tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44767146403626749362024-02-28T09:10:36.307-05:00Quaint and QuirkySewing, Crafting, Mothering, LifeKerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132657751872036078noreply@blogger.comBlogger255125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476714640362674936.post-57633391193663120762017-09-25T10:00:00.000-04:002017-09-25T10:00:21.282-04:00I'm Whole30ing and I'm Scared<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgruCfT6Y2iUJP128nzRKwuvr2Kf-tGu1a1zYNXoJaALK-7yXOMopMXImc5CDrI64whpRfhMCeCP4rZdJuz-IpKDkea6WJ9ae24akYscYTI7kHgfGtheG2KRu3K0eLdVwwAzB61iBvojFs/s1600/IMG_2658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgruCfT6Y2iUJP128nzRKwuvr2Kf-tGu1a1zYNXoJaALK-7yXOMopMXImc5CDrI64whpRfhMCeCP4rZdJuz-IpKDkea6WJ9ae24akYscYTI7kHgfGtheG2KRu3K0eLdVwwAzB61iBvojFs/s400/IMG_2658.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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I'm starting the Whole30 today. As you can see by the final "meal" I chose on my way to the guillotine, I could stand to "Tame the Sugar Dragon" - Whole30 speak for breaking free from sugar. The problem with me doing the Whole30 is that I am extremely picky. The list of foods I will not eat is longer than the list of foods I do eat. Tomatoes? No. Avacado? No. Vegetables for breakfast? No. Rhubarb? No. Fish of any kind? No.<br />
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So what will I eat? I don't know. <br />
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Garlic. I do like garlic. <br />
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I like nuts. I like... bacon. I like some vegetables. <br />
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So, it's going to take some work. And some imagination. And I might have to eat things I wouldn't have previously. And I might have to eat sweet potatoes (gag). <br />
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I am going to check in with my weekly menus and thoughts on the Whole30 for Picky People. <br />
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What I have going for me is my stubbornness. I've never had a cup of coffee or a can of soda or a sip of alcohol and I'm too stubborn to give up my "nevers." I'm hoping that same stubbornness helps me through these next 30 days!! <br />
<br />Kerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132657751872036078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476714640362674936.post-4636921279915971422014-12-10T07:00:00.000-05:002015-08-06T00:03:08.092-04:00Inkwell Press Planner Winner!Out of a total of 72 possible entries, Random.Org chose #72! I thought that was funny. I never like to be #1 in a giveaway because I think I'll never get picked, but Random.org has proven that it can pick extremes. That means, Rachel from <a href="http://realtalkwithrachel.com/">realtalkwithrachel.com</a> is the winner!<br />
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Thank you to all who entered! I hope you get a beautiful planner of your own! Let me know how you like it if you do!<br />
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Remember you can follow this affiliate link: <a href="http://r.sloyalty.com/r/uoVct6wK55nm" target="_blank"> Inkwell Press</a> to save 20% off a planner! I hope everyone's 2015 is organized and lovely!<br />
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<br />Kerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132657751872036078noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476714640362674936.post-10246749776660621022014-12-02T14:12:00.003-05:002015-08-06T00:05:23.745-04:00$50 Inkwell Press Gift Card Giveaway!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img alt="http://inkwellpress.refr.cc/W6F4BS6" border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqCYQ5pLSfBB0ZxLMeekZs8sGO8aB9qW971Ig4K2JzxYTdOHDE8HYmMfNPoa8JSvfLr0ZL08HriNadPmoJkc_A-qYHmcIOvthPE_2o93YU22rJNIOSO6VIdckjpuWFo8UQpEkdHEywPk/s1600/giveaway.jpg" width="320" /></div>
If you read my <a href="http://www.quaint-and-quirky.com/2014/11/inkwell-press-planner-review-and-coupon.html" target="_blank">last blog post</a>, you'll know that I'm a fan of the new<a href="http://r.sloyalty.com/r/uoVct6wK55nm" target="_blank"> Inkwell Press planners</a>. I'm so much a fan that I am giving away a $50 Gift Card to Inkwell Press! That means you can get a free planner if you win!<br />
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Don't need a life planner? They are coming out with fitness, food planners and notebooks soon!<br />
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(I *believe* you cannot use a gift card on shipping, so anything you order, you'll have to pay shipping).<br />
I am leaving the giveaway open until 11PM EST on Friday, December 5th, 2014. I will announce a winner and email the gift card code on Monday, December 8th.<br />
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Here's how to enter:<br />
1. Leave a comment. Any comment is fine, but if you want, you can tell me what portion of your life needs more organization.<br />
2. Pin, tweet, Instagram, or share on facebook this giveaway. Use the hashtag #QQIWPGiveaway<br />
3. Follow me on Instagram: <a href="http://instagram.com/quaintandquirky/" target="_blank">quaintandquirky</a> <br />
<br />
***Leave me a comment telling me what you did. Each one gives you a
separate entry. You do NOT need to leave separate comments for each
though. A simple comment stating "I need to organize my kids' schooling better. I pinned and shared your giveaway on
facebook and I follow you on Instagram" will suffice! (that would be four entries).***<br />
<br />
Thanks for entering!<br />
And remember that if you don't win, but still want the planner, this affiliate link: <span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://r.sloyalty.com/r/uoVct6wK55nm" target="_blank">Inkwell Press</a> </span><br />
will get you $10 off your first $50 order! <br />
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<i>Once again, this post is not sponsored by Inkwell Press. I have purchased this gift certificate on my own. I just love the planner THAT MUCH! </i><br />
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Kerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132657751872036078noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476714640362674936.post-40597303987261086552014-11-21T15:56:00.000-05:002015-08-06T00:06:57.350-04:00Inkwell Press Planner Review and Coupon CodeLast year at this time, I did not know the fancy planner world existed. In April, someone I know posted a link on facebook to Erin Condren's website and I purchased my first "fancy planner."<br />
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I found that if I spent a little more on a planner, I was more apt to use it. If I used an inexpensive planner, it was easier on my conscience to cast it aside after a few weeks and render it useless. With a more expensive planner (but not crazy expensive), I could use it, but I knew I didn't want it to go to waste. Having the fancy planner really worked for me. You can record water
intake, meal plans, exercise plans, gift lists, etc. I felt more
organized with to-do lists, shopping lists, and more.<br />
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Joining facebook groups was probably the wrong thing to do because then I realized how much people decorate their planners with stickers, washi, etc. However, it was getting time consuming - applying washi, relabeling the parts that didn't work, making note page headers, cutting out stickers and more. I needed something that was already beautiful and simple, but with fun extras.<br />
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Enter the <a href="http://r.sloyalty.com/r/uoVct6wK55nm" target="_blank">Inkwell Press Live Well Planners.</a><br />
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I fell in love aesthetically first. The planner was beautiful, inside and out. The colors are gorgeous, the design is sophisticated. Then I realized it was full of amenities - book lists, movie lists, built in daily spaces for home, health, and meal planning, monthly and yearly goal pages, pockets for storage. I was sold. Here is a walk-through and review of my 2015 Inkwell Press Planner.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSek_7U01zDbCcEcgGBGxeLoRxQMfKvlQUW2-fBtRkM1PesZbU0JewD2sWfT3lhkNrqsrmMms6eocPSwtlI7FxG9XHwLoWLLFAUmKA9SslEPYs5GJKdUJmXCqTDxdOrzcs10JiAiNcIY/s1600/cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSek_7U01zDbCcEcgGBGxeLoRxQMfKvlQUW2-fBtRkM1PesZbU0JewD2sWfT3lhkNrqsrmMms6eocPSwtlI7FxG9XHwLoWLLFAUmKA9SslEPYs5GJKdUJmXCqTDxdOrzcs10JiAiNcIY/s1600/cover.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My cover (pointed stripe and Katniss Everdeen font)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Cover, Binding, and Engraving</b><br />
I chose the pointed stripe cover with the Katniss Everdeen font. The cover is like a hard cover book, but has a wipable film over it for the inevitable spill, dirty fingers, and food catastrophe. The coil is my least favorite part. I dislike the color - it's too coppery - and is flaking off in spots. My name is in a beautiful gold foil (the only color they offer). An attached elastic band holds everything in place. Tremendous bonus! <br />
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<b>Front Bonus Pages</b><br />
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When you first open it up, you find a cute little ruler/bookmark that appeals to my sewing-loving heart. <br />
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In the front, there are planning pages for 2015, including goal setting for many areas of life. As a bonus, when you purchase a planner, they send you six videos helping you to organize your planner - and your life!<br />
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The paper is extraordinary - thick and lovely!<br />
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<b>Planning Pages</b><br />
There are beautiful monthly planning pages and note pages before each month starts. Bonus! But I forgot to photograph them. Fail!<br />
A month layout looks like this. Lots of writing room!<br />
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A weekly layout looks like this in the Flex layout that I chose. There is also a schedule-type layout where you have a list of hours. <br />
I like the flex because, as a SAHM, I don't have a lot of appointments daily, but I do have lots on my to do list that I can write in these spaces! The Erin Condren "Morning, Day, Night" setup never worked for me and I spent a lot of time covering over those categories with my own categories. This is perfect!<br />
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Here's a closeup of the week, showing the spaces for meals, health, and home:<br />
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I LOVE this feature. With the Erin Condren Planner, I had to get creative to fit all that in, with inserts and stickers and whatnot. Now I can record my cleaning, cooking and exercise (ahem).<br />
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<b>Super Extra Bonuses</b><br />
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In the back, there are lots of extras. Graph paper note pages. My absolute dream come true!!<br />
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Pages where you can record books and movies you want to see. There's also pages for travel. <br />
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And a gift list!<br />
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A double sided pocket and accordion folder reside in the back for storage purposes. I might have to hack the accordion folder so that all the contents stay inside. I'm thinking velcro maybe... <br />
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Laminated tabs <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbpHbTA8z7LBffrG3om-hnkSRKCzTsn3fUtcQtjvYedOeQwZb2Bcsm0LIdkZ5tfSFdbd6EKUwRPiLpxAkq4dl7NoLsLzLQ3vuKsZ5i4lo3J7iyw_3m9qYr_FZTsAfSkYv-NQocKOXlT8/s1600/tabs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbpHbTA8z7LBffrG3om-hnkSRKCzTsn3fUtcQtjvYedOeQwZb2Bcsm0LIdkZ5tfSFdbd6EKUwRPiLpxAkq4dl7NoLsLzLQ3vuKsZ5i4lo3J7iyw_3m9qYr_FZTsAfSkYv-NQocKOXlT8/s1600/tabs.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And the fun things that come in the package with the planner. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6k157yMlOtQ_XuIa2OiSsbcygUXDQXdrt4QqTCGvh_U4TMso4F9hSEw9OAAUKOAbeKY5tVyW5AGUmulEQvi-u0KHsbNFjCeL3UVICjrY9RA8QAscUcN57g02geDxILaVCXiaiXKNrP0w/s1600/cover+all.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6k157yMlOtQ_XuIa2OiSsbcygUXDQXdrt4QqTCGvh_U4TMso4F9hSEw9OAAUKOAbeKY5tVyW5AGUmulEQvi-u0KHsbNFjCeL3UVICjrY9RA8QAscUcN57g02geDxILaVCXiaiXKNrP0w/s1600/cover+all.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I absolutely think this is the perfect planner. I've researched many different types and this rolls everything together - simplicity, beauty, fun extras, helpful layouts, and more. I'm extremely impressed with the quality of the paper. It is worth every penny! The customer service is super and very personal. They really want you to be happy with your planner at Inkwell Press!<br />
I can't wait to be even MORE organized in 2015!<br />
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If you like this planner and want one of your own, following this affiliate link <a href="http://r.sloyalty.com/r/uoVct6wK55nm" target="_blank">Inkwell Press Planners</a> will get you <span style="font-size: large;">$10 off your first purchase of $50.</span> Happy Planning! <br />
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<i>I purchased this planner on my own. Inkwell Press did not sponsor this. I just really like the planner. :D</i><br />
<br />Kerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132657751872036078noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476714640362674936.post-25724008610644299792013-06-27T23:36:00.001-04:002013-06-27T23:37:45.093-04:00I Went to a Blogging Conference<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4iZu7XfcDtl7dTvgGwQ2r2TZ1b1Bx0TjORTOpOmjdn-P-IQAb5i4xdNBcwSJVJJDXYHhyphenhyphenFfdVZVp-3U0hljjc97Th2UuECznJoD61Fx3t8MR7Pc-Gn_FJGXayx5NRWp04Fp_rDs_q8M/s1600/alt+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4iZu7XfcDtl7dTvgGwQ2r2TZ1b1Bx0TjORTOpOmjdn-P-IQAb5i4xdNBcwSJVJJDXYHhyphenhyphenFfdVZVp-3U0hljjc97Th2UuECznJoD61Fx3t8MR7Pc-Gn_FJGXayx5NRWp04Fp_rDs_q8M/s400/alt+1.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo by<a href="http://www.happytuesdayblog.com/" target="_blank"> kerri sullivan</a></td></tr>
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So, in order to motivate myself to blog more and blog better, I signed up to go to the <a href="http://www.altitudesummit.com/" target="_blank">Alt conference </a>in New York City at <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/" target="_blank">Martha Stewart Living</a>. Not going to lie - I was quite motivated by the opportunity to see MSLO and maybe Martha herself...(read on!!)<br />
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Armed with business cards and a new bag (more on both later), I spent the day with some famous and very lovely bloggers and business owners. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUQiS1XvoMHaQ1xlIa0bKHok6W1BI_Sj6oUfydsOEM2milB6xhWbi5-NWhK_l-he8RfqJkP5EgJFYo1yAd3L1Rfe6txO8ydswU1WAvDZGEQZe5LRTniwbOR5GamlCiqZdGiLxWdQIiPs/s1600/alt2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUQiS1XvoMHaQ1xlIa0bKHok6W1BI_Sj6oUfydsOEM2milB6xhWbi5-NWhK_l-he8RfqJkP5EgJFYo1yAd3L1Rfe6txO8ydswU1WAvDZGEQZe5LRTniwbOR5GamlCiqZdGiLxWdQIiPs/s400/alt2.jpg" width="378" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo by me</td></tr>
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Everyone had an iphone at alt. I'm not even kidding. I made a point to check out people's phones and never saw one non-iphone. <i> </i><br />
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<i>If you went to alt NYC and did not have an iphone, let me know. I did not meet you.</i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAgb3sg8xFnWoOdaMMrFeHIknFuKLFwdSVNH5NsZcUVdwARtkK4RamwHz4_bN9SwELjUiIR_2MNLP7mMRJvjbodugGTZKSYmgl_MSF5Ayv4-aO5r-aC_we9_3ti13BObv3RXi2bcns7o/s1600/alt4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAgb3sg8xFnWoOdaMMrFeHIknFuKLFwdSVNH5NsZcUVdwARtkK4RamwHz4_bN9SwELjUiIR_2MNLP7mMRJvjbodugGTZKSYmgl_MSF5Ayv4-aO5r-aC_we9_3ti13BObv3RXi2bcns7o/s400/alt4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>photo by me</i></td></tr>
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Creative business cards are the thing to have at alt. Here's a wall of them! I'll be back with some of my favorites. I'm still sorting!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_zWbBVS3txJ9jlwSuO6xfuUQFgcGmuNOwm8CDDrI4qxHCjNxVumFa5nrSEmuRiVUbRDGwLnEBMbYC_4HYJIAJSoW_ZVdRdtAsLouYFhXPVvVIFjdNlHlNPrYoe2Lcsyq0NlKfhATVDLE/s400/alt8.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo by me</td></tr>
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The keynote speaker was <a href="http://www.designsponge.com/" target="_blank">Grace Bonney of Design Sponge</a>. She was a very focused speaker. You could tell that she has her own podcast because she got in a lot of information in the amount of time she had, but without seeming rushed. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>What I learned from Grace:</i> <b> Rejection Therapy</b></span> </div>
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RT is asking for what you want so many times to so many people until hearing, "No" does not break your heart anymore. I went through a similar thing when I attempted to publish a children's book a few years ago. It's my tendency decide for someone else that they will say "No" to my request and I don't even try to ask. I will definitely be trying rejection therapy. Yes, Grace, you got a convert!</div>
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***</div>
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And thennnnnnnnnnn... Martha Stewart herself waltzed in the door. She was lovely and gracious and flawless. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>What I learned from Martha:</i> <b>Age gracefully</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCO_x9xsKOVB_AMg4hGc-xTAz-BacmNdLFas-LdJZvKyHSeLdHHkgHOZ6KPvOA1yqUrYR7HjVaOCt9jmGISilfvZiPRrF49AaDN2GdCkV6_gHtK7FTeVEGE0IS7URaugw0sFBMaPPusw/s1600/alt+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCO_x9xsKOVB_AMg4hGc-xTAz-BacmNdLFas-LdJZvKyHSeLdHHkgHOZ6KPvOA1yqUrYR7HjVaOCt9jmGISilfvZiPRrF49AaDN2GdCkV6_gHtK7FTeVEGE0IS7URaugw0sFBMaPPusw/s400/alt+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo by meeeeee!!!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgSS10xCiU-I1nhyjQi3qLk-CDmAuYYULl_d6Dz1TRr6vBAr0dUO17vOp9zjLUq9zxVUfhA6D0fRIplDUYC5lxBkW_eO3XZ7F5y2sForGZBqMVYVFBZ-v8aEiklxt6rRyjNLvQN4Z7emw/s800/9121065921_e6e39b67c4_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgSS10xCiU-I1nhyjQi3qLk-CDmAuYYULl_d6Dz1TRr6vBAr0dUO17vOp9zjLUq9zxVUfhA6D0fRIplDUYC5lxBkW_eO3XZ7F5y2sForGZBqMVYVFBZ-v8aEiklxt6rRyjNLvQN4Z7emw/s400/9121065921_e6e39b67c4_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>photo by <a href="http://justinhackworth.com/#home/" target="_blank">justin hackworth</a></u></td></tr>
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(Me taking a picture of Marth with my phone!)</div>
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There were lots of other presenters/speakers/panelists, including Todd Gibson, <a href="http://oliverands.com/" target="_blank">Liesel from Oliver + S</a>' husband. I might have gushed about Liesel's patterns (just a little).<br />
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Another pretty fab person was one of the founders of Alt, Gabrielle Blair. She also founded <span id="goog_1986247097"></span><a href="http://draft.blogger.com/">Design Mom<span id="goog_1986247098"></span></a>. She lives in France with her husband and their six children. I would love to live abroad just for a little bit and give Amelia and Will a taste of a different culture. Dreams! <br />
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The closing keynote speaker was <span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span dir="auto"><a href="http://www.garancedore.fr/en/" target="_blank">Garance Doré</a>, a famous fashion blogger. She was from Corsica and had the most lovely accent. She was also a fabulous speaker, very funny and her presentation was well-thought out. </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpTFx4NnXDAlvlXArqpwLHqiS8e7VligGKU228m_CYyvWGlNAlA_j-91ekszUtQylHP6j2OmYrFuZySewr3DxQJmNZk3KpItZUV4VIB-hzvbiQl5_elKRmaJem9BT67zO-iZRf10DAyxs/s800/9121123831_8067b5499e_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpTFx4NnXDAlvlXArqpwLHqiS8e7VligGKU228m_CYyvWGlNAlA_j-91ekszUtQylHP6j2OmYrFuZySewr3DxQJmNZk3KpItZUV4VIB-hzvbiQl5_elKRmaJem9BT67zO-iZRf10DAyxs/s400/9121123831_8067b5499e_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo by justin hackworth</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"><span dir="auto"><i>What I learned from Garance:</i> <b> </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"><span dir="auto"><b>1.)"Branch out, but stay on the same tree</b>" and </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"><span dir="auto"><b>2.) Move to Corsica to develop a lovely french accent.</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span dir="auto">The "Branch out, but stay on the same tree" seemed to be a popular takeaway from Garance's presentation. That was the goal of going to Alt for me. I want to kick up the blogging, but not stray away from myself. Thank you, Garance, for putting that into words!<b> </b></span></span></span><br />
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Thennnnn, after the closing key note, <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/" target="_blank">Martha</a> and <a href="http://www.jcpenney.com/" target="_blank">JCPenney </a>put on a pretty fun party, complete with this candy bar and some pretty delicious brownies. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdJnQXRF918VTlu5SMiN5_IQHPQiCZD8QQxUekzjBFiX4dtDSvyec6mUtrYKovzOIa6V6DkAWlDKz6WgM1DEs0UhraaCOm-w1U7tr_GRmyepoIy7VDCPvZ1uPNGAsB-JPlXBm19SLiMQ/s1600/alt7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdJnQXRF918VTlu5SMiN5_IQHPQiCZD8QQxUekzjBFiX4dtDSvyec6mUtrYKovzOIa6V6DkAWlDKz6WgM1DEs0UhraaCOm-w1U7tr_GRmyepoIy7VDCPvZ1uPNGAsB-JPlXBm19SLiMQ/s400/alt7.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo by me</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNppnp5Eiz8r3bRdQdxUclKHOWxSHibKiAS1GCvuWoZe9IdDJ2oJsgE0rgyVWJWdOPaS73yXmPOsSqdX9xE0Y1Lh2dFtgorCKV3VyutIHk26n7l7Wha5Dz0Bgsr0vdvwsboVaEGhpgR8/s1600/alt9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNppnp5Eiz8r3bRdQdxUclKHOWxSHibKiAS1GCvuWoZe9IdDJ2oJsgE0rgyVWJWdOPaS73yXmPOsSqdX9xE0Y1Lh2dFtgorCKV3VyutIHk26n7l7Wha5Dz0Bgsr0vdvwsboVaEGhpgR8/s400/alt9.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo by me</td></tr>
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Thennnnnn they opened up the rooftop to us and we got to see the panoramic view of NYC. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_n3ZPp46lIMaOAXQxGsxp1R1kPUzY5ThyzvQ69r8JnrFJTTORbZeoPrk27fr-vex7k_I4tpz_uu8RKV6qdWl8Jfv1aUum80ozfnZWMJ6x9fzoeBvtwwguUUq2zoJRqUctO1x3IctCd4/s1600/alt+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_n3ZPp46lIMaOAXQxGsxp1R1kPUzY5ThyzvQ69r8JnrFJTTORbZeoPrk27fr-vex7k_I4tpz_uu8RKV6qdWl8Jfv1aUum80ozfnZWMJ6x9fzoeBvtwwguUUq2zoJRqUctO1x3IctCd4/s400/alt+5.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div>
The entire day was pretty amazing- from the gifts, to the crafting, to the food, to the fun, to the learning, to the visual inspiration - everything was executed perfectly. <br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">What I learned from Alt for next time:</span></i><br />
<ul>
<li>Go to the sponsor dinners the night before. That way, you can meet a smaller, core group of people before the conference even begins!</li>
<li>A several-day event would be even more fabulous and allow you to meet and form relationships with more people.</li>
<li>Smile!</li>
<li>Get in front of the photographer. I'm in exactly two of the hired photographer's (<a href="http://justinhackworth.com/#home/" target="_blank">Justin Hackworth</a>) pictures! (He was sponsored by <a href="http://www.atly.com/#!/home" target="_blank">Atly</a> - an up and coming education website)</li>
<li>Bring a suitcase for all the goodies they give you. There was just that much stuff!</li>
</ul>
Kerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132657751872036078noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476714640362674936.post-39563711934647969592013-06-19T17:56:00.001-04:002013-06-19T17:56:02.549-04:00The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie RecipeTruly, these cookies are absolutely delicious-chewy, soft middle, with slightly crunchy outsides. <div><br></div><div>They even won a cookie tasting competition (well, tied for first) when my friend Tara hosted a cookie tasting birthday for her husband Matt.</div><div><br></div><div>Note: I know you all know what sugar, flour, eggs, etc. look like, so I didn't go all food blogger on you, but there's a yummy picture at the end!</div><div><br></div><div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="text-align: left; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">2 c. minus 2 tbsp cake flour (ok, this might be a lesser known ingredient, so here's a picture)</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="text-align: left; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt42sh2WUY3z25qotbpBPZ6GMRE6pIPTOYu_QaTOeOYrgm5RAP_AsPcvJEJ2XVJqwY0Y9OXO65dEab5ZPaRV-n_OmO-BWzvzKaY07CDP3Zw7ZPIcJObC823NcIHAhUUBjcZ0plK1OgEbI/s640/blogger-image--132973021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt42sh2WUY3z25qotbpBPZ6GMRE6pIPTOYu_QaTOeOYrgm5RAP_AsPcvJEJ2XVJqwY0Y9OXO65dEab5ZPaRV-n_OmO-BWzvzKaY07CDP3Zw7ZPIcJObC823NcIHAhUUBjcZ0plK1OgEbI/s640/blogger-image--132973021.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">1 and 2/3 c. bread flour</div></span><span style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">1 and 1/4 tsp baking soda</div></span><span style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">1 and 1/2 tsp baking powder</div></span><span style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">1 and 1/2 tsp coarse salt</div></span><span style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">2 and 1/2 sticks unsalted butter</div></span><span style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">1 and 1/4 c. Light brown sugar</div></span><span style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">1 c. Plus 2 tbsp sugar</div></span><span style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">2 large eggs</div></span><span style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">2 tsp vanilla </div></span><span style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">1 and 1/4 lbs 60% cacao disks (</div></span></span><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Stir flours, baking soda, powder and salt in a bowl. </div></span><span style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Using a mixer with a paddle, cream butter and sugars together until very light (about five minutes). Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.</div></span><span style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Stir in vanilla.</div></span><span style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Add dry ingredients and mix on low until just combined.</div></span><span style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Incorporate chocolate pieces.</div></span><span style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Press plastic wrap (Keri's note: or Press n Seal!) against dough and refrigerate for 24-36 hours.</div></span></span><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Preheat oven to 350 degrees.</div></span><span style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Drop six golf ball sized mounds of dough onto the cookie sheet and sprinkle lightly with sea salt. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes until golden brown but still soft. Cool cookie sheet on a cooling rack for ten minutes, then cool cookies on the rack for ten more minutes. Enjoy!</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JgwjNHMPraw6xtc-CYBuGFDSTsiOEP2VLoMyYbKlRX0F_efwAZMuXZ3N541Hu4JDSh3LCA1FRPpOuRYU6-odraOKp5W8L-CtxpqqB01unLv_iEgvhJbne8x8Zft7XGKlRJ3rILdHJIQ/s640/blogger-image--931966143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JgwjNHMPraw6xtc-CYBuGFDSTsiOEP2VLoMyYbKlRX0F_efwAZMuXZ3N541Hu4JDSh3LCA1FRPpOuRYU6-odraOKp5W8L-CtxpqqB01unLv_iEgvhJbne8x8Zft7XGKlRJ3rILdHJIQ/s640/blogger-image--931966143.jpg"></a></div><br></div></span></span></div>Kerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132657751872036078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476714640362674936.post-38242794682887759312013-06-17T09:00:00.000-04:002013-06-17T09:00:09.226-04:00Why I Wish Humans Did PhotosynthesisI decided the other day that humans should do photosynthesis. If I was a scientist, my life's work would be devoted to figuring out how humans could do photosynthesis.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Just to make sure we are all starting on the same page, photosynthesis is the process by which plants take water and light energy and produce oxygen and food.</b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMITB4kO5R9FP-U8Vxdr5a8goJGvwQ0TqV8oKlZY-SDvrpwW4By2hdj2IkuVQhjskNvgAxi-j1QgSSmledY3U-c_8KPqJLwJ1DdhmC5bzbdm-fHuF8NL1fzCwf3Vd4RXDeF8J4Yu9NrE/s1600/photosynthesis-dream-renewable-energy_1_02842012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMITB4kO5R9FP-U8Vxdr5a8goJGvwQ0TqV8oKlZY-SDvrpwW4By2hdj2IkuVQhjskNvgAxi-j1QgSSmledY3U-c_8KPqJLwJ1DdhmC5bzbdm-fHuF8NL1fzCwf3Vd4RXDeF8J4Yu9NrE/s320/photosynthesis-dream-renewable-energy_1_02842012.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: Earthtimes.org</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<i>Did you read that?</i><br />
<br />
Plants make food for themselves. Internally. No meal plans, grocery shopping, stoves, refrigerators, food pyramid, nothing. <br />
<br />
I am not a cook. I enjoy baking, but planning, preparing, and (for the most part) eating meals is really not my thing. I prefer to spend my time on pursuits that are not going to be digested in a few hours, like sewing curtains or kids clothes. I am guilty of going down the baby food aisle and trying to imagine how many pouches of <a href="http://www.plumorganics.com/products/second-blends-sweet-potato-mango-millet" target="_blank">Sweet Potato, Mango and Millet</a> I'd have to buy in order to feed it to my family for dinner. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBVYaaXZY5VJSNje0vMhZ9J1gpn5XhULPheUJI3_L0yl8JlE8fXSHEoxN16pztv5Ay8R35LHC-3KSrEJ66x4UitON4rVRbs_SR3A5ziRJ107z1qpxo90mJqAoedT9NGsBLtLSLTJNhKA/s1600/20130612_1665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBVYaaXZY5VJSNje0vMhZ9J1gpn5XhULPheUJI3_L0yl8JlE8fXSHEoxN16pztv5Ay8R35LHC-3KSrEJ66x4UitON4rVRbs_SR3A5ziRJ107z1qpxo90mJqAoedT9NGsBLtLSLTJNhKA/s320/20130612_1665.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
So, that's why the idea of photosynthesis appeals to me. We take the family outside in the sunshine, give them a big water bottle, and VOILA! Dinner!<br />
<br />
Here are some benefits:<br />
<br />
1.) You are always guaranteed that the food you have made is *actually* good for you and everyone agrees. None of this "Butter is Good! Butter is Bad! Only organic raw butter from happy cows is good! Raw butter will kill you!" junk. All your nutritional needs are met in one scientific process!<br />
<br />
2.) Instant gratification. Do you know that two-year-olds have a very small amount of patience when it comes to meals and snacks? Problem solved!<br />
"Oh, you need a snack? Here's your water bottle. Go outside and make your own food!"<br />
<br />
3.) You free up an entire room in your house! Goodbye kitchen, hello library (or craft room, or media room or office).<br />
<br />
4.) Plants just look good when they do photosynthesis. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMhx2bdhj4SQXl5TMI1yhgKw4uJRBW3TY6w7qcQvi5wOE_Qs_AMa6_5plj04JX4c69zx8k3oongFoisfDunu7ms1kZ-lK-7OuHrlhS_wD7c7Qz2DCED009FoJRx-mvIRCOPs3vNiWVThE/s1600/20130612_1657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMhx2bdhj4SQXl5TMI1yhgKw4uJRBW3TY6w7qcQvi5wOE_Qs_AMa6_5plj04JX4c69zx8k3oongFoisfDunu7ms1kZ-lK-7OuHrlhS_wD7c7Qz2DCED009FoJRx-mvIRCOPs3vNiWVThE/s320/20130612_1657.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This plant is cooking right now. Making her own breakfast. Doesn't she look relaxed? That is not how I look when I'm cooking. I'm generally tripping over things like tutus and alphabet magnets while wondering why it was again that I agreed to let a two-year-old crack the egg in to the bowl and watching the baby to make sure he hasn't put more paper into his mouth when I wasn't looking.<br />
<br />
I know that this would probably be a downer for the food industry, but PLEASE, is there a scientist out there that could help me with this? ;) <br />
<br />
Just for meals though - I'll provide dessert. <br />
<br />Kerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132657751872036078noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476714640362674936.post-55621471090821946802013-03-04T09:00:00.000-05:002013-03-05T16:18:16.130-05:00Will's Birth Story<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Will's Birth Story - Six Months Later!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Just like with his sister, Will's due date came and went
with not so much as a contraction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had
never felt a naturally occuring contraction and couldn't really remember the
pitocin-induced ones that I had with Amelia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, I was awakened one Tuesday morning five days after I was due
with some pains that seemed to be coming and going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started timing them with my phone
contraction timer, but around six in the morning, they subsided
altogether.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Nevertheless, when I woke up that morning, I called my mom
to tell her that I had been having SOME kind of contractions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She left work early to stay with Amelia and
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The contractions picked up again,
but they were short and far apart for most of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mid afternoon, my mom went home for a bit,
but promised to come back when I needed her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Around dinner time/ Josh coming home time the contractions
really picked up, but I knew I had to wait for the 5 minutes apart, lasting a
minute, for an hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They weren't
anything<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that close together or long. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Josh came home late because (get this) he
stopped at the hardware store to pick up shelves for my craft room closet (my
second-favorite decision of the day).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">After dinner, the pain was getting a bit unbearable, but the
contractions were like 10 minutes apart and I could still walk and talk through
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, I decided to call the
midwife and alert her that I was in labor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Being my second baby and because I had had off-and-on contractions all
day, she decided that I should come in (my favorite decision of the day).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Josh hadn't packed a thing, so he was throwing clothes and
toiletries in bags while I was being mean and in pain and we waited for my
parents to come take our baby girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">While in the car, my contractions jumped from 10 minutes
apart to 3 minutes apart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We never even
came close to the 5-1-1 guideline. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank
GOODNESS the midwife had me come in anyway!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Josh decided that this was a great time to drive 95 miles an hour down
the highway because he "didn't get this experience with Amelia."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We arrived at the hospital around eight or eight-thirty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In triage, they called my midwife (who was at
the hospital anyway) to check me and I was already seven cm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had expected, mmm, four, maybe five.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was pretty shocked as well, since I was
still pretty functional.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was very much
looking forward to the epidural, so they rushed me up to delivery so I could
get that in a hurry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">However, the anesthesiologist had just been rushed into a
c-section and they were very doubtful that she was going to make it in time for
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grrrreat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know there are lots of stalwart drug-free
laborers out there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To quote<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elphaba" target="_blank"> Elphaba</a>,
"I'm not that girl."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0MPLR4oEcq2vTOOsbQPsD2QR7vtZ-nrvq_CHkdTOZjaplcJ2pWKDQc7WIaC5Pbt9XNpABUejnoo6DFrrP95zdFC5PkJSt_jQhjRp_itfw7ur0FPG9VsvRHtKNAMh2Gwx0-NcpHxCueHA/s1600/20120901_1237+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqCJYhlYDPCDxIABVZ89hmjh_SIT8TqTWTYe3il5a6ZWibm9gOIXHC9XZZyZ6AeGUA2dvsiMkFaczXN0QuGGRMJf5MznXTiREeJFum-YD6fGmIIe0OQHGi3Z0Q4dtZ_a2Iz359vChQY98/s1600/20120901_1202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqCJYhlYDPCDxIABVZ89hmjh_SIT8TqTWTYe3il5a6ZWibm9gOIXHC9XZZyZ6AeGUA2dvsiMkFaczXN0QuGGRMJf5MznXTiREeJFum-YD6fGmIIe0OQHGi3Z0Q4dtZ_a2Iz359vChQY98/s320/20120901_1202.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not happy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">They prepped me anyway, just in case, and the midwife
offered to break my water so that I could have a quicker drug-free
delivery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No thanks!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With Amelia, I never got to the "Wow,
this really really really hurts" portion of labor because I was induced
and was always in control of my pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
got the epi at 4.5cm with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With Will,
I most certainly got to the, "Wow, this really really really hurts"
portion and I did NOT want to experience something called the "Ring of
Fire" while still feeling my lower half.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ3QIws3xsFI0gloRbiXDE9rxSZJzw9xXhEzNiBI2NZjIuC7X7bfzBez0J1OOXClgYBWKJBtq1_Qzvil5mroisyiL7AO2pcjkFoiixag8NVOcGzBti1CiipTtYl6s9hPPIFcKXbKDGuNc/s1600/20120901_1210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ3QIws3xsFI0gloRbiXDE9rxSZJzw9xXhEzNiBI2NZjIuC7X7bfzBez0J1OOXClgYBWKJBtq1_Qzvil5mroisyiL7AO2pcjkFoiixag8NVOcGzBti1CiipTtYl6s9hPPIFcKXbKDGuNc/s320/20120901_1210.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happppyyyyyy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Miraculously, the anesthesiologist DID make it in time to
give me my epi and I was completely happy and pleasant after that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The midwife broke my water (she asked me if I
wanted him born that day, or the next and I chose that day because the next day
was an ugly prime number and I hate prime numbers), I was fully dilated, and
they got me set up to push.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ten minutes
later, a little before midnight, Will was born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He was tiny - almost a pound smaller than his sister absolutely
miraculous!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Nursing went MUCH better with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn't without its complications, but,
overall, it was a much easier experience!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQslfC0iRt1ycSzWAx7KNECLgjKI_fSuTF9ZoulPGgy73ZPCpavuR0l6YLqkhM800TEbiqswmd92WgCWUpgCnrw6qRtFW_7Lb4OBxSJuo-KhH7djNps1rxeR3NOfmp6-6BD8WZsyynEUc/s1600/20120901_1237+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQslfC0iRt1ycSzWAx7KNECLgjKI_fSuTF9ZoulPGgy73ZPCpavuR0l6YLqkhM800TEbiqswmd92WgCWUpgCnrw6qRtFW_7Lb4OBxSJuo-KhH7djNps1rxeR3NOfmp6-6BD8WZsyynEUc/s320/20120901_1237+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_a_Hy_1iGAL5C3v86WY5TVK4jCJvIpK0lBkcNxtJO-FDD0GCE5GIfggIi5_YdybQYJN1Y3wrII5o__l9tpHLNZ0g2cH8DNER80NDNJ8vJQp-6VzR7Q1R_DQnT6TKcZwYqkBKh77glD1Q/s1600/will+daddy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_a_Hy_1iGAL5C3v86WY5TVK4jCJvIpK0lBkcNxtJO-FDD0GCE5GIfggIi5_YdybQYJN1Y3wrII5o__l9tpHLNZ0g2cH8DNER80NDNJ8vJQp-6VzR7Q1R_DQnT6TKcZwYqkBKh77glD1Q/s320/will+daddy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Kerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132657751872036078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476714640362674936.post-26681022501635355212013-02-28T21:14:00.000-05:002013-02-28T23:37:22.231-05:00My Name is Will<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hello Everyone! My name is Will and I turned six months old today. My Mommy hasn't blogged in a long time. That's because I don't let her sleep. In fact, I slept through the night for the very first time last night! Why sleep when the world is so new and fun??</div>
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My sister is kind of crazy. She's two and she's good at it. She likes changing her mind and making messes. I can't wait until I'm two! My Mommy also hasn't blogged in a while because my sister is so crazy and my Mommy spends all her time on Pinterest trying to pin activities that will keep my sister's brain and hands occupied.<br />
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This is my family when we had a blizzard. Brrrrr. I hated the snowsuit. I hated the hat. I hated the boots. I like to cuddle and be cozy. Who needs snow? That's my dog, Levi. Remember him?<br />
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My Mommy promises she will blog again. We have a new house (well, I don't, I've always lived here) and my Mommy has some fun projects going on. She'll be back with some fun posts/updates/my birth story, etc.<br />
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Bye for now! Kerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132657751872036078noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476714640362674936.post-90330293900343986612012-10-11T23:04:00.000-04:002013-02-28T23:37:41.349-05:00Inside Out Skirt Tutorial<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As promised, here is my Inside Out Skirt tutorial! You can see the original Inside Out Skirt<a href="http://quaintandquirky.blogspot.com/2012/06/the-inside-out-skirt.html"> here</a>.<br />
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To start with, you will need fabric, tulle, and elastic.<br />
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Here's how to calculate what you need. For elastic, you will need a waist measurement. I can just measure Amelia's waist, but I usually reference the following standard clothing size charts:<br />
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<a href="http://www.childrensplace.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SizingView?storeId=10001">The Children's Place</a> - good for skirt length<br />
<a href="http://www.gymboree.com/shop/size_chart_generic.jsp" target="_blank">Gymboree</a> - good for waist measurement and inseam length<br />
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The waist measurement is pretty important because the width of the fabric you need will be double the waist measurement. I used 20" of elastic for this skirt. That means I need fabric that is 40" wide. [When using a 44" fabric, I usually don't bother cutting off the extra 4" - it just makes it a tad more full.] If you want less full, use less than half. [Confession: This skirt is actually less than 40" wide and I definitely think I would have preferred a fuller skirt.]<br />
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For length, you take the finished measurement you want and add 2.5 inches.<br />
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For the tulle, you need the same width as the underskirt fabric. Then you need the length of the skirt multiplied by 4 (so you will have four layers of tulle on top of your skirt). Here is an illustration, with the measurements I used in brackets.<br />
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Step one: Cut everything out.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmxnM5Lt7Jm6FN0L3PgwPVcJH6vqGh3dK7jjJhQmKeBGS7je7Z2OUOogRDLWDOuur2_R5_eS3Vg4bySVmlFo2m-H23Qxc4Zvje2aYqdkynyL9NP5iVMWWeYQMrFOy4drwD-fDe15pMOw/s1600/inside+out+tutorial_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmxnM5Lt7Jm6FN0L3PgwPVcJH6vqGh3dK7jjJhQmKeBGS7je7Z2OUOogRDLWDOuur2_R5_eS3Vg4bySVmlFo2m-H23Qxc4Zvje2aYqdkynyL9NP5iVMWWeYQMrFOy4drwD-fDe15pMOw/s320/inside+out+tutorial_10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Step two: Sew the underskirt. I used my serger for this project. If you do not have a serger, you will just need to do a few extra steps.<br />
1. Serge the bottom edge (no serger - fold under 1/2," then press).<br />
2. Fold up the bottom edge so that you've used 1" for the hem and press (no serger - fold up another 1/2," then press)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2xmvLxeovJ8jitxrLuk6vGu6KQ-zstHCm7-oapATzQ7fPoYdU8qNBTJ2jDyjpKGg8HBLhvU2Xub_IbyVxhFadnFvAh13nNGLJUm6zcZyuB_oh-Lv9WIYBFrrY8_imojQqSgNZLRFzPdQ/s1600/inside+out+tutorial_11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2xmvLxeovJ8jitxrLuk6vGu6KQ-zstHCm7-oapATzQ7fPoYdU8qNBTJ2jDyjpKGg8HBLhvU2Xub_IbyVxhFadnFvAh13nNGLJUm6zcZyuB_oh-Lv9WIYBFrrY8_imojQqSgNZLRFzPdQ/s320/inside+out+tutorial_11.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wrong side of the skirt showing</td></tr>
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2. Sew in place, close to the serged edge.<br />
3. Serge the top edge (no serger - fold under 1/2," then press).<br />
4. Sew the short sides of the skirt together (the back seam) using 1/2" seam allowance. <br />
5. Fold over approximately 1.5 inches and press.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_hvS6lY49_cz3KwNzS2_2wm2DCY3ApjlMK_pstp0vf-WREhY_KoxiK1WOQfIp4sUVWAG8yTsX5xKMg0BU9EGSmog_V0hnh0V-yHgTQvEAWVDhq85MJ3ilodF68CDJJjXSYv3dinxXXUE/s1600/inside+out+tutorial_14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_hvS6lY49_cz3KwNzS2_2wm2DCY3ApjlMK_pstp0vf-WREhY_KoxiK1WOQfIp4sUVWAG8yTsX5xKMg0BU9EGSmog_V0hnh0V-yHgTQvEAWVDhq85MJ3ilodF68CDJJjXSYv3dinxXXUE/s320/inside+out+tutorial_14.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wrong side of the skirt showing</td></tr>
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6. Sew in place close to the serged edge, <i><b>leaving approximately 2 inches NOT sewn near the back seam.</b></i><br />
7. Top stitch close to the top edge of the skirt.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrPcNyR_2HCQylwBpBQKdHcaGf23H_7h3O2PL2eloXlZYbqgdHpAmq7tvORqnUXcVVV-OktGiY2cgcOOS-CIaGLckuCzRUsBZuGEXIyqwQyvmRz2NDLxfmLGPTW24F0Hwih4-PqomO4o/s1600/inside+out+tutorial_15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrPcNyR_2HCQylwBpBQKdHcaGf23H_7h3O2PL2eloXlZYbqgdHpAmq7tvORqnUXcVVV-OktGiY2cgcOOS-CIaGLckuCzRUsBZuGEXIyqwQyvmRz2NDLxfmLGPTW24F0Hwih4-PqomO4o/s320/inside+out+tutorial_15.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right side of the skirt showing</td></tr>
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At the end of this step, you should have a hemmed skirt with a casing at the top, but you do NOT insert the elastic yet. Set the skirt aside to work on the tulle.<br />
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Step four - make a tulle tube<br />
1. Take the tulle and sew the back seam using a 1/2 inch seam allowance. This is the loooooong side. Essentially, you are sewing the side of the skirt that is 4 times longer than it will be at the end. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPWKAqX-LscfbQjEFBoYb4Jv4Knp0IiFjTHG67SURMW_xB1flUVDTvhp_UZGc0xOWynbZRXtHgRa4NsDjL_Uj1wYdEf6m0BqtDLQRLV4eCtfbDUhSKlnn8K4lWPCB-GuDnBK6KErorR8/s1600/inside+out+tutorial_17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPWKAqX-LscfbQjEFBoYb4Jv4Knp0IiFjTHG67SURMW_xB1flUVDTvhp_UZGc0xOWynbZRXtHgRa4NsDjL_Uj1wYdEf6m0BqtDLQRLV4eCtfbDUhSKlnn8K4lWPCB-GuDnBK6KErorR8/s320/inside+out+tutorial_17.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The side I sewed, was the 48" side, using my measurements from above.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpr_yw2uy6MWEvcwh41r2GzrgS2sv9LuJzqBa96IiUHEjuCK0jMGqYBuxNyhx9yR1tZ6y7m5mqtTie7nVKw5cbZ5c7CQOMDewZ14Qopf79wky04rz-MHoyvcsu5DfIA_Jq2bWoAhcBB8/s1600/inside+out+tutorial_19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
2. Cut off most of the seam allowance.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKj-vQEbR5eoTtWXRQjqTgQZDp985eDHqB8MdAaPrRQ7TKoOCb9vum430s84jlQk2Ru7tVeedtLpcuRtaX67Nqrqpzr7KIwMXWrtgN0S1P1PacPonXpoqvFbZqK75muuwGm8b32ssyHF4/s1600/inside+out+tutorial_18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKj-vQEbR5eoTtWXRQjqTgQZDp985eDHqB8MdAaPrRQ7TKoOCb9vum430s84jlQk2Ru7tVeedtLpcuRtaX67Nqrqpzr7KIwMXWrtgN0S1P1PacPonXpoqvFbZqK75muuwGm8b32ssyHF4/s320/inside+out+tutorial_18.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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3. Now take the tulle and fold it in half, then in half again. Make sure you line up the seam. When you are done, the top of the skirt will have 2 folds and the bottom of the skirt will have one fold and two loose ends. Make sure that you fold so that the RIGHT side of the tulle ends up on the outside! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpr_yw2uy6MWEvcwh41r2GzrgS2sv9LuJzqBa96IiUHEjuCK0jMGqYBuxNyhx9yR1tZ6y7m5mqtTie7nVKw5cbZ5c7CQOMDewZ14Qopf79wky04rz-MHoyvcsu5DfIA_Jq2bWoAhcBB8/s1600/inside+out+tutorial_19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpr_yw2uy6MWEvcwh41r2GzrgS2sv9LuJzqBa96IiUHEjuCK0jMGqYBuxNyhx9yR1tZ6y7m5mqtTie7nVKw5cbZ5c7CQOMDewZ14Qopf79wky04rz-MHoyvcsu5DfIA_Jq2bWoAhcBB8/s320/inside+out+tutorial_19.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See my purple striped sock? </td></tr>
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4. Now slide the tulle over the underskirt so that the 2 folds end of the tulle tube is at the top of the skirt and the back seam of the tulle lines up with the back seam of the skirt. The tulle should be considerably longer than the underskirt. This is okay. You will give it a tulle cut later.<br />
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5. Pin the tulle on the underskirt. I like to place the folded edge of the tulle about 1/2 way between the two stitching lines at the top of the skirt.<br />
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6. Stitch over the existing seam on the skirt. That way, you keep the casing for the elastic big enough to put the elastic through! <b> Make sure you leave the 2 inches unsewn that you left when sewing the underskirt!</b></div>
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Now you should have one skirt, tulle on top, underskirt on bottom.<br />
Step six - Time to finish!<br />
1. Insert the elastic through the casing. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeluInW4Ttv3LNsM68Fu5dNcxsMUwosBivt5StlcEcgMRJE3UFEVmbWnXUUr8NMcnCsUR1oUL3ipvoYTrcVHQGYIokfiq0GhSpVg3CMgiHMK-u54eYy2WKT7PCiSckPY-V4TNe-b3Fooo/s1600/inside+out+tutorial_22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeluInW4Ttv3LNsM68Fu5dNcxsMUwosBivt5StlcEcgMRJE3UFEVmbWnXUUr8NMcnCsUR1oUL3ipvoYTrcVHQGYIokfiq0GhSpVg3CMgiHMK-u54eYy2WKT7PCiSckPY-V4TNe-b3Fooo/s320/inside+out+tutorial_22.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like to anchor one side of the elastic to the skirt with a small safety pin.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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2. Overlap the ends of the elastic by about 1 inch and sew the ends of the elastic together securely.<br />
3. Sew the remaining 2 inches closed on the skirt.<br />
4. Cut the tulle at the bottom to the desired length, either longer than the underskirt, the same length, or shorter! I experimented with this skirt. See the pictures below! <br />
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4. DONE! Take cute pictures and send them to me!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfvz01z7H4uQBtrsRnCUu1Swfv_-X1MrDjB8BAvLzXPbt6x7tGBFAjGVo6Io6nO4bEDJzl1vgfwIP_-2zC3x30EApEjo-fK0swaX2QIkEwmPigO9wU1vZUqZtho7w8rv0YNn7_yG1GiLM/s1600/inside+out+tutorial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfvz01z7H4uQBtrsRnCUu1Swfv_-X1MrDjB8BAvLzXPbt6x7tGBFAjGVo6Io6nO4bEDJzl1vgfwIP_-2zC3x30EApEjo-fK0swaX2QIkEwmPigO9wU1vZUqZtho7w8rv0YNn7_yG1GiLM/s320/inside+out+tutorial.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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In the above skirt, the tulle is longer than the skirt.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1ryiy8AoNwuXUjXBapNJD1hjm4H4LdC55IEFXJtAYonAfgSRgUHv5hbeTqFxp4ybfvphGhPsA8X8Bbi29c0WgqjvcfpJ-P4zNlb9X1knYhhefKlZob6e76MUXisRy2rq77Hu673pg6E/s1600/inside+out+tutorial_6.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1ryiy8AoNwuXUjXBapNJD1hjm4H4LdC55IEFXJtAYonAfgSRgUHv5hbeTqFxp4ybfvphGhPsA8X8Bbi29c0WgqjvcfpJ-P4zNlb9X1knYhhefKlZob6e76MUXisRy2rq77Hu673pg6E/s400/inside+out+tutorial_6.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
Then, during a potty break, I cut the tulle shorter than the underskirt.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsVz7OnBGmnQW-7hde-mVUw_H6-GqyuE8AFZR097Yj7vfjqFQOvn9qABKTPdgSdALGo5FSm82ik1f5C33MNzqoFxgfAREOjopL7aDTW6SG5khnsZvOW6VVlP4_8dU41aOFQgSIsFrXec/s1600/inside+out+tutorial_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsVz7OnBGmnQW-7hde-mVUw_H6-GqyuE8AFZR097Yj7vfjqFQOvn9qABKTPdgSdALGo5FSm82ik1f5C33MNzqoFxgfAREOjopL7aDTW6SG5khnsZvOW6VVlP4_8dU41aOFQgSIsFrXec/s400/inside+out+tutorial_5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/quaintandquirky" target="_blank">Barrette for sale in my shop!</a><br />
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One more - 'cause she's cute!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEg1STjllQ7cvreM5606pWXKKN9okbzH85XJPAdz5BTGp6jq4BKRWpMWAgttbRhgCf296f-kOjtBjcGwZtn6_f9Ui4xoLk9EfWtJpapKbvu3Mp1EN_-YCsRNyFjTt2lDEE73AXcZxUqfg/s1600/inside+out+tutorial_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEg1STjllQ7cvreM5606pWXKKN9okbzH85XJPAdz5BTGp6jq4BKRWpMWAgttbRhgCf296f-kOjtBjcGwZtn6_f9Ui4xoLk9EfWtJpapKbvu3Mp1EN_-YCsRNyFjTt2lDEE73AXcZxUqfg/s400/inside+out+tutorial_1.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<br />Kerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132657751872036078noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476714640362674936.post-72797837759761929232012-08-22T16:06:00.002-04:002012-08-22T16:19:16.131-04:00Shabby Apple Giveaway WINNER!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK4jnjTrMMp-DmKdOpFO2Nvh1paES44SWxPXUWISpVIZoqXB19b3hXqbprgaZ_u1E051x3gCHUpWyOs3U697ibpFEnwMmBjOkYBTDH45YkYmudDd0-U2R6eADRuA9lf-MkeFG-aN1cdlE/s1600/ShabbyBlogsAmericanFramewinner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK4jnjTrMMp-DmKdOpFO2Nvh1paES44SWxPXUWISpVIZoqXB19b3hXqbprgaZ_u1E051x3gCHUpWyOs3U697ibpFEnwMmBjOkYBTDH45YkYmudDd0-U2R6eADRuA9lf-MkeFG-aN1cdlE/s320/ShabbyBlogsAmericanFramewinner.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Congratulations to Patricia, who wrote, "I like Shabby Apple on facebook and love the Bernini dress!"<br />
<br />
It was interesting to me to see how many different dresses you all liked from Shabby Apple. There was no runaway winner to that contest!<br />
<br />
Remember, all Quaint and Quirky readers will get 10% off their orders by using this code: <br />
<h4>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>quaintandquirky10off</b>. </span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.shabbyapple.com/t-apparel.aspx?AffiliateID=14849&utm_source=SA%2BAffiliate&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=general" target="_blank"><img alt="Dresses from Shabby Apple" border="0" height="120" src="http://www.shabbyapple.com/affiliate-images/aff_ban_200x120_2.jpg" width="200" /></a> </span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></h4>
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Patricia, I'll be contacting you shortly!<br />
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Enjoy your Wednesday!Kerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132657751872036078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476714640362674936.post-75370460688401072832012-08-22T13:37:00.002-04:002012-08-22T13:37:29.133-04:00Giveaway UpdateSorry for the delay. I thought I would be able to announce the winner by now, but we finally moved (Yay - pictures to come!) and I was separated from my desktop (being stored at my parents' house) and my laptop (missing cord and laptop doesn't function without the cord). The cord has been found, so I will organize the entries and post a winner as soon as possible. Thanks for understanding!<br />
<br />
:DKerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132657751872036078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476714640362674936.post-25787531400655753592012-08-13T07:00:00.000-04:002012-08-13T07:00:13.927-04:00Shabby Apple Gift Card Giveaway!I'm so excited about this giveaway!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.shabbyapple.com/?AffiliateID=14849" target="_blank"><img alt="Dresses from Shabby Apple" border="0" height="220" src="http://www.shabbyapple.com/affiliate-images/horsead.jpg" width="160" /></a> </div>
Shabby Apple is an absolutely adorable online clothing shop. I'm pretty sure that they are the clothing embodiment of Quaint and Quirky! Their fashions are vintage, modest, feminine, fun and liveable. Shabby Apple not only offers regular women's clothing, but maternity, new mom, child, and preteen styles as well. I was so happy when they contacted me to give away a gift certificate on my blog!<br />
<br />
One winner will win a: <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSOJQQI1OnY172fU6wPIMIyG2tqDouKrhvNHOsRT_K-lHQcMPN0SpEkoKWTEYylvMQeSVrc5qjcCf9kulTYC5xWfAX8wFwnUzQaWtDclPuEqGPy0oUuwHpl5kvfWdknVtGbEdfw9neLg/s1600/gift+certificate.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSOJQQI1OnY172fU6wPIMIyG2tqDouKrhvNHOsRT_K-lHQcMPN0SpEkoKWTEYylvMQeSVrc5qjcCf9kulTYC5xWfAX8wFwnUzQaWtDclPuEqGPy0oUuwHpl5kvfWdknVtGbEdfw9neLg/s400/gift+certificate.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Yes, a $75 Gift Certificate to Shabby Apple!<br />
Here is the fine print:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>To enter, you MUST do two things. <b> Like Shabby Apple on facebook</b>: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shabby-Apple/56291792791" target="_blank">Shabby Apple's Facebook Page</a>. <b>Next, visit Shabby Apple's <a href="https://www.shabbyapple.com/" target="_blank">website</a> and pick a favorite piece (or outfit)</b>. In your first comment, tell us which item you like the best! </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>If you'd like additional entries, share a link to this giveaway on facebook and/or twitter and comment again telling me you did so (one comment for each one). Make sure to leave a way to contact you!</li>
</ul>
I will keep the giveaway open until Friday, August 17, 2012. I will then pick a random winner and announce by Monday.<br />
<ul>
</ul>
<i>This contest is open only to those with US Shipping addresses. </i><br />
Shabby Apple has also generously offered all blog readers 10% off for one month using the code <b>quaintandquirky10off</b> !<br />
<br />
What would I pick? Maybe this:<br />
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<a href="http://www.shabbyapple.com/p-580-san-gabriel.aspx" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkcB-ywF9H3FLmckFhKSZzrLF-1zgs8R0dv4_be4z9h6hzrDKoNrWmwU_vjTywT6HoOD8idJ9jRIlXn5UgwQUM6rFjusCY8eEh89RlgempAhTSxps3NHDTtkjdPY1-0-K3OTNyeDE0PwY/s320/san+gabriel.jpg" width="192" /></a></div>
or this:<br />
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<span id="goog_16974960"><span id="goog_16974967"></span><span id="goog_16974974"></span></span><a href="http://draft.blogger.com/"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZDPoBEMVGAb1IvwXKB6mXJVyt2rfC1l7hwfYN82idh0bdCIXNXXfzfmBCOhwWIfRCA2Pj4_CelfQrtUjZaZ_UJ8U8ugstgbyzEJnDBKk_ueRb-Zni-x4pfrOOTZv3qiXSemhYfgxTZxw/s320/1620_1_.jpg" width="192" /></a><span id="goog_16974975"></span><span id="goog_16974968"></span><span id="goog_16974961"></span><span id="goog_16974970"></span><span id="goog_16974971"></span></div>
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<span id="goog_16974945"><span id="goog_16974949"></span><span id="goog_16974953"></span><br /></span><span id="goog_16974954"></span><span id="goog_16974950"></span><span id="goog_16974946"></span></div>
<span id="goog_16974962"></span><span id="goog_16974963"></span>or this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5rag1E5B6gy7XNlETtBREkTVVaZAP97MzT65j9SFvJQqb-i5zqp1QHVLJX95vZD3QxPo9Nzc88ziCb5dfxNQY3bz1dh_ImXDnoZbsPvDsgDLGjYNjH2buhHrPX7DP109XVz8VuXrmLCk/s1600/1614_1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span id="goog_16974977"></span><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5rag1E5B6gy7XNlETtBREkTVVaZAP97MzT65j9SFvJQqb-i5zqp1QHVLJX95vZD3QxPo9Nzc88ziCb5dfxNQY3bz1dh_ImXDnoZbsPvDsgDLGjYNjH2buhHrPX7DP109XVz8VuXrmLCk/s320/1614_1_.jpg" width="192" /><span id="goog_16974978"></span></a></div>
Have fun dreaming about what YOU would buy!<br />
Kerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132657751872036078noreply@blogger.com133tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476714640362674936.post-55321030127086951192012-08-06T07:00:00.000-04:002013-02-28T23:38:04.826-05:00Safe (Eggless) Cookie Dough<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0Td9NZAEM8oDpQXVhP4ydidyM3CRTJI8R0wL2LkIrpawLBZfIMH6MtE9IGxkwCeSSh30PCAMnhp1NE_YZD0VdQczq0mu04x_6T_pgCWsi_HJM3LCR3UJATWeMjdsLt3Oy0lznrLZefI/s1600/Honeymoon+Pictures+160-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0Td9NZAEM8oDpQXVhP4ydidyM3CRTJI8R0wL2LkIrpawLBZfIMH6MtE9IGxkwCeSSh30PCAMnhp1NE_YZD0VdQczq0mu04x_6T_pgCWsi_HJM3LCR3UJATWeMjdsLt3Oy0lznrLZefI/s320/Honeymoon+Pictures+160-1.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My picture of the egg aisle in a Paris grocery.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My pregnancy diet and my non-pregnancy diet are not much different. I don't regularly eat many of the things "they" tell pregnant women not to eat - with one exception - raw eggs in cookie dough. I love cookie dough so much more than the actual cookies themselves, but the raw eggs scare me enough to make me not eat cookie dough while pregnant. I know that people have differing view points on raw eggs. When we were honeymooning in Paris, they kept the eggs in the regular food aisles - not refrigerated at all! It's my understanding that it's because their eggs go onto the shelves fresher than in America. Anyway, it's not a risk I'm taking just to eat some cookie dough, so I made the cookie dough egg free! These are also good if you want some cookie taste without turning on the oven on a hot day!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<u><b>Eggless Cookie Dough Recipe </b></u></div>
(Note: these are not for baking - just for eating refrigerated)<br />
<ul>
<li>1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened</li>
<li>Heaping 1/3 cup sugar (I just don't level the measuring cup)</li>
<li>Heaping 1/3 cup brown sugar</li>
<li>1 tsp. vanilla</li>
<li>1 1/8 cup flour (I just fill 1/2 of a 1/4c. with flour)</li>
<li>1/2 tsp. baking soda</li>
<li>1/2 tsp. salt (slightly less if you use salted butter)</li>
<li>1 c. chocolate chips</li>
<li>2 TBSP milk</li>
</ul>
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Cream butter, sugar, and vanilla. I cream them for a long time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gu40A6NXdlZB4TTzMvMOfWROoFkNGscp-vDSPQJUxJtG-D5au-i45LoA6Q8davjuluY_ab31mUItqO72zA5dnvhTU-oOG5q8rBXMxMqy4BmszejHzGm4r6RH8Cag0Xpxk87i-cN2mGI/s1600/20120804_1009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gu40A6NXdlZB4TTzMvMOfWROoFkNGscp-vDSPQJUxJtG-D5au-i45LoA6Q8davjuluY_ab31mUItqO72zA5dnvhTU-oOG5q8rBXMxMqy4BmszejHzGm4r6RH8Cag0Xpxk87i-cN2mGI/s320/20120804_1009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Add the flour, salt, and baking powder. The baking powder isn't really necessary because the cookie dough doesn't need any help rising, but for taste purposes, I add it in. Blend it all together. <br />
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Add the 2 tablespoons milk. You might need to add slightly less or more, depending on your location. Two usually works for me!<br />
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When the dough is a good consistency, add the chocolate chips.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVO8vlKNh2jobVBf0d2Jm9ELypA4UrEqqeQVpu37_FVr7lUSpuQRgjFf9acmXhxxscjIjWfMxbJoJa7LghVV-JrFIglyMEDzHfBQjs8FSVQHjVNctRmvwQjMVau-k4iXPjnGOz-wAa6RQ/s1600/20120804_1019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVO8vlKNh2jobVBf0d2Jm9ELypA4UrEqqeQVpu37_FVr7lUSpuQRgjFf9acmXhxxscjIjWfMxbJoJa7LghVV-JrFIglyMEDzHfBQjs8FSVQHjVNctRmvwQjMVau-k4iXPjnGOz-wAa6RQ/s320/20120804_1019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Mix it all together!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZd81CNe0beUzI7PKzqpOTzXUUf-_H2RaAoooG9nb69jWqKp2kxgOd0LO_MHPYUHyR0IcBs45Kr4j4MPVFQKDfhiNbvXFFT7393oznvy3zKPqjREjqFYCa-Ej9Uo4tKMtadMdbm5h0a1c/s1600/20120804_1022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZd81CNe0beUzI7PKzqpOTzXUUf-_H2RaAoooG9nb69jWqKp2kxgOd0LO_MHPYUHyR0IcBs45Kr4j4MPVFQKDfhiNbvXFFT7393oznvy3zKPqjREjqFYCa-Ej9Uo4tKMtadMdbm5h0a1c/s320/20120804_1022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Place spoonfuls on a cookie sheet and refrigerate or freeze. <br />
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Enjoy! <br />
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Now, I might have to go make some more! <br />
<br />Kerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132657751872036078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476714640362674936.post-73080861912214079702012-07-17T07:30:00.000-04:002012-07-17T08:56:45.405-04:00DIY Maternity Shirt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__oZDH83QrgbJgY701AhMDBmTP5A8Caqc4eeCVpuXkVdqCkc_QhbLe5-AwN3CgTpCTyn8KaW-AguEDb1hAgV_kpYGMFw6Az2M7_Wi1gITyyTzlC7QjMwuqlc1ouK8oScMEITtWJsOhbo/s1600/Repurpose+tutorial+pictures.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__oZDH83QrgbJgY701AhMDBmTP5A8Caqc4eeCVpuXkVdqCkc_QhbLe5-AwN3CgTpCTyn8KaW-AguEDb1hAgV_kpYGMFw6Az2M7_Wi1gITyyTzlC7QjMwuqlc1ouK8oScMEITtWJsOhbo/s320/Repurpose+tutorial+pictures.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Repurposing is my new creative hobby. I go to Old Navy or Target and check out their clearance section. Usually with things on clearance, they don't have average sizes, but they have x-small or x-large or xx-large, etc. The x-large sizes are perfect for repurposing because they give you the most amount of fabric to work with. You still get the cute fabric and you can rework it yourself, usually using the decorative elements and sewn edges that are already there! I bought this shirt last year on clearance at Old Navy. It's XXL and I originally wanted to make a cute summer dress for Amelia. Instead, I found that it would make a great maternity shirt with *very* little effort.<br />
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Materials:<br />
<ul>
<li>Too large for you shirt (button down works great - could be a man's shirt too!)</li>
<li>Thin elastic (around 1/4" - mine was slightly smaller) in a length that at least goes around under your bust. There's no measurement for this, as it depends on your width and the stretch of the elastic.</li>
<li>The regular stuff - scissors, thread, pins, machine, etc.</li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5sJgUdhJOhohkv9WjULU-qoqR8yt6Mf9itUGDWrecxw_T34kgY2IC5n3h2cjUvv2gJ5r_DRv7EHHOkLIdZwTJIzyX6eHEQFFzcZwpsScSy-FrZ5ZyT3ojfqmfKlDijuQB2EU3xt2lilQ/s1600/20120715_0718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5sJgUdhJOhohkv9WjULU-qoqR8yt6Mf9itUGDWrecxw_T34kgY2IC5n3h2cjUvv2gJ5r_DRv7EHHOkLIdZwTJIzyX6eHEQFFzcZwpsScSy-FrZ5ZyT3ojfqmfKlDijuQB2EU3xt2lilQ/s320/20120715_0718.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original Shirt </td></tr>
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For step one, I cut off the sleeves because I wanted the shirt to be sleeveless. The collar was high to begin with, so I didn't really need to alter it at all. I didn't shorten the shoulders at all, so the shirt ended up as a slightly longer no-sleeve shirt (if that makes any sense). I cut the sleeves right after the seam.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvuiFilr58VZmiFdPNPWHfPsl-zazw6AZpccjws_vE9vIOnVt9PVv2WhLcFluMSL6CNuPuM5R15PWvmTiy0LlfZQrhcE4coxF4auX3AhAaHTxW2t6M0eEbZknhxgH1T-rqpMxxHPysIg/s1600/20120715_0719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvuiFilr58VZmiFdPNPWHfPsl-zazw6AZpccjws_vE9vIOnVt9PVv2WhLcFluMSL6CNuPuM5R15PWvmTiy0LlfZQrhcE4coxF4auX3AhAaHTxW2t6M0eEbZknhxgH1T-rqpMxxHPysIg/s320/20120715_0719.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
The next step would be to finish the shoulder seams. Since I left the manufactured seam in, I just folded the seam to the wrong side of the shirt and top stitched. So, at the end of this step, I had transformed an XXL short sleeved shirt into an XXL sleeveless shirt. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn2mJJhkqKuiOXEfSOwM-vVmfjjQ60btcNi1j5MGzZ5I502LZmGxFYsN-eBIKPPvmDYTlkfb2MM2fk6Ev4NkV-KcH2k8CjVFOX3OmWUsg4ScFfdXLoJ1JN-ICSoC5BE0-u-HoG-_Uqmd8/s320/20120715_0726.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fold over seam and top stitch to finish arm openings.</td></tr>
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Next, I tried on the shirt and marked on one side with a pin where I would need to take in the underarms. Since this shirt was already see through and I knew I would have to wear a tank top underneath regardless, I wasn't too worried about the width of the sleeves (and what you could see underneath). I just went for a comfortable arm opening width. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVSPDXkQmIw58OH5mZRcsGkpdGnJOgXuEj2DsYd1H1Dc0yr373N-oKi-aK9YgqRR1dTUR5mgmGofxl8dlJQs2X7CfQRY3E_9Ben_eB89BbE2TewkXDYmge4NYJjY5J_yHNac4sZz52rg/s1600/20120715_0721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijdo3LLslIomqv71IOpQbtvdXjHH8Oehyphenhyphengh6EayouGeEs_MP-p0saXTgtXxhwNDLtVJ0Sh5mCS_4IvDb6nzW_W1QOCa3nzIKLh9VsdJMTcEH8qBJtmow8WvgPDseeuJl1xqzsStnVjJ2w/s1600/20120715_0722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijdo3LLslIomqv71IOpQbtvdXjHH8Oehyphenhyphengh6EayouGeEs_MP-p0saXTgtXxhwNDLtVJ0Sh5mCS_4IvDb6nzW_W1QOCa3nzIKLh9VsdJMTcEH8qBJtmow8WvgPDseeuJl1xqzsStnVjJ2w/s320/20120715_0722.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pin holds the new arm seam together.</td></tr>
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At the same time, I marked with pins where I wanted the elastic to go. I went for right under the bust for a nice empire-waist.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyVxRu4HndZzBhv98gBX_MdlZ8EEU7P5SaJTks8YxkBslwgrvOEfbSPLYi0ImnZKjz6hHrjKOWTnjZi0t7PDtmlppwq_FQ8BaUaVzWAfSMV-IfsOHO3DqXgqzz7EownjI24LZFS30rTEo/s1600/20120715_0720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyVxRu4HndZzBhv98gBX_MdlZ8EEU7P5SaJTks8YxkBslwgrvOEfbSPLYi0ImnZKjz6hHrjKOWTnjZi0t7PDtmlppwq_FQ8BaUaVzWAfSMV-IfsOHO3DqXgqzz7EownjI24LZFS30rTEo/s320/20120715_0720.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark with a pin where the elastic should go on the shirt.</td></tr>
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Next, I took the shirt (wrong side out) and drew an angled line from my arm hole pin down to midway down the shirt. The angle of the line isn't crucial since the shirt is getting gathered at the end. You just need to cut away some of the width from the upper part of the shirt.<br />
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<i>NOTE: I didn't cut at this point. I sewed on that line, then tried the shirt on again. THEN cut. That way, if it doesn't fit, you just have to get out your seam ripper, not your trash can! :D</i><br />
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So, draw line, sew on that line, try shirt on, make adjustments if needed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgse3B_Hc-_Nu1GyGaNEPeciYMplRU1h_FL0t-0tsl49PpoTNnrGUZqEZ2vjBRHpCG-XK_Z4CXkPtSyF5IFsocxgfHKcK8ns_s-d91zNynT9VwuFaX8HC_phqfsjK2p2xGu7El8JcFc2kw/s1600/20120715_0725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgse3B_Hc-_Nu1GyGaNEPeciYMplRU1h_FL0t-0tsl49PpoTNnrGUZqEZ2vjBRHpCG-XK_Z4CXkPtSyF5IFsocxgfHKcK8ns_s-d91zNynT9VwuFaX8HC_phqfsjK2p2xGu7El8JcFc2kw/s320/20120715_0725.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Draw line, sew on line, try shirt on, then cut leaving 1/2" of seam behind.</td></tr>
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When I knew that one side of the shirt was good, I cut off the extra part of the shirt, leaving 1/2" seam allowance. Then I used that on the other sleeve as a template of where to draw the line (adding in 1/2"). So, essentially, do to the other side what you did to the first sleeve, so both will be even.<br />
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When your sleeves are done, draw a horizontal line across the front and back of the shirt where you determined earlier that the elastic should go. Your pins should still be there as your marking.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMbcOpLkGZzfDRUeLDGZZ63E973Qp5-IC5T9LcXg_6GERixJkA3yLR78o_UvNsn6QhZXE4RJZ39AT2BCg4bt0Pkbx5wAQ54Cp2sdEAJ3X9OSa7DWIq28tx0UBX3qT65DwaId0_0ZLrilg/s1600/20120715_0728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMbcOpLkGZzfDRUeLDGZZ63E973Qp5-IC5T9LcXg_6GERixJkA3yLR78o_UvNsn6QhZXE4RJZ39AT2BCg4bt0Pkbx5wAQ54Cp2sdEAJ3X9OSa7DWIq28tx0UBX3qT65DwaId0_0ZLrilg/s320/20120715_0728.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purple line indicates where the elastic should go.</td></tr>
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Next you are going to take your elastic and sew it to the wrong side of the shirt along that line.<br />
1.) There is no need to measure your elastic. I just took a length of elastic that I knew would be more than enough and used that. <br />
2.) Starting at some seam, sew your elastic down securely (front stitch, back stitch, front stitch).<br />
3.) Pull the elastic as you start sewing. The shirt fabric should be flat, but you need to pull the elastic taught as you sew. That way, when you let the elastic go, the shirt fabric all gathers up. Sew it all around to where you began and secure the other end of the elastic. Cut off any extra elastic (you should have extra elastic!).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhOFKPFhSAfRLtEWJxZwytMbpJgghB-iXYRy_PrI-r6GbU9wWe5VcKNtIiwiaosaV0EEMRnneJ3k3XtDXZRP2wemnielq-lupyHroGGlo471RkSYSnidtWjEpN9v1E9SDjSSIUWJ-8cc/s1600/20120715_0729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhOFKPFhSAfRLtEWJxZwytMbpJgghB-iXYRy_PrI-r6GbU9wWe5VcKNtIiwiaosaV0EEMRnneJ3k3XtDXZRP2wemnielq-lupyHroGGlo471RkSYSnidtWjEpN9v1E9SDjSSIUWJ-8cc/s320/20120715_0729.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pull the elastic with one hand as you sew!</td></tr>
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Note: My button-down shirt is no longer a full button down shirt because I sewed the elastic all the way around the shirt. If I didn't sew all the way around the shirt, it was going to gap where the button holes were. You might have to do this as well if you need to! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW2H5y2y5th3GSeZCxZDbSjh3tkDZTXIWryh8LJ1tKdMExQS8Tpf3a6zXTMKZbLDmSmZfVXzHWX5yhbaY9vLDXTuRpK0nOgvKQDOJW0Kz05l2MHqVjYYY3L92XBBTMJjb4QXjSIcV783g/s1600/20120715_0710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW2H5y2y5th3GSeZCxZDbSjh3tkDZTXIWryh8LJ1tKdMExQS8Tpf3a6zXTMKZbLDmSmZfVXzHWX5yhbaY9vLDXTuRpK0nOgvKQDOJW0Kz05l2MHqVjYYY3L92XBBTMJjb4QXjSIcV783g/s320/20120715_0710.jpg" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKpVed40AF3UN5EeYec1pF8rk4oTBeKWTwZFx58lUs1Mz5ADsThrmkyp646iM6KagFNanXny3CYOhT0sgasX6F_OeMMcnRnuLt988gQqtsmffT9ovLzZEboyoSYMf4lPNNxv8dy4STb3I/s1600/20120715_0712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKpVed40AF3UN5EeYec1pF8rk4oTBeKWTwZFx58lUs1Mz5ADsThrmkyp646iM6KagFNanXny3CYOhT0sgasX6F_OeMMcnRnuLt988gQqtsmffT9ovLzZEboyoSYMf4lPNNxv8dy4STb3I/s320/20120715_0712.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
End result: A tunic-style, no-sleeve, partially button-down, empire-waisted, elastic-gathered maternity shirt for a 34 week prego! <br />
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Try it! <br />
<br />Kerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132657751872036078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476714640362674936.post-87432340256113548182012-07-09T08:00:00.000-04:002012-07-09T08:00:03.572-04:00Favorite InventionsI've been wanting to do a blog post about favorite inventions for a while now. Here are some of mine. They aren't in any particular order, just the way I thought about them.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">#1 Dishwasher </span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jEl60C5VT0bb2ZKzVYiOjDIrZfHb_bcY60Z28gCAaYFCYp-XmLk_K-6vBKIcuWoe8QIb9HIfmWWnNH5tqCXJiGNPm3AFtXxSGLDFDPX090kT2qpLGVgjOoNLpCHA886Gh_j2T_Z7Kcw/s1600/IMG_1824+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jEl60C5VT0bb2ZKzVYiOjDIrZfHb_bcY60Z28gCAaYFCYp-XmLk_K-6vBKIcuWoe8QIb9HIfmWWnNH5tqCXJiGNPm3AFtXxSGLDFDPX090kT2qpLGVgjOoNLpCHA886Gh_j2T_Z7Kcw/s320/IMG_1824+-+Copy.JPG" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The inside of my dishwasher where I found Swiper the fox one day.</td></tr>
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I have known life with a dishwasher and life without a dishwasher. I have also known life with a portable dishwasher that hooks up to your sink because that was my only option when I realized I could not handle life without a dishwasher. I don't necessarily hate <i>washing</i> the dishes. I just need the dishwasher to <i>hide</i> the dirty dishes so that they aren't in the sink and I don't have to constantly see them and think about them. But do you know how much TIME the dishwasher frees from your day? It's priceless. <br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">#2 Magic Eraser</span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdBNNKMq6PYO1t10JWQXmuWfMebhuDU7JOC-utFXMT55IPp5ZKYJHdEaWu_K8-cSlMesN7wKaNIs1y5ZVUzxiMqZY1du_gEpLSZG_9yP2oes89ea8_OpV9CI-MLzscbwKypNQh2wHvsc/s1600/products_original232x234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdBNNKMq6PYO1t10JWQXmuWfMebhuDU7JOC-utFXMT55IPp5ZKYJHdEaWu_K8-cSlMesN7wKaNIs1y5ZVUzxiMqZY1du_gEpLSZG_9yP2oes89ea8_OpV9CI-MLzscbwKypNQh2wHvsc/s1600/products_original232x234.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture courtesy of mrclean.com</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Seriously, is this thing magic? I don't believe in magic, but I do believe that the Magic Eraser is magic. Have you seen it take crayon off...everything? Dirty little finger prints off...everything?<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">#3 The Epidural</span></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The nurse explaining the epidural to me using the student nurse. Just give it to me, okay?</td></tr>
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Sorry all you natural birthers out there. I salute you, but I could never be you. With Amelia, I went as far as I possibly could without an epidural. My wise friend Kelli shared a tip with me. Pick a Bible verse for labor. Memorize the verse and say it with every contraction. When you can't remember the verse anymore, it's time for the epidural. Most of my dilating occurred while taking a nap. I was never mean. I pushed for like 10 minutes. It was lovely. If the "Ring of Fire" happened, I was blissfully unaware of such thing.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">#4 Press and Seal</span></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy of glad.com</td></tr>
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I should be a spokesperson for Press and Seal. Really, I should. My relationship with plastic wrap is extremely volatile. I fight to get it off the roll. I fight to get in on the dish. I fight to get it back on the dish. It really isn't good for anything. Press and Seal just sliiiiiides off the roll, stretches onto the dish and stays there. If you spend much time baking cookies and you accidentally drop the plate, Press and Seal will keep your cookies safe. If you are out of clean food containers/plastic bags/whatever you use to hold food, you can make cute little pouches with the Press and Seal.<br />
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I've told you mine. <b>What are your favorite inventions? </b><br />
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<i>This post is not sponsored by dishwashers, Magic Erasers, epidurals, or Press and Seal. ;D</i>Kerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132657751872036078noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476714640362674936.post-8651626182928338372012-07-05T23:49:00.002-04:002012-07-07T21:45:18.345-04:00Bathroom RemodelOkay, why am I showing these pictures now that I'm moving? I don't know, but I'm joining the link party at Kelly's Korner to show people pictures of my bathroom. Don't ask. When I'm crazy busy and stressed, I do odd things.<br />
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ANYWAY... here is a "Before" picture of our bathroom from when we moved into our house three years ago and an "After" picture:<br />
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It looks a little...cleaner...no?</div>
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We added a bit of color with some teal hand and bath towels, but really it could be any color any day of the week! </div>
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I painted the soap dish at one of those paint your own pottery places with my friend Teresa.<br />
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We like a little French flair in our bathroom! <br />
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Thanks for looking. Believe me, there is a LOT of work to do on the bathrooms in my new house. A LOT. Stay tuned for before and after pictures! :D<br />
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Shared at<a href="http://www.iheartnaptime.net/sundae-scoop-link-party-38/" target="_blank"> I Heart Naptime</a><br />Kerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132657751872036078noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476714640362674936.post-59822370914086560542012-07-03T15:58:00.002-04:002012-07-03T15:58:45.132-04:00Purse Making Books for Sale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm selling some of my sewing/crafting books before I move in order to downsize. I put them up on ebay, but I thought some of you might be interested. I would sell them to blog readers for $5 each, plus $3 shipping. If you want both, I'll discount the shipping. US only please!<br />
<br />Both books are in "like new" condition (they look brand new!).<br />
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If you ARE interested, send me an email with which book you want to quaint and quirky at gmail dot com and I'll send you a Paypal invoice. Kerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132657751872036078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476714640362674936.post-90324740108452392232012-07-02T16:58:00.002-04:002012-07-02T17:01:03.275-04:00ChangesOh the changes that are coming in my family this summer...<br />
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Change #1 - My husband is starting a new job.<br />
Change #2 - We are selling our current house (it sold in four days!)<br />
Change #3 - We are buying a new (to us) house<br />
Change #4 - As previously announced, baby #2 is joining us in August<br />
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I think there should be a legal limit to the # of stressful life-changing events one undertakes in the span of one month. <br />
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Scarily, this means I need to create CRAFT ROOM 4.0! Aaaack! Seriously?<br />
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So, GOODBYE to this: <br />
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and this:<br />
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and this:<br />
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and my yip yap barkity bark bark neighbor dogs and the motorcycles that speed down my street<br />
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and HELLO to new possibilities and decorating opportunities and family memories!<br />
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<br />Kerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132657751872036078noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476714640362674936.post-2710503135244256282012-06-27T16:22:00.000-04:002012-07-08T23:22:40.682-04:00The Inside Out SkirtAlthough my life is seriously chaotic right now (more about that later), I found time to make Amelia a new skirt. The tulle wasn't interested in hiding underneath in this skirt. It wanted to come out and play!<br />
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If there's any interest in a tutorial, let me know! :D<br />
(Update: There is interest - I'm working on a tutorial!) <br />
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I got the navy tulle as 50% off a remnant, which came to a whopping 75cents. The polka dot fabric was lining fabric from Joanns, that was like $1.99 for a yard. I used 12 inches, so this skirt essentially cost me a little over a dollar to make. Whoot! <br />
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I like the waist. <br />
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A little Jackie O? Except Jackie would probably be on her yacht, not in her backyard. Or maybe her yacht would be in her backyard. Here, we have a water table and a slide. <br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/103118976/navy-and-white-nautical-inspired-hair" target="_blank">Bow available in my Etsy shoppe</a>! I think "shoppe" is much more sophisticated than "shop." Non? <br />
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Done with her modeling career. She wants to play with her water table.<br />
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<a href="http://www.homemakerinheels.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m617/yourfavoritelizard/Homemaker%20in%20Heels/PartyButton2-1.jpg" /> </a><br />
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Shared at <a href="http://www.iheartnaptime.net/sundae-scoop-link-party-38/" target="_blank">I Heart Naptime </a><br />
Shared at <a href="http://www.mommybydaycrafterbynight.com/2012/06/ta-da-tuesday-link-party-46.html" target="_blank">Mommy By Day Crafter By Night </a>Kerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132657751872036078noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476714640362674936.post-6586520918435093182012-05-27T14:45:00.000-04:002012-05-27T14:54:23.912-04:00Giveaway Day Winners!The time has come to announce the winners for Giveaway Day! The winner of the skirt is:<br />
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<a href="http://reapwhatyouhavesewn.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"> Nichole</a> said: "This is adorable!! Grace would look so cute in it! :) Great job! And I love your blog!!" <br />
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The winner of the vintage sewing supplies is: <br />
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She said, "I'm just having fun jumping around different blogs taking part in the
giveaway. Your giveaway is very generous! Thanks for chance to win a
bunch of cool sewing stuff!"<br />
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I hope winning made it even more fun! :D<br />
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It was so interesting watching the different favorite tools go by as the entries came in. I had my blog statistician (me) figure out which tool was the most popular. It was either going to be the rotary cutter or the seam ripper and it was seriously like watching a good basketball game. One side would get ahead, then the other side would go for a good run and catch up or go ahead. In the end, the rotary cutter finished strong and won with a total of 43 votes to the seam ripper's 38 votes. I agree with both tools. I can't imagine sewing without either my rotary cutter or my seam ripper.<br />
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Thank you for entering the contest and I hope the winners enjoy their prizes!<br />
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(And if you didn't win the skirt, but still want it, you could stop by my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/quaintandquirky" target="_blank">etsy shop</a>. Just saying... :D)Kerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132657751872036078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476714640362674936.post-55496305498865854872012-05-24T14:04:00.001-04:002012-05-25T23:34:47.422-04:00A Map Pillow<br />
Josh and I like maps - maybe a little too much. The playroom in our house is a bit of a travel theme. This is mainly because before it was a playroom, it was a "man room" and we mainly just moved all the toys in there and called it a playroom.<br />
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Our couch needed pillows and I had the idea to incorporate something local and mappy into one of the pillows. I cut the pillow front from some home dec weight fabric. Then I used my <a href="http://silhouetteamerica.com/" target="_blank">Silhouette</a> to cut a map of Rhode Island out of freezer paper.<br />
<i> Side note: I <3 Freezer paper!</i><br />
I found using the vellum setting on the Silhouette worked perfectly.<br />
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<i>Technical note: Since it is recommended to cut freezer paper shiny side UP, I had to mirror my map image in Silhouette studio</i>.<br />
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Shiny side down, I ironed the outline of the map onto the pillow fabric. I painted it using <a href="http://www.plaidonline.com/folkart-fabric-paint-brush-on/49/product.htm" target="_blank">Plaid</a> fabric paint (two coats were needed). After it dried, I sewed the rest of the pillow! It really needs a pillow form one size up, but it might be years before I remember to buy one...<br />
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I'm just trying to figure out what to Silhouette on a pillow for the other side of the couch. Anchor? Compass? Bicycle? We have a boat, an airplane, and a train on the wall already. What do you think?<br />
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Linked up to: <a href="http://www.homemakerinheels.com/" target="_blank">Homemaker in Heels</a><br />
<a href="http://tatertotsandjello.com/" target="_blank">Tatertots and Jello</a><br />
<a href="http://www.familyeverafterblog.com/2012/05/once-upon-weekend-link-party-44-and.html" target="_blank">Family Ever After</a>Kerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132657751872036078noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476714640362674936.post-19047006217818473702012-05-23T13:46:00.001-04:002012-05-23T13:50:25.110-04:00Target Skirt AlertPublic Service Announcement time!<br />
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Oooh, I was shopping in Target today and I happened to find myself in the kids' clearance section (it's funny how that happens, isn't it?). I saw these cute knit skirts marked down to $1.50 ! ! !<br />
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RUN... don't walk... to Target and buy some! In lots of sizes! Maybe I'll sew one to a t-shirt or tank and make a dress for Amelia. I'll let you know.<br />
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Don't be mad at me though if your Target hasn't marked them down. I don't know how Target markdowns work. I just know that at MY Target, they are $1.50. And please don't go to my Target, because I'm probably going back and buying more. : D<br />
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(Oh, and the pictures are not mine. They are from the Target website.)Kerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132657751872036078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476714640362674936.post-82227379287522271142012-05-22T08:00:00.000-04:002012-05-22T08:00:14.975-04:00Simple and Inexpensive Toddler GameAmelia has a thing for matching. Shoes, socks, matching songs on Pandora to toys or pictures in books (like, if the Itsy Bitsy Spider comes on Pandora, she has to find a picture of a spider in a book - same thing with Winnie the Pooh, etc.). <br />
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I made a simple matching game for her by just cutting some flashcards in half. I had the flashcards from when I taught preschool and I know I got them at the dollar store.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJpNMZRNvlP48k7OuVl4A2PJ8oxq9G2udJsvoKvpDeYDEXKrW1d2BnvlukJ-4nkGf0u57bEkQ8vyXU1pueMqwu0ws0eoACnNiXLSlVab6jLKekHqSfBgo0bNKZ8oE0nhQWnuhxBj3pdQ/s1600/card+game_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJpNMZRNvlP48k7OuVl4A2PJ8oxq9G2udJsvoKvpDeYDEXKrW1d2BnvlukJ-4nkGf0u57bEkQ8vyXU1pueMqwu0ws0eoACnNiXLSlVab6jLKekHqSfBgo0bNKZ8oE0nhQWnuhxBj3pdQ/s400/card+game_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The BEFORE cards</td></tr>
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I spread all the pieces out and she finds the matches.<br />
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As you can see, sometimes she picks up the pieces with the wrong hands. She's learning to switch them so that it makes a perfect picture!<br />
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Ten minutes of toddler fun!Kerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132657751872036078noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476714640362674936.post-81306410690197586482012-05-21T07:00:00.000-04:002012-05-27T14:46:55.080-04:00Giveaway Day - Handmade Girl's Skirt<i>Update: Winner is #55 - Nichole! She said, "This is adorable!! Grace would look so cute in it! :) Great job! And I love your blog!!"</i><br />
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Welcome to May Giveaway Day on Quaint and Quirky!<br />
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Today I'm giving away a lovely floral printed ruffled skirt. I've fallen in love with pre-ruffled fabric and I'd like to share one of my recent projects with it! Amelia's is getting a little too short for her now, but you can get the basic idea.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HWX4bX5NeeK4cScTWp_Md4aHh1B9U9QgNknrQKIeEOJrDhIji9wLNiW5l6eive9FnCAc7wJx29yMxRAxbhGddYwyU8bivMjvl7A-FThRtjXZXi4uQpnON_nUB0jDt-TvPXQk4cIjInQ/s1600/20120520_7209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HWX4bX5NeeK4cScTWp_Md4aHh1B9U9QgNknrQKIeEOJrDhIji9wLNiW5l6eive9FnCAc7wJx29yMxRAxbhGddYwyU8bivMjvl7A-FThRtjXZXi4uQpnON_nUB0jDt-TvPXQk4cIjInQ/s400/20120520_7209.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS7CAIjsj_5BMfm8EMbeWdEW55_rw6r7g9QKcN_LzwvivCqkAh4AzS8epeobzVhjlc1I2HpPlI47sNdqc6GPK1xinDm7kGXt8aQzozQpr56D9S6WhP70v4an5U67e0aKuCyKPGwziwVTE/s1600/enterprise_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS7CAIjsj_5BMfm8EMbeWdEW55_rw6r7g9QKcN_LzwvivCqkAh4AzS8epeobzVhjlc1I2HpPlI47sNdqc6GPK1xinDm7kGXt8aQzozQpr56D9S6WhP70v4an5U67e0aKuCyKPGwziwVTE/s320/enterprise_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The Prize: One ruffled skirt in your choice of size - 3 months to size 5 (you pick the size 3, 6, 9, 12, or 18 months, 2T, 3T, 4T or 5T). <br />
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How to enter: Leave a comment. Any comment will do, but if you need a subject, tell me about an outfit that you love to wear.<br />
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The contest will close Friday, May 25th at 3 PM and I will announce a winner by Sunday. <br />
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Feel free to follow or come back and look around, etc. :DKerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09132657751872036078noreply@blogger.com139