tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83743228131990709272024-03-19T01:07:52.938-07:00Be Still LifeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570401272252655692noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8374322813199070927.post-61885849140109146292015-04-04T13:28:00.001-07:002015-04-04T14:00:54.085-07:00Gold Leaf Eggs and Terracotta Pots<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">HAPPY RESURRECTION WEEKEND EVERYONE! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SO IT'S FUNNY HOW MUCH I LOVE GOLD THESE DAYS. I USED TO HATE GOLD UNTIL RECENTLY AND NOW I LOVE ANYTHING GOLD! I'M BECOMING OBSESSED. (INSERT GOLDMEMBER MEME HERE, HAHA) SO THIS EASTER I WAS TRYING TO THINK OF A FUN DIY EASTER PROJECT TO DO AND SAW SOME POSTS ON GOLD LEAF EASTER EGGS AND ABSOLUTELY LOVED THE IDEA. I ALSO HAD THESE ADORABLE SUCCULENTS FROM MY <a href="http://www.bestilllife.blogspot.com/2015/03/5-tips-for-planning-perfect-party.html"><span style="color: black;"><b>PAMPERED CHEF PARTY</b></span></a> THAT STILL NEEDED POTS SO WHAT COOLER WAY TO MAKE PLAIN TERRA COTTA POTS REALLY AWESOME LOOKING THEN BY USING GOLD LEAF! I WAS VERY INTIMIDATED AT FIRST TO WORK WITH GOLD LEAF BUT IT ENDED UP BEING PRETTY EASY AFTER I FIGURED OUT A COUPLE THINGS. I BOUGHT MY <b><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Speedball-Mona-Lisa-Composition-Sheet/dp/B000XAH7PI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1428180945&sr=8-1&keywords=gold+leaf"><span style="color: black;">GOLD LEAF</span></a> </span></b>AND THE <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Speedball-Mona-2-Ounce-Metal-Adhesive/dp/B00083KPCW/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1428180945&sr=8-5&keywords=gold+leaf"><span style="color: black;">ADHESIVE GLUE</span></a> </b>FROM AMAZON AND JUST FOLLOWED THE DIRECTIONS FOR THE MOST PART. THE ONLY THING I WOULD CHANGE IS THE DRYING TIME FOR THE GLUE. IT SAID TO LEAVE IT ON FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES BUT IT SEEMED TO DRY OUT WHEN I DID THAT. I USED SOME DECORATIVE EGGS THAT I BOUGHT AT WALMART AND THEN ALSO SOME REAL EGGS THAT I BOILED. FOR THE DECORATIVE EGGS, I FOLLOWED THE DIRECTIONS AND LET THE GLUE SIT BUT LIKE I SAID IT SEEMED TO ACTUALLY DRY OUT AND THE GOLD LEAF WOULDN'T STICK. SO FOR THE REAL EGGS I DIDN'T LET THEM DRY AS MUCH AND THE GOLD LEAF STUCK MUCH BETTER. YOU NEED TO JUST TOUCH THE GLUE AND MAKE SURE IT IS DRY BUT TACKY. ALSO FOR THE TERRA COTTA POTS YOU REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU ONLY LET THE GLUE DRY FOR A MINUTE OR TWO BECAUSE THE POTS ARE SO POROUS THAT IT SUCKS UP THE GLUE VERY QUICKLY. YOU REALLY COULD DECORATE ANYTHING WITH GOLD LEAF SO HAVE FUN AND BE CREATIVE AND HAVE A HAPPY EASTER!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570401272252655692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8374322813199070927.post-2050266201265469552015-03-25T11:25:00.000-07:002015-03-25T11:45:51.272-07:005 Tips For Planning the Perfect Party<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">RECENTLY, A GOOD FAMILY FRIEND, </span><b><span style="background: white; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/David-Kropp-Pampered-Chef-Independent-Consultant/825961617488880?fref=ts">DAVID KROPP</a>,</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> DECIDED TO QUIT HIS FULL TIME JOB AND
START HIS DREAM JOB OF BEING A PAMPERED CHEF CONSULTANT, CAKE BAKER
AND DECORATOR. I THOUGHT THIS WAS SO COOL AND INSPIRING. TOO MANY PEOPLE, INCLUDING MYSELF, ARE SCARED TO TAKE RISKS LIKE THIS AND PURSUE THEIR DREAMS
BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID OF FAILURE. AS SOON AS I HEARD ABOUT THIS, I WANTED TO
THINK OF A WAY I COULD HELP WITH HIS NEW ENDEAVORS. HE HAS COME THROUGH FOR ME
SO MANY TIMES WHENEVER I AM IN A BAKING CRISIS, HAHA. MOST RECENTLY, THIS PAST
FALL, I MADE A </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><a href="http://bestilllife.blogspot.com/2014/10/lemon-blueberry-crepe-cake.html"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">LEMON BLUEBERRY CREPE CAKE</span></b></a></span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> FOR MY SISTER'S BRIDAL
SHOWER. THE MORNING OF THE SHOWER IT WAS FALLING OVER AND LOOKED AWFUL. I HAD A
PANIC ATTACK AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO UNTIL MY OTHER SISTER SUGGESTED CALLING
DAVIE. HE CAME OVER 30 MINUTES AFTER I CALLED HIM, COMPLETELY FIXED IT, AND
MADE IT LOOK PERFECT! SO WHEN DAVIE HAD HIS FIRST PC OPEN HOUSE I SIGNED UP TO
HOST A PARTY BECAUSE I WANTED TO HELP HIM OUT, EVEN IF IT WAS IN A SMALL WAY. I HAVE NEVER
THROWN A PARTY LIKE THIS, AND FRANKLY I NEVER WANTED TO, BECAUSE I KNOW SO MANY
PEOPLE GET TIRED OF THESE TYPES OF PARTIES. BUT LET'S FACE IT... PAMPERED CHEF
PRODUCTS ARE ON A DIFFERENT LEVEL. THEY ARE SOOO AMAZING! FOR MY WEDDING I WAS
GIFTED SEVERAL PC ITEMS, AND I LOVE EVERY SINGLE ONE! I USE THE TRIFLE BOWL, THE
APPLE PEELER, THE BAMBOO BOWL AND TONGS, THE GLASS MEASURING CUPS, AND THE
COOLING RACKS ALL THE TIME! THANK YOU AGAIN, JUDY, JACKIE, AND CHRISTIANNA FOR
THOSE WEDDING GIFTS! <3 SO I FIGURED IT WAS A NO-BRAINER TO HOST A PARTY. I COULD HELP MY
FRIEND AS WELL AS GET SOME DISCOUNTED, AND MAYBE EVEN POSSIBLY FREE, PRODUCTS. I LOVE THROWING PARTIES, SO ANY EXCUSE IS A GOOD EXCUSE! </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">NOW I JUST HAD TO THINK OF A WAY TO MAKE THIS
PARTY DIFFERENT, EXCITING AND FUN TO ENTICE PEOPLE TO COME TO PROBABLY THEIR
20TH PARTY LIKE THIS, HAHA.</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">1. THE THEME</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">THE
FIRST PLACE I START WITH ALL MY PARTY PLANNING IS COMING UP WITH A THEME. IT
CAN BE AS SIMPLE AS A COLOR SCHEME, IF NOTHING ELSE. BECAUSE THIS PARTY COMES
WITH A LIVE COOKING SHOW FROM THE PC CONSULTANT, I KNEW I WANTED SOME SORT OF
THEME TO BE TIED IN WITH THE FOOD. DAVIE AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT DOING A
BRUNCH, AND AS I WAS PERUSING BRUNCH FOODS ON PINTEREST I SAW A LEMON MUFFIN AND
KNEW RIGHT THEN I WANTED A CITRUS-THEMED BRUNCH. ALSO WHEN THINKING OF THE THEME, I AM CONSCIOUS OF WHAT IS IN SEASON. CITRUS IS A GREAT WINTER FRUIT. SINCE CENTRAL NY HASN'T DECIDED TO START SPRING YET, YOU CAN STILL FIND A LOT OF CITRUS FRUITS IN THE STORES, AND THE POP OF COLOR MAKES ME HAPPY WHEN THE WEATHER IS STILL SO COLD AND DREARY.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">2. THE INSPIRATION</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">HONESTLY, I LOVE PLANNING THE PARTY JUST AS MUCH OR MAYBE EVEN MORE THAN EXECUTING THE
PARTY. IF YOU KNOW ME, YOU KNOW HOW I LOVE </span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/kimmyalsheimer/">PINTEREST</a>.</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> IT'S SUCH A WONDERFUL TOOL FOR PARTY
PLANNING. I ALSO LOVE THE FAIRLY NEW FEATURE OF HAVING SECRET BOARDS. WHENEVER
I HAVE A PARTY, I CREATE A NEW SECRET BOARD AND JUST START PINNING IDEAS AWAY
AFTER I PICK MY THEME. YOU CAN ALSO LOOK FOR INSPIRATION FROM BOOKS, BLOGS, MAGAZINES AND SO MUCH MORE! JUST START COMPILING YOUR IDEAS. </span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">3. THE INVITATION</span></b></div>
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THESE DAYS INVITES PEOPLE TO PARTIES THROUGH FACEBOOK OR EMAIL, AND A LOT OF
TIMES PEOPLE JUST GET SO BOMBARDED WITH INVITES THAT THEY DON'T EVEN CHECK THEM
ANYMORE. I KNOW I HAVE BEEN GUILTY OF THAT. SO FOR THIS PARTY I DECIDED TO MAKE
MY OWN PAPER INVITATIONS. I AM A STATIONERY DESIGNER, SO OF COURSE THAT HAD A
LOT TO DO WITH WHY I CHOSE TO GO THIS ROUTE. I JUST PERSONALLY LOVE GETTING
THINGS IN THE MAIL, SO I JUST THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUN. I FOUND A COOL </span><a href="http://sayyes.com/2014/05/a-citrus-baby-shower.html"><b><span style="color: black;">DIY TUTORIAL</span></b></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> ON PINTEREST THAT SHOWED HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN STAMPS SO I
MADE LEMON STAMPS AND STAMPED ALL THE ENVELOPES. IT WAS A LOT OF FUN AND I AM
SURE I WILL USE THIS IDEA AGAIN FOR NEXT YEAR'S CHRISTMAS PARTY. I HAVE FOUND
THAT WHITE INVITATION ENVELOPES FROM WALMART IS THE CHEAPEST ROUTE. DRESSING THEM UP WITH A STAMP PATTERN IS A PERFECT SOLUTION TO A BORING WHITE
ENVELOPE! MY INSPIRATION FOR THE INVITE CAME DIRECTLY FROM AN AMAZING STATIONERY DESIGNER, <a href="http://www.melissaegandesign.com/114523/1061153/portfolio/minted"><b><span style="color: black;">MELISSA EGAN</span></b></a>. OF COURSE, ONCE I SENT THE INVITES, I ALSO MADE A FACEBOOK EVENT TO GO
ALONG WITH IT AND MADE SURE THE EVENT PHOTO WAS CONSISTENT WITH MY THEME AND
VERY EYE CATCHING! CONSISTENCY IS SO IMPORTANT TO A GREAT PARTY!</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">4. THE DECOR</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">FLOWERS:</span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> TO
ME, FLOWERS ARE ALWAYS NECESSARY FOR A GOOD PARTY, BUT I COULD ALSO BE BIASED
BECAUSE I WORKED AS A FLORAL DESIGNER FOR 10 YEARS. FORTUNATELY, I HAD HELPED
OUT AT THE FLOWER SHOP I USED TO WORK AT FOR VALENTINE'S DAY, SO MY FORMER BOSS
BARTERED FLOWERS FOR MY PARTY FOR THE HOURS I HELPED DESIGN. OBVIOUSLY I KEPT WITH
THE THEME. I GOT ALL CITRUS COLORED FLOWERS THAT ARE IN SEASON: ORANGE RANUNCULUS, YELLOW FREESIA,
GREEN HYDRANGEA, PEACH, YELLOW AND ORANGE SPRAY ROSES AS WELL AS BLUPLERUM,
EUCALYPTUS, BAY LEAVES, ITALIAN RUSCUS AND OF COURSE MY FAVORITE- SUCCULENTS. I
MADE A COUPLE DIFFERENT ARRANGEMENTS TO PUT AROUND THE ROOM - ESPECIALLY ON
MY FOOD TABLE. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">CITRUS FRUIT: </span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">WHAT WOULD A CITRUS-THEMED PARTY BE WITHOUT BOWLS OF CITRUS!? IN
ONE BOWL I HAD ALL DIFFERENT CITRUS FRUITS AND THEN TOOK APART THE SUCCULENTS
AND STUCK THEM IN BETWEEN THE FRUIT. IT LOOKED SO PERFECT. I SAW A SIMILAR IDEA FOR THIS ON PINTEREST, WHICH IS WHERE I GOT MY IDEA FROM. SO ONCE AGAIN, SEARCHING
FOR INSPIRATION ONLINE, IN BOOKS/MAGAZINES, ETC IS REALLY NECESSARY FOR A
PERFECT PARTY! I ALSO TOOK SOME OF THE SMALLER FRUIT LIKE THE KEY LIMES AND THE
CLEMENTINES AND STUCK THEM ON STICKS THAT I PUT WITHIN THE FLORAL
ARRANGEMENTS. THAT WAS SUPER CUTE TOO!</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">THE TABLE SETUP:</span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I PERSONALLY LOVE WHITE. I WISH I COULD HAVE WHITE
EVERYTHING WITH A LARGE BLANK WHITE WALL AS MY BACKDROP, LOTS OF WINDOWS
AROUND, AND THE SUN POURING IN. BUT WITH HOW MY HOUSE IS SET UP THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE, WHICH MAKES FOR POOR LIGHTING. BUT WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? SOMEDAY I WILL HAVE
WHITE WALLS WITH LOTS OF WINDOWS, SO MY PICTURES WILL TURN OUT PERFECTLY BRIGHT! BECAUSE I LOVE WHITE, I TRY TO USE MOSTLY WHITE SERVER WARE FOR EVERYTHING, AS WELL AS A WHITE TABLE CLOTH. I ALSO LOVE USING CLEAR GLASS. I ALWAYS BORROW
MY AUNTS DRINK DISPENSERS- I PROBABLY SHOULD GET SOME OF MY OWN SOMEDAY SINCE I
LOVE THROWING PARTIES. HAHA. I ALSO OFTEN USE CLEAR PLATES AND CUPS TO KEEP IT CLASSY. USING REAL PLATES AND GLASSES (MASON JARS) IS NICE IF YOU DON'T HAVE MANY GUESTS BUT FOR A PARTY OF 30, I DON'T FEEL LIKE DOING THAT MANY DISHES. OF COURSE THE PAPER STRAWS AND COLORFUL NAPKINS ARE ALWAYS FUN. I ALSO LOVE MAKING
GARLANDS AND BACKDROPS OUT OF PAPER. FOR MY CHRISTMAS PARTY
I MADE A <b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.we-are-scout.com/2012/12/geo-paper-christmas-decorations-printable-template.html">PAPER GEOMETRIC GARLAND</a>,</span></b> SO I HAD SAVED
IT AND JUST CHANGED OUT SOME OF THE COLORS TO MAKE IT WORK FOR THIS PARTY TOO. USING PAPER TO MAKE FUN
BACKDROPS IS SUCH AN EASY AND CHEAP WAY TO MAKE A DISPLAY LOOK AMAZING!</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">5. THE MENU</span></b></div>
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FUN PART! FIRST, WHEN YOU DO A PC PARTY WITH A LIVE COOKING SHOW, THE CONSULTANT
MAKES FOOD WHILE PEOPLE WATCH. MOST PEOPLE JUST HAVE THE FOOD THAT THE CONSULTANT MAKES AS THE ONLY
PARTY FOOD, BUT SINCE I WAS TRYING TO MAKE THIS PARTY VERY ENTICING AND
MEMORABLE, I DECIDED TO GO ALL OUT AND HAVE OTHER FOOD AS WELL. MY HUSBAND
THINKS I AM A VERY STRANGE PERSON BECAUSE I DECIDED TO SPEND MY MARCH ALLOWANCE
ON THIS PARTY. (YES MY HUSBAND AND I BUDGET ALLOWANCES OUT FOR OURSELVES SINCE WE
ARE TRYING TO GET OUT OF DEBT!) I JUST REALLY LOVE THROWING PARTIES AND HEY, IT
MAKES FOR GREAT BLOG MATERIAL, RIGHT!? =) ANYWAYS BACK TO THE MENU, SINCE WE
ESTABLISHED THAT WE WANTED TO DO A BRUNCH THAT WAS CITRUS THEMED, IT WAS EASIER TO
NARROW DOWN THE FOOD OPTIONS. HOWEVER, THROUGH MY PLANNING I DID DECIDED ON A
COUPLE DISHES THAT WEREN'T TECHNICALLY BRUNCH... BUT HEY, THEY HAD CITRUS IN THEM
AND WERE PARTY FAVORITES! HERE IS MY LIST OF DISHES I MADE WITH THE RECIPES I
FOLLOWED. I KNOW SOME OF MY PARTY GUESTS ASKED FOR THE RECIPES SO HERE YOU GO!
=)</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.pamperedchef.com/recipe/Breakfast%7CBrunch/Ham+%27N+Eggs+Brunch+Braid/9910">HAM 'N EGGS BRUNCH BRAID:</a></span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> THIS IS THE PC RECIPE THAT DAVID MADE
WHILE EVERYONE WATCHED. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL AND DELICIOUS!</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.theyummylife.com/Parmesan_Hash_Brown_Cups">MINI HASHBROWN CUPS:</a></span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> THIS WAS A TEST; WELL ACTUALLY MOST OF
THE RECIPES I MADE WERE ALL FIRST TIME TESTS, SO MY GUESTS WERE ALL GUINEA PIGS,
HAHA. BUT THESE WERE SO EASY TO MAKE AND WERE DELICIOUS! I AM DEFINITELY DOING
THIS AGAIN SOMETIME!</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.howsweeteats.com/2012/04/just-like-chipotles-corn-salsa/">LIME AND CORN SALSA:</a></span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> THIS WAS ONE OF THE PARTY FAVORITES. I GUESS IT
IS SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE <i>CHIPOTLE'S </i>CORN SALSA. I JUST PICKED IT BECAUSE IT WAS
YELLOW AND GREEN, HAHA. I DID ADD IN ONE AVOCADO BECAUSE I HAD ONE, AND THIS
BECAME ONE OF THE PARTY FAVORITES FOR SURE. AGAIN BE CONSISTENT WITH COLORS AND THEME- EVEN WITH THE FOOD! =) </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/avocado-hummus-with-crispy-pita-chips-recipe.html">AVOCADO AND LEMON HUMMUS</a>:</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> MY BROTHER IN LAW, DENNIS, GOT ME INTO
MAKING HOMEMADE HUMMUS. IT'S SO YUMMY! I FOLLOWED THIS RECIPE ALMOST ENTIRELY. WE DIDN'T
HAVE ARUGULA SO I DIDN'T PUT THAT, IN AND WE ALSO ADDED IN TAHINI BECAUSE
THAT'S WHAT REAL HUMMUS SHOULD HAVE! =) </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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SUCH A TEDIOUS JOB BUT IT ENDED UP LOOKING AND TASTING AMAZING, SO THANKS SIS! I FOLLOWED THE
RECIPE FOR THIS <a href="http://www.olgasflavorfactory.com/sweets/desserts/citrus-mint-salad/"><b><span style="color: black;">CITRUS AND MINT SALAD</span></b></a> AND THEN THREW
THAT ON TOP OF A BED OF SPINACH AND SPRINKLED SOME CHOPPED WALNUTS ON TOP OF
THE FRUIT. THE MINT AND HONEY FLAVOR WAS A PERFECT BALANCE TO THE CITRUS! NO
NEED FOR DRESSING!</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://ohsweetday.com/2013/04/my-perfect-macaron.html">MACARONS:</a></span></u></b><span style="color: #222222;"> NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH MACAROONS WHICH HAVE COCONUT IN
THEM. THIS WAS ONE OF THE MOST TALKED ABOUT PARTY FOODS BECAUSE EVERYONE WAS
CONFUSING THESE TWO COOKIES, HAHA. THESE ARE FRENCH OR ITALIAN MACARONS
(PRONOUNCED MAH-KAH-ROHN) WITH SOME WEIRD ACCENT THING ON THE "ROHN". I
CAN'T DO IT BUT MY SISTER, BETHANY, WHO CAN SPEAK FRENCH WAS TELLING EVERYONE HOW TO SAY IT CORRECTLY. ANYWAYS, HERE IS A GREAT </span><a href="http://shopruche.com/BLOG/DIFFERENCE-BETWEEN-MACARONS-AND-MACAROONS/"><b><span style="color: black;">POST</span></b></a><span style="color: #222222;"> EXPLAINING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO
COOKIES IN CASE YOU ARE A CURIOUS PERSON LIKE MYSELF
=) SO
I MADE ORANGE MACARONS AS WELL AS LEMON MACARONS. THE ORANGE ONES WERE FILLED
WITH BUTTERCREAM THAT HAD ORANGE ZEST IN IT AND THE LEMON ONES WERE FILLED WITH
LEMON CURD. THEY WERE SUPER YUMMY.</span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.thebakerupstairs.com/2014/09/one-hour-orange-rolls.html"><span style="color: black;"><b>ORANGE SWEET ROLLS:</b> </span></a>HERE IS PROOF
THAT I NEED A STAND MIXER. HAHA. THESE WERE FRIGHTENING TO KNEAD BY HAND BUT
THEY ENDED UP TASTING AMAZING! DAVIE, OF COURSE, HELPED ME ROLL THEM UP AND CUT
THEM BECAUSE I HAD NEVER MADE SWEET ROLLS BEFORE AND WAS A LITTLE INTIMIDATED.
THEY ENDED UP BEING EASIER THAN I THOUGHT, AND I WILL DEFINITELY MAKE SOME MORE
FOR RYAN SOMETIME.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.crunchycreamysweet.com/2014/03/26/glazed-lemon-muffins-recipe/">GLAZED LEMON MUFFINS:</a></span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I THINK I BAKED THESE A LITTLE TOO LONG
BECAUSE I WAS MULTI TASKING, BUT THEY STILL TASTED PRETTY GOOD AND HAD THE
PERFECT AMOUNT OF LEMON!</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">LEMON TRIFLE:</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> DAVIE MADE THIS DELICIOUS TRIFLE ALL FROM SCRATCH.
HOMEMADE ANGEL FOOD CAKE, HOMEMADE LEMON CURD AND HOMEMADE WHIPPED CREAM! THE JOKE
OF THE DAY WAS WHEN MY MOM CAME UP TO ME AND SAID, "THIS TRIFLE IS THE
BEST THING HERE!" AND I LOOKED AT HER AND SAID "WELL GEE THANKS, MOM- THE
ONE THING I DIDN'T MAKE YOU LIKED THE MOST, HAHA." IT WAS FUNNY, BUT NO HARD
FEELINGS. I CAN'T COMPETE WITH DAVIE'S MASTER BAKING SKILLS! IT WAS PRETTY COOL THAT HE USED MY PC TRIFLE BOWL TO SHOW IT OFF TO EVERYONE! =)</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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WHEN YOU HAVE DONE ALL OF THE PLANNING, PREPPING, DECORATING, AND BAKING, NOW
IT'S TIME TO JUST ENJOY, TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES AND HAVE FUN WITH YOUR GUESTS. I
KNOW PEOPLE JOKE ABOUT HOW I AM ALWAYS TAKING SO MANY PICTURES AND THINK I AM
CRAZY, BUT I THINK THE CRAZY PEOPLE ARE THE ONES WHO SPEND SO MUCH TIME ON
PLANNING AND SETTING UP A BEAUTIFUL PARTY, AND THEN DON'T TAKE PICTURES IN OPRDER TO ENJOY IT FOR YEARS TO COME! =) </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IF
ANY OF YOU WANT TO THROW YOUR OWN PAMPERED CHEF PARTY, YOU CAN CONNECT WITH
DAVID <b><u><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/David-Kropp-Pampered-Chef-Independent-Consultant/825961617488880?fref=ts">HERE</a></u></b>.</span><span style="color: #222222;"> <span style="font-size: large;">ALSO, MY PARTY IS STILL OPEN FOR ORDERS UNTIL FRIDAY IF YOU WANT TO
ORDER ANYTHING. YOU CAN ORDER THEM </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.pamperedchef.com/pws/davidkropp/guest-landing/8904426962075"><b><span style="color: black;">HERE.</span></b></a><span style="color: #222222;"> CHECK OUT ALL OF THE PICTURES. (I AM
HAVING SOME ISSUES WITH MY CAMERA SO NOT ALL OF THEM LOOK GREAT, ESPECIALLY THE ONES TAKEN
IN MY DINING ROOM, BUT AT LEAST IT'S SOMETHING!) ENJOY, AND IF
YOU HAVE ANY PARTIES TO PLAN FOR THIS SPRING OR SUMMER, I AM SURE THEY WILL BE SUPER FUN AND GORGEOUS! THANKS FOR READING! -KIMMY</span></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570401272252655692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8374322813199070927.post-62401312790615410392015-03-18T10:39:00.000-07:002015-03-19T06:32:51.673-07:00Carrot Cupcakes with Lavender Honey Frosting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start;">BELIEVE IT OR NOT BUT EASTER IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER SO OF COURSE I HAVE TO MAKE SOME DELICIOUS EASTER DESSERTS! RECENTLY I WAS GIVEN ABSOLUTELY COOL AND BEAUTIFUL <a href="http://www.maryandmartha.com/"><b><span style="color: black;">MARY & MARTHA</span></b></a> PAPER BAKEWARE FROM MY FRIEND <a href="http://www.mymaryandmartha.com/TAMMYMARIEMILLER"><span style="color: black;"><b>TAMMY</b></span></a> SO NATURALLY I HAD TO THINK OF SOMETHING TO BAKE IN THEM. THERE ARE A FEW DIFFERENT COLOR COMBOS WITH THIS BAKEWARE BUT I ASKED FOR THE ORANGE/PURPLE/GRAY SET BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE SOMETHING WITH CARROTS FOR EASTER =)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ALSO FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW ME, KNOW THAT I LOVE ORANGE AND PURPLE TOGETHER SO THAT SET WAS PERFECT FOR ME! MY WEDDING COLORS WERE ORANGE BECAUSE IT'S RYAN'S FAVORITE COLOR AND GREEN AND PURPLE BECAUSE THOSE WERE MY FAVORITE COLORS. (MY TASTE HAS CHANGED OVER THE YEARS THOUGH AND NOW I REALLY ONLY LIKE GREEN AS A FAVE COLOR BUT NOT JUST ANY KIND OF GREEN... I LIKE THE YELLOW-Y GREEN LIKE CITRINE OR CHARTREUSE TO BE EXACT, HAHA.) ANYWAYYYYYS, BELOW IS A PICTURE OF THIS BEAUTIFUL AFGHAN THAT MISS CHRIS (A LADY I KNOW FROM MAIN STREET BAPTIST CHURCH) MADE FOR US AS A WEDDING GIFT. SHE KNEW WE LOVED ORANGE, PURPLE AND GREEN SO IT WAS SUCH A SWEET AND THOUGHTFUL GIFT AND IS DEFINITELY MY ALL TIME FAVORITE BLANKET! JUST THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE =)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BACK TO THE BEAUTIFUL BAKEWARE... AS I WAS THINKING OF WHAT I COULD MAKE IN THESE FOR EASTER I THOUGHT OF AN UNUSAL PAIRING. CARROTS OF COURSE FOR THE ORANGE AND THEN I THOUGHT MAYBE USING LAVENDER (LIKE THE DRIED FLOWER) WOULD BE DIFFERENT AND FUN. I WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS EXPERIMENTING AT FIRST BECAUSE I LOOKED ONLINE TO SEE IF CARROTS AND LAVENDER WAS A COMMON DESSERT COMBO BUT I COULDN'T FIND ANY RECIPES REALLY. I DECIDED TO GO AHEAD WITH IT ANYWAYS AND WAS GLAD I DID! I CAME UP WITH A RECIPE TO MAKE CARROT CUPCAKES WITH LAVENDER HONEY CREAM CHEESE FROSTING. (FOR THE RECIPE SCROLL DOWN) THEY REALLY TURNED OUT SO DELICIOUS!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MY FRIEND TAMMY WHO IS A CONSULTANT FROM MARY & MARTHA GAVE ME OTHER BEAUTIFUL M&M PRODUCTS SO I COULD DO A FUN PHOTO SHOOT WITH THEM. IF YOU NEVER HAVE HEARD OF MARY & MARTHA YOU REALLY SHOULD LOOK INTO IT BECAUSE EVERYTHING THEY MAKE IS SO GOSH DARN LOVELY! THE PAPER BAKEWARE WAS ALSO A TON OF FUN BAKING IN AND SO EASY AND CUTE! THEY COME IN DIFFERENT SHAPES, SIZES AND COLORS AND CAN BE HEATED UP TO 400 DEGREES! AS YOU SCROLL THROUGH THE PICTURES YOU WILL SEE ALL THE OTHER GORGEOUS PRODUCTS AS WELL. THE BREAD BOARD AND TEA TOWEL IS A DEFINITE FAVE OF MINE. I AM A SUCKER FOR SOME GOOD LETTERING AND THE THESE BOTH SHOWCASE THE AMAZING ARTWORK BY <span style="color: black;"><b><a href="http://lindsayletters.com/"><span style="color: black;">LINDSEY LETTERS!</span></a> </b>THE WHITE CERAMIC MUGS, PITCHER AND CAKE STAND ARE JUST DARLING TOO AND THEY HAVE A LOT MORE ITEMS FROM THAT SAME COLLECTION. WOULDN'T THEY BE GREAT FOR A BIG EASTER DINNER!? I ALSO LOVE THE SUPER CUTE HONEY POT AND THE PRETTY JUTE TABLE RUNNER! OH AND OF COURSE I LOVE THE CHALKBOARD! THEY HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO OFFER TOO SO I TOTALLY RECOMMEND CHECKING TAMMY'S <a href="http://www.mymaryandmartha.com/TAMMYMARIEMILLER/"><span style="color: black;"><b>WEBSITE</b></span></a> OUT AND BOOKING A PARTY WITH HER IF YOU CAN! THE SPECIAL FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL ARE CUTE JOURNALS THAT ARE ONLY AVAILABLE IN APRIL! YOU CAN VIEW THAT SPECIAL <b><a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Tammy/My%20Documents/Downloads/11004621_767472187977_5261410491371344433_o.jpg"><u>HERE</u>.</a></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SO IF YOU WANT TO BOOK A PARTY YOU CAN EMAIL HER AT <b><i>LOVEMARYNMARTHA@GMAIL.COM</i></b> OR YOU CAN CALL HER AT <b><i>607-431-8517</i></b>. ENJOY ALL THE PICTURES AND MAKE SURE YOU CHECK OUT THE RECIPE FOR THE DELICIOUS CUPCAKES BELOW!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BECAUSE I WAS DOING A FULL PHOTO SHOOT I DECIDED TO GO ALL OUT AND TRY MY HAND AT MAKING MACARONS FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER SO I COULD HAVE MORE LOVELY ORANGE AND LAVENDER TREATS! I HAVE BEEN WANTING TO MAKE THESE FOR A LONG TIME BUT HAVE BEEN INTIMIDATED BY THE PROCESS AND PRICEY INGREDIENTS. THEY DEFINITELY WERE VERY TEDIOUS TO MAKE AND CERTAINLY LOOK HOMEMADE BUT LET ME TELL YOU THEY WERE DELICIOUS! I HOPE TO MAKE MORE THIS COMING WEEKEND! =) THE RECIPE I FOLLOWED, I FOUND <a href="http://ohsweetday.com/2013/04/my-perfect-macaron.html"><b><span style="color: black;">HERE</span></b></a>. THE ONLY THING I SUGGEST DOING DIFFERENTLY IS ADD THE COLOR BEFORE YOU START WHIPPING THE EGG WHITES! TRUST ME! =)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>CARROT CUPCAKES WITH LAVENDER HONEY FROSTING</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">INGREDIENTS:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 EGGS</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">3/4 CUP VEGETABLE OIL</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 CUP APPLE SAUCE</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 CUP SUGAR</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 CUP BROWN SUGAR</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 8-OZ. CAN OF CRUSHED PINEAPPLES, DRAINED</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 TEASPOONS VANILLA EXTRACT</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 CUPS FLOUR</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 TEASPOONS BAKING SODA</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 TEASPOON SALT</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 TEASPOONS GROUND CINNAMON</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 TEASPOON GROUND NUTMEG</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SMALL PINCH OF GROUND CLOVES</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 CUPS GRATED CARROTS</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 CUP SWEETENED COCONUT FLAKES</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">FROSTING:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 8-OZ. CREAM CHEESE SOFTENED</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 TABLESPOONS BUTTER SOFTENED</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 CUPS POWDERED SUGAR</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 CUP HONEY</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 DROP OF LAVENDER OIL</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 TEASPOON VANILLA</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3/4 TEASPOON CINNAMON</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MILK AS NEEDED</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 TEASPOONS DRIED LAVENDER FOR GARNISH</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PECANS OR WALNUTS FOR GARNISH</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>NOTE: SERIOUSLY ONLY USE ONE DROP OF LAVENDER OIL! IT GOES A LOOOONG WAY! I BOUGHT MINE FROM THE LOCAL HEALTH FOOD STORE. IT ACTUALLY SAYS ON THE BOTTLE FOR EXTERNAL USE ONLY, HAHA. BUT I SPOKE TO THE MANAGER AT THE HEALTH FOOD STORE AND HE TOLD ME (UNDER HIS BREATH) THAT I CAN CONSUME VERY SMALL DOSES AT A TIME, LOL. I ATE A COUPLE OF THESE CUPCAKES AND I WAS FINE SO I PROMISE IT WON'T KILL YOU! =) </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">DIRECTIONS:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PREHEAT OVEN TO 350 DEGREES. IN A LARGE BOWL, BEAT TOGETHER EGGS, APPLE SAUCE, OIL, SUGARS, PINEAPPLE AND VANILLA. MIX TOGETHER FLOUR, BAKING SODA, BAKING POWDER, SALT, CINNAMON, NUTMEG AND A PINCH OF CLOVES. STIR IN THE CARROTS AND COCONUT FLAKES. LINE A MUFFIN TIN WITH CUPCAKE WRAPPERS OR USE THE CUTE AND EASY BAKEWARE FROM MARY & MARTHA! FILL EACH LINER 3/4 FULL. BAKE IN PREHEATED OVEN FOR 18-20 MIN. LET CUPCAKES COOL COMPLETELY BEFORE FROSTING.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">FROSTING:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">IN A MEDIUM BOWL COMBINE BUTTER, CREAM CHEESE, POWDER SUGAR, HONEY, VANILLA, CINNAMON AND ONE TINY DROP OF LAVENDER OIL. BEAT UNTIL THE MIXTURE IS SMOOTH AND CREAMY. ADD MILK AS NEEDED. TOP WITH DRIED LAVENDER AND CHOPPED WALNUTS OR PECANS!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ENJOY!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFqyQh3oCGRWxzeWa1s195QoNACJKF35nIvlOtuQWn_ddeI3YJT_C7b-eqc_5-nBajVmRbwi2C5sX6QePo6UyEDSA7Hq6VWpz5Z1h8c7ysc9JXLLEyXcc6QkbWRabL70efMcNCFXuHYc/s1600/table-setting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFqyQh3oCGRWxzeWa1s195QoNACJKF35nIvlOtuQWn_ddeI3YJT_C7b-eqc_5-nBajVmRbwi2C5sX6QePo6UyEDSA7Hq6VWpz5Z1h8c7ysc9JXLLEyXcc6QkbWRabL70efMcNCFXuHYc/s1600/table-setting.jpg" width="600" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570401272252655692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8374322813199070927.post-70376019735169163432015-02-24T07:37:00.003-08:002015-02-25T08:34:05.179-08:00Handlettering 101: From a Beginner's Perspective<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I POSTED A PICTURE TO INSTAGRAM THIS PAST WEEK OF A PRETTY HANDLETTERING I FOUND VIA PINTEREST THAT SAID "GOAL DIGGER". MY CAPTION WAS ABOUT HOW I AM AN "ENTJ" THROUGH AND THROUGH ACCORDING TO THE <a href="http://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/"><b><span style="color: black;">MYERS-BRIGGS PERSONALITY TYPE TEST</span></b></a>. I WROTE THAT ENTJ'S ENJOY LONG-TERM PLANNING AND GOAL SETTING, WHICH EXPLAINS A LOT WITH ME. =) BEFORE I POSTED THIS PICTURE I QUICKLY LOOKED OVER WHAT AN ENTJ IS TO REMIND MYSELF OF HOW COOL I AM, HAHA. JUST KIDDING BUT NOT REALLY.. OH COME ON, YOU KNOW YOU ALL READ THOSE PERSONALITY TYPES THAT FIT YOU AND ARE LIKE, OHHHH YEAH THAT'S ME ALL THE WAY- I'M SO COOL! HAHA. ANYWAYS, AS I WAS READING IT, I READ SOMETHING I DON'T REMEMBER LEARNING ABOUT ENTJ'S BEFORE. ENTJ'S LOVE TO SHARE AND PASS THEIR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ANYTHING TO OTHER PEOPLE. THIS ALSO MAKES COMPLETE SENSE FOR ME! IF YOU WERE TO TELL ME YOU LIKED MY SHIRT, I WOULD INSTANTLY RESPOND WITH A THANK YOU AND THEN PROCEED TO TELL YOU, WHEN I GOT IT, WHERE I GOT IT, HOW MUCH I PAID FOR IT AND IF I RECOMMENDED YOU BUYING IT AS WELL, WHETHER YOU CARED ABOUT ANY OF THAT INFO OR NOT! ON THE OTHER HAND, IF YOU WERE TO TELL MY HUSBAND THAT YOU LIKED HIS SHIRT HE WOULD JUST SAY "THANKS" AND LEAVE IT AT THAT. I THINK THIS MIGHT BE WHY I LIKE TO BLOG AND INSTAGRAM SO MUCH. BECAUSE IT CERTAINLY ISN'T BECAUSE I LIKE TO WRITE. IN FACT, I HATE WRITING SO I APOLOGIZE RIGHT NOW FOR THE GRAMMATICALLY INCORRECT SENTENCES! (I MAKE MY HUSBAND PROOFREAD MOST OF MY BLOGS THOUGH- YOU'RE WELCOME!) ANYWAYS, BACK TO ENTJ'S AND HOW THEY LIKE TO SHARE INFORMATION WITH PEOPLE ALL AROUND THEM. I TOTALLY RELATE TO THIS! I LOVE TELLING PEOPLE THE THINGS I AM DOING, MAKING, COOKING, LEARNING, ETC, EVEN IF IT'S SOMETHING YOU MIGHT ALREADY KNOW OR ISN'T EVEN THAT INTERESTING OR HELPFUL! I JUST NEED TO GET IT OUT I GUESS! HAHA.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SO, ALL THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU (AS A BEGINNER IN THIS FIELD) ALL THAT I KNOW ABOUT HANDLETTERING WHICH IS NOT MUCH, HAHA. RECENTLY, I HAVE HAD A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE ASK ME TO TEACH THEM HOW TO HANDLETTER, SO THAT'S MORE THAN A GOOD REASON FOR ME TO BLOG ABOUT IT AND SHARE ALL I KNOW! =) ALL THROUGHOUT THE POST ARE PICTURES OF DIFFERENT LETTERINGS I HAVE DONE SINCE I STARTED IN DEC OF 2013. MOST OF THEM ARE DONE WITH A PEN OR A SHARPIE BUT SOME WITH PAINT. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BUT BEFORE I BEGIN, I WILL TELL YOU THE STORY OF HOW MY HANDLETTERING JOURNEY BEGAN AS A WEE LITTLE CHILD. IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FROM K-6TH GRADE (I KID YOU NOT) I WAS AWARDED THE BEST HANDWRITING AWARD EVERY.SINGLE.YEAR. I TOOK PRIDE IN THAT AWARD. I DO REALIZE NOW THAT I SUCKED AT SCIENCE AND MATH AND NEVER COULD WIN ANY OTHER AWARDS BUT HEY, MY HANDWRITING KICKED BUTT SO THAT WAS COOL. WHEN I WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL I HAD AN OBSESSION WITH WRITING MY NAME. I WOULD GO TO THE CHALKBOARD AND LITERALLY WRITE MY FIRST, MIDDLE AND LAST NAME IN CURSIVE HUNDREDS OF TIMES UNTIL THE WHOLE CHALKBOARD WAS COVERED. THE WEIRD THING WAS THAT I WASN'T EVEN IN DETENTION! IT WOULD USUALLY BE DURING LUNCH OR A STUDY HALL. WAS I MESSED UP OR WHAT!? MY FRIENDS ALL MADE FUN OF ME FOR IT CONSTANTLY. HERE'S A FUN FACT; MY SISTER, AMY, STILL CALLS ME KIMBERLY LOU BECAUSE OF HOW I WOULD WRITE MY NAME OVER AND OVER AGAIN. LET ME EXPLAIN. I HATED HOW CURSIVE LOWER CASE R'S LOOKED WITH THAT WEIRD SWOOP IN THE MIDDLE (STRANGELY I LOVE THEM NOW). BUT BECAUSE I HATED THE SWOOP, I WOULD SKIP OVER IT AND NOT ADD IT IN SO MY "R" AND "I" IN MY MIDDLE NAME WHICH IS LORI LOOKED LIKE A "U" SO IT READ AS KIMBERLY LOU INSTEAD OF KIMBERLY LORI. I HATED THAT NICKNAME FOR A LONG TIME BUT NOW I EMBRACE IT. IT REMINDS ME OF HOW FAR I HAVE COME IN THE HANDWRITING WORLD, HAHA.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ANYWAYS, FAST FORWARD TO A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS STARTING TO REALLY TAKE INTEREST IN INSTAGRAM, PINTEREST AND THE BLOGGING WORLD AND NOTICED HOW HAVING GOOD HANDWRITING WAS AN ACTUAL THING THAT COULD BE TURNED INTO BEAUTIFUL ART (MORE THAN JUST PRETTY CALLIGRAPHY ON A WEDDING INVITE). I STARTED FINDING PEOPLE TO FOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA WHO ACTUALLY DO LETTERING AS THEIR PROFESSION! I WAS INSTANTLY INSPIRED (HOWEVER NOT INSTANTLY GOOD AT IT, AND I'M STILL A BEGINNER, BUT I'M EAGER TO CONTINUE LEARNING AND GETTING BETTER!) HERE'S A LOOK INTO HOW TO START HANDLETTERING AS A BEGINNER.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A GREAT TIME TO PRACTICE LETTERING IS IN THE WINTER! ;)</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">HANDLETTERING 101:</span></b><br />
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<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">1. GET INSPIRED! FOLLOW DESIGNERS ON SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITES!</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LIKE I SAID BEFORE: I FOUND PROFESSIONAL HANDLETTERERS VIA SOCIAL MEDIA AND STARTED FOLLOWING THEM AND LOOKED AT HOW THEY ARE DOING AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING. HERE IS A SHORT LIST OF A FEW PEOPLE I LOVE TO FOLLOW TO SEE WHAT LETTERING CREATIONS THEY COME UP WITH.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.danatanamachi.com/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: black;">DANA TANAMACHI</span></i></b></a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">: INCREDIBLE DESIGNER AND LETTERER. SHE IS SPECIFICALLY KNOWN FOR HER CHALKLETTERING.</span></div>
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<a href="http://lovelife.typepad.com/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: black;">KAL BARTESKI</span></i></b></a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">: SHE WRITES PRIMARILY WITH PAINT AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY PERFECT!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I STARTED DESIGNING STATIONERY A COUPLE YEARS AGO THROUGH AN AWESOME STATIONERY WEBSITE CALLED, </span><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.minted.com/"><i>MINTED</i></a></b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. ONCE I JOINED MINTED, I FOUND OUT ABOUT THEIR AMAZING COMMUNITY OF DESIGNERS. WE HAVE A CLOSED FACEBOOK GROUP WHERE WE ASK EACH OTHER ADVICE FROM ANYTHING HAVING TO WITH THE MINTED DESIGN CHALLENGES, TO TALKING ABOUT FAVORITE FONTS WE FIND ON THE WEB, TO SHARING HOW EACH OTHER'S SMALL BUSINESSES ARE GOING, AND EVEN TO JUST ASK FOR NAME IDEAS FOR PUPPIES! HAHA, THIS LITERALLY HAPPENED ONE TIME AND I THOUGHT IT WAS SO AWESOME HOW MNAY DESIGNERS GAVE THIS WOMAN SUCH GREAT NAMES FOR HER NEW PUPPY. BUT THAT'S BESIDES THE POINT, IT'S REALLY AN AWESOME FAMILY OF DESIGNERS AND THROUGH THIS I FOUND OUT ABOUT A GREAT GROUP OF HANDLETTERERS. WELL PRETTY MUCH MOST OF THESE AWESOME DESIGNERS ARE INCREDIBLE LETTERERS BUT HERE ARE JUST A FEW TO NAME:</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><u><a href="http://www.jwickdesign.com/">JENNIFER WICKS</a></u></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b><a href="http://www.aletheaandruth.com/">ALETHA AND RUTH</a></b></i></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><i><a href="http://www.melanieseverin.com/">MELANIE SEVERIN</a></i></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ANOTHER PERSON WHO HAS INSPIRED ME A TON IS AN AWESOME WOMAN NAMED, </span><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><u><a href="https://instagram.com/andreagburke/">ANDREA BURKE</a></u></i></b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. I STUMBLED ACROSS HER </span><a href="http://www.andreaglevendusky.com/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>BLOG</i></b></a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> THROUGH MUTUAL FRIENDS AND FOUND OUT SHE IS AN INCREDIBLE LETTERER, GRAPHIC DESIGNER, PICTURE TAKER, STORY TELLER, AND ALL AROUND AMAZING ARTIST! IT'S A PLUS TOO BECAUSE SHE IS A CHRISTIAN IN THE MOST HONEST AND REAL WAY! I TOTALLY RECOMMEND FOLLOWING HER ON IG. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED! =)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER AMAZING LETTERERS OUT THERE TOO! ONE THING I DO IS LOOK AT WHO MY FAVORITE LETTERERS ARE FOLLOWING ON PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM, ETC. AND MORE THAN LIKELY THEY WILL BE FOLLOWING OTHER INCREDIBLE ARTISTS THAT YOU CAN THEN FOLLOW TOO! </span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">THIS IS WHEN I WAS BRAINSTORMING FOR MY BLOG'S NEW DESIGN.</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>THIS WAS FOR AN ART SHOW THROUGH MY JOB. I SPRAYED WHITE PAPER WITH CHALKBOARD PAINT SO I COULD DO SOME CHALK LETTERING ON TOP.</i></b></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">2.TAKE CLASSES, READ BOOKS, AND WATCH YOUTUBE TUTORIALS:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THIS IS SOMETHING I NEED TO REMIND MYSELF TO DO. MY AUNT GAVE ME A BOOK ON CALLIGRAPHY I STILL HAVE YET TO READ! IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR! THERE IS ALSO AN INCREDIBLE WEBSITE CALLED </span><a href="http://www.skillshare.com/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><b><i>SKILLSHARE </i></b></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THAT MY FAVORITE FREELANCER COUSIN, </span><a href="http://bangeldesign.com/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><b><i>JENI</i></b></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, TOLD ME ABOUT. IT'S PRETTY AMAZING. THEY HAVE TONS AND TONS OF CLASSES FOR ANY KIND OF ARTISTS TO LEARN PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING THEY WANT TO LEARN. I HAVE ONLY HAD TIME TO TAKE A COUPLE SO FAR BUT I PLAN ON TAKING MORE ONCE I CONVINCE RYAN TO LET ME UPGRADE TO A PREMIUM ACCOUNT SUBSCRIPTION. YES, THAT'S THE DOWNSIDE. IT COSTS MONEY, BUT NOT A TON, AND THERE IS A 14-DAY FREE TRIAL, SO BABY, USE THAT FREE TRIAL AS MUCH AS YOU CAN! THE CLASS I TOOK WHERE I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT HANDLETTERING WAS </span><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><u><a href="http://www.skillshare.com/classes/design/The-First-Steps-of-Hand-Lettering-Concept-to-Sketch-Lettering-I/389616295?via=profile">THE FIRST STEPS TO LETTERING</a></u></i></b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. CHECK IT OUT SOMETIME. </span><a href="http://marykatemcdevitt.com/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>MARYKATE MCDEVITT</i></b></a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> IS A GREAT TEACHER AND SUCH A TALENTED LETTERER! SHE EXPLAINS A LOT AND GOES THROUGH THE TOOLS YOU NEED (WHICH I TOUCH ON BRIEFLY BELOW) AS WELL AS DISTINGUISHES THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CALLIGRAPHY AND LETTERING (TWO DIFFERENT THINGS!) IT REALLY IS INFORMATIVE. I HIGHLY SUGGEST IT!</span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">LETTERING IS DEFINITELY A PROCESS. WHEN I AM CREATING SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE ELSE, I ALWAYS DO SEVERAL ROUGH DRAFTS.</span></i></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">MY ALL TIME FAVORITE PEN! THE UNI-BALL VISION FINE POINT PEN</span>!</b></i></td></tr>
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<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">3. USE THE RIGHT TOOLS FOR YOU:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I TYPICALLY ALWAYS SKETCH WHAT I AM LETTERING OUT IN PENCIL FIRST. SOMETIMES IF I AM JUST DOING SOMETHING QUICK FOR JUST MYSELF THEN I DON'T. WHEN I DO, I USE MECHANICAL PENCILS FOR THE MOST PART JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE EASY BUT A REGULAR 2B PENCIL IS PERFECT. JUST MAKE SURE YOU SKETCH IT OUT LIGHTLY! SO WHEN I FIRST STARTED OFF LETTERING I MAINLY JUST USED SHARPIES. IT WAS BEFORE I REALLY KNEW MUCH THOUGH. I MEAN, DON'T GET ME WRONG I LOVE SHARPIES- ESPECIALLY THE GOLD ONES ON BLACK POSTERBOARD! AND THE SHARPIE ULTRA FINE TIP PENS WILL ALWAYS BE A FAVE! BUT I NEVER KNEW ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PENS UNTIL I STARTED RESEARCHING. HONESTLY I STILL DON'T KNOW A TON IN THIS AREA AND HOPE TO LEARN MORE SO I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND YOU TAKING A SKILLSHARE CLASS OR RESEARCHING IT FOR YOURSELF. MOST PEOPLE SAY THAT </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sakura-30061-3-Piece-Micron-Blister/dp/B000XAORIS/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1424487598&sr=8-5&keywords=PIGMA+MICRONS" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: black;">PIGMA MICRONS</span></i></b></a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> ARE THE BEST BUT I REMEMBER USING THOSE IN MY 2D DESIGN CLASS IN COLLEGE AND IT JUST BRINGS BACK BAD MEMORIES, HAHA. NO, BUT HONESTLY I HAVE FOUND THAT MY FAVORITE PEN IS THE </span><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Uni-Ball-Vision-Stick-Rollerball-60126/dp/B00006IE8J/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424487692&sr=8-1&keywords=uniball+vision+fine">UNI-BALL VISION FINE POINT PEN</a>.</i></b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> IT'S AMAZING! AND YOU CAN FIND IT AT WALMART OR TARGET, NOT JUST AT ART STORES OR ONLINE WHICH IS A DEFINITE PLUS ESPECIALLY FOR ME. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH LOSING THINGS. DID YOU WATCH THAT EPISODE OF PARKS AND REC A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WHERE JERRY/LARRY/GARY DROPS HIS WEDDING RING DOWN A SEWER AND DONNA HELPS HIM GET IT OUT AND SHE ENDS UP FINDING THAT HE HAD LOST SEVERAL WEDDING RINGS PLUS SEVERAL CAR KEYS AND OTHER THINGS DOWN THAT VERY SAME DRAIN? THAT'S GOING TO BE ME IN HEAVEN WHEN GOD SHOWS ME HOW MANY BURTS BEES LIP BALMS, RINGS, EARRINGS, DRIVER'S LICENSES, AND UNIBALL PENS THAT I LOST. I KIND OF CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HOW BIG THE PILE WILL BE, HAHA. AT ANY RATE, GO TO YOUR LOCAL ART STORE AND JUST BUY A FEW DIFFERENT TYPES OF PENS AND SEE WHAT IS MOST COMFORTABLE FOR YOU! </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>THESE ARE TWO PIECES I LITERALLY JUST COPIED OFF VIA PINTEREST. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH COPYING OTHER WORK IN ORDER TO LEARN AND PRACTICE! ALWAYS GIVE CREDIT THOUGH ;)</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>4. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ONCE YOU ARE INSPIRED BY ALL THESE AMAZING ARTISTS AND YOU HAVE THE TOOLS YOU NEED, THEN START CREATING FOR YOURSELF! HECK, LITERALLY JUST COPY SOMETHING THAT ONE OF THESE ARTISTS DID (ALWAYS GIVE CREDIT OF COURSE!) AND PRACTICE IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN! THIS IS HONESTLY HOW I STARTED. I WOULD FIND HAND LETTERED PIECES FROM A DESIGNER OR ON PINTEREST AND JUST COPY IT. <span style="color: black;"><a href="https://instagram.com/_kellymcneill_/" style="font-weight: bold;">KELLY MCNEILL</a><b> </b>(AN AWESOME LADY I FOLLOW ON IG)</span> IS GOING THROUGH A 365 DAY HANDLETTERING JOURNEY AND SHE IS LETTERING ONE WORD MULTIPLE TIMES EVERY SINGLE DAY. IT'S PRETTY COOL TO SEE HER ON HER JOURNEY. I AM THINKING I MIGHT DO THAT SOMEDAY TOO! IT'S DEFINITELY A GREAT WAY TO PRACTICE YOUR LETTERING SKILLS!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SO I THINK THAT IS IT FOR WHAT I HAVE TO SHARE WITH YOU. I HOPE YOU LEARNED SOMETHING, MAYBE... IF ANYTHING JUST REMEMBER THE HARDEST PART IS STARTING SO GET GOING BECAUSE ONCE YOU DO, IT WILL GET EASIER. TRUST ME! GOOD LUCK ON YOUR LETTERING JOURNEY AND HAVE FUN!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">HAPPY HANDLETTERING!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">XOXO -KIMMY</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">ONCE YOU GET USE TO LETTERING ON PAPER AND CANVASES, START LETTERING ON OTHER THINGS LIKE MUGS, PILLOW CASES, ETC.! THEY MAKE FOR GREAT GIFTS! =)</span></i></b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570401272252655692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8374322813199070927.post-89581144958607341592015-02-13T04:38:00.000-08:002015-02-13T06:23:04.924-08:00Healthy Banana Pancakes<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">WHAT BETTER WAY TO CELEBRATE VALENTINE'S DAY THIS SATURDAY MORNING WITH SOME DELICIOUS AND HEALTHY PANCAKES!?! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">WHEN I SAW THIS RECIPE ON <a href="http://alyssaquilala.com/"><b><span style="color: black;">ALYSSA QUILALA'S</span></b></a> FITNESS <a href="http://instagram.com/FITMAMAQ"><b><span style="color: black;">INSTAGRAM</span></b></a>, I KNEW I HAD TO TRY IT. MY HUSBAND ABSOLUTELY LOVES PANCAKES SO EVERY SATURDAY WHEN WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING MAJOR GOING ON I TRY TO MAKE HIM A YUMMY BREAKFAST. LATELY I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO NOT EAT ANY STARCHY CARBS OR SUGAR SO IT HAS BEEN REALLY HARD RESISTING A GOOD OLD FASHIONED PANCAKE WHEN I MAKE THEM FOR HIM. SO WHEN I FOUND THIS RECIPE FOR HEALTHY BANANA PANCAKES THAT HAS NO SUGAR AND NO FLOUR, IT WAS <i>THEE</i> PERFECT SOLUTION! OF COURSE RYAN HATES THEM BUT AT LEAST WHEN I MAKE HIM PANCAKES I AM NO LONGER TEMPTED TO EAT HIS BECAUSE I HAVE MY OWN! :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">IT REALLY IS SUPER EASY AND ONLY HAS 5 INGREDIENTS! SCROLL BELOW FOR THE RECIPE AND BE SURE TO FOLLOW <a href="http://instagram.com/FITMAMAQ"><b><span style="color: black;">FITMAMAQ</span></b></a> FOR MORE HEALTHY RECIPES!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BELOW ARE THE PANCAKES THAT I MADE FOR RYAN. IT'S PROBABLY BETTER TO POUR PANCAKE BATTER INTO A METAL HEART COOKIE CUTTER THAT IS ON THE GRIDDLE SO YOU COOK IT AS A HEART INSTEAD OF ACTUALLY CUTTING OUT A HEART SHAPE AFTER THE FACT, BUT I ONLY HAVE PLASTIC COOKIE CUTTERS SO I IMPROVISED :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>INGREDIENTS</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 EGGS</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 BANANA</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 TBLSP FLAX OR CHIA SEEDS (I USED FLAX)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 TSP PURE VANILLA EXTRACT</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 TSP BAKING SODA</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PINCH OF SALT</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>DIRECTIONS</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1) SMASH THE BANANA AND BEAT THE EGGS AND COMBINE</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2) ADD THE FLAX OR CHIA SEEDS, BAKING SODA AND VANILLA AND MIX TOGETHER</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3) SPRAY HEATED PAN OR GRIDDLE WITH COOKING SPRAY</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4) POUR A LITTLE LESS THAN 1/4 CUP ONTO GRIDDLE (YOU DO NOT WANT THEM TOO BIG BECAUSE THEY ARE KIND OF HARD TO FLIP)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5) LET SIT FOR A WHILE AND THEN A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN YOU THINK AND THEN FLIP. TRUST ME, THEY DO GET MUCH BROWNER THAN YOU THINK THEY ARE GOING TO GET BUT THEY AREN'T BURNT! IT REALLY IS HARD TO FLIP THEM WHEN THEY AREN'T DONE ENOUGH.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6) SERVE WITH YOUR CHOICE OF FRESH BERRIES AND PURE/ORGANIC LOCAL MAPLE SYRUP! I USED MAPLE SYRUP FROM NONE OTHER THAN THE FINEST COUNTRY HOME AND GARDEN STORE IN THE AREA, <span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/SweetMeadowsGarden?ref=br_tf" style="font-weight: bold;">SWEET MEADOWS</a><b>. </b>I ALSO DON'T USUALLY PUT BUTTER ON THEM BECAUSE THEY DON'T NEED IT. I DID IT MORE OR LESS FOR THE PICTURE. :P BUT ONCE I TRIED PEANUT BUTTER ON THEM AND THEY WERE HEAVENLY! THE POSSIBILITY OF TOPPINGS ARE ENDLESS! IT'S UP TO YOU!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7) ENJOY!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570401272252655692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8374322813199070927.post-30172158752589505112015-02-03T05:49:00.001-08:002015-02-03T05:49:17.048-08:00The Best & Worst Hour of Your Day...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I ALWAYS HATED GOING TO THE GYM. I WAS NEVER MOTIVATED ENOUGH TO MAKE IT A ROUTINE. SO I TRIED TAKING A COUPLE FITNESS CLASSES INSTEAD AND I NEVER SEEMED TO BE ABLE TO STICK TO THEM UNTIL <b>OBX</b>! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MY GOOD FRIEND, CHRISTINE, LEADS THIS WORKOUT CLASS THAT SHE USED TO CALL "BOOTCAMP" AND HELD IT AT FORTIN PARK IN ONEONTA DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. MY SISTER, AMY, ALWAYS TRIED TO GET ME TO GO AND FINALLY LAST YEAR I DECIDED I NEEDED TO COMMIT TO GOING, AND IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I COULD HAVE DONE! NOT ONLY ARE THE WORKOUTS INCREDIBLE, BUT CHRISTINE IS JUST SUCH A GREAT CLASS INSTRUCTOR! SHE IS ENCOURAGING BUT ALSO FIRM WHEN SHE NEEDS TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE DOING YOUR PUSH-UPS PROPERLY. I GET YELLED AT ALL THE TIME! HAHA. IN ADDITION, THE OTHER BOOTCAMPERS ARE SO ENCOURAGING AND MOTIVATING! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SO THE COOL THING IS THAT EVERY YEAR CHRISTINE HAS REALLY ONLY BEEN ABLE TO HOLD HER CLASS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS BECAUSE FINDING AN INDOOR SPACE IS EXPENSIVE, AND THE PARK IS FREE. BUT, THIS PAST WINTER, CHRISTINE GOT HER PERSONAL TRAINING LICENSE AND FOUND A BUILDING SO SHE COULD CONTINUE HER CLASS OVER THE WINTER MONTHS! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AS SHE STARTED TO GROW EVEN MORE AND HAD HER OWN INDOOR SPACE, SHE WANTED TO BECOME MORE PROFESSIONAL WITH A REAL NAME, LOGO, AND BRANDING. SO, SHE ASKED ME IF I WOULD BE WILLING TO HELP HER WITH ALL OF THIS AND OF COURSE I WAS SO HONORED AND EXCITED TO DO IT! SO WE BRAINSTORMED AND CAME UP WITH THE NEW TITLE FOR HER CLASS, <i><b>ONEONTA BOOTCAMP XTREME FITNESS</b></i>. WE DECIDED SHE NEEDED TO KEEP "BOOTCAMP" IN THE NAME BECAUSE IT HAS ALREADY BEEN BRANDED THAT WAY AND IT ALREADY PERFECTLY EXPLAINS THE TYPE OF CLASS IT IS. HAHA. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ABOVE IS THE LOGO I CREATED AND BELOW IS THE COVER PHOTO FOR THE <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OBXfitness"><b><span style="color: black;">FACEBOOK BUSINESS PAGE</span></b></a>. I WILL ALSO BE WORKING ON T-SHIRTS, BUSINESS CARDS, AND FLIERS. THE LOGO WAS FUN BECAUSE I TRIED MAKING IT LOOK LIKE THE "X" WAS A PERSON LIFTING WEIGHTS AND THE WEIGHTS ARE THE "O" AND THE "B". HAHA, MAYBE THAT IS KIND OF CORNY BUT IT WAS FUN DESIGNING AND VISUALIZING!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">FOR THOSE OF YOU WONDERING, IT REALLY IS "THE BEST AND WORST HOUR OF YOUR DAY"- PHRASE COINED BY JESSICA SOBERS =) OBX IS AN HOUR-LONG WORKOUT CLASS THAT COMBINES HEART-PUMPING CARDIO, INTENSE PLYOMETRICS, AND TARGETED STRENGTH TRAINING TO GIVE YOU A TOTAL BODY EXPERIENCE. IT IS TOUGH, BUT SO MUCH FUN! BUT EVEN THOUGH IT IS TOUGH, CHRISTINE NEVER WORKS YOU MORE THAN WHAT YOU CAN HANDLE. THERE ARE WAYS TO MODIFY EACH EXERCISE AND SHE IS GREAT WORKING WITH YOU AT YOUR OWN FITNESS LEVEL! SO IF YOU ARE INTERESTED PLEASE HEAD ON OVER TO THE NEW <b><a href="http://www.facebook.com/OBXfitness">FACEBOOK PAGE</a> </b>AND BE SURE TO LIKE IT! YOU CAN CHECK OUT THE TIMES, PRICE, AND MESSAGE CHRISTINE IF YOU HAVE MORE QUESTIONS! HER CLASSES ARE SO REASONABLY PRICED TOO! ALL YOU NEED TO BRING TO CLASS IS A PAIR OF WORKOUT CLOTHES, A PAIR OF SNEAKERS AND WATER! (SEE PICTURE BELOW- THAT IS MY FAVORITE SHIRT TO WEAR TO BOOTCAMP BECAUSE WE DO A LOT OF SQUATS! HAHA)</span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570401272252655692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8374322813199070927.post-3146944181304266392015-01-27T04:34:00.000-08:002015-01-27T04:34:46.790-08:00Healthy Dark Chocolate Avocado Cookies with Sea Salt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SINCE THE <b><a href="http://bestilllife.blogspot.com/2015/01/healthy-pb-j-cookies.html">HEALTHY PB & J COOKIES</a> </b>WERE SUCH A HIT, I DECIDED TO POST MY NEW FAVORITE HEALTHY TREAT, <i>DARK CHOCOLATE AVOCADO COOKIES WITH SEA SALT!</i> SOUNDS WEIRD, I KNOW, BUT THEY ARE OH SO GOOD! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ANYONE WHO KNOWS ME KNOWS THAT I AM OBSESSED WITH DARK CHOCOLATE. I HAVE A NEED AND IT'S REAL. =) </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SO AS I AM GOING THROUGH THIS HEALTHY EATING JOURNEY THIS YEAR TO FINALLY REACH MY ULTIMATE WEIGHTLOSS GOAL; I REALIZED I NEEDED TO FIND A HEALTHY WAY TO EAT DARK CHOCOLATE. I FOUND THE ORIGINAL RECIPE FOR THESE COOKIES ON </span><a href="http://thesmoothielover.com/healthy-avocado-chocolate-cookies/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>THE SMOOTHIE LOVER BLOG</b></a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> AND TWEAKED IT A LITTLE BIT TO FIT MY PANTRY AND BUDGET.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THERE IS NO FLOUR, NO SUGAR, AND NO BUTTER! THE AVOCADO WORKS AS THE BUTTER AND TASTES SO GREAT! THEY ARE ALSO 70 CALORIES PER COOKIE WHICH ARE NOT EMPTY CALORIES. THESE ARE HEALTHY AND HEARTY CALORIES! =) THEY AREN'T LIKE YOUR TYPICAL COOKIES THOUGH. THEY HAVE A MORE BROWNIE LIKE TEXTURE AND ARE VERY LIGHT AND AIRY AND OH SO FUDGY! THEY HIT THE SPOT JUST RIGHT! TRUST ME =)</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">HEALTHY DARK CHOCOLATE AVOCADO COOKIES WITH SEA SALT</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PREP TIME: 5 MINUTES</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">COOK TIME: 10 MINUTES</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">YIELD: 12 COOKIES</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 COOKIE = 70 CALORIES</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">NOTES:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">IN MY OPINION THESE COOKIES TASTE BEST ONCE COMPLETELY COOLED AND CHILLED. THEY ALSO TASTE GOOD WHEN FROZEN! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THE ORIGINAL RECIPE CALLS FOR 1/2 CUP COCONUT SUGAR INSTEAD OF THE BANANA BUT I DID NOT HAVE COCONUT SUGAR (IT IS PRETTY EXPENSIVE). THE RECIPE SAYS THAT YOU CAN SUB THE SUGAR WITH 1 BANANA AND THAT THE 1 BANANA IS ENOUGH SUGAR FOR ALL THE COOKIES BUT I FELT LIKE IT NEEDED MORE SWEETNESS DUE TO THE BITTER CHOCOLATE. SO I ADDED IN ORGANIC HONEY FROM NONE OTHER THAN THE AMAZING </span><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/SweetMeadowsGarden/timeline">SWEET MEADOWS COUNTRY HOME AND GARDEN</a>!</b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> TRY ANY OR ALL VARIATIONS USING WHATEVER SWEETENER YOU PREFER! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THE ORIGINAL RECIPE ALSO DOES NOT CALL FOR SEA SALT BUT I AM A SUCKER FOR SEA SALT WITH CHOCOLATE SO I TRIED IT AND THOUGHT IT WAS DELICIOUS. FEEL FREE TO LEAVE IT OUT!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I ALSO REALIZE THAT TECHNICALLY THESE COOKIES AREN'T COMPLETELY FREE OF REFINED SUGAR DUE TO THE DARK CHOCOLATE CHUNKS. BUT HEY, DARK CHOCOLATE IS GOOD FOR YOU AND YOU DO NOT NEED TO USE VERY MUCH! AT THE LOCAL GROCERY STORE I FOUND A MINI </span><a href="http://us.greenandblacks.com/our-products/impulse-bars/dark?p=0865610034#first" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>GREEN AND BLACKS ORGANIC DARK CHOCOLATE BAR</b></a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> THAT WAS THE PERFECT SIZE- ONLY 1.2 OZ! THE COCOA POWDER I USED WAS UNFORTUNATELY NOT ORGANIC BECAUSE GOSH DARN IT, I COULDN'T FIND ANY ORGANIC DARK COCOA POWDER ANYWHERE, NOT EVEN AT THE LOCAL HEALTH FOOD STORE! I JUST ORDERED SOME FROM <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H5DTAXS/ref=sr_ph?ie=UTF8&qid=1422317476&sr=1&keywords=DARK+COCOA+POWDER+ORGANIC"><b>AMAZON</b></a> (HOW DID I LIVE BEFORE AMAZON PRIME!?) AND I'M WAITING TO MAKE MORE OF THESE DELICIOUS COOKIES USING THE ORGANIC COCOA POWDER (JUST FOR MY SISTER WHO ONLY EATS ORGANIC, HAHA). THE HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK WORKS JUST AS WELL IN A PINCH! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>INGREDIENTS</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 AVOCADO (VERY RIPE BUT NOT BROWN)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 BANANA</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 TBLSP HONEY</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 EGG</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 CUP DARK COCOA POWDER</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1.2 OZ ORGANIC DARK CHOCOLATE (YOU CAN ADD EVEN MORE THAN THIS BUT I AM TRYING TO LIMIT MY SUGAR INTAKE) SEE NOTES BELOW.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 TSP BAKING SODA</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 TSP COARSE SEA SALT (OPTIONAL)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>INSTRUCTIONS</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. GET OUT YOUR TRUSTY FOOD PROCESSOR (I LOVE MY NINJA!) IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A FOOD PROCESSOR, YOU CAN ALSO USE A HAND MIXER. ADD THE AVOCADO AND BANANA AND PULSE TILL SMOOTH. ADD IN THE EGG AND REPEAT.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. ADD THE COCOA POWDER AND THE BAKING SODA AND 1/2 TSP SALT. RESERVE THE OTHER 1/2 TSP SALT FOR LATER.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. BREAK UP YOUR CHOCOLATE BAR INTO CHUNKS OR JUST USE CHOCOLATE CHIPS AND STIR THEM IN.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. PLACE DOLLOPS OF COOKIE BATTER (ABOUT 2 TBLSP WORTH) ONTO A COOKIE SHEET THAT IS LINED WITH PARCHMENT PAPER. YOU WILL NEED TO FLATTEN THE COOKIE A LITTLE MORE INSTEAD OF ROLLING INTO BALLS BECAUSE THESE COOKIES DO NOT REALLY SPREAD DURING BAKING.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. BAKE FOR 8-10 MINUTES OR UNTIL THE SIDES OF THE COOKIES DO NOT STICK TO THE PARCHMENT AS MUCH AS THEY DID BEFORE BAKING.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. COOL DOWN. COOL WAY DOWN! IT WILL BE VERY HARD TO GET THESE OFF THE PARCHMENT PAPER UNTIL THEY ARE COOLED OFF. WHILE THEY ARE COOLING SNEAK ONE INTO YOUR MOUTH BECAUSE THEY TASTE SUPER YUMMY RIGHT OUT OF THE OVEN TOO! (JUST A LOT MESSIER)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8. SPRINKLE THE REMAINING SEA SALT A LITTLE BIT ON TOP OF EACH COOKIE.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9. STORE IN AIRTIGHT CONTAINER IN THE FRIDGE. ENJOY!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I AM THINKING OF TRYING THESE WITH CRUSHED UP ALMONDS INSIDE OF THEM SOMETIME TOO! AGAIN, MORE CALORIES BUT THE GOOD KIND OF CALORIES! =) I HOPE YOU ENJOY THESE SUPER EASY AND HEALTHY DELICIOUS GOODNESS!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570401272252655692noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8374322813199070927.post-43684785228069888682015-01-19T04:50:00.002-08:002015-01-19T07:17:53.754-08:00Healthy PB & J Cookies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5Sv-W_Dfy5SGgSQP9vjInoudcx0QBsENwIpo7iKfe5mxmy3cXMHzUoxvs5Kfsg3rUa2C5MGe-j7Q5K2SH0qQ_ZPm0FWyGGmTVOyL8RqnRwCruTog3teRXOYXrfVc21sho4wmPyJsbNE/s1600/IMG_4440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5Sv-W_Dfy5SGgSQP9vjInoudcx0QBsENwIpo7iKfe5mxmy3cXMHzUoxvs5Kfsg3rUa2C5MGe-j7Q5K2SH0qQ_ZPm0FWyGGmTVOyL8RqnRwCruTog3teRXOYXrfVc21sho4wmPyJsbNE/s1600/IMG_4440.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">RYAN AND I ARE ON A BET TO SEE WHO CAN LOSE MORE WEIGHT FIRST. WHOEVER WINS GETS A CHUNK OF THE OTHER PERSON'S ALLOWANCE! THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW ME, KNOW THAT I AM VERY MOTIVATED BY MONEY! SO ONCE I DECIDED TO NOT DO THE JUICE FAST LAST WEEK (IT WAS DISGUSTING + I'M A WIMP) I DECIDED TO GO BACK TO NOT EATING SUGAR OR ANY STARCHY CARBS (BESIDES OATS) WHICH IS WHAT I DID WHEN I LOST A LOT OF WEIGHT LAST YEAR. RYAN ALSO DECIDED TO CUT OUT A LOT OF SWEETS AND JUNK FOOD TOO. I HAVE TO SAY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE 3.5 YEARS OF OUR MARRIAGE WE HAVEN'T HAD ICE CREAM IN OUR FREEZER FOR OVER 2 WEEKS. (I DEFINITELY FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD GET AN AWARD FOR THAT!) SO BECAUSE I AM SO PROUD OF MY HUSBAND FOR GIVING UP SWEETS (FOR THE MOST PART) I DECIDED TO MAKE HIM SOME HEALTHY PB + J COOKIES. RYAN LOOOOOVES PB + J AND WHEN I SAW THIS RECIPE ON <a href="http://www.skinnytaste.com/2014/01/pb-j-healthy-oatmeal-cookies.html#_a5y_p=1213102"><b>SKINNYTASTE</b></a>, I KNEW IT WAS PERFECT. THERE IS NO FLOUR OR SUGAR IN THESE COOKIES AND THEY ARE STILL VERY TASTY! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BELOW IS THE RECIPE WITH ONLY 4 INGREDIENTS! I'VE ADDED LOTS OF PICTURES FOR YOU TO ENJOY. THE JAM THAT I USED IS MADE BY JOHANNA BROWN USING NONE OTHER THAN THE AMAZING BLUEBERRIES FROM <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ingalls-Blueberry-Hill/254264028089345"><b>THE INGALLS BLUEBERRY HILL FARM</b></a>! ALSO YOU CAN SEE MY HANDSOME MAN ENJOYING THE COOKIES AT THE VERY END. =) SO IF YOU ARE IN THE MOOD FOR A QUICK, EASY, AND HEALTHY TREAT- HERE YOU GO! ENJOY!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">NOTE: 2 COOKIES = 91 CALORIES. THEY HAVE THESE ALREADY LISTED IN THE MY FITNESS PAL APP! I GOT PRETTY EXCITED WHEN I WENT TO PUT IN MY CALORIES FOR THE DAY. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>HEALTHY PB + J COOKIES</b>:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">YIELDS 16 COOKIES</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">INGREDIENTS:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- 2 MEDIUM RIPE BANANAS, MASHED (THE RIPER- THE SWEETER!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- 1 CUP UNCOOK QUICK OATS (I USED HALF STEEL CUT QUICK OATS AND HALF REGULAR QUICK OATS)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- 2 TBLSP NATURAL CHUNKY PEANUT BUTTER</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- 3 TBLSP JAM OR JELLY OF YOUR CHOICE</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.4039993286133px;">DIRECTIONS:</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.4039993286133px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PREHEAT OVEN TO 350°F. EITHER SPRAY A NON-STICK COOKIE SHEET WITH COOKING SPRAY OR LINE IT WITH PARCHMENT PAPER. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">COMBINE THE MASHED BANANAS AND PEANUT BUTTER IN A BOWL. ADD THE OATS AND MIX WELL. DROP THE BATTER BY TABLESPOONS ONTO THE COOKIE SHEET, MAKING AN INDENT WITH YOUR FINGER OR THE BACK OF A MEASURING SPOON. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.4039993286133px;">BAKE FOR 15 MINUTES OR UNTIL GOLDEN BROWN. REMOVE FROM OVEN AND TOP EACH WITH 1/2 TEASPOON JELLY OR JAM AND ENJOY!</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570401272252655692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8374322813199070927.post-27819593986868442792015-01-12T07:20:00.000-08:002015-01-12T11:50:34.210-08:00Half Marathon Training Guide<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">HAPPY NEW YEAR FRIENDS! I FIND IT FITTING TO HAVE MY FIRST POST OF 2015 TO BE ABOUT RUNNING SINCE IT IS COMMON TO SET HEALTHY GOALS IN THE NEW YEAR. SO READ ON TO HEAR ABOUT MY LOVE/HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH RUNNING AND MY NEW FITNESS GOAL FOR THIS YEAR!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> WHEN I STARTED RUNNING 2 YEARS AGO THIS COMING APRIL, I NEVER EVER THOUGHT THAT ONE DAY I WOULD BE TRAINING FOR A HALF MARATHON. I COMPLETED MY FIRST 5K IN JUNE 2013 (<a href="http://www.girlsontherun.org/"><b>GIRLS ON THE RUN</b></a>) AFTER A FEW MONTHS OF RUNNING, MY FIRST 10K IN OCTOBER 2013 (<a href="http://www.pitrun.org/"><b>PIT RUN</b></a>), PLUS SEVERAL OTHER 5KS ALL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. SO LAST YEAR MY GOAL WAS TO DO A 15K AND THEN POTENTIALLY A HALF MARATHON IN 2015. SO, I RAN THE <a href="http://www.boilermaker.com/"><b><span style="color: black;">BOILERMAKER 15K</span></b></a> IN JULY 2014 WHICH WAS DEFINITELY QUITE THE EXPERIENCE. HONESTLY, IT WAS THE WORST RACE I HAVE EVER DONE. I ALMOST HATED EVERY MOMENT OF IT, HAHA. BUT NOT BECAUSE THE RACE WAS BAD, HONESTLY IT'S A REALLY GREAT COURSE AND THERE ARE HUGE CROWDS THAT ARE SO ENCOURAGING AND FUN WITH LOTS OF ENERGY; BUT I JUST DIDN'T FEEL WELL AND LET'S JUST SAY I HAD TO USE THE PORT- O - POTTIES A LITTLE TOO OFTEN. =( BECAUSE I HAD TO STOP TO USE THE BATHROOM ON TOP OF NOT BEING ABLE TO RUN AS FAST BECAUSE I FELT SICK, I MISSED MY GOAL OF DOING IT IN 1 HOUR AND 45 MIN BY 2 MIN AND WAS PRETTY BUMMED ABOUT IT. SO I TOLD MY SISTER, AMY, AND MY FRIEND, TERRI, WHO ALSO RAN IT WITH ME, THAT I WOULD NEVER DO A LONG RUN AGAIN AND SAID THAT MY DREAM OF DOING A HALF THE FOLLOWING YEAR WAS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">WELL... HOW WRONG I WAS, HAHA. I REALIZED THE MAIN PROBLEM FOR THE BOILERMAKER WAS THAT I HAD TO WAKE UP AT 4AM IN ORDER TO GET THERE IN TIME TO RUN THE RACE (IT'S HELD IN UTICA, NY ABOUT AN HOUR AWAY). THIS THREW MY BODY OUT OF WHACK BIG TIME WHICH RESULTED IN THE MANY BATHROOM TRIPS, PLUS JUST RUNNING IN GENERAL CAN DO THAT TO PEOPLE, SO THE COMBINATION WAS A NIGHTMARE. HOWEVER A COUPLE MONTHS PASSED AND I STARTED TO THINK ABOUT RUNNING LONG DISTANCES AGAIN. THE <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/300749959957902/"><span style="color: black;"><b>ONEONTA RUNNING GROUP</b></span></a> KEPT MENTIONING THE <span style="color: black;"><b><a href="http://www.binghamtonbridgerun.org/"><span style="color: black;">GREATER BINGHAMTON BRIDGE RUN HALF MARATHON</span></a> </b></span>THAT IS IN MAY EVERY YEAR AND HOW WONDERFUL OF A RACE IT IS. HOWEVER BINGHAMTON IS YET AGAIN AN HOUR FROM ONEONTA SO I REALLY WAS CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING UP EARLY AGAIN BEFORE THE RACE. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SOON AFTER, MY BOSS TOLD ME SHE WAS THINKING OF DOING THE BRIDGE HALF AND THAT SHE WAS GOING TO GET A HOTEL THE NIGHT BEFORE SO SHE WOULDN'T HAVE TO WAKE UP AS EARLY- AND IT GOT ME THINKING. SO I ASKED MY SISTER AND A COUPLE RUNNING BUDDIES (FRIENDS FROM THE CRAZY HARD BOOTCAMP FITNESS CLASS I GO TO, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/ChristineGsbootcamp/"><span style="color: black;"><b>CHRISTINE G'S BOOTCAMP</b></span></a>) IF THEY WOULD CONSIDER RUNNING THE HALF WITH ME AND THEY ALL SAID YES! SO WE BOOKED A HOTEL AND ALL PLAN ON STARTING OUR TRAINING OFFICIALLY ON FEBRUARY 8TH. IT'S A 12 WEEK TRAINING WHICH I HAVE ATTACHED BELOW. UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH SOME KNEE ISSUES BUT THANKFULLY I SAW A SPORTS DOCTOR RECENTLY AND SHE GAVE ME SOME STRETCHES THAT SEEM TO BE HELPING A LOT! AS I TRAIN I JUST NEED TO REMIND MYSELF THAT I AM NOT SETTING ANY GOALS EXCEPT FOR FINISHING SO I DON'T HAVE ANY PRESSURE THIS TIME. I WANT TO HAVE FUN WHILE I AM DOING IT INSTEAD OF BEING MISERABLE LIKE I WAS FOR THE BOILERMAKER!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SO FOR THE 15K, I FOLLOWED HAL HIGDON'S TRAINING GUIDE AND PERSONALIZED IT. YOU CAN FIND THAT <a href="http://bestilllife.blogspot.com/2014/04/15k-training-guide.html"><b><span style="color: black;">HERE</span></b></a>. I LOVED HAL'S GUIDE SO I DECIDED I WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW HIS <span style="color: black;"><b><a href="http://www.halhigdon.com/training/51131/Half-Marathon-Novice-1-Training-Program"><span style="color: black;">HALF MARATHON TRAINING GUIDE FOR NOVICES</span></a> </b></span>THIS TIME AS WELL. THE ABOVE PICTURE IS HIS ORIGINAL TRAINING GUIDE I REMADE TO LOOK PRETTIER =) BELOW IS THE TRAINING GUIDE THAT I CHANGED UP TO GO WITH MY BOOTCAMP SCHEDULE. FEEL FREE TO PRINT EITHER ONE AND USE FOR YOURSELF!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BEST WISHES TO YOU IF YOU ARE ALSO TRAINING FOR YOUR FIRST HALF! I KNOW YOU MAY ALSO BE NERVOUS BUT WE CAN DO THIS!!! ONE THING I HAVE TO KEEP TELLING MYSELF IS THAT IF I HAVE TO WALK IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL! MY ONLY GOAL IS TO FINISH IT! =)</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570401272252655692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8374322813199070927.post-40085557002508429772014-11-29T07:13:00.000-08:002014-11-29T07:13:05.351-08:00DIY Advent Calendar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">DECEMBER IS ALMOST HERE AND WHO DOESN'T LOVE A CUTE, CHEAP, AND EASY DIY ADVENT CALENDAR!? GROWING UP, THE ADVENT CALENDAR THAT MY MOM WOULD PUT OUT WAS ONE OF MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE THINGS THIS TIME OF YEAR. IT WAS A SHELF WITH LITTLE DRAWERS AND SHE FILLED EACH CORRESPONDING DAY WITH DIFFERENT CANDIES. I WOULD ALWAYS TRY TO GUESS WHICH CANDY WAS GOING TO BE THE NEXT DAY. SHE STILL PUTS IT OUT, BUT NOW IT'S MY NIECE AND NEPHEWS WHO GET TO OPEN THEM UP. MY MOM SERIOUSLY IS THE BEST GRANDMA! <3</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">WELL LAST YEAR I DECIDED TO MAKE AN ADVENT CALENDAR FOR MY HUSBAND, RYAN. RYAN LOOOOVES CANDY, HOWEVER WE NEVER BUY IT, SO I DECIDED THAT THE MONTH OF DECEMBER COULD BE A TREAT FOR HIM. HE ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT LAST YEAR AND SO I AM DOING IT AGAIN THIS YEAR AND SHOWING Y'ALL HOW I DID IT!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">FIRST, YOU NEED SOMETHING TO HANG EACH DAY ON. MY AMAZING BROTHER IN LAW, DENNIS, MADE THIS WOODEN TREE FOR ME FOR CHRISTMAS A FEW YEARS BACK BUT YOU HONESTLY COULD JUST GET ANYTHING TO HANG THEM ON. HERE ARE A COUPLE PICTURES OF ONES I HAVE SEEN AND LIKED THAT ARE SO EASY AND CHEAP! <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/857740/handmade-advent-calendars/@center/307034/christmas-workshop"><b><span style="color: black;">MARTHA STEWART ADVENT CALENDAR</span></b></a> + <span style="color: black;"><b><a href="http://themerrythought.com/diy/diy-advent-calendar/">THE MERRY THOUGHT ADVENT CALENDAR</a></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I THEN TOOK SMALL KRAFT ENVELOPES THAT I HAD LEFT OVER FROM MY WEDDING AND SEALED THEM SHUT AND THEN CUT THEM IN HALF SO THEY WOULD BE LITTLE OPEN POCKETS. THEN ON THE COMPUTER I MADE DIFFERENT DESIGNS FOR EACH DAY AND PRINTED THEM OUT AND GLUED THEM ONTO THE ENVELOPES. YOU COULD ALSO JUST GET PLAIN WHITE ENVELOPES AND COLOR ON THEM WITH SHARPIES OR WHATEVER. YOU COULD EVEN JUST MAKE POCKETS YOURSELF OUT OF THICK CARDSTOCK! POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS! AFTER THAT I JUST FILLED EACH POCKET WITH DIFFERENT CANDIES. RYAN LOVES GUMMY WORMS AND GUMMY BEARS SO FOR THOSE I BOUGHT LITTLE PLASTIC BAGS TO PUT THEM IN FIRST BEFORE PUTTING THEM IN THE ENVELOPES SINCE THEY ARE STICKY AND NOT ALREADY WRAPPED. YOU REALLY COULD PUT ANYTHING IN THE ENVELOPES- IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE CANDY. A CUTE IDEA ARE LITTLE NICE NOTES OR SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO DO EACH DAY. AGAIN, THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AFTER THAT ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS HANG THEM UP HOWEVER YOU WANT AND YOU HAVE A CALENDAR! YOU COULD ALSO ADD A STRING OF LIGHTS IF YOU WANT BUT MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T GET TOO HEAVY! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I HOPE YOU ENJOY MAKING AN ADVENT CALENDAR! HAVE A HAPPY DECEMBER AND A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!! <3</span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570401272252655692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8374322813199070927.post-33925343974847109312014-11-24T13:10:00.000-08:002014-11-24T13:10:55.160-08:003rd Anniversary Photo Shoot<center>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I FINALLY GOT A CHANCE TO POST THIS AMAZING PHOTOSHOOT THAT OUR WONDERFULLY TALENTED FRIEND, <a href="http://instagram.com/pfeilphoto" target="_blank"><b>LEE PFEIL</b></a>, TOOK OF OUR 3RD ANNIVERSARY! WE STARTED A TRADITION FOR OUR 1ST ANNIVERSARY WHERE WE CAME UP WITH A THEMED PHOTOSHOOT BASED ON THE TRADITIONAL ANNIVERSARY GIFTS WHICH ARE LISTED IN THE PICTURE BELOW. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISdfnO-1m9I6GTSW0a8EY63Pmw0f_Q50KKbLNw7e47h7Kvm-g9h0lM5l5dcu_3bqEvMCwiVRyEh_9F1NmfElhwCMkFJ3JcOEV30u2qfW5m2QK_SPNSZAOuWqRajb8TIC073eVP4zNx_A/s1600/Southern-Weddings-Anniversary-Gifts1.png" style="color: #1155cc; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISdfnO-1m9I6GTSW0a8EY63Pmw0f_Q50KKbLNw7e47h7Kvm-g9h0lM5l5dcu_3bqEvMCwiVRyEh_9F1NmfElhwCMkFJ3JcOEV30u2qfW5m2QK_SPNSZAOuWqRajb8TIC073eVP4zNx_A/s1600/Southern-Weddings-Anniversary-Gifts1.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SO LET ME EXPLAIN. THE 1ST YEAR ANNIVERSARY GIFT IS PAPER SO WE DECIDED TO MAKE A PAPER KITE AND HAVE A PHOTOSHOOT OF TRYING TO FLY IT. YOU CAN VIEW THOSE PHOTOS </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://bestilllife.blogspot.com/2013/01/1st-year-anniversary-shoot.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</b></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> THE 2ND ANNIVERSARY GIFT IS COTTON SO WE HAD A PILLOW FIGHT! YOU CAN VIEW THOSE PHOTOS </span><a href="http://bestilllife.blogspot.com/2013/09/pillow-fight.html" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank"><b>HERE.</b></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times;">SO THEN THAT BRINGS US TO THIS YEAR. THE 3RD ANNIVERSARY GIFT IS LEATHER. SO THE FIRST THING I THOUGHT OF WHEN I THOUGHT OF LEATHER WAS BOOTS WHICH THEN MADE ME THINK OF COWBOYS AND THEN THAT MADE ME THINK OF INDIANS (I KNOW TOTALLY NOT PC) HOWEVER, AS I WAS THINKING OF NATIVE AMERICANS, HAHA, I STARTED TO THINK OF LEATHER MOCCASINS, AND HOW THEIR TEEPEES WERE ORIGINALLY MADE WITH ANIMAL SKINS AND LEATHER. AS I CONTINUED EXPLORING THIS IDEA, I REALIZED HOW CUTE OF A THEME IT COULD BE. AND THEN I FOUND THE PERFECT DRESS WITH TRIBAL ART DETAILING ON THE FRONT AND KNEW EXACTLY THIS WAS THE THEME FOR US! SO IN THE PICTURES YOU CAN SEE ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS WE MADE WITH LEATHER. I FIRST MADE A NUMBER 3 FOR OUR 3RD ANNIVERSARY OUT OF STICKS AND LEATHER CORD. AND THEN MY BROTHER IN LAW, DENNIS SO GRACIOUSLY HELPED ME MAKE A BEAUTIFUL DREAMCATCHER OUT OF LEATHER. (I WAS </span>STRUGGLING WITH THE WEB<span style="font-family: Times;">, HAHA) I ALSO MADE A LEATHER HEAD BAND, HAD LEATHER SANDALS, RYAN HAD LEATHER MOCCASINS, AND THEN WE TIED OUR HOMEMADE TEEPEE WITH LEATHER CORD. SO WE DEFINITELY INCORPORATED LEATHER AND I THINK IT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">WE HAD SO MUCH FUN SHOOTING IN THE WOODS BEHIND MY PARENTS HOUSE. MY AMAZING HUSBAND LOVED ME ENOUGH TO CARRY A WHOLE TEEPEE ON A 10 MINUTE HIKE TO THE PERFECT SPOT IN THE WOODS! HAHA. HE TOTALLY WAS NOT LIKING THE SITUATION BUT STILL DID IT FOR ME <3 THAT'S TRUE LOVE. :P MY NEPHEW, CALEB AND NIECE, JULIA ALSO HELPED US CARRY OUR PROPS THROUGH THE WOODS WHICH WAS TOTALLY HELPFUL AND FUN! SO ENJOY THE PHOTOS AND HOPEFULLY THIS GIVES YOU SOME GOOD IDEAS FOR YOUR NEXT PHOTOSHOOT! I AM ALREADY PLANNING NEXT YEAR'S SHOOT WHICH WILL BE BASED ON FRUIT AND I BET YOU'LL NEVER GUESS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO =) YOU WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE! THIS COMING SUNDAY IS MY BIRTHDAY WHICH MEANS I WILL BE CELEBRATING THE WHOLE WEEKEND! =) FUNNY THING IS THAT I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM DOING FOR IT ALL! THERE ARE SO MANY OPTIONS! ONE THING I DO KNOW IS THAT I WANT TO EAT CAKE! SO I DECIDED TO POST AN AMAZING CREPE CAKE RECIPE FROM MY SISTER'S BRIDAL SHOWER ON THIS LOVELY FRIDAY. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SEVERAL GUESTS FROM THE <a href="http://www.bestilllife.blogspot.com/2014/10/berry-bridal-brunch.html" target="_blank"><b>BERRY THEMED BRIDAL SHOWER BRUNCH</b></a> HAVE ASKED ME FOR THE RECIPE BUT FIRST I NEED TO BE REAL WITH EVERYONE ABOUT IT. IT'S A LITTLE LABOR INTENSIVE AND IF YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE IT FOR A PARTY WHERE YOU WANT IT TO LOOK PRETTY; YOU MUST FOLLOW ALL OF THE STEPS. I MADE A TRIAL CAKE AND IT WAS A SERIOUS FLOP SO I HAD MY AMAZING BROTHER IN LAW'S BROTHER COME TO MY RESCUE WHEN I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE IT LOOK BEAUTIFUL LIKE ALL THE OTHER CREPE CAKES I HAVE SEEN ON <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/" target="_blank"><b>PINTEREST</b></a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SO WHEN I DECIDED TO MAKE A CREPE CAKE, I NEEDED TO FIND A RECIPE TO FOLLOW. THE TYPICAL FIRST PLACE I GO TO FIND A RECIPE IS OBVIOUSLY THE AMAZING <b><a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/" target="_blank">MARTHA STEWART</a></b>. SURE ENOUGH, SHE HAD A RECIPE FOR A <b><a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/314531/meyer-lemon-crepe-cake" target="_blank">MEYER LEMON CREPE CAKE</a></b> THAT LOOKED DELICIOUS. I FOLLOWED THE RECIPE (KIND OF) BUT CHANGED IT UP A BIT TO MAKE IT EASIER WHICH ENDED UP NOT BEING EASIER, HAHA. BUT THROUGH SOME HELP, I FOUND THE BEST AND EASIEST WAY TO MAKE THIS BEAUTIFUL CAKE SO KEEP READING =)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>FIRST THINGS FIRST: CREPES</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I HAVE NEVER MADE CREPES BEFORE SO I KNEW I NEEDED TO FIND SOMEONE TO TEACH ME. THANKFULLY A REALLY GREAT FAMILY FRIEND, WHO I CALL AUNT FRAN, HAS MADE THEM A TON OF TIMES AND WAS SO KIND TO TEACH ME HER WAYS.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I MADE THE CREPE BATTER ACCORDING TO MARTHA STEWART'S RECIPE BUT FOUND WHEN I WAS ACTUALLY FRYING THE CREPES THAT THEY WORK AND LOOK A LOT BETTER WHEN YOU USE MORE FLOUR THAN SUGGESTED. SO I DID ALMOST EQUAL PARTS OF MILK AND FLOUR. <i>INGREDIENTS AND MEASUREMENTS LISTED BELOW</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I WATCHED MARTHA'S VIDEO ON HOW TO FLIP A CREPE AND YEAH- THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. SO AUNT FRAN TAUGHT ME AN EASIER WAY. ALL YOU REALLY HAVE TO DO IS POUR ABOUT 1/4 CUP OF CREPE MIXTURE INTO A HEATED AND BUTTERED PAN. NEXT YOU SWIRL AROUND IN THE PAN BY ACTUALLY MOVING AND TILTING THE PAN. YOU ONLY HAVE TO WAIT A MINUTE OR SO UNTIL YOU NEED TO FLIP IT. THIS IS THE HARD PART BUT YOU DO GET USE TO IT. PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT! SO AUNT FRAN SHOWED ME THAT THE EASIEST WAY TO FLIP A CREPE IS TO TAKE A RUBBER SPATULA AND STICK IT UNDER THE CREPE ON ALL SIDES TO LOOSEN IT UP THEN YOU PUT THE SPATULA UNDER THE WHOLE CREPE AND FLIP. YOU PROBABLY WILL HAVE TO ADJUST THE CREPE WITH YOUR HANDS TO MAKE SURE IT IS PERFECTLY FLAT IN THE PAN AGAIN.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">WE MADE 3 DIFFERENT SIZED CREPES BECAUSE WE WANTED 3 TIERS. IN ORDER TO DO THIS YOU NEED 3 DIFFERENT SIZED SKILLETS. THERE ARE 15 CREPES PER TIER. SO THE CAKE IN THE PICTURE ABOVE HAS A TOTAL OF 45 CREPES. 15 LARGE, 15 MEDIUM AND 15 SMALL. ONCE ALL OF THESE WERE MADE WE HAD TO MAKE SURE THEY COOLED OFF. WE STORED THEM IN THE FRIDGE WITH A PIECE OF WAX PAPER IN BETWEEN EACH CREPE TO MAKE SURE THEY WOULDN'T STICK TOGETHER. I AM VERY THANKFUL I DID THIS, SO DO NOT FORGET THIS STEP!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>LEMON CURD MOUSSE:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SO MARTHA HAD A WHOLE LONG PROCESS ON HOW TO MAKE THIS LEMON CURD MOUSSE BUT I DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TIME OR ENERGY. I KNOW THAT LEMON CURD IS SOLD IN MOST GROCERY STORES SO I DECIDED TO JUST BUY IT AND THEN TO MAKE IT MOUSSY- I BOUGHT SOME HEAVY CREAM AND WHIPPED IT IN WITH THE CURD. HOWEVER THIS IS WHERE I STARTED TO ROYALLY MESS UP. GO FIGURE, WHEN I THINK I AM ABOUT TO MAKE SOMETHING EASIER, I MAKE IT TEN TIMES HARDER.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>ASSEMBLING (THE NIGHTMARE)</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A WEEK BEFORE THE SHOWER I DID A TRIAL RUN CAKE WITH AUNT FRAN. WE WERE PRESSED FOR TIME SO AFTER MAKING THE 15 CREPES WE INSTANTLY TOOK OUR LEMON CURD MOUSSE AND STARTED ASSEMBLING WHILE THE CREPES WERE STILL WARM. BIG MISTAKE. AS WE WERE ASSEMBLING, THE CAKE STARTED TO SHIFT AND MOVE AROUND, IT LOOKED AWFUL. WE TRIED PUTTING IT IN THE FREEZER BUT IT DIDN'T HELP. AFTER LETTING IT CHILL WE STILL WANTED TO TRY IT SO WE KNEW WHAT IT WOULD TASTE LIKE AND LET ME TELL YOU- IT WAS HEAVENLY. IT LOOKED AWFUL BUT WAS HEAVENLY.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SO WHAT I TOOK AWAY FROM THE TRIAL RUN WAS TO ASSEMBLE THE CAKE WHEN THE CREPES HAVE BEEN CHILLED FOR A LONG WHILE AND I THOUGHT EVERYTHING WOULD BE OKAY. I WAS SORELY WRONG. THE MORNING OF THE SHOWER AT 6AM I START MAKING THE LEMON CURD MOUSSE (CREPES HAD ALREADY BEEN MADE AND WERE IN THE FRIDGE) I STARTED TO ASSEMBLE AND EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE GOING FINE TILL THE MOUSSE STARTED TO WARM UP. THE CAKE STARTED MOVING BY MY 10TH LAYER AND THINGS STARTED TO GET UGLY. I FINISHED THE CAKE AND PUT IT INSTANTLY IN THE FREEZER THINKING IT WOULD BE OKAY AND AFTER 15 MIN I CHECKED ON IT AND IT HAD ALL SLID APART.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>MY CAKE SAVIOR</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I CALLED MY SISTER IN A PANIC AND SHE TOLD ME SHE WOULD GET A HOLD OF HER BROTHER IN LAW WHO IS A PROFESSIONAL CAKE MAKER. WHY THE HECK I NEVER CALLED HIM THE FIRST TIME DURING THE TRIAL RUN BEWILDERS ME! LIVE AND LEARN I GUESS. WELL HE SHOWED UP THAT MORNING AND ASSESSED THE SITUATION AND REALIZED WHAT I HAD DONE WRONG. APPARENTLY I OVER BEATED THE LEMON CURD MOUUSE AND IN MY OWN MADE UP RECIPE THERE WASN'T ENOUGH GELATIN IN IT TO KEEP IT FROM SLIDING. PLUS FREEZING WHIPPED HEAVY CREAM IS NEVER A GREAT IDEA BECAUSE ONCE YOU TAKE IT OUT OF THE FREEZER THE CREAM GETS WATERY. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SO HERE IS THE TRICK THAT HE DID WHICH MAY HAVE CHANGED THE FLAVOR A TINY BIT BUT REALLY ONLY MADE IT BETTER IF ANYTHING. HE WENT TO THE STORE AND GRABBED THE INSTANT JELLO NO BAKE CHEESECAKE MIX AND ADDED IT TO MY MOUSSE AND LET IT SIT AND THICKEN FOR 15 MIN. <i>IF YOU ACTUALLY FOLLOWED MARTHA STEWART'S FULL RECIPE LIKE I SHOULD HAVE- YOU PROBABLY DON'T NEED TO DO THIS BUT MAKING THE MOUSSE THIS WAY CERTAINLY IS A LOT EASIER THAN HER WAY PLUS HOW CAN YOU GO WRONG WITH CHEESECAKE? =)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THE NEXT THING HE DID WAS HE WENT HOME AND GRABBED ALL HIS ROUND CAKE PANS THAT WERE STRAIGHT SIDED IN ALL DIFFERENT SIZES. THIS IS WHERE I SAW HIS TRUE BRILLIANCE. HE THEN TOOK MY DIFFERENT SIZED CREPES AND MATCHED EACH CAKE TIER UP WITH THE CORRESPONDING CAKE PAN. HE PUT A LARGE PIECE OF PLASTIC WRAP IN EACH PAN SO IT OVERLAPPED THE SIDES QUITE A BIT. NEXT HE STARTED TO ASSEMBLE EACH CAKE TIER INSIDE THE CORRESPONDING PAN SO IT WAS PRE FORMED AND WOULDN'T MOVE AROUND AS HE WOULD SPREAD THE MOUSSE IN BETWEEN EACH CREPE! BRILLIANT! SO ONCE HE DID ALL 15 CREPES WITH MOUSSE IN BETWEEN EACH, HE THEN TOOK THE EDGES OF THE PLASTIC WRAP AND WRAPPED IT OVER THE TOP OF THE CAKE. AT THIS POINT HE TOOK THE CAKE PAN AND FLIPPED IT OVER SO IT WAS ON THE PLATE AND IT LOOKED PERFECT. HE DID THIS WITH ALL THREE TIERS.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ONCE ALL THREE TIERS WERE ASSEMBLED AND READY, HE FLASH FREEZED THEM FOR ABOUT A HALF HOUR (WE WERE PRESSED FOR TIME- NORMALLY YOU COULD JUST PUT IT IN THE FRIDGE) IT WAS OKAY TO FREEZE THEM NOW SINCE THE CHEESECAKE MIX WAS IN THE MOUSSE AND THICKENED UP THE HEAVY CREAM. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AT THIS POINT HE STARTED TO ASSEMBLE THE WHOLE CAKE WHICH ALSO WAS BRILLIANTLY DONE. IN THE BOTTOM LAYER OF THE CAKE HE STUCK ABOUT 5 PLASTIC STRAWS IN THE CENTER IN A CIRCLE SLIGHTLY SMALLER IN DIAMETER TO THE MIDDLE LAYER TIER. THE STRAWS WERE CUT SO THEY WOULD ONLY BE STICKING OUT OF THE CAKE BY A CENTIMETER. THEN HE TOOK A ROUND CARDBOARD CUTOUT THAT WAS WRAPPED IN FOIL WHICH WAS SLIGHTLY SMALLER THAN THE MIDDLE TIER AND PLACED THE MIDDLE TIER ON TOP OF THE CARDBOARD AND THEN PLACE THAT ON TOP OF THE CIRCLE OF STRAWS. THIS WAY THE MIDDLE TIER WAS RESTING ON THE STRAWS INSTEAD OF THE BOTTOM LAYER OF CREPES. HE REPEATED THIS FOR THE 3RD TIER. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AFTER THAT ALL WE HAD TO DO WAS DECORATE WITH BLUEBERRIES AND PUT OUR CUTE LITTLE TISSUE PAPER TASSEL GARLAND THAT MY AUNT MADE RIGHT ON TOP AND IT WAS PERFECT! SO THAT'S THE STORY OF HOW MY GOOD FRIEND, DAVID KROPP SAVED MY LIFE THAT SUNDAY MORNING, HAHA.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BELOW IS THE RECIPE FOR THE CAKE. MAKING ONLY ONE TIER WOULD DEFINITELY BE MUCH EASIER AND LESS TIME CONSUMING AND WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT CAKE FOR ANY CELEBRATION ESPECIALLY FOR A BRIDAL SHOWER BRUNCH!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>LEMON BLUEBERRY CREPE CAKE RECIPE</b>:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">INGREDIENTS</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>CREPE BATTER:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 1/4 CUPS ALL PURPOSE FLOUR</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 CUP SUGAR</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 1/4 CUPS MILK</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 LARGE EGGS</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 TABLESPOON VANILLA EXTRACT</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6 TABLESPOONS BUTTER, PLUS MORE FOR MELTING IN THE PAN</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>LEMON CURD MOUSSE:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LEMON CURD - 10 OZ JAR</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PINT OF HEAVY CREAM, WHIPPED</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">JELL-O NO BAKE DESSERT, REAL CHEESECAKE (YOU ONLY NEED THE CHEESECAKE POWDER AND THIS IS OPTIONAL ONLY IF YOU WANT YOUR CAKE TO LOOK PRETTY. READ ABOVE TO KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT, HAHA)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">STEP 1) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">WHISK TOGETHER FLOUR, SUGAR AND SALT. WHISK TOGETHER MILK, EGGS, AND VANILLA. GRADUALLY POUR MILK MIXTURE INTO FLOUR MIXTURE, WHISKING UNTIL SMOOTH. WHISK IN BUTTER. POUR THROUGH A FINE SIEVE INTO AN AIRTIGHT CONTAINER. REFRIGERATE AT LEAST 2 HOUR TO OVERNIGHT. YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE TO REFRIGERATE IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE TIME- IT HONESTLY DIDN'T SEEM TO MATTER BUT MARTHA SAYS TO DO IT SO IF YOU HAVE THE TIME I SUGGEST YOU DO IT =)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">STEP 2) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LIGHTLY COAT A 6 INCH CREPE PAN OR NON STICK SKILLET WITH BUTTER. HEAT OVER MEDIUM HEAT UNTIL JUST STARTING TO SMOKE. REMOVE FROM HEAT; POUR A LITTLE LESS THAN 1/4 CUP OF BATTER INTO THE CENTER. TILT PAN TO SWIRL THE BATTER AROUND SO IT COVERS THE WHOLE BOTTOM OF THE PAN. COOK UNTIL EDGES ARE GOLDEN AND CENTER IS DRY ABOUT 1 MINUTE PER SIDE. (SEE ABOVE COMMENTS FOR MORE DETAILS)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">STEP 3) SLIDE CREPE ONTO A PLATE. REPEAT WITH REMAINING BATTER, COATING PAN WITH BUTTER AS NEEDED AND STACKING CREPES. LET COOL.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">STEP 4) WHIP HEAVY CREAM WITH A HAND MIXER TILL IT'S ONLY SLIGHTLY SHOWING PEAKS. YOU DO NOT WANT TO WHIP IT TILL IT HAS STIFF PEAKS JUST YET. ADD LEMON CURD AND CONTINUE TO MIX TILL YOU ALMOST HAVE STIFF PEAKS. FOLD IN THE CHEESECAKE MIX. PLACE IN REFRIGERATOR FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES TO LET THICKEN. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">STEP 4) TAKE A ROUND STRAIGHT SIDED CAKE PAN THAT IS THE SAME DIAMETER OF YOUR CREPES AND LINE IT WITH PLASTIC WRAP AND MAKE SURE IT IS OVERLAPPING. PUT YOUR FIRST CREPE IN THE BOTTOM NOTE: THIS WILL BE THE TOP OF YOUR CAKE. SPREAD ABOUT 1/4 CUP OF THE LEMON CURD MOUSSE ONTO CREPE. TOP WITH 1 CREPE. CONTINUE LAYERING CREPES AND MOUSSE. (USE 15 CREPES, ENDING WITH A CREPE ON TOP.) REFRIGERATE UNTIL FIRM, ABOUT 1 HOUR.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">STEP 5) TAKE PAN OUT OF REFRIGERATOR AND FLIP OVER ONTO A CAKE PLATE. (FOR LAYERING TIERS SEE COMMENTS ABOVE)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5) GARNISH WITH EXTRA WHIPPED CREAM AND BLUEBERRIES AND ENJOY!!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570401272252655692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8374322813199070927.post-82789829441190058372014-10-15T04:57:00.002-07:002014-10-15T06:43:39.177-07:00Berry Themed Bridal Shower Brunch<!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page -->
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SO HERE IS PROOF TO SHOW I HAVE BEEN TOO BUSY TO POST ANYTHING LATELY! MY SISTER AND HER FIANCEE DECIDED TO MOVE THE WEDDING UP A BIT AND HAVE IT AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS NOVEMBER INSTEAD OF NEXT SEPTEMBER. SO THAT MEANT WE NEEDED TO PLAN A BRIDAL SHOWER FAST! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">WE HAD A BRUNCH OF SORTS WITH DELICIOUS BREAKFAST FOODS AND OUR THEME WAS BASED ON BERRIES SPECIFICALLY BLUEBERRIES. MY SISTER'S FIANCEE AND HIS FAMILY OWN A BLUEBERRY FARM <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Blueberry-Hill-Ingalls/124712340915803" target="_blank"><b>(CHECK OUT THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE)</b></a> AND THEIR WEDDING HAS A BLUEBERRY THEME SO WE THOUGHT WE WOULD INCORPORATE THAT INTO THE SHOWER AS WELL. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I CREATED THE SHOWER INVITE ABOVE BUT CANNOT TAKE CREDIT FULLY BECAUSE I MODELED IT AFTER A BEAUTIFUL SHOWER INVITE YOU CAN PURCHASE <b><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/160736632/bride-bloom-custom-bridal-shower-brunch?ref=sr_gallery_10&ga_search_query=BRIDAL+SHOWER+BRUNCH&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery" target="_blank">HERE</a> </b>THEY ENDED UP BEING A BIT TIME CONSUMING SINCE I PRETTILY HAND ADDRESSED 65 ENVELOPES BUT IT WAS DEFINITELY TIME WELL SPENT IN MY OPINION =)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ORIGINALLY I WAS THINKING I COULD BE THE PHOTOGRAPHER BUT WASN'T THINKING HOW I NEEDED TO BE A HOST TOO SO I AM SO VERY GRATEFUL FOR MY FRIEND, HEATHER MORRIS WHO TOOK MOST OF THE PICTURES BELOW. YOU CAN CHECK OUT HER WEBSITE <b><a href="http://simplpics.artistwebsites.com/" target="_blank">HERE</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THE MENU </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>(ALL HOMEMADE BY THE BRIDESMAIDS, FAMILY OF THE BRIDE AND OTHER FRIENDS)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> A YOGURT PARFAIT BAR WITH HOMEMADE GRANOLA </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SAUSAGE, GRAVY AND BISCUITS </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BROCCOLI QUICHE AS WELL AS QUICHE LORRAINE WITH BACON</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A VARIETY OF HOMEMADE DONUT HOLES </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MINI POTATO CASSEROLES</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">HOMEMADE BLUEBERRY MUFFINS WITH HONEY BUTTER</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SUN TEA AND BERRY MINT WATER</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AS WELL AS BLUEBERRY COFFEE</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, A DELICIOUS LEMON BLUEBERRY CREPE CAKE (I WILL POST THE RECIPE SOON!)</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THE CAKE WAS MY BABY THAT TURNED INTO A NIGHTMARE AND I WILL GO INTO FURTHER DETAIL ABOUT ALL OF THAT IN A LATER POST BUT ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS THAT I ROYALLY MESSED UP PUTTING THE CAKE TOGETHER AND IF IT WASN'T FOR MY BROTHER IN LAW'S, BROTHER, DAVID KROPP (PROFESSIONAL CAKE MAKER) WHO CAME TO MY RESCUE THEN I WOULD HAVE BEEN SCREWED!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THE VENUE</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I ONLY HAVE AMAZING THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THE VENUE! IT WAS WONDERFUL BOOKING IT AND HOLDING THE PARTY THERE. IT WAS AT THE CANO GALLERY WHICH IS THE OLD WILBER MANSION ON FORD AVENUE IN ONEONTA, NY. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL ART GALLERY THAT FORTUNATELY AT THE TIME OF OUR SHOWER, DID NOT HAVE ANY SHOWS UP SO ALL THE WALLS WERE COMPLETELY BARE AND WHITE WHICH GAVE US LOTS OF SPACE TO BE CREATIVE WITH OUR DECORATIONS. THEY EVEN REPAINTED THE WALLS BEFORE WE GOT THERE! IT REALLY WAS A PLEASANT EXPERIENCE AND FOR A GROUP OF 60 PEOPLE IT IS A PERFECT VENUE THAT I HIGHLY RECOMMEND TO ANYONE! <a href="http://canoneonta.org/?home" target="_blank"><b>CHECK OUT THEIR WEBSITE!</b></a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THE DECORATIONS</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">WELL IT WASN'T TOO HARD TO DECORATE AN ALREADY GORGEOUS SPACE! BUT WE DID HAVE TO BE CREATIVE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE A TON OF MONEY TO WORK WITH. WE HAD TASSEL GARLANDS MADE FROM TISSUE PAPER BY MY AMAZING AUNT. WE HAD BEAUTIFUL PAPER TRIANGLE GARLANDS MADE BY MY SISTER, AMY AND BRIDESMAID, ABBY. ABBY, WHO I WORKED WITH AT THE FLOWER SHOP FOR SEVERAL YEARS, ALSO PUT TOGETHER OUR FOLIAGE WALL AND SUSPENDED WREATHS (WITH THE HELP OF MY NIECE, JULIA!). THEY TURNED OUT ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL AND UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T THINK THE PICTURES DO THEM JUSTICE! WE BOUGHT A VARIETY OF FOLIAGE FROM CODDINGTON'S FLORIST AND IT WORKED OUT PERFECTLY. ONE OF THE CHEAPEST DECORATIONS WAS THE BIG ENGINEER PRINTS I GOT FROM OFFICE MAX FOR ONLY $8 A PIECE! I PRINTED OUT A HUGE PICTURE OF THE BRIDE AND GROOM AS WELL AS A HAND LETTERED PIECE I MADE. BOTH WERE 3 FEET X 4 FEET WHICH TOOK UP A LOT OF SPACE AND REALLY MADE A STATEMENT AT SUCH A LOW COST!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">EVERYTHING CAME TOGETHER AND IT ENDED UP BEING SUCH A LOVELY TIME. ENJOY THE PICTURES BELOW AND HOPEFULLY SOMETHING WILL INSPIRE YOU FOR YOUR NEXT PARTY! FEEL FREE TO COMMENT WITH ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THE PICTURE ABOVE IS OF MY TWO SISTERS AND ME. I AM ON THE RIGHT, MY SISTER, AMY IS ON THE LEFT AND MY SISTER, BETHANY, IN THE MIDDLE, IS THE ONE GETTING MARRIED! I <3 MY SISTAS!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BELOW IS THE HAND LETTERED PIECE I DID FOR THE ENGINEER PRINT. I AM SO PUMPED FOR MY SISTER AND NATE (HER FIANCEE) I CAN'T BELIEVE THEIR WEDDING IS IN LESS THAN 3 WEEKS!! I PRAY A SPECIAL BLESSING ON THEIR WEDDING DAY AND MARRIED LIFE TOGETHER! <3 <3 <3</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570401272252655692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8374322813199070927.post-32783889261836969372014-10-13T12:05:00.000-07:002014-10-15T04:59:37.945-07:00DIY Autumn Wreath<!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page -->
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">WELL FOLKS IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE MY LAST POST. LIFE HAS BEEN A BIT CRAZY FOR ME WITH MY SISTER'S UPCOMING WEDDING AMONG MANY OTHER THINGS BUT I AM HOPING TO START BLOGGING ON A MORE REGULAR BASIS AGAIN! SO FOR MY FIRST POST AFTER A LONG HIATUS I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU A FUN, CHEAP AND EASY DIY AUTUMN WREATH MADE FROM PAPER!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">RYAN AND I ARE TRYING TO BE GOOD ABOUT STICKING TO OUR BUDGET SO WE CAN BE OUT OF DEBT BY NEXT FALL(!) WHICH MEANS FOR HOLIDAY DECOR THIS YEAR I MUST THINK OF INGENIOUS WAYS TO DECORATE AT AN AFFORDABLE COST.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AFTER WORKING 10 YEARS IN A FLORAL SHOP, I HAVE COME ACROSS MANY TACKY FALL WREATHS AND REALLY WANTED TO STEAR CLEAR OF ANY AND EVERYONE OF THOSE! (HAHA) HOWEVER THE REALLY NICE WREATHS GENERALLY COST AN ARM AND A LEG SO THIS CALLED FOR SOME DESPERATE CREATIVITY! AND BY CREATIVITY, I MEAN PINTEREST =) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SO I REALLY CAN'T TAKE CREDIT FOR THIS WREATH. I DID CHANGE A COUPLE THINGS AND MADE IT MY OWN BUT THE WHOLE CONCEPT CAME FROM THIS LOVELY POST ---> <a href="http://www.carolynshomework.com/2012/09/inkling-brown-bag-wreath-faux-bay-leaves.html" target="_blank">BROWN BAG FAUX BAY LEAF WREATH</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THE REALLY COOL THING ABOUT THIS KIND OF WREATH IS THAT YOU COULD CHANGE THE LEAVES TO BE ANY SHAPE, SIZE AND COLOR FOR ANY SEASON! I PERSONALLY WANTED A DEEP BARN RED/BURGUNDY TO MATCH MY FRONT DOOR BUT YOU COULD DO THE GREEN BAY LEAVES LIKE IN THE ORIGINAL POST OR MAKE THEM ALL DIFFERENT FALL COLORS OR EVEN FOR WINTER YOU COULD MAYBE EVEN MAKE THEM WHITE LEAVES! THE POSSIBILITIES REALLY ARE ENDLESS! BELOW ARE PICTURES WITH STEPS. HAVE FUN CREATING YOUR VERY OWN PAPER LEAF WREATH!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>SUPPLIES NEEDED:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>HOT GLUE GUN WITH LOTS OF GLUE</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>PAPER BAGS OR KRAFT PAPER (I USED KRAFT PAPER BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT I HAD)</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>PAINT (CRAFT/ACRYLIC PAINT OR WATER COLOR PAINT)</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>PAINTBRUSH AND SOME WATER</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>SCISSORS</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>FOAM WREATH</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>A LITTLE TWINE/STRING</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>STEP 1:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I DIDN'T HAVE GROCERY PAPER BAGS SO I USED A ROLL OF KRAFT PAPER THAT I ALREADY HAD. I ROLLED OUT PROBABLY ABOUT 7 FEET WORTH AND CUT IT INTO 3 SECTIONS JUST BECAUSE IT WAS EASIER TO WORK WITH</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>STEP 2: </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PAINT THE PAPER. I ORIGINALLY USED WATER COLOR BUT IT WASN'T GETTING AS DARK AS I HOPED SO I ENDED UP USING ACRYLICS OVER TOP TO GET A RICHER RED. IF YOU ARE DOING A BAY LEAF WREATH, WATER COLOR WOULD PROBABLY BE BEST BECAUSE YOU GET A NICE TEXTURED LOOK AND THE BROWN WILL SHOW THROUGH MORE. IF YOU USE ACYRLICS OR CRAFT PAINT, STILL MIX WATER IN WITH THE PAINT TO GET DIFFERENT HUES AND SHADES! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>STEP 3:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ONCE PAPER IS DRY CUT INTO MANY LITTLE LEAVES (WHATEVER SHAPE AND SIZE YOU PLEASE!) I DID THEM ALL ABOUT THE SAME SIZE. I USED ABOUT 150 LEAVES TO COVER MY 18 INCH WREATH.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>STEP 4: </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">TIE A PIECE OF TWINE/STRING AROUND YOUR FOAM WREATH FOR THE LITTLE HOOK</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>STEP 5:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">START GLUEING AWAY! I MADE MY LEAVES ALL GO IN THE SAME DIRECTIONS AND ALMOST GLUED THEM IN ROWS SO I MADE SURE I COVERED EVERY INCH OF THE FOAM. CURL THEM UP AND MANIPULATE THEM A LITTLE BIT TO GIVE NICE TEXTURES.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>STEP 6:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">HANG AND ENJOY!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>NOTE: TWO DAYS AFTER I HUNG IT UP OUTSIDE, I NOTICED MY LEAVES STARTED TO CURL FROM THE HUMIDITY. IT LOOKS REALLY COOL BUT IT LEFT SOME OPEN HOLES SO I HAD TO GO BACK AND MAKE SOME MORE LEAVES AND GLUE THEM INTO THE PLACES WHERE FOAM WAS REVEALED. </b></span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570401272252655692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8374322813199070927.post-12069390937798749102014-05-21T12:39:00.000-07:002014-05-22T06:42:41.124-07:00My Weightloss Journey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">ALL MY LIFE I REMEMBER BEING THE BIG GIRL.</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"> I REMEMBER IN GRADE SCHOOL BEING TALLER AND FATTER THAN THE REST OF THE KIDS MY AGE. I ALWAYS CHALKED IT UP TO BEING LARGER BONED BUT IN ACTUALITY, I WAS JUST OVERWEIGHT.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">I WAS A VERY ACTIVE TEENAGER BUT STILL I JUST ATE TOO MUCH AND HAD NO CLUE ABOUT GOOD NUTRITION. WHEN I WAS 15, THE TAEKWONDO TEAM I WAS A PART OF STARTED TO TRAIN FOR COMPETITIONS. MY TKD INSTRUCTOR HAD US ALL "WEIGH IN" SO HE COULD FIGURE WHERE WE NEEDED TO BE FOR THE WEIGHT CATERGORIES. I DISTINCTLY REMEMBER STEPPING ON THE SCALE AND HIM TELLING ME I REALLY NEEDED TO START THINKING ABOUT EATING BETTER BECAUSE I WAS OVERWEIGHT. THAT SERIOUSLY HUMILIATED ME BUT ALSO REALLY MOTIVATED ME AND I REMEMBER DROPPING 10 LBS AND REALLY GETTING IN SHAPE AS I GOT READY TO COMPETE FOR JUNIOR OLYMPICS. I FELT GREAT AND WAS STILL ON THE LARGER SIDE BUT I WAS HEALTHY!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;">ONCE I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL AND WENT INTO COLLEGE IT WENT DOWNHILL FROM THERE. THE FRESHMAN 15 HAPPENED AND THEN THE NEXT TWO YEARS I GAINED ANOTHER 10 OR SO. WHEN I WAS A JUNIOR IN COLLEGE, I MET THE MAN OF MY DREAMS <3 (BIG, TALL HANDSOME GUY WHO LOVED ME FOR WHO I AM/WAS). WE STARTED DATING AND IT WAS INSTANT HAPPINESS. I ENDED UP GAINING ANOTHER 10 LBS FROM NOT REALLY CARING BECAUSE I WAS IN LOVE AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO DATE THEN GO OUT TO EAT!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;">WE GOT ENGAGED TWO YEARS LATER AND I LOST 10 LBS FOR MY WEDDING. THEN WE GOT MARRIED AND YA KNOW WHAT THEY SAY WHEN YOU ARE HAPPILY MARRIED- YOU LET EVERYTHING GO. HAHA- THIS HAPPENDED TO ME AND FOR THE FIRST 2 YEARS OF MARRIAGE I GAINED BACK THE 10 I PREVIOUSLY LOST AND THEN GAINED ANOTHER 15. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE SCALE AND NOTICED I WAS OVER 200 LBS AT THE BEGINNING OF 2013- I FREAKED OUT. <b>THIS WAS MY TURNING POINT. </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><b>SO I JUST WANT TO SHARE 6 MAIN TIPS ON HOW I LOST 55 LBS OVER THE LAST YEAR AND HOW I HAVE KEPT IT OFF.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><b><i>BY THE GRACE OF GOD...</i></b></span></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">TIP #1 GIVE IT TO GOD AND LEARN TO CRAVE HIM RATHER THAN FOOD. SPEND TIME WITH JESUS ON A REGULAR BASIS. THIS IS A DAILY STRUGGLE. I ALSO TOTALLY SUGGEST READING MADE TO CRAVE AND WATCHING THE DVD'S AND READING THE DEVOTIONAL BOOK! IT REALLY IS EYE OPENING WITH SO MUCH WISDOM AND TRUTH, RELATABLE STORIES AND GREAT ADVICE! </b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>IN JANUARY 2013 MY SUCCESSFUL WEIGHTLOSS JOURNEY BEGAN.</b> AT THE TIME I WAS PART OF A WOMENS' SMALL GROUP THAT WAS FOCUSED ON WEIGHTLOSS. WE WERE ALL READING THE BOOK, <a href="http://madetocrave.org/" target="_blank"><b>MADE TO CRAVE</b></a>. IT REALLY OPENED MY EYES TO WHAT A STRONGHOLD FOOD HAD ON MY LIFE. IT WAS CONTROLLING ME. I HAD MADE FOOD AN IDOL AND PUT IT BEFORE GOD AND WAS REAPING THE CONSEQUENCES OF DOING SO. I NOTICED HOW BEING OVERWEIGHT AND UNHEALTHY MADE ME FEEL SO ASHAMED, GUILTY, SAD, ENVIOUS, INSECURE, DEPRESSED AND SO MANY OTHER AWFUL FEELINGS. THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY TIMES WHEN ALL MY FRIENDS WOULD WANT TO HANG OUT AND I DIDN'T AT ALL BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE ANY CLOTHES THAT FIT AND I FELT SO FAT AND UGLY. I ALSO NOTICED I WAS TAKING THIS OUT ON MY PATIENT AND LOVING HUSBAND. I WOULD GET SO IRRITATED WITH HIM AND SNIPPY BUT IN REALITY I WASN'T MAD AT HIM BUT MYSELF. I REALIZED SOMETHING NEEDED TO CHANGE AND THAT I NEEDED TO GIVE THIS WEIGHTLOSS BATTLE OVER TO GOD ONCE AND FOR ALL. I LEARNED THAT SPENDING TIME WITH JESUS (J-TIME AS I CALL IT) REALLY IS NECESSARY IN MY WEIGHTLOSS BATTLE. MY SISTER (ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER) AND I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHENEVER WE ARE REALLY STRUGGLING WITH EATING RIGHT IT USUALLY ALSO HAPPENS THAT WE AREN'T READING THE BIBLE AND HAVING SOME QUALITY J-TIME. I'M NOT BEING LEGALISTIC ABOUT IT AND NOT SAYING THAT IF YOU DON'T READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY YOU ARE GOING TO CRAVE CHOCOLATE MORE- THAT'S ABSURD. BUT I AM SAYING THAT WHEN WE REALIZE WE CAN'T DO IT ON OUR OWN AND INSTEAD RELY ON GOD FOR THE STRENGTH, THAT'S WHEN WE SEE THE VICTORY.</span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"> </b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">I GOT A NEW JOB OVER 2 YEARS AGO (MARCH 2012) AND I NOTICED TWO THINGS: SITTING AT A DESK ALL DAY IS NOT A GREAT/HEALTHY ACTIVITY AND 2. MY BOSS IS AN AVID RUNNER AND HEALTH NUT AND SHE WAS ALWAYS ACTIVE ON HER LUNCH BREAKS WHICH MADE ME REALLY JEALOUS. I AM A VERY BUSY PERSON AND THAT'S WHAT MY EXCUSE WAS AS TO WHY I NEVER REALLY WORKED OUT BUT DOING IT DURING MY LUNCH BREAK WAS THE PERFECT TIME FOR ME AND I COULDN'T DENY IT. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">MARCH 2013 I BEGAN RUNNING WITH MY BOSS ON OUR LUNCH BREAKS AND IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I COULD HAVE EVER DONE. SHE STARTED ME ON A PROGRAM CALLED COUCH 2 5K AND BY JUNE 1ST, 2013 I RAN MY FIRST 5K IN 38 MIN WHICH ISN'T TOO BAD! I KEPT RUNNING EVEN THOUGH I ABSOLUTELY HATED IT AND SOMEHOW OVER TIME I LEARNED TO LOVE IT. I RUN 3X A WEEK OR MORE NOW AND HAVE DONE OVER A HALF DOZEN 5KS, 1 10K AND NOW I AM TRAINING FOR A 15K THIS JULY! MY FUTURE GOAL IS TO DO THE NYC HALF MARATHON NEXT APRIL AND MAYBE EVENTUALLY A FULL MARATHON! THE LAST 5K I DID WAS MAY 18TH AND I RAN IT AT 28:26 SECONDS! ALMOST 10 MINUTES FASTER THAN MY FIRST 5K! IT'S PRETTY UNBELIEVABLE</span><span style="line-height: 16px;"> STUFF AND I AM SO GRATEFUL TO GOD FOR IT! AS MY BOSS JULIE SAYS, </span><b style="line-height: 16px;">I RUN BECAUSE I CAN!</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;"><span style="color: #333333;">I ALSO STARTED STRENGTH TRAINING THROUGH P90X AND STARTED ATTENDING </span><span style="color: black;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/ChristineGsbootcamp/" target="_blank">CHRISTINE G'S BOOTCAMP</a> </b>ONCE A WEEK<b> </b>AND<b> </b></span><span style="color: #333333;">A ZUMBA SMASH CLASS ONCE A WEEK THROUGH </span><a href="http://www.bodybystacyny.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><b>BODY BY STACY</b></span></a><span style="color: #333333;">, YOGA TWICE A WEEK THROUGH </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/POWERLUNCHOneonta" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: black;">POWER LUNCH</span></b></a><span style="color: #333333;"> AND OF COURSE MY RUNNING 3X A WEEK. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;">I TOTALLY SUGGEST DOING CLASSES TOO IF YOU ARE SOMEONE LIKE ME WHO ISN'T THE MOST SELF MOTIVATED PERSON. IN THE PAST I HAVE HAD MEMBERSHIPS TO A COUPLE GYMS AND WOULD ALWAYS TRY TO WORKOUT ON MY OWN BUT I NEVER REALLY SAW RESULTS AND I KNOW IT'S BECAUSE I NEED THE COMRADERY, THE COMPETITION, THE MOTIVATION AND THE ENCOURAGEMENT FROM OTHER PEOPLE AROUND ME WHILE I WORKOUT.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;"><i>ALSO IF YOU ARE A RUNNER, STRENGTH TRAINING IS ESSENTIAL BECAUSE I WENT THROUGH A TIME WHERE I WASN'T STRENGTH TRAINING AND I GOT RUNNER'S KNEE BECAUSE MY MUSCLES SURROUNDING MY KNEE WERE TOO WEAK AND IT HURT TO RUN! </i></span></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">TIP #3 EAT HEALTHY! LIMIT STARCHY CARBS AND SUGARY FOODS. TRY NOT TO EAT AFTER 7PM AND IF YOU ARE REALLY WANTING TO LOSE WEIGHT- EAT YOUR SMALLEST MEAL FOR DINNER! KEEP TRACK OF YOUR CALORIC INTAKE- STAYING UNDER 1200 IS REALLY GREAT FOR LOSING WEIGHT! PLUS AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW DRINK TONS OF WATER!! IT IS SO BENEFICIAL!</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">IN THE BEGIINNING OF RUNNING AND WORKING OUT, I STILL WASN'T SEEING THE BEST RESULTS IN LOSING WEIGHT EVEN THOUGH I WAS BEING ACTIVE BUT THAT WAS BECAUSE I STILL WASN'T EATING THE GREATEST. SOMEHOW I NEVER COULD BOTH BE ACTIVE AND EAT RIGHT AT THE SAME TIME, HAHA.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">OVER THE YEARS I HAVE LEARNED WHAT IS GOOD TO EAT AND WHAT IS NOT BUT NOW I WAS GETTING MORE AND MORE DETERMINED TO REALLY DO MY RESEARCH. ALSO WITH RUNNING ON MY LUNCH BREAKS I NEEDED SOMETHING FOR LUNCH THAT WAS QUICK AND EASY SO I STARTED TO LOOK INTO MEAL REPLACEMENT SHAKES. I FOUND OUT ABOUT SHAKEOLOGY AND MY LIFE CHANGED FOREVER, HAHA. AROUND MID MAY OF 2013 I PURCHASED SHAKEOLOGY FOR THE FIRST TIME AND ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! I GOT HOOKED! IT WAS THE PERFECT THING FOR ME TO EAT AFTER MY RUNS AND IT IS SOOOO TREMENDOUSLY GOOD FOR YOU! IN HIGH SCHOOL I HAD TRIED SLIM FAST AND SAW SOME RESULTS BUT FOUND OUT ABOUT ALL THE CRAP THEY PUT IN THAT STUFF WHEREAS WITH SHAKEOLOGY IT IS ALL NATURAL AND ONLY HAS GOOD FOODS IN IT! I'M NOT EXCELLENT AT EATING VEGEATABLES AND FRUIT SO SHAKEOLOGY REALLY IS PERFECT FOR ME BECAUSE IT IS LOADED WITH VEGGIES AND FRUIT AND SUPER FOODS AND ALL THOSE LOVELY THINGS THAT ARE GOOD FOR US! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">SHAKEOLOGY IS A PRODUCT FROM <a href="http://www.beachbody.com/" target="_blank"><b>BEACHBODY</b></a> (THE MAKERS OF P90X AND INSANITY, ETC) AND YOU CAN ONLY PURCHASE IT THROUGH A BEACHBODY COACH. HOWEVER YOU CAN GET A DISCOUNT IF YOU BECOME A COACH SO BECAUSE I LOVED IT SO MUCH, THAT IS WHAT I DID. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">SO HERE IS MY SHAMELESS PLUG. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TRYING IT SEND ME AN EMAIL AND I WILL TRY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT SHAKEOLOGY. YOU CAN ORDER IT THROUGH MY PAGE <a href="http://www.shakeology.com/kimmyalsheimer" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><i>HERE</i></span></a> BUT SERIOUSLY I AM NOT A COACH TO MAKE MONEY, I SIMPLY JUST LOVE SHAKEOLOGY SO MUCH THAT I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO GET IT $15 CHEAPER. HAHA.</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I ALSO HAVE TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I DIDN'T ACTUALLY REALLY START LOSING WEIGHT TILL AUGUST OF 2013 WHEN I NOTICED MY OTHER SISTER STARTED TO LOSE TONS OF WEIGHT AND IT MOTIVATED ME TO REALLY EAT HEALTHY FOR MY OTHER TWO MEALS IN ADDITION TO SHAKEOLOGY ONCE A DAY. SHAKEOLOGY CAN'T FIX ALL YOUR PROBLEMS IF YOU AREN'T WILLING TO WORK WITH IT! EATING RIGHT + EXCERCISE + SHAKEOLOGY MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE! </span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">NOW WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST 9 MONTHS, EATING WISE, IS THAT I TRY TO STAY AWAY FROM STARCHY CARBS LIKE BREAD, CRACKERS, CHIPS, PASTA, ETC. AND ALSO LIMIT MY SWEETS BIG TIME. THANKFULLY I DRINK THE CHOCOLATE SHAKEOLOGY SO THAT GIVES ME A CHOCOLATE FIX TO HOLD ME OVER A LOT. HAHA. I ALSO EAT LOTS AND LOTS OF PROTEIN, DEFINITELY LEAN MEATS (CHICKEN IS MY BEST FRIEND) AND I TRY TO ONLY EAT GOOD FATS (LOTS OF NATURAL NUTS AND AVOCADOS-YUM!) I CAN'T CUT EVERYTHING OUT COMPLETELY BECAUSE THAT'S NOT LIVING IN MY OPINION ESPECIALLY THE BREAD PART SO WHAT I DO NOW IS EAT EZEKIEL BREAD INSTEAD (TOTALLY RECOMMEND</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> IT!) AND I JUST EAT SANDWICHES OR BURGERS WITH ONLY ONE SLICE OR BUN OR MAYBE NONE AT ALL OR SALADS INSTEAD, ETC. IT'S ALL ABOUT MAKING HEALTHIER CHOICES AND JUST TRYING TO FIND WAYS OF CUTTING OUT THOSE THINGS THAT ARE JUST GOING TO STORE YOUR FAT INSTEAD OF HELP YOU BURN IT. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">IN OCTOBER OF 2013 I STARTED TO USE MY FITNESS PAL TO TRACK MY CALORIES AND THAT HAS ALSO HELPED ME. WHEN I REALIZED THAT ONE EGG HAS A TON OF FAT (YES GOOD FAT BUT LOTS OF CALORIES) I REALIZED I DIDN'T NEED TO EAT 2 EGGS IN THE MORNING BUT ONE WILL SUFFICE! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'M STILL STRUGGLING IN THIS AREA AND EVEN RECENTLY IT'S BEEN BAD BUT I AM THANKFUL WHEN I REMEMBER HOW FAR I HAVE COME. MY SISTER AND I JOKE HOW OUR BAD DAYS NOW ARE BETTER THAN OUR BEST DAYS A YEAR AGO! </span></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">TIP #4 GET SOME ACCOUNTABILITY! ASK A FRIEND WHO ALSO WANTS TO LOSE WEIGHT AND START EMAILING OR MESSAGING EACH OTHER WHAT YOU EAT FOR THAT DAY! ALSO PRAYING FOR EACH OTHER IS A HUGE HELP TOO! IN ADDITION IF YOU WANT, JOIN OR EVEN CREATE A DIETBET AND WIN YOUR FRIENDS MONEY! =)</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHEN MY SISTER AND I STARTED SENDING FACEBOOK MESSAGES EVERY DAY TELLING EACH OTHER WHAT WE ATE THAT DAY BUT I AM SURE THAT THAT WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST REASONS I KEPT LOSING WEIGHT. I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR MY SISTER. SHE ACTUALLY ALSO MOTIVATED ME TO START RUNNING TOO BECAUSE SHE WAS INTO THAT BIG TIME AND LOVED IT. THE LAST MONTH OR SO WE STOPPED MESSAGING BECAUSE OF BEING BUSY AND WHAT NOT BUT BOTH OF US REALIZED HOW WE REALLY NEED THE ACCOUNTABILITY. YESTERDAY SHE SENT ME A MESSAGE AND I AM EXCITED TO START DOING IT AGAIN. BUT JUST BEING HONEST, THIS MORNING I ATE A HALF OF A BAGEL INSTEAD OF EZEKIEL BREAD AND NOW I HAVE TO CONFESS IT TO MY SISTER =/ HAHA. NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT BUT AT THE SAME TIME NOW IT WILL MOTIVATE ME AGAIN TO RETHINK BEFORE I DECIDE TO EAT SOMETHING I SHOULDN'T. </span></div>
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<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">MY LOVE AND HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH <a href="http://www.dietbetter.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: black;">DIETBET</span></b></a>...</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF DIETBET?! IT'S PRETTY GENIUS! WANT TO LOSE WEIGHT AND MAKE SOME MONEY AT THE SAME TME!? BASICALLY WHAT IT IS, IS A WEBSITE WHERE YOU SIGN UP AND JOIN A GAME WHERE YOU PUT A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY IN THE POT AND YOU WEIGH YOURSELF BY TAKING A PICTURE OF YOUR FEET, THE SCALE AND A WORD THEY GIVE YOU. THEN YOU HAVE TO LOSE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF WEIGHT OVER A PERIOD OF TIME AND TAKE A PIC AGAIN AT THE END WITH A WORD THEY GIVE YOU AND IF YOU ARE A WINNER THEN YOU GET TO SPLIT THE POT WITH ALL THE OTHER WINNERS! I STARTED DOING DIETBETS IN THE BEGINNING OF 2013 BECAUSE OF MY COUSIN, JENI WHO INTRODUCED IT TO ME. THIS IS ANOTHER GREAT FORM OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND MOTIVATION. I HAD DONE THE REGULAR LOSE 4% IN A MONTH DIETBETS AND THEN IN NOVEMBER OF 2013 I JOINED THE TRANSFORMER DIETBET WHICH IS A 6 MONTH LONG BET WHERE YOU LOSE 10% OF YOUR WEIGHT. IT WAS A LONG BATTLE BUT THANKFULLY ON MAY 5TH OF 2014 I FINALLY WON THAT BET AND MADE A TON OF MONEY. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">UNFORTUNATELY THE LAST FEW ROUNDS OF THE BET WAS REALLY HARD FOR ME TO MAKE WEIGH INS AND THERE WERE SEVERAL TIMES WHERE I WOULD FAST FOR A COUPLE DAYS AND GO TO A SAUNA AND SOMETIMES EVEN RUN A COUPLE MILES AFTER FASTING FOR A COUPLE DAYS JUST TO MAKE A WEIGH IN. I KNEW THIS WASN'T HEALTHY AND SO I DECIDED I WON'T DO ANOTHER DIETBET FOR A LONG TIME. HOWEVER IF YOU ARE SOMEONE WHO IS REALLY MOTIVATED BY MONEY AND HAVE LOTS TO LOSE THEN I TOTALLY SUGGEST JOINING A BET! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I THINK I AM STARTING TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE I NEED TO FOCUS ON MEASUREMENTS RATHER THAN WEIGHT ESPECIALLY SINCE I AM STRENGTH TRAINING A LOT MORE NOW AND MUSCLE WEIGHS MORE THAN FAT!</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">TIP #5 SET GOALS! NOT CRAZY UNATTAINABLE GOALS BUT LITTLE GOALS! THOSE LITTLE GOALS ADD UP AND THEN 8 MONTHS LATER YOU REALIZE YOU JUST LOST 50 LBS! ALSO REWARD YOURSELF IN LITTLE WAYS WHEN YOU REACH GOALS!</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">IT MIGHT JUST BE MY PERSONALITY BUT I LOOOOVE SETTING GOALS. I HAVE 2 CALENDARS AT WORK, MY CALENDAR IN MY PHONE AND A DAILY PLANNER I CARRY AROUND WITH ME AND ON EACH OF THOSE CALENDARS EVERY WEEK I WOULD RECORD MY WEIGHT. MY WEIGH IN DAY FOR MYSELF WAS MONDAYS AND I ALWAYS TRIED TO REACH MY NEXT GOAL. ONE REASON I MADE IT MONDAY WAS BECAUSE THEN IT FORCED ME TO BE GOOD OVER THE WEEKEND (JUST SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND) I ALSO LOVE SETTING CERTAIN EVENTS AS A GOAL. FOR EXAMPLE MY 26TH BIRTHDAY WAS A BIG GOAL FOR ME. I WANTED TO BE UNDER A CERTAIN WEIGHT BEFORE I TURNED 26 AND I MADE IT! THANKSGIVING WAS ANOTHER GOAL AND OF COURSE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS. THEN OF COURSE I HAD GOALS ATTACHED TO THE DIETBETS I WAS DOING. THESE GOALS REALLY HELPED ME TO KEEP GOING. REACHING A CERTAIN BMI IS AN EXCELLENT GOAL TOO! WHEN I FINALLY MADE IT INTO THE "NORMAL WEIGHT" CATEGORY ACCORDING TO THE BMI CHART- I WAS SO HAPPY!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I ALSO HAVE GOALS SET FOR MY RUNNING AND FOR MY STRENGTH TRAINING. SOON I AM GOING TO SET MEASUREMENT GOALS SINCE WEIGHT IS BECOMING HARDER AND HARDER TO LOSE. I DEFINITELY ENCOURAGE YOU TO WRITE DOWN SOME GOALS FOR YOURSELF!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="font-style: italic;">ANOTHER ASPECT ABOUT GOALS IS REWARDING YOURSELF WHEN YOU REACH THOSE GOALS.</b><i> </i>I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S JUST MY PERSONALITY AGAIN BUT I LOVE GETTING REWARDED WHEN I ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING. THIS HAS ACTUALLY BEEN ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I HAVE STRUGGLED WITH MY WEIGHT BECAUSE ONE OF MY FAVORITE WAYS TO REWARD MYSELF IS TO EAT SOMETHING DELICIOUS. SO I STARTED THINKING OF NEW WAYS TO REWARD MYSELF. RYAN TOLD ME THAT IF I MADE THE 6 MONTH LONG DIETBET THAT I COULD GO ON A MINI SHOPPING SPREE FOR NEW CLOTHES- THIS MOTIVATED ME A LOT! =) SO TRY TO THINK OF WAYS YOU CAN REWARD YOURSELF WHEN YOU REACH YOUR GOALS! BUT MAKE SURE YOU DON'T TRANSFER YOUR ADDICTION INTO BECOMING A SHOPAHOLIC OR SOMETHING ELSE! HAHA. BUT ALSO SOMETIMES THOSE REWARDS CAN BE FOOD- JUST DON'T GO NUTS! I REMEMBER AFTER WINNING ANOTHER DIETBET, I DECIDED TO TREAT MYSELF TO CHICKEN PAD THAI (ONE OF MY FAVORITE MEALS) AND IT WAS GLORIOUS! BUT REMEMBER ONCE YOU CUT OUT SWEETS AND STARCHY CARBS, YOUR BODY CRAVES THEM LESS UNTIL YOU EAT THEM AGAIN. AT LEAST FOR ME WHEN I EAT SWEETS I SEEM TO KEEP WANTING MORE. SO JUST BE SURE TO KEEP A HEALTHY BALANCE AND A CLEAR CUT OFF POINT TO HOW MUCH FOOD YOU ARE REWARDING YOURSELF WITH. IT'S ALL ABOUT MODERATION =)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">THIS PAST FEBRUARY I BEGAN GOING TO A NEW PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN AND I TOLD HER ABOUT MY RECENT WEIGHTLOSS. SHE WAS VERY COMPLIMENTARY AND ALSO ENCOURAGED ME TO KEEP GOING. ONE THING SHE SAID STOOD OUT TO ME. SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT WHEN YOU "BLOW" YOUR DIET OR "REWARD" YOURSELF FROM BEING GOOD FOR A WHILE, JUST MAKE SURE YOU MAKE THE MOST OF IT. DRAG OUT EATING THAT CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE AND REALLY SAVOR AND APPRECIATE IT. THIS IS SOMETHING I TRY TO DO NOW WHEN I EAT- REALLY APPRECIATE THE FOOD I AM EATING INSTEAD OF GETTING A CRAVING AND RUNNING TO THE FRIDGE AND SCARFING DOWN WHATEVER SWEET THING I CAN FIND. </span></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">TIP #6 MAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR HEALTH. TAKE TIME TO PLAN OUT WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO EAT FOR THE WEEK. TAKE TIME TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO SOMEONE ON A DAILY BASIS. TAKE TIME TO WORKOUT.</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>I'M NOT GONNA LIE, IT TAKES TIME AND A LOT OF IT TOO...</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">YUP. I KNOW LIVING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE TAKES SO MUCH FREAKING TIME- IT'S RIDICULOUS BUT OH SO WORTH IT! I AM AN EXTREMELY BUSY PERSON. IT'S THE ONLY WAY I LIKE TO BE. I HAVE NEVER BEEN BORED A DAY IN MY WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE. I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A PERSON CAN BE BORED. I WISH I DIDN'T NEED SLEEP BECAUSE I REALLY FEEL LIKE I ALWAYS NEED MORE TIME IN A DAY AND IF I COULD RUN ON 2 HOURS OF SLEEP I TOTALLY WOULD, HAHA. I ALWAYS HAVE SOME KIND OF PROJECT GOING ON OR SOME KIND OF EVENT TO PLAN OR SOME KIND OF MEETING TO ATTEND, ETC. NOT TO MENTION THAT WHEN I DON'T HAVE TIME TO GET THINGS DONE OR WHATEVER I GET STRESSED OUT AND I DEFINITELY AM NOT ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO STOP OR FORGET TO EAT OR HAVE AN UPSET STOMACH FROM THE STRESS- HECK NO THAT'S NOT ME! I WANT TO EAT ALL THE FOOD I CAN SO IT WILL COMFORT ME! SO WHEN I HAD THE REALIZATION HOW MY LIFE WAS HEADING IN THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY 2013 I KNEW THAT I NEEDED TO SET SOME BOUNDARIES FOR MYSELF AND START SAYING NO TO THINGS AND ALSO TAKING TIME FOR MYSELF. I TOLD RYAN THAT I WAS GOING TO TAKE A STEP BACK FROM HELPING SO MUCH WITH OUR CAMPUS MINISTRY GROUP AND I ALSO STOPPED GOING TO A COUPLE MEETINGS I WAS REGULARLY ATTENDING ON A WEEKLY BASIS. THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I HAVE DONE FOR MYSELF. I FINALLY HAD THE TIME TO REALLY START PLANNING MY ATTACK ON OVEREATING AND BEING UNHEALTHY. I STARTED DOING ALL THE THINGS I LISTED ABOVE WHICH TAKE LOTS OF TIME AND PLANNING. IT'S HARD TO NOT DO ERRANDS OR WATCH MY FAVORITE LUNCHTIME TV SHOW, <i>THE CHEW</i>, (LOL) OR JUST PLAIN RELAX DURING MY LUNCH BREAKS BUT INSTEAD RUN AND WORKOUT. I AM TEMPTED A LOT ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE A LOT GOING ON TO NOT WORKOUT AND DO SOMETHING ELSE PRODUCTIVE BUT IT'S JUST NOT WORTH IT. IT'S HARD INTENTIONALLY PLANNING OUT MY MEALS AND MAKING SURE I ALWAYS HAVE THE RIGHT FOODS IN MY HOME. BUT I HAVE REALIZED THAT I HAVE TO DESIGNATE THE TIME FOR MY HEALTH AND STOP MAKING EXCUSES. TODAY IS RIDE YOUR BIKE TO WORK DAY AND YES IT TOOK A LITTLE EXTRA TIME AND EFFORT THAN JUST DRIVING TO WORK BUT IT'S JUST SO MUCH HEALTHIER! TRY TO FIND WAYS THAT YOU CAN USE YOUR TIME TO INVEST IN A HEALTHIER YOU!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">THE COOL PART IS THAT WHEN YOU TAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF IN THE END YOU WILL HAVE TIME TO GIVE. LIKE I SAID EARLIER THERE WERE SO MANY DAYS I DIDN'T WANT TO HANG OUT WITH ANYONE OR DO ANYTHING BECAUSE I FELT FAT AND UGLY AND I SAW THIS HAPPEN EVEN IN MY MINISTRIES. I NOTICED THAT I DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO HANG OUT WITH COLLEGE STUDENTS OR TALK WITH FRIENDS GOING THROUGH HARD TIMES BECAUSE I WAS STRUGGLING MYSELF. SO DON'T LOOK AT IT AS BEING SELFISH BY TAKING TIME FOR YOURSELF. THANKFULLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD I DON'T HAVE THIS STRONGHOLD IN MY LIFE ANYMORE SO IF GOD WANTS ME TO GO MINISTER TO STUDENTS OR FRIENDS OR WHATEVER I AM FREE TO DO THAT WHICH IS IN HIS WILL AND PLAN WHERE I FIND TRUE JOY!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">SO THOSE ARE MY 6 TIPS I HAVE LEARNED THAT HAVE HELPED ME TREMENDOUSLY IN MY WEIGHTLOSS JOURNEY. I CAN'T EVEN TELL YOU HOW GREAT I FEEL NOW THAT I AM MAKING HEALTHY CHOICES AND LIVING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE! IT REALLY IS LIKE NIGHT AND DAY. I AM HAPPIER, NOT ENVIOUS, MORE ENERGETIC, HOPEFUL, EXCITED FOR THE FUTURE AND SO MUCH MORE. BUT ALL IN ALL IT'S NOT OVER- IT'S NOT LIKE I HAVE ARRIVED. IT REALLY IS A DAY TO DAY STRUGGLE BUT WITH GOD'S GRACE AND ENCOURAGEMENT AND MOTIVATION FROM OTHER PEOPLE WE CAN MAKE THIS JOURNEY TOGETHER ONE DAY AT A TIME.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">LOVE YOU ALL -KIMMY</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570401272252655692noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8374322813199070927.post-66927144053792827802014-04-30T08:58:00.004-07:002015-01-26T10:46:57.393-08:0010 Week 15k Training Guide for Novices<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6Ea3GDU6LnaSEE5ZmM3amtablE/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">15K Training Guide Downloadable PDF </a></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(FOR THE HALF MARATHON TRAINING GUIDE CLICK <a href="http://bestilllife.blogspot.com/2015/01/half-marathon-training-guide.html" style="font-weight: bold;">HERE</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ONE OF MY GOALS THIS YEAR IS TO RUN A 15K SO A FEW WEEKS BACK I SIGNED UP FOR THE <b><a href="http://www.boilermaker.com/" target="_blank">BOILERMAKER 15K</a> </b>THAT IS HELD IN UTICA, NY ON JULY 13TH. NOW I'M WONDERING WHAT HAVE I DONE!!! HAHA. I'M GETTING NERVOUS AS IT GETS CLOSER (A LITTLE OVER 10 WEEKS AWAY) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">SO SINCE THE MOST MILES I HAVE EVER RUN IS A 10K (6.2 MILES) AND THAT WAS BEFORE I STARTED HAVING RUNNER'S KNEE- I REALIZED I NEED TO TRAIN PROPERLY IF I WANT TO SUCCESSFULLY FINISH THIS RACE WHICH IS 9.3 MILES LONG (WITH HILLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER MIND YOU!) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I FOUND A 10 WEEK TRAINING GUIDE VIA HAL HIGDON'S <a href="http://www.halhigdon.com/training/51127/15K-10-mile-Novice-Training-Program" target="_blank"><b>WEBSITE</b></a>. HAL IS A CONTRIBUTING EDITOR FOR RUNNER'S WORLD AND AUTHOR OF MORE THAN THREE DOZEN BOOKS, INCLUDING THE BEST-SELLING MARATHON: THE ULTIMATE TRAINING GUIDE. HE RAN EIGHT TIMES IN THE OLYMPIC TRIALS AND WON FOUR WORLD MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS. HE IS ALSO ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE ROAD RUNNERS CLUB OF AMERICA (BIO FROM <a href="http://home.trainingpeaks.com/trainingplans/author?key=J33JM27GIN2O4" target="_blank"><b>TRAINING PEAKS</b></a>) <i>SO I WOULD SAY THAT HE KNOWS WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT =)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">THE ABOVE IMAGE IS HIS TRAINING GUIDE THAT I REDESIGNED FOR FUN <3 BELOW IS MY ALTERED TRAINING GUIDE FOR WHAT WORKS FOR MY SCHEDULE. IF YOU CLICK ON HIS WEBSITE YOU CAN READ ALL OF HIS DESCRIPTIONS OF WHAT EACH DAY SHOULD LOOK LIKE. IN THERE HE EXPLAINS THAT IF YOU NEED TO ADJUST AND SWITCH DAYS FOR YOUR SCHEDULE THAT IS COMPLETELY FINE!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">THIS SUMMER I WILL BE INVOLVED IN A FEW DIFFERENT FITNESS CLASSES WHICH IS WHY I HAD TO ADJUST HOW I COULD TRAIN FOR THE 15K. MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS WILL BE MY RUNNING DAYS. MONDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS I WILL RUN DURING LUNCH TIME. SATURDAYS WILL BE MY LONG RUNS JUST LIKE IN THE ORIGINAL TRAINING GUIDE. SUNDAYS WILL BE A DAY OF REST AND STRETCHING FOR ME. TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS I WILL BE ATTENDING <a href="https://www.facebook.com/POWERLUNCHOneonta" target="_blank"><b>POWER LUNCH</b></a> (A FREE YOGA CLASS DURING LUNCH TIME OUTSIDE IN THE MULLER PLAZA) TUESDAYS AFTER WORK I WILL BE DOING A BOOTCAMP CLASS IN FORTIN PARK LED BY <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/ChristineGsbootcamp/" target="_blank"><b>CHRISTINE G'S BOOTCAMP</b></a> (ONLY $5 A CLASS!) AND THEN FRIDAYS AFTER WORK I WILL BE DOING ZUMBA SMASH AT <a href="http://www.bodybystacyny.com/" target="_blank"><b>BODY BY STACY'S</b></a>! (ALSO ONLY $6!) SO I ACTUALLY WILL BE EXERCISING A LITTLE MORE THAN WHAT IS SUGGESTED BUT I AM HOPING I CAN MANAGE =) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I AM VERY EXCITED TO BE TRAINING FOR THIS 15K AND ALSO HOPING AND EXCITED TO GET IN REALLY GREAT SHAPE AND MEET MY ULTIMATE FITNESS AND WEIGHT-LOSS GOALS THIS SUMMER!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><u><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6Ea3GDU6LnaTTFZN2xsTXBtenc/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Boilermaker 15k Training Guide Downloadable PDF</a></u></b></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570401272252655692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8374322813199070927.post-2874353129150043642014-04-25T04:26:00.001-07:002014-04-25T04:46:20.092-07:00Avocado Deviled Eggs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">OR AS MY MOTHER CALLS THEM, "ANGELED" EGGS. =) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">SO DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE A LOT OF LEFTOVER BOILED EGGS FROM EASTER LIKE ME? EVEN THOUGH MY <a href="http://bestilllife.blogspot.com/2014/04/chalkboard-paint-easter-eggs.html" target="_blank">CHALKBOARD PAINTED EGGS</a> WERE SO CUTE I COULDN'T KEEP THEM FOREVER SO I DECIDED TO TURN THEM INTO SOMETHING ELSE BEAUTIFUL AND DELICIOUS! SINCE I AM TRYING TO EAT HEALTHIER I FOUND A COUPLE GREAT RECIPES FOR AVOCADO DEVILED EGGS WHERE YOU REPLACE MAYO WITH AVOCADO! IT'S BRILLIANT AND SO YUMMY! AND THIS AMAZING MIXTURE YOU CAN SPREAD ON TOAST TOO AND TASTES GREAT! THE RECIPE IS BELOW. ENJOY!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">INGREDIENTS</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">6 HARDBOILED EGGS</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/2 RIPE AVOCADO</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2 TSP CILANTR</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1 TBLSP FRESH LIME JUICE</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/8 TSP GARLIC POWDER</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/4 TSP ONION POWDER</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/4 TSP SALT</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">CHOPPED OLIVES TO GARNISH</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">CHILI POWDER AND/OR PAPRIKA TO GARNISH</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1. REMOVE EGG YOLKS FROM THE HALVED EGGS AND PLACE IN A SMALL BOWL. ADD THE RIPE AVOCADO, LIME JUICE, SALT, ONION AND GARLIC POWDER AND CILANTRO.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2. USE A FORK TO MASH THE AVOCADO AND EGG MIXTURE UNTIL SMOOTH.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3. SPOON THE MIXTURE INTO THE HALVED EGGS. SPRINKLE WITH A DASH OF PAPRIKA AND/OR CHILI POWDER- I DID BOTH AND IT TASTED GREAT!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4. KEEP STORED IN AN AIRTIGHT CONTAINER FOR UP TO 2 DAYS.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570401272252655692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8374322813199070927.post-20406257445867757262014-04-23T06:15:00.000-07:002014-04-25T04:34:36.432-07:00Carrot Cake Sandwich Cookies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A FRIEND SENT ME THIS RECIPE A WHILE BACK WHEN I MADE THESE DELICIOUS OATMEAL CREME PIES THINKING I WOULD PROBABLY LOVE TO MAKE CARROT CAKE CREME PIES FOR EASTER AND SURE ENOUGH SHE WAS RIGHT =) NOT ONLY WERE THEY SO TASTY, THEY ALSO LOOK SUPER CUTE AND ARE DIFFERENT FROM THE TYPICAL CARROT CAKE.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">THE RECIPE I FOLLOWED IS LINKED AT THE BOTTOM<b>. </b>I PRETTY MUCH FOLLOWED IT EXACTLY SAVE FOR A COUPLE THINGS. FIRST OFF NORMALLY WHEN BAKING I AM IN A TIME CRUNCH- HECK I AM ALWAYS IN A TIME CRUNCH, HAHA. MEANING, THAT IF I FORGET TO TAKE THE BUTTER OUT OF THE FRIDGE TO LET IT SOFTEN FOR A FEW HOURS BEFORE HAND, I END UP MELTING IT IN THE MICROWAVE TO SOFTEN IT =/ YES, YES I KNOW THAT IS A #1 NO NO BUT IN THIS CASE IT ACTUALLY SEEMED TO WORK OUT NICELY BECAUSE THESE COOKIES ENDED UP BEING EXTREMELY MOIST! YOU ARE PROBABLY SAYING TO YOURSELF, JUST USE A KITCHEN AID- THAT WILL SOFTEN HARD/COLD BUTTER IN NO TIME! YEAH, UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T HAVE ONE, <b><i>YET.</i> </b>MY EYES ARE SET ON THIS BEAUTY THOUGH...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">BELOW IS THE RECIPE. BESIDES MELTING THE BUTTER, THE ONLY OTHER THING I DID DIFFERENTLY IS USE HALF AS MUCH BUTTER IN THE FILLING AND TWICE AS MUCH POWDERED SUGAR. I DO NOT LIKE AN OVERLY BUTTERY FROSTING/ICING/FILLING AND NEITHER DOES MY FAMILY SO THAT IS WHY I MADE THAT ADJUSTMENT BUT IT REALLY DEPENDS ON YOUR TASTE BUDS! SPEAKING OF BEING IN A TIME CRUNCH, IT SAYS TO STORE COOKIE DOUGH IN THE FRIDGE FOR 1 HR AND 15 MIN. I STUCK IT IN THE FREEZER FOR HALF THE TIME BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE THAT LONG. SO BECAUSE OF MELTING THE BUTTER AND NOT LETTING IT SIT IN THE FRIDGE FOR THE ALLOTTED TIME, THESE COOKIES WEREN'T AS FLUFFY AS THEY PROBABLY COULD BE, BUT SINCE I WAS SANDWICHING THEM ANYWAYS I FIGURED THEY DIDN'T NEED TO BE FLUFFY. I ALSO FORGOT TO USE PARCHMENT PAPER LIKE THE ORIGINAL RECIPE SAYS. <b>DO NOT FORGET TO USE PARCHMENT PAPER </b>OR THE COOKIES WILL STICK LIKE CRAZY TO THE COOKIE SHEET. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: center;">INGREDIENTS</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1 1/4 CUPS ALL PURPOSE FLOUR</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/2 CUP QUICK OATS</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3/4 TSP BAKING SODA</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1 1/4 TSP GROUND CINNAMON</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/4 TSP GROUND GINGER</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/8 TSP GROUND NUTMEG</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/4 TSP SALT</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/2 CUP UNSALTED BUTTER, SOFTENED</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/2 CUP GRANULATED SUGAR</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/2 CUP PACKED LIGHT-BROWN SUGAR</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1 LARGE EGG</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1 TSP VANILLA EXTRACT</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1 1/4 CUPS FINELY GRATED CARROTS</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3/4 CUP CHOPPED WALNUTS OR PECANS (I USED PECANS)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">CREAM CHEESE FILLING</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4 OZ CREAM CHEESE, SOFTENED</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">6 TBSP UNSALTED BUTTER, SOFTENED (I USED HALF AS MUCH)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1 PINCH SALT</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/2 TSP VANILLA EXTRACT</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1 CUP POWDERED SUGAR (I DOUBLED THIS)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">DIRECTIONS</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">IN A MIXING BOWL, WHISK TOGETHER, QUICK OATS, BAKING SODA, CINNAMON, GINGER, NUTMEG AND SALT FOR 30 SECONDS, SET ASIDE.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">IN A SEPARATE BOWL CREAM TOGETHER 1/2 CUP BUTTER, GRANULATED SUGAR AND BROWN SUGAR UNTIL WELL BLENDED. MIX IN EGG AND VANILLA EXTRACT. SLOWLY ADD IN FLOUR MIXTURE AND STIR JUST UNTIL COMBINED. STIR IN CARROTS, THEN FOLD IN PECANS. COVER BOWL AND CHILL DOUGH FOR 1 HR 15 MINUTES. (LIKE I SAID BEFORE I NEVER HAVE TIME SO I STUCK IT IN THE FREEZER FOR 45 MINUTES AND IT WAS PERFECT) PREHEAT OVEN TO 350 DURING THE LAST 10 MINUTES OF CHILLING.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">DROP DOUGH 2 TBSP AT A TIME. YOU CAN ROLL THEM INTO BALLS FOR MORE EVEN ROUNDS - NOTE: THE DOUGH IS REALLY STICKY! THIS IS NORMAL! <b>MAKE SURE YOU PLACE THEM ON PARCHMENT LINED BAKING SHEETS</b>, SPACING COOKIES AT LEAST 2 INCHES APART. BAKE IN PREHEATED OVEN 12-13 MINUTES UNTIL CENTERS NO LONGER LOOK DOUGHY. ALLOW TO COOL ON BAKING SHEET SEVERAL MINUTES AND THEN TRANSFER TO A WIRE RACK TO COOL. COOL COMPLETELY THEN SANDWICH 2 COOKIES TOGETHER WITH THE CREAM CHEESE FILLING. STORE IN AN AIRTIGHT CONTAINER IN A<b> SINGLE LAYER</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">FOR THE CREAM CHEESE FILLING:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">IN A BOWL USE AN ELECTRIC STAND MIXER OR A HAND MIXER AND WHIP TOGETHER CREAM CHEESE, BUTTER AND SALT UNTIL SMOOTH AND FLUFFY. STIR IN VANILLA AND POWDERED SUGAR AND CONTINUE TO WHIP UNTIL SMOOTH AND VERY FLUFFY. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><b>GRAB A GLASS OF MILK AND ENJOY!</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.cookingclassy.com/2014/03/carrot-cake-cookies/" target="_blank"><b>RECIPE SOURCE: COOKING CLASSY</b></a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570401272252655692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8374322813199070927.post-82245738460417832742014-04-21T11:16:00.003-07:002014-04-21T12:26:44.849-07:00Chalkboard Paint Easter Eggs<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">WELL AFTER A LONG HIATUS I AM BACK AND HOPING TO BLOG AGAIN ON A MORE REGULAR BASIS! HERE'S TO WISHFUL THINKING... </span><br />
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<u style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">EASTER 2014</u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">YESTERDAY WAS EASTER AND IT WAS SUCH A LOVELY DAY HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK. I ACTUALLY WAS WEARING A SLEEVELESS DRESS WITHOUT A SWEATER ON FOR MOST OF THE DAY! THANK THE LORD IN HEAVEN IT FINALLY FEELS LIKE SPRING =)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">BELOW IS SOME QUICK HAND LETTERING I DID OF LYRICS FROM A BEAUTIFUL WORSHIP SONG TITLED "FOREVER" BY BETHEL MUSIC. I THOUGHT I'D SHARE IT BECAUSE IT FITS PERFECTLY WITH EASTER AND HAS BEEN STUCK IN MY HEAD FOR THE LAST 2 WEEKS! HE IS ALIVE!!! <3</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I WILL PROBABLY TRANSFER IT TO MY AMAZING FRAMED CHALKBOARD MY LOVING HUSBAND MADE ME FOR CHRISTMAS FROM JUST WOOD, CHALKBOARD PAINT AND A FRAME HE GOT FROM SALVATION ARMY! SPEAKING OF CHALKBOARD PAINT.... HE HAD A TON LEFT OVER FROM THAT PROJECT SO I HAVE JUST BEEN DYING TO USE IT SINCE THEN AND I FINALLY FOUND THE PERFECT PROJECT! </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">CHALKBOARD PAINT EASTER EGGS!</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">THESE WERE SO EASY TO DO AND MY NEPHEWS AND NIECE HAD SO MUCH FUN DRAWING ON THEM! THE COOLEST PART IS THAT IF YOU MESS UP, YOU CAN JUST ERASE IT AND START OVER! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">SO FIRST IF YOU ARE USING REAL EGGS EITHER BOIL THEM OR BLOW THEM OUT. I PERSONALLY JUST BOILED THEM BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE AVOCADO DEVILED EGGS THIS WEEK BUT I THINK NEXT YEAR I WILL GET PAPER MACHE EGGS OR BLOW THEM OUT SO I CAN KEEP THEM FROM YEAR TO YEAR! SO REALLY ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PAINT THEM EITHER WITH SPRAY PAINT OR GET A BRUSH AND USE REGULAR PAINT LIKE I DID. AS YOU CAN TELL IN ONE OF THE PICTURES BELOW I PAINTED THEM ON THEIR LONGER SIDE AND PLACED THEM IN AN EMPTY CARTON TO LET THEM DRY IN EVERY OTHER OPENING SO THEY DIDN'T TOUCH EACH OTHER. ONCE THE ONE SIDE WAS DRY I TURNED THEM OVER AND REPEATED. I DID END UP TOUCHING UP SOME SPOTS THAT DIDN'T COAT THE EGG ENOUGH BUT FOR THE MOST PART THE FIRST COAT WAS ENOUGH. SO ONCE THEY DRY COMPLETELY AFTER 10 MINUTES OR SO, THEY ARE A BLANK CANVAS FOR YOU TO PLAY WITH! SO JUST GRAB SOME CHALK AND DRAW! THIS YEAR I WAS UNDER SOME SERIOUS TIME CONSTRAINTS SO NEXT YEAR I HOPE TO GET A LITTLE MORE SERIOUS WITH MY CHALK LETTERING ON THE EASTER EGGS =)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570401272252655692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8374322813199070927.post-65013509944472128322013-11-27T05:08:00.004-08:002013-11-27T05:12:23.532-08:00Vote for me, Please!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hey all! Well I submitted a couple designs to another <a href="http://www.minted.com/"><b>Minted</b></a> Challenge!! This challenge was to create wedding invitations. I had a lot of fun doing both of my designs. The first one that I submitted is <i>Zinnia Love</i> and for those who were invited to my wedding will recognize this invite a lot because it's basically the invite I designed for my wedding! I changed it up a little bit but it is the same overall theme. The second invite is <i>Bears on a Bike</i> which is based on the drawing I had my friend, Luke Moran draw of two bears on a bike that I turned into stamps for our wedding invitation. I redrew the bears and turned them into vector art. So if you could rate both designs (preferrably at a 5) that would be amazing!! Click the links below to vote! Thank you so much!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Best, Kimmy</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.minted.com/design-rating/130149">Zinnia Love</a></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.minted.com/design-rating/130743">Bears on a Bike</a></span></b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570401272252655692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8374322813199070927.post-48952627999660256712013-11-25T18:56:00.001-08:002013-11-25T18:56:05.987-08:00Save the Date Postcards<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My beautiful best friend, Jessica got married this past April to her fiance, Josh. They had a lovely ceremony on Virginia Beach where they live now (Oh, how I miss her!) Because the ceremony was a small civil union with only their immediate family, she and Josh decided they still want to have a big wedding this coming summer with all their friends and extended family. The really cool thing is that Jess asked me to be her matron of honor! I am very excited about it and honored she would ask me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So the first thing she asked me to help her with was to make her Save the Dates! I had so much fun doing them! She picked out a few Save the Date postcards she saw on my favorite stationery website, <a href="http://www.minted.com/"><b>Minted</b></a> to show me the style she liked and let me create from there. The picture is from their engagement photos that were taken in a botanical garden near Virginia Beach. It was pretty cool receiving it in the mail! I am so excited for these two and can't wait for their big day! </span></div>
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<span id="goog_1568027117"></span><span id="goog_1568027118"></span><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570401272252655692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8374322813199070927.post-81151323630150658752013-09-23T07:31:00.000-07:002013-09-23T07:35:32.303-07:00I won an Editor's Pick!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A while back I explained how I joined a design community through </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.minted.com/" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Minted</a><b style="font-style: italic;"> </b>which is </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a lovely stationary and greeting card website that holds design challenges for indie designers to create different cards and what not. Well If you enter a design and it is picked then you will win a sweet cash prize PLUS your design will be sold on their website and you will get a percentage of every purchase! Soooo... the cool news is that one of my Holiday photo cards that I entered won an Editor's Pick and is now available for purchase!!!! How exciting!!! So if you would like to purchase this card just go <b><a href="http://www.minted.com/product/christmas-photo-cards/MIN-X5H-CHR/new-years-dream"><i>HERE!</i></a> </b>Below are pictures of some of the different options of colorways of the card, labels, and liners. Thanks for taking a look and <i><b>special thanks to all who voted for me!!! </b></i></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570401272252655692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8374322813199070927.post-64362819012585396942013-09-09T05:30:00.000-07:002013-11-18T13:30:52.179-08:00Pillow Fight!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't you love any excuse to do a photo shoot?! Well Ryan and I had our 2nd Anniversary and of course we had to do another shoot! We decided last year to base the themes of our anniversary photo shoots on the traditional gifts for the Anniversary years (look below to see chart). Last year was <b>paper</b> so we made a homemade paper kite and tried flying it- it was unsuccessful unfortunately but still made for a fun photo shoot. You can view those photos here <b><a href="http://www.bestilllife.blogspot.com/2013/01/1st-year-anniversary-shoot.html">1st Anniversary Photo Shoot</a> </b></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year was <b>cotton</b> so we decided to have a pillow fight!! I know they were feather pillows but the pillow case and sheets were 100% cotton! It was such a fun thing to do - I hope you enjoy the photos!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Below is a cute Anniversary gift chart made by www.iloveswmag.com</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">One of the coolest things is that we used pallet boards as our headboard of our "bed" and ended up using the pallets to make a real headboard for our real bed! Below are instagrams that I took of it. </span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570401272252655692noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8374322813199070927.post-52070056858286928432013-08-14T06:35:00.000-07:002013-11-18T13:29:34.874-08:00Date Jar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have you ever seen those super cute date idea pins on Pinterest? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like <a href="http://www.thedatingdivas.com/corie/10-dates-for-20/"><b>here</b></a>, <a href="http://celebrateeverydaywithme.com/2012/09/30-ideas-for-date-nights-at-home.html"><b>here</b></a> or <b><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/180144053816008113/">here</a> </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(<b><a href="http://www.thedatingdivas.com/">The Dating Divas</a> </b>have the best ideas too!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can also visit my Pinterest page and look at a bunch of date ideas <a href="http://pinterest.com/kimmyalsheimer/love-marriage/"><b>here</b></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, I love looking at them because I love finding new ideas especially CHEAP ideas for dates with my man. Living in a small town in Central NY can make it VERY EASY to run out of things to do. I also have found that it is Super important to make sure you set aside time to go on dates even after marriage. Both Ryan and I are extremely busy people with full time jobs on top of being campus ministers so it is easy to push aside date night. So for our 2nd anniversary this year I decided to make my own date jar full of date ideas to give to Ryan. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I kind of took a bunch of ideas from all different pins and combined them into one jar. There are a total of 30 dates in this jar. I made 10 of them as "free dates" which are the orange ones. 10 of them as "more expensive dates" which are the red ones and then the last 10 are "$2 dates" which are the coral ones that are wrapped up with $2 inside. This way if some week we really don't have any extra money we can just avoid picking a red one. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So it's pretty much self explanatory how to assemble. I came up with 30 date ideas gathered from other pins and made PDF's of them and printed them out and cut them. The PDF's I made are below, feel free to print it out and use them!</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0000ee; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B6Ea3GDU6LnaWlRRR0NkeEFTMzQ/edit?usp=sharing">Free Dates</a></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0000ee; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B6Ea3GDU6LnaUVF0QUtsNWxRaE0/edit?usp=sharing">$2 Dates</a></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B6Ea3GDU6LnaOUVlR0RENFp1Y3c"><b>More Expensive Dates</b></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Afterwards I cut them out into strips and rolled them up attaching $2 to the 10 that were $2 dates and fastened them with bobby pins, haha. I didn't actually have enough rubber bands but of course they still all had to match! So I had to be resourceful and use what I had. It actually ended up looking better than if they were rubber banded! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After that I went searching through my many mason jars and other glass jars that I had collected for our wedding and found that this cookie/candy jar worked out the best! (The mason jars ended up being too small) So I filled it up with the dates and tied some <a href="http://www.thetwinery.com/"><b>Twinery</b></a> twine (the best twine!) around it, added a cute little homemade sign and Voila! If you have a boyfriend or are married I hope you enjoy having a lovely date this week! Do something different! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks for taking the time to read my post!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Best, Kimmy</span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570401272252655692noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8374322813199070927.post-54082936709729439782013-06-19T17:36:00.001-07:002013-06-20T04:41:15.127-07:00I'm a Mintie!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">So as I was perusing on Pinterest one day I noticed one of the ladies I follow posted a picture of a Christmas photo card and asked for pinners to vote for her design in the Minted Design Challenge. So me being a person who loves challenges and contests AND the stationary website, Minted, just had to look into it. To my pleasant surprise, I found out there is a whole Minted Design Community where they hold challenges for indie designers and award winners with awesome prizes! So I decided, even though I only had a week till the deadline to submit, that I had to do it. So I am asking you, my reader, if you wouldn't mind voting for my designs!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Below are my designs. The first one is my favorite so if you only want to vote for one, vote for this one! =) All you have to do is click on the picture and it will bring you right to the website to vote! They will close the polls next Monday, June 24th so make sure you vote before then!! Thank you so much!</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.minted.com/design-rating/98207"><img alt="holiday photo cards - New Year's Dream" border="0" src="http://cdn4.minted.com/2013/06/17/14/40/52/dc23c1bfe685ccd8b13311c727a83c5b" /><br />holiday photo cards - New Year's Dream</a><br />
<a href="http://www.minted.com/design-rating/98204"><img alt="holiday photo cards - All Lit Up" border="0" src="http://cdn4.minted.com/2013/06/17/14/34/22/e9917504734d68325afd92808c754e28" /><br />holiday photo cards - All Lit Up</a><br />
<a href="http://www.minted.com/design-rating/97671"><img alt="holiday photo cards - What Fun It Is" border="0" src="http://cdn4.minted.com/2013/06/14/20/48/50/d1e508b82ae3193070a4d8f2fd11ce12" /><br />holiday photo cards - What Fun It Is</a><br />
<a href="http://www.minted.com/design-rating/97128"><img alt="holiday photo cards - Favorite Things" border="0" src="http://cdn4.minted.com/2013/06/14/12/10/48/9220a03509fb3bc444b1f919a1e8ea94" /><br />holiday photo cards - Favorite Things</a><br />
<a href="http://www.minted.com/design-rating/96879"><img alt="holiday photo cards - Love's Pure Light" border="0" src="http://cdn4.minted.com/2013/06/14/05/32/16/213a37f877916855b1e39ccd50f3a0ef" /><br />holiday photo cards - Love's Pure Light</a><br />
<a href="http://www.minted.com/design-rating/94433"><img alt="holiday photo cards - Joy Embraced" border="0" src="http://cdn4.minted.com/2013/06/07/20/07/34/900dede5990f63d2e73f20e29b1e28ec" /><br />holiday photo cards - Joy Embraced</a>
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