tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68042797023016788582024-03-12T22:28:36.796-07:00Breaking TabooSarah Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11007168653062922949noreply@blogger.comBlogger163125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804279702301678858.post-10861779551011848502013-01-14T22:59:00.000-08:002013-01-14T23:01:22.221-08:00A Moment In Time Our wedding was a whirlwind of events.<br />
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So many hours planning ahead of time. Days and weeks and so many decisions that seem so important. Colors, flowers, seating plan, songs, cake, dress fittings.<br />
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So many hands primping and pulling... buttoning and dabbing. So many smiles and hugs. Meeting people you don't even know, and thanking them for taking the time to celebrate this life changing moment with you.<br />
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It all happened so fast! All that time planning and the main event lasts only a few hours.<br />
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I can't remember conversations had, I can't remember what food was served, I can't remember what the cake tasted like. It just all happens so fast. I can't even remember who caught my bouquet.<br />
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I know it might seem weird. I know there are women who remember ever single detail. Good for them. Whatever.<br />
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One of the moments I remember most vividly... other than the big things like my Daddy walking down the isle, holding me close and kissing my check, you know big things... and other than smiling the entire time and crying the entire time... which was in every picture... everyone smiling AND crying at the same time. OTHER then those, one of the moments I remember most vividly is the hug my Poppie gave me.<br />
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The great big giant hug with his great big giant smile... and him saying "I am happy for you kiddo. I am truly happy."<br />
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That is what I remember.<br />
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And it's not because I am feeling nostalgic for memories of the Late and Great Poppie...<br />
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Of all the moments that took place that day, that is the one that is triggered as a memory. It wasn't caught on film or camera. No one else was there. We didn't have to re create it for the camera or make a scene for everyone else to "gah" at.<br />
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Just a moment in time with my Poppie and I.<br />
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<br />Sarah Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11007168653062922949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804279702301678858.post-61416369086668730412012-10-13T18:12:00.000-07:002012-10-14T11:09:41.436-07:00Autumn Turkey LoafIn Celebration of cooler weather, I set out to make a "fall like" dinner.<br />
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I am not a big fan of meatloaf... I could say I hate it, and it would be the truth. I have tried to make it several times, and it just never turns out. Today I was feeling creative... but we only had some turkey burger and some salmon in the freezer.<br />
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I grabbed the turkey burger and stuck it in the microwave to defrost. I was going to make something yummy.<br />
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I preheated the oven to 350 degrees<br />
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I chopped up a carrot and a stick of celery and put it in a bowl.<br />
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Next I added half the box of stove top stuffing. There is about 3 cups total in 1 box... so you will be adding</div>
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1 1/2 cups. Be sure to shake it up good first. The seasonings settle to the bottom. </div>
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Add your 1 pound of ground meat.</div>
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Add half a can of cranberry sauce. I used jelled, but whole berry would be just as good. SAVE THE REMAINING HALF OF THE CAN! </div>
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Add 1 egg (beaten)<br />
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Roll your sleeves up... stick your fingers in the gooey mess... and pretend it is a chore and you really aren't enjoying it. Once everything is all mixed up good. Stick the mess in an un-greased loaf pan.<br />
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Bake for an hour. I made some mashed butternut squash "tatters" to go with my creation (baked a butternut squash for an hour at 350, pealed it, mashed it, whipped it. Added some milk, butter, salt, pepper, and brown sugar. Baked for 20 minutes at 350. I didn't measure anything... I just added what seemed enough) . I made up the remaining stove top also.<br />
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Ana was looking extra darling... I had to snap a pic! </div>
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Once the hour is up, and you have removed the loaf from the oven. Add the remaining cranberry sauce.<br />
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I usually call a creation like this "slop"... we often have slop for dinner in our home... but this was super tasty... and easy... I will make it again. So this creation has a permanent name of "Autumn Turkey Loaf"<br />
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ENJOY!<br />
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<br />Sarah Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11007168653062922949noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804279702301678858.post-73013725013073845652012-07-23T16:24:00.000-07:002012-10-14T11:09:26.470-07:00Happy Birthday WoodyWhat do you do when...<br />
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It is so hot outside that you are certain that a trip to the mail box will leave you melted to the sidewalk? So you stay inside... with the A/C pumping sweet cool air to every inch of your home.<br />
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But then your children start climbing the walls... they are literally taking objects and stacking them to make a ladder to touch the ceiling.<br />
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They are bored... so bored and annoying... and it is only 9am and you are already on your 5th cup of coffee... and your stash of emergency chocolate has been depleted for 15 minutes... you panic!<br />
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One kid is crying "but WHY can't I have a burp day" (birthday). "I see the napkins". (I found some decor for his party on clearance... and hid it in the closet... which he found... his birthday isn't for 2 months)<br />
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And the other kid is taking my yoga ball and slamming it into the crying kid.... with this evil look I have never seen before. She is out for revenge I am sure.<br />
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I try to curl up smaller on the couch... praying for the couch to swallow me... I need a moment.<br />
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The oven timer beeps. I reluctantly get up to take (our new favorite) Pumpkin cupcakes out of the oven. Read <a href="http://sarahwaffles.blogspot.com/2012/07/pumpkin-cake.html" target="_blank">here</a> on how I whipped up these in under 5 minutes!<br />
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I then have an idea!<br />
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Why can't we have a party???<br />
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I see a Woody doll fly into the kitchen... out of the hands of Eli... and he starts crying "Why can't Woody fly? I WANT EGGS I HUNGRY".<br />
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I start making eggs, it takes like 4 minutes... I am still thinking about this party... what am I going to do??? HMMMM...<br />
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I serve Eli his eggs... and give some to Ana in her high chair.<br />
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Eli starts crying again... "I do not like green eggs and ham I do not like them in this house"... he is balling his eyes out.<br />
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I didn't make him green eggs... whatever... he is being so stinking sensitive today. He is bored... we all are bored... it is too hot to go anywhere... we have been inside for DAYS.<br />
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I pick up the Woody doll... and the eggs Ana threw on the floor...<br />
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IDEA!!!!!<br />
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"Oh I forgot today was Woody's birthday! We need to have a party!"<br />
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Eli's face lights up! "ya it Woody Burp Day!"<br />
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"Hurry eat your eggs and go put Woody down for a nap and we will get the party set up"<br />
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Eli gobbles up his eggs, runs and puts Woody in his room... and I hear him read Woody "Green Eggs and Ham"... it is Eli's new obsession... that is where he got the "green eggs" bit from.<br />
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I go out to the garage... and dig in my "party" bucket... it has all the leftovers from all the parties we have. I find the leftovers from Eli's 2nd birthday party... WOOOO! He had a Toy Story party... perfect for Woody's Birthday Party!<br />
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I use the pumpkin cake I made this morning for Woody's Birthday Cake. Read<a href="http://sarahwaffles.blogspot.com/2012/07/pumpkin-cake.html" target="_blank"> here</a> how to make this scrumptious goody! </div>
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Eli was so excited! He was playing "host" of the party. Telling us to sign "Happy Birthday" and everything. </div>
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Ana wasn't sure what was going on.</div>
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I gave Eli a gift bag, and told him to find Woody a good present... something Woody REALLY likes. </div>
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He gave Woody an old 'Toy Story' cowboy boot. How perfect! </div>
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He says "what is inside Woody? OH A ORANGE IN YOUR BOOT, no snake HAHA"</div>
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I then lite the candle, we sang Happy Birthday for like the seventh time, and Woody blew out the candle.</div>
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We all enjoyed some pumpkin cake.</div>
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This is how we enjoyed the 105 degree weather today... How did you beat the heat and enjoy today? </div>
Sarah Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11007168653062922949noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804279702301678858.post-24849457163147194652012-07-23T15:38:00.001-07:002012-10-14T11:09:07.427-07:00Pumpkin Cake!It is hot... very hot outside... this is a attempt to will cooler fall like weather<br />
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My family has become a fan of pumpkin cake... and it is so stinkin easy to make, I can't find a reason not to make it on a whim... even when it is 105 degrees outside!<br />
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You will need:<br />
1 box of yellow cake mix<br />
1 can of pumpkin<br />
1 cup chocolate chips<br />
1/4 cup (any) milk<br />
1tsp. pumpkin pie spice<br />
powder sugar<br />
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This recipe can be make without milk, chocolate chips, powder sugar or spice... it taste good still without any or all of them. You could also add a nut of choice... or raisins... raisins sound good... I am going to try that!... also, I don't exactly measure any of the ingredients... I just eyeball it. This is a hard recipe to mess up... it is very flexible!<br />
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Preheat oven to 350degrees<br />
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Mix the above ingredients<br />
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Spoon into cupcake trays, or pour into a cake pan<br />
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To make cupcakes, bake for about 25 minutes<br />
To make cake, bake for about 30 minutes<br />
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Sprinkle powder sugar over cake/cupcakes<br />
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ENJOY!<br />
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<br />Sarah Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11007168653062922949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804279702301678858.post-64238779990762069172012-07-07T13:36:00.000-07:002012-10-14T11:08:57.414-07:00My Princess's 1st Birthday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“Though she be but little, she is fierce!” </span></span>
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<span style="background-color: white;">-William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream</span></div>
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Before Ana was born, I often dreamed of her first birthday. Planning all the pink details and getting nostalgic for my baby (who at that point hadn't been born yet) growing up. I wan't her birthday to be special, of course... but when we decided to move, just three weeks before her 1st birthday, I panicked! We had never lived in a home that was big enough to host a party before... we really wanted Ana's 1st birthday party in our new home! We worked NON STOP, packing, moving, unpacking and setting up our new home. </div>
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We started the festivities with putting approximately</div>
30 balloons in Ana's crib.<br />
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She was unsure of it at first... just waking up and all... </div>
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but as soon as Eli came in her room, she was really excited! </div>
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Ana is really into dressing up these days. She loves fluff and sparkle! I tried to get a picture of her looking in her Princess Mirror, but she is just too quick for the camera. </div>
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Ana loves talking on phones. Here I imagine her saying "hey girl, you commin to my party or what?" Read <a href="http://sarahwaffles.blogspot.com/2012/06/toddler-tiara.html" target="_blank">here</a> for step by step instructions on how to make this toddler tiara EASY and FAST and for under $1!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNXi8AiR4s5uo5whALrtz0SpsvoUZgbexA0oQ87p5NBedZGACm123ysjNOLrO2vuSpsfOmEXrAOK73GhG8NZ_tFcXGTGWjCGgWeUVejCMJ7CEneOUUn43VFuw1J9BgcFV4eWUBm66idX1/s1600/100_0892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNXi8AiR4s5uo5whALrtz0SpsvoUZgbexA0oQ87p5NBedZGACm123ysjNOLrO2vuSpsfOmEXrAOK73GhG8NZ_tFcXGTGWjCGgWeUVejCMJ7CEneOUUn43VFuw1J9BgcFV4eWUBm66idX1/s320/100_0892.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I picked up this "I'm One!" diaper bloomers from</div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Miss-Bellas-Boutique/270604612057" target="_blank">Miss Bella's Boutique</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvHXjHlZ-nn9hmnzaUMkhgrQuD2FkhHYmDz0hSXfsONN7vaxDzi617lBU9C8YR7kfqAy3M3FmUk7qyOC1Zx3EZ5SEOFAegm00IPObHTyfRanBgaoZx4L_T2uaL5hrt_AMT0OmhLw7ABhz/s1600/100_0893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvHXjHlZ-nn9hmnzaUMkhgrQuD2FkhHYmDz0hSXfsONN7vaxDzi617lBU9C8YR7kfqAy3M3FmUk7qyOC1Zx3EZ5SEOFAegm00IPObHTyfRanBgaoZx4L_T2uaL5hrt_AMT0OmhLw7ABhz/s320/100_0893.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I had Amy Baber make this tutu for Ana. She does custom orders... FAST too! Visit her Etsy shop <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/amysewsit" target="_blank">here</a></div>
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The wind was terrible! Most things had to be kept inside, and streamers, plates and cups were flying everywhere. This really did look better in person. </div>
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Ana had SO MANY presents to open! </div>
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She is one blessed little girl to have countless people loving her!</div>
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These Strawberry Lemon Buttermilk cupcakes, though look kind of dull and "iffy" were the BEST tasting cupcakes I have ever made! They are fantastic... easy... inexpensive, and are making me drool just thinking about them! Read my post <a href="http://sarahwaffles.blogspot.com/2012/05/strawberry-lemon-cupcakes.html" target="_blank">here</a> on how I made them! </div>
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Ana's Strawberry Lemon Buttermilk personal cake! </div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">She wasn't too sure about the cake. But once she got going... there was no stopping her!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">All in all, Ana's very special day was an event to remember! We are so thankful for the people in our lives who love our children! They sure are blessed kids AND they LOVED having these awesome individuals over to their home. I love that our kids are proud of their home! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">I can't hardly believe that my baby girl is one years old! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">Happy Birthday Anamarie May Whipple</span></div>
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Sarah Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11007168653062922949noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804279702301678858.post-19028870425228950062012-06-21T16:18:00.000-07:002012-10-14T11:08:35.660-07:00Toddler Tiara<br />
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I searched high and low for a tiara that Ana could wear for her Princess Party. I found many that were over priced or that were just too "stiff" for a one year old. </div>
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While visiting Michaels for a new frame, I came across some foam visors... some were sparkly... and I thought... "if only I could find a tiara made out of this material..." I held it in my hands for a moment... held it sideways, backwards then upside down.</div>
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Then I had a BRILLIANT idea! </div>
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MAKE ONE FROM THIS VISOR!</div>
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I bought a couple (they were only 67cents or so) so I could mess up a few times. </div>
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I started by laying the visor flat against some plain white paper. I traced the visor arch.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAm24lqlz3uehquJOkK9xvd2N83GBls7p9l4Na86aZcyI9kZgxLVbeVXzl_oUKJtYjlzkiCrKgD27TzMGyZp-sDB0PRh25ZCedvxgHQEkXUHMQxCUmhgnm2Crw6LfyZ7Ba5hsOBGMKcNWA/s1600/100_0833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAm24lqlz3uehquJOkK9xvd2N83GBls7p9l4Na86aZcyI9kZgxLVbeVXzl_oUKJtYjlzkiCrKgD27TzMGyZp-sDB0PRh25ZCedvxgHQEkXUHMQxCUmhgnm2Crw6LfyZ7Ba5hsOBGMKcNWA/s320/100_0833.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I folded the paper in half, so that the peaks of the tiara would match on both sides. Then I cut it out.<br />
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Next I traced the peaks onto the visor itself. Then I used my "exacto" knife and cut out the peaks.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0SMbmk6lhFbx0dgpMcWsSTR0UkdO38qB3mETj_kIUFwspP7KXZWh_gWkLDl1OquM0ERLPlcX6Lki09w2nOVVzqd6EccGHuvL1G1Mg_9bu_TM6eE4MBzkO4mh87y1DPK3gDG3myrh0foI/s1600/100_0851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0SMbmk6lhFbx0dgpMcWsSTR0UkdO38qB3mETj_kIUFwspP7KXZWh_gWkLDl1OquM0ERLPlcX6Lki09w2nOVVzqd6EccGHuvL1G1Mg_9bu_TM6eE4MBzkO4mh87y1DPK3gDG3myrh0foI/s320/100_0851.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Oh... while in Michales I found some pearly stickers... I thought they would add some bling bling to the tiara. I just stuck one on each peak... hot glue wasn't necessarily needed, but I knew my daughter would try to eat the pearls off. The hot glue was extra precaution against a nibbling baby.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wI52kUt12kuN2RqtZNlW8Zh_aBI7nLyk7lOozTsVXQjjmh9QHPIk9xuF3c7Ih2o90OK562kxU5FIQg3WuVrUAAKZPaqSnRtpHhXgHfmgYbroYJgOW1VrqGxjQfLlgsHu-MgQQl_TeA4Q/s1600/100_0853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wI52kUt12kuN2RqtZNlW8Zh_aBI7nLyk7lOozTsVXQjjmh9QHPIk9xuF3c7Ih2o90OK562kxU5FIQg3WuVrUAAKZPaqSnRtpHhXgHfmgYbroYJgOW1VrqGxjQfLlgsHu-MgQQl_TeA4Q/s320/100_0853.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
It took me maybe 5 minutes to do the whole thing. EASY! REALLY EASY! I am no crafty girl either!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja8hUFOWisf7S3HZzrSA5T0nA_I3DlHFomen4pyMUM6ljBOXwwFFumPicmoZnt1ITMrTwZaVMk77dABBcYNvGiaY0zirzkf8JAs1EsWV9RNyatcm8sLUS3JOizucfwuNQrJZhAIZCbEFyf/s1600/100_0884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja8hUFOWisf7S3HZzrSA5T0nA_I3DlHFomen4pyMUM6ljBOXwwFFumPicmoZnt1ITMrTwZaVMk77dABBcYNvGiaY0zirzkf8JAs1EsWV9RNyatcm8sLUS3JOizucfwuNQrJZhAIZCbEFyf/s320/100_0884.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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You can read some of my other "crafty posts" <a href="http://sarahwaffles.blogspot.com/search/label/Crafty%20Me" target="_blank">HERE</a></div>
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Sarah Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11007168653062922949noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804279702301678858.post-6296002656080198912012-06-16T01:30:00.001-07:002012-10-14T11:08:25.557-07:00Peek Into the Whipple Home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Our new home is lovely! We are so blessed! I am so proud of Daniel for working his way up at Walmart, so that we can live in this home! I have had a fun time decorating... funny thing about moving to a nice home-- all your old furniture suddenly looks really cruddy. </div>
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Being on a tight budget, but using my frugal skills- I set out to improve our surroundings.</div>
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This red dresser was given away by my Aunt. Before it was red, it was a multi-colored mess... complete with an anarchy symbol and the lyrics to a popular Pop song. I sanded the dresser lightly and used two coats of spray paint and added new knobs. </div>
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The dresser displays my Kitchen Aide mixer and many cook books. I am so proud of my mixer! Read my post <a href="http://sarahwaffles.blogspot.com/2010/08/mixure-of-generosity.html" target="_blank">here</a> about how I came to own such a awesome appliance. The dresser also doubles as a "pantry"... it hides all of my canned foods! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgi5kmBGroU584JO54HRisvokAStc-OX9s5ZkxnIVLzYB6p2lR-w7-DehvD-QURGRY1Z339CNfEG1bcqEeKH6tJq7ZZD-a1BsRe1qY57iuOg5WocfUQ74COuuppodLtXPWtZUCvADpvRG/s1600/100_0818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgi5kmBGroU584JO54HRisvokAStc-OX9s5ZkxnIVLzYB6p2lR-w7-DehvD-QURGRY1Z339CNfEG1bcqEeKH6tJq7ZZD-a1BsRe1qY57iuOg5WocfUQ74COuuppodLtXPWtZUCvADpvRG/s320/100_0818.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
I used chalkboard paint to re purpose a few serving trays. I posted a blog on "how-to" <a href="http://sarahwaffles.blogspot.com/2012/06/chalkboard-paint-fun.html" target="_blank">here. </a><br />
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This is my favorite wall in my home! Over a year ago I won the "Family Rules" subway art sign from a blog give-away. A relative of mine makes them :) I kept the sign rolled away... praying God would lead us to a home where I could properly display the sign! When we looked at the house, before we decided to move in, I saw the brown wall and knew that my subway art sign would be perfect there!<br />
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To display the sign I needed a 20x30 frame... which are unique in size and aren't sold at Walmart... I had to go to Michaels. I waited till all of their frames were 40% off, and paired it with an in-store coupon for 20% off. I then imported a few of my favorite pictures from Facebook to the Target photo processing website... choosing the "black and white" feature. Then picking them up in the store. I then went to the Dollar Store... again... and picked up the necessary size frames for the pictures I just got developed.<br />
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You can visit Alexander Creative <a href="https://www.facebook.com/alexandercreative.net" target="_blank">here</a> on their Facebook page to get your own Subway art sign! They come in different colors and have a variety of sizes and sayings. They even come on a canvas! Currently a different blog is doing a give-away with Alexander Creative artwork... you should visit the Facebook page and enter! The link is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/alexandercreative.net" target="_blank">HERE</a><br />
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AND---- we have a fireplace! AND it works too! I can't hardly wait for winter!!! Cozy! </div>
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My new couch... don't mind the mess around it... Children DO live here also! Daniel got me a new couch for Mothers Day... he is a pretty swell guy!<br />
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Sarah Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11007168653062922949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804279702301678858.post-15850787242978743402012-06-16T00:42:00.001-07:002012-06-16T00:47:16.389-07:00Chalkboard Paint Fun!<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I got this idea on Pinterest to use Chalkboard paint to decorate.</div>
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So I went to Lowe's and I found the paint near the spray paint. It was about $15! GAG! Lucky me... I had a 10% off coupon I picked up at the post office from the "change of address packets." You can get them any time... just walk in, they are laying around all over the place at the Post Office.</div>
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I next visited the Dollar Tree and picked up the "silver" serving trays. They are fairly small and flimsy plastic.<br />
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I added the first coat... waited about an hour, then added a second coat.<br />
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I let them dry an hour after the second coat. Then I used tacky stick to put them on the wall.</div>
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I was stinkin impressed with myself, so I walked around the house looking for something else to paint with the chalkboard paint.<br />
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I found this... thing... not sure if it is suppose to be a night stand or "ice box" or what. My Gramie gave it to my Mother... who gave it to me. We had kept the microwave on it in our old home... It is "well loved".<br />
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I had Daniel remove the hardware... not my choice, he said I should... whatever. I didn't even bother sanding it. I had enough sanding furniture for awhile. Read my post <a href="http://sarahwaffles.blogspot.com/2012/06/desk-for-generations.html" target="_blank">here</a> about my two week sanding project. </div>
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This is after the first coat. The paint went far, but dried thinner then I thought it would.<br />
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I used two coats... it looked pretty good. I thought I would keep it outside. It is now home to all of Eli's and Ana's outside art supplies! They LOVE IT!<br />
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<br />Sarah Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11007168653062922949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804279702301678858.post-39448402474537758052012-06-11T19:11:00.000-07:002012-06-11T20:28:52.121-07:00Desk for the Generations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheAXs41etWrrcdTH_qc-YNzYFJex14bUdSRPtcIEd3eEzV6FKuXWbvMwOvpS5VuTtgR6O5jUtst0Kc4FgGRWPZI6IgkL5uCQhsR1kI8XQW759CdM2TyuBf5JkQ7Jx386XaIxrOZJST8smo/s1600/100_0774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheAXs41etWrrcdTH_qc-YNzYFJex14bUdSRPtcIEd3eEzV6FKuXWbvMwOvpS5VuTtgR6O5jUtst0Kc4FgGRWPZI6IgkL5uCQhsR1kI8XQW759CdM2TyuBf5JkQ7Jx386XaIxrOZJST8smo/s320/100_0774.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I have this desk here. My Mother gave it to me and told me I can NEVER get rid of it. She said it has sentimental value and belonged to Great Grandma. SO I moved this desk with us when we moved. I stared at it in our garage and thought "well I don't want it in our house looking like that" all scratched up, dirty, with stickers. All the handles were broken as well. So I called my Grandma and asked her if I could fix it up. </div>
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She said sure.</div>
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So I start sanding it... and about choke on the dust. It was green! I call my Grandma and she tells me that Great Grandma had put a vanish on it. I think "well that was like in the 40's... it is probably toxic and illegal to use now." SO I get out my tough Hello Kitty hankie and cover my face. Eli thought it was hilarious! I had to get someone to come over and watch the kids inside so they wouldn't breath it in. </div>
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See the shinny varnish... it took two weeks to sand the whole thing down. Plus side-- </div>
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my arms are super buff now!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9QgTXdGn1D0lY7JlJ9OQqO-kLn929K6Yn5Lok0QWVfKaDWsWnq2iuIn7bcP_H3xvGI47IUAfKAhz5Au66onTEAIDyVE3FVUCyrXIh5t1HBAxWmRcutdul9oxdC5pJROF2kSofTQKRxr5/s1600/100_0775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9QgTXdGn1D0lY7JlJ9OQqO-kLn929K6Yn5Lok0QWVfKaDWsWnq2iuIn7bcP_H3xvGI47IUAfKAhz5Au66onTEAIDyVE3FVUCyrXIh5t1HBAxWmRcutdul9oxdC5pJROF2kSofTQKRxr5/s320/100_0775.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I started off using the sandpaper by hand. But it was taking SO LONG. My Aunt brought over her sander... which made it much easier! After it was sanded, I left it in the backyard so I could paint it the next day. Then we got the crazy summer rain! It poured and the desk got wet.</div>
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I let it dry out, and Daniel sanded on it some more.</div>
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He then painted it for me! I was going to do it, but he just was a nice guy and did it for me. He used a Espresso Brown spray paint with a gloss finish. </div>
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He went to Lowes and picked out some really nice handles and put them on too!</div>
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Then he hooked up my laptop and printer :) And took a picture for me! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYsWo071ihMS_jjLfCS1q2SSCRTMPEnI6cLjIrdfWmtkdb_Gdd66fHWgy7DJo7gVv2L4QZAdpO7slG5QAOPrFDr2Dyzh_-05aWpTNTCA3zdpp2EWbFr6e3XEQiFlbQ8qIhvMppd6L6vEjz/s1600/100_0826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYsWo071ihMS_jjLfCS1q2SSCRTMPEnI6cLjIrdfWmtkdb_Gdd66fHWgy7DJo7gVv2L4QZAdpO7slG5QAOPrFDr2Dyzh_-05aWpTNTCA3zdpp2EWbFr6e3XEQiFlbQ8qIhvMppd6L6vEjz/s320/100_0826.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I emailed my Grandma and told her that I would like to know the story behind the desk. She emailed me back... now when I sit at the desk I think about her, sitting at the very same desk-- looking for her birth certificate, dreaming of the rest of her life. The following is her email to me... I thought it would be really neat to share!<br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Dear Sarah, I finally figured out how to use this new fangled thing! Here is the story of your desk as best as I can do in writing. I do better talking better then writing. Wish I had your talent.<br /> </i><i><br /></i><i>We moved from Jerome Arizona to San Francisco in 1946 after we pulled up stakes and sold most all of our household furnishings. So when my folks bought the house, two bedroom one bath, we were in need of furnishings. Mom and Daddy bought some real inexpensive furniture and charged it. My Daddy was only earning one dollar an hour working driving public transportation in San Francisco.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i><i> That is how we got the desk which we needed for doing homework etc. Mommy kept bills and important papers in there. Which we were all aware of. When Bill and I decided to elope to Reno, this was July 1951. I thought maybe it would be good to have my birth certificate to prove I was 18. The reason we decided to elope for several reasons. One being Bill was expecting to be drafted any day. Plus my folks could not afford a wedding, plus my Mom was pretty sick in those days. Number one reason was that we loved each other and wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. We had planned on a small wedding in Jan 1952, but because of the draft threat, we decided "why wait"?</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i><i>We talked about it, Bill and I, on a Sunday night after Church. We went and got the ring Wednesday, and that Friday we took the Greyhound bus to Reno. We got to Reno around 3 or 4am. We went to the Court House when they opened and they issued us a Marriage Certificate. We took a taxi over to the Assembly of God Church and got married by the Pastor there with his wife and an Evangelish as witness.<br /> </i><i><br /></i><i>We then took a Greyhound bus home to San Francisco. We went to my parents home. Oh, before we left we each told our sister's, so that when we were missing they would know where we were. By the way, Joan (Bill's sister), told her Dad before we really left San Francisco. He called my Mom and said "you know what our crazy kids are doing"?. He then told her. Poor Mom and Dad were in shock!<br /> </i><i><br /></i><i>Fourteen months later we started our brood of 5 kids, which has been a real blessing in our lives. Thank God for leading us to do the right thing in our lives even at that tender age when we tied the knot for a lifetime.<br /> </i><i>Love your Grandma </i></span>Sarah Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11007168653062922949noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804279702301678858.post-68696241136016416712012-05-28T22:02:00.003-07:002012-07-07T13:45:58.642-07:00Strawberry Lemon Cupcakes<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just made the BEST cupcakes EVER...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAjebQD-yPmH8HN76NcHkgOexj-xxkXLzZmiTsvgfRXf_9o3tcqr_UfICqUQXSpjhY1ITEfePYikUY3SLZjQh_ROCN6NVZQeLbPJvRoa7J7xCAg7chutHITbq-7IMJPw_YSfLdiYoZ8f_/s1600/100_0784.JPG"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAjebQD-yPmH8HN76NcHkgOexj-xxkXLzZmiTsvgfRXf_9o3tcqr_UfICqUQXSpjhY1ITEfePYikUY3SLZjQh_ROCN6NVZQeLbPJvRoa7J7xCAg7chutHITbq-7IMJPw_YSfLdiYoZ8f_/s320/100_0784.JPG" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had help :)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was looking for a fun recipe to use for Ana's first birthday. I found one on <a href="http://www.blogger.com/To%20Make%20Frosting:%20%20Cream%20butter%20in%20an%20electric%20mixer%20on%20medium-speed%20until%20smooth%20and%20fluffy,%20about%202-3%20minutes.%20%20Then%20add%20in%20the%20strawberries,%20vanilla%20and%20lemon%20juice,%20and%20mix%20on%20low-speed%20until%20combined.%20%20Gradually%20add%20in%20the%20%20powdered%20sugar%20and%20mix%20until%20combined.%20%20Then%20beat%20on%20medium%20speed%20until%20light%20and%20fluffy,%20another%203-5%20minutes.%20%20(Add%20in%20more%20powdered%20sugar%20if%20consistency%20is%20too%20thin.)">Pinterest</a>. Tweaked it a bit... and what turned out was absolutely divine! I was really excited to use my Kitchen Aide Mixer. I had received it as a gift over a year ago... but our old home had no (none... not a single one) plug outlets in the kitchen. You can read about my <a href="http://sarahwaffles.blogspot.com/2010/08/mixure-of-generosity.html">Mixer of generosity here</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cupcake Ingredients:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 strawberry cake mix</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 vanilla pudding mix</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3/4 cup buttermilk</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 cup (4 Tbsp.) lemon juice</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 eggs </span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Glaze Ingredients:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3/4 cup butter, softened</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup pureed strawberries (made from fresh or frozen strawberries)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 tsp. lemon juice</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 tsp. vanilla</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3-6 cups powdered sugar (adjust to achieve desired consistency)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup cream cheese</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tub cool-whip</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shreds of white chocolate candy bar</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhahZ1lgjhWSFy2j5XXHKtNpBr68ADqG-EpogPwnIq_xK13LPshyphenhyphenxOuEDqbupgfFXyLAep1eFli3P8Hnlsxk9d3xCYZS6oQs8AlZdM4hN7Gt0Z2twzqNz17ev-JZa-hG3lmC2WO144Bsvh/s1600/100_0780.JPG"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhahZ1lgjhWSFy2j5XXHKtNpBr68ADqG-EpogPwnIq_xK13LPshyphenhyphenxOuEDqbupgfFXyLAep1eFli3P8Hnlsxk9d3xCYZS6oQs8AlZdM4hN7Gt0Z2twzqNz17ev-JZa-hG3lmC2WO144Bsvh/s320/100_0780.JPG" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Don't mind the mess in the background. We are still unpacking</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To Make Cupcakes:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. I don't use liners for the cupcake tins. I spray each cup with PAM. But you can use liners if you so choose. I will be using liners for Ana's actual birthday cupcakes. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-RSXQposXhFrrCil1XTK6BCCSPsuweq4vj0ob0HvHMbVLJLhXXz5ru_mDLax0JtyAXIczyXXGeRvQr4Zr6QJpdZegx7zUJkWacMCksYHiIOmTql2CpE6mdIg3ZFm3-jwoVgoCg09jrhy/s1600/100_0783.JPG"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-RSXQposXhFrrCil1XTK6BCCSPsuweq4vj0ob0HvHMbVLJLhXXz5ru_mDLax0JtyAXIczyXXGeRvQr4Zr6QJpdZegx7zUJkWacMCksYHiIOmTql2CpE6mdIg3ZFm3-jwoVgoCg09jrhy/s320/100_0783.JPG" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Add the cake mix, pudding mix, buttermilk, oil and lemon juice to a large mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on low to medium speed until moistened. Add eggs one at a time, until the batter is well-mixed. Increase speed to high and beat until fluffy and thick.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcrxl6DdID17b4jl4OJ86g_eh1BU233oUatwM-BKpOJQQzgZYAfQk4n40n_ypPTb6rxRNSp2dC51smEIAE-2j9UZetSiKwCrB1S1is6f9ZJNLQQ7w204HkZhpDlrEsMbAaDf7DoscFvOk/s1600/100_0782.JPG"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcrxl6DdID17b4jl4OJ86g_eh1BU233oUatwM-BKpOJQQzgZYAfQk4n40n_ypPTb6rxRNSp2dC51smEIAE-2j9UZetSiKwCrB1S1is6f9ZJNLQQ7w204HkZhpDlrEsMbAaDf7DoscFvOk/s320/100_0782.JPG" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pour or scoop the batter into cupcake tins. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove and cool.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamiPOItw1poaz4rcUlhjTNkcgS8YnbSFxosSU6VhEhTuHreU3e7zu7__zY_nPNJCqOmvNPiRdlHqqfqckyfnXNe7gRamAP9tN0udVmgtE3FbfrRXdcfr-WlmvhudgPdEucRbCPRc60dhV/s1600/100_0786.JPG"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamiPOItw1poaz4rcUlhjTNkcgS8YnbSFxosSU6VhEhTuHreU3e7zu7__zY_nPNJCqOmvNPiRdlHqqfqckyfnXNe7gRamAP9tN0udVmgtE3FbfrRXdcfr-WlmvhudgPdEucRbCPRc60dhV/s320/100_0786.JPG" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">This is my son, licking the powdered sugar from the table.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">To Make glaze:</span>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had issues with the frosting/glaze. I followed the original recipe, but it wouldn't thicken up... so I added the cream cheese. When it still didn't thicken up I folded in the cool-whip and called it a "glaze".</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cream butter in an electric mixer on medium-speed until smooth and fluffy. Then add in the strawberries, vanilla and lemon juice, and mix on low-speed until combined. Gradually add in the powdered sugar and mix until combined. Blend in cream cheese. Fold in cool-whip. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When cupcakes are cooled- pour glaze over the top. Top with shredded white chocolate. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTCNLmnz-LjKytWC9sDv85-cgMH1zViGISEVzhasTWvaWTCpM6mThw3YlO85EYa5ia7vFbpW2bu8rc2rt7i9eOUrgG2HBkDd6VWWmNdYpQlNgmB53YLCDzxRC8A-otixh1HZAASV4V_Su/s1600/100_0790.JPG"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTCNLmnz-LjKytWC9sDv85-cgMH1zViGISEVzhasTWvaWTCpM6mThw3YlO85EYa5ia7vFbpW2bu8rc2rt7i9eOUrgG2HBkDd6VWWmNdYpQlNgmB53YLCDzxRC8A-otixh1HZAASV4V_Su/s320/100_0790.JPG" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take a bite... ENJOY! </span></div>
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-EDIT: I remade these cupcakes... exactly the same way BUT changed how I made the frosting.<br />
To make frosting:<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3/4 cup butter, softened (This is where I messed up. I melted the butter thinking that "softened" meant "melted". I had melted the butter before, that is why I was unable to get the butter creamed into a smooth and fluffy consistency)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup pureed strawberries (made from fresh or frozen strawberries)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 tsp. lemon juice</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 tsp. vanilla</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3-6 cups powdered sugar (adjust to achieve desired consistency)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup cream cheese</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shreds of white chocolate candy bar</span>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cream butter in an electric mixer on medium-speed until smooth and fluffy. Then add in the strawberries, vanilla and lemon juice, and mix on low-speed until combined. Gradually add in the powdered sugar and mix until combined. Blend in cream cheese. Fold in cool-whip. </span>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Visit my post <a href="http://sarahwaffles.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-princesss-1st-birthday.html" target="_blank">here</a> for the outcome of my edit </span></div>
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<br /></div>Sarah Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11007168653062922949noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804279702301678858.post-11943055685545846822012-05-10T15:59:00.000-07:002012-05-10T16:03:08.126-07:00ShopAtHome.com<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I have posted a few things on Facebook about <a href="http://www.shopathome.com/?IAFCG=SbnPtTkHWMdSU7dEy3aOxA==" target="_blank">ShopAtHome.com</a> recently. I have tried to explain what it is, and how it works... but after my last check, I decided <a href="http://www.shopathome.com/?IAFCG=SbnPtTkHWMdSU7dEy3aOxA==" target="_blank">ShopAtHome.com</a> deserved it's own blog! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I know that it may seem daunting... confusing... scary... Actually, it's a very simple concept and one that gives you cash back for shopping at most of the online stores you already shop at anyway.....not to mention it provides you with coupon codes to save you even more money on your purchases. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">To start up, visit <a href="http://www.shopathome.com/?IAFCG=SbnPtTkHWMdSU7dEy3aOxA==" target="_blank">ShopAtHome.com</a> via this link:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.shopathome.com/?IAFCG=SbnPtTkHWMdSU7dEy3aOxA==" target="_blank">http://www.shopathome.com/?IAFCG=SbnPtTkHWMdSU7dEy3aOxA==</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Sign up... and you will get an instant $5 credit! Once you have $20 in your cash back account, they will mail you your check! I have gotten two checks so far! </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">The best way to see what <a href="http://www.shopathome.com/?IAFCG=SbnPtTkHWMdSU7dEy3aOxA==" target="_blank">ShopAtHome.com</a> can do for you, is to take a moment and check it out yourself. You will find thousands of stores that offer a variety of cash back amounts. I have gotten 2% all the way up to 30% cash back! I am constantly surprised at what stores give cash back...</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> I got 20% for doing my taxes online! </span>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">If you are planning on planning a vacation with a travel website, (like Expedia, Travelocity, etc.) go through <a href="http://www.shopathome.com/?IAFCG=SbnPtTkHWMdSU7dEy3aOxA==" target="_blank">ShopAtHome.com</a> first, you can get cash back for planning your vacation! Right now Expedia is giving 8% cash back!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">If you have to run to Walmart to pick up diapers. Buy them online through <a href="http://www.shopathome.com/?IAFCG=SbnPtTkHWMdSU7dEy3aOxA==" target="_blank">ShopAtHome.com</a>, you can get the 97cents shipping OR you can click "pick up in store". Walmart has many items that you can buy online from home, then drive over there a few minutes later to pick up at the Customer Service desk. That way you can get your cash back with <a href="http://www.shopathome.com/?IAFCG=SbnPtTkHWMdSU7dEy3aOxA==" target="_blank">ShopAtHome.com</a> AND you don't have to mess with actually shopping in the store. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I am pleased with my experience with <a href="http://www.shopathome.com/?IAFCG=SbnPtTkHWMdSU7dEy3aOxA==" target="_blank">ShopAtHome.com</a>. Like I said before, I have received two checks, that have been put in my bank account. It is legit... and it pays. It is nice to get paid back for things we are going to buy anyways.</span></span>Sarah Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11007168653062922949noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804279702301678858.post-7997521441188341492012-04-28T00:24:00.000-07:002012-04-28T02:14:07.315-07:00Ectopic Confessions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Meet, Kellen Lee Whipple</div>
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The day after my surgery, my doctor had told me he had gotten a few pictures of the baby. I waited anxiously for two weeks to receive the pictures. I had no clue what I was going to see... In my mind I pictured a small baby... with arms and legs. At 8 weeks, the baby would be moving his/her arms and legs... he/she would have taste buds as well as every major organ. There is nothing precious or sweet about this picture... but in this picture is a very small person... this is my baby! </div>
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I debated whether or not to share this photo... it is so personal... and raw. I was anxious to see the picture... I was scared about how I was going to feel. So I searched online for pictures of ectopic pregnancies... and found few... I wish their had been more. I don't like surprises at all... I wish I would have had an idea of what I was going to see... thus helping me decided to share this. This is my ectopic pregnancy and left tube removal at 8 weeks, after D&C and laparoscopy... (helping Google sort and list this blog) </div>
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I have been dealing with grief insomnia for weeks now. In the quiet of the night my mind wanders... what-ifs and guilt plague my thoughts. </div>
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What really gets me... what really just pains my soul, is being apart from my babies. I am so head over heals in love with my children... all of them. My heart beats for them... and to have to spend a life-time without them takes my breath away... it is literally hard to breath. </div>
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This is nothing new... after each loss, I experience a tremendous amount of anxiety... but in time, I find myself functioning more and more... being able to see friends and spend time in non baby related thoughts. However, with each loss I would find myself deeper in this dark place... naturally mourning every single loss over again. </div>
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Daniel and I have been relying heavily on each other as well as God for comfort. He is our refuge and our strength. In the nights I would lay awake with the darkness of my soul, I would close my eyes and picture myself resting in the arms of God. I felt His presence... and my breathing would slow... every anxiety would leave... I would slowly drift off to sleep. A friend of mine had commented on my last blog... and what she said brought me tears of joy... and relief. She told me how God was holding my precious baby... something I had thought of before... you always imagine your angel baby being loved on by God. But thinking of God holding my baby... my babies... and God holding me as well. In the quiet of the night, when I am resting in the arms of my Lord and Savior, I am close to my babies too. </div>
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<br /></div>Sarah Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11007168653062922949noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804279702301678858.post-17767669612696188872012-04-12T05:24:00.003-07:002012-04-12T06:19:20.763-07:00Late Night Thoughts<span><span style="font-size: 100%;">For the last week I have laid in bed and watched each minute turn into hour after hour. My body is exhausted but sleep just doesn't happen.</span></span><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">SO I lay in bed with my Kindle... and I Googled. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">Google says "Grief Insomnia"... </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">ok... so I lay in bed annoyed at grief insomnia.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">I think about my baby... my babies... all of them. I don't have any memories of my youngest baby... who we named Kellen. I don't know if my baby is a girl or a boy. I have no good memories at all. No joy of finding out we were pregnant. No </span>excitement<span style="font-size: 100%;"> as we told our friends and family. Just total </span>devastation... grief. </span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">I replay the whole experience over and over again in my head. It is the only memory I have of my baby... a terrible memory... but I can't help but think about it... I need that connection.</span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> I think about how different a hospital stay is when you had surgery to remove a baby from a f</span>allopian<span style="font-size: 100%;"> tube versus delivering a term baby.</span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><ul><li><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; ">When you are in the hospital to deliver a baby (in my experience with 2 </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; ">cesarean</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; "> sections)---nurses check on you very often... before and after the baby arrives. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; ">When you have a baby removed from your tubes--- your nurses don't visit as often... and you </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; ">certainly</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; "> don't get that tasty cranberry 7-up cocktail they so freely give in the OB ward.</span></li></ul></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><ul><li><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; ">When you are in the hospital to deliver a baby--- you get a private room... which is constantly full of nurses all hours of the night, hospital staff and </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; ">visitors</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; ">... you are never alone... and all you want is peace and quiet!</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; "> When your baby is removed simply because it grew in the wrong spot--- you get a noisy room, with flimsy drapes... and a room neighbor who snores, eats fried chicken, and walks around with their gown open in the back. You have no visitors... and despite your husband being there when he is allowed, you feel so very alone... and it hurts.</span></li></ul></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><ul><li><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; ">When you are in the hospital to deliver a baby that you get to take home and love on--- a lactation consultant comes to your room... and despite your best effort to shoo her away, she stays and makes sure you are fully aware of the changes your breast will endure. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; ">When you are in the hospital to remove the growing baby from your tube because it is going to kill you--- no lactation consultant visits you... </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; ">probably</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; "> because the baby was not even 8 weeks gestation.... but two days later I got a painful reminder that I do not have a baby to nurse, when my milk came in. </span></li></ul></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><ul><li><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; ">When you are in the hospital to deliver a baby---you leave with that baby... you go home and kiss on that baby, and make sure that baby is safe from every bad thing imaginable... you make sure that baby knows it is loved and cherished. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; ">When you are in the hospital to have a baby removed--- you go home with a pamphlet on 'M</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; ">iscarriage'</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; ">, which ends up on the floor of your car... because you can't image holding on to anything that isn't your baby... and you pray that your baby, who is dead, somehow just KNOWS it is loved and cherished.</span></li></ul></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>Despite the mood I am currently in, I am coping. I am healing. I have joy in my life. I laugh daily... often. That doesn't mean I am "over it" or "moving on". I don't know what the term is. I just -am-... and I -AM- a Mom... a Mother to many, on Earth and in Heaven. My babies here, need me to be ok... and to laugh and play with them. They know that "Mommy is sad"right now... it is good for them to know that. I am only human... God gave me emotions and it is ok to use them all. </span></div>Sarah Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11007168653062922949noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804279702301678858.post-48668603944633704172012-04-04T20:11:00.005-07:002012-04-04T21:30:26.793-07:00The Story of my 'ectomy<span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">This isn't going to sound very poetic... may not even make much sense... Hospitals give some pretty intense pain killers.</span></span><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">Monday night I woke up with some pretty intense pain on my lower left side... more then just cramping... the pain was something fierce... not normal.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">Tuesday Daniel and I went in to my OBGYN office to get the results of the blood test I had done the previous day. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">We were praying my HCG level went down. The reason for the blood test, even though I my Doctor said we had miscarried, was to make sure the HCG levels were going down... if they were not going down, there was going to be concern of another ectopic pregnancy. (<a href="http://sarahwaffles.blogspot.com/search/label/pregnancy%20loss">read here for previous ectopic </a></span><a href="http://sarahwaffles.blogspot.com/search/label/pregnancy%20loss">experience</a><span style="font-size: 100%;">) </span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">We were told that my HCG level rose to 825, from 760 before the weekend. In a normal pregnancy, the HCG should have more then doubled over the weekend. So even though the hormone level was rising, the pregnancy was not normal or healthy. I tell the doctor about the pain. He gets concerned. </span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">We wait for over an hour in the room... waiting for my doctor to get a few other opinions on what to do... Not sure if a </span>laparoscopy<span style="font-size: 100%;"> should happen... or a dose of </span>methotrexate<span style="font-size: 100%;"> (which is what we did for the previous ectopic). I was thinking that maybe we would do the methotrexate... maybe... if we were to do anything at all.</span></span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >We start with another ultrasound... where nothing was found... again. I don't know why, but I just had this hope when we were walking to the ultrasound room. I imagined the ultrasound tech saying "and there is your baby right there" and Doctor Perry saying "a miracle". </span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >We leave with admitting orders to the hospital. D&C at 8pm... laparoscopy with possible laparectomy after that.</span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >I didn't really have time to process. I had to get home and get the kids packed... get myself packed and showered. I had to run to the grocery store and get Ana formula... my mind was total chaos. </span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >We get to the hospital and even though I had admitting orders... I had NO BED... they tried to put me in the pediatric department. At first I thought "ok, no biggy"... but when I got there, my heart felt so heavy. Why would they give a women going though a pregnancy loss, a room surrounded by children and babies? Terribly cruel. </span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >Daniel got them to give me a different room... that I shared with another women... who had an obsession with sucking on KFC chicken bones. It was disgusting.... anyways...</span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >My Mommy comes up to wait with us while we are in the room before surgery. The waiting seems to take a lifetime.</span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >I get an IV, some compression stockings to prevent a DVT, a hair net... some bright orange socks with rubber on the bottom... I felt like a Transformer or something.</span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >Finally I give hugs and kisses and go into surgery. Only a few seconds seem to pass and then I am awake in a different room. For some reason I am screaming and crying... then I realize I am in horrendous pain... this is the worst pain I have ever been in... I start to vomit... I hear some guy talking to me. Trying to tell me something... it is important, but I can't hear him. I pray "Dear Jesus make it stop"... a nurse comes over and shoots some magic drugs in my IV. Almost instantly reality comes back. The crazy leaves... the pain subsides. </span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >The guy starts talking again. "Sarah, your surgery went well. Your left tube was removed because the baby had punctured it. The baby seemed to be 6-8 weeks old. I am so sorry".</span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >Numb... I start asking for Daniel... they keep telling me I have to wait. </span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >Finally I get rolled back to my room, and I FINALLY get to be with Daniel. He only has time to tell me what the doctor told him. I share with him how much pain I am in. Then he has to leave because it is past visiting hours. </span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >I felt so alone. I am so tired but I can't sleep. I tried to process the information I was given." The baby was with me all this time. They took it tonight. They took my tube tonight. I have one tube left. My baby was with me all this time. I have only one tube now. My baby was with me but is now gone. One tube." My thoughts are interrupted by the room-mate flipping the TV channels.</span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >I try to sleep. but the room-mate is loud and obnoxious. I give up on sleep once the sun starts to come up... I watch some Downton Abbey on my Kindle... I surprise myself at how un-emotional I am. I attribute it to the pain killers. Everything is just so numb. When they wear off the pain is un-bearable... but I find myself sad... able to sort out these emotions.</span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >I was discharged around noon. Daniel took me home... he hadn't slept all night either. We share a few moments. We cried and just were silent together for a long time. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; ">We are tired on so many levels. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; "><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; ">This was a long and dull blog... its the pain killers.</span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span > We could really use prayer... and encouraging words... positive thoughts. </span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div>Sarah Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11007168653062922949noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804279702301678858.post-16034844491922698382012-04-01T22:24:00.006-07:002012-04-01T22:39:53.996-07:00What is Savingstar?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30BGiPseSnA2PV68cAQ26CG6y79pNLlXrd2iuxCMvB_IczWfZVArPNCEXk1RNJe0GIPGdK29thnOHDp-vM2osRygfOXLCMSe3h2mMOE-rHOdz6EHnL6RvWgcCv5eNPXRGFG0tIp0o-_xI/s1600/thumbnailss.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30BGiPseSnA2PV68cAQ26CG6y79pNLlXrd2iuxCMvB_IczWfZVArPNCEXk1RNJe0GIPGdK29thnOHDp-vM2osRygfOXLCMSe3h2mMOE-rHOdz6EHnL6RvWgcCv5eNPXRGFG0tIp0o-_xI/s400/thumbnailss.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726673977483420274" /></a><br /><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">SavingStar is the first national, fully digital, grocery eCoupon service, available for free at www.savingstar.com and on iPhone and Android mobile apps. There's nothing to clip, nothing to print.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Providing exclusive eCoupons redeemable at over 24,000 grocery and drug stores throughout the country, SavingStar’s eCoupons are linked to customers’ loyalty cards and offer a more convenient and eco-friendly way to save on groceries than paper coupons. SavingStar automatically adds the value of each eCoupon redeemed into users' SavingStar accounts, enabling them to pick their payout from cash to gift cards to charity donations. (info from Savingstar.com)</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 18px; color: rgb(51, 49, 50); font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; ">If you're an old pro at couponing but have steered clear of digital coupons, now is a great time to try them out on <a href="http://savingstar.com/" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: initial; outline-style: none; outline-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(12, 94, 121); ">SavingStar.com</a>.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 18px; color: rgb(51, 49, 50); font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; ">The national e-coupon site just added several new offers that I've never seen on SavingStar before, including two coupons for Cheerios and one for Pillsbury rolls.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 18px; color: rgb(51, 49, 50); font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; ">I like SavingStar for several reasons:</p><ul style="margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 2em; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 20px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; color: rgb(51, 49, 50); font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; "><li style="margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">The site is easy to use. Once you click on the coupons you want, they're good at any of the supermarkets and drugstores that use loyalty cards to track customers' purchases. (You can only use each coupon once, however.) You can ad several cards from the same store. I have 3 CVS cards attached to my savingstar account.</li><li style="margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">You're done in seconds. No clipping or filing required.</li><li style="margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">It's eco-friendly. If you don't end up using the coupons, you haven't wasted any paper or ink.</li><li style="margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">You can stack these coupons with paper coupons and store-specific digital coupons to save even more.</li><li style="margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Your savings are easy to track. When you log in, you'll see your savings tally in the top right corner.</li><li style="margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Can't remember what coupons you selected? There's a free app for that. Download it to your smartphone and review your coupons or add new ones while you're in the store.</li></ul><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 18px; color: rgb(51, 49, 50); font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; ">At the store register, SavingStar coupons are NOT automatically deducted from your grocery order. Instead, the savings accrue in your SavingStar account. Once you've saved $5, you can have the cash deposited directly into your bank or PayPal account. Or you can choose an Amazon gift card or donate the money to charity.</p><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; width: 1px; height: 1px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; text-align: left; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; "><br />Read more here: http://blogs.newsobserver.com/centsiblesaver/new-savingstar-coupons-on-cheerios-pillsbury-rolls-more#storylink=cpy</div><p></p><p></p>Sarah Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11007168653062922949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804279702301678858.post-74686445788858293272012-03-30T13:39:00.011-07:002012-03-30T14:41:54.851-07:00A Baby... Our Baby... Lost and Loved<div style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><a href="http://sarahwaffles.blogspot.com/2012/03/limbo.html">Read here for earlier this weeks blog</a></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; "><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">My heart is so torn... I feel hollow and </span>defeated<span style="font-size: 100%;">. I still do not understand pregnancy loss... what is the point? I trust God has a purpose... a plan... all things to work together for the greatest good. It still hurts... my heart and soul hurt.</span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; "><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; "><span>The thought that hurts the worst is that this baby was gone before I knew about it. I hate that I didn't get to love it when it was alive... "It"... seems so wrong to call a baby "it". A baby so wanted... </span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; "><span>We never gave names to our other children who had passed. I gave charge to the Angels in naming our children... saying "give them beautiful Hebrew names, surprise me when I meet them." </span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; "><span>This baby... I have a need to name... this baby we want to know is very much loved... cherished... and missed.</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; "><span>This baby we named Kellen Lee Whipple. An Irish name meaning 'powerful'... this baby, so small, was with us --then left us without us noticing... but was so powerful in our lives! </span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; "><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; "><span><span style="font-size: 16px; "><i>My Dearest Kellen,</i></span></span><div style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><i><br /></i></div><div style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><i>You were a surprise to us Love. A welcomed miracle into our lives! I pray you know how much your Daddy and I do love you! We cherish your memory and our hearts are forever yours. </i></div><div style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><i><br /></i></div><div style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><i>Love, Mommy and Daddy</i></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; "><span>I really am not comfortable talking about Kellen or the loss in general. Just a heads up for future conversations. </span></div>Sarah Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11007168653062922949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804279702301678858.post-11084070666230952822012-03-28T18:49:00.003-07:002012-04-02T00:45:14.355-07:00Limbo<span><span style="font-size: 100%;">Reader warning... the following may be more information than you would like to know about me.</span></span><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div><span>Sitting in my OBGYN office yesterday... waiting for my doctor to come back in and tell me the results of a pregnancy test. I already "knew" the answer. I was smug. I had just weaned Ana 3 weeks ago. I got my first cycle four days after weaning. It was heavy... with clots ranging from pea size to kiwi size. That was the reason for my visit to my doctor. To stop the bleeding. </span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>My doctor wanted to do a D&C, just to rid me of all the build up. I talked him into the progesterone pills... take for 21 days, come back in once a new cycle starts. He agreed as long as I take a pregnancy test. </span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>So I wait for the results... laughing at the impossiblity of being pregnant. We have never had a pregnancy without several rounds of Clomid... and I JUST weaned Ana. </span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>Doctor Perry walks in; "Well Sarah, your pregnancy test was positive. I am not sure what is going on. You are possibly miscarrying".<br /></span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>I sat there... thinking of Sarah in the Bible... I laughed at God. How foolish to think I could put God in a box... my God, who has countless times proved miracles do happen... to me... </span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>I cried... not with joy, but with fear. We desperately want a baby... of course! We would love to love many more children. But--- do we get to love this baby? Or is this baby already gone? </span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>That hit me hard... did this baby leave without being loved and cherished? </span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>We leave the office with instructions to come back in the morning for a blood test, then back on Thursday for a follow up.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>I am numb.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>We get home and I tear off all of my clothes... they feel so weird on my body. I am hysterical.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>I go in the bathroom and do my own pregnancy test. Thinking I just could not be pregnant... not wanting to think we are going through yet another pregnancy loss.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>I dip the test in, and instantly got two pink lines. I lost all composure... reality was far from my grasp. </span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>What happened in the two hours from the test, to when I woke up in bed... I don't know. Daniel was holding me close. My Mom had picked Eli up... Ana was napping. I felt sick... confused.... scared. </span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>We laid there for a long time... talking and crying. The not knowing was really eating at me. Daniel talked me into going to the ER. </span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>The triage nurse seemed annoyed. Asking me routine questions. I am sure they get countless scared pregnant women in every week. I told her I have two children. She says so this is your 3rd pregnancy. I say this is my 8th pregnancy. Her tone changed.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>Nurse: Gravida?</span></div><div><span>Me: 8</span></div><div><span>Nurse: Para?</span></div><div><span>Me: 2... abortus 5, 4 miscarriage, one ectopic. </span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>I felt relieved. She spoke to me in real terms... she didn't sugar coat anything. She didn't beat around the bush. For the 5 hours we were there, she would pop in and tell us what was going on. What doctor or specialist had my file.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>At the end of the night we had learned that my HCG is about 730ish. The ultrasounds showed nothing except a large amount of blood loss coming from my cervix. They can not rule out miscarriage. They can not rule out ectopic even though nothing was found in my tubes or ovaries. They can not rule out a stable pregnancy. </span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>We leave with instructions to follow up with my doctor on Thursday.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>In limbo... once again... </span></div>Sarah Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11007168653062922949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804279702301678858.post-52767405288887905532012-03-24T11:30:00.003-07:002012-03-24T12:33:23.122-07:00Swagbucks Made Simple<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Swagbucks is an easy way to stretch your buck! Use your swagbuck earnings to treat yourself to things you wouldn't normally buy like a Starbucks gift card, concert tickets. OR be extra frugal and use your swagbucks to purchase Amazon gift cards and get your diapers or dish soap for free! Or save those Amazon cards for Christmas/ Birthday shopping! </span><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span ><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">I personally have used Swagbucks for over a year now. Using my swagbucks to purchase arena tickets, Amazon gift cards (which I have used to help with Christmas shopping, buying baby necessities, and a few HBO/ SHOWTIME tv series on DVD). I have even used my swagbucks to buy a gift card to an online clothing store. </span></span></span></div><div><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span ><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span ><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">How to sign up for Swagbucks?</span></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span ><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">It’s super easy! Just go to <span ><a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/slinkyallstar">Swagbucks</a></span> and fill out your information. You'll receive 30 points just for registering to get you started. After you've registered, read on to maximize your earnings potential.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; "><strong style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">How to maximize your swagbucks! </strong></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; ">Once you've<a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/slinkyallstar"> <span >registered with Swag Bucks</span></a>, earning SB is easy. Just follow the instructions below to earn!</p><p></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; "><strong style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Perform these tasks every day:</strong></p><ol style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 1.571em; "><li style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Install the Swagbucks toolbar. You'll earn points every day when you first open your browser just for having it installed!</li><li style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Click through the<a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/g/noso"> <span >No Obligation Offers</span></a> and get an instant Swag Bucks credit. Just indicate "No" or "Skip" or "See Next Offer" to offers that don't interest you.</li><li style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Take the <span ><a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/p/polls">Swagbucks daily pol</a></span><a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/?cmd=co-daily-poll" target="_blank" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(179, 32, 23); ">l</a> to earn Swagbucks.</li><li style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Perform Internet searches using the Swagbucks site or toolbar throughout the day. You have a chance to earn with each search. You use an internet search EVERY DAY, why not install the Swagbucks toolbar and use their search engine? It is powered by Google... you can earn countless swagbucks everyday just from internet searches!</li></ol><p></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Doing these things everyday for one year will earn you at least 1460 Swagbucks! That is enough for 3 Amazon gift cards! Easiest money you will ever make!</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></p><p style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; "><strong style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Mega Swagbucks Friday:</strong></p><p style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; ">Be sure to do a few internet searchs on Fridays for the opportunity to win Swagbucks in larger-the-usual amounts. Win in amounts of 10, 20, 50 or even 100 Swagbucks!</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; "></p><p style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; "><strong style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Other ways to earn:</strong></p><ul style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 1.571em; list-style-type: square; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; "><li style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Follow Swagbucks on <span ><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/swagbucks">Twitter</a></span>, <span ><a href="https://www.facebook.com/swagbucks">Facebook</a></span>, and the <a href="http://blog.swagbucks.com/"><span >Swagbucks blog</span>.</a> They regularly offer limited-time only Swag Codes on each of these sites.</li><li style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Watch the "From TSG" spot on the toolbar for notifications of limited Swag Codes. They may direct you to one of the sites above or you may find a code right in the notification. These usually expire within a few hours.</li><li style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; "><a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/p/invite">Invite your friends</a></span><span ><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> to join Swagbucks. When they use your personal referral link, You'll earn every time they search and win too! So use my link</span><a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/slinkyallstar" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; "> here</a><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> so I get the credit for referring you! </span></span></li><li style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/p/trade-in"><span >Recycle</span> </a>cell phones, MP3 players, video games, and gaming consoles.</li><li style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span ><a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/p/shop-and-earn">Shop through Swagbucks</a></span> and earn SB on each purchase.</li><li style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span ><a href="http://blog.swagbucks.com/2009/01/send-us-your-prize-photo-for-free-swag.html">Send photos or videos</a></span> of prizes redeemed through Swagbucks and earn up to 20 SB.</li><li style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><a href="mailto:pollideas@swagbucks.com" target="_blank" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(179, 32, 23); ">Contribute ideas</a> for the daily poll and receive 100 SB if your poll is featured.</li><li style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span ><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/p/coupons">Coupons!</a> Each coupon that you print from the Swagbucks site and is redeemed at a store will earn you 10 swagbucks. This is how i earn the most of my swagbucks! I use several different computers to print the coupons so that I have more then 2 of each... but if I am printing coupons anyways from a site like coupons.com, why not use the Swagbucks site and earn even MORE?!?! Just 45 coupons redeemed will earn me a Amazon gift card. I average 3-4 Amazon cards a month just from coupon redemption! </span></span></li></ul><div><span ><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">It really is easy to earn swagbucks... I hardly put any effort into it at all... I don't have that much free time... really, but I make it work in my favor! </span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">If you are still unsure about Swagbucks, read some of my other post <a href="http://sarahwaffles.blogspot.com/2011/02/what-is-swagbucks.html">here</a> about it :)</span></span></div><p></p><p></p></div>Sarah Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11007168653062922949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804279702301678858.post-50482744702500328562012-03-10T15:33:00.004-08:002012-03-10T16:01:14.500-08:00Calgon Take Me Away<span><span style="font-size: 100%;">Some days I feel so overwhelmed with just the basics... Dishes, laundry, meal times. Today was a one step forward two steps back kind of day. The kind of day when you realize the only thing you have eaten all day was a cup of coffee and some Gerber Puffs your baby stuck in your mouth.</span></span><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>The kind of day when you start to cry... and it is ok to cry... Real Mom's cry.<br /></span><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">The only way to survive a day like today is to give in... Give in to the mess and chaos. Turn the radio up really loud and dance with your kids. Be silly and </span>spontaneous<span style="font-size: 100%;">... and when they finally go down for a nap, eat some chocolate and veg out on Pinterest. </span></span></div></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; ">and it is ok to give up on things like that... Real Mom's give up because they are just in-perfect people... and people get tired too.</span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">Today's lost battle of laundry, dishes, and sticky faces is just one small battle in the war of Motherhood. Time to pull the flanks in... re-group... call in reinforcements... and try again in the Morning. </span></span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>and that is ok too... Real Mom's need help sometimes... we are only human.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>Funny thing... at the end of the day, on days like today, are the days that I feel the most complete. I lay in bed and cry a little... loving the crazy of the day... loving my children even more.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>and that is ok too.... I am a just a Mom... and remember, Real Mom's cry too! </span></div>Sarah Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11007168653062922949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804279702301678858.post-13750209177093043302012-02-26T15:16:00.015-08:002012-02-26T16:12:14.002-08:00Off to Neverland!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nPkJJffzN3Q3qh0E5y5-Yd1LNtKktmssluUTj_fK-OAqT7pucbdm-d0KY6zhy7LrIA35EmS1Kqn7ysDzCsQaFJbiX0z9yZkSTvtaHZ5IYm4_k-o-xwpCX2zvQ5aaXAy4VyaIJZFxNEph/s1600/056.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nPkJJffzN3Q3qh0E5y5-Yd1LNtKktmssluUTj_fK-OAqT7pucbdm-d0KY6zhy7LrIA35EmS1Kqn7ysDzCsQaFJbiX0z9yZkSTvtaHZ5IYm4_k-o-xwpCX2zvQ5aaXAy4VyaIJZFxNEph/s400/056.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713600292886590258" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; ">Daniel and I got to live out a dream of ours this month... we took our children to Disneyland! We thought that maybe it would be something that we would get to enjoy later on in life... when our lives seemed more settled. After getting our tax refund we were looking into taking a weekend vacation... just the two of us... but Disney was a nagging option that kept trying to make its way to the front of my thoughts. So I looked into it... and got hooked! We HAD to do Disney! Even if Ana won't remember the trip... even if Eli is a little too young to fully enjoy it... Daniel and I will ALWAYS remember how excited he was!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6QTunQ56ADkWhQT_iyynmr17WSMQqQnN01802GXmK6GEpiCz2sFWkHVlWJ0d0pR2_RgvvZfjgC5P0aFmQ59WxGcsS7PVH0a1hDtIq3r0wDIK0S9nmLbhKzPwYxjWfup1U-qV9pAhSdt5s/s1600/056.JPG"></a></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyl5RhPhTvm377xHeIG8NglxjOyR8NHXpyiCJuzbJ5Ifyyc2Cus1PtFcykjjAayTyA78859F_Oy-jSMqDxL1tS5OqtTRngQA-2Ko_-WTykAp0VZO52ayTnROUkWwR4OWMfgFaSaAiZXEYL/s400/047.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713598508668643602" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wux1d91mMqoz2Dowmf7IKnykJwx7z33hbbi5-7uSTBYJccpfCPRbVq-_mtAZin8LllqSaoQb_Q7Aay7ekfHj7Q0P3aDlGB7b8XRQKgVLRBSupN8QHH3ELL_rHXqsBIfD-JiurFc1C3d4/s1600/074.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wux1d91mMqoz2Dowmf7IKnykJwx7z33hbbi5-7uSTBYJccpfCPRbVq-_mtAZin8LllqSaoQb_Q7Aay7ekfHj7Q0P3aDlGB7b8XRQKgVLRBSupN8QHH3ELL_rHXqsBIfD-JiurFc1C3d4/s400/074.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713598381431193906" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3TXf7y6lpnm1IlPv9b13cFLT00EFfriX6Q5RJwcaAZlQCTRuog6PBsCoxleeOKHQqxlR3Yo4WCf48GP8wkdgkdOi9H1G0oTeOMbbJtm2TX9sMhLWyNcL1pbAWgI5O2wqDx4abBHOfeF-A/s1600/021.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3TXf7y6lpnm1IlPv9b13cFLT00EFfriX6Q5RJwcaAZlQCTRuog6PBsCoxleeOKHQqxlR3Yo4WCf48GP8wkdgkdOi9H1G0oTeOMbbJtm2TX9sMhLWyNcL1pbAWgI5O2wqDx4abBHOfeF-A/s400/021.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713598250654238258" /></a>Oh boy, Elijah was excited too! This kid has so much energy and enthusiasm! It was so much fun! Seeing his face when he got to meet "yee haw cowboy" (Woody) and "Uzz" (Buzz Lightyear)... I cried! Hearing him exclaim excitement after each ride, made my heart burst with joy. I have always loved Disneyland... but experiencing it with my kids is a new kind of fun!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8v66LLeLsLQZBozeyVi0L5YgBNdWQqIrkH-kj9Y7RApbRPTmDZGwGXnQBd92s2LpH6-AqkzKPgy-c1R8dXxnidtXkKOCc8F162V4KFCjEtgAwLaHNATS9FL3nMfYPTG5Kuu2Ai8v9j6EC/s1600/158.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8v66LLeLsLQZBozeyVi0L5YgBNdWQqIrkH-kj9Y7RApbRPTmDZGwGXnQBd92s2LpH6-AqkzKPgy-c1R8dXxnidtXkKOCc8F162V4KFCjEtgAwLaHNATS9FL3nMfYPTG5Kuu2Ai8v9j6EC/s400/158.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713598072168696514" /></a>Daniel had never been either! He tried to play it off like Disneyland was no big deal... but I kept catching these glimpses of awe and wonder. He totally enjoyed himself!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvnYi9gssufVfgAGfBfE_X2NkwoxxvG8wXzsXCoQGHbJ6NX1iK4h_fCgJVUiE87xEj-HEgC0v8q-dnAOsiJ0LO8TekYYJ98cKz99tjGSrNQNWN6psgvxRdF948AImGGMhD08skjklVwGo/s1600/088.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvnYi9gssufVfgAGfBfE_X2NkwoxxvG8wXzsXCoQGHbJ6NX1iK4h_fCgJVUiE87xEj-HEgC0v8q-dnAOsiJ0LO8TekYYJ98cKz99tjGSrNQNWN6psgvxRdF948AImGGMhD08skjklVwGo/s400/088.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713597930231360338" /></a>Being the frugal couponing gal I am, I looked into discount hotels and tickets... of course. We decided to buy our tickets and hotel package with Costco. We used my Moms membership to get the package deal. We stayed in the Disneyland Hotel... something I had always wanted to do! I am not sure we would stay there again. It was expensive... really expensive. It is a nice hotel, but really you are only paying for easy accesses into the park with the Monorail. The decor in the hotel was Disney themed, and that was fun... but there was make up stains in the bathroom from some girls cover-up exploding, the tub had a broken drain so we had to shower the kids instead of bathing them, the window was covered in hand prints... and other little things like that. I am not saying we had a terrible experience... I am just saying we probably wouldn't spend the money on staying there again. It did have perks... and was really really really REALLY cool though. <div><br /></div><div>The coolest feature of staying the Disneyland hotel (other then the easy access into the park) was the Nanny. The hotel has a list of Nanny agencies that are available to come to your room and watch your children. I have never had to pay for a sitter before, so this was new to me... but the price was really decent! I charged more for babysitting when I was in high school. I asked a bazillion questions and did my research of course so I was totally at ease with the little old lady who came to watch my babies. SO... Daniel and I got to spend a few hours in Disneyland ALONE! Oh boy! It was really fun! We ran to all the "big kid" rides and literally walked right on... it was a blast! We walked through New Orleans Square hand in hand... got a Mint Julep and just enjoyed being together in the happiest place on Earth! Funny thing... Disneyland is really romantic!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeYAM37y-acAbiQKFysG4x6ClE93S2ZHwpk4owhT6_PDsrhzG_qagyINA-jSgJxfkZ9ZTJkdtXP-JWD0c0e54Yxcy4NFebkWoIgRlch_Qm32Jrg7riI5YNKT5_LowQBY_MGwd2ijdGn_2/s1600/185.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeYAM37y-acAbiQKFysG4x6ClE93S2ZHwpk4owhT6_PDsrhzG_qagyINA-jSgJxfkZ9ZTJkdtXP-JWD0c0e54Yxcy4NFebkWoIgRlch_Qm32Jrg7riI5YNKT5_LowQBY_MGwd2ijdGn_2/s400/185.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713597328640141058" /></a><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtdXuz5903ohDFNyY45dJhUD7iIJJx6r5OSAzOT5vRfLr1kdzGr-ZPF3Tya2cgn3OBihynHyJBs7FYet-CA_ZSPvYhw1aE-UjQzWxmSgUkpXUs0rU_lTDrm_THM_GHXtwcyVK_ABzB9loD/s400/008.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713596916164828450" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Anamarie spent most of her Disneyland experience asleep in her sling. When carrying a really cute baby in a sling in Disneyland, you get LOTS of attention... and it is nearly impossible to hurry and get anywhere, people stop you to "gush" at your baby. She was getting over a really nasty flu bug (we all were really). She liked seeing all the people when she was awake, and enjoyed the rides (she really was able to go on MOST of the rides!)... she didn't really like the characters though. The only one she was interested in was Belle. We had TWO sets premium dinner tickets... we went to Goofys Kitchen AND Ariels Grotto. While at Ariels Grotto we got to meet many of the Princesses. Ana wasn't interested in any of them... then she met Belle! She cooed and smiled! She tried to slobber kiss Belles face and watched her the entire meal! It was so sweet! I am happy to know that Ana's favorite Princess is Belle... fun! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuWqlMxd9F_a-lWLciTZ4bt99Zi9OoMy0Jt6vsVbx82X0WmvjhTDvHoRRMJMYvKK8k7nrnvxfdy1Ea1VPtox8O4fRm-3pQ_2JCbAZ4IWOEjLMOh6hhmbL7WLhCQH5p30NxuDXTg6GwcAp/s1600/177.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuWqlMxd9F_a-lWLciTZ4bt99Zi9OoMy0Jt6vsVbx82X0WmvjhTDvHoRRMJMYvKK8k7nrnvxfdy1Ea1VPtox8O4fRm-3pQ_2JCbAZ4IWOEjLMOh6hhmbL7WLhCQH5p30NxuDXTg6GwcAp/s400/177.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713597044525338946" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Our trip was a total success! Eli keeps asking "Disneyland tomorrow in the morning Mom?"... he wants to go back! I keep telling him "someday"... I hope that someday isn't too far away!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDdWARI_szUHBGzSHR45q2Ou_Shntlm_LiPmkt6NeQt4oD3GynhZgiBCj0NS6fI-msLM798zYkpIv_26ucD7921druQlGsJ3GR2RdFDTqxJPwrnigEtkVxT42W-Mn9NQd58vph-pAn8_x/s1600/104.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDdWARI_szUHBGzSHR45q2Ou_Shntlm_LiPmkt6NeQt4oD3GynhZgiBCj0NS6fI-msLM798zYkpIv_26ucD7921druQlGsJ3GR2RdFDTqxJPwrnigEtkVxT42W-Mn9NQd58vph-pAn8_x/s400/104.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713596542629918194" /></a><br /><span ><br /></span></div>Sarah Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11007168653062922949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804279702301678858.post-53018914329939821902012-01-02T02:55:00.000-08:002012-01-02T14:21:56.520-08:00Whipple Family 2011 in Review<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">-</span><span>Whipple Family 2011 in Review-</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>In January we said “see you later” to Uncle Dave.</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>We were surprised, in <a href="http://sarahwaffles.blogspot.com/2011/02/its.html">February</a>, to learn that baby bean was in fact a Girl, and we named her Anamarie May Whipple. </span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUivEu3mqcV7cVGxW-LnCOVqnXWO7ThPKi-vQJFM2hpipeJvQVdifA-mpla6fQ2CW6b8llLo4zFOwYYgl8voRcF-rJvp24amb7PXClCq-MmI3ee7MaGW-SFf_NXLkhnCSQJpsPy8X14qWl/s1600/DSCN1047000.jpg"><span><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUivEu3mqcV7cVGxW-LnCOVqnXWO7ThPKi-vQJFM2hpipeJvQVdifA-mpla6fQ2CW6b8llLo4zFOwYYgl8voRcF-rJvp24amb7PXClCq-MmI3ee7MaGW-SFf_NXLkhnCSQJpsPy8X14qWl/s400/DSCN1047000.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693005759267062754" /></span></a><div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><br /></u></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><a href="http://sarahwaffles.blogspot.com/2011/04/how-i-coupon.html">March</a> was quiet dull. I kept myself busy with learning to coupon… playing with Elijah and helping my sister plan her wedding.</span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>April was more exciting! We started to look for a home to move in to. I had a very pregnant birthday AND Easter.</span></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpszxG30nIxCK3OwD7NuqqzQv5YJTcgbhGPk9U-5SMLa2Viv6aC1IGPA1C5tcWH2iywjY7B2hB9eMJuwmxJ43WCoPCFS5W1rMakgwZn6xDA0u2rz4iMuRriMlC2HCmueXu2iofH02ZU_a/s400/208588_10150554175560103_585035102_18428996_8305070_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693005512048529330" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><a href="http://sarahwaffles.blogspot.com/2011/05/shower-of-love.html" style="text-align: left; ">May</a><span style="text-align: left; "> was filled with so much baby thoughts. A lovely shower… setting up a n</span></span><span style="text-align: left; ">ursery in our new home. Daniel started working at the </span><st1:place style="text-align: left; "><st1:placename>Walmart</st1:placename> <st1:placename>Distribution</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>Center</st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="text-align: left; "> in Red Bluff! Working half the hours for double the pay. Daniels Mom, Sister and Nieces came and visited for a week. Elijah got to meet and play with his cousins and Auntie for the first time! It was awesome! That last week of May I tried so desperately to induce labor… it didn’t work.</span></div><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzO4XS4pX-FlpDnuh5w2WgBUWdKw-wm9weQIy9lpyNbldvWA4Ey4XkGzExYvlbvzGY6H8KmDdHq_VhOI1UdQbqzsZeoxKsJcnnJr30XBcSLxqH8D4x2-QmsfEVja2P15EutOigyhjghPPM/s1600/DSCN1280.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzO4XS4pX-FlpDnuh5w2WgBUWdKw-wm9weQIy9lpyNbldvWA4Ey4XkGzExYvlbvzGY6H8KmDdHq_VhOI1UdQbqzsZeoxKsJcnnJr30XBcSLxqH8D4x2-QmsfEVja2P15EutOigyhjghPPM/s400/DSCN1280.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693004653947445010" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLylQSeIwtr4bAsMsOVq8j_FEX1LzHmhXVMJefc9wWphXO7LKjVqVSXxaK-doAK1B7b3mN9pUcrTJ5NyMdjL6QjxWVrq0wWo0G7F0dzvZEQnSOMvLk4ZRa8iSepFOGdDfNNHrNKSS1Ju1/s1600/DSCN1285.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLylQSeIwtr4bAsMsOVq8j_FEX1LzHmhXVMJefc9wWphXO7LKjVqVSXxaK-doAK1B7b3mN9pUcrTJ5NyMdjL6QjxWVrq0wWo0G7F0dzvZEQnSOMvLk4ZRa8iSepFOGdDfNNHrNKSS1Ju1/s400/DSCN1285.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693004470500481618" /></a></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span>My beautiful baby girl… my daughter… was born <a href="http://sarahwaffles.blogspot.com/2011/06/anamaries-birth-story.html">June 9<sup>th</sup></a>! I can tell you that I can’t help but cry still when I think about how happy I am because of that pink squishy girl. June was the highlight of my year.</span></div><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3vBJj8zQPFilgQTuFdjfoTAvqtHdMSI8efs-2aixiSOB7VoqMDM2kz6gyK8WChKudJMsUIOtelvEWmzI-1bT-C4HmcAfGItstv77km2voBVhADJV6cMSN_S1F4RsXJBXQ_4ZGDzgtAoQ/s1600/DSCN1423.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3vBJj8zQPFilgQTuFdjfoTAvqtHdMSI8efs-2aixiSOB7VoqMDM2kz6gyK8WChKudJMsUIOtelvEWmzI-1bT-C4HmcAfGItstv77km2voBVhADJV6cMSN_S1F4RsXJBXQ_4ZGDzgtAoQ/s400/DSCN1423.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693003839179857426" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></div></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm42G7vMYwv4unv2vYNVu26eI1gFv4LQ9k8tT_xBfhCE8NnuwMYr_HXTRH34px8pWEugKQhBUDamCqzC0KfRyEk230qNbbVjfAW9Pd_N8TmMPKuyg8csd9m6zN6-qrm0LQ7RyNpaaQQRgc/s1600/DSCN1392.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm42G7vMYwv4unv2vYNVu26eI1gFv4LQ9k8tT_xBfhCE8NnuwMYr_HXTRH34px8pWEugKQhBUDamCqzC0KfRyEk230qNbbVjfAW9Pd_N8TmMPKuyg8csd9m6zN6-qrm0LQ7RyNpaaQQRgc/s400/DSCN1392.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693003633260906786" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3vBJj8zQPFilgQTuFdjfoTAvqtHdMSI8efs-2aixiSOB7VoqMDM2kz6gyK8WChKudJMsUIOtelvEWmzI-1bT-C4HmcAfGItstv77km2voBVhADJV6cMSN_S1F4RsXJBXQ_4ZGDzgtAoQ/s1600/DSCN1423.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaafnM0zzUwDwKB2xP1O9Yf242EaI33BZFgIFNUMyQdGmqhxyVQ7lB2BLBR7u8RVfWjAUeRV7SeGX9SIRSKyGLbh-BnNJfvLcLyWsNmuHhy3BAUHjxfkw-8mvn4PoPpXaDx-du8WwjELZb/s400/DSCN1443.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693004090358413106" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><u><br /></u></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span>July is the month my baby sister became a Mrs. Her Wedding was quite the event! I have never been to a more fun wedding! Elijah was the ring bearer, but he did not take his responsibilities seriously… tisk tisk! I also got to spend some time with two very special friends and their daughters in July! I am ecstatic that we each have a girl… ah! Anamarie went on her fi</span>rst family vacation during the month of July also. We drove up to the coast as a family… I still can’t believe I took my newborn camping. It was an experience… July also welcomed another baby Colbert into the world! Elijah has yet another girl cousin in his life…</p><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmJN_FVGKuhY_XG0u06qk0u_OqDRhHSVdPDgtAumLDlbaIhQVNzGrnlKR-5JLMCnHzPYeFQbC2a6O0-i4yfEDk-nkAD_VuWZaRVLgbYlrepkvwxA8U1VTvV716fVEg9ek55sEJM-PSe-w/s400/232323232-fp43445-nu%253D3236-478-889-WSNRCG%253D34794-3839326nu0mrj.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693002756834653602" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TNZ47RkLuZ7c4tQ5hMuRgNWLKc16lk4vBLHlDFNy2EtWajYtMtApc106NgzuDgLBV1zAPKwcU7xF80lyDinnRgSEjnjPYqXI2P4_o32TS7i12iBalrsfpsb15eYpff8HLguFLmp2nJQy/s1600/270932_1853466457704_1272068105_3107495_3184187_n.jpg"><span><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TNZ47RkLuZ7c4tQ5hMuRgNWLKc16lk4vBLHlDFNy2EtWajYtMtApc106NgzuDgLBV1zAPKwcU7xF80lyDinnRgSEjnjPYqXI2P4_o32TS7i12iBalrsfpsb15eYpff8HLguFLmp2nJQy/s400/270932_1853466457704_1272068105_3107495_3184187_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693003306678960882" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span>August was spent creating family memories… it was slower and we just enjoyed being a family of four. Toward the end of the month we drove over to visit Daniels family on the coast. His sister and brother were helping his parents move. Ana got to meet them for the first time. My sister moved to <st1:country-region><st1:place>Georgia</st1:place></st1:country-region>, because that is where her husband is stationed… obviously she would want to live with him.</span></div></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>My baby boy turned three years old in <a href="http://sarahwaffles.blogspot.com/2011/09/very-yee-haw-cowboy-party.html">September</a>. He is such a little ham… a</span>nd I could not love him any more! He had a very “yee-haw” cowboy party… he sure did enjoy himself! We got Eli a bicycle for his birthday… he thinks he is the coolest kid on the block now!</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-kuuFQ5QFoDAghPp1lFJhw_u_I31RO9dyAH3m5G4ww1ZDjSrpPQhP_2vs6jMFCGVToUg-rNXWTtQBWW2l1Kk7WspxLI_d9ncwFve6Q2_GLS6WgkREORqiub967Gw2IpjXRbPw8ttxqpD/s1600/300296_10150812867940103_585035102_21048306_573673848_n.jpg"><span><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-kuuFQ5QFoDAghPp1lFJhw_u_I31RO9dyAH3m5G4ww1ZDjSrpPQhP_2vs6jMFCGVToUg-rNXWTtQBWW2l1Kk7WspxLI_d9ncwFve6Q2_GLS6WgkREORqiub967Gw2IpjXRbPw8ttxqpD/s400/300296_10150812867940103_585035102_21048306_573673848_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693002226203264338" /></span></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span>In <a href="http://sarahwaffles.blogspot.com/2011/10/day-my-baby-stated-school.html">October</a> Eli got to start school. He finished with speech therapy and I was advised, that because of his delay, he would benefit from a structured learning environment for a few hours each day. During that time he meets with a special speech therapist. It has only been a few months and everyone in Eli’s life has noticed an improvement in his speech. He is a different kid! So much happier! He sure does love going to school too! He has fun with his friends! Both Eli and Ana went Trick-or-Treating this Haloween. Eli dressed as a pirate, Ana dressed as a panda bear. Eli had a BLAST!</span></p><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UoPcUuEFw2QFGAl10-PFCuYMgQUOD-2DA4HYjDtPi5Xc5E8mTRNJ1y1GGuddVUEOA60wbKbyOh8vYJaIIZh4JNP7dgXEbojDPOggjwjr30FxnYvOrf1XJFy0WcjakQ4OcCqZYd5ykr0x/s1600/313603_10150881543705103_585035102_21527668_74110369_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UoPcUuEFw2QFGAl10-PFCuYMgQUOD-2DA4HYjDtPi5Xc5E8mTRNJ1y1GGuddVUEOA60wbKbyOh8vYJaIIZh4JNP7dgXEbojDPOggjwjr30FxnYvOrf1XJFy0WcjakQ4OcCqZYd5ykr0x/s400/313603_10150881543705103_585035102_21527668_74110369_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693001945315085986" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2amD88f3Dp34ruJ2vvMMoI8nsjw_lps7A5q5JcFmGv5HME49-OhVowVHldJ8_klSvU8CyAVzqYldTplIMPpPFgR8O-qRz4Nct39BaWNULjomQ9S6H0iKHaU51doslEaYHJPcRkqFcioD/s1600/297695_10150881550775103_585035102_21527764_1686744874_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2amD88f3Dp34ruJ2vvMMoI8nsjw_lps7A5q5JcFmGv5HME49-OhVowVHldJ8_klSvU8CyAVzqYldTplIMPpPFgR8O-qRz4Nct39BaWNULjomQ9S6H0iKHaU51doslEaYHJPcRkqFcioD/s400/297695_10150881550775103_585035102_21527764_1686744874_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693001721847601634" /></a></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></div><div><span>November came and left in a whirlwind! I had no time to blog… Daniels parents visited shortly. It is so nice that the kids get to see them often! I love it and they love seeing their Nana and Papa! Thanksgiving was fun as always. Ana and I braved Black Friday at Walmart.</span></div><span><span><span><span><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUivEu3mqcV7cVGxW-LnCOVqnXWO7ThPKi-vQJFM2hpipeJvQVdifA-mpla6fQ2CW6b8llLo4zFOwYYgl8voRcF-rJvp24amb7PXClCq-MmI3ee7MaGW-SFf_NXLkhnCSQJpsPy8X14qWl/s1600/DSCN1047000.jpg"><span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZnCR7OcTiGwQDUeDfpBVs87C3n_iAFq4oHoaVgcYdrg-gbbwr_1IItjZRQyxYcXsapJLzErOdymwI1TqDhMOFTUWhVHXgmqi4CJA8gMsIeRLa7OG9Mw9IRcXn2-Z_y6XHiOei3KPS5jF/s400/xmas2011.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693010661790443410" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 284px; height: 400px; " /></span></a><div></div></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm42G7vMYwv4unv2vYNVu26eI1gFv4LQ9k8tT_xBfhCE8NnuwMYr_HXTRH34px8pWEugKQhBUDamCqzC0KfRyEk230qNbbVjfAW9Pd_N8TmMPKuyg8csd9m6zN6-qrm0LQ7RyNpaaQQRgc/s1600/DSCN1392.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3vBJj8zQPFilgQTuFdjfoTAvqtHdMSI8efs-2aixiSOB7VoqMDM2kz6gyK8WChKudJMsUIOtelvEWmzI-1bT-C4HmcAfGItstv77km2voBVhADJV6cMSN_S1F4RsXJBXQ_4ZGDzgtAoQ/s1600/DSCN1423.JPG"></a></span><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TNZ47RkLuZ7c4tQ5hMuRgNWLKc16lk4vBLHlDFNy2EtWajYtMtApc106NgzuDgLBV1zAPKwcU7xF80lyDinnRgSEjnjPYqXI2P4_o32TS7i12iBalrsfpsb15eYpff8HLguFLmp2nJQy/s1600/270932_1853466457704_1272068105_3107495_3184187_n.jpg"></a></span></span></span><div><span>My babies first Christmas seemed so far away last year at this time. I remember holding my belly a year ago today and thinking about him… or her… Christmas pictures, decorating the tree, making cookies, snuggling on the couch with my sweet baby love. December 2011 finally arrived and Ana’s first Christmas was everything I dreamed it would be. I wrapped all of her dolls and Barbie’s in pink Christmas paper, and she had a blast tearing them open just to eat the paper. Elijah enjoyed Christmas so much this year… he was finally able to understand the concept… and it was just so magical!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="text-align: left; ">D</span><span style="text-align: left; ">aniel celebrated his 27 birthday this December and his AWESOME wife gave him two tickets to see the 49er’s vs. Rams game. It was his first professional football game. He took his buddy and they drove down to San Fran for the day. I think that I got the better deal. I got to see his face when I gave him the tickets… he just got to watch some boring game. </span></span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>2011 was EPIC</span></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXIfsvATosRoVa8N5sZ6PDBxOEKfGR7DdmjYZBA2m97oHdjiY8RZR9_pBuRxZEkacR6J77GW2cg8tz3riXhQ219bNELGQnFp7owZn7_TUKRI31Mw6i9e_w3jeZOyZw7lo1gQ7JeSr1pt1C/s400/396364_2414204595807_1272068105_3498218_466917848_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693000623498420194" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px; " /></div><div><span><br /></span></div><span><b><u><br /></u></b></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></div>Sarah Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11007168653062922949noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804279702301678858.post-81020404230640205652011-11-14T21:46:00.000-08:002011-11-15T03:25:03.186-08:00My Coupon'ing Evolved<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zvc751RCCsWDOZGpLICgpJ738Oh7odurclZwq-7fc2s_q0SDGNGov9MJ0GGVrjalYT1q0NXAzbkL_RNtSVZca-eDfinwuBH3uxWen8cWeE8mDK9r42_k5U1cQGEchgul81EIL43A-gAY/s1600/309152_10150837750035103_585035102_21229218_2101947818_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zvc751RCCsWDOZGpLICgpJ738Oh7odurclZwq-7fc2s_q0SDGNGov9MJ0GGVrjalYT1q0NXAzbkL_RNtSVZca-eDfinwuBH3uxWen8cWeE8mDK9r42_k5U1cQGEchgul81EIL43A-gAY/s400/309152_10150837750035103_585035102_21229218_2101947818_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675133824055435218" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal">I had posted several months ago about<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial; "> <a href="http://sarahwaffles.blogspot.com/2011/04/how-i-coupon.html">"How I Coupon"</a></span></span>... reading that post... now... I realize how much more money I was spending then compared to now. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">NOW<span style="font-family:Georgia"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">-I do not pay more than 25¢ for toothpaste or a toothbrush... usually only paying tax for either. I only buy Crest, Colgate or Oral-B. <span style="font-family:Georgia"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">-I do not pay more than 20¢ for a roll of toliet Paper... usually Cottonelle <span style="font-family:Georgia"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">-I do not pay more than $1.00 for mine (Herbal Essence) or Daniels (Head and Shoulders) or Elijah's (Suave 3-in-1) or Ana's (Johnson's Baby Head to Toe) shampoo.<span style="font-family:Georgia"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">-I do not pay more than 9¢ for a diaper... and I have only been buying Pampers or Huggies. Sometimes I buy the store brand... like when I bought a Jumbo Pack of CVS diapers for $1.25... GOOD DEAL! <span style="font-family:Georgia"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">-I do not pay more than 75¢ for Daniels Degree deodorant <span style="font-family:Georgia"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">-I do not pay anything for Daniels razors... he has a few years worth of Schick, Gillette and a few store brand name razors and cartridges. <span style="font-family:Georgia"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></span>It has been an interesting process moving our family to a "coupon lifestyle"... one week we seriously only ate sandwiches, soup and frozen fish poppers. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; "> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now though, with a stock pile, I feel more relaxed... not like I am chasing down every deal... not HAVING to clip coupons Sunday morning to get the sales that started that day.<span style="font-family:Georgia"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></span> It takes discipline... you just have to make the time. Which is becoming harder and harder to do as Ana becomes more mobile! I heard someone say once (in regards to people saying they don't have time to coupon) "you just have never been broke enough"... It really made me realize that instead of complaining and being bummed out about too many bills at the end of the money, I could do something about it. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></span> I spend anywhere from 3-15 hours a week reading blogs, Facebook posts and visiting coupon friendly websites.<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial; "> </span></span> I feel like it is my way for contributing financially. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></span>It also is important to be organized. I use a zip-up binder... the kind that I used to get made fun of for using in school. In that binder are probably 200 clear plastic baseball card holders. Each clear sheet has 9-12 pockets... that is where I put my clipped coupons! (see above picture)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></span>One of the key elements to successfully coupon'ing was to stop being picky. Drop the favorite name brands and just go with what we can get for free. I stopped buying the $9 lotion and expensive make-up. We do have some things we are snobby about... sure... Daniel refuses to use anything other than Head and Shoulders... and I won't use anything other than Herbal Essence. With the use of coupons... we can be snobby about that! </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></span>I wish I would have couponed years ago... especially right after Daniel got laid-off when Eli was a newborn. I remember looking for change under couch cushions and the floor of my car so I could buy the cheap 77¢ White Rain shampoo... not finding much change and just having to use bar soap as shampoo. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></span>It really is VERY EASY to coupon. You don't have to be a die-hard EXTREME couponer... saving any amount of money is GOOD... good for you... money you can use to pay a bill, buy a cute pair of shoes, or money to use for a vacation.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></span>-Get 1 or more Sunday papers. You can also ask friends, neighbors or family to save their inserts for you. I have my Parents and my Poppie save the inserts for me. If the coupons are especially good I will venture out and asked around the neighborhood if I can have their inserts... Ok I usually just check the recycle bins the night before trash day... it is a dirty job and you will not believe the amount of people who toss their cigarettes in the recycle bin! I print over half of my coupons! I don't use coupons.com... I use the <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/slinkyallstar">Swagbucks</a> coupon databank (visit my <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/slinkyallstar">Swagbucks</a> info Blog <a href="http://sarahwaffles.blogspot.com/2011/02/what-is-swagbucks.html">here</a> ... it is powered by coupons.com BUT for every coupon I use I earn 10 <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/slinkyallstar">Swagbucks</a>! After using 45 coupons I have enough points for a $5 Amazon.com gift card! I have used <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/slinkyallstar">Swagbucks</a> for about a year now... earning over $300 in Amazon.com gift cards. NO JOKE! I only earn <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/slinkyallstar">Swagbucks</a> from the coupons I use and from doing online searches (instead of Google, I use their search engine (which is powered by Google... so it’s all the same) </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>-Organize your coupons. Whatever way is easiest for you! Some people carry around a white envelope with a few coupons. Some people just put a few coupons in their wallet. I started out with just putting coupons in my wallet. But then I would forget to use them... then I started putting them in a small accordion folder. It fit in my purse... but I quickly found that it was hard to find coupons spur-of-the-moment like while in the store. Some people get the coupon inserts, but do not clip them. They just keep them whole and check what sales are going on... then clip them according to what they need. I like to have my coupons with me when I go out... that way if I find clearance items I can see if I have coupons for them. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">-I religiously check my Facebook for posts from fellow coupon'ing sites. I also visit www.afullcup.com several times a day. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/thecouponista"><span style="font-family:Arial; color:black">https://www.facebook.com/thecouponista</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/MommysMoneySavingObsession"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">https://www.facebook.com/MommysMoneySavingObsession</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/iheartthemart"><span style="font-family:Arial">https://www.facebook.com/iheartthemart#</span></a> *favorite!<span style="font-family:Georgia"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/MyLittercom"><span style="font-family:Arial">https://www.facebook.com/MyLittercom</span></a> *favorite! <span style="font-family:Georgia"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/NorCalCouponGal"><span style="font-family:Arial; color:black">https://www.facebook.com/NorCalCouponGal</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Before I had posted that my favorite store is Target... I have sense changed my mind. I do most my shopping at Walmart, Walgreens and CVS. I haven't been to Winco in months! I do still visit Target... and I use coupons there of course! You can read all about shopping at Target in my other <a href="http://sarahwaffles.blogspot.com/2011/04/how-i-coupon.html">"How to Coupon"</a> blog. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Walmart</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Walmart is AMAZING! I love how they will Ad Match ANYTHING! Every Wednsday I open up a Word document and at the top I type WALMART MATCH UPS (then the date). I then open my Swagbucks browser and type in Safeway (sometimes earning <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/slinkyallstar">Swagbucks</a>!)... click on the Safeway site... click on their sales ad and get to work. When I find a good deal I type the item name and the price Safeway has it priced at, then what coupon I have for it. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></span>I do the same for Raleys and Food Maxx... our local Food Maxx doesn't put out an ad weekly so I use Krogers ad (Food Maxx is Kroger... like how Safeway is Vons/Randalls/Tom Thumb). I also price match CVS, Walgreens, SavMore, Big Lots and Rite Aide. You can price match ANY store that is a competitor to Walmart. I am going to be price matching Best Buy and JcPenny's on Black Friday! </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></span>Along with price matching ads, I use coupons on the items price matched. Many times making the item FREE or pretty darn close to free. Walmart allows overages... meaning if I have a coupon that exceeds the amount of the item I am purchasing, Walmart will take the excess amount and apply it to my order. I also use my Associate discount card... taking 10% off most the items I purchase... I am a cool kid like that. </p><p class="MsoNormal">It is VERY time consuming... and I will spend over half an hour at the register sometimes. Especially if the cashier clerk is new or doesn't know how to price match. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></span>There have been many times when the clerk tells me that Walmart doesn't price match (despite the ads on tv, radio, online and the MANY signs in the store saying they do). I have also been told that I can not use coupons with price matching. For those occasions I pull out my copy of Walmarts coupon policy and show them. They will call over their CSM, who will (should) tell them follow the corporate coupon policy. I have been called a liar and thief at Walmart a few times by cashiers. To coupon you have to grow a thick skin... and it never pays to get mad. No item or sale is worth it. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Walgreens</span><span style="font-family:Georgia"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></span>I LOVE WALGREENS! It is one of my favorite places to shop with coupons. It can be a little intimidating at first, with their Register Reward system and all... but it is really quite simple. A Register Reward (RR) is a coupon that prints out from the Catalina machine at the time of purchase for a specified item. When looking at the Walgreens ad I focus on purchasing items that offer the RR. Once I get a RR, I use that RR to purchase other items that offer RR. It is called "Rolling RR". </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>The tricky thing with RR is that if you use a RR from a product to purchase another of the same product, you WILL NOT get another RR.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Example: Purchase one Dove/Degree deoderant for $2.99 get $2.00 RR. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I pay $2.99 for the deoderant, get the $2RR at the end of the transaction. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">On the RR I will see "Thank you for your purchase Dove/Degree", the amount for the RR and an expiration date (which is always 2 weeks exactly). So if I use that RR on another Dove/Degree item, I will not get another RR.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>HOWEVER... I can use a RR from a different transaction. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Example: Purcahse one Dove/Degree deoderant for $2.99 get $2.00 RR. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I use a $1 off Dove deodorant coupon AND a $2 RR from a previous purchase (Say Blistex). <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>SO I am using 2 paper items (a coupon and a RR), but only purchasing 1 item... I call it having more paper then items... I need to find a "filler" item. A filler can be ANYTHING... a soda, a piece of candy, a pair of socks, pictures from the photo lab, a newspaper, a 10 cent pencil, a gift card... ANYTHING! So just remember make sure you don't have more coupons/ RR then items to purchase. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>So my transactions would look like this:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Purcahse one Dove/Degree deoderant for $2.99 <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Purcahse one filler item<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Use $1 off Dove<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Use $2 RR from previous Blistex purchase <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Pay tax and filler item amount</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>get $2.00 RR</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">When shopping at Walgreens I almost always check out at the Beauty counter... sometimes the photo counter... that way I don't hold the line up in the front. I always type out my transaction so I stay focused. I need to focus especially if I have Eli with me. Every Sunday the same girl is working the Beauty Counter... she knows my system and I will bring like a $10bill with me and just keep it, some change, my coupons I am using, and my previous RR on the counter... so when I have to chase Eli down she just keeps the transactions going without me... taking change from the counter to complete the transactions... it is kind of hilarious! <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span">CVS</span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I wish I wish I wish I would have started couponing at CVS sooner! I didn't for a LONG time... until I got a free body wash coupon from them... That same week I got a $4 of $20 purchase, a free CVS band-aide coupon and a free <st1:place><st1:placename>Hershey</st1:placename> <st1:placename>Candy</st1:placename> <st1:placename>Bar</st1:placename></st1:place> coupon and a $3 off any diaper purchase... I took those coupons and my coupon for $10 off $15 pampers purchase and bought an 82 pack of Pampers, a full size body wash, a box of CVS brand band-aides and a candy bar for $1.12! And because I bought the box of diapers I got $4 Extra Care Bucks (In store credit)... Thus beginning my love affair with CVS! <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The first thing you need to do to coupon at CVS is to sign up for their loyalty card program "Extra Care Card". It gives you access to their store ad prices and things called "extra care bucks" or "ECB"s for short. You can sign up online or in the store. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">SECOND... sign up for their Beauty Care program. It links up to your Extra Care Card, but keeps your beauty care purchases totaled separately. For every $50 you spend on beauty purchases you get $5 ECB (that you can use on anything... not just beauty purchases) </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Every time you walk into a CVS you need to visit the coupon kiosk, also referred to as the "Magic Coupon Machine". The kiosk is usually close to the front of the store... and close to the Pharmacy counter. Every time I shop at CVS, the first thing I do is scan my card at the kiosk. It will print out store coupons and coupons that say a % off your total, or $ off a $$ purchase. These kiosk coupons CAN be staked with manufactures coupons. You can find the % off and $ off $$ purchase online at cvs.com too. You will have to log in to access them... I find it easier to keep track of them that way, so I can plan my weekly trips and what-not. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Like Walgreen's, CVS's weekly deals give a in store credit (ECB) with certain items purchased. You can use these to purchase ANYTHING in the store (minus the normal no-no's, lotto tix, liquor, cigarettes ... you get the picture). To maximize savings and reduce total out-of-pocket expense, I like to roll the ECB into other items that also give out ECB. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">UNLIKE Walgreen's, CVS lets you use your ECB to purcahce same deal items... so for the Example: Purchase one Dove/Degree deoderant for $2.99 get $2.00 ECB... I can do that transaction over and over again using the ECB just earned. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">HOWEVER... UNLIKE Walgreen's, CVS puts a limit on the amount of times you can do the transaction to earn the ECB. You will find the limit under the ad price. It is usually "limit 1". </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">My favorite thing about CVS is that UNLIKE Walgreen's I don't have to have to watch my item to coupon ratio. I can pay for my total transaction using coupons and ECB. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Also, with CVS, you earn 2% back... so at the end of the season, you earn 2% of what you spent (after coupons) back. It prints into an ECB that you can use in store. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">That is all I think... I know that it can seem really daunting at first, but it is so worth your time! It took me awhile to get the hang of it. Not every transaction works the way you plan either. Sometimes I walk out of the store and look at my receipt and do a facepalm... "ugh... that was stupid"... And sometimes you just HAVE to buy something that isn't cheap and that you DON'T have a coupon for... like a 12 pack of Dr. Pepper 10 for $6!!! </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Sarah Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11007168653062922949noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804279702301678858.post-33868218011147294852011-11-10T00:07:00.000-08:002011-11-10T01:05:50.270-08:00A Pink Christmas<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMPZDKIszNQ0GoB7PIQL4ZqESMxSC5g4VdUs37r-v26rveJMxzMrFCnOQOTWxdy82MGBF9ACRG6I6pPMFSurSm7jAV3OqgFk9y02LRJDyQtQlulnRfWdeLDi_76ny1s1r2ILRyQVS-am-/s1600/p_101338631.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 312px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMPZDKIszNQ0GoB7PIQL4ZqESMxSC5g4VdUs37r-v26rveJMxzMrFCnOQOTWxdy82MGBF9ACRG6I6pPMFSurSm7jAV3OqgFk9y02LRJDyQtQlulnRfWdeLDi_76ny1s1r2ILRyQVS-am-/s400/p_101338631.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673281339478359074" /></a>Before Motherhood I had day dreamed about what it would be like to share Christmas with my children. Curious if it would be the same feeling I had when I was a child... curious if that wonder and excitement would return. <div><br /></div><div>Then I had Elijah... and Christmas was a new sort of exciting. Taking part in traditions Daniel and I grew up with... and sharing with each other in this new tradition of having a family. </div><div><br /></div><div>Being a parent during Christmas is... magical! </div><div><br /></div><div>There is nothing you love more in the world than you children... and to see them so enchanted... it is a whole new kind of fun!</div><div><br /></div><div>Then I had Anamarie... and the Christmas season is once again approaching. My Mother and I went to JC Penny's and picked out Ana's Christmas dress... talking about matching red shoes and a big red hair bow. Finding matching Christmas pajamas for both Eli and Ana. Then walking the toy isles... thinking about buying my baby girl dolls and Barbies... but realizing she is not even six months old.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then, while in Walgreens, getting the weeks coupon deals... I picked up some wrapping paper. I found some cute snowman paper for all of Eli's gifts... then I picked up some pink snowflake paper for Ana. I looked at the pink wrapping paper... holding it for a long moment... I cried.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have a daughter. A daughter to buy fluffy dresses for. A daughter that needs matching shoes and bows... ... and pink wrapping paper to keep secret the dollies and Barbies Santa is going to bring her. </div><div><br /></div><div>Last year at this time I held my growing belly... putting every ounce of faith into God... hearing Him tell me that everything is GOOD... and now... I am buying pink wrapping paper. </div><div><br /></div><div>"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 19, 32); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; background-color: rgb(249, 253, 255); ">God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding." Job 37:5</span></div>Sarah Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11007168653062922949noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804279702301678858.post-24887090291203178122011-10-12T21:04:00.000-07:002011-10-12T21:33:57.710-07:00The Day My Baby Started School<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; "><u><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6LnOseCderbpuavBsYT0c-YqswbuqkMMAPhHhAZdfr152dwzho0ftzho76nczgWEUYnMPsy7JfB0IsEJwKDoQtCD_iGlryaKRl7mm-UWV7s6717LxlcnOYWdnysSITIe5sgMiG0jKm_Yp/s400/301062_10150863921845103_585035102_21416629_564845978_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662823815919849042" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></u></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><u></u></span><span><span>This week my baby boy started preschool! A bitter-sweet moment for this Mommy! </span></span><div><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span>Daniel and I were unsure whether or not to put Elijah in preschool. He goes to Daycare at my Mom's... she has a fantastic preschool curriculum for the kids, but Eli is never there for the preschool time. That and he thinks he is hot stuff at Nana's house... pushing the limit on every rule!</span></span></div><div><span><span><br />Because he isn't in speech therapy (Far Northern does not provide it after age 3) , The Great Partnership got me in contact with Shasta County Office of Education. I filled out some paper work and he started the next week! He goes Monday through Friday, just three hours in the afternoon.<br /><br /></span></span><div><u><span class="Apple-style-span"></span><br /></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQdeLeEkl8KuBHRGEsWLqr2eHKVEL-xRlK0uPdf2ykxel1pi2sUGba5dsVjcftYRMyKOIhE59XEXY-2MwDEfMMI3lOhtsYSCYqK2qrtATQTzUHjcTIUfDsTcM3LWXpDfkuWYVDFG_W6aWL/s1600/298907_10150863922255103_585035102_21416634_1419524120_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQdeLeEkl8KuBHRGEsWLqr2eHKVEL-xRlK0uPdf2ykxel1pi2sUGba5dsVjcftYRMyKOIhE59XEXY-2MwDEfMMI3lOhtsYSCYqK2qrtATQTzUHjcTIUfDsTcM3LWXpDfkuWYVDFG_W6aWL/s400/298907_10150863922255103_585035102_21416634_1419524120_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662823819951953314" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " />His first day was awesome! </div><div><br /></div><div>I dropped him off... trying so hard not to cry. He looked like such a big boy with his new shoes and backpack... but his hand felt so small in mine as we crossed the parking lot. It was raining and he kept tugging me to all the puddles. We took our time walking to the class room. I knew that as soon as we got to the class, that would be it... he would be a student for the next 15 years! Still my baby or course... but now too a big kid going to school. We both were excited when we walked in! He found LOTS to play with right away. I tried to get some pictures of him playing, but he kept telling me "no". I didn't want to linger so I gave him a kiss and left. Stopping at the window just in time to see him ask the teacher "Mommy?". It twinged my heart, but I just had to leave. I got home and didn't know what to do with myself. I spent the next three hours just sitting on the couch with Ana... waiting to get him. </div><div><br /></div><div>He didn't want to leave when I picked him up! When we got home he crashed... he must have used up all of his energy. Then when he woke up he was his usual abominable self and I was wondering why I missed him so much! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtAjrDjES0Tiw9UfyN3TT3qJaiNk-Dexr_Jw0bbU5KtqVN3aaWlrpK-YOHW1krQmUPuB3dhzayyZQR_PckPJ93Ikjic6Tu2FUOkfWmVmSIGndB3lL9zZl90C528buiQZ_2Ri6jSSzMHi8/s1600/314678_10150863922480103_585035102_21416636_930952731_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtAjrDjES0Tiw9UfyN3TT3qJaiNk-Dexr_Jw0bbU5KtqVN3aaWlrpK-YOHW1krQmUPuB3dhzayyZQR_PckPJ93Ikjic6Tu2FUOkfWmVmSIGndB3lL9zZl90C528buiQZ_2Ri6jSSzMHi8/s400/314678_10150863922480103_585035102_21416636_930952731_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662823825646633698" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div>Sarah Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11007168653062922949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804279702301678858.post-85744212125336913282011-09-19T20:40:00.000-07:002011-09-19T21:45:36.103-07:00A Very Yee Haw Cowboy Party<span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQpUAYyeQAuDdFeeS4X51kWUlvd0aXXOprc2jsfuLGpy4OGTteD-NKGE9ifGifBAXdb-emAf0Z0Q4dORyHkCDRn3pc-3romVmhkwpPeEwrfp3_qUnWkPZUs0lEWViAbqKM74eMVH3yiC5/s1600/invite.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 203px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQpUAYyeQAuDdFeeS4X51kWUlvd0aXXOprc2jsfuLGpy4OGTteD-NKGE9ifGifBAXdb-emAf0Z0Q4dORyHkCDRn3pc-3romVmhkwpPeEwrfp3_qUnWkPZUs0lEWViAbqKM74eMVH3yiC5/s400/invite.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654290144738890338" /></a><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Georgia; ">My baby boy turned three years old. I can't tell you how much that makes me want to wrap him up and hold him like I did just three years ago. He is such a big boy now... talking in sentences and doing things all by himself. He is so independent... but totally takes advantage of me wanting to do things for him still. He pretends he can't put his shoes on and asks for help going potty. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; ">I asked him what kind of party he wanted to have. He would bounce back and forth between a Cowboy party and a Dog party. I looked some decor ideas up online and thought a Cowboy party would be more fun! <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; "><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; ">I used a new site called Pinterest to help organize the whole event! It really was fun!<o:p></o:p></span></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-warir0m_Mh4lxF4J6LMdPNsOg42zJohSaYbswFV7s-vgtOdM5w1DetOkF3NeV3pVHmwxhNyJamX2fC3FoPuz9K-fXF7lDEP0ZpmAOu9wyt90xs2Omgkg2q9fQ-2M3oktkVeZQ6yYsPum/s320/302171_10150812860565103_585035102_21048213_325796419_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654285556257820770" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " />Elijah was so excited to wear "Cowboy" clothes. His Auntie MooMoo bought him Toy Story Cowboy boots, that Light up! These are the Louboutin of toddler character shoes! Eli comes from a long line of gun tote-ing boys. He has his Uncles and older cousins toy guns... perfect decor for his cowboy party.<br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yIYyI1KjMffNadJx3omHN4PSp073idYqTlQWTrmoTtR-5dLR-9Ad5keM6bOOYUV8Nx1GlUS-0fHt80B72xV2U-KnKvP_IWgXUh2bv7VoEJuJD5BOAm2oBDM-ROHdElNudPUj8auMfSNO/s320/300296_10150812867940103_585035102_21048306_573673848_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654285557254570018" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " />Most everyone dressed in their finest goat roapin apparel.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_81M6iqmZiu25tHY9Q6tmak0_3GAQPCC6S8dx5Q4uPfDHbNqjDb6xRxW7ziYbnqqzsK_K2kJaLldTVW-LhLDdhcN0swkPNmF3H64rTGkDpAb0d3iZx4F9tjFTTGOI8Bl5B90-ZD6INLn/s1600/320866_10150812883695103_585035102_21048492_1950914452_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_81M6iqmZiu25tHY9Q6tmak0_3GAQPCC6S8dx5Q4uPfDHbNqjDb6xRxW7ziYbnqqzsK_K2kJaLldTVW-LhLDdhcN0swkPNmF3H64rTGkDpAb0d3iZx4F9tjFTTGOI8Bl5B90-ZD6INLn/s320/320866_10150812883695103_585035102_21048492_1950914452_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654287388764641618" /></a> My Aunt Mary (Auntie MooMoo) made the banner. I bought twine and different "old fashioned" looking fabric. She cut out triangles and sewed them so the edges wouldn't frey. She just threaded the triangles through the twine then.<br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto;"><u></u></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrmliTFKyIoVaQniI_mU5UJnrnv8syr-0SMuGMP0nsGHGrywSO0HAg34uZU8xGELkw58vulhgFfMPmJutouVkN21unDqlTn90L3kVZ7-tJCO_MaojA-SA79vB9gPOt53auB3G7ZoukLw_n/s320/313611_10150812863560103_585035102_21048250_838158304_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654287166768012754" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " />The grub included baked beans, corn on the cob and some cowboy liquor... and some of Granny's Moonshine. <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpKwrz1C3SsIG4vzy2fK-Z9_cUkzT9nRS7r9cuVxaV2KmssMVYxPQjO6zp-qUQrFptKIltp1BPBrcNcgUj_Q-FI6xJ_wqsVSkq4oC6UbMUpbF1LpbkZgld4l602if56K-3pDvePHnMrHf/s320/313829_10150812863765103_585035102_21048253_1832972570_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654287172377601954" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " />Corn on the cob was made from boxed lemon cake, I added boxed lemon pudding mix to make it extra fluffy... with can lemon frosting. The topping is coconut Jelly Belly's and lemon flavored marshmallows. I had to buy three bags of the assorted fruit marshmallows and just pick out the yellow ones. The little pats of butter are actually half of a banana flavored Laffy Taffy. They sat on top of tin plates Eli's Great Gramie has saved from Marie Calender take home pies. <div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmHxHG4wDvvpNo6YTWoAFZsavNi2Kztl_tQ8vL0mvhm5Wf2Z6zHWbVbUaHFgt3JyMiNEsO97cn3ww3HCDWw-sRCO5z5jG8xGVCn13EGCTaJ__zIXovr2Yx6U2tA0u-UYQsWvLhk9OUAvQ/s1600/317365_10150812864575103_585035102_21048267_548894452_n.jpg" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; " onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBDL1CZbgD1iDW_k8eIPzKS4z4_LUdNwrgA76o04-zk8SNCqEX9MWf6wiuF6GInJKyrxrn-fR_ElG2NNIx30qCj_PBzXv8jcvo2MnwGnKcEmN4lTJeIXugZsnY1RzTASA1yejm68J-NGHt/s320/295868_10150812863945103_585035102_21048256_1919291060_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654285548840914274" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a>No Cowboy shindig is complete without some beans! These beans are made up of two German Chocolate cupcakes (made from a box recipe with added vanilla instant pudding mix). Topped with pecan frosting from a tub and some Boston Baked beans! I had bought some canned pineapple's, the kind with the easy open lids... took the pineapple out, took the wrapper off and washed out the cans so the beans could have that rustic look.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">For some reason many of the photos came out a yellowish color... not sure why!<br /></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgalwz73qsYAaThcBZYyxG2Mk9uCs2Ve8Bj3ZH7as44XsrFPBLvzZ93e8hi36rLSoPRUfAUPNXAEZymdjys5IqlEpsVBrzyT0clARBOz1_nhNvUZ5v9XeA32ZupPUpJ5E2fix0rh3PkgStZ/s320/303916_10150812872020103_585035102_21048358_514844175_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654287156424048466" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " />I was sure the adults wouldn't want to sip out of little juice boxes so we put some lemon-aid in this and just labeled it as Moon shine. The boot glasses come from Disneyland over 15 years ago!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmHxHG4wDvvpNo6YTWoAFZsavNi2Kztl_tQ8vL0mvhm5Wf2Z6zHWbVbUaHFgt3JyMiNEsO97cn3ww3HCDWw-sRCO5z5jG8xGVCn13EGCTaJ__zIXovr2Yx6U2tA0u-UYQsWvLhk9OUAvQ/s1600/317365_10150812864575103_585035102_21048267_548894452_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmHxHG4wDvvpNo6YTWoAFZsavNi2Kztl_tQ8vL0mvhm5Wf2Z6zHWbVbUaHFgt3JyMiNEsO97cn3ww3HCDWw-sRCO5z5jG8xGVCn13EGCTaJ__zIXovr2Yx6U2tA0u-UYQsWvLhk9OUAvQ/s320/317365_10150812864575103_585035102_21048267_548894452_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654287391692201970" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></a><div style="text-align: center;">"Pop the Pig" game. The piggies didn't pop so easy though.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKD3GJBFGdu1_x9d1xy_lIFlRvTcNO-yWhD6p2NS1K7Xu7QIc54MwDSgCF5t26azGTlyHrIHv0DiTfbHgs0YWkDm2ty4LxjI0jfe8fY_pyQIM6OEjLy1edG2TvjjrRlhWLzVz7O2sKxi5Y/s1600/309541_10150812862170103_585035102_21048235_87914181_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKD3GJBFGdu1_x9d1xy_lIFlRvTcNO-yWhD6p2NS1K7Xu7QIc54MwDSgCF5t26azGTlyHrIHv0DiTfbHgs0YWkDm2ty4LxjI0jfe8fY_pyQIM6OEjLy1edG2TvjjrRlhWLzVz7O2sKxi5Y/s320/309541_10150812862170103_585035102_21048235_87914181_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654287168988735826" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><u></u><span><span>Eli is an Outlaw... so a Sheriffs Office was totally necessary! </span></span><u></u></span><div style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; "><br /></div></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-ziuyeQfdwsGBxwz8xMsR-Cbrsomo_UPP3c2AaXmr0UtsmLfwRuNFzWIWgDRbhH63WCw2GOnUPOZ_Agub9Q3x_BxreTs6lERfNZMhyphenhyphenfKb7hWcYeN1rmo1RMvd5H2iBWvH9NiAF3hzLbA/s1600/304546_10150812862420103_585035102_21048237_1443411752_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-ziuyeQfdwsGBxwz8xMsR-Cbrsomo_UPP3c2AaXmr0UtsmLfwRuNFzWIWgDRbhH63WCw2GOnUPOZ_Agub9Q3x_BxreTs6lERfNZMhyphenhyphenfKb7hWcYeN1rmo1RMvd5H2iBWvH9NiAF3hzLbA/s320/304546_10150812862420103_585035102_21048237_1443411752_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654287161434029570" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Some more decor Eli's Auntie Katie painted!</div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-warir0m_Mh4lxF4J6LMdPNsOg42zJohSaYbswFV7s-vgtOdM5w1DetOkF3NeV3pVHmwxhNyJamX2fC3FoPuz9K-fXF7lDEP0ZpmAOu9wyt90xs2Omgkg2q9fQ-2M3oktkVeZQ6yYsPum/s1600/302171_10150812860565103_585035102_21048213_325796419_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yIYyI1KjMffNadJx3omHN4PSp073idYqTlQWTrmoTtR-5dLR-9Ad5keM6bOOYUV8Nx1GlUS-0fHt80B72xV2U-KnKvP_IWgXUh2bv7VoEJuJD5BOAm2oBDM-ROHdElNudPUj8auMfSNO/s1600/300296_10150812867940103_585035102_21048306_573673848_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68oiS_rb2Ss-uqRphE0FRCTZVDo8xc_lsyM68YqgdkCoZJCwcAbGoPr9TtWBG0cl9F16L827Q0Owmgft3PUXCahbxd_yLCMS95HMlLKIfUJwgKDU93An60Px-emY2g_Ge4oVuc9sXJGyM/s1600/297376_10150812866240103_585035102_21048277_1703423754_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68oiS_rb2Ss-uqRphE0FRCTZVDo8xc_lsyM68YqgdkCoZJCwcAbGoPr9TtWBG0cl9F16L827Q0Owmgft3PUXCahbxd_yLCMS95HMlLKIfUJwgKDU93An60Px-emY2g_Ge4oVuc9sXJGyM/s320/297376_10150812866240103_585035102_21048277_1703423754_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654285550627551106" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yIYyI1KjMffNadJx3omHN4PSp073idYqTlQWTrmoTtR-5dLR-9Ad5keM6bOOYUV8Nx1GlUS-0fHt80B72xV2U-KnKvP_IWgXUh2bv7VoEJuJD5BOAm2oBDM-ROHdElNudPUj8auMfSNO/s1600/300296_10150812867940103_585035102_21048306_573673848_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></a></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yIYyI1KjMffNadJx3omHN4PSp073idYqTlQWTrmoTtR-5dLR-9Ad5keM6bOOYUV8Nx1GlUS-0fHt80B72xV2U-KnKvP_IWgXUh2bv7VoEJuJD5BOAm2oBDM-ROHdElNudPUj8auMfSNO/s1600/300296_10150812867940103_585035102_21048306_573673848_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKD3GJBFGdu1_x9d1xy_lIFlRvTcNO-yWhD6p2NS1K7Xu7QIc54MwDSgCF5t26azGTlyHrIHv0DiTfbHgs0YWkDm2ty4LxjI0jfe8fY_pyQIM6OEjLy1edG2TvjjrRlhWLzVz7O2sKxi5Y/s1600/309541_10150812862170103_585035102_21048235_87914181_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZEX-VSNLcsZkMCkHL4ZIV0nyIhpgUvwvQB-TQIVnC_vSRlFnMa22wOHRJ4k_He6SHBF6MTlyB2I4UAjlI8_AM1osMWqqnkYbboF9JKE8R5Ffclk3cdkM5XJxrvom0pSIydkf09rSPChkU/s320/313845_10150812864845103_585035102_21048271_1362673244_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654287385658471666" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></span></div><div><br /></div>The Cowboy goody bags are made out of simple brown paper lunch bags, sharpie marker and left over twine. Inside was a 100,000 Grand chocolate bar, some chocolate gold coins and some Hershey Chocolate Nugget bars. The milk crate is totally authentic, it was borrowed from Eli's Papa.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCEgUmSw7yhRyrLGFd_OwYaEnlln7LlDnmxV-FXJ6K7YQw1nXrxHUfdi3DXAozukOXPnSTJKXUIA9OuTbEHTVx9WQleq6KoI9EAjpYBFuAmy403iEE537Diru5l0_tn7tFTQZdL46J2CF/s1600/297150_10150812865495103_585035102_21048274_819386631_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCEgUmSw7yhRyrLGFd_OwYaEnlln7LlDnmxV-FXJ6K7YQw1nXrxHUfdi3DXAozukOXPnSTJKXUIA9OuTbEHTVx9WQleq6KoI9EAjpYBFuAmy403iEE537Diru5l0_tn7tFTQZdL46J2CF/s320/297150_10150812865495103_585035102_21048274_819386631_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654285553513374162" /></a><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;">This Cowboy Party was a total success! </div><br /><div><span><span></span></span><br /></div></div>Sarah Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11007168653062922949noreply@blogger.com1