An Epiphany of Mind Blowing Proportions!!!!!

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week I realized something that should have occurred to me  </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>years and years ago!!!!!</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although I love me my fake flowers.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">You guys who have been reading me for a while know this.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have no shame when it comes to using fakes.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've repeatedly made the joke about how women love to fake things.......</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">wink, wink</span></i>)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I mean....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">look at how lovely these look after 10 years and counting....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSdHhSd5-z7yV-2sPhOIjbyxGznOO2sAZrvH0_hqYnzQsyBDpzcjM9iPyshLMn0HETr1zccgSvqS-zo4WyT8ICgi8zHUrYVVOHJcnxljJTgEsUDD3CO0atTKhNm2NMlpoISRXm1fna/s1600/1ab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSdHhSd5-z7yV-2sPhOIjbyxGznOO2sAZrvH0_hqYnzQsyBDpzcjM9iPyshLMn0HETr1zccgSvqS-zo4WyT8ICgi8zHUrYVVOHJcnxljJTgEsUDD3CO0atTKhNm2NMlpoISRXm1fna/s1600/1ab.jpg" width="376" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and these.....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsUEFjysFJuOOauMSeKJDycdpwR-ptOg1TkWoUoquOnxyIgISGVwd-yXu7sjCcxeJnLZ8YIF28qoq-a31outndtE4q-Fvd1S2g9ZJJ5UMNKEWlJ4rfFT4tDhYPvA2ZBhURxo0faaN/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsUEFjysFJuOOauMSeKJDycdpwR-ptOg1TkWoUoquOnxyIgISGVwd-yXu7sjCcxeJnLZ8YIF28qoq-a31outndtE4q-Fvd1S2g9ZJJ5UMNKEWlJ4rfFT4tDhYPvA2ZBhURxo0faaN/s1600/3.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and THESE!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNPFUR1z5b__Gwzwetvur6xIqV6D11d_HOf6E8w93kmrK72Q7JNhlbgSpbgnYgChBanGXVnkLzuupJMYr6qz8qcXw50vTd28oF7QOBVaLJateXMnXVnQHKzV6OyyUdRSOZCwutSv4/s1600/a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="630" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNPFUR1z5b__Gwzwetvur6xIqV6D11d_HOf6E8w93kmrK72Q7JNhlbgSpbgnYgChBanGXVnkLzuupJMYr6qz8qcXw50vTd28oF7QOBVaLJateXMnXVnQHKzV6OyyUdRSOZCwutSv4/s1600/a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And what I did for my niece Miriam......</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvz0hNsBDOY5DTM8JKx6lRk7IBvy3XfsvWfdazk_HTWAt1oF3ySuCi2U9SMZJbTdGheNIBZ80oEM3AZLzmRi5HqV7iAxFTcG3sBGL37NVAExATOTDc6nr3NdDYLI71sESJbqlFVEE/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvz0hNsBDOY5DTM8JKx6lRk7IBvy3XfsvWfdazk_HTWAt1oF3ySuCi2U9SMZJbTdGheNIBZ80oEM3AZLzmRi5HqV7iAxFTcG3sBGL37NVAExATOTDc6nr3NdDYLI71sESJbqlFVEE/s1600/7.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sooooo.....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">this week I decided that I would take a vacation.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I admit,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I lied to you guys!!!!!</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes I did, I have not shame, I'm a big fat fibber.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I told you I was just lazing around, when I didn't post my blog for two weeks,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I was actually working like a dog on my fabric line.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm still trying to figure out what programs to use.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel like I'm caught between the Scylla and the Charybdis!!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photoshop or Gimp?????<br />Illustrator or Inkscape?????</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">OY VEY!!!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am so out of my element.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wish there was a graphic arts class for old farts who don't want to leave their home, and sit in a classroom with a bunch of younguns.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And while I'm talking about classes....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>WHY ARE ALL THE GOOD ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES AT NIGHT?????</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After 5:00, I don't feel like goin' nowhere, nohow.....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Where was I.....</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I always go off on these tangents.....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">hmmmmmm</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh yeah, taking a vacation!!!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So this week I gave myself permission to just do whatever I wanted,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">which meant sitting out on my back patio looking at the sky</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1tBsay0hioI36qjG6HlmCWZeE9jdXlnoaRww0HVcBHkxbcSgFWLgo9yO26sBEa0dc-O2yS4Mp1Q2y8mcueMee2xnD1BM2C-TsglOGptBKRed8JNJmkFyOSh2vR8MRjvwtqL6FzfwF/s1600/IMG_3521a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1tBsay0hioI36qjG6HlmCWZeE9jdXlnoaRww0HVcBHkxbcSgFWLgo9yO26sBEa0dc-O2yS4Mp1Q2y8mcueMee2xnD1BM2C-TsglOGptBKRed8JNJmkFyOSh2vR8MRjvwtqL6FzfwF/s1600/IMG_3521a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and reading my books.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Getting in my two mile walks every day so my hips don't freeze up on me,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and playing stupid computer games.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If I don't take breaks from creativity periodically, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I shut down.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I need to recharge my batteries.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This involves doing nothing long enough that I get bored, and then I'm glad to get back to work.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An indication of this, is that I'm writing this blog today!!!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Sooooooo.....</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was talking about my epiphany......</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was looking out into my side yard where I have my grill and little table.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">below is a picture from a few years ago, before everything went to hell....</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9k1w1pehtlnbtZVnFfiubGYkED8CIBxb5jEDKYRqprtfWQGC51cNGUnSHBrQwK9qcs4FLmS_pLEnrby1s2X9SzbXiQqRPD1y2AhZVQMV7QXD304pGXPGgcKrYK-k3Px_grHT9ILE3/s1600/5d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9k1w1pehtlnbtZVnFfiubGYkED8CIBxb5jEDKYRqprtfWQGC51cNGUnSHBrQwK9qcs4FLmS_pLEnrby1s2X9SzbXiQqRPD1y2AhZVQMV7QXD304pGXPGgcKrYK-k3Px_grHT9ILE3/s1600/5d.jpg" width="464" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And it was a big fat mess!!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everything was overgrown.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were so many flowers that I could barely walk by.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Below is a picture AFTER I cut some off.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtbi6hsAgSju4VkaA7oJhD17S44z68Ct2vFTjibDF4x46NE8KtP4f1DPg8Ay5T7hnJ5sw3LKfDdKj7mmxMYKbDHgRpeqkpSZ7ZNDp2om827fHH7NXzLErYO9fxuSVPHYvHvTNVXFN/s1600/2-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtbi6hsAgSju4VkaA7oJhD17S44z68Ct2vFTjibDF4x46NE8KtP4f1DPg8Ay5T7hnJ5sw3LKfDdKj7mmxMYKbDHgRpeqkpSZ7ZNDp2om827fHH7NXzLErYO9fxuSVPHYvHvTNVXFN/s1600/2-3.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have tons of white hostas too that get in my way when I grill.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwV2LH-rR5BnFFupPLlIVDlTmZSj1yoLslGPLAX8TPeclGd_ijoXBBEKvqP9T63y90pZx7P3iGjaDVbUjgUSvbgG27TXt6PWWDmhstg5YqmTcpgsp3bkFa_a4OuBj_9iBoDgRyScW_/s1600/4-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwV2LH-rR5BnFFupPLlIVDlTmZSj1yoLslGPLAX8TPeclGd_ijoXBBEKvqP9T63y90pZx7P3iGjaDVbUjgUSvbgG27TXt6PWWDmhstg5YqmTcpgsp3bkFa_a4OuBj_9iBoDgRyScW_/s1600/4-5.jpg" width="532" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hate cutting pretty flowers. I like to leave them on their mother plants to keep looking gorgeous!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BUT</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">these were in the way.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>AND IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT I COULD CUT THEM, AND GET THEM OUTTA MY FACE ALREADY!!!!!</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">for the first time in 10 years of living here, I made a bouquet of fresh hydrangea and hosta flowers.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLavKHcWct4H_HkAS3zUTYNgOYcAWF3S-jsPyMgP7I54ddSHk-yBpovGYq_RkhvdYA6fnLKd1EBJd2VoWZ6hN_w_NBNsIqwFzQzR1jlPGzqXcxL0RAl9YOzZrOP7d9UCYuUE-ZcOy3/s1600/5-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLavKHcWct4H_HkAS3zUTYNgOYcAWF3S-jsPyMgP7I54ddSHk-yBpovGYq_RkhvdYA6fnLKd1EBJd2VoWZ6hN_w_NBNsIqwFzQzR1jlPGzqXcxL0RAl9YOzZrOP7d9UCYuUE-ZcOy3/s1600/5-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They were really pretty.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1JRoYglFQfS8-V_jN24z4ZpjDneCe5kqsLwsnfbYgk9BPXY1UN1kW8bqGwURcWmXiWrw-02NDKJinhqETXT5m3W7fzPKWMA9BlvhI2ly_HcH6IvCNZ3xrHSMvzCUQFvBr9E4tmNc6/s1600/1-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1JRoYglFQfS8-V_jN24z4ZpjDneCe5kqsLwsnfbYgk9BPXY1UN1kW8bqGwURcWmXiWrw-02NDKJinhqETXT5m3W7fzPKWMA9BlvhI2ly_HcH6IvCNZ3xrHSMvzCUQFvBr9E4tmNc6/s1600/1-2.jpg" width="434" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And now it's easier to grill my dinners of healthy low fat stuff.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJF1VaAQPYp5JN1zvmCRJTYqn9mXeoAlJXHzDPvaGEVV_g5byR8nnJ0tqvtka8q6e1jdF1vRne-v0RPn21aBgt6sCYo9rhQe6mSU_Fbwvp_R7b5I-0NQuLD7CSAZfpLVf58FZfIj1/s1600/3-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJF1VaAQPYp5JN1zvmCRJTYqn9mXeoAlJXHzDPvaGEVV_g5byR8nnJ0tqvtka8q6e1jdF1vRne-v0RPn21aBgt6sCYo9rhQe6mSU_Fbwvp_R7b5I-0NQuLD7CSAZfpLVf58FZfIj1/s1600/3-4.jpg" width="574" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BUT</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">it hasn't even been a week.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the bouquet of fresh flowers looks like @#$.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's all drooping and dropping pollen and making a big fat mess.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I tried the natural, organic, local produce.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I'm sticking to the polyester fakes!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I just might try me some of my knock out roses.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They sure are purddy.....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>@#$!!!</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">what was the point of this blog?????</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was trying to make a point.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>AHHHHHH!!!!</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">never mind.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pretend you didn't just wast a minute reading this.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have a nice weekend.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On that note,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Latah, Gatah</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://s166.photobucket.com/albums/u87/auntdoi/?action=view&current=Betsysignature.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u87/auntdoi/Betsysignature.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>

An Epiphany of Mind Blowing Proportions!!!!!

This week I realized something that should have occurred to me   years and years ago!!!!! Although I love me my fake flowers. ( You guys who...

Read more »

Finds, friends and fortune

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I may be close to term, but that hasn't stopped me from shopping a bit whenever I can, so here I am about to share with you my latest treasures & good fortune!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQpQ1j1bBNVdIS5SXofgzLHCAsG7DPuMkiCy9nKuIVaNNUQYKshlWNkwS11cPChyYPhXmpRIf75ZRINaaufxlDtnSJjKL_J3Hi6eUnmqxJeaoRwjvtQs9c6c3slNb15FRBVyoP5ircFE/s1600/DSC_0009_Fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQpQ1j1bBNVdIS5SXofgzLHCAsG7DPuMkiCy9nKuIVaNNUQYKshlWNkwS11cPChyYPhXmpRIf75ZRINaaufxlDtnSJjKL_J3Hi6eUnmqxJeaoRwjvtQs9c6c3slNb15FRBVyoP5ircFE/s1600/DSC_0009_Fotor.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oleg Cassini Paperweights $3.99</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">I scored these from TJ MAXX. Aren't they pretty, I love blings and these elegant ones are perfect for the coffeetable. :-)</div><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1gSR1SoF7-n80eCW1nkEfdkoq2yju6Nk-lBBnnEFBa8aDP9zkk1AZv6FKnjboxD-8K-d7qGIPR24z8aFgc0qKBclB_b__gvC19J8Pl7MWsdQ1lNvSFhZyID06bGO2XY1POLeWJDYrnYw/s1600/DSC_0026_Fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1gSR1SoF7-n80eCW1nkEfdkoq2yju6Nk-lBBnnEFBa8aDP9zkk1AZv6FKnjboxD-8K-d7qGIPR24z8aFgc0qKBclB_b__gvC19J8Pl7MWsdQ1lNvSFhZyID06bGO2XY1POLeWJDYrnYw/s1600/DSC_0026_Fotor.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vases $3.50 & 3.00</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">Again, another TJ MAXX find on clearance. They don't look like much but I bought them for a specific purpose and it's not gonna be for flowers.<br /><br />Can you guess? Will share it on my next post for sure.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwBOQoP-bepb1H_P8q7FlV9jHtQFMH3nKOWuRvK_WNo1nYi3U1TX58TlUkCfPLsdAFFTrGtG05xvF60iC2u4sZ7TXCs82hdLw3sHos0WdFsuXQaAKqKaAi_nozljsbq932Yls8gJvMFY/s1600/DSC_0023_Fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwBOQoP-bepb1H_P8q7FlV9jHtQFMH3nKOWuRvK_WNo1nYi3U1TX58TlUkCfPLsdAFFTrGtG05xvF60iC2u4sZ7TXCs82hdLw3sHos0WdFsuXQaAKqKaAi_nozljsbq932Yls8gJvMFY/s1600/DSC_0023_Fotor.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tin Nautical Plates $3.50</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;">These goes well with my Summer coastal Living room, another clearance find, but this time from CRACKER BARREL General Store. </div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2pNM-Jkel5hmKcgmHosIgW92pMfMcdpFNziKE6QbwhcTANuHDO4XJzu2Cyd3Af7yEQ2X0yBDhCdsT6BfKmf2jK1taFeTUR8UGHQnmK6ZZW9olkV0YhJCTUuRUIA_4WLywXK-LYe4wR8/s1600/DSC_0024_Fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2pNM-Jkel5hmKcgmHosIgW92pMfMcdpFNziKE6QbwhcTANuHDO4XJzu2Cyd3Af7yEQ2X0yBDhCdsT6BfKmf2jK1taFeTUR8UGHQnmK6ZZW9olkV0YhJCTUuRUIA_4WLywXK-LYe4wR8/s1600/DSC_0024_Fotor.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Geode $8</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;">My friends and I recently took a nice trip across the Ohio River to Kentucky and visited a Mineral Museum, hence I scored the one above and the ones below from there. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYu29mjwpjwmvfLqPp3Qfv4vYr9W9jJlMiG_sba36tjoL43KJxttqRSMi9wkpt0tbvwccv8YDd1qH9hTk6HI1NcWJocy0kWUZ6XTQSjeA6xs631JJ4h_1bLPI6Sm8U1ZAl6k4O_D64kUU/s1600/DSC_0025_Fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYu29mjwpjwmvfLqPp3Qfv4vYr9W9jJlMiG_sba36tjoL43KJxttqRSMi9wkpt0tbvwccv8YDd1qH9hTk6HI1NcWJocy0kWUZ6XTQSjeA6xs631JJ4h_1bLPI6Sm8U1ZAl6k4O_D64kUU/s1600/DSC_0025_Fotor.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Missouri Quartz $6 & 8</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYga2gJjp2O9lkYQXAi7D5RnKdkmNMLNpscMZj7N62dkrxEESq5tAZfOLApW-zT7Er6PLVlA-ZbNA9HAaAWUoVJLVe95qF0Z9_KIuV_dTwGsgmxnP9tzNp1Mcy9uiGc_jsKofe1kWfftI/s1600/DSC_0027_Fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYga2gJjp2O9lkYQXAi7D5RnKdkmNMLNpscMZj7N62dkrxEESq5tAZfOLApW-zT7Er6PLVlA-ZbNA9HAaAWUoVJLVe95qF0Z9_KIuV_dTwGsgmxnP9tzNp1Mcy9uiGc_jsKofe1kWfftI/s1600/DSC_0027_Fotor.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;">This one has sentimental value to me. It was recently given by one of my close girlfriends who recently moved with her family to Texas :-(<br />She knew I love blue & White, so she gave me some of her treasured pieces and this was one of them. I think it's beautiful, but all the more special because of who it reminds me of. :-)<br /><br /><br />Lastly I want to share my fortune, or rather, brag about it ...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_1zvG1tCWzbtkX9IwRX27KiPqPbsJ4AwMFYCgoCEwnSEm9D8T9eJZG0GR1dCs_7wWuleVM8BnbP_8hc5XStcrYy8LnNCTAm5x0FAEB0ng1ChBc9CS85868etPtzC6vPLIWoELVJjNeQ/s1600/DSC_0019_Fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_1zvG1tCWzbtkX9IwRX27KiPqPbsJ4AwMFYCgoCEwnSEm9D8T9eJZG0GR1dCs_7wWuleVM8BnbP_8hc5XStcrYy8LnNCTAm5x0FAEB0ng1ChBc9CS85868etPtzC6vPLIWoELVJjNeQ/s1600/DSC_0019_Fotor.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />I won it over at <a href="http://www.youmaybewandering.com/">Sandy's from<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;"> "You may be Wandering"</span></i></b></a>, thank you so much my friend!!!!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnxT4Fa1c2sX2fh4o6iAumjxGaI6lEEFUGg5ltmVRJQn4_S5T1E4mpbjihMewCxflKsjaGA7qY0b6UIC-3TrIcFA-pGdy8gYZ95-1t8lyKTHi4q7rUqGyHg6UdbYkhNL0O4gGKTwgzQlo/s1600/DSC_0020_Fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnxT4Fa1c2sX2fh4o6iAumjxGaI6lEEFUGg5ltmVRJQn4_S5T1E4mpbjihMewCxflKsjaGA7qY0b6UIC-3TrIcFA-pGdy8gYZ95-1t8lyKTHi4q7rUqGyHg6UdbYkhNL0O4gGKTwgzQlo/s1600/DSC_0020_Fotor.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Our family is a huge fan of DK books because of all the pictures and interesting ways they present facts, so these are perfect for our library and would be a great reference to these cities once we get to go! Now all I have to do is win me some tickets.... ;-)<br /><br />Lastly, I am proud to say that I made it to <a href="http://www.callingithome.com/2014/08/orc-linking-participant-hall-of-fame.html">Linda's "ORC Linking Participant Hall of fame"!!!!!</a><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjewbwqizV_UvGggMpk9Eo076YwNb6N4s0Lfi8mdCQt37fVXiVLmTJezucHchaH6G0v9L8-5xSoV5wBKOxeCxlZOqXax8zpOlqrIGJ853xpE55NCvPLtn3GUrZpx1Q1ly1lDsv1adKkzI/s1600/1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjewbwqizV_UvGggMpk9Eo076YwNb6N4s0Lfi8mdCQt37fVXiVLmTJezucHchaH6G0v9L8-5xSoV5wBKOxeCxlZOqXax8zpOlqrIGJ853xpE55NCvPLtn3GUrZpx1Q1ly1lDsv1adKkzI/s1600/1.PNG" width="462" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.callingithome.com/2014/08/orc-linking-participant-hall-of-fame.html">The post from Calling it Home</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Truly, our nook would not have made it to <a href="http://buhayatbahay.blogspot.com/2014/06/this-old-house-magazine-reading-nook.html"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">THIS OLD HOUSE MAGAZINE</span></b></a>, if not for the fun and much-awaited <a href="http://www.callingithome.com/2014/08/orc-linking-participant-hall-of-fame.html"><b><span style="color: #073763;">ONE ROOM CHALLENGE</span></b></a> in Linda's <a href="http://www.callingithome.com/2014/08/orc-linking-participant-hall-of-fame.html">Blog, <b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Calling It home</span></b></a> ( which by the way starts again <b>October 2nd</b>, mark your calendars)!!!<br />I am the one who is super thankful for this wonderful fortune of knowing Linda and her fab blog!<br /><br />How about you any recent finds or good fortune lately?<br /><br /><i><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-large;"><b>Have A Great Labor Day Weekend!</b></span></i><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">VEL </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Would love to hear your thoughts! Please share away...<br /><br />Linking back to...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.thededicatedhouse.com/2014/08/anything-blue-friday-week-68.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheDedicatedHouse+%28The+Dedicated+House%29">Anything Blue Friday</a></div>

Finds, friends and fortune

I may be close to term, but that hasn't stopped me from shopping a bit whenever I can, so here I am about to share with you my latest tr...

Read more »

Photobook Reviews

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">There's been a ton of new ways of doing photo books lately.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If your a fan of this way of displaying photos sans photo albums, you know what I'm talking about.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">From almost all the stores and the apps around, there are so many types and price range of photo books out there, that It's really tempting to try some,  and I have been a huge fan of this way of showing my photos ever since Shutterfly started.  I have a lot of photo books from this store....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9Ey0271E43Ni4QTXNfYFEsNSVgTBqOhGUYkBXi-y62hKXxXyr9Ws7Y9itUn22eQ_pCywyDk6lEa3zJmwHQnUTcZKR3DL5x7RpJsUrnk4eCb7Rv_4VLqWAaBY3zLqECqVcD9zu2dOz7Q/s1600/DSC_0013_Fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9Ey0271E43Ni4QTXNfYFEsNSVgTBqOhGUYkBXi-y62hKXxXyr9Ws7Y9itUn22eQ_pCywyDk6lEa3zJmwHQnUTcZKR3DL5x7RpJsUrnk4eCb7Rv_4VLqWAaBY3zLqECqVcD9zu2dOz7Q/s1600/DSC_0013_Fotor.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1Qj8elLKcmD_6eaDm07xtIdvWfUoyfg69oqCBcZb4ddExzeiJLOQlENYswIIxhVQhk6BzyBfFw310bKi7_NKozINsrY3NfQOAd-DTaWlSpmPzsXvA2rbuSXOdSqdhpK4nCiL6NI6wHc/s1600/DSC_0014_Fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1Qj8elLKcmD_6eaDm07xtIdvWfUoyfg69oqCBcZb4ddExzeiJLOQlENYswIIxhVQhk6BzyBfFw310bKi7_NKozINsrY3NfQOAd-DTaWlSpmPzsXvA2rbuSXOdSqdhpK4nCiL6NI6wHc/s1600/DSC_0014_Fotor.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I have recently tried a few of the new ones that are available and I would like to share my 2-cents worth of opinion on each one and let you decide which ones you'd like to try.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;">1) <a href="http://photo.samsclub.com/album/photobook_selection_1.aspx">Sam's Club Premium Photobook</a></span></i></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-13cqXyGKNYKm5MqsTIabXwfr7ok7fsKxStm2YH0nRCzA1M2TRHtf3RhUpmUG6Q9rGmZf7Xn8IFXIsPDaPef4LF_YZ9lcvKGN-AJRpbVQoNzgqna_WwruvB5ckmyUzZGqR9HXzwvV88/s1600/01.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-13cqXyGKNYKm5MqsTIabXwfr7ok7fsKxStm2YH0nRCzA1M2TRHtf3RhUpmUG6Q9rGmZf7Xn8IFXIsPDaPef4LF_YZ9lcvKGN-AJRpbVQoNzgqna_WwruvB5ckmyUzZGqR9HXzwvV88/s1600/01.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpIUPC4_JEvKGqrGjJfBfHmUaIvoy0DDNb73N0nCVMCXk22Ll1djYkUK3btrHixse_6k-0A1ttvRNn3n5qHRhHbzBdPLnFOddlSl-4eHH3ymbtqIEMgXxqDjoH9ivqa9tKNeneWOb_IVc/s1600/DSC_0015_Fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpIUPC4_JEvKGqrGjJfBfHmUaIvoy0DDNb73N0nCVMCXk22Ll1djYkUK3btrHixse_6k-0A1ttvRNn3n5qHRhHbzBdPLnFOddlSl-4eHH3ymbtqIEMgXxqDjoH9ivqa9tKNeneWOb_IVc/s1600/DSC_0015_Fotor.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><u><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><br /></span></u></b><b><u><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><br /></span></u></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ku41yjF2egBhRhyphenhyphengGFd32Q1IewtEklMVExxhh8ZyULswkJeZqLQKpH2wtSkLZZv4P1JMZSQx72b3_uCgKYK7YOIdQUQpXX6aKcMO2Q2UKY0SOClwX-5SvoRsLQJEgdwOvMxy6mVu21E/s1600/DSC_0015_Fotor_Collage_Fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ku41yjF2egBhRhyphenhyphengGFd32Q1IewtEklMVExxhh8ZyULswkJeZqLQKpH2wtSkLZZv4P1JMZSQx72b3_uCgKYK7YOIdQUQpXX6aKcMO2Q2UKY0SOClwX-5SvoRsLQJEgdwOvMxy6mVu21E/s1600/DSC_0015_Fotor_Collage_Fotor.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><b><u><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><br /></span></u></b><b><u><span style="color: #6aa84f;">PROS: </span></u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">1) Very affordable ($24 for this one, normally $29) but they usually do promos and sales, so getting discount is easy.</div><div style="text-align: left;">2) Great picture quality and love the glossy and thick paper/cardboard, definitely water and smudge proof.</div><div style="text-align: left;">3) You can pick it up from the store! Save you on shipping.</div><div style="text-align: left;">4) You can lay it flat without worrying if the pages will come off.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u><span style="color: red;">CONS:</span></u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">1) The program it uses to arrange the pictures and book takes some time to getting used to. Not difficult, but just different from what I would consider easy.</div><div style="text-align: left;">2) Not a lot of options on the backgrounds and themes (no Halloween for example)</div><div style="text-align: left;">3) Shipping to store takes a while. More than a week. There is no RUSH order, so if your in a hurry to get it and give it away, I would not recommend this.</div><div style="text-align: left;">4) You can't make copies of the book and do different size on it. What size you start with, that's it. </div><div style="text-align: left;">5) Laying flat will show the prominent crease in the middle though.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;">2) <a href="http://www.artisanstate.com/">Artisan State Flushmount Book</a></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBIt8QIf6nuI8Napq23gvqyt9phH0LGKInYucSePZEjkEsWQqElyuiGuQNwbfZLgGzVhfStjn4luJrNr7iuSgW_NKOCPmdzzpWbZEmkopEYu6CGaUfEhrbZOPEBf3AfwGKgMmrrHBdkk/s1600/002.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBIt8QIf6nuI8Napq23gvqyt9phH0LGKInYucSePZEjkEsWQqElyuiGuQNwbfZLgGzVhfStjn4luJrNr7iuSgW_NKOCPmdzzpWbZEmkopEYu6CGaUfEhrbZOPEBf3AfwGKgMmrrHBdkk/s1600/002.PNG" width="302" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsEIQ3S9siUQn2BWRjJ6R0qttRs7CYoWwcnWtzbwt3wXSgylgkZvYdv63PZGoCXoN7B5a1TgIEOoP5r_umikkhqgde4YU7AJ3ydvwJYD2Jota5NQQyweC6jYFlWi3sqwwcEFECQ9U_kc/s1600/DSC_0019_Fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsEIQ3S9siUQn2BWRjJ6R0qttRs7CYoWwcnWtzbwt3wXSgylgkZvYdv63PZGoCXoN7B5a1TgIEOoP5r_umikkhqgde4YU7AJ3ydvwJYD2Jota5NQQyweC6jYFlWi3sqwwcEFECQ9U_kc/s1600/DSC_0019_Fotor.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7To5wF1rd4-qgEgHeBFxjmgM6Qa9ZFrGdeT8bm472-6EhO5ER2S8cIh8in71lYkukeJ3dvYrpLFfmmhyphenhyphenA7K5zBVjrqs3E_uIeQw-LYEUdzUNd6Qh8se7iewiaWgWx_b78xJMdysNQgUQ/s1600/DSC_0020_Fotor_Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7To5wF1rd4-qgEgHeBFxjmgM6Qa9ZFrGdeT8bm472-6EhO5ER2S8cIh8in71lYkukeJ3dvYrpLFfmmhyphenhyphenA7K5zBVjrqs3E_uIeQw-LYEUdzUNd6Qh8se7iewiaWgWx_b78xJMdysNQgUQ/s1600/DSC_0020_Fotor_Collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u><span style="color: #6aa84f;">PROS:</span></u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">1) Definitely a photobook worth showing! It's beautiful, sturdy and elegant.</div><div style="text-align: left;">2) Picture quality is superb.</div><div style="text-align: left;">3) Love that you can lay it flat without distorting image quality</div><div style="text-align: left;">4) All the pages are strong, sturdy and also smudge-free and water-proof.<br />5) Library-bound book.</div><div style="text-align: left;">6) Easy to use editing software.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u><span style="color: red;">CONS:</span></u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">1) A bit expensive, I ordered the 12 X 12 leather one and got a coupon for a sample copy, and still paid $80 for it. It would have been $190 if I didn't. Shipping is free. I think  it depends on the number of pages and size of course, have not tried their $20 black book version yet.</div><div style="text-align: left;">2) Takes a while to get your order, mine took also almost 2 weeks to be delivered.</div><div style="text-align: left;">3) Heavy. Not something you'd lug around to show off, it best sits on your coffee table.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;">3) <a href="http://groovebook.com/">Groove Book</a></span></i></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjayuP_4BdDAUHq75ekoWCqMtdpckFnIjYvPJpIlre_u4RxwiizxjJ2RboihtMtIJrn8Wl1-anZ5kmf7Wx9IKKOpowCnlUGhD2B5BDp4LDjrUbciyAw-ZzHOHTOWQzSHZ86Wl2QP6Ubffs/s1600/0002.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjayuP_4BdDAUHq75ekoWCqMtdpckFnIjYvPJpIlre_u4RxwiizxjJ2RboihtMtIJrn8Wl1-anZ5kmf7Wx9IKKOpowCnlUGhD2B5BDp4LDjrUbciyAw-ZzHOHTOWQzSHZ86Wl2QP6Ubffs/s1600/0002.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6f1O8HGJr8YDBR84myuAVcIwCNsJsge4s3cknd9XlzpKf1lySkjzNG55QGP5BArdhKmg1F7lQBCnr-mdKW0CPJUPN9Ch4g0mIbreyGdToGbcc983uxSgHKsJIQImGnu4EvDrlqXgMSko/s1600/DSC_0010_Fotor_Collage_Fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6f1O8HGJr8YDBR84myuAVcIwCNsJsge4s3cknd9XlzpKf1lySkjzNG55QGP5BArdhKmg1F7lQBCnr-mdKW0CPJUPN9Ch4g0mIbreyGdToGbcc983uxSgHKsJIQImGnu4EvDrlqXgMSko/s1600/DSC_0010_Fotor_Collage_Fotor.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u><span style="color: #6aa84f;">PROS:</span></u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">1) Cheapest one out there with 100 photos/book at $2.99 with FREE SHIPPING, you can order and give away as many as you want. Plus there's always a coupon code for a FREE BOOK for a friend always. <b>You can use this code CRISTE9 and get 1 for free if you'd like to try it out</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">2) App is FREE.</div><div style="text-align: left;">3) Easy to use app.</div><div style="text-align: left;">4) Good for both iphones and Android.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u><span style="color: red;">CONS:</span></u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">1) Flimsiest paper among all the books I think, very thin and picture quality is not great.</div><div style="text-align: left;">2) Easily pulls apart (which is partly the point since the idea is you might want to just tear a picture up and give it away instantly).</div><div style="text-align: left;">3) It only shows the date & time of the photos from your phone, you cannot add any additional texts.</div><div style="text-align: left;">4) You cannot change the sequence of photos you have. You can choose what to put on the book, but not change the sequence of it.</div><div style="text-align: left;">5) You can't customize covers, they choose it for you.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;">4) <a href="http://www.chatbooks.com/">Chat Books</a></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2ksfvzEZe8uOOBOi4DAk2Z1PakzRHXHAfcwugwF53CICQLZVKFsXG4YaprImF7dPR7AXn2mr6J_Diq4bKVqb2wiDlo9gDCc4QQSe4vsWaOLI2dGAEsOaN0rz_EU1_rJbTChml4-Bi_Y/s1600/003.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2ksfvzEZe8uOOBOi4DAk2Z1PakzRHXHAfcwugwF53CICQLZVKFsXG4YaprImF7dPR7AXn2mr6J_Diq4bKVqb2wiDlo9gDCc4QQSe4vsWaOLI2dGAEsOaN0rz_EU1_rJbTChml4-Bi_Y/s1600/003.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6irgwW6HovPbCZ8FVXCDvYs4KeXlbugae5EU_JQWHetujW9VL39SxvAr06wJNT_oQ2X88hKCcNJSibOCe03UDeeqpe9gy2Q2tRP4L3HMA6uiPzbTLis_OlmuC5yltYKr0QHshLf9Ei0/s1600/DSC_0012_Fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6irgwW6HovPbCZ8FVXCDvYs4KeXlbugae5EU_JQWHetujW9VL39SxvAr06wJNT_oQ2X88hKCcNJSibOCe03UDeeqpe9gy2Q2tRP4L3HMA6uiPzbTLis_OlmuC5yltYKr0QHshLf9Ei0/s1600/DSC_0012_Fotor.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUvbuNRW5irIWhBpzv73BM9MXZhPmRBfJetCe8KtfUH3flqzctx6mEP_u_T8kOlwANrpUBnGuxBY_5I7ViEJKEhJTv_nanuxXxFf89ayeYpSkHXBKfzwcvtDSY5G7waSC2dSqSZePUIBM/s1600/DSC_0013_Fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUvbuNRW5irIWhBpzv73BM9MXZhPmRBfJetCe8KtfUH3flqzctx6mEP_u_T8kOlwANrpUBnGuxBY_5I7ViEJKEhJTv_nanuxXxFf89ayeYpSkHXBKfzwcvtDSY5G7waSC2dSqSZePUIBM/s1600/DSC_0013_Fotor.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like the labels on the side</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv62Nv1K7d4snYXPyGinbNnHGY6KMBfu03faxid7g6K60jbAE7R3DooQxDKMvxfCKPxsejLJBIqVhn6Sl41dEkkezpqeSiQ8ofVtgC_cEJKNxdQupK47gm2AwVJ0FOmEGmYlUWVzmV9iQ/s1600/DSC_0014_Fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv62Nv1K7d4snYXPyGinbNnHGY6KMBfu03faxid7g6K60jbAE7R3DooQxDKMvxfCKPxsejLJBIqVhn6Sl41dEkkezpqeSiQ8ofVtgC_cEJKNxdQupK47gm2AwVJ0FOmEGmYlUWVzmV9iQ/s1600/DSC_0014_Fotor.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What's inside</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><u><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">PROS:</span></b></u><br />1) Affordable at $6 for the Instagram and Chatbook series (60 photos each book).  Shipping is FREE.<br />2) Very easy to use app<br />3) You can add additional texts to your photos and easily change the sequence of photos around.<br />4) App is also free<br />5) You can add tittles to your book<br />6) Lightweight, pictures are crisp and clear<br /><br /><b><u><span style="color: red;">CONS:</span></u></b><br />1) Only for iphone users as of now.<br />2) Custom books are priced higher and but can go up to 300 pages, you pay shipping at $2.95<br />3) Shipping took longer than I expected, no rush orders too<br />4) Paper is a bit thin<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">There are other apps out there that does photo books, I still have to try them. But so far, I enjoyed making these particularly the chapbooks which I can do anytime on my phone.  I would recommend trying any of these since it would make awesome gifts for yourself or others!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #0c343d; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #0c343d; font-size: x-large;">Have a Great Week friends!</span></i></b></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">VEL</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Would love to hear your thoughts! Please share away...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>

Photobook Reviews

There's been a ton of new ways of doing photo books lately. If your a fan of this way of displaying photos sans photo albums, you know w...

Read more »

Rant #547

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>HELLO KAMPERS!!!!!!!</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yeah, I know, it's been another couple of weeks with me playing hooky.......</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">WELL, IT'S SUMMER!!!!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXAXcx_9xyK7u8eTatg98ugXo8VBNR4V3YVH61blxrvk8ib4F4cl6O4jSs1REBGdvGC8Lzd5TYvW5b3kuaAdtoXgb25uJGYv-azlSgzA1jhfsn-AV5QtVXA1Vky8S_GfO5aiksuNJF/s1600/IMG_3527a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXAXcx_9xyK7u8eTatg98ugXo8VBNR4V3YVH61blxrvk8ib4F4cl6O4jSs1REBGdvGC8Lzd5TYvW5b3kuaAdtoXgb25uJGYv-azlSgzA1jhfsn-AV5QtVXA1Vky8S_GfO5aiksuNJF/s1600/IMG_3527a.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been busy doing lots of nothin'.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is something for which  I am eminently qualified.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have had a LOT of training, so for those of you at home, it may not be safe to try this yourselves.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have discovered the world of paranormal writing.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Vampires...</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Werewolves....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Witches.....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fae.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Demons</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ghosts.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the list goes one and on.....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes it's just great to get away from anything that is remotely real.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Newspaper is enough for me these days, and I read two.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But one thing I don't like in my books is lots of gratuitous sex.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I find it boring and jump ahead to when it's over.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After all, at my age.....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">been there, done lots and lots of that.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's not boring to the participants....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">but it's very boring to me to read about it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The author just needs to write:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"the sexual tension built, and then things took their normal course of action....."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The dot, dot, dot, is where the reader can add all the juice she wants.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's just my editorial opinion.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The thing is; </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">if I'm reading a book for sex, then this stuff is great!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But if I'm reading a book for plot and character development; </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">this stuff is just filler,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> unnecessary </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and uses up good pages</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><i> that could be telling me more cool stuff, </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>like there are all sorts of dimensions all around us </b>with walls thinning in places where the inhabitants are <i>sneaking</i> through!!!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> They look just like us, but can't talk because in their universe they use telepathy!!!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stuff like that.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>That's good stuff!!!!! </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although I'm Jewish, and not big into any religion.....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I find I LOVE the Mormon writers.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They love to write supernatural stuff, and they add a little romance, but leave the dirt at the door.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now don't get me wrong!!!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I used to be a very dirty girl!!!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's just that in my old age, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>IT BE BORING!!!!!!!</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's like living a life of eating ice cream sundaes.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Loving</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> ice cream sundaes.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trying all  different kinds of ice cream sundaes,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By the time you're in your 60's, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">you really, really don't need to read any more about ice cream sundaes.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>SOOOOOO</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">if you'er reading a book with a real fun plot, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and the heroine is checking out an ice cream sundae.....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">all the book needs to say is that she REALLY liked that particular flavor and felt great after eating a whole bowl of the damn stuff!!!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't know how I got to this.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was going to write about creating a better floor plan for a really tiny house.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll write about that next time.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the mean time,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you have any authors you love that have aliens or supernatural characters within their pages, please let me know!!!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another thing I need help with is.....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What to name my fabric line, if I ever get it off the ground.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was thinking: </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Betsy</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'cuz that's my name.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Any ideas?????</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On that note,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">latah, gatah</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://s166.photobucket.com/albums/u87/auntdoi/?action=view&current=Betsysignature.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u87/auntdoi/Betsysignature.png" /></a></div>

Rant #547

HELLO KAMPERS!!!!!!! Yeah, I know, it's been another couple of weeks with me playing hooky....... WELL, IT'S SUMMER!!!!!! I've b...

Read more »

Sneak Peak of our Master Bedroom/Nursery

<div style="text-align: center;"><b><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Hello Friends!</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yes, I'm still here. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">All I can say is between being pregnant and the 'Peak of Pediatric season' (yes, school and sports physical galore), I am just darn too tired and lazy to write a post so I apologize my friends :-(</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But today, I want to share with you one of the things that's been keeping' us more busy. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Aside from the usual normal nesting things that pregnant moms do, you all know that our baby will <a href="http://buhayatbahay.blogspot.com/2014/05/why-im-delaying-setting-up-my-nursery.html"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><b>be sleeping in our room with us</b></i></span></a>, so we started setting this up as soon as the baby shower was done!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So here's a sneak peak of what we've been up to!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlcYxczLGrtvL09zcWBjxsK1b8JAcr8es45tSZBse-q15tOiFPveOLjt1dAowJYUtFErjBuFKW9bZDQcGil0oetrPFG_DNlziTZnAmm-lHreidJpUCR9c67MZg7m7-VlNYmlJVwV7ysM/s1600/DSC_0009_Fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlcYxczLGrtvL09zcWBjxsK1b8JAcr8es45tSZBse-q15tOiFPveOLjt1dAowJYUtFErjBuFKW9bZDQcGil0oetrPFG_DNlziTZnAmm-lHreidJpUCR9c67MZg7m7-VlNYmlJVwV7ysM/s1600/DSC_0009_Fotor.jpg" width="438" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Changing area</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We are not done yet. </div><div style="text-align: center;">But I thought I'd share it already because I am just so excited!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The changing table was gift from one of Sophia's future godmother. Actually a lot of the stuff here are gifts from friends or family.  :-)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I framed an old "Land of Nod" ABC poster I've had forever (Yes, I have been dreaming of a baby girl for as long as I can remember and I grabbed this poster from the Land of Nod outlet store when we were still living in Chicago... back in 2006!!!), and added the white IKEA picture ledges for displaying toys, Baby lotions etc...</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrP_kxQjt94DrRjPS6HH1cQcfBBUI6wBpJHTFQjxK06B9aSFwEWCpP517SNzcNC4F8XttaoHd2HJl6WTAYAFWl25gMJBCOcd1UZGWtFtkSw6dDU_W0yNW2GjuBckgo139NSVsNg9s8OMs/s1600/DSC_0010_Fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrP_kxQjt94DrRjPS6HH1cQcfBBUI6wBpJHTFQjxK06B9aSFwEWCpP517SNzcNC4F8XttaoHd2HJl6WTAYAFWl25gMJBCOcd1UZGWtFtkSw6dDU_W0yNW2GjuBckgo139NSVsNg9s8OMs/s1600/DSC_0010_Fotor.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Details of Changing area shelves</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7hqBq6I2-MYhtZvPUDgIXkHW1LHXfUBQt-qX59Q6Xt0OiRdmUqAlDRX0uUVV7StXiqIrQvmIoF-aHTaykL2LNHc8ND7w3YuEdIj7WSMp3aeZ66qIBONJedc06U1f3AVwdgFHHfYdi6M/s1600/DSC_0011_Fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7hqBq6I2-MYhtZvPUDgIXkHW1LHXfUBQt-qX59Q6Xt0OiRdmUqAlDRX0uUVV7StXiqIrQvmIoF-aHTaykL2LNHc8ND7w3YuEdIj7WSMp3aeZ66qIBONJedc06U1f3AVwdgFHHfYdi6M/s1600/DSC_0011_Fotor.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby's girlie stuff within easy reach</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">I added Command Hooks at the very bottom ledge to hang her ribbons and put some of her baby socks up top. Isn't it cute?</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Since it's a Diaper Changing area, I had to have a diaper organizer right? </div><div style="text-align: center;">I got this first...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-nuaAJkv8M95K3kICnycYNLHLKeU1_Hjq-HxXpHTSRC0ChOx0u5uJeTSny6vhP1PotJHAJC7BmZy-fSQdFEqTOryfMgiA16ZcycaiO5zv_8oH26Jo5yJHyL_kkfUzwxjoZRLKapnCPY/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-08-19+at+9.55.31+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-nuaAJkv8M95K3kICnycYNLHLKeU1_Hjq-HxXpHTSRC0ChOx0u5uJeTSny6vhP1PotJHAJC7BmZy-fSQdFEqTOryfMgiA16ZcycaiO5zv_8oH26Jo5yJHyL_kkfUzwxjoZRLKapnCPY/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-08-19+at+9.55.31+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.munchkin.com/diaper-duty-organizer.html">Munchkin Diaper Duty Organizer</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">It was on my registry and I got it as a gift. However, I realized it was  way too big !</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So then I exchanged it to this from TARGET...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMP1jUv9eAm22dV4pCdyr1ITNpVE3z1LE9wD5xDNtMrfBTJvdw1fMdVICfFPnfnbbYjc9c1k761nBCz452iVGnLnWGg2w2N6jADyA1EaNUdYjDG2zqx1zVwTJeQjr7AJs0dBvodV1mXeY/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-08-19+at+9.58.11+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMP1jUv9eAm22dV4pCdyr1ITNpVE3z1LE9wD5xDNtMrfBTJvdw1fMdVICfFPnfnbbYjc9c1k761nBCz452iVGnLnWGg2w2N6jADyA1EaNUdYjDG2zqx1zVwTJeQjr7AJs0dBvodV1mXeY/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-08-19+at+9.58.11+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.target.com/p/eddie-bauer-diaper-changing-organizer-gray/-/A-14770568">Eddie Bauer Diaper Caddy</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">I thought it was practical since I could lug it around everywhere. </div><div style="text-align: center;">However, this too was too big as well.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So like any blogger, why not just make my own?!</div><div style="text-align: center;">So I used this $1 wire basket I got from Target a couple of years back and spray-painted it gold.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTpJUyLeFgTjPCYfDH1p9mxNQV_AHPiuInWlLG1lm7RacN84CU9CQ7uKYT3yPEbayjPJLSFjE3CrJsbqe94JMW3ENRsDui00aN9K1r14_kf0ODv7RCILvo8C6REz95eHlxg7IFOZgpxYM/s1600/DSC_0012_Fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTpJUyLeFgTjPCYfDH1p9mxNQV_AHPiuInWlLG1lm7RacN84CU9CQ7uKYT3yPEbayjPJLSFjE3CrJsbqe94JMW3ENRsDui00aN9K1r14_kf0ODv7RCILvo8C6REz95eHlxg7IFOZgpxYM/s1600/DSC_0012_Fotor.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think it fit the table perfectly. I added the pink pail (from a gift packaging too)to put<br />her brush, comb, etc.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigxJbQlZsq2ZqqsA4Vnq8J9RznrmaeKW4ATbLgRODn0DeKdre94k7b2n_DdxHJ_0DhDbCSLN12CDvUMrS9V3SwCCa6xup40Xr6yn8cx3o6FhQK4NijVxIu71kLtaD1fppREh8HIS6Hh9E/s1600/DSC_0013_Fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigxJbQlZsq2ZqqsA4Vnq8J9RznrmaeKW4ATbLgRODn0DeKdre94k7b2n_DdxHJ_0DhDbCSLN12CDvUMrS9V3SwCCa6xup40Xr6yn8cx3o6FhQK4NijVxIu71kLtaD1fppREh8HIS6Hh9E/s1600/DSC_0013_Fotor.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I placed  our DEKOR Diaper Pail on one side ( from a friend)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_rt5wNxgqRbl5FyLcAA_ihDoawapqh8UR01iDmxUp4R69o9W8MhH9IB33xGu5WZvQfNr1u1TKvhTkr9hZ4jp9DYk5bRuSCftOf2X0a5Kzm66TkDEJ6rQYWfMiGSlrkhb4BfbJ0-QmrU/s1600/DSC_0014_Fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_rt5wNxgqRbl5FyLcAA_ihDoawapqh8UR01iDmxUp4R69o9W8MhH9IB33xGu5WZvQfNr1u1TKvhTkr9hZ4jp9DYk5bRuSCftOf2X0a5Kzm66TkDEJ6rQYWfMiGSlrkhb4BfbJ0-QmrU/s1600/DSC_0014_Fotor.jpg" width="430" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... and the cute Elephant hamper on the other (from my sis)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here are more sneak peaks...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hE_RG7kOa0AU350u3wj0acgKK0gXiHNR4Ltlc8Mxmr86RAUvBeskaw6palTHrZVflBtxiAHUSAPj1aixfa90P0Pw1u01S5Pa0-hSde8JoEHsuO8-upTg3ln6Xnbqs3qPH0PT-ljfFII/s1600/DSC_0015_Fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hE_RG7kOa0AU350u3wj0acgKK0gXiHNR4Ltlc8Mxmr86RAUvBeskaw6palTHrZVflBtxiAHUSAPj1aixfa90P0Pw1u01S5Pa0-hSde8JoEHsuO8-upTg3ln6Xnbqs3qPH0PT-ljfFII/s1600/DSC_0015_Fotor.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bird mobile ready and hung up!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3aJjgaeo3KxYQM3wxgJrWYMPAJVgE-87PH_5-qVx1D6dg5-qIm1B2x2SlbQIhKXzMTVuz7k66Djojam92-J8s6eHBhGVnwURh6azKcB9RY9f78EHe3XyHdQMH0kCITsiVrtMKojh5CFo/s1600/DSC_0016_Fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3aJjgaeo3KxYQM3wxgJrWYMPAJVgE-87PH_5-qVx1D6dg5-qIm1B2x2SlbQIhKXzMTVuz7k66Djojam92-J8s6eHBhGVnwURh6azKcB9RY9f78EHe3XyHdQMH0kCITsiVrtMKojh5CFo/s1600/DSC_0016_Fotor.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A gallery wall in our room at last? Where? You'll see... eventually. :-)</td></tr></tbody></table><span id="goog_486691875"></span><span id="goog_486691876"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Like I said, we're not done yet, the room needs some more tweaking and decor upgrade and hopefully, I can share this with you all soon... and of course, enjoy it with my newborn baby!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIcSH_uZVbN97V-nT4wPM7A9gbNOYyvCpCKFl0CUrzRZxCTLrrTVTOpi_VfdFZ_j-qKiIJ8Z5npsnuFkTnWquvuc_KFdNLwAuxRGuwV-cdxQ4L7LApEzdsMgPpWpgzBRTuIN78tykoHpU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-08-19+at+10.13.58+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIcSH_uZVbN97V-nT4wPM7A9gbNOYyvCpCKFl0CUrzRZxCTLrrTVTOpi_VfdFZ_j-qKiIJ8Z5npsnuFkTnWquvuc_KFdNLwAuxRGuwV-cdxQ4L7LApEzdsMgPpWpgzBRTuIN78tykoHpU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-08-19+at+10.13.58+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;">Have a Great Week!!!</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">VEL </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Would love to hear your thoughts! Please share away...<br /><br /><br />Linking back to...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.gingersnapcrafts.com/2014/08/wow-me-wednesday-168.html?showComment=1408505119053#c5462544115743265975">Gingersnap Crafts</a>, <a href="http://www.thelifeofjenniferdawn.com/2014/08/a-little-bird-told-me-link-party-104.html">The Life of Jennifer Dawn</a>, <a href="http://www.frommyfrontporchtoyours.com/2014/08/treasure-hunt-thursday-169-highlights.html">From My Front Porch To Yours</a>, <a href="http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com/2014/08/centerpiece-wednesday_20.html?showComment=1408583653538#c4117901737858530965">The Style Sisters</a>, <a href="http://www.serenitynowblog.com/2014/08/weekend-bloggy-reading-link-up_22.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SerenityNow-aMommysSolutionToStayingSane+%28Serenity+Now-A+Mommy%27s+Solution+to+Staying+Sane%29">Serenity Now</a>, <a href="http://www.jenniferrizzo.com/2014/08/fabulously-creative-friday-linky-party-19.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+JenniferRizzo+%28Jennifer+Rizzo%29">Jennifer Rizzo</a>, <a href="http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2014/08/the-sunday-showcase-party-no-256.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+UnderTheTableAndDreaming+%28Under+The+Table+and+Dreaming%29">Under the Table & Dreaming</a>, <a href="http://thehappyhousie.com/work-it-wednesday-features-500-giveaways/">Work It Wednesday</a>, <a href="http://www.thelifeofjenniferdawn.com/2014/08/a-little-bird-told-me-link-party-105.html">The Life of Jennifer Dawn</a>, <a href="http://www.shineyourlightblog.com/2014/08/best-of-nest-party-august.html">Best of the Nest</a>, <a href="http://www.serenitynowblog.com/2014/08/weekend-bloggy-reading-link-up_29.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SerenityNow-aMommysSolutionToStayingSane+%28Serenity+Now-A+Mommy%27s+Solution+to+Staying+Sane%29">Serenity Now</a>, <a href="http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/2014/08/frugal-friday_28.html">The Shabby Nest</a>, <a href="http://www.astrollthrulife.net/2014/09/232nd-inspire-me-tuesday.html?showComment=1409627605818#c4547555845141235349">Inspire Me Tuesday</a>, <a href="http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/inspire-monday-23/#comment-375197">Inspire Me Monday</a>, <a href="http://mariaelenasdecor.blogspot.com/2014/09/tuesdays-at-our-home-76-features.html">Tuesdays at our home</a>, <a href="http://www.flusterbuster.com/2014/09/flusters-creativemuster-linky-party-87.html">Fluster Buster</a>, <a href="http://homecomingmn.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-diyers-16.html">The DIYers</a>, <a href="http://www.vmg206.com/2014/09/brag-about-it-vmg206.html">VMG 206</a></div>

Sneak Peak of our Master Bedroom/Nursery

Hello Friends! Yes, I'm still here.  All I can say is between being pregnant and the 'Peak of Pediatric season' (yes, school and...

Read more »

Extra Storage in a Bedroom

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Alright! Alright! </i>I'll write my blog.....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Jeesh.....</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a person takes a couple of weeks off from the grind of pushing out blog after blog after blog.....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>and all she gets is grief!!!!!</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">now I'm back</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>So there.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let's continue with my good buddy Kris's youngest child's (Kieran's) bedroom.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Which is hardly ever used because he is now a big fancy schmancy college graduate.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And has flown the nest.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Which means that we will soon be tweaking this room.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We just wait to be sure that they (the chillin's) are</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>not coming back......</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">before we <strike>rip apart</strike> change their bedrooms.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since it's been two weeks, I will show a couple of pictures of the room so far, to refresh your memories.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not that I'm dissing your mental faculties....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BUT</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">some of us aren't as young as YOU used to be!!!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_qZFp2MkhtgGx9M0iOaznvkC06BDGjFh6NyC4od-5sA23mcBCuEONJvKayviup5QE75VQ7_kNfzLZuAr9Yz_0cPZR71AbUdsc0hpqUSedmgNqaju-fsWU-aOSv5oGXJviipRtrFz/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_qZFp2MkhtgGx9M0iOaznvkC06BDGjFh6NyC4od-5sA23mcBCuEONJvKayviup5QE75VQ7_kNfzLZuAr9Yz_0cPZR71AbUdsc0hpqUSedmgNqaju-fsWU-aOSv5oGXJviipRtrFz/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As you guys can see,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to the right of the desk is a wall of cabinetry.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I started working on this room.....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">IT WASN'T THERE!!!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's like magic!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I just wielded my little pencil, drew a few lines and presto chango, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LOTS OF STORAGE!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWZUilatrVaT-ddFCXsUE5buqmj9f6EpUKW3uCqMjWDqnmcAVsDVX6rzq4fR85s2xa4osLpnb1r0vBa9UO24x1YZud8wp5cRI42avCQ0BxlhgmB8nc-0z7Wq7aJvK26UsRxaAyPJk/s1600/IMG_6069ab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWZUilatrVaT-ddFCXsUE5buqmj9f6EpUKW3uCqMjWDqnmcAVsDVX6rzq4fR85s2xa4osLpnb1r0vBa9UO24x1YZud8wp5cRI42avCQ0BxlhgmB8nc-0z7Wq7aJvK26UsRxaAyPJk/s1600/IMG_6069ab.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is what happened.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was a small crappy closet in this room.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since this house was built at the turn of the last century,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">people must not have had as much <strike>shit</strike> stuff as they do now!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So they just had small, tiny, teeny, little, cramped closets.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i>OH MY GOODNESS.....</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was going to tell you how I incorporated the depth of the closet into the new built-ins.....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">but I can't remember what I did.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has been over 10 years.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Give me a break, I be old.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway.....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I designed this wall of storage so that Kris could use some of the cabinets for her stuff too!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The units were so large, that the cabinet maker had to hoist them through the bedroom windows.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lots of drama ensued!!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wanted these cabinets to look original to the house, so I had the crown molding wrap around the top, and the baseboard wrap around the bottom.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I designed a simple recessed panel, as that would have been a more likely design at that time.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had the problem of what to do with the heating vent.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-k75bs91oxiI_BlYDsFtpYVaL3_rcO3L2exSyuIGVkf8E_KFY5MLaKFFv5BS7eaddQbkTfSSI-2zj1z706MOkC23Lv7HWHNfyhdFVhmqTndy0AKHu1AOuf7rRnf5CYGrP8hSTUjJb/s1600/IMG_6069ac.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-k75bs91oxiI_BlYDsFtpYVaL3_rcO3L2exSyuIGVkf8E_KFY5MLaKFFv5BS7eaddQbkTfSSI-2zj1z706MOkC23Lv7HWHNfyhdFVhmqTndy0AKHu1AOuf7rRnf5CYGrP8hSTUjJb/s1600/IMG_6069ac.jpg" width="572" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I designed the cabinets as if it wasn't there, and then created a false drawer and framed the vent with the molding of the baseboard.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To have it work with the boyish overtones of the rooms decoration, Kris and I chose large wooden knobs.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbudUF_9DRZ4qcvvk2LjyEPn75xYIhU11D2UgX1_Ht3Y5ViigP7JmhZA3TIvnnUnHd3YeQKzkCekIrnEE62eV2KQJ9mSTaU8RiD5N2kkyFSbbv6IlJZACv6Zf3fKM_nczSRWFaGHB/s1600/IMG_6070ab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbudUF_9DRZ4qcvvk2LjyEPn75xYIhU11D2UgX1_Ht3Y5ViigP7JmhZA3TIvnnUnHd3YeQKzkCekIrnEE62eV2KQJ9mSTaU8RiD5N2kkyFSbbv6IlJZACv6Zf3fKM_nczSRWFaGHB/s1600/IMG_6070ab.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now that Kieran is a college grad, with a job and an apartment.....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kris's stuff is migrating into these cabinets.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's a wondrous and mysterious phenomenon that is experienced across the nation!!!!!  </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The movement of Mom's stuff into grown children's rooms.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll never forget the first time I came home to visit my parents after I had moved to my first apartment down in Georgia.....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MY BEDROOM HAD BECOME MY MOTHER'S STUDY!!!!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not such a subtle statement.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> But I understood the memo.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At 22 my childhood was over.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would always be welcome in my parent's home.....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">but it was time to create a place of my own.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">THIS DOESN'T SEEM TO HAPPEN TODAY!!!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But Kris is old school, and it's happening in her house.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We be soul mates.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kris and Me!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On that note,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Latah, Gatah</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://s166.photobucket.com/albums/u87/auntdoi/?action=view&current=Betsysignature.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u87/auntdoi/Betsysignature.png" /></a></div>

Extra Storage in a Bedroom

Alright! Alright! I'll write my blog..... Jeesh..... a person takes a couple of weeks off from the grind of pushing out blog after blog ...

Read more »