tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52625061394161314082024-02-19T08:49:20.570-08:00A Ginger's GenesisOne redhead's journey into new beginnings.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14719182627126478197noreply@blogger.comBlogger119125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262506139416131408.post-26733980336666561672014-03-25T12:42:00.003-07:002014-03-25T12:42:35.277-07:00My Blog Has Moved!This is just a reminder that you can find me, Nicole, over at<br />
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<a href="http://www.gingerjottings.com/">www.gingerjottings.com</a><br />
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I would SO appreciate the support! You can even sign up to get my posts via email!<br />
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Thank you all for reading and supporting!<br />
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Much love,<br />
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Nicole<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jlJ_T4W5a_CSjKccr0zLvXfhcgSVovFe5SHIjWDet7YxkYzHBarRXs2osY7enD7a-xP12h-wVPAyEj9rP74_gjiUUCxQaf77zThbP5SHbvqqEyQE3jIpPosTxdrP9KZcIjzZpVhVbwFo/s3200/DSCN0193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jlJ_T4W5a_CSjKccr0zLvXfhcgSVovFe5SHIjWDet7YxkYzHBarRXs2osY7enD7a-xP12h-wVPAyEj9rP74_gjiUUCxQaf77zThbP5SHbvqqEyQE3jIpPosTxdrP9KZcIjzZpVhVbwFo/s3200/DSCN0193.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14719182627126478197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262506139416131408.post-82238708890861503042014-03-13T09:41:00.000-07:002014-03-13T09:41:49.765-07:00Washcloth Winner (and an Announcement!)<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">After much deliberation, I would like to announce the Winner of the Rename Me Contest and the beautiful (if I do say so myself) washcloths!:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Susan!!!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_IqwvH1YzlQDqwFAoMHF3iAe1D4OMoRveTrJEqdlSxnbPAYxndvCRuje6UKPw56abpX3NfpDf7rvouTflegfkH51PqQLKKyh_i1tCkeHHhc00RmFiAwKYyw5Q6bSJIQiR6HnpoLKeHT0/s1600/DSCN0065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_IqwvH1YzlQDqwFAoMHF3iAe1D4OMoRveTrJEqdlSxnbPAYxndvCRuje6UKPw56abpX3NfpDf7rvouTflegfkH51PqQLKKyh_i1tCkeHHhc00RmFiAwKYyw5Q6bSJIQiR6HnpoLKeHT0/s1600/DSCN0065.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><i>Susan is a dear friend of mine and an incredible artist. You can read about her creative life and see some of her work at</i> <a href="http://www.susan-clark.com/">www.susan-clark.com</a>.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Her idea: <i>The Ginger Jottings: Progressing to a healthful and homemade life</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">struck my fancy and will be my new name!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">To go along with this, you will now find me here:</span></span><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.gingerjottings.com/"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">www.gingerjottings.com</span></span></a></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So that's my second announcement!</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This Ginger is on the move!</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Be sure to tune in over at <a href="http://www.gingerjottings.com/">www.gingerjottings.com</a> to get an update on how my <u>first week of the 16-Week Challenge went</u>!!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">See you soon!!!</span></span></div>
Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14719182627126478197noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262506139416131408.post-40064200468237445382014-03-09T08:00:00.000-07:002014-03-09T08:00:01.789-07:00Horror. Glass. Jaime. Park. Comedy. Little Red. Jane. Kinky. Baby. Step-mother. Sky. Lucy. Christine. Elphaba.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">What do these fabulous theatrical buzzwords have in common???</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Well, they are going to keep me motivated and help me track my progress.</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5262506139416131408" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5262506139416131408" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">How you ask? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Let me tell you!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Starting this weekend, Kevin and I will begin more than a year of awesome show-going. Live theatre is our absolute favorite activity to do together! (Well, at least one I can tell you about...) ;-) And this line-up is incredible! Each show will give me motivation to keep losing and look great in an awesome outfit, because I will take a picture at each show to demonstrate my progress!!! Check over the months of musicals and straight plays to come and check back to see how my progress unfolds! </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Coming soon to a blog (well, this one, anyway) near you:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">March 2014</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>April 2014</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">May 2014</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">August 2014</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Comedy image" data-img-credit="Rodney Gardiner" src="http://www.osfashland.org/%7E/media/Experience%20OSF/2014%20Season/Play%20mastheads/Detail_746x420_Comedy.ashx?as=1&h=420&mh=420&mw=746&w=746" height="225" style="margin: 0px auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Comedy of Errors</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">September 2014</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">October 2014</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.portlandopera.org/sites/files/logos/broadway_logos/kinky_boots_225w_glold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="http://www.portlandopera.org/sites/files/logos/broadway_logos/kinky_boots_225w_glold.jpg" border="0" class="decoded" src="http://www.portlandopera.org/sites/files/logos/broadway_logos/kinky_boots_225w_glold.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">January 2015</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">February 2015</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">March 2015</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">April 2015</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.portlandopera.org/sites/files/logos/broadway_logos/lucy_225w_glold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.portlandopera.org/sites/files/logos/broadway_logos/lucy_225w_glold.jpg" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">May 2015</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.portlandopera.org/sites/files/logos/broadway_logos/phantom_225w_glold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.portlandopera.org/sites/files/logos/broadway_logos/phantom_225w_glold.jpg" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">August 2015</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> <img class="irc_mut" src="http://alumni.gcc.edu/s/1472/images/editor/events/2012/wicked.jpg" height="240" id="irc_mi" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="320" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">These shows are already booked, but we may add these <i>to the list: The Great Society, The Tempest, A Christmas Story: The Musical, Grease</i>, and maybe more! We are always looking for opportunities to enjoy great theatre!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Question</b>: Do you love theatre? Some other type of fun outing-activity?</span></div>
Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14719182627126478197noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262506139416131408.post-66142856757353368682014-03-03T08:00:00.000-08:002014-03-05T13:18:03.916-08:00** Updated** Rename Me: Win a Handmade Washcloth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5262506139416131408" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5262506139416131408" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ2qBNT_gdvgiUgLm15yjmkI0xyxB3F7uFcGmelc-RxCenb7MFov0LE-7G2_walCK7kmSO7Zg1qDAprO9gN5RqQwy5bjk5hAFLnBoLRokAvNO1XLTIP84buGZJvAtkhiBxYzQ97G1QFpwn/s1600/DSCN0240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>***UPDATE: I've had a few people mention that they
like the current name and tagline. If this describes you, you can
comment with that and still be eligible for the prize! *******</b></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ2qBNT_gdvgiUgLm15yjmkI0xyxB3F7uFcGmelc-RxCenb7MFov0LE-7G2_walCK7kmSO7Zg1qDAprO9gN5RqQwy5bjk5hAFLnBoLRokAvNO1XLTIP84buGZJvAtkhiBxYzQ97G1QFpwn/s1600/DSCN0240.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"A Ginger's Genesis" ---- was the best I could come up with when I decided I wanted to start a blog.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Now, however, I just don't feel like it fits.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjzpN51SW5by-9UWOJ61ORoUwI9GaoH_jfazb1qfUpX1DxU4qZuAUYN2v9lGsPJSbSK0ikztR_cTVB8RPfgKoPCRpfk5dpaSdK0w0CgL3sv-Y_G79Ni858Axk5gDesBm2W4HvtiPb-cbbI/s1600/DSCN0243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjzpN51SW5by-9UWOJ61ORoUwI9GaoH_jfazb1qfUpX1DxU4qZuAUYN2v9lGsPJSbSK0ikztR_cTVB8RPfgKoPCRpfk5dpaSdK0w0CgL3sv-Y_G79Ni858Axk5gDesBm2W4HvtiPb-cbbI/s1600/DSCN0243.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"One redhead's journey into new beginnings." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Yeah, no, I don't feel like this captures the heart of this blog, or me, for that matter.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1UN1i7dJb6r9oO1p-MFsNfYCLAbs_hat8ZHACHiSbKQerB29DmWozeosTkB1khdqYbxbO2hmcckvz1gfmpqmJIXKUL2LPfLTnG9mII5znjWvyKQSg8yu2omUU3iq0wBZqNcF_dY3_nkRE/s1600/DSCN0244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1UN1i7dJb6r9oO1p-MFsNfYCLAbs_hat8ZHACHiSbKQerB29DmWozeosTkB1khdqYbxbO2hmcckvz1gfmpqmJIXKUL2LPfLTnG9mII5znjWvyKQSg8yu2omUU3iq0wBZqNcF_dY3_nkRE/s1600/DSCN0244.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So, if you have the urge to help me out....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">you could enter</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">MY VERY FIRST CONTEST!!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />Write your suggestion in the comments section, and the <b><i>winner will receive two of my handmade 100% cotton washcloths</i></b>! </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyiKy9C8d48yjZnREwPnS-Oq-kf118beOh7abLIadRkR1uweVJvlIWQOpdT9yOkppYy7-q_6ZaqvysJaKU_BvHypftjza-vZaavQ5E_TbENoYyfKPV8IZbKFMn332IPqb1fCnivSNdosUe/s1600/DSCN0248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyiKy9C8d48yjZnREwPnS-Oq-kf118beOh7abLIadRkR1uweVJvlIWQOpdT9yOkppYy7-q_6ZaqvysJaKU_BvHypftjza-vZaavQ5E_TbENoYyfKPV8IZbKFMn332IPqb1fCnivSNdosUe/s1600/DSCN0248.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The contest will begin <b><i>today and end a week from now</i></b> at midnight. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1pHkwchxNJdalKFU4111lFuQeJ9tAdyg9BY1IOPoSbDCMzVi5_EC5o-RoM9q1pghZjEWzajSXrfQgDihl8CZiPOJHN_5vHYbvhk0qdxmNFElSwy8zMSzv82Tjb_ppoq6cLoWjtAxICp-/s1600/DSCN0252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1pHkwchxNJdalKFU4111lFuQeJ9tAdyg9BY1IOPoSbDCMzVi5_EC5o-RoM9q1pghZjEWzajSXrfQgDihl8CZiPOJHN_5vHYbvhk0qdxmNFElSwy8zMSzv82Tjb_ppoq6cLoWjtAxICp-/s1600/DSCN0252.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The winner will be determined by the best suggestion. If, for some reason, no one comes up with a name that I think really fits, I will use a random number generator to give me a winner - so someone will get two awesome washcloths no matter what!!!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYZqcV_Effcx4GL91Dre5zIrE0fFurA6UA-9Q4QrixeUjy_wi_E__JGii7yQv_Ej3-EAZs6vimRyunP3PrfeykwmxJVenGvDvwwpjcXbcoFjvKSQus2frfM7FihCEvuxpcjHDZF6-Vb8N/s1600/DSCN0249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYZqcV_Effcx4GL91Dre5zIrE0fFurA6UA-9Q4QrixeUjy_wi_E__JGii7yQv_Ej3-EAZs6vimRyunP3PrfeykwmxJVenGvDvwwpjcXbcoFjvKSQus2frfM7FihCEvuxpcjHDZF6-Vb8N/s1600/DSCN0249.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, look through the blog for some inspiration, and help to Rename Me!!!</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNR-6sxfobwPQCdynZMWrDp8g65pakZ9LVIZM2c-KZSrPkxOaPtX8zBA92cEziatcrh1qL8SOeFa70oJFApLRKXxU5QyIFpeXzEmlMM_KC3zFeKaDYDa4IVNzQeK-PzQrQmI7oBpvIV8kD/s1600/DSCN0251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNR-6sxfobwPQCdynZMWrDp8g65pakZ9LVIZM2c-KZSrPkxOaPtX8zBA92cEziatcrh1qL8SOeFa70oJFApLRKXxU5QyIFpeXzEmlMM_KC3zFeKaDYDa4IVNzQeK-PzQrQmI7oBpvIV8kD/s1600/DSCN0251.JPG" height="300" width="400" /> </a><br />
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Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14719182627126478197noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262506139416131408.post-59352848254375596352014-02-27T09:00:00.000-08:002014-02-27T12:26:37.834-08:0012 (16?) -Week Challenge (Read: another chance to get really excited at the beginning and not see it through.)<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'm not just being hard on myself (though I'm told I do this far too easily) - it really is the truth!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The <a href="http://agingersgenesis.blogspot.com/2012/05/weight-loss-competition.html" target="_blank">last time</a> I tried this, it didn't last long. It was part of a competition, and I even took "before" pics to go along with it.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8JNqlhXqgFCkIsdB-ODnXqv9TBnRcXXcyw43LPWH3mgNmo26XGfaIKizL4qq4aaxnZMWHsHNJdndMf_Z87cfCFubzQt_6WAmdlxj8bz7sJdCwwYoiujUJre91EJhazQ2NLPw8CGM8FQKg/s1600/DSCN6162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8JNqlhXqgFCkIsdB-ODnXqv9TBnRcXXcyw43LPWH3mgNmo26XGfaIKizL4qq4aaxnZMWHsHNJdndMf_Z87cfCFubzQt_6WAmdlxj8bz7sJdCwwYoiujUJre91EJhazQ2NLPw8CGM8FQKg/s1600/DSCN6162.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19zvMYGWTcyB0Hr98Dmnfr8FD120RVyln2E5V3VuaWCbR6ONbl3_Q8sKw2IJg-wWMB0Oq7s8mgq7KBa9k1EDx9XDec_oFy0vXZJ4F9-NCTj0BbEjDiSrFvKXQPRpWuO_UJxq0Jf_I1dFf/s1600/DSCN6163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19zvMYGWTcyB0Hr98Dmnfr8FD120RVyln2E5V3VuaWCbR6ONbl3_Q8sKw2IJg-wWMB0Oq7s8mgq7KBa9k1EDx9XDec_oFy0vXZJ4F9-NCTj0BbEjDiSrFvKXQPRpWuO_UJxq0Jf_I1dFf/s1600/DSCN6163.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
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<i>*Note* These pictures show me at a lower weight than I'm at now.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Then I petered out...
Yeah. So. I'm hesitant to try something like this again. The hubs would
never rat me out, but it's possible that I do this kind of thing ALL the
time: Get all excited about something, take FOREVER to process verbally
and in writing, take EVEN longer to come up with the "perfect" plan,
and then go REALLY strong... for about 3 days.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Gotta love the cycle.</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">However, Kevin and I will be going on <i><b>a cruise to Alaska in June</b></i> with my parents, and I would really love to be down in weight by then! This would be a HUGE help. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My friend Jessica, over at <a href="http://blondeambition4fitness.blogspot.com/">http://blondeambition4fitness.blogspot.com/</a>, is doing her own 12-Week Challenge; she inspired a mutual friend, Jackee, to start a 12-Week Challenge, and now they have urged me into joining.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It's hard to know where to start... <i>My routine is barely working as it is...</i> </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Well, what about this:</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My 12-Week Challenge could begin March 3rd (which is a Monday, which is when my new "week" begins for my Weight Watchers weigh-in and calculations) and end May 26th...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Or...</b> if I wanted to finish out 3 months, and not just 12 weeks, I could extend it to June 2nd...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i><b>Or... </b></i>if I wanted to extend this to line up with our June vacation, I could end it June 23rd, which is the day before we leave. This would then be 16 weeks...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Hmm.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">What would that 16-Week Challenge look like?</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>1)</b> Tracking my Weight Watchers points <i>everyday </i>(no exceptions!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>2)</b> Using part or all of my Weekly (extra) points, but<i> no more</i> than that</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>3)</b> Avoiding the list of trigger foods that I created recently (see below), <i>except</i> for per-determined vacations/outings (also see below)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>4) </b>Walking on the treadmill 4 times a week for 35 minutes at a time</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><i>Trigger foods I'm attempting to avoid (because they make me want to eat everything in sight...):</i></b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Bread, pasta, rice, pizza</span> </li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Cake, cupcakes, brownies, candy, chocolate, ice cream</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Potatoes, tortillas, chips</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Basically junk food</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><b>The exceptions to the trigger foods (because I can't be perfect all the time):</b></i></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Special occasions</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Vacations</span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Now, part of me wants to add a few things to this list, like: weight training, specific pounds lost, measurements, etc. But if I could stick to the 4 goals above, that, in and of itself, would be a major accomplishment for me. If I have the energy and motivation to add in weight training, that would be great! At this point, I don't want that to determine my 'success'.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">When I add in something like home remodeling, which we are doing right now, that may even increase my activity some! And I have some helpful checkpoints in the future (look for these soon!) that could help motivate and track my progress. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Ever a work in progress. I'm willing to give this a-go. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><u>March 3rd, 2014 will be day 1 of this 16-Week Challenge</u>. Hopefully I will remember to update you (thank you for still reading!) with my weekly progress.</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Now to avoid the evil little devil on my shoulder telling me to eat like <b>crazy</b> on March 2nd.........</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Question</b>: How do you keep motivated? Do you yo-yo like I do? Is it just me?</span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2xNGeq4zcOKeiKUOQhh-4hi-Nklw3S-jIqsknHFOESNHtuC8GXb-4lUB7BzckDX6wa9hF3TYDKqvrK8HYr4zJCb_bZOUb4yQiqhX2R-BD__60Atae6rjcdJRTj2uOpFyfteRSL3aFm_BT/s1600/DSCN0167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2xNGeq4zcOKeiKUOQhh-4hi-Nklw3S-jIqsknHFOESNHtuC8GXb-4lUB7BzckDX6wa9hF3TYDKqvrK8HYr4zJCb_bZOUb4yQiqhX2R-BD__60Atae6rjcdJRTj2uOpFyfteRSL3aFm_BT/s1600/DSCN0167.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Celebrating a First Birthday with my friend Kristin's family!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Over the past year especially, I haven't really liked being in pictures. I've never been camera-shy. Not even at my very heaviest; but something about gaining back <i>a lot</i> of weight that I worked <i>so hard</i> to lose makes it difficult to want that captured for all time. (Okay, that may be a <i>bit</i> dramatic, but you get the idea.) </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7utDzC039m5Vqzakf9aEo3jrxdWr9Atx4hi_Guht3l9EdBfkDjEAIQcXN-VwWDnWMtl3Zsuxjpvj6FmsxJ7FkDz5uJA7r4q_eCRiK66AwA7aFtPXZWqedwr5C37U1g1fXuvuMD8ZR3omJ/s1600/DSCN0170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7utDzC039m5Vqzakf9aEo3jrxdWr9Atx4hi_Guht3l9EdBfkDjEAIQcXN-VwWDnWMtl3Zsuxjpvj6FmsxJ7FkDz5uJA7r4q_eCRiK66AwA7aFtPXZWqedwr5C37U1g1fXuvuMD8ZR3omJ/s1600/DSCN0170.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Working hard on our bathroom remodel. Check out my pink tools!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Then, not too long ago, I saw a link on Facebook about an article about a child's perspective of their mother as they grew. The author talked about when she learned that "Mom was fat and ugly", or something to that extent. It was when she heard her mother say those things about herself. Before that, Mom was the most beautiful person she could imagine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmrZIbE2vb-THNAxWChqTTsxgJmNodNtLdA0hnKORKmVnij646f_lllY0TilEHC3qWg4egoarCjqd4XFp0q-D7NerrGUi951Wd-Vggn04vezfeTYpLuW1mHI0Hl70fP59CynFD8kfwxqQ/s1600/DSCN0171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmrZIbE2vb-THNAxWChqTTsxgJmNodNtLdA0hnKORKmVnij646f_lllY0TilEHC3qWg4egoarCjqd4XFp0q-D7NerrGUi951Wd-Vggn04vezfeTYpLuW1mHI0Hl70fP59CynFD8kfwxqQ/s1600/DSCN0171.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This got me thinking. Even though I don't have kids now, what kind of example do I want to be for them in the future? Do I want my kids hearing me call myself fat and ugly? I know my husband doesn't like it, and I do it more than I'd care to admit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tUMMTkxoDJlT72jD1X9tUYpB9cpcH1RNHHIRguyx2kvxZXX1aXXbvsDsGNP7a_lQAL0gSLBcCCA_-xcce_BPi29Ip6rRF6l0OrosGFCszutipd3OGr-kHAnGqPxre3JwZiSiFULsU5E4/s1600/DSCN0172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tUMMTkxoDJlT72jD1X9tUYpB9cpcH1RNHHIRguyx2kvxZXX1aXXbvsDsGNP7a_lQAL0gSLBcCCA_-xcce_BPi29Ip6rRF6l0OrosGFCszutipd3OGr-kHAnGqPxre3JwZiSiFULsU5E4/s1600/DSCN0172.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">How do I want my littles to view themselves? Where do I want them to glean their worth? Certainly not from their physical appearance or unmet goals. </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6yLFatwEErlEWEMBcfG5t5nkftojoaHnOM5KRiXgSzsS_0XI6TLy03Oqr_PWSpFbsrzp4zlKbjM4qrr49doPlCzZ6Mh-qw3ndpWD-TflCRTwpZUt8SSwG3zX1DK9jhuqhqOQFD97UJBB/s1600/DSCN0211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6yLFatwEErlEWEMBcfG5t5nkftojoaHnOM5KRiXgSzsS_0XI6TLy03Oqr_PWSpFbsrzp4zlKbjM4qrr49doPlCzZ6Mh-qw3ndpWD-TflCRTwpZUt8SSwG3zX1DK9jhuqhqOQFD97UJBB/s1600/DSCN0211.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Celebrating a bridal shower for Staci.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFk3Afiffv5WjbrOH6yUkYQA1qL3ZF5Up1cliitmFytFlv_JeCrKeegqVAW2FPclxBwAK4yq1jNN7tEq-mz8TwVbkvsJQjRlh2QhktNEe_5GWFUlfN2i1YhXUwzzMsFtt8Ds9ibRjqyDE2/s1600/DSCN0212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFk3Afiffv5WjbrOH6yUkYQA1qL3ZF5Up1cliitmFytFlv_JeCrKeegqVAW2FPclxBwAK4yq1jNN7tEq-mz8TwVbkvsJQjRlh2QhktNEe_5GWFUlfN2i1YhXUwzzMsFtt8Ds9ibRjqyDE2/s1600/DSCN0212.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I got to sit by one of my good friends, Kristi!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The more I thought about this, the more I realized that I can't just change a deep-seated habit in myself overnight. And if I want to act differently when I have kids, <b><i>why wouldn't I want to act differently now?</i></b> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5crM0qT4srjQIBMoGcwiHgLosqkyPKbh0hFpaibTCPAViFnvbJ_hiFUEeFnog_saaA0RWNgjh2FtxYjXkXYsJRhhKPVBuy8TFVw6w9e1cavOvTKLMjeK9F187N6FM-NjlmGnuOCxVjt8q/s1600/DSCN0208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5crM0qT4srjQIBMoGcwiHgLosqkyPKbh0hFpaibTCPAViFnvbJ_hiFUEeFnog_saaA0RWNgjh2FtxYjXkXYsJRhhKPVBuy8TFVw6w9e1cavOvTKLMjeK9F187N6FM-NjlmGnuOCxVjt8q/s1600/DSCN0208.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Celebrating my sis-in-law, Kim, currently carrying my soon-to-be niece!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">How does it affect my husband, who thinks I'm beautiful, says it often, and then hears me refute his compliments? How does it affect my attitude about God and His creation? What does it say about my faith in who He is and who He has created me to be? </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp0PT0iX-boAdCmkw1NTU8PJGfoNvFbpbQVQ5QXT8f3oRDHSi37OVemq5E6ZYaddQv33q50emQLNau9gEMqzfJYIMh0WDS-NP0lmND4aiwVmcRFfz0_APYPpvnfs6sdRCLuGPopWYI9K3d/s1600/DSCN0194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp0PT0iX-boAdCmkw1NTU8PJGfoNvFbpbQVQ5QXT8f3oRDHSi37OVemq5E6ZYaddQv33q50emQLNau9gEMqzfJYIMh0WDS-NP0lmND4aiwVmcRFfz0_APYPpvnfs6sdRCLuGPopWYI9K3d/s1600/DSCN0194.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Capturing a good hair/make-up day in true selfie form.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In my heart of hearts, I believe I am beautiful - because God created me - and He doesn't make mistakes. And on really good hair and make-up days, I think I'm beautiful on the outside, too. But there are a lot of not-so-good days when I can't stand the woman in the mirror. But those days should not dictate my self-worth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsqDB_Y4wvisYwqwhQXH18gYRmOJLN1Sq9-E9nuAoyszIDwJiwUejHzK4wh1Z5FDWorvdThVd3toc2DDLrPWwN8gseUEinjddqArw4jgD9_Eps1sfdHRoecx5BBmvimPAJsOA13ra6A7l/s1600/DSCN0193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsqDB_Y4wvisYwqwhQXH18gYRmOJLN1Sq9-E9nuAoyszIDwJiwUejHzK4wh1Z5FDWorvdThVd3toc2DDLrPWwN8gseUEinjddqArw4jgD9_Eps1sfdHRoecx5BBmvimPAJsOA13ra6A7l/s1600/DSCN0193.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So I decided to start taking more pictures again. In 50 years, who will care about rolls and double chins anyway? No one! Besides, selfies are all the rage right now. I even did this one in the bathroom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Question</b>: Do you find it difficult to be in pictures? Why or why not?</span></div>
Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14719182627126478197noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262506139416131408.post-37113353378630939892014-02-10T15:03:00.001-08:002014-02-10T15:03:08.734-08:00Susie Homemaker (or, how I keep my budget in check)<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Over the past couple weeks, I discovered a few things:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">1) I have lost 8 pounds since the beginning of January!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">2) Greek yogurt CAN be made at home more cheaply than store-bought</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">3) Making bread isn't as scary as I thought it would be</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">4) Snow is beautiful and really inconvenient</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">5) The Pioneer Woman wants to make me fat</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Let's rejoice over #1 and move right on to #2 (haha, middle school humor, #2):</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Want to make yogurt??? You can!!!</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I (mostly) followed directions from <a href="http://www.salad-in-a-jar.com/making-homemade-yogurt" target="_blank">this</a> website, as I'm a total yogurt newbie. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Here's what I did:</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>1)</b> Pour 2 quarts (8 cups) of milk (any kind, I used whole) into a glass bowl that can take the heat. The website suggested a Pyrex batter bowl, so I borrowed my mom-in-law's.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>2)</b> Microwave for 14 - 17 minutes (may vary depending on your microwave) to get the milk to 175 - 180 degrees. I discovered that 14 minutes and 30 seconds is perfect in my microwave. Using the microwave keeps the milk from scorching and allows you to do something else, rather than stand over the stove stirring for that time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCZykRPQGCnynbJCCtlGcdM6CkJL7wo-sti40kZpAxxHm7zWwO5wmAVvchqNxyiiSYgtCKQhDI0ZOcZKK3_CaQSfwCA20G05GmSbMSYjW_NAb8umV4jDWvqvYJNXb0N0AaXINYLvaTHQp/s1600/DSCN0116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCZykRPQGCnynbJCCtlGcdM6CkJL7wo-sti40kZpAxxHm7zWwO5wmAVvchqNxyiiSYgtCKQhDI0ZOcZKK3_CaQSfwCA20G05GmSbMSYjW_NAb8umV4jDWvqvYJNXb0N0AaXINYLvaTHQp/s1600/DSCN0116.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>3)</b> Let your heated milk sit on the counter for 45 minutes to and hour, or until it cools to somewhere between 105 - 120 degrees. I used my candy thermometer to check temps, but any accurate thermometer will work. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFmiedXCoZa624oDwQOrKaSzy0MpILrpe_zEDmxNjsKU0-UJzfCJT7_JrArNGHTorcL210Ah8mThT-f9RVmJr5KvdR8pcrzm_R7LvE1nd-SjE7tzWNMjJMcQXapH-i-7Bb-dDqsLcseJU/s1600/DSCN0120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFmiedXCoZa624oDwQOrKaSzy0MpILrpe_zEDmxNjsKU0-UJzfCJT7_JrArNGHTorcL210Ah8mThT-f9RVmJr5KvdR8pcrzm_R7LvE1nd-SjE7tzWNMjJMcQXapH-i-7Bb-dDqsLcseJU/s1600/DSCN0120.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>4)</b> For 8 cups (2 quarts), mix in at least 2 teaspoons of starter. The best starter is 5-7 days old from a recent batch of your own yogurt. Second best is a really good store-bought plain yogurt - but make sure it has live active cultures. Whisk it in and move on to incubation!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>5)</b> This may be the hard part for some: incubation. As I found out from my first and second attempts, this step is what really makes the yogurt. The milk needs to stay at about 100 degrees for 8 - 12 hours. The first time I did this, I had it in for 6 hours - and I ended up with milk soup. Not much flavor, and liquidy. The second time, after getting some sage advice from Facebook friends, I left it in for almost 13 hours with much better results. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My oven has a proof setting, which keeps the oven at 100 degrees. You can search the 'net for other methods. I covered my bowl with a plate, put her in, and waited! (Impatiently, mind you.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxlPuqRAbbSAPB-ra79XYh06HP49GJ0fESeiH0liJkFzFV6RbWOCLhkcAZVj1RzA5a_gQ8PhhPmawk7xy2M4WVTR_U-GntphN1VAyE9R1hNqlDxfgiMVjwob-x-zlu_awXHngjQdjYmBT/s1600/DSCN0119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxlPuqRAbbSAPB-ra79XYh06HP49GJ0fESeiH0liJkFzFV6RbWOCLhkcAZVj1RzA5a_gQ8PhhPmawk7xy2M4WVTR_U-GntphN1VAyE9R1hNqlDxfgiMVjwob-x-zlu_awXHngjQdjYmBT/s1600/DSCN0119.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Huzzah! Yogurt! You can see how excited I was!!!! The milk has now become yogurt!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOYFX0mF61HmVRWJiTrhyphenhyphenSe-JAd1JrclDYVuvNznwqWImeliWWahx55KJ9WokLcsUkk5TXGAqZrWPaFvz7XNSiIS7HQUNMGWu2iWd0eWkteXRhDirZoKQh0Hgd5FTnskuqH2gGomr003_/s1600/DSCN0118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOYFX0mF61HmVRWJiTrhyphenhyphenSe-JAd1JrclDYVuvNznwqWImeliWWahx55KJ9WokLcsUkk5TXGAqZrWPaFvz7XNSiIS7HQUNMGWu2iWd0eWkteXRhDirZoKQh0Hgd5FTnskuqH2gGomr003_/s1600/DSCN0118.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcU_reQw4SI727zDgmlQpTRZFap4JmNwPUMvY3_WgP6eanq9-shGZfOTjDpl1u0qWvp7yQJHxQcFgRAMyeYvT6-8yv5ajP0mLNsrtrQdQrN6sfALevuX-trjCNjKECdPATD7fANKvKQIaW/s1600/DSCN0122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcU_reQw4SI727zDgmlQpTRZFap4JmNwPUMvY3_WgP6eanq9-shGZfOTjDpl1u0qWvp7yQJHxQcFgRAMyeYvT6-8yv5ajP0mLNsrtrQdQrN6sfALevuX-trjCNjKECdPATD7fANKvKQIaW/s1600/DSCN0122.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>7)</b> Now to make the yogurt Greek: Strain out the whey. Perhaps easier said than done. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHvDVGlazU_qNk58lKBe3urYdd3PKeZEcuAwvii0s8TxjhOeYFvD8WDMVX1we6fu0AxmnYWQOh62DvQ7B-aMdclojpslkhcNwrQyf2rwtzjoO0RkaMrlwy68NTkSQ-3IOOJh9RMzJ1Lnf/s1600/DSCN0113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHvDVGlazU_qNk58lKBe3urYdd3PKeZEcuAwvii0s8TxjhOeYFvD8WDMVX1we6fu0AxmnYWQOh62DvQ7B-aMdclojpslkhcNwrQyf2rwtzjoO0RkaMrlwy68NTkSQ-3IOOJh9RMzJ1Lnf/s1600/DSCN0113.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As you can see above, my first of attempt involved coffee filters, among other things. The gal from Salad-In-A-Jar suggested using a bouillon strainer, but those run between $75 - $100. No thanks. I'm too cheap for that. So I made my own version!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">What you see pictured is my mother-in-law's sink collander/strainer, 4 of our Classico-pasta-sauce-jar-turned-drinking-glasses, and a large baking pan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This set-up was intended to strain whey from the milk solids, making Greek yogurt (which just describes the thickness and consistency. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This did work.... sort of... but it was messy and somewhat difficult.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">After scouring the internet some more, I discovered a better method: a plain t-shirt:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAeywLRS2ThZQkw89oNUNhGgcZZuwLyhf9Oglf1fkXA9N_o4qCgpuUTCinkoCzVQUowmjhW8Kw9kNP_VEK_1nD2Q27a0sET3b7-lYcRklRmXmfMdcA7nuSxlION3lolWlKawxZMLabf7L-/s1600/DSCN0130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAeywLRS2ThZQkw89oNUNhGgcZZuwLyhf9Oglf1fkXA9N_o4qCgpuUTCinkoCzVQUowmjhW8Kw9kNP_VEK_1nD2Q27a0sET3b7-lYcRklRmXmfMdcA7nuSxlION3lolWlKawxZMLabf7L-/s1600/DSCN0130.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Using the t-shirt (cut up one side so that I only had one layer of cloth to drain through) was much quicker and easier. Once I was done, I tossed the shirt in the wash!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Also when I was done: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">BEAUTIFUL GREEK YOGURT!!! It was a bit tangy for our taste, so I'm going to try 10-11 hours next time, but it is still oh, so tasty!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhory8X38K5BJ84sMX4q6zYxGnLtEvjdTM-cyg1SaVTFdosK_NLIR2nvmDjVx1v6KolLu2sryno3C1E1rtkyRRwj-K6iV_wd9VIdEYTQC1zBIkjZcrYurnOdCE2ClYraE69OSzsrBDBPgh8/s1600/DSCN0131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhory8X38K5BJ84sMX4q6zYxGnLtEvjdTM-cyg1SaVTFdosK_NLIR2nvmDjVx1v6KolLu2sryno3C1E1rtkyRRwj-K6iV_wd9VIdEYTQC1zBIkjZcrYurnOdCE2ClYraE69OSzsrBDBPgh8/s1600/DSCN0131.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Pictured above you see that my 2 quarts of whole milk yielded 5 portions for my weekday breakfasts (3/4 cup each), a small starter for the next batch, and two 3/4 cup portions for the hubs and I to sample - not to mention at least 3 cups of whey! Pretty nifty!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And, as mentioned before, I also did some baking:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I didn't have two loaf pans, so I used a cake pan. Still worked! :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjefsSwRPAD24HzqBnn4pqj021YOnUUO1b7g59LrR5kgMHgM4mlrQ4rIPOHMEE8DdwjNE4bOR88UoWvGAR-LChvVxE0jXgV49C_upml-hqySa2WnBCrGgxRgoPq4WWBWNcxlDBBcLft5m8S/s1600/DSCN0147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjefsSwRPAD24HzqBnn4pqj021YOnUUO1b7g59LrR5kgMHgM4mlrQ4rIPOHMEE8DdwjNE4bOR88UoWvGAR-LChvVxE0jXgV49C_upml-hqySa2WnBCrGgxRgoPq4WWBWNcxlDBBcLft5m8S/s1600/DSCN0147.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This will cover Kevin's breakfasts for a while and our bread needs for the week!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Cheaper and tastier!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Question:</b> What ways do you "do it yourself" to cut back on your grocery budget??</span><br />
Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14719182627126478197noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262506139416131408.post-46033549938531313882014-01-17T14:50:00.002-08:002014-01-17T14:55:21.532-08:00Transparency and Living Life Today<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><u><b>To the second</b></u>:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I have spent much of my life saying that "someday", when I've lost X amount of pounds, when I've reached whatever goal, THEN I will do whatever I'm dreaming. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Because, certainly, I don't DESERVE, I'm not WORTH doing it now, today. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">For instance:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Once I've lost weight, THEN I will buy clothes that I like.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Once I've lost weight, THEN I will do my makeup more often.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Once I've lost weight, THEN I will invest in those clothes, rather than getting them at Goodwill.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Once I've lost weight, THEN I will go to weddings, since I feel embarrassed now.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Once I've lost weight, THEN I will buy a pretty dress to wear on a date with my husband.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And, most recently,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Once I've lost weight, THEN I will get a cute, fun, new haircut.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">But not before.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Now, I LOVE Goodwill shopping; don't get me wrong. However, I often buy clothes there because I tell myself I'm not worth spending more money on new clothes, especially since "I won't be at this weight for long anyway, why spend the money on clothes I hope to shrink out of?" The problem is, too much putting off of my dreams in life, big and small, starts to make me feel worthless. Satan gets a foothold in my brain, starts that tape a-reelin' in my mind, and tells me that only "pretty" people get to have those things, and I will only begin to enter that category if I've lost all the weight.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Well, that's just not true. Know why? God says so. That's why. Know what else? I'm awesome. No matter what I weigh. Know how often I <i>really</i> believe that? Not often.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So yesterday, knowing I had a routine, split-end-trimming haircut in the evening, I started to wonder: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">What if I did something totally different and got a really fun, new haircut???</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I stewed, thought, asked opinions, and finally decided on a haircut I wanted to try. I decided I didn't want to <i>wait to start living my dreams</i> until I weighed a certain number of pounds.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So, I got my hair cut. Well, all of them actually, not just one. (That was for my dad, you know, 'cause of "dad jokes". Aren't they funny.)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWsvQnJYMTElBOr8k4LYHnIw3A4gLom-VOwoEiowZWXja0kzirnwwT7hbUlImZBRxj8y0xSZ4sAZPFZqXVRl1ySZINFyXv8zR5g51id83GPFrTljx9GpHpaNel-fluAKeVXGkvQZqkImNJ/s1600/1555455_666837191744_1746764299_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWsvQnJYMTElBOr8k4LYHnIw3A4gLom-VOwoEiowZWXja0kzirnwwT7hbUlImZBRxj8y0xSZ4sAZPFZqXVRl1ySZINFyXv8zR5g51id83GPFrTljx9GpHpaNel-fluAKeVXGkvQZqkImNJ/s1600/1555455_666837191744_1746764299_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLI4hQ8gMwPdrBHYSzIARcKH0GKfpQKIUpDklgk6TSRPKy4hUnesZKm32wQ8es_CUcEXMdOek7byiaS3q5lMrLxV6nkDPmdCKqDsuEKshpWgKIETnJ4GbRS-QFQXLBrOZ0LuCbMVK_1Eer/s1600/1536559_666837216694_103632921_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLI4hQ8gMwPdrBHYSzIARcKH0GKfpQKIUpDklgk6TSRPKy4hUnesZKm32wQ8es_CUcEXMdOek7byiaS3q5lMrLxV6nkDPmdCKqDsuEKshpWgKIETnJ4GbRS-QFQXLBrOZ0LuCbMVK_1Eer/s1600/1536559_666837216694_103632921_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Before...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">.... and after.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It is definitely different for me, there are lots of "well, but..."s going through my head about why it isn't great, BUT I like it! The hubs likes it! And it makes me feel like I'm worth the adventure of a new hairstyle!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><u><b>To the first</b></u>:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My bravery was sparked by this act of independence and provided as a catalyst to have a discussion with my 8th graders that I've been wanting to have for a while.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As teachers, we often talk about setting goals and forming plans to attain them. So I've been wanting to lead by example! I thought that telling them my weight story, my goals, my plans, my progress would model goal-setting for them while acting as accountability for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">But I was nervous to do that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And today I did! It was great! No idea how it landed with them, but I felt good about it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So today is a great day for Transparency and Living Life Today!!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><u><b>Question:</b></u> How are you being Transparent and Living Life Today???</span>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14719182627126478197noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262506139416131408.post-62401588466018021222013-12-16T14:09:00.003-08:002013-12-16T14:09:51.003-08:00Small Holiday Victories<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7V1N8FZDXtbrNeXvIjlXBoR_TOlK1p1dYddQt50nZooDyNUp3-XQ_diRGkK3kMR8qMG3iYFVLEA8as90KT1XWoMrAwpkiLuvxnyter6xDLikjpknJAUeSiRx55k5lMMujD3kjUfdUVfMn/s1600/DSCN0040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7V1N8FZDXtbrNeXvIjlXBoR_TOlK1p1dYddQt50nZooDyNUp3-XQ_diRGkK3kMR8qMG3iYFVLEA8as90KT1XWoMrAwpkiLuvxnyter6xDLikjpknJAUeSiRx55k5lMMujD3kjUfdUVfMn/s320/DSCN0040.JPG" width="240" /> </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This past weekend, Kevin and I had the chance to veg out, sleep in, go to dinner and Zoolights with family, and bake & decorate sugar cookies for my coworkers. I also did a bunch of meal prep on Sunday afternoon and evening.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWs8Xjj543fYRnmjDS2ponOHutSKNijkmkuP_UIdLE4HAymLLvCcGtN2c_-uud6vpQR2bSLyGj_AxSsebLhnvXrwFDXy8hjC5BctN7-ixWpT90I-pKsc1QPYwgFWwFtjdTQmM3gypTF5V/s1600/DSCN0042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWs8Xjj543fYRnmjDS2ponOHutSKNijkmkuP_UIdLE4HAymLLvCcGtN2c_-uud6vpQR2bSLyGj_AxSsebLhnvXrwFDXy8hjC5BctN7-ixWpT90I-pKsc1QPYwgFWwFtjdTQmM3gypTF5V/s320/DSCN0042.JPG" width="320" /> </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">While all of these things are wonderful, many of them also are prone to pose as obstacles in my never-ending battle with healthy eating. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmi6453uBRS42i0RXhfnwBrUX2k9T4xKbzYwdc1WZv8J5W5XDLb3qdWua44KAg-1IScW_YlF-A7sKhb1D1DhFd5f_kiu5SrwhpAGp2y9M3WWKTSyvwpNJxths2cyrUxvGOalU2_NCJlQOU/s1600/DSCN0053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmi6453uBRS42i0RXhfnwBrUX2k9T4xKbzYwdc1WZv8J5W5XDLb3qdWua44KAg-1IScW_YlF-A7sKhb1D1DhFd5f_kiu5SrwhpAGp2y9M3WWKTSyvwpNJxths2cyrUxvGOalU2_NCJlQOU/s320/DSCN0053.JPG" width="225" /> </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I am so pleased that I was able to get through the weekend (weekends are always hard for me) without overeating or ruining any of my progress! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBLaM88gfbZ_c-OABUd_U2CimURu0eOIaAMLfi-jbu2G53xjOGiy70Ph1Pvbwz8FFJC19AicnqgquSrJMJyfn-0hty6GMNXnYqCq6kugNgn78Axa7W-NntxoGvlNl9hs7oO5ABrNb8fIc/s1600/DSCN0054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBLaM88gfbZ_c-OABUd_U2CimURu0eOIaAMLfi-jbu2G53xjOGiy70Ph1Pvbwz8FFJC19AicnqgquSrJMJyfn-0hty6GMNXnYqCq6kugNgn78Axa7W-NntxoGvlNl9hs7oO5ABrNb8fIc/s320/DSCN0054.JPG" width="320" /> </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(This is really here just to show my pride and joy in having three separate meals going at once in a Dutch over and two slow cookers!) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUKT0Netc-n7Hw9F6ZHWuW8yaD2nMoHbCc97HkFWJLpgFk0sL6QN0NimmQe4XFwJHG5Zw0M5JoQ32OS8jL3R2T1hWQCLcdWfRI7wd2V_zGSeeWatg_Wtpyyi4MsB9zSzVI8Y8RjI3ec3W/s1600/DSCN0055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUKT0Netc-n7Hw9F6ZHWuW8yaD2nMoHbCc97HkFWJLpgFk0sL6QN0NimmQe4XFwJHG5Zw0M5JoQ32OS8jL3R2T1hWQCLcdWfRI7wd2V_zGSeeWatg_Wtpyyi4MsB9zSzVI8Y8RjI3ec3W/s320/DSCN0055.JPG" width="240" /> </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">That's my handsome (now bearded) man getting all excited about efficient and fun ways to decorate the cookies. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqiFrV1Cb95i2EDDsNMpjM8m0AlqVhPL2NzfUVWO7g8uKhQ5eBoTR30Artml0Qr5kWRSuo4e5nsY4EsNxQWymRPL6Bz9g_uLce6ZpZ-zXqYfLJSegeruX_C5Z1pER4j8Uz5-34xvtrTEo/s1600/DSCN0056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqiFrV1Cb95i2EDDsNMpjM8m0AlqVhPL2NzfUVWO7g8uKhQ5eBoTR30Artml0Qr5kWRSuo4e5nsY4EsNxQWymRPL6Bz9g_uLce6ZpZ-zXqYfLJSegeruX_C5Z1pER4j8Uz5-34xvtrTEo/s320/DSCN0056.JPG" width="320" /> </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Despite some extras here and there, I managed to exercise all 5 weekday mornings (35 minutes, 3.3 mph, incline level 3) and lose 3 pounds! Here's to small victories even during the holiday season! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBeiEdDb0nyvtBFuDkvrGMHZ1g8f9xmo2-E1U8Eol79YmOn3q52z5RhhbT2zhVf9zeM9RQRQHa5ufRpvOvdsP4lQRS6uUgMd24kvBWEOX4VRqA0nhnP12ODiHMFeNzpmZSSeTcW-VODTbx/s1600/DSCN0057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBeiEdDb0nyvtBFuDkvrGMHZ1g8f9xmo2-E1U8Eol79YmOn3q52z5RhhbT2zhVf9zeM9RQRQHa5ufRpvOvdsP4lQRS6uUgMd24kvBWEOX4VRqA0nhnP12ODiHMFeNzpmZSSeTcW-VODTbx/s320/DSCN0057.JPG" width="278" /> </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>(Had to throw in one of my little dude. Love my MacDuff!) </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i> Question: How do you stay on track during the holidays??</i></span></div>
Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14719182627126478197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262506139416131408.post-21656556368021889932013-12-12T15:48:00.000-08:002013-12-12T15:48:36.382-08:00Hello Again, Old Friend.It's been nearly a year since I last blogged.<br />
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Life got busy.<br />
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I felt guilty and ashamed for gaining so much weight back.<br />
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I have actually gained all but 14 pounds back since my lowest weight - which was in February of 2011, I think. Nearly three years ago.<br />
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That's a lot of weight to lose and gain in four years.<br />
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Those of you familiar with this blog know most of the story; since this last February (my last post), I added switching from part-time to full-time, then adding a second job to make my work week closer to 50 hours than 40. We also moved again (only next door to where we were living before). Throw in some typical and not-so-typical life drama - and I guess you get rapid weight gain.<br />
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I could tell you that I'm only discouraged. That I am simply worn down with my own self-loathing. I could tell you that I am desperate to lose the weight.<br />
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I could tell you that all I do is look at Facebook profiles of beautiful friends and envy every photo. I could tell you that I will never again, after this moment, eat bad food, overeat, and skip exercise. <br />
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However, that would not be accurate.<br />
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The truth is, this last year has been hard in many ways, but really good, too. My focus right now is not on the crap, but on the blessings.<br />
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I have done a little bit of all the things I mentioned above, but I'm not consumed by this weight gain (anymore). God has moved me on when I haven't been able to do it myself.<br />
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In fact, God has provided in ways I'm sure I will never fully understand. <br />
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So what's next?<br />
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Well, I started Weight Watchers online again.<br />
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I currently weigh 232.2<br />
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Still 5' 2"<br />
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For five weeks I walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes, 3-5 times each week. Then I had three weeks in there where I went on vacation, had Thanksgiving, and got a bit off track. But I'm back on track now. Up early to walk before I leave for work.<br />
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I've missed you all out there who joined me before. Hope to hear from some of you again. How are you doing?<br />
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All the best,<br />
NicoleNicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14719182627126478197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262506139416131408.post-36623349064992267912013-02-15T09:00:00.000-08:002013-02-15T09:00:04.541-08:00Disneyland. Oh yes, we did.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2563.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kevin and I joined his folks and aunt in Disneyland for a week.</span></div>
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<a href="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2561.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This was our belated wedding present from my in-laws. Suffice it to say, we were pretty darn excited!</span></div>
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<a href="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2503.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No one could say we aren't resourceful - this is how we deal with a bright light coming in our window at night. You like?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our first day in the park was an early Sunday morning. January is the time to go, folks. Several rides were down, unfortunately, but we walked on to almost ALL the rides. Empty Disney streets people!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And music everywhere! I was in music heaven!</span></div>
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<a href="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2507.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These lads were on Main Street singing barber shop tunes. On a 4-person bike!</span></div>
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<a href="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2513.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gotta have one of these shots...</span></div>
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<a href="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2508.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was awfully proud of this one. I did this with my phone camera! Actually, all of these photos are from my iPhone 5 camera. Pretty handy!</span></div>
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<a href="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2512.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On our first day in the park (other than Kevin's head getting targeted by a chirpy little bird), we went on: The Matterhorn, Pirates of the Caribbean, Indiana Jones, The Haunted Mansion, Pooh and Friends (I don't remember the actual name), Gadget's Go Coaster, Roger Rabbit's Ride (again...name...), and the Storybook ride. Several of these were a first for me. Full day!</span></div>
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<a href="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2514.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Later that day, my hubby wasn't feeling too well. In fact, he was sick all that night and the next day. Poor guy. Being sick on vacation sucks.</span></div>
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<a href="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2526.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On Tuesday we ventured into California Adventure with the whole group. Soarin' Over California was so fun! I love that ride.</span></div>
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<a href="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2529.jpg" width="315" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The new section of CA Adven. is Carsland. Radiator Springs Racers is the ride above. So. Much. Fun!!!</span></div>
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<a href="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2535.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That night, we celebrated Pam's birthday by going to the Blue Bayou, where we each got "fireflies" in our beverages. That was one of the best meals I've ever had. And watching people head into the Pirates ride was so neat.</span></div>
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<a href="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2538.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After dinner, the streets of Disneyland were basically empty. We closed out the park!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wednesday was spent going on some of the traditional rides and enjoying Main Street! If you haven't been to the Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, you need to!</span></div>
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<a href="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2549.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Peter Pan was a new one for me! How had I missed this before?! What a classic!!!</span></div>
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<a href="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2550.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'll be honest... Mr. Toad's Wild Ride was creepy. Made little kids cry with the whole going to hell thing...</span></div>
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<a href="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2552.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The details of Disneyland are what make it so great. These two characters even had British accents!</span></div>
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<a href="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2555.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do you know how I got this? No, not Splash Mountain - it was closed. It was Pirates! I was wet all day! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Again with the stunning details!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Back in our hotel room, we wound down with the Crowe/Blanchett Robin Hood and some cheesecake. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On Thursday, my pop-in-law went on the Tower of Terror ride with me. No one else would go!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The line wasn't long, but there was always something interesting to look at!</span></div>
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<a href="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2572.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As you can see, we loved it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sadly, the Grizzly River Run was being cleaned out, but the giant bear was still a must-see!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh, the ferris wheel. Never dull.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Neither is the California Screamin'!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Post-ride hair. So cute.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm still not sure who Duffy really is, or why he is a prominent part of Disney now, but he is pretty cute.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vintage Mickey!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I could SO decorate my entire kitchen (okay, house) with Disney!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Standing in line for...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My first taste of Dole Whip!!!! Yum!!!</span></div>
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<a href="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2616.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Did you know there were coins on top of these snake heads in front of the Indy ride??</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I got to drive. And we totally won. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have a question. When did Ariel ever wear this dress in the movie?? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On Thursday night we went back for a Fast Pass ride on the Cars ride. So worth it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On Friday, Kevin and I went around both parks buying our scouted-out souvenirs. We spent all week deciding what we really wanted and checking that against our budget. Along the way, I spied some funny little things... :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even with the quiet time of year, there were SO MANY STROLLERS! Why would you want to go to Disneyland if your kids can fit in a stroller?! They won't remember and it will just be stressful. Not to mention, I could totally have looted if I had a mind to. ;-)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was actually a very relaxing vacation, so much fun, but we were glad to get back home to our own bed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh Disneyland, how we love you! Until next time!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>So tell me</b>: Do you love Disney? What do you love about it?</span></div>
Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14719182627126478197noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262506139416131408.post-18497522278822807712013-02-12T11:27:00.004-08:002013-02-12T11:27:54.031-08:00On the Road Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A little over three years ago, I started using my parent's treadmill, joined Weight Watchers, and slowly but surely <a href="http://agingersgenesis.blogspot.com/p/weightloss-in-photos.html" target="_blank">lost 90 pounds</a>. A few years before that, I went through a <a href="http://agingersgenesis.blogspot.com/2012/03/celebrating-recovery.html" target="_blank">Celebrate Recovery</a> step study group to address my <a href="http://agingersgenesis.blogspot.com/2012/02/weekly-update-and-my-frenemy-food.html" target="_blank">food addiction</a> and codependency. </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sticking to a diet and exercise plan is treating symptoms of a deeper issue; in my case, food addiction. There are reasons for that food addiction. That is my go-to coping mechanism - even still. Once I was willing to look honestly at myself and my destructive habits, I could move out of denial and deal with my past hurts in a more constructive way. I believe that the work I did in Celebrate Recovery laid the ground work to my eventual weight loss.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, now about my eventual weight gain...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My routines in life changed, some new stressors flared up, old ones came out of the wood work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two years ago, I hit my lowest weight, plateaued, and have slowly but surely crept back up the scale. Since then, I've been attempting to lose the weight again - but mostly by focusing on the structure and to-do lists of diet and exercise. There's nothing wrong with this, except that I have tried to forget that I have a food addiction that <i>only gets worse as I ignore it</i>. It's not very much fun to acknowledge my weaknesses. It's not very much fun at all. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In fact,<b> it really sucks</b>. Looking in the mirror has been really hard the last year, both literally and figuratively. Tapes in my head have been playing my failures and mistakes on a never-ending loop. It seems like just about any stressor can trigger a binge, which begins the cycle of self-loathing and attempts at self-soothing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>Are you as tired of this story as I am?</b></i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The through-line in this story is my hope that I can do all of this <b>on my own</b>. That I have the power to control my surroundings, my urges, my mind, my habits. Several months ago, through a series of events and conversations, I became very aware that my health (or lack thereof) is a matter of obedience to God. It is also the very last thing I want to give to Him. When I am at my lowest, I yell at God, asking Him why he hasn't taken this away from me, changed me, made me instantly lose weight, asking why he has allowed this weakness in me to begin with?! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's what I know, when I'm being very brutally honest with myself: <i>God didn't give me my issues. And He won't take away an issue that I'm holding so tightly to - that would step on my free will, something God doesn't do. I also know that God has provided me with all the necessary means to release my death grip on all of this and release it fully into His care. And yet I refuse to humble myself, step out of denial, and trust God with my deepest fears, desires, insecurities, and weaknesses. In the moment, it always seems 'easier' to wallow in self-pity and a victim mentality.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Because, when I look at my actions, I see this person I don't want to be, someone I want to hide from, run from. How could anyone, let alone God, love that kind of person? A person who in the face of life's stresses, runs away from the help God has provided to pull day-old pizza out of the bottom of the trash bag??</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>(Seriously ya'll, I've done it. Multiple times. It's not always pizza, but you can picture the desperate mayhem.)</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've never been very good at taking care of myself; I have usually equated it with selfishness. I don't even like to brush my teeth or shower regularly!!! You can laugh, please join me, because it really is ridiculous enough to make me chuckle! When I really start feeling down on myself, I stop taking care of myself entirely. That way, I can prove myself to be right - that I'm not worth the effort.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There it is! The crux of all of this insanity!!! I don't think I'm <b>WORTH ENOUGH</b>! And I know I'm not alone in this! Especially we women - we can pick ourselves more quickly and thoroughly than anyone else! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And the Enemy knows exactly which thread to pull, which tape to play. And boy, does he ever. <b>I will so easily believe that I don't deserve the good things in life</b>: nice clothes, looking pretty, being healthy in mind and body, or even a regular solo devotional time with the God I so desperately need to be rejuvenated by. I don't even deserve the time it takes to floss my teeth or brush them twice daily - I deserve cavities instead.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just in case you were wondering, as open as I am, it isn't easy to admit this to anyone else, let alone myself. But I believe that I'm not alone in any of this. Sharing our burdens lightens the load. And telling you my hopes, fears, and mess-ups defeats stops the tape in my head that says I will be rejected if anyone knows. In my heart of hearts, I know better. Thanks be to God for His gift of the Holy Spirit and fellowship.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>The woman I really want to be</b>, the woman I believe God has designed me to become, is a pillar of faith who puts God first in her life, takes care of herself holistically so as to be a ready and able vehicle for God's purposes for her, and lives out His Word with confidence and hope. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I read those words, pouring out of my heart, how could I ever let Satan tell me that it is just pride and selfishness to entertain such thoughts? I claim the truth of God's Scriptures, that He came to give me life in abundance, not to steal from me like the Enemy (John 10:10). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm taking action, my friends! Once again, I'm on the wagon. Well, at least I'm putting a step-ladder next to it so I can make the climb. I have many thanks to give to my husband and close friends in my life who have spoken hard truths to me, encouraging me to do what I know I need to do - for myself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>We bought a treadmill</b>, for starters. I've tried so many different ways to get myself exercising regularly again, but nothing has stuck. So what worked before? Having a treadmill in my house! So, that's what we did. My sweet husband, excitedly helped me pick out and pick up an affordable treadmill - and even make room for it in our spare room. I'll tell you more about this as we get it all set up and I can use it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The other thing I am going to do: go to a <b>Celebrate Recovery</b> meeting again. I don't know where this will lead, if anywhere. I'm taking baby steps. (Not to the elevator.... Thanks for laughing at my lame joke, for those of you who get it...) I've got to address the reasons for my harmful coping habits, as well as the habits themselves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, last but not least, I'm committing to blogging more regularly again. Talking to you really does help me. And based on some responses I've received, it helps some of you, too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And besides, I missed you! I hope it's mutual. ;-) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No matter your beliefs, I hope you will find my parting words (borrowed, as they are) as encouraging as I do:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>"We have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:2-5)</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>So tell me</b>: Can you relate to any of this? What's been going on in your life in my absence? Any words of advice and/or encouragement to offer? What are you working on in your life right now?</span></div>
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Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14719182627126478197noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262506139416131408.post-53860936773482459172012-12-12T10:55:00.003-08:002013-12-16T14:10:27.926-08:00First Anniversary in Photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2293.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I used the cookbook/scrapbook given to me during one of my bridal showers to make:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Irish soda bread.</span></div>
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<a href="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2296.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also made a veggie and quinoa soup from scratch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The main course was baked tilapia rubbed with butter, herbs, and covered in orange and lemon peels.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Those would be the flowers and card I woke up to on our anniversary. I love that husband of mind.</span></div>
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<a href="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2292.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Did you know you can make caramel out of a can of sweetened condensed milk? Just put it in a crockpot, cover with water, and set on low for 8 hours!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finished product.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Table all set up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Memorabilia from our time together.</span></div>
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<a href="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2300.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Colors that mostly match our wedding colors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All dressed up, hair did, make-up on. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Already bored.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>So tell me</b>: How do you celebrate special occasions?</span></div>
Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14719182627126478197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262506139416131408.post-26857253519753724102012-11-27T16:05:00.004-08:002012-11-27T16:05:29.901-08:00My Dear Friends, I Need Help<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do you even know how thankful I am that you all have been following along as I ramble, cook, process, whine, and get amazingly busy?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's an incredible thing to read an unexpected message from a friend, even a faraway one. The words many of you have shared with me over the past several months has been extremely encouraging.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>And I'm in need, my dear friends.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yesterday I weighed in, the first time in more weeks than I remember. It wasn't all that surprising, but it was certainly discouraging: <b>209.4</b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are plenty of reasons I could give, many excuses, true situations and circumstances that have simply made weight loss and overall health very difficult for me to focus on. And looking through old pictures, seeing where I was, what I worked for so hard, and knowing where I am now, just plain hurts. I have to move on though, right? Thank the Lord I'm not alone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My husband is the most supportive man in the world. We have decided to work on our health as a team. Each of us has goals. God bless that man, because I know I couldn't even entertain weight loss anymore if it weren't for his encouragement. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don't judge me, guys, but I haven't exactly stuck to any plans lately. I've been very inconsistent. It's true - I feel kinda lame about that. But! That doesn't mean I quit. <b>Here's the new plan:</b> finish the 30 Day Shred (DVD by Jillian Michaels) and track my calories every day - staying between 1200 and 1500, aiming for the lower amount. After I've finished the initial 30 days, I'll move it down to 5 days a week. The workouts are only 20 minutes a day, which should be doable.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>It's going to suck.</b> It always does. I started yesterday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>This is where you come in: </b>I could really use your words of encouragement. An email (listed under the Contact Me page) from a friend, cheering me on, sending me good thoughts would be so welcome. So, if it comes to mind at some point, tomorrow, two weeks from now, months from now, would you send me a note? It would really mean a lot to me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wish me luck and say a prayer!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>So tell me</b>: What's going on in your life?</span>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14719182627126478197noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262506139416131408.post-37939139150370807952012-11-09T13:25:00.003-08:002012-11-09T13:25:30.259-08:00First Coupon Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/5F142FAC-C237-49FE-ABFA-AFFAD3764969-4902-000002C6CE327E64.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/5F142FAC-C237-49FE-ABFA-AFFAD3764969-4902-000002C6CE327E64.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've been hearing about this <b>Extreme Coupon-ing</b> mystery for a while. Women (and probably men, as well) out there who know how to work a grocery store. My sister-in-law spent about a year cataloging and saving after my brother lost his job. At one point she was saving <b>75%</b> on their monthly grocery budget. That caught my interest. She also had this AWESOME binder, completely organized with all her coupons. That <i>REALLY</i> got my interest. (Read: I have a *perhaps* unhealthy love of organizing just about anything.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And then Safeway came out with this "<b>Just 4 U</b>" coupon system on their website and in the smart phone app. I love my iPhone. Anything that encourages me to use my iPhone even more makes my heart all warm and fuzzy. So a while ago, I made a list of things I needed at the store, cross-referenced that list with the various coupons on the Safeway app (using my Club Card, of course), and went to the store hoping to save a few bucks. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>My total savings that trip were as follows</b>:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just for U Savings: $10.44</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Club Card Savings: $9.58</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Total Savings: $<u>20.02</u>, or 31% of my total purchases.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My favorite deal was on our favorite ground coffee, <i>Starbucks Cafe Verona</i>. It usually costs $9.99 at Safeway. To use my app coupons, I had to buy two, which would usually cost $19.98. After my savings, together they were <b>$12.54</b>!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pretty sweet, eh?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This has to be repeated, no? <b>Yes!</b> This launched me into a day-and-a-half of online research at places like <a href="http://thekrazycouponlady.com/">TheKrazyCouponLady.com</a> and <a href="http://fabulesslyfrugal.com/">FabulesslyFrugal.com</a>. Check them out!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's a bit of what I found:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Safeway will stack manufacturer coupons on top of Safeway specific coupons</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are a lot of printable coupons out there</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Coupon/club savings go in cycles, so the low price I see will probably be back before too long</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can get <b>free stuff</b>!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Catalina print outs (the receipt-like coupons at the register) can save you money, if you know what to buy</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes the store brand will be cheaper anyway</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Today</b> I went to Safeway with a plan to (pretty much) only buy things I could use at least one coupon on. I must confess, I spent more than I had intended to, but I did score some major deals. I'll let you in on a few of my favorite scores.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The <b>Corn Chex</b> was on sale for 2/$6 already, and then I used a $1 off coupon to make them $2.50 each ($2.98 in savings).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Nestle Morsels</b>, usually $3.49. My price was $1.99 with Card and J4U savings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 packages of <b>French's French Fried Onions</b> (just in time for Thanksgiving!), usually $9.98. My price was $6.38 after Card and J4U savings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Jif Hazelnut Spread</b>, usually $4.99. My price was $2.50 after Card and J4U savings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>McCormick Gourmet Spices</b>. This was one of my favorite favorites!!! My coupon saved me $2 on each spice, plus there was a Card deal for Buy Two Get One free. The three spices I bought (cardamon, curry, cajon) would usually be $25.27. My price after Card and J4U savings (manufacturer coupon) was <b>$16.28</b>!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract</b> (2 boxes), usually $14.98. My price was $5.99 after Card and J4U savings! This was a BOGO free deal, with an added $1.50 off coupon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Star Olive Oil</b>, usually 10.29. My price was $5 after the Club Card savings!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Bounce Dryer Sheets</b>, usually $5.49. My price was $3.06 after Card and J4U savings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Crest Toothpaste</b>, usually $7.79 for two packs. My price was $4.25 after Card and J4U savings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Duracell Batteries</b>, 16 ct, usually $13.99. My price was $9.14 after Card and J4U savings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Navel oranges</b>, 8lb bag, usually $7.99. My price was $5 after Club Card savings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My <b>VERY FAVORITE OF THE FAVORITES</b>, you ask??? Well, the bag of <b>Hershey's Bliss Dark Chocolates</b> that I got <b><i>ABSOLUTELY FREE!!!!!</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also got the little mix-in package of <b>Duncan Hines Frosting Creations</b> for free, but that is less exciting - especially since I have nothing to mix it into right now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>Side note</i></b>: I took a trip over to <b>Rite Aid</b> on my way home to score a couple more deals. I had taken a coupon for 1ct Reach toothbrushes to Safeway, but they only had packs of 2. So I tried my luck at Rite Aid. I found online that if I bought at least two of these, the Catalina machine would spit out a $2 coupon for the overall purchase at participating stores. So, following the directions of the Coupon Ladies, I did two transactions at the register. First I used my coupon to buy the two toothbrushes (which were already on sale), taking the price total from $9.98 to $4 (before taxes). Then I used the $2 coupon from the Catalina machine to buy three boxes of Christmas cards, which were also already on sale (for Buy One Get Two free). This transaction total went from the original $17.97 to $3.99 (before taxes). <b>I got two toothbrushes and a total of 48 Christmas cards for $8.95 (after taxes).</b> Awesome, right?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There were even more savings that I did not picture, such as my 50% savings on a bag of <b>Tillamook shredded cheddar cheese</b>, or <b>Yoplait Yogurt</b>, usually $0.65 each. I bought 6, which would normally cost $3.90. My price was $2.30, or about $0.38 each, after Card and J4U savings, including manufacturer coupons.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And yes, some things are still cheaper even without the coupons. Example: Safeway brand salsa and Pantry Essentials butter. Each of these was cheaper (by the ounce) than the brands I had coupons for.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This took time and planning, but I am <i>so glad</i> I did it! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Between the two stores, I saved a total of <span style="font-size: large;"><b>$101.95</b></span> today!!!</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Or to put it another way:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I got the following products for a total of <b><i>$141.23</i></b>:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Reach toothbrush (x2)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">48 Christmas cards</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nestle chocolate chips</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hershey's Bliss chocolates</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Safeway pitted olives, canned (x2)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Libby's Pumpkin, canned (x2)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Morton Kosher salt</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jif hazelnut spread</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Phillips milk of magnesia</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">McCormick pure vanilla extract (x2)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">8lb bag navel oranges</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">8oz bag Tillamook shredded cheddar cheese</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yoplait yogurt (x7)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Corn Chex (x2)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Crest toothpaste (x2)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Baker's 14oz flaked coconut</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Duncan Hines Frosting Creations packet</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">16ct Duracell AA batteries</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Prego pasta sauce (x2)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lucerne aerosol whipped cream (x2)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Safeway select premium ice cream</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Safeway farms bacon</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Star olive oil, 1 Pt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Zygo Cactus</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mission Flour tortillas, 8ct.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Safeway Oats & Nuts sliced bread</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bounce dryer sheets</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Starbucks Cafe Verona (x2)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Safeway salsa, 4lb 6oz</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This would normally cost a total of <b><i>$243.18</i></b>. Wow! Great shopping trip!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>So tell me</b>: What do you do to save? Do you clip coupons?</span></div>
Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14719182627126478197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262506139416131408.post-74947133543556662042012-11-06T09:01:00.001-08:002012-11-06T09:25:04.742-08:00Victor/Victoria<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A short time ago, Kevin and I celebrated our first anniversary in Victoria, B. C. (Our anniversary isn't actually until November 20th, so it was a bit early.) It was the perfect trip. That husband of mine did a fantastic job of planning our very first anniversary trip, our second vacation since being married.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After carefully budgeting and saving, we were able to drive up to Seattle on Thursday night to stay at the <a href="http://www.edgewaterhotel.com/" target="_blank">Edgewater Hotel</a>. That place is swanky! It was here that I discovered the color coordination of my shoes and phone:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Early Friday morning we ran (literally ran!) to get to our ferry, the <a href="http://www.clippervacations.com/" target="_blank">Victoria Clipper</a>. Victoria! Eee!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Very yummy breakfast!</span></div>
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<a href="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2207.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, we actually DID see orca whales on our way to B. C., but there was no way to get a good photo - so I took a photo of this pamphlet instead. Good stuff, eh? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We arrived in Victoria and set out on foot for the <a href="http://www.hotelgrandpacific.com/" target="_blank">Hotel Grand Pacific</a>. I highly recommend it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For lunch we tracked down an <a href="http://www.indiacurryhousejr.com/" target="_blank">Indian Curry restaurant</a>. The food was okay, not great. A little too spicy, and pretty spendy for what you get. Instead of mints, they brought a bowl of candied fennel seeds to chew on. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They tasted like black licorice!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saturday was spent watching Netflix, napping, and eating. The day before we picked up makings for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at a 7-11 in town. That served as four of our meals while on vacation. Great way to save money! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For dinner we ate at <a href="http://www.vicssteakhouse.ca/victoria/" target="_blank">Vic's Steakhouse</a>. So. Good. I had a Tuscan burger. For dessert we walked over to the <a href="http://www.victoriaharbourhouse.com/" target="_blank">Harbour House</a> for chocolate mousse. Yum. Yum. Yum!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On Sunday we walked all around town, enjoying a day without rain. Starbucks (pretty much guaranteed clean bathrooms!), lunch at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/paradisodistelle" target="_blank">Paradiso</a> (a restaurant we found on Friday and decided to try later), <a href="http://www.miniatureworld.com/" target="_blank">Miniature World</a> (so cool), walking around The Bay mall (that crap was expensive), and dinner at <a href="http://www.bardandbanker.com/" target="_blank">The Bard and Banker Scottish Pub</a> (sweet potato fries, fish dippers, corn chowder). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Paradiso was DELICIOUS! And affordable. You really have to try it sometime.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This was a street busker we had to stop and watch for a bit. I mean, come on!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On a side note, the dip for the sweet potato fries was a ginger and lime mayo - I need to try to recreate it sometime!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For dessert we picked up <a href="http://www.rogerschocolates.com/" target="_blank">chocolate truffles</a> and walked back to our hotel to enjoy them. Our last night in Victoria gave us this view:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While we only had half a day on Monday, we walked around some more, enjoying our last hours of vacation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2249.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.samsdeli.com/" target="_blank">Sam's Deli</a>. Very tasty, and wallet friendly.</div>
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<i>Steph, Jessi, does this <a href="https://rockymountainchocolatefactory.com/rmcf/control/portalHome" target="_blank">bear</a> look at all familiar to you?? :)</i></div>
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<a href="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/PNG2009GFU/IMG_2251.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This was the only disappointing part of the trip. <a href="http://www.miragecoffee.com/index.htm" target="_blank">Mirage Coffee</a>. Had a sign advertising coffee art. Noting my recent obsession with latte art, who can blame me for wanting to be served some while on vacation? This is what I got. Milk poured over espresso. No art. No attempt at art. Sad.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The trip was amazing. So incredibly relaxing. Miss it already. :)</span></div>
Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14719182627126478197noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262506139416131408.post-63077835809457191302012-10-15T15:00:00.001-07:002012-10-15T15:00:32.787-07:00Small Victories<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So today Kevin and I went back "on plan".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That means no breads, potatoes, pasta, rice, etc. for Kevin.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That means only Medifast food, lean protein, and veggies for me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We made an exception for one slice of cake each after his swearing in ceremony tomorrow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Did I mention that my husband passed the bar exam?! Yeah, he did. He's awesome.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We also made an exception for our early anniversary trip that we're taking in two weeks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was feeling pretty good this morning when I headed in to work.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Day 1 of anything is usually equal parts exciting and suckage.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And it's Monday.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I walked in, I saw that my coworker made her famous cinnamon rolls. Rude.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And then the Donut Guy came through the shop.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He's this guy that brings a box of donuts with him. Every. Time. He. Comes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are ALWAYS apple fritters and maple bars in there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ALWAYS.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Double rude.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Guess what?!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I did not give in.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Small Victories.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>So tell me</b>: What are your small victories lately?</span>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14719182627126478197noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262506139416131408.post-2112412858700283382012-10-14T11:27:00.001-07:002012-10-14T11:30:13.349-07:00Phone PicsI'm going to let my phone speak for itself. Just go with it. <div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZ5Lia8_sALh263IthL_rcwjD2RY72-S0-YvMTIuQFa3ideyqBFP36Y5svCqU2AeMf33D9AhhO-yep25ijnbHSbBkLU46lc4GTz4u2CQeFHdJO_bEiqWLvXW_7ZH5kn-IXG3IYz6VpF2l/s640/blogger-image--933380680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZ5Lia8_sALh263IthL_rcwjD2RY72-S0-YvMTIuQFa3ideyqBFP36Y5svCqU2AeMf33D9AhhO-yep25ijnbHSbBkLU46lc4GTz4u2CQeFHdJO_bEiqWLvXW_7ZH5kn-IXG3IYz6VpF2l/s640/blogger-image--933380680.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI58cJnoCU4CqecO3zkB6o6ndqLoq_aI4G-AOq5_9GCHsgGXuoKjYYG1RdVTBe7NaZ1kakopwK1bvqyXz6pwGtLErhE_9pa21tlkJWYuzE7E6YH0y6cuX-JUWbAeFi0tAzfagI4GZ7ACJa/s640/blogger-image--1694597493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHVuhm6B-ARzA9pv5Fd73lYV2atWgw2ScyR_JzDet71-YOYFAhnjUVkkj3TANNQz93y_1KN5kneKyUn92SC73vZ2duOlqdUDd3nYp4WyGkWFF-PmQhiWVc3cT8tO15bh8-W1FbNIZxDO5H/s640/blogger-image-1161032769.jpg" /></a></div>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14719182627126478197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262506139416131408.post-50228499758947436772012-10-12T06:00:00.000-07:002012-10-12T06:00:05.852-07:00Made to Crave: Personal Reflections, Chapter #1<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Personal Reflections</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1. If you could personify craving based on your experience of it, what form might it take? Would it be like the little orange monster or would it take a different shape? Describe what your craving looks like and how it behaves. If you could sit down and have a conversation with this imaginary craving, what do you think it might say to you? What questions would you want to ask it? How do you imagine it might respond?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>My answer:</b> I feel like
my cravings are a sneak attack; I won’t even know I’m having a craving, or
feeding one, until I’m half-way through. It’s like an old friend comes to
visit, I do what I always do, and only realize later on that it was an enemy
the whole time. It is always so enticing and comfortable-looking. I think it,
what I often call The Beast, would promise me that it could make me feel better
– no matter how I’m currently feeling. If I’m celebrating, happy, sad, angry,
bored – it doesn’t matter- it will make me feel better. It says, “Nicole, give
in to me, and the bad thing you feel will go away. Give in to me and I will
make your happiness and celebration even greater! If you don’t use me, you will
regret it. If you don’t eat that food, you’ll feel deprived – and you may never
get another chance to eat that particular food. You can’t handle your issue any
other way; I’m the only one who can help you.” I would ask it why it never
keeps those promises – why I always feel worse eventually for giving in to the
temptation. I would ask it why it chooses me, when I know other girls who do not
have to deal with it. To both, it would probably tell me that I just
misunderstand, that my disappointment or discouragement is my fault – whether I
eat or not.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2. How do you respond to the idea that God made us to crave? Have you ever pursued a craving - a longing, passion, or desire - that made a positive contribution to your life? What do you think distinguishes that kind of craving from the craving that leads you to eat in unhealthy ways?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>My answer:</b> It makes a
lot of sense to me that God made me to crave. (I’m choosing to answer with “me”
and not “we” or “us”, because I usually take the easy route- making it less
personal and more general or universal. Just one more way I’m trying to combat
this whole issue. I learned to stick with “me” and “I” in Celebrate Recovery,
so I’m going to keep at it.) Most of the disciplines in my life – as in, things
I started and actually finished – were like a craving, something I couldn’t
quit because of obstacles. Things that ended up being positive pursuits for me:
education, theatre, friendships/relationships, crocheting, learning Spanish,
traveling, Kevin, baking/cooking. These kinds of cravings are under my control,
instead of the other way around. That’s what makes them healthy. I’m still able
to prioritize them, even leave one behind, if need be. That isn’t the case with
food.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">3. If it's true that we are made to crave, how might it change the way you understand your cravings? Do you believe there could be any benefits to listening to your cravings rather than trying to silence them? If so, what might those benefits be? If not, why not?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>My Answer:</b> I guess my
first thought would be that both God and Satan have influence over me, which
means some of my cravings wouldn’t be good or beneficial to me. I’ve never
really thought about “listening to my cravings” before; it is a really
interesting idea. It is true that I try to silence them, or ignore them, as I
think about it, with food. Listening to them instead would be like giving
myself a chance to figure out if it is a good or bad craving. From there, I can
assess why I might be having that craving. I am a very introspective person, so
I can usually figure out what I’m feeling and why, and yet I “medicate” with
food anyway. In some ways, this seems really hard because listening to my
craving, figuring out why it’s happening, also means I could do something about
it – other than eat. I am not good about making sure my needs are met. I never
want to be selfish or self-centered. So I try to ignore my needs most of the
time, which never does anyone any good in the long run. Listening to my current
craving, naming it, figuring out where it’s coming from, and then doing
something about it (again, other than eat) could be so helpful to me. I have
read so many things about good responses: drink a glass of water, go on a walk,
call a friend, listen to music – basically, distract yourself from the
unbelievable longing for food long enough for it to subside. I don’t usually
try these things. I either just eat, or ignore the craving altogether- which
only lasts so long. It isn’t actually dealing with it. Telling myself that I am
worth taking care of, that the need I’m currently having is worth meeting, that
taking time to listen to my craving and do something positive about it sounds like
a really good idea to me. But talking about it now is so much easier than doing
it in the moment. Not only do I want to eat in really emotional moments, but
eating is also habitual for me. I don’t even have to think about it, my body
just does it. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">4. The Bible describes three ways Satan tries to lure us away from loving God: cravings, lust of the eyes, and boasting (1 John 2:15-16). Lysa explains how Satan used these tactics with both Eve and Jesus. Using the list below, think back over the last twenty-four hours or the last few days to see if you recognize how you may have been tempted in similar ways.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Cravings: meeting physical desires outside the will of God.</i> In what ways were you tempted by desires for things such as food, alcohol, drugs, or sex?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<!--StartFragment--><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>My answer:</b> Food. Definitely food. Over the last few days I have eaten
every comfort food within my reach – to the point of feeling sickly full. My
stomach will feel taut to the touch. I hate that feeling. But I’ve been
stressed, dealing with a lot of stuff, so I tell myself it’s okay. And
sometimes, I think it is okay to comfort myself with food. Maybe that’s wrong.
Maybe I shouldn’t let myself do that until I’m at a point when I have much
better control of my food issues. I don’t know. But I do know that I was
tempted a lot and that I gave in each time. I would find something full of
sugar, fat, or salt to keep the emotions at bay. This has gone way beyond
eating to fuel my body. And once I’ve “ruined” my day, I just figure I might as
well “start tomorrow” and eat what I want for the rest of the day. Lovely
cycle. </span></span><!--EndFragment--></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Lust of the eyes: meeting material desires outside the will of God.</i> In what ways were you tempted by desires for material things - clothing, financial portfolio, appliance, vacation plans, cosmetics, home decor, electronics, etc.?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>My Answer: </b>I really
want to get some cosmetic stuff. And I know it is perfectly find for me to get
a curling iron, blow dryer, flat iron, and makeup. Kevin and I budget for these
kinds of things – both as needs and wants. But, I have been focusing on them
(okay, obsessing) over these things the last few days to try to keep my stress
even further at bay when food doesn’t seem to get the job done thoroughly
enough. Even when I had alone time with Kevin (which is a positive thing I
crave), I found myself on my phone or computer looking up prices of these
things. Good indicator that I’m trying to avoid/ignore/silence a craving.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Boasting: meeting needs for significance outside the will of God.</i> In what ways were you tempted by your desires to prop up your significance - perhaps by name dropping, exaggerating, feigning humility, or other virtues, doing something just because you knew it would be observed by others, etc.?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>My Answer:</b> I am total people-pleaser and love getting
those stamps of approval. This often is coupled with feelings of intense
obligation to others, which can foster resentment and anger. This has grown my
codependency in major ways over the years. I can say that I have made great
strides in this area over the last few years, but it still very tangible in my
everyday life.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Of the three kinds of temptations, which is the most difficult for you to resist? Which is the easiest to resist? Why?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>My Answer:</b> Food is the
most difficult for me to resist. I think that is because it meets an immediate
need without hurting anyone else (at least that is what I tell myself in the
moment). Everyone has to eat, so in my mind it won’t send up any red flags for
anyone else. Though, I do tend to start hiding and sneaking food when I know I
am giving in to a craving and don’t want to be talked out of it or judged by
anyone – even if that is all in my head. Material things is easiest for me to
resist because I have what I need; when I want something else, Kevin and I save
up for it and I can have it. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">5. Jesus quotes the truth of Scripture to defeat temptation. Have you ever used Scripture in this way? What was the result? How do you feel about the idea of using this approach to address your unhealthy eating patterns?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>My Answer:</b> The only
experience I have with using Scripture in this way is when I have nightmares.
My mom taught me, when I was very little, to repeat the following whenever I
woke up from a bad dream and was very scared, “The blood of Jesus Christ washes
over me, and Satan has no power here.” It wasn’t a direct quotation of
Scripture, but it was calling on the power of Christ and the truths of the
Bible. To this day, it never fails to protect me through the rest of the night.
In some ways, I love the idea of quoting Scripture to combat unhealthy cravings
and eating patterns, but in another way, I’m afraid it will work and that I
will have to miss out on food. Isn’t that crazy? I love food so much. I love
making food. Cooking and baking are some of my favorite pastimes. I’m good at
it! Kevin loves it. It can be very therapeutic. And I have to eat – I have to
cook for my household. That makes it so hard! This is one of my strongest
arguments. Nonetheless, if I am serious about making permanent changes, I have
to be willing to do anything, right? Especially when my gut tells me it is a
good thing that will actually help me. Making my food issues, my health, about
God instead of about me sounds so refreshing.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>So tell me: </b>How would you answer these questions? What thoughts are spurred by this? Do any of my answers resonate with you? Do you have any questions for me?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">**All questions were quoted directly from the book: <i><b>Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire With God, Not Food</b></i> by Lysa Terkeurst; the answers are my own.**</span></div>
Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14719182627126478197noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262506139416131408.post-14984373646864964802012-10-09T15:44:00.000-07:002012-10-09T15:44:15.959-07:00100th Post: 100 Things<br />
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<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I like chocolate</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hate dieting</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hate exercising</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I do both anyway</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love almost every kind of music</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Colors make me happy</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hate doing the dishes</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love when they're done</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My favorite book is <i>A Ring of Endless Light</i> by Madeline L'Engle</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My favorite song is <i>Clair de Lune</i> by Claude Debussy</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I walked down the isle to that song at my wedding</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mango margaritas from Red Robin make me very, very happy</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dark chocolate also makes me very happy</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I got to watch one of my nieces being born when I was 12</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our friends just had a baby boy, who I hold when I need baby therapy, which he delivers quite perfectly </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm a Jesus girl</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That isn't an actual thing, it is just my way of saying I'm a 'believer', Christian, without being stuck with a stereotype or label</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Number 17 just negated number 16</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love taking pictures</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My favorite stuffed animal growing up was named Blanky Bear</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I sucked two fingers on my left (I think) hand until I was seven</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To end that habit, I had to sleep with socks on my hands</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My favorite thing to do right now is sit on my couch with Kevin watching <i>House</i> and eating ice cream</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I majored in Theatre and Spanish in college</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I got my Masters in Teaching after that</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have a LOT of student debt</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I absolutely love my job as a barista</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My husband finds out on Friday whether or not he passed the Bar Exam</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Pins</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>and</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Needles</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Candles and music make everything better</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I got that from my mom</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As well as her penchant for decorating and laughing at her own jokes</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've yet to taste a type of alcohol I don't enjoy</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am not an alcoholic</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love snuggling with my puppy, MacDuff</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He is a pain in the patootie most of the time</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Patooty?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I straightened my hair last week and LOVE it</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I might get a <b>Brazilian Blowout</b> to have it straight for a few months</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That is not a "downstairs" kinda thing</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But even when I found that out, it is the only thing I can think of whenever I hear the words "Brazilian Blowout"</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then I laugh to myself, the middle-schooler-at-heart that I am</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I haven't been writing on here much this month</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Things have been kinda stressful</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But <b>God is good</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And so is my husband</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And chocolate</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And onion rings</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not being able to fit an onion ring into the ranch dipping bowl is a <b>"First World"</b> problem</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It sucks, nonetheless</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I moved MacDuff's big kennel into the office in order to use the heating elements without scorching the little dude</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love having more open space in here!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I look at my wedding ring often</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kevin and I always kiss in sets of three</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of my favorite customer's name is John</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He gets a 24 ounce iced mocha with 2% milk</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My mom got me the <i>Jesus Calling</i> journal/devotional that I've been wanting, even though she had no idea I wanted it</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes I miss the Bible like an ache inside me</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That happens when I haven't been in the Word for a while</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is still really hard to get back into it</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>I really want to lose this weight</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My resolve is fleeting</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As are my attempts at healthy eating and exercise</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm discouraged</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And yet hopeful</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm reading a book called <i>Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire With God, Not Food</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is incredibly poignant and far too accurate about my experience</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm excited to tell you all more about it as I continue to read and process</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm singing on worship team again this week</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No matter the situation, I love worshiping God and using that gift to point others to Him</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(I'm beginning to wonder if I should be using periods at the ends of each bullet point)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cuddling with my husband, talking about whatever odd thing that crosses our minds, feeling completely safe, and needed, and loved, and treasured, might be when I feel God's love the most</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It has now been four years since I have been in a musical</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I miss musical theatre with a passion</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I got some fantastic clothes at Kohls a couple weekends ago</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shopping for myself is a love/hate relationship</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Accessories are always easier to shop for</b>; Marshall's did not fail me</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sunglasses, a case, rainy-weather coat, purse, and Lentil Chips (who knew?)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shoes are not easy to shop for: very. wide. feet.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had to get new jeans because I wore holes in my old ones</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the thighs</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hate that</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It feels like a <b>"fat girl"</b> thing</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I discovered quinoa pasta (also made with corn starch) - perfect for a (mostly) grain-free husband</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kevin and I are making no-bake cookies for his work all-month-birthday party tomorrow</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That makes me feel grown up</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I cleaned out the fridge today</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ew.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We watched <i>Man on a Ledge</i> last night with a free Redbox rental that got texted to me</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Free stuff is AWESOME</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I got the new iPhone 5 and could not be more excited</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Actually, it hasn't been shipped yet, so I don't have it yet</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I check my email about every hour to see if it has shipped yet</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But they told me it would take at least 3-4 weeks</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's only been two</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love paying my bills when I know I have enough money to do so and that they are on time</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I always feel accomplished and responsible</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>I love writing this blog, even when I do not have lots of time to do so. So don't go away. Keep reading. Keep commenting. Contact me anytime! I would love to get a little more dialogue going on here - when I can manage.</b></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>So tell me</b>: What number resonated with you the most? Why? If you made a similar list right now, what would it be like? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And because I can't figure out how to embed photos into the formatted list above, here are the ones I wanted to show you:</span></div>
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Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14719182627126478197noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262506139416131408.post-66160203672782683992012-09-28T17:26:00.003-07:002012-09-28T17:26:30.022-07:00My Heart of Hearts<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are <b>many thoughts</b> going through my head as I stand in the kitchen, making my Medifast pancake, and stirring my in-the-making chicken tortilla soup:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"I wonder if we can afford that bottomless portafilter now. I really want to get good at latte art."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"This leftover spinach will work in the soup, right? Especially if I blend it all up. And then I'll get to use my immersion blender!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"There's Nutella in the pantry. One scoop wouldn't hurt."</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Kevin should be getting done with work in about an hour. I'm so ready for the weekend and extended time together."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"How many ounces of water have I had today? A lot, I'm sure. I've peed way too many times."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"I didn't make my tip quota today. :( Well, at least I was only $1 off."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Where am I going to put the dryer load when the washer load is done? The bed..."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Shaving MacDuff didn't work as seamlessly as I hoped. And plucking his ear hair did NOT work at all. The vet should just do it for me. I don't like it."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"I really want chocolate. I have some Reese's minis in the bread box. The dark chocolate ones."</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"No gym today. Not the end of the world. I can go tomorrow night, I suppose."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"I love my Spotify Broadway playlist!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"I haven't blogged in a REALLY long time."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Being on worship team on Sunday is going to be fun, I think."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"I still can't believe it was Kevin's idea to buy me new clothes this weekend. Apparently a wardrobe full of used clothes bearing stains and holes isn't in style. Gosh, I love that guy."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"My Cheat Day Stash is in the cupboard. Right over there. No one would know if I had just a little. I could tell Kevin later... You know, I am stressed. There's always something I'm stressed about..."</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.....</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Over and over my thoughts turn to food, specifically sweets. And of course, that would lead to salty goods. I have cravings. All the time. All. The. Time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You've heard me talk about food addiction, weight loss, exercise, excuses, cravings; none of this is new. It gets old for me, too. This constant battle raging in my heart, mind, and stomach. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm reading this book right now that really has me thinking about my whole mindset about being/getting healthy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here is the thought that has been rattling around in my head for the last few days: <b><i>What if I saw my choices to stay on plan as obedience to God instead of a means to weight loss?</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It seems so simple. Yet I have always tried to find excuses for why God doesn't <i>really</i> care about how I eat or if I exercise. How could that affect my relationship with Him? What does it matter? That has nothing to do with my serving others or being a good Jesus follower. And why hasn't He taken away my struggle, anyway? Maybe He didn't cause it, but he sure hasn't gotten rid of it either!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then another thought from that book comes to my mind: <b><i>What if God wants to use that struggle to bring me closer to Him? What if He knew that I would struggle to turn to Him instead of food and therefore hasn't taken that away? </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Basically, how could I make this battle, this journey, about God instead of about me?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That's a scary thought. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If my eating and exercising are simply up to my latest "plan", then it doesn't matter if I falter for a night or altogether quit. If God cares about what I do, and if I disobey, that really raises the stakes. And it's not about some strict rule I have to follow; God knows what I truly, truly need. He knows what is in my heart, right down to the very deepest core. He knows how badly I want to have victory over this enemy, over <i>the</i> Enemy. He knows how much my spirit has been crushed and my heart hurt because of the limits of my strength and the weakness of my self-control.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What if I really did conquer this? Is that even possible? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Yes", the response from all kindhearted people is "yes". "Of course, Nicole! You can do it! I know you will beat this! Keep at it, girl!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But it goes so much deeper than that. I know that some of you really know what I'm talking about- you are reading this and nodding along, wondering the same things.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In my heart of hearts, I believe it is possible. And in my heart of hearts, I don't even want to try. And in my heart of hearts, I want to look down at my enemy underfoot and praise the Almighty for what He has done in and through me, having victory over that which works so hard to overcome me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>So tell me</b>: What is in your heart of hearts? What battle rattles you to your core? Do you believe it is possible to overcome?</span>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14719182627126478197noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262506139416131408.post-21353387407165989612012-09-11T07:52:00.000-07:002012-09-11T07:52:19.048-07:00I Won!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhtWd0PNGCeNhnezJRBavBsJ_AzlDEUD90dhgBjsb91-Ehmy_YBsklgU0G5tm2uoU7h4S2uBPTEL76110hQHg-nB6Vj2QdyPxcuFK39Na6WqEB-pFovwPCGY4tL0UTL0W_jY3i0b_5Y6QL/s1600/DSCN6546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhtWd0PNGCeNhnezJRBavBsJ_AzlDEUD90dhgBjsb91-Ehmy_YBsklgU0G5tm2uoU7h4S2uBPTEL76110hQHg-nB6Vj2QdyPxcuFK39Na6WqEB-pFovwPCGY4tL0UTL0W_jY3i0b_5Y6QL/s400/DSCN6546.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I can't remember the last time I won anything. I'm so excited!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Remember that <a href="http://agingersgenesis.blogspot.com/2012/08/pinot-pepper-portobello-panini.html" target="_blank">recipe contest</a>? Well, I really did win! My <a href="http://agingersgenesis.blogspot.com/2012/08/pinot-pepper-portobello-panini.html" target="_blank">Pinot-Pepper Portobello Panini</a> did the trick!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm on <a href="http://www.oregontruffleoil.com/summerrecipecontest" target="_blank">their website</a> and everything!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This means I get to treat my husband to a REALLY NICE date night out and experiment with one each of the delicious Czar sauces.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thank you, <a href="http://www.oregontruffleoil.com/summerrecipecontest" target="_blank">Czar's Fine Foods </a>for making and tasting my sandwich!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh man, this lady is pretty pumped. :-)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was even thinking that this would have been way better on <a href="http://agingersgenesis.blogspot.com/2012/08/tbm-sandwich-pizza.html" target="_blank">my homemade flatbread</a>; I'll just have to give that a try.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The sun is rising, the power is back on (lovely surprise at 5:55 AM), and I don't have to work until 1 PM. Oh yeah, and I won a recipe contest. :)</span></div>
Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14719182627126478197noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262506139416131408.post-1461254875513748542012-09-07T06:25:00.000-07:002012-09-07T06:25:01.040-07:00Nine Months of Marriage on a Waistline. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8hHrdCwe3rDmUOIklECkYMOms0YvzhBS17OghZ_JR-nxkIZU2DbEleX4al7vkzJ1s6Zo4DZvEphYD3PfWIwA44A2OybFBnzQe33yGGvZeZovJGgAQbetxyghZeZkUIOeJ9ofIiEZlxU7/s1600/DSCN6501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8hHrdCwe3rDmUOIklECkYMOms0YvzhBS17OghZ_JR-nxkIZU2DbEleX4al7vkzJ1s6Zo4DZvEphYD3PfWIwA44A2OybFBnzQe33yGGvZeZovJGgAQbetxyghZeZkUIOeJ9ofIiEZlxU7/s400/DSCN6501.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kevin and I have been married for nine months.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That means it has been one year and seven months since we met.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That also means I have not lost (and kept off) one pound for over a year and seven months.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Losing weight as a single person was a totally different Beast than what I face today. That ugly thing realizes just how hard it is to be a wife, putting my husband first, and still take care of myself - and it wants blood. This is not one of those cute monsters under the bed with one eye and a penchant for dry humor; this is a blood-thirsty animal that will stop at nothing to discover whether or not I could be as wide as I am long.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some days are better than others, but to be truthful, I haven't had that zeal and focus for losing weight since before I met the hubs. Don't get me wrong, being married is the greatest gift from God I could have received; Kevin is my biggest supporter and constant encourager. It's me, not him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Telling myself it is "okay" to spend more time at the gym and less time at home (usually after several hours of working at the coffee shop) is so hard to do. Taking any time for my own health that might take away from "us" time seems like the end of the world sometimes. And beyond all of that, it has just been really hard to keep myself motivated.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Why am I doing this? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had <a href="http://agingersgenesis.blogspot.com/2012/02/40-reasons-to-push-through.html" target="_blank">a list</a>, and it really is true. All of it. But it barely stands up to The Beast (or <a href="http://agingersgenesis.blogspot.com/2012/02/stash.html" target="_blank">The Stash</a>) on a good day; it cowers in fear on the bad ones. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The thing is, I know why. It really comes down to one simple truth: I feel better when I take care of my body.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And taking care of my body requires regular exercise and healthy eating.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It really is that simple.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am a better me when I am actively pursuing my best health.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lots of things get in the way. That's life. And sometimes, I really, truly okay with that. A down weekend every now and then is actually NOT the end of the world. A dark chocolate Reese's Peanut Butter Cup mini now and then is actually quite necessary - to my mental health. AND I love food! I love to cook, to bake, and to eat! That's not going to change.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And folks, I do know how to do this. I've done it! I know the facts, the info, the details, the theories... I just have to do it. Little by little. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And it is oh, so hard. It doesn't get easier to tackle The Beast. I'm back up to 200 pounds. Now you know. I'm not even close to perfect. I'm going backwards on the scale. It is discouraging in so many ways. And yet I choose to force a good attitude and keep trying. (At least that is how I feel right now, we'll see in about 20 minutes...)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've been going to the gym more often and eating salads for lunch. I've also been drinking 64 ounces of water a day, at least. It's a start. Well, it's more like a continuance. It just keeps going.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's been a long time since I have really talked to you all, rather than show you pictures and tell you about yummy things I've made. That's all wonderful, and I love to do it, but sitting down to write about how I am is much harder. It takes more time, thought, and energy - things I don't have to spare very often. I'm working about 30 hours a week, which is a total God-send, and that doesn't leave much time for blogging after housekeeping/running, especially when I am also making time for my health.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So bear with me, okay? I think about you all the time. Keep reading. Keep responding. And keep going on whatever goal you are aiming for. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We'll never be perfect, but we can at least keep going. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>So tell me</b>: How are you coming on your goals? How do you keep motivated?</span>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14719182627126478197noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262506139416131408.post-20404045106916440072012-09-05T13:00:00.000-07:002012-09-05T14:31:38.208-07:00New Addition to the Family.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Cafe Nicole</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> is now open.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTHne-fcF9xBDncgXLoPAJ139a6waRm2wfHZ47x3jqMaDTm_kR45iEdXtMdvuIV41F40Rva_gz4FRMrWALhp74v2AP9H2CbRTRS2cBBMC70LKl_GkyrWYqe54iBtRYUGh9VIqoMD0-PyiP/s1600/DSCN6683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTHne-fcF9xBDncgXLoPAJ139a6waRm2wfHZ47x3jqMaDTm_kR45iEdXtMdvuIV41F40Rva_gz4FRMrWALhp74v2AP9H2CbRTRS2cBBMC70LKl_GkyrWYqe54iBtRYUGh9VIqoMD0-PyiP/s400/DSCN6683.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have a new family member.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Nope, not the scale, and definitely NOT a baby.)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhsavRWe1KN6NzfUBnrsElvIrswXi0hqn1_mv5Uq5yZtaJOm9UDHfsStSYE8zkQB9-7evVs644t0wLpEqHtJvdnBJQ1tUnF0BUQjiQcZV-hdRxW68IYQhHB_LTSwi1_tV1XIdLnpGmW1Q/s1600/DSCN6686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhsavRWe1KN6NzfUBnrsElvIrswXi0hqn1_mv5Uq5yZtaJOm9UDHfsStSYE8zkQB9-7evVs644t0wLpEqHtJvdnBJQ1tUnF0BUQjiQcZV-hdRxW68IYQhHB_LTSwi1_tV1XIdLnpGmW1Q/s400/DSCN6686.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No name yet, other than: <b>Espresso Machine</b>. But that's boring.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0QyJeOoPgILpuiolehunxZikrXeAs3A7Yjs15MwfV1V1RYFtMmw30CHD2dEDqIwonwchcha2gkxmjFg6qqLwyys1j66Naj86QP3PFFMaAGN1Xv7Ll3bxD8zSdabNBB3ms1RWYZqg-Yne-/s1600/DSCN6688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0QyJeOoPgILpuiolehunxZikrXeAs3A7Yjs15MwfV1V1RYFtMmw30CHD2dEDqIwonwchcha2gkxmjFg6qqLwyys1j66Naj86QP3PFFMaAGN1Xv7Ll3bxD8zSdabNBB3ms1RWYZqg-Yne-/s400/DSCN6688.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've been told I can practice latte art with this baby.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I sure hope so; eBay, don't fail me now!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuh9XF8O1h6xT3-nnm6rbiON-aGnYNwK2Phjcf5X6304wc4oFdW_x0DFRuxUGKo7abcdEYvcuqRTokf0KswWvVHAGhT-I5oX1Euf80ibxwMapXsQ7RHsWz6qPVuWfKPNlph7gep4NsWITt/s1600/DSCN6692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuh9XF8O1h6xT3-nnm6rbiON-aGnYNwK2Phjcf5X6304wc4oFdW_x0DFRuxUGKo7abcdEYvcuqRTokf0KswWvVHAGhT-I5oX1Euf80ibxwMapXsQ7RHsWz6qPVuWfKPNlph7gep4NsWITt/s400/DSCN6692.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This isn't exactly the same as my shop (I've told you that I work at a coffee shop, right?), but I'm on my way to creating a delicious cup of espresso (or latte, mocha, etc.).</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMaiDAWTXCtzbV_8Zv4R9P7aQsguolm_xLmEur0bIWq8uGBsRW5_SUypYcV47j7reSku5QDTqPW1CONUrCJYooxaYyrKFgchXCBLaNChqZX-O8Hsw4ejMSmK9DnxRYbIDFWYV_9boisVn/s1600/DSCN6693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMaiDAWTXCtzbV_8Zv4R9P7aQsguolm_xLmEur0bIWq8uGBsRW5_SUypYcV47j7reSku5QDTqPW1CONUrCJYooxaYyrKFgchXCBLaNChqZX-O8Hsw4ejMSmK9DnxRYbIDFWYV_9boisVn/s400/DSCN6693.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">See?? It's a start!!!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEN9zRJIjfl5mOTodj3M6Dc1B6b7uQcZrpzk-Gl_fyEM3DjCeb34WHUMlkzndk2r7lU-M3FNek7WHd2R2depmw_yh1e7IE_HDft1_txhXjDTF-2gbLk3qfVKDVBHEuxyOFVTw86wGOIzd8/s1600/DSCN6696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEN9zRJIjfl5mOTodj3M6Dc1B6b7uQcZrpzk-Gl_fyEM3DjCeb34WHUMlkzndk2r7lU-M3FNek7WHd2R2depmw_yh1e7IE_HDft1_txhXjDTF-2gbLk3qfVKDVBHEuxyOFVTw86wGOIzd8/s400/DSCN6696.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not exactly latte art, but I'm pretty friggin' excited about this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'M GEEKING OUT ABOUT COFFEE AND MY HOME MACHINE RIGHT NOW!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Okay. That's enough for now...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>So tell me</b>: Have any tips? Tricks? Recipes?</span></div>
<br />Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14719182627126478197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262506139416131408.post-68539158970870666702012-09-04T10:28:00.000-07:002012-09-04T10:28:13.686-07:00I Dream of Pumpkin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmYr2OIhYqsCBvyGPU_U2VQk5GROZ6XZTiw8JyCXcDP-ALWKVgkfAkgGGngrsA1GPBLWenECzqfpAHVnqnhkJX_Mv-jXpcsct14wztXhT5nntX7ZU0DoZ61D-nmstNXVpxf7uExiJ80tt/s1600/DSCN6719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmYr2OIhYqsCBvyGPU_U2VQk5GROZ6XZTiw8JyCXcDP-ALWKVgkfAkgGGngrsA1GPBLWenECzqfpAHVnqnhkJX_Mv-jXpcsct14wztXhT5nntX7ZU0DoZ61D-nmstNXVpxf7uExiJ80tt/s400/DSCN6719.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had pumpkin on the brain. Two weeks in a row. So I made a few things...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Chocolate chip pumpkin bread</span></b>. <a href="http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/chocolate-chip-pumpkin-bread/a99c894d-f7d2-40ef-ae17-4054f7e982be" target="_blank">Here</a>.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRBfcVPRx1GwwuDplyKRyOV3ijAd7iXUX-K9ADOhCKV6E7viTM_1m7XXr_58OJmqec_1Vexe0eZarUgYNK9YtD7fT-bvETOvkiAu_PjlSygWeZMRh6F6LimKEEaGyWmvq4xUEMu7qwTjYj/s1600/DSCN6697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRBfcVPRx1GwwuDplyKRyOV3ijAd7iXUX-K9ADOhCKV6E7viTM_1m7XXr_58OJmqec_1Vexe0eZarUgYNK9YtD7fT-bvETOvkiAu_PjlSygWeZMRh6F6LimKEEaGyWmvq4xUEMu7qwTjYj/s400/DSCN6697.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlCM08MnHtoH72EpKHyyxgn_ndWWj1UsRKXjONvVjg7hVW1qT9MyxqHhGzszftLu2JOz39fYUatTID_2rPW3T8CMYVjn_KbOPnQCTS1XarmMu9gOE2VdO-4ThcREqXtl6Sv95YcKsoGdC/s1600/DSCN6698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlCM08MnHtoH72EpKHyyxgn_ndWWj1UsRKXjONvVjg7hVW1qT9MyxqHhGzszftLu2JOz39fYUatTID_2rPW3T8CMYVjn_KbOPnQCTS1XarmMu9gOE2VdO-4ThcREqXtl6Sv95YcKsoGdC/s400/DSCN6698.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I only had a LARGE can of pumpkin (which is actually why I made so many goodies, trying to use it up), so I weighed out what I needed for my bread.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8secVK-vtRbUyI-75K-nQO1L40RpV0PbUVcg2JLuGzrtUxIbHa9Juq1xIbanZMS1vxgdy9qnelNI1KcfLGeZnb2Z_Ubd61vM-oUtzwUP9rMOKkhcTlRzrcMCBIsJDOFwSmy0q_v3v5NBy/s1600/DSCN6700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8secVK-vtRbUyI-75K-nQO1L40RpV0PbUVcg2JLuGzrtUxIbHa9Juq1xIbanZMS1vxgdy9qnelNI1KcfLGeZnb2Z_Ubd61vM-oUtzwUP9rMOKkhcTlRzrcMCBIsJDOFwSmy0q_v3v5NBy/s400/DSCN6700.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It kinda, sorta, maybe fell when I took it out of the oven- so I eventually turned it out into a bowl and served it like a bread pudding... without the pudding.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Pumpkin muffins.</span></b> <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2006/10/promise-keeper-pumpkin-eater/" target="_blank">Here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqkBSv2l9wFsrJ1m48Dj4ACQuMLx4SNi3c1I7C4KeFztU5CIRxQ0PRToLA27VN08Vs4p4aup8UGNGciAfbJdgdKT1oHdrxveiOOhePHSdISNwbcHqb8qLiDrLD-IO6HysfUneavluXyCBV/s1600/DSCN6701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqkBSv2l9wFsrJ1m48Dj4ACQuMLx4SNi3c1I7C4KeFztU5CIRxQ0PRToLA27VN08Vs4p4aup8UGNGciAfbJdgdKT1oHdrxveiOOhePHSdISNwbcHqb8qLiDrLD-IO6HysfUneavluXyCBV/s400/DSCN6701.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I added diced almonds on top just for prettiness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These are delicious and so pretty. I think they could be in a display window. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9ogELNgGG3dl4eP8htflQfTXUYQiixRdMbswm7ppeNNwXFGfoTZTNL02Jr0ET5K-r1EVthyphenhypheniGm6Kegurhe_pFRXsfQR1Gj4O6nagR1kNRzfUfZx25zWV2KdiMrvZ058oaOWhwHcKYNXM/s1600/DSCN6705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9ogELNgGG3dl4eP8htflQfTXUYQiixRdMbswm7ppeNNwXFGfoTZTNL02Jr0ET5K-r1EVthyphenhypheniGm6Kegurhe_pFRXsfQR1Gj4O6nagR1kNRzfUfZx25zWV2KdiMrvZ058oaOWhwHcKYNXM/s400/DSCN6705.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Starbucks pumpkin scone.</span></b> <a href="http://www.recipegirl.com/2011/10/27/starbucks-pumpkin-scones/" target="_blank">Here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7VqtAklKot2zlD76-itUM_xrClfKSbVk8w3dBenxojIvJ6_w7lknnFyl2S0Sr0hgfxd53Z5w9Qvwd7raeDHButBbORxrfF3eaDuYaciIfKKNUPqekdodA5puWREzE5bddSwgHohaPwH94/s1600/DSCN6706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7VqtAklKot2zlD76-itUM_xrClfKSbVk8w3dBenxojIvJ6_w7lknnFyl2S0Sr0hgfxd53Z5w9Qvwd7raeDHButBbORxrfF3eaDuYaciIfKKNUPqekdodA5puWREzE5bddSwgHohaPwH94/s400/DSCN6706.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is one of my favorite Starbucks pastries, so I was so excited to recreate it!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can cut the scones into 16 small pieces for even more to share.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-UoQ7ZSthcOu1HNcXIvfYK1QqAs_PI9sZJzd3HkWsUqsk3lwNHgM60c_pqTiMhKXPnvizkuxfuInkgxNkp2XebflGXJOF9Xt-1Vv2SJ3FuKTgLGSkFKZfRud3hWkxyniSesbuSStSLDQ/s1600/DSCN6707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-UoQ7ZSthcOu1HNcXIvfYK1QqAs_PI9sZJzd3HkWsUqsk3lwNHgM60c_pqTiMhKXPnvizkuxfuInkgxNkp2XebflGXJOF9Xt-1Vv2SJ3FuKTgLGSkFKZfRud3hWkxyniSesbuSStSLDQ/s400/DSCN6707.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1Sg8yo1WhXqxf1CJd2jgZGX8Wgih_xdeJK9WIEdLJHn0NpWbfG1uf1ojQXk8yPEhAKYyC6d6EXfJR6oaqO0pYEUezuLwj6OIomJ1DDI7gIc0v5nlwjGDxtwNnhoWqN2vtoxla-4wNvuW/s1600/DSCN6708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1Sg8yo1WhXqxf1CJd2jgZGX8Wgih_xdeJK9WIEdLJHn0NpWbfG1uf1ojQXk8yPEhAKYyC6d6EXfJR6oaqO0pYEUezuLwj6OIomJ1DDI7gIc0v5nlwjGDxtwNnhoWqN2vtoxla-4wNvuW/s400/DSCN6708.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So gorgeous.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUqMqrFr7cywr_ASGOQZC5atL3-EcNwaxQpMxVD13mHppPGMBsBbE5TPA-kgmXR6MUrJ2f_1779mrgNVFd8e5pSeElsze88G_6NIKgThrvSILAWlAJs40zt5C8KL4DZFEHWvLW8xsZuim/s1600/DSCN6710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUqMqrFr7cywr_ASGOQZC5atL3-EcNwaxQpMxVD13mHppPGMBsBbE5TPA-kgmXR6MUrJ2f_1779mrgNVFd8e5pSeElsze88G_6NIKgThrvSILAWlAJs40zt5C8KL4DZFEHWvLW8xsZuim/s400/DSCN6710.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And let me tell you, they were incredibly good.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyrKGYCLX7eomOIyvA0mlstNVulAmRcyWaFQDPJ2Mi52R0SrIjfwW0WvBrwMSn0rgvj9Eds7wsPHsesPeWX6SvqamoRifU2aPkUeSwGJfTRT9O5FPAIq7713yNHBBmWOFPdfTiHKURTyrE/s1600/DSCN6712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyrKGYCLX7eomOIyvA0mlstNVulAmRcyWaFQDPJ2Mi52R0SrIjfwW0WvBrwMSn0rgvj9Eds7wsPHsesPeWX6SvqamoRifU2aPkUeSwGJfTRT9O5FPAIq7713yNHBBmWOFPdfTiHKURTyrE/s400/DSCN6712.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Baked pumpkin donut holes.</span></b> <a href="http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/baked-pumpkin-donut-holes/" target="_blank">Here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVF3Bi6PXOM-TC807teOcApQSb9IWVmHmqO7LMs-7yUaoqJrJGMxUSP70vqFctCBLI8jSEviGOea_KduaXxNIkZ5LYYDXxH95k5dfmEnUs-uQJ6bIZ0fA2sebRWGSTX15KmwTl6lUMdFlm/s1600/DSCN6713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVF3Bi6PXOM-TC807teOcApQSb9IWVmHmqO7LMs-7yUaoqJrJGMxUSP70vqFctCBLI8jSEviGOea_KduaXxNIkZ5LYYDXxH95k5dfmEnUs-uQJ6bIZ0fA2sebRWGSTX15KmwTl6lUMdFlm/s400/DSCN6713.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These are just mini muffins dipped in butter and then rolled in cinnamon sugar. So simple, and so much fun!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaEvrOk6oqqvNp5Jje7ozjO0B-8QYaBca6IcTK_5gWMy1fTJPFy6TdECwLBum3JocB1i5Ds7KhIUDHbMsh5JzL1b1ADpIuHp8SbAvDd0As355aAkUX4o38cRHMuAV9niii4seBPM1uiJsA/s1600/DSCN6714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaEvrOk6oqqvNp5Jje7ozjO0B-8QYaBca6IcTK_5gWMy1fTJPFy6TdECwLBum3JocB1i5Ds7KhIUDHbMsh5JzL1b1ADpIuHp8SbAvDd0As355aAkUX4o38cRHMuAV9niii4seBPM1uiJsA/s400/DSCN6714.JPG" width="300" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These were the husband's favorite out of all of the recipes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>So tell me</b>: What is your favorite pumpkin recipe?</span></div>
Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14719182627126478197noreply@blogger.com0