say you we ignore the fact that it has nearly been a month & a half since I last posted...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">And instead, gaze upon this photo of myself holding a cheeto.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fBNWKFP1xsQ/TqY0CQ1UYUI/AAAAAAAABcA/35j1Pw35qzE/s1600/cheeto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fBNWKFP1xsQ/TqY0CQ1UYUI/AAAAAAAABcA/35j1Pw35qzE/s640/cheeto.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/336/0E62A4BD25429F72D8012144C83C930C.png" style="border: 0px currentColor !important;" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>Raquelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861791279854856017noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551844940490194847.post-22848959355234753472011-09-15T15:36:00.001-06:002011-09-15T15:44:03.681-06:00Excuse me while I have a mommy moment....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F-LJVnLpR1I/TnIuEHXyyJI/AAAAAAAABb8/oFqA_jzjIso/s1600/aaronshair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F-LJVnLpR1I/TnIuEHXyyJI/AAAAAAAABb8/oFqA_jzjIso/s640/aaronshair.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">Aaron, all of two years old</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">I nearly melted into a warm gooey puddle of mommy-mush</span><br />
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">when I stumbled across this photo today.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Those golden curls get me everytime.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/336/0E62A4BD25429F72D8012144C83C930C.png" style="border: 0px currentColor !important;" /></a><br />
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Raquelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861791279854856017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551844940490194847.post-19322142381101826362011-09-14T13:17:00.001-06:002011-09-14T13:17:48.024-06:00<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dTwSge5x1Kk/TnD6cBvXQqI/AAAAAAAABbw/r9Phqk2Qaac/s1600/ballet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dTwSge5x1Kk/TnD6cBvXQqI/AAAAAAAABbw/r9Phqk2Qaac/s640/ballet.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: large;">Ava's first day at dance</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I thank the dear Lord everyday for blessing me with a beautiful, bubbly baby girl.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">Who else could I dress up in all-things-pink,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">tutus, sparkles & tights?!</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A6r5Ghvs9Hk/TnD6Y5W9JdI/AAAAAAAABbs/rOFXzsHMEpg/s1600/_DSC5774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A6r5Ghvs9Hk/TnD6Y5W9JdI/AAAAAAAABbs/rOFXzsHMEpg/s640/_DSC5774.JPG" width="424" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Amen.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/336/0E62A4BD25429F72D8012144C83C930C.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/336/0E62A4BD25429F72D8012144C83C930C.png" style="border: 0px currentColor !important;" /></a></div>
Raquelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861791279854856017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551844940490194847.post-61817383495323238372011-09-14T12:19:00.001-06:002011-09-14T13:41:14.918-06:00Must Like Spice: Pumpkin Whoopie Pies<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">Sure Signs & Symptoms It's Fall:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Sunday, I ceremoniously hung my 'Autumn Blessings' placard</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">just outside the front entrance of our home</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">& pulled out all the browning overgrown petunias in my garden.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Yesterday, I made like Betty and whipped up</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">a delightfully spicy batch of Pumpkin Whoopie Pies</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">(recipe to follow)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">And this morning, I was regrettably forced</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">to turn on the heat for the first time in months;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">hauled out me ol' Uggs for the wearing</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">& enjoyed a toasty warm Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks with my granny.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Warm woollies, obsessive baking & brilliant autumn foliage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">Yes, please.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">About that Pumpkin Whoopie Pie recipe...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">Did I mention it comes complete with a dreamy cream cheese filling?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">We can all thank Matt Lewis from <span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://bakednyc.com/">Baked</a></span> bakery for that perfectly nummy pairing.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2hYutQx1u98/TnAU4XKLkHI/AAAAAAAABbQ/1geypwl3Zrw/s1600/_DSC5607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2hYutQx1u98/TnAU4XKLkHI/AAAAAAAABbQ/1geypwl3Zrw/s400/_DSC5607.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Recipe from Matt Lewis of Baked bakery</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;"><u>Ingredients:</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;"><h3>
For the Pumpkin Whoopie Cookies</h3>
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<li class="ingredient first"> 3 cups all-purpose flour</li>
<li class="ingredient"> 1 teaspoon salt</li>
<li class="ingredient"> 1 teaspoon baking powder</li>
<li class="ingredient"> 1 teaspoon baking soda</li>
<li class="ingredient"> 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon</li>
<li class="ingredient"> 1 tablespoon ground ginger</li>
<li class="ingredient"> 1 tablespoon ground cloves</li>
<li class="ingredient"> 2 cups firmly packed dark-brown sugar</li>
<li class="ingredient"> 1 cup vegetable oil</li>
<li class="ingredient"> 3 cups pumpkin puree, chilled</li>
<li class="ingredient"> 2 large eggs</li>
<li class="ingredient last"> 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract</li>
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<h3>
For the Cream-Cheese Filling</h3>
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<li class="ingredient first"> 3 cups confectioners' sugar</li>
<li class="ingredient"> 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened</li>
<li class="ingredient"> 8 ounces cream cheese, softened</li>
<li class="ingredient last"> 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract</li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">*Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheet with parchment paper.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">We begin with the making of the whoopie cookie, which essentially is <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">a mini cake.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Generous amounts of warm spices in these beauties</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Measure out all your dry ingredients into a medium sized bowl.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Whisk together and set aside.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SY3KWuerATw/TnAUm9v-j7I/AAAAAAAABbM/rqOthbkn5xs/s1600/_DSC5596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SY3KWuerATw/TnAUm9v-j7I/AAAAAAAABbM/rqOthbkn5xs/s640/_DSC5596.JPG" width="424" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">In a large bowl, whisk together the brown sugar and vegetable oil 'til well combined.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Then add your pumpkin puree and whisk s'more..</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Add your eggs & vanilla to the party while you're at it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">Whisk, whisk, whisk.....</span> </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #c27ba0; font-size: large;">Pumpkin mixture</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Gradually sprinkle your spiced-up flour mixture over your pumpkin batter and mix until well incorporated.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Well incorporated.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">A well equipped baker comes prepared with a small icecream scoop to dish their batter out with.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">I, however, am not one of those.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Therefor, I used a tablespoon to pan-out my cookies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">An icecream scoop <span style="font-size: x-large;"><em>would</em> </span><span style="font-size: large;">come</span> in<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;">tres handy</span></span> when making your pies</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">as <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">conformity is key.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">~You want them all to be the same nice round shape and equal size~</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">They are after all named 'whoopie' pies, not 'wonky' pies...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Bake in the oven for 15 minutes</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">{I made my pies a bit smaller and found that 10 minutes was all they needed}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Carefully, with a spatula, remove cookies from the baking sheet as soon as they're out of the oven and let cool on a cooling rack.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">Next, Filling.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">In a medium sized bowl, cream the butter with a mixer until smooth and lump-free.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Add your cream cheese and continue to mix, again 'til smooth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Gradually add the icing sugar to the mix, as well as vanilla.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Mix real' well.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: large;"><em>Purrrrdy</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Once your cookies have cooled <span style="font-size: x-large;">COMPLETELY</span>,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">generously dollop filling onto the flat side of the cookie.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">I find a piping bag or even a large Ziploc freezer bag with a hole snipped at the tip to be much more tidy with this task as opposed to just spooning it on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">Plus, I think piping is fun.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Sandwich your frosted cookie with another cookie</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">and there you have yourself a Whoopie Pie!</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u8sk47eeOCk/TnAWesKF22I/AAAAAAAABbo/_-xMYczEVIk/s1600/_DSC5633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u8sk47eeOCk/TnAWesKF22I/AAAAAAAABbo/_-xMYczEVIk/s400/_DSC5633.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0;">Recipe found at </span><a href="http://marthastewart.com/"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">marthastewart.com</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">These are seriously delicious.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">I kid you not.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;">Autumn blessings, friends : )</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/336/0E62A4BD25429F72D8012144C83C930C.png" style="border: 0px currentColor !important;" /></a></div>
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Raquelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861791279854856017noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551844940490194847.post-56500659100488145312011-09-07T12:21:00.000-06:002011-09-07T12:49:02.709-06:00Woe is me<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-guhfeNA-asY/TmezppOblRI/AAAAAAAABbA/1RVL3-ieICY/s1600/avakindergarten2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-guhfeNA-asY/TmezppOblRI/AAAAAAAABbA/1RVL3-ieICY/s640/avakindergarten2.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: large;">Ava's first full session of Kindergarten today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I think I might just <span style="font-size: x-large;"><em>mayybe</em> </span>kinda sorta <span style="font-size: x-large;">possibly</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> ....<span style="font-size: x-large;">miss her</span> just a wee <span style="font-size: small;">little bit.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/336/0E62A4BD25429F72D8012144C83C930C.png" style="border: 0px currentColor !important;" /></a></div>
Raquelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861791279854856017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551844940490194847.post-65995197282130707072011-09-06T13:04:00.000-06:002011-09-06T15:58:45.033-06:00The Challenge.<br />
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: large;">Photos of my bestie-pal, Ramie & her cute li'l fam</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">My personal challenge: <span style="font-size: x-large;">NO SHOOTING IN AUTO.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">This was a tough one for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">I've always relied on the trusty ol' Auto setting to get me through</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">as mentioned in <a href="http://milliondollarfam.blogspot.com/2011/08/behind-scenes.html"><span style="color: #c27ba0;">previous posts</span></a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">But lately, I've been making like a padawan</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">and putting forth an honest effort to</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">study-up in Manual mode.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">The ultimate goal,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">to get to know my camera inside-and-out</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">and utilize it to its maximum potential.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">So I figured, as Ramie is my <em>friend</em>--</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Professionalism was Null and Void.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Her and her brood, patiently stuck with me</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">while I constantly fidgeted with dials & settings,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">more-often-than-not sporting a look of <span style="font-size: x-large;">pure bewilderment.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">It was intensely sunny out,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">which gave me mad grief</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">as shadows tended to be an issue.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">....Wah.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">So, I scavenged for shady areas</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">and managed as best I could</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">with the challenge at hand.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">As dreadful as I like to make it sound,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;">(I've been known to have dramatic tendencies)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;"> ....it was actually loads of fun.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">{Thank heaven for good-natured friends}</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">Of the nearly <strong>500 photos</strong> I took--</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">some fantastical, and some not-so-fantastical...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">The above would be the gems of the bunch!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> Love, sweet love</span></div>
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Raquelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861791279854856017noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551844940490194847.post-19041504654616388552011-09-06T10:43:00.000-06:002011-09-06T15:55:15.888-06:00Motha<div style="text-align: center;">
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Motha, the winged wonder</div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">How fabulous is Martha,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">or rather-- <em>Motha</em>,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">on the cover of MARTHA STEWART Magazine</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">Halloween edition?!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">I don't even typically buy magazines.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">But this- I could not resist.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">If you're a lover of all things</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">autumn inspired, like myself,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">then<span style="font-size: x-large;">you</span>have<span style="font-size: x-large;">got</span>to<span style="font-size: x-large;">get</span>your<span style="font-size: x-large;">hiney</span>to<span style="font-size: x-large;">the</span>grocery</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">store</span>and<span style="font-size: x-large;">grab</span>yourself<span style="font-size: x-large;">a</span>copy.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Chalk full of spooktacular ideas, I tells ya.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">Feathered eyelashes, Mauled Cider & Pumpkin Whoopie Pies?!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Have mercy.....</span></div>
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Raquelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861791279854856017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551844940490194847.post-19383854234540862011-08-03T09:16:00.174-06:002011-08-04T18:43:50.928-06:00Behind the scenes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WPc7mG0yyJ0/TjljnHdKrpI/AAAAAAAABZs/mUoaAltiQSc/s1600/scenes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WPc7mG0yyJ0/TjljnHdKrpI/AAAAAAAABZs/mUoaAltiQSc/s640/scenes.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: inherit;">Lovely rolling canola fields</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">I had the best time Monday evening sitting in on an engagement photo shoot for my sister, Kirsten, and her fiance, Scott.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Karey, the photographer and previous owner of <span style="font-family: inherit;">ma'baby</span>(Nikon D90),</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">thought it might be fun for me to tag along with my camera and grab a few shots of my own.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">You know, get a little 'schooling' under my belt.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Which, indeed, is long overdue as I've been strictly shooting in 'Auto' the whole time due to my lack of know-how with ye' old 'Manual' setting.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">{EMBARRASSING}</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sImJxRY1s7k/TjmL8VidwoI/AAAAAAAABZ0/iPNp4e3GRfA/s1600/karey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sImJxRY1s7k/TjmL8VidwoI/AAAAAAAABZ0/iPNp4e3GRfA/s640/karey.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Karey</span><br />
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">At the same time, arrangements were made to snag a couple pics of Karey as she's a glowing 35 weeks pregnant with her third child, and--</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Get this...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">Never had maternity shots taken of herself.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">This to me is shocking because Karey is, in my opinion, one of the most talented, self-taught photographers I know, especially in the avenue of maternity and newborns.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">She nails it every time.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">But, you know what they say--</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">Always the photographer,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">never the photographed.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">--'k, I'm not even sure that's an actual saying...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">In fact. I'm certain it's not.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">You know what I mean.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Always behind the camera and never in front of it.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KhpjTFe8-0c/TjmPTLnaFqI/AAAAAAAABZ8/YACx98plbbA/s1600/round.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KhpjTFe8-0c/TjmPTLnaFqI/AAAAAAAABZ8/YACx98plbbA/s640/round.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: inherit;">Bride & Groom to-be</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Between Kirsten, Karey and myself--</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">The golden hills were alive with the sound of</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">camera shutters forever snapping.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bfNhWiZQ96g/TjmZ0SqYw4I/AAAAAAAABaE/PnZOJA0BzOM/s1600/rounded.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bfNhWiZQ96g/TjmZ0SqYw4I/AAAAAAAABaE/PnZOJA0BzOM/s640/rounded.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: inherit;">Ridiculously cute...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">So, yeah...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">These are the few gems I gathered from that particularly glorious sun-kissed evening.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">Love.Sweet.Love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Check out Karey Wood's Photography & Design blog, <a href="http://www.kareywood.ca/blog/"><span style="color: #c27ba0;">here</span></a>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/336/0E62A4BD25429F72D8012144C83C930C.png" style="border: 0px currentColor !important;" /></a></span><br />
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</div>Raquelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861791279854856017noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551844940490194847.post-11377914063563783682011-07-31T10:27:00.000-06:002011-07-31T10:27:05.384-06:00Dippity Don't<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BnE25uT_Gg8/TjV2MmfiDZI/AAAAAAAABZE/BU9xZVelmRs/s1600/spraypark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BnE25uT_Gg8/TjV2MmfiDZI/AAAAAAAABZE/BU9xZVelmRs/s640/spraypark.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">{Yesterday at the spray park}</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">Have I ever told you about the time I accidentally</span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">applied Dippity-Do hair gel to James' sunburn,</span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">instead of Aloe Vera?</span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Think Steve Carrell in 'The 40-Year-Old Virgin',</span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">whilst getting his chest waxed.</span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">....Much like an </span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">'<em>AAaaaGggh</em>-- KELLY CLARKSON!'</span></span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;"> sorta situation.</span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Poor guy.</span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Yesterday, was another scorcher--</span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">not unlike the previous incident.</span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Beautiful.</span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Sunny.</span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Not a cloud in the sky.</span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">And likewise, we find ourselves in the same predicament--</span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">James with a toasty, roast-y red backside.</span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">It's a good thing for him I've learned</span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">a thing or two from my previous misgivings.</span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Like how to read the label.</span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">--Now, if only he'd learn to </span><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">read the label 'sunscreen'?!</span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/336/0E62A4BD25429F72D8012144C83C930C.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/336/0E62A4BD25429F72D8012144C83C930C.png" style="border: 0px currentColor !important;" /></a><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Raquelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861791279854856017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551844940490194847.post-21941068686637363672011-07-26T15:04:00.000-06:002011-07-26T15:04:21.642-06:00It's been a long-ish while....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CU4ceOfUzz4/Ti8hu0VHNAI/AAAAAAAABYc/tjkJlE8DLEE/s1600/n%2526d10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CU4ceOfUzz4/Ti8hu0VHNAI/AAAAAAAABYc/tjkJlE8DLEE/s1600/n%2526d10.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">....since anyone's asked me to take photos for them.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">So I guess you could say I was pretty jazzed when Dan & his lovely wifey Nichole summoned my assistance in taking photos of their highly anticipated new addition, due this September.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">It was a beautifully sunny evening.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">The mosquitoes were vicious.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">And we had all but less than an hour to muster up a couple good ones.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Keep in mind my amateurity,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;"><em>M'kayyy</em>, t</span><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">hanks!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">Enjoy :]</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZQ74fhKpGlQ/Ti8iC0jUqGI/AAAAAAAABYs/he9VQG_mFog/s1600/n%2526d1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZQ74fhKpGlQ/Ti8iC0jUqGI/AAAAAAAABYs/he9VQG_mFog/s640/n%2526d1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gUNhF3Ia2Kk/Ti8iIeKY50I/AAAAAAAABYw/Nbob_36SaD4/s1600/n%2526d2edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gUNhF3Ia2Kk/Ti8iIeKY50I/AAAAAAAABYw/Nbob_36SaD4/s640/n%2526d2edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gkS07h6xwuw/Ti8hyv1PuNI/AAAAAAAABYg/WnK092-csPM/s1600/n%2526d5edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="394" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gkS07h6xwuw/Ti8hyv1PuNI/AAAAAAAABYg/WnK092-csPM/s640/n%2526d5edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I0Uv_IXXIOc/Ti8h4OPO-jI/AAAAAAAABYk/wykqUls3coA/s1600/n%2526d4edit2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I0Uv_IXXIOc/Ti8h4OPO-jI/AAAAAAAABYk/wykqUls3coA/s640/n%2526d4edit2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l18vIAWT3fc/Ti8iMjbjRxI/AAAAAAAABY0/KDJh90hk6Qg/s1600/n%2526d3edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l18vIAWT3fc/Ti8iMjbjRxI/AAAAAAAABY0/KDJh90hk6Qg/s640/n%2526d3edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zzw5aBkst8o/Ti8hm5gopSI/AAAAAAAABYY/ExvcFAucOEo/s1600/n%2526d8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zzw5aBkst8o/Ti8hm5gopSI/AAAAAAAABYY/ExvcFAucOEo/s320/n%2526d8.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Congratulations Dan & Nichole</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/336/0E62A4BD25429F72D8012144C83C930C.png" style="border: 0px currentColor !important;" /></a></div>Raquelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861791279854856017noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551844940490194847.post-68683889410836597782011-07-21T18:34:00.004-06:002011-07-22T07:06:42.283-06:00Colorful Cupcakes<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">That's what Ava calls them, anyhow.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Melted Crayon Cakes: How-to</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">This is a project for the kids, y'all.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">It kept Ava busy for a good 30 mins!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;"><em>Wahooo</em>!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Preheat oven at 250 degrees.</span></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Gather up all your kids' mangy busted-up crayons.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Have your kiddos peel off any papers remaining on the pieces of crayon.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fshQmEk1E-s/TiiUiGPtxGI/AAAAAAAABYA/7Zb5rJbPBS0/s1600/avacrayon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fshQmEk1E-s/TiiUiGPtxGI/AAAAAAAABYA/7Zb5rJbPBS0/s640/avacrayon.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">{Ava hard at work}</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Once disrobed, let the kids arrange</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">the crayon pieces in a muffin tin.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CuIV9YzCq58/Tii-2g2cb8I/AAAAAAAABYI/CybK5XnVxeg/s1600/crayons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CuIV9YzCq58/Tii-2g2cb8I/AAAAAAAABYI/CybK5XnVxeg/s640/crayons.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Be sure to fill each section at least 3/4 full.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Ava had enough gusto to fill 3 muffin cups!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">.....And then she quit on me.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ifMwS6MBe_I/Tii-8TsBZKI/AAAAAAAABYM/dc6KIJk3qug/s1600/crayons3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="394" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ifMwS6MBe_I/Tii-8TsBZKI/AAAAAAAABYM/dc6KIJk3qug/s640/crayons3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Bake in the oven for 15- 20 mins.</span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">....until melt-y looking.</span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Remove muffin tin from the oven and let cool.</span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Once cooled, crayon cakes should easily release from the pan.</span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UO53laoHsL0/Tii-yPsX1sI/AAAAAAAABYE/VZOKUwZWj3Q/s1600/crayons2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="394" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UO53laoHsL0/Tii-yPsX1sI/AAAAAAAABYE/VZOKUwZWj3Q/s640/crayons2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Check these babies out!!</span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">Psychedelic or what?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Important sidenote:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Despite what the post title might suggest, these cute cakes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">are definitely <em>NOT</em> edible :]</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Unless you're one of those 'My Strange Addiction' people....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;">In which case,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">num nums!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/336/0E62A4BD25429F72D8012144C83C930C.png" style="border: 0px currentColor !important;" /></a></div>Raquelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861791279854856017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551844940490194847.post-87477844751253817652011-07-13T14:23:00.002-06:002011-07-13T14:33:52.404-06:00Geek Alert<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">I take that back.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">I would much more prefer to entitle this post:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Tremendously.Cool.Kid.Alert.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GlzP2cMhe9o/Th36bmsflhI/AAAAAAAABXw/cmNURkipCKA/s1600/Harry-Potter-and-the-Deathly-Hallows-Part-2-Poster-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GlzP2cMhe9o/Th36bmsflhI/AAAAAAAABXw/cmNURkipCKA/s640/Harry-Potter-and-the-Deathly-Hallows-Part-2-Poster-21.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Is anyone else seeing the sheer <em>epic-ness</em> of this poster?!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">Brilliant, right?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Out in theatres this Friday.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I've got my golden ticket.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">And my merry band of Potter admirers, too.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Merlin's beard...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">Why must all good things come to an end?</span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/336/0E62A4BD25429F72D8012144C83C930C.png" style="border: 0px currentColor !important;" /></a></div>Raquelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861791279854856017noreply@blogger.com1