tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66858552841911598062024-02-07T22:47:59.423-07:00riss designsclarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03870827011388451645noreply@blogger.comBlogger144125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6685855284191159806.post-66682791141737000092012-06-10T19:07:00.001-06:002012-06-10T19:07:45.352-06:00family fun–sculptionary<p>for a family activity the other night we played Pictionary with play dough – where you have to sculpt your word. It was a great 30 minute game for my, my hubby, and A (who is almost 4). Something that was quick, brought us together, gave us some laughs, and was fragrant (thank you to our grape Kool-Aid play dough). </p> <p>This was supposed to be my wedding ring bling-</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4iCsqztcjhKWPNluzHLEXSSDFcW99uHnx1Taae3cMLfqEpYzmbzOOat9Z50nVW9nSgL8_LjuuSe-JvP1d8q9d8TGDZJerkIw-HiidUn-Rnjc2TxICFSEwhXe-NVYpYaHc7jIC5No5nw/s1600-h/IMG_7330%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7330" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="431" alt="IMG_7330" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-asfjoH7okRc/T9VE3AxyvCI/AAAAAAAABQQ/Hc9Ljlj2gm0/IMG_7330_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0"></a></p> <p>A decided to make worms for us to guess- </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2QnkaN2_zx4/T9VE3scMIfI/AAAAAAAABQY/dx-jgFYsaPo/s1600-h/IMG_7334%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7334" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="431" alt="IMG_7334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Trq6cnbFJzOpw31KVjIuLneoggK4TA7WpZAcRaqcfXezziHBRJIiQ7vCSpDu5iUsPMCTqQOWwRRcYjTiZYvRtgTC8eUNukmMOcIA8nRPJZCc7MOGP73h68N3ogb6FTbpj80feq6C7sg/?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0"></a></p> clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03870827011388451645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6685855284191159806.post-81467549492677327212012-06-07T08:41:00.001-06:002012-06-07T08:41:21.350-06:00repurposed maxi<p align="center">I had a swim suit cover-up that didn’t fit anymore so I unpicked the skirt from the top, gathered the skirt a bit and added 2” elastic. Viola! A maxi for my cutie!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-sXP2CCWtFRI/T9C9f523mcI/AAAAAAAABPE/UkgFAEv7zAs/s1600-h/IMG_7289%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7289" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_7289" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-5w7XA5xcNYk/T9C9gb3-BII/AAAAAAAABPM/Minms6CKKF8/IMG_7289_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-W12gAU49oJg/T9C9hCmomuI/AAAAAAAABPU/ueZsn7LLUQw/s1600-h/IMG_7280%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7280" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_7280" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-F3WRGDSI-6w/T9C9hsoSSjI/AAAAAAAABPY/QbzhKQKQ1Ps/IMG_7280_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tp1Lix4XrEE/T9C9iCqHE_I/AAAAAAAABPk/s2LEMPR0JGw/s1600-h/IMG_7285%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7285" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_7285" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gyJdzhcgxl4/T9C9iWp5GOI/AAAAAAAABPs/pCMrI8JY8yw/IMG_7285_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0JQ2imdGqnydBaN-aj52KsSYuITxX-1m_y45gCJAKSQAI-o_oZ52dQHYHIYnP-7FtueK7Vn7BPB-9OhyphenhyphenkvYiLH-YkoouG8sOT21c0b7BCCsmr7Kue-WQnoJ-jeWt9i4547R7wToQgSQA/s1600-h/IMG_7287%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7287" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_7287" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XJIsRpOu2tk/T9C9kLM1afI/AAAAAAAABP8/ciFFfNFNR-o/IMG_7287_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a></p> clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03870827011388451645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6685855284191159806.post-83455436565412108292012-05-25T12:48:00.001-06:002012-05-25T12:48:35.090-06:00graphic design–senior graduation<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPRwEqsjhyIh-dF1vnltYwP0dlgvJpDKHBrxsG9yQYYZjKSfFEO2qcNa8_LgBJBOAN9pCncPoHULf21mthvKfNnrQrRvypITlzxD7_4c8Bkk_u0qXIUNLSNclAHCK3S37Mie3fMROwOg/s1600-h/erik%252520grad%252520final2%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="erik grad final2" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="erik grad final2" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-x_qJCkO7-SQ/T7_UAo-GEDI/AAAAAAAABO4/r1ZapgoHAqI/erik%252520grad%252520final2_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="347" border="0"></a></p> <p align="center">I am so proud of you Erik! What a great high school career you’ve had. You run like a gazelle. You have boat loads of friends. And you now have the world at your fingertips. You are such a great example to me and I am so glad we are friends. You have been with me through the thick and thin of my life. I love you and think you are the best baby bro this girl could have! Thank you for being such a great uncle to my girls too. They love you with all their being. Keep it up- </p> clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03870827011388451645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6685855284191159806.post-49244925139767449802012-05-24T18:46:00.001-06:002012-05-24T18:46:37.765-06:00the hardest job in the world<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/NScs_qX2Okk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03870827011388451645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6685855284191159806.post-51296125151757670562012-05-23T14:01:00.001-06:002012-05-23T14:01:27.185-06:00floral design–Roy cotillion<p align="center">I did these flowers last week for one of the young men in our ward. it was his first date – and he’s graduating next week – so they had to be good! Like the one I made for my brother, I did a removable structure so the girl can wear the bracelet after the date night.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-sjOkREIWEco/T71B80fgPuI/AAAAAAAABMs/YoM6nvv0r4Y/s1600-h/IMG_6448%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6448" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="431" alt="IMG_6448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ywda21AdLTnQ60XCwXSJzfJxjB70kQ6CM7bfsLW1RSoa3aqpoNukJgK7AXigv8IObnB00Yd8o__qsFbL2uS6gCVmShn_mHh1wKPUILI9hAcATH4HG8nlvClAjJp5rqviJ69qjJiRICA/?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3DDpsOlpLFeivRkKcJNjVXc0yykAxXnyuVkhsaM4obMLPWpnLiCsi2x1p8L6lC8tyt_rEW9Lbwef6kiV3UK4DjR_2Vj_TIWzZMvQjql-5wH9R4d9ZW0M8ax3ES0VtiOTAELeyc6gMEk/s1600-h/IMG_6449%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6449" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="431" alt="IMG_6449" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Kbn8qhjJSVk/T71B-VjRkXI/AAAAAAAABNE/Q5AXRSrtwmg/IMG_6449_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GAHWLrTIIZ4/T71B-wi5yhI/AAAAAAAABNM/mGeaoqa4NKc/s1600-h/IMG_6452%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6452" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="431" alt="IMG_6452" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rtMr7ZnOFlA/T71B_VOtOGI/AAAAAAAABNU/7gJTZUKJryI/IMG_6452_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7Z2dUArr-N4/T71B_wuANNI/AAAAAAAABNc/bQiKJyi-mzY/s1600-h/IMG_6453%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6453" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_6453" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4vCVi9DG0Qp8Qt_6PsAphQhpsvF86dXMb-eK6xNlkoOdozX1MOd0vWYk8dF_PGvWm4cVihRKIDyckvSLRKiJegIi0EhrwAtJeXYvQXm9cqbhHijHuwdtKqOIMCzGuUJM5c37p711114/?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MBspsNZrl8OU1ubxED8b4M9u6vcMQe_Yq2qJOtog0oMlO8frQ64pph7PHAqBIE3_5U8lAQwHfVd5SaWv7BKXHw8UwHZSN_65a8xroJLehh3gwwzs9s_Jgl0CGZN9gIz_sFmUFK7dgQM/s1600-h/IMG_6454%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6454" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="431" alt="IMG_6454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxjw5vG7ydCnMAYxXT8yVx1Uve5xz3LTV-mZ2iWBo1XpH-pxWaZG6WPLajL3q8uTGR34IKyLYSglozheUqfeD7DUP_Q9EKAxmBWX66M0oeLoKfPl0i1tQrjpVik9YBlZ5AOH8EjUvU7Y/?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQxIzxuAdK3-I-VQ0GmBDPxfylPLapn079rihyUkwzW8OZUeBs8PQUr0LQAyn1jJuUd_LP06gCHwR2BYN-GniC1MhpVPKbaLWsd811vs_814kxWVIeykTbs0677fqjHhqE9h56OXDF38/s1600-h/IMG_6457%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6457" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="431" alt="IMG_6457" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2NsUkeebBAQ/T71CDU4jSfI/AAAAAAAABOE/gE7YyV0Njow/IMG_6457_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-yBoBmppF9fs/T71CD600YVI/AAAAAAAABOM/o4OIn5FoVpM/s1600-h/IMG_6459%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6459" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="431" alt="IMG_6459" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYtR9C594rpWibmF5ez0rIfXYEPczM8jkalQUgfCKoVdYb2UPneuAU_mmA99fu3D-bjw3CYBNOBXNtfllfL18djsC89aKjXI2FNOkLEqFOWOnQmr7bXQcVQUMPmjFzBULNPsAYC4Y7Rk/?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hEJr1vIeCf0/T71CFBLF4bI/AAAAAAAABOc/oYk5QgxmIvQ/s1600-h/IMG_6462%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6462" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_6462" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6pitXQR2U44/T71CFp27bTI/AAAAAAAABOk/wvY1k67fzsY/IMG_6462_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a></p> clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03870827011388451645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6685855284191159806.post-21384903449405919392012-05-07T15:20:00.001-06:002012-05-07T15:20:45.972-06:00table and chairs<p align="center">sanding, stain, two coats, and some polyurethane = amazing transformation!!!</p> <p align="center">I don’t have a beginning photo, but you can see here that they were oak with black paint-</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dQ4_DA76yhA/T6g8nBZRMaI/AAAAAAAABL0/Mdz9DqoLsuQ/s1600-h/IMG_3693%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3693" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="431" alt="IMG_3693" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gmFcSgfCNb8/T6g8oc-cT5I/AAAAAAAABL8/xRN0stVQOXo/IMG_3693_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0"></a></p> <p align="center">now check them out! I am so happy with them!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-iPF3T6pmBtI/T6g8o5uC5HI/AAAAAAAABME/OVICBakE_FI/s1600-h/IMG_6041%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6041" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_6041" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KNBu71Ett9w/T6g8qXfwwQI/AAAAAAAABMM/HpDxwySJT6w/IMG_6041_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji_qry_N1kXcKVH2DQdkMV52Li0Q0I4XWPOha7ABwxqJNAqNOnBsEWDRJSODCNYs9e1AGQBW_d_oIGk3qhGP8rWFI5ukfeZBl6apqyXA318QX18jHQ_JhrR2oamI82enLfnK672nmDJkw/s1600-h/IMG_6043%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6043" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_6043" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4UwMteWhKko/T6g8rOvYMqI/AAAAAAAABMc/pg12OVA5Jjs/IMG_6043_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a></p> <p align="center">Total cost= $2.50 (the cost of the paint on the mis-tint rack at Lowe’s)</p> <p align="center">We had all the rest of the supplies…</p> clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03870827011388451645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6685855284191159806.post-13909794735829852712012-04-21T21:08:00.001-06:002012-04-21T21:08:45.335-06:00floral design–a corsage to remember<p align="center">oh my heavens! I have to say that this was the funnest floral design that I have EVER done! The final product is exactly the sort of feel that I was going for. My brother commissioned me to make this for his senior prom date who happens to be his best friend. </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xqf2MscEq7Y/T5N2EbV1mzI/AAAAAAAABJU/osQvZcb0fcA/s1600-h/IMG_5701%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5701" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_5701" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-d67LAeQRa8Y/T5N2E9rue3I/AAAAAAAABJc/JlalRt22pqI/IMG_5701_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1KHX32vOJPef6xl4NQ2A68nBOuYSKftjBATg4Wqru3FlTa5z1WFsiNY11Ee0ZHO3merGGanvZw3w40NAAW1uSCU5Lyi0K4ssLqnO70Ua14UrIOfIwqhMGoTcarY06ZCyLXCLCoVgGLA/s1600-h/IMG_5704%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5704" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="431" alt="IMG_5704" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH6q5pV3PYICtI5mQeXXYi_-hiP04-lGyciMYHHVAAKgU5EmlAXrQLSVSaUK_bV7Sny18t8BrNNqaGJMExVdxYWVvC87hyyyJLrh5cjb-rgpqPN7EpIOw0zP7S5xNj9elCSDK-ys7NHAw/?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWSofMp3hHko3g5zylpOQZB8Ttz1LWX65wuJfiEU7Bg2nIyQ0XGKpxV66JHPI7eAFx9HeEOH4zj7a8tbnEIoaEpI-joFcw-rjU8bb2idEJqgVaTWXJcdFAjIGANXgHNvRiAjR1-YJX37g/s1600-h/IMG_5708%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5708" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="431" alt="IMG_5708" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-F_zmCv_gAeY/T5N2HfG8OsI/AAAAAAAABJ8/hrBuSGsM31Q/IMG_5708_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-m74vcle3nHA/T5N2H-m8R7I/AAAAAAAABKE/3zdrLU2pDRg/s1600-h/IMG_5713%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5713" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="431" alt="IMG_5713" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ap7FJJyVupA/T5N2IUXH7KI/AAAAAAAABKM/6hNfODEXx_c/IMG_5713_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xW2LhbCID0k/T5N2I9ly8LI/AAAAAAAABKU/Sx8JmWNVbj0/s1600-h/IMG_5714%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5714" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_5714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJeEyqbi4_3rht4isNKDTXe9nY3jvkQFReGsO7DOYjKGq1trhRLbkp9ZbAMFuu18ST2TneIxSoKkh_TjHaMZuibyn7JnDr0F4cU3CwvhOGGoZQ0ESicq1H0se5xyZMoqk8jLKCByoGtQ/?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Nx2xav9jIxg/T5N2Jrr1JsI/AAAAAAAABKk/xbkpgSJw53U/s1600-h/IMG_5715%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5715" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_5715" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fSJ7vZKC-ZA/T5N2J2p0l7I/AAAAAAAABKs/t3P1ASFMBB4/IMG_5715_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a></p> <p align="center">The corsage removes from the bracelet so that she can wear the bracelet in the future. Such a great idea to keep the memory of such a wonderful date alive. </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bq9DypVdqBI/T5N2KYmwYmI/AAAAAAAABK0/_QnaiRTo8_0/s1600-h/IMG_5717%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5717" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_5717" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JoDHQ2a7KFo/T5N2K0l-1pI/AAAAAAAABK8/5w3uoRqyBv0/IMG_5717_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NkhNO6ftVts/T5N2MCsQzhI/AAAAAAAABLE/AVBetgDFKVQ/s1600-h/IMG_5721%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5721" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_5721" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz26LbKj3E9Pwui9iwIzQxni106aMt8V9Lu5e3TaykmxoH7J8kuidHwO4HWYrt3aF-4s6DkpgROaj6M7s1CTYlM6MQzxzCZxPhBlsSchxEcQaTG-HX0axeKRLI-AW9M_ZsVPu79cRT2cY/?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-NMRb3BUAwcg/T5N2MzC_7vI/AAAAAAAABLU/rD4d74mFmxg/s1600-h/IMG_5722%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5722" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_5722" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-pwTvZqUrDgs/T5N2Nfivk8I/AAAAAAAABLc/sQ7ijLX3ai0/IMG_5722_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a></p> <p align="center">I had some extra flowers so I whipped up a little bout to share with someone special - <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37ggyVv6mBHz2vSrKhwmWEneoORsEWAmwZU3mkMN0p0cJS57aUJvW8-3fquvJod5amz9CuDxQN_9T7qi7xoGy3ymEW_XVikXWlo8bIfybikEeW6nFSruuDFFoHV9kuuB1ePUtqJQhaOs/s1600-h/IMG_5725%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5725" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="431" alt="IMG_5725" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jDYkpA3gDRA/T5N2PLW5YvI/AAAAAAAABLs/pCoUlynycgA/IMG_5725_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0"></a></p> <p align="center">I will post photos of my brother’s date when I get them – which I made my mom promise to take lots!</p> clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03870827011388451645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6685855284191159806.post-74360919687610038612012-04-21T21:00:00.001-06:002012-04-21T21:00:48.519-06:00house projects<p align="center">Last week we took on the project of revamping our kitchen table and chairs. We sanded down all of the surfaces and then stained the wood finish a dark brown. </p> <p align="center">For our Saturday project, that is how far we got. We found our table and chairs (bought from the one and only KSL classifieds) started out green and then were painted white, then black, and then another color of black. So lots of sanding. </p> <p align="center">I can’t wait to show you the final product when they are done. Hopefully this next week. We still have to paint them and then seal them up with some strong lacquer. </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9WDCKiSrV2nrySoTzoVGVmDKWOgHhMaLFEW8RIqkV_Ci2Gx_bkp8DFfFZdbD1raovZ9XlZdON-gGIKKScVhxFKwhgp3vJPXBl6D_DiGoFWja9O5nbDz9b4YHbM83NV6o8ru6Kqe_gnF4/s1600-h/IMG_5677%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5677" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="517" alt="IMG_5677" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRbF6KsKYnj6cs1suUvHsBW8gaH5ShWUMAL1UB-Nc8pw9S2z-qRwIzj8SsWf0CjcqfBHxu7Pg9EDQoabn3p-u2TRMR4tX54wzA1I5bx072pZXbrDXsN-GW89JfSkyLijIAeBpt9EUGhc/?imgmax=800" width="346" border="0"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bkV49Hnzp8U/T5N0SjRnCFI/AAAAAAAABIE/vcczUqPPv4c/s1600-h/IMG_5678%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5678" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="513" alt="IMG_5678" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57GtZuBoT7DrosicnRiFTk8ca46KK-DEJX6fwg1_N-sKGC3ishJHzjQfEjLmzPhfSeVNzAX3lwAyFNl1TqVANJSr9HIhVz1kWd5Ix0jU8ZjPYcIbFOLwJvzMauRgt6FGgOwLQlt2Wto4/?imgmax=800" width="768" border="0"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yZddY_AJUUY/T5N0TVMiKbI/AAAAAAAABIU/oq7aZ0cy9YQ/s1600-h/IMG_5680%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5680" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="517" alt="IMG_5680" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnz3RxIYHErfQeDtRbd8Ol9vUBPdrE4Yu2Gge4zFaL6ZbGLb7OIRh23LgRPz4OFTdtAwnaBBCtFj4ga4Q_NGIa9H7cbhQtEdN7zK56-hF4qR2_vl0HQZNO2ng9Qax_n58WPDHFu94iQJw/?imgmax=800" width="346" border="0"></a></p> <p align="center">This is after we stained the seats of the chairs. <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-i_ww4eVNOFc/T5N0Vu4cwKI/AAAAAAAABIk/hvKvZjpVN7I/s1600-h/IMG_5682%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5682" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="513" alt="IMG_5682" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-hXtVfabqxHg/T5N0WBwC5KI/AAAAAAAABIs/vo8PD5N1aVQ/IMG_5682_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="768" border="0"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZthYrA-hQ2B-NGa1OlETrdvBIuNR_10HnDeUQRaAkKT05q8Qyf201Kij0X59WR8osHHOHS5ONBUrp6u1oRgLmW51_k5hNOo6TWdwKzoQ5a-EaanL_YViJIFq-0EusP6tXpIqB2N59Vg/s1600-h/IMG_5684%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5684" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="517" alt="IMG_5684" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-RYgOyziNxpc/T5N0XEvcImI/AAAAAAAABI8/d66SO-k_9A8/IMG_5684_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="346" border="0"></a></p> <p align="center">This baby is another hand-me-down and future project of mine. I haven’t quite had some inspiration for it. I will have to hop on over to pinterest to find some. </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--uNmkYe0bRs/T5N0Xn6DY0I/AAAAAAAABJE/c8O1qmwKNZk/s1600-h/IMG_5689%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5689" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="517" alt="IMG_5689" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8VwiufAtWEM/T5N0XwRPr0I/AAAAAAAABJM/saP-1a3Y_6Q/IMG_5689_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="346" border="0"></a></p> clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03870827011388451645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6685855284191159806.post-30264096725160259782012-03-18T21:12:00.001-06:002012-03-18T21:12:39.841-06:00literature<p align="center">other books I have read in the past month-</p> <p align="center"><img height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2_ITpD-n1RJDt3tEWV5B0PLJ_E2G5YI4E9P1UYOZXwPuC-hT0g9l0XMV0qjFbiJalB9t9L0_dpZfdKkICTZrlmZdVX3Qkz-l08SZXpziPuezq4LYaHlNeZd1nqtQ9hgPoa8A-q5JE7U/s1600/Ranger-s-apprentice-the-rangers-apprentice-10757786-1280-800.jpg" width="500"></p> <p align="center">-the Ranger’s Apprentice books 2 and 3 – great juvenile books, would recommend them to anyone – good light read and am excited to read the next 7 books in the series!</p> <p align="center"><img height="413" src="http://guy.com/a/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/trea.jpg" width="300"></p> <p align="center">-Treasure Island – the hubby and I have read it together – we were really loving the humor in it, but thought the ending was SUCH a let down – boo</p> <p align="center"><img src="http://blog.lemuriabooks.com/wp-content/uploads/fancy-nancy-mermaid-ballet.jpeg"></p> <p align="center">this is the CUTEST children’s book! It brings mermaids and dancing together which are the two things A loves. I love looking at the illustrations and this teaches such a good concept of being happy for someone else when they get something you want. </p> clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03870827011388451645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6685855284191159806.post-85917271746890616932012-03-06T10:29:00.001-07:002012-03-06T10:29:21.970-07:00literature–the litigators<p><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" src="http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_full_width/hash/d9/de/litigators_john_grisham.JPG"></p> <p>I just finished this book. Normally John Grishams books are thrillers for me. Kind of those books you can’t put down because you want to know who the murderer is or if the lawyer will win the trial. I think I finished the Firm in like one day. This book, however, is on the light side. </p> <p>It was a fluff read for me that kept my attention, made me laugh, and was thoroughly enjoyable throughout the whole book. It was a great story line and the characters were well developed. I would recommend this book to anyone. </p> clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03870827011388451645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6685855284191159806.post-42500236698088150282012-02-10T06:31:00.000-07:002012-02-10T06:31:00.666-07:00blinging frog princes<p>while getting into trouble at TJmaxx a couple of weeks ago I ran into these cuties on clearance for $2.00 a piece!</p> <p>I have a frog bust and a crown – it was a reminder to me as a teenager to find the right man to marry. So when I saw these, I thought they would be really fun to get for my girls to have. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-d-IAnFh-Ogo/TzRXYF7sv-I/AAAAAAAABGk/hQmWwgh5jec/s1600-h/IMG_3878%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3878" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="431" alt="IMG_3878" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0AT6-auSsDQ/TzRXZkqA0dI/AAAAAAAABGs/1Kk3to89Y_0/IMG_3878_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0"></a></p> <p>I don’t remember where (probably on pinterest) I saw this new product out by Krylon called Glitter Blast in Citrus Dream- </p> <p> </p> <p><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" height="411" src="http://cdn1.stuff4painting.com/catalog/product/cache/5/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/4/7/472311.jpg" width="133"></p> <p>and look at them blinging it now! SO easy and SO awesome! I found the paint at Michael’s and used my 40% off coupon for it. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hexA0GbZndc/TzRXaQ-WgmI/AAAAAAAABG0/k3lnH-0GHVQ/s1600-h/IMG_3972%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3972" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="431" alt="IMG_3972" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-nBrYZtzM8L4/TzRXalkIaFI/AAAAAAAABG8/Uph0MyMNpqY/IMG_3972_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BnP9ouEXkNs/TzRXcPN-PbI/AAAAAAAABHE/5z1XuHCUxuA/s1600-h/IMG_3974%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3974" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_3974" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMzmFeFU4jh0XH3hZdgAeNpyxwvEcVYWnnEgEOZUsS2Vk5LUgGsqoyc1cSFHzwrEA7Zf3EjNCjHE_8TyZSj_YOmF6q8o0IASK6-Mci63qrLTszNhYq91wZuVq27U5UvX0CdgEMUJuHjQM/?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-oQBM-tdSzAI/TzRXdVPXRII/AAAAAAAABHU/dJfog0bW05c/s1600-h/IMG_3975%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3975" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_3975" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsLi3U_1_je33T-mDyvCJ6vrzAvjAlc6LMV_65vGJuJ_xfWfKeQpSEkNaQmTscQA7YPXEXx5gqP0MGP-BNoGsULo50cmRYF0-7zkPFVtZutS8meGAx5SJ8KJw6SyRj0Rr3RUEh4vi2l7Y/?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a></p> <p>They look so happy now! </p> <p>Just remember to seal them afterwards! And spray somewhere you don’t mind dusting everything with glitter!</p> clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03870827011388451645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6685855284191159806.post-63547312019750592822012-02-09T16:18:00.001-07:002012-02-09T16:18:38.175-07:00project–a terrarium with my girls<p>it was a gorg day last week and we put ourselves to work making something green and living for our home. We sat B in the doorway to keep her from the breeze and A and I went to work- (don’t mind the dirty door please – on the to paint list for the spring)</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Slsr8qO0s-w/TzRUHNmvGBI/AAAAAAAABFU/IjiE4SeNi_U/s1600-h/IMG_3947%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3947" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="471" alt="IMG_3947" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-w-QYDgSl3yY/TzRUHp99r1I/AAAAAAAABFc/NJL8PHxGWKs/IMG_3947_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="704" border="0"></a></p> <p>Items needed -</p> <p> </p> <ul> <li>unique jar (I like the apothecary jars with lids) </li> <ul> <li>any size will do </li> <li>I bought this at wal-mart for $10.00 – I wanted a big one with some mass and for the price, this was perfect</li></ul> <li>potting soil – lowe’s</li> <li>activated charcoal </li> <ul> <li>don’t ask for this at lowes because they will take you to the bbq section</li> <li>go to a pet store and purchase it in the fish department – it is the stuff that filters the water in a fish tank</li> <li>I only used about a cup – so one jar will do two huge ones or three or more small ones</li></ul> <li>pebbles </li> <ul> <li>I am biased about rocks - so get them at american stone :)</li> <li>but you could get them anywhere</li></ul> <li>plants</li> <ul> <li>odd amounts look the best</li> <li>I only needed three for this big jar</li> <li>I would like to do one with just one plant</li></ul> <li>accessories </li> <ul> <li>we found a cute mushroom in the garden department</li></ul> <li>cute hands to work and get dirty – this was an awesome activity to do with my girls… so easy and I loved getting dirty with them</li></ul> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0GUkLwvsuGA/TzRUKLGsjkI/AAAAAAAABFk/2C6nz09GdZw/s1600-h/IMG_3948%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3948" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="431" alt="IMG_3948" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mDKqCaU6I4A/TzRUMJz3QDI/AAAAAAAABFs/w0rWopblOEY/IMG_3948_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0"></a></p> <p>directions –simple</p> <ul> <li>put a layer of pebbles on the bottom of your jar</li> <li>put in potting soil and some charcoal on top of that</li> <li>mix the two together (not the pebbles)</li> <li>using your cute set of hands plant your plants</li> <li>place you accessory in</li> <li>water</li></ul> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0SgXK-a03vs/TzRUOBufehI/AAAAAAAABF0/5SNJKB7obtY/s1600-h/IMG_3963%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3963" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="431" alt="IMG_3963" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JCfzK9vWB9k/TzRUPIIBdaI/AAAAAAAABF8/zJHQIb1Pm0A/IMG_3963_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0"></a></p> <p>the great thing about terrariums is that they are way low maintenance. because of the lid, the moisture stays in the jar (like a rainforest) so watering – we have only watered it once in two weeks. we bought low light plants and I have only trimmed them once for maintenance. They are due for it soon.</p> <p>I kind of feel like it is kill proof. Don’t get me wrong, I could be eating my words someday. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7bh6M7Rc4Ug/TzRUPzxKqeI/AAAAAAAABGE/c6UeO_OD38c/s1600-h/IMG_3971%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3971" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="772" alt="IMG_3971" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ITrQe-SukC0/TzRUQz3ByxI/AAAAAAAABGM/LS4lYAiQkks/IMG_3971_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="516" border="0"></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9I-jI8FcMUEZqaR8BPzgUTM28LF0XT1SR0jRPysExv-PSufARVGC6vPqCMdTvxzjMOWw0luzqUwexWys7v_Q1P91Ct1yh396H5gTrZPktvVl5uVQsZSLFnbQA38HCm0MLy1BWFGRu9c/s1600-h/IMG_3983%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3983" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="431" alt="IMG_3983" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbufndNKJOm0r_lecKePuvjcUEnUrk_FGsx9RkJt1mauSNw4pDgOGkoxwlhlFDpixmxjC6_UVno_GWF7uIibGHRYDVHtdyFl7ZmELRppdG2UhKeyJ1Tr88aQT9_xuRZ01K2vYXFnRTGVU/?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0"></a></p> <p>the hubby wants a frog to go in it now – hmm….</p> clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03870827011388451645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6685855284191159806.post-24632150490848632192012-02-06T20:02:00.001-07:002012-02-06T20:02:26.565-07:00book review–micro<p>I just finished reading Micro written by Michael Crichton and Richard Preston. </p> <p><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" src="http://www.michaelcrichton.com/images/big-micro.jpg"></p> <p>Growing up, Michael was my favorite author. I have read everything he has ever written and have loved his older works. However, even with my love of Michael (we <strike>are</strike> were on a first name basis) I was a bit weary to read this book for two reasons: </p> <ol> <li>further into michael’s writings (like his past four or five books) have been so darn crass that I haven’t been able to finish them. I don’t really care for plots with affairs, sex, and the things that are involved with all that. I don’t like swearing.. and even though Michael’s books have always had some swear words, his later books are chock full. So I was worried that this book would be the same.</li> <li>it was co-authored be richard preston and I don’t know anything about him. I was worried that it would end up being a bomber at the end because it was a different author. </li></ol> <p>So those were my reasons, but thought I would still give it a try. I actually finished the book! I was pleased with the plot and the characters. of course there has to be a bad guy… that is what give michael’s books hype and intrigue. I learned a lot and sometimes too much about the insect world. I was impressed that the book wasn’t crass and the swearing was at a minimum. </p> <p>Overall, this book was a good read (I have read better)… and probably wouldn’t recommend it, but would talk about it if someone asked. </p> clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03870827011388451645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6685855284191159806.post-3367714736706078672012-01-28T05:01:00.000-07:002012-01-28T05:01:00.797-07:00house to home–wallpaper removal<p>I know that wallpaper is coming back into style; however some "designs” have gotten way outdated. </p> <p>Exhibit A, B, and C- my kitchen, living room, and dining area</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4i03obH3Gwk/TyM64p_D4hI/AAAAAAAABE0/IpMkaBtRhAQ/s1600-h/IMG_2040%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2040" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="431" alt="IMG_2040" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-U-j0ndV4nS8/TyM65MLF-QI/AAAAAAAABE8/USTZYRvv1G4/IMG_2040_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Xqf-zSjOZjE/TyM65ax9B3I/AAAAAAAABFE/xno9N10-tfk/s1600-h/IMG_2081%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2081" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="772" alt="IMG_2081" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7arQTMQvkaA/TyM65xRZVRI/AAAAAAAABFM/A3jc-Wvm4GE/IMG_2081_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="516" border="0"></a></p> <p>I am not a country girl. We decided that the kitchen was our most vital project. We planned on having a month to renovate before we moved in. Unfortunately, nothing ever goes as I plan. Fortunately, my in-laws have an RV that they let us live in for 6 weeks. We couldn’t really move into the house because we had no appliances. Hence, the options of heating an RV and a house or just heating an RV. The latter won out much to my dismay :)</p> <p>So the first thing I had to do to prep the kitchen for renovation was to strip the walls of its country-day glory. </p> <p>Tools Needed</p> <ul> <li>Handheld Steamer – my mom had a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bissell-Steam-Hard-Surface-Cleaner-39N7A/dp/B001EYHAGS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327707996&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Bissell (found here)</a> that she let me borrow – which reminds me that I need to return it. </li> <li>Putty Knife</li> <li>Clean rag</li> <li>Elbow Grease</li></ul> <p>Process</p> <ul> <li>Start at a seam or in a corner of your wall</li> <li>steam your wallpaper – the heat loosens the adhesive and the water aids in a clean removal</li> <li>Take putty knife and slide it between a corner of the wallpaper and the wall – be careful not to puncture the wall</li> <li>pull away with your fingers what you can using the putty knife to aid as you pull</li> <li>Use the putty knife to scrape any extra adhesive and if necessary, use some more steam shots</li> <li>clean area with a rag when you are done</li></ul> <p>Tips and Hints</p> <ul> <li>the removal was easier in an area that saw less sun</li> <li>I moved about ten feet in an hour</li> <li>It usually took me two rounds of steam on an area </li> <li>I would steam an area, pull the first layer of wallpaper off and then steam ahead a bit so that had time to soak and then would work on the left over residue on the first area</li> <li>using the putty knife was great!</li></ul> <p>As I unearthed the wall behind the wallpaper there was a grapevine stenciled behind it – oh the 90’s! – I laughed because my mom had the same stencil in her kitchen with some frilly lace curtains at one point</p> <p>PS- if you ever paint a room that has wallpaper, please just remove the wallpaper before you paint. Whoever lived in this house painted the living room three times after the wallpaper was up – and didn’t use tape. So there were three layers of paint over the wallpaper and it was awful to clean. After we removed the wallpaper we had to sand the wall, but there is still a pretty prominent line across my living room. Since we have plans to someday put a fireplace in that room, we just painted over it for now. </p> <p>Good luck and let me know if you have questions!</p> clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03870827011388451645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6685855284191159806.post-70454871121202010962012-01-27T08:23:00.000-07:002012-01-27T08:23:00.624-07:00book review–the guernsey literary and potato peel pie society<p>well if that isn’t a mouthful, I don’t know what is!</p> <p>I read this book as recommended by my mom and a good friend of mine. And I was not disappointed! It was a sweet, story with great emotion. I loved the layout of letters written instead of chapters. I found myself laughing out loud at parts and really pondering on other parts. </p> <p><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" height="456" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0m_lsrrO2e0/Tj7UrWw-7VI/AAAAAAAAASU/LF1XEcFLDkk/s1600/potato-pie1.jpg" width="305"></p> <p>Some of my favorite quotes from it are the following:</p> <ul> <li>men are more interesting in books than they are in real life</li> <li>reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad books</li> <li>I think you learn more if you’re laughing at the same time</li> <li>does it ever give the pause that men used to have a soul – not by hearsay alone, or as a figure of speech; but as a truth that they knew, and acted upon! Verily it was another world then… but yet it is a pity we have lost the tidings of our souls … we shall have to go in search of them again, or worse in all ways shall befall us. isn’t that something – to know your own soul by hearsay, instead of it's own tidings?</li> <li>and through some queer sort of intuition, I always know where she is, just as I know where my hands are – and if I didn’t, I should be sick with worry.</li> <ul> <li>I felt like this one was so true of being a parent. I always know where my girls are and those moments of silence in my house is just asking for me to get up off my chair in search for them. </li></ul></ul> clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03870827011388451645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6685855284191159806.post-23885435141638562612012-01-26T20:15:00.001-07:002012-01-26T20:16:11.185-07:00article - a homemaker<p>a friend of mine posted this on her blog. it came to my reader on a great night when I was feeling so “underpaid” for my work as a homemaker. </p> <h3>How Much Is A Homemaker Worth?</h3> <p><a href="http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/SIG=11gh6iamh/EXP=1328121350/**http%3A//www.investopedia.com/"><img title="" alt="Investopedia" src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/guIngWN.6_H_ARUwOp20AQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9Zml0O2g9Mjc-/http://media.zenfs.com/284/2011/06/08/investopedia-106x27_142340.gif"></a><cite>By Porcshe Moran | Investopedia – <abbr>Mon, Jan 16, 2012 1:23 PM EST</abbr></cite> <p>The life of a homemaker is one that includes an endless amount of demands and to-dos. Depending on the size of the home and family, the position of homemaker can go well beyond the usual nine to five. We examined some of the tasks that a homemaker might do to find out how much his or her services would net as individual professional careers. We only take into consideration tasks which have monetary values and use the lowest value for each calculation. <p><strong></strong> <p><strong>Private Chef<br></strong>Meal preparation is one of the major tasks of most homemakers. From breakfast to dinner, there is plenty of meal planning and cooking to be done.<strong> </strong>The American Personal Chef Association reports that its personal chefs make $200 to $500 a day. Grocery shopping is another chore that needs to be factored in. A homemaker must drive to the supermarket, purchase the food and deliver it to the home. Grocery delivery services charge a delivery fee of $5 to $10. <p>Total cost for services: $1,005 per five day work week x 52 weeks = $52,260 per year. <p><strong>House Cleaner<br></strong>A clean and tidy home is the foundation of an efficient household.<strong> </strong>Typical cleaning duties include vacuuming, dusting, sweeping, scrubbing sinks as well as loading the dishwasher and making beds. Professional maids or house cleaning service providers will charge by the hour, number of rooms or square footage of the home. For example, bi-weekly cleaning of a 900-square-foot, two-bedroom apartment with five rooms, costs $59-$124 . A 1,300 square-foot, single-story home with seven rooms runs $79-$150 . A 2,200 two-story, three-bedroom home with nine rooms averages $104-$180 . Additional tasks such as oven or refrigerator cleaning and dusting mini blinds can run an extra $20-$25. <p>Total cost for services: $118 per week X 52 Weeks = $6,136 per year.<strong></strong> <p><strong>Child Care<br></strong>Homemakers provide full-time, live-in child care. This type of service from a professional provider would usually come with a host of perks including health insurance, paid vacation and sick days, federal holidays off, dental and vision coverage, and bonuses. The International Nanny Association's 2011 survey found that nannies make $600 to $950 per week in gross wages, on average. <p>Total cost for services: $600 a week plus perks/benefits x 52 Weeks = $31,200 per year.<strong></strong> <p><strong>Driver<br></strong>A private car service might seem like a high-end luxury to most, but the beneficiaries of a homemaker get this service on a daily basis. Companies like Red Cap, which provides personal drivers that use the client's own car as the means of transportation, offer a glimpse into the cost of this homemaker task. An elite membership which includes 365 days of unlimited, round-trip service is $1,000 a year plus 33 cents - $2.03 per minute. <p>Total cost for services: $1,000 per year + [(estimated miles driven 8000 miles / 50 MPH) x 60 min/hr x $0.33 per minute] = $4,168 total per year. <p><strong>Laundry Service<br></strong>Clean clothes come at a cost when you have to pay for the service that most homemakers do for free. Professional laundry services charge by the pound. For instance,<strong> </strong>Susie's Suds Home Laundry Service, Inc. in Texas charges 90 cents to $1.00 a pound to wash, dry, fold, hang and steam your clothes.<strong> </strong>Items that take longer to dry such as comforters, blankets, rugs and winter clothes are assessed at a price of $12-$15 each. <p>Total cost for services: $0.90 per pound x 4 pounds of clothes per day x 5 days per weeks x 52 weeks = $936 total per year. <p><strong>Lawn Maintenance<br></strong>Basic maintenance of the exterior property is a less common, but possible duty of a homemaker.<strong> </strong>This could include things such as mowing, debris removal, edging and trimming the lawn. These services cost about $30 a week on average. <p>Total cost for services: $30 per week x 52 weeks = $1,560 total per year. <p><strong>The Bottom Line<br></strong>Total for a year of all services is: $52,260 + $6,137 + $31,200 + $4,168 + $936 + $1,560 = $96,261 per year. <p>The daily work of a homemaker can sometimes be taken for granted by his or her family members. However, these services could earn a homemaker a considerable wage if he or she took those skills to the marketplace.<strong></strong>Homemakers in general contribute a lot more to the home in addition to these tasks, and no amount of money can fill those needs. <p> <p>What do you as a homemaker that you wish you were paid for? </p> <p>How do you combat the feelings of under appreciation? or being “underpaid”?</p> <p>What can you do to delegate more this week?</p> clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03870827011388451645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6685855284191159806.post-91434680301435264392012-01-25T20:07:00.001-07:002012-01-25T20:07:56.042-07:00fashion–never too old<p> I came across this on a blog that I read. I thought that it was really great. While watching, it really helped me challenge my ideas of why I get dressed up, my paradigms on who can be fashionable, and my opinions on where I live when it comes to the fashion world. </p> <p>I would love to know your thoughts on this- </p> <p>click on the link below to watch</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=nWKTfqivbRQ" target="_blank">Advanced Style Film</a></p> clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03870827011388451645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6685855284191159806.post-127635388624921482012-01-24T11:55:00.001-07:002012-01-24T11:55:48.684-07:00house to home–buying a hud home<p align="center">I have so been out of commission on this blog for like the past half year. not only did I have a beautiful baby, but we also house hunted and bought a home in this time frame too. </p> <p align="center">this is our first home – we looked at over 400 homes, and went through around 75 in a 50 mile radius. we wanted to stay strictly under budget… so we could make ends meet, make payments, and still have room to be comfortable. It didn’t leave us with great move-in ready homes to look at. It was a long road and crazy to do with a newborn. We were out looking at homes when she was three weeks old. Anyway, we decided that if we were going to move into a home that I would want to decorate we would move into a home that we needed to do a lot of work on. And that’s what happened. We bought a hud home. A HUD home in layman’s terms is pretty much a government funded home and the owners defaulted and lost the home. Usually because it was government funded the owners don’t take care of the house… at all. We went through some homes that had vomit all over in the carpet, holes in walls, bathroom completely shattered or stripped. They were nasty. </p> <p align="center">Our house was just a happen chance home. It dropped into our price range on a Thursday. On Friday I was at my last straw on looking through the MLS system yet again. I vowed it would be my last time searching because we were so tired of the house hunt. I found this house, called my realtor who set up someone to come open the house for us, packed up the girls and drove the two hours just to look at this home. We walked in and we knew it would work. We knew it would work us too. Fortunately it wasn’t as nasty as some of the other homes we had looked at. Within two crazy months – hopefully I can post about what I learned about the home buying process – the house was ours. On a side note: our realtor hadn’t even seen the house. He just barely came this month (after us being here two months).</p> <p align="center">We moved in on November 16th… to an RV on the side of our home. We woke up the next morning and started working… and haven’t stopped yet. </p> <p align="center">So in this series, I plan to take you on our home journey. I hope to get up to date within a couple of weeks. But I want to talk about all the things we have had to do and all the project details. Maybe they can inspire you in the house you are in now, or for the future. I want to post about the ins and outs of purchasing and being a home owner… just from my perspective. I am sure I have had a completely different experience that everyone else who has purchased, so I will already say that, as a disclaimer, this is not the way it works with everyone else. </p> <p align="center">To start this out right, I want to show you some photos of what my house looked like when we came to see it the first time… thankfully I am saving you from the smell :)</p> <p align="center">the front living room</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wD7g_Tlb6Ps/Tx7-WShnvVI/AAAAAAAAA8M/mlFHT6h1cEs/s1600-h/IMG_2040%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2040" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="431" alt="IMG_2040" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9pUhXAfoWu4/Tx7-WvaLbSI/AAAAAAAAA8U/8ULmkqA227A/IMG_2040_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uV7SsN1T-H8/Tx7-W-_ygsI/AAAAAAAAA8c/UuO3rR0z6tU/s1600-h/IMG_2041%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2041" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_2041" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_D2eqqRJ69Y/Tx7-XM4GfLI/AAAAAAAAA8k/U6BVp69D4nA/IMG_2041_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a></p> <p align="center">the entry way</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8oT5n1n9NXI/Tx7-XowFUBI/AAAAAAAAA8s/7JzfLnWRjPQ/s1600-h/IMG_2043%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2043" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_2043" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-IGvN6RkOVXA/Tx7-X6uk5YI/AAAAAAAAA80/qSX4-H4Qz2U/IMG_2043_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-T7o-gDnkb3k/Tx7-YED9jII/AAAAAAAAA88/22PBS9E4Kpo/s1600-h/IMG_2047%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2047" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_2047" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VXY4-N044E0/Tx7-YXgiN2I/AAAAAAAAA9E/6QiBF8rG024/IMG_2047_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a></p> <p align="center">looking into the dining area from the front door</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0ecGZuRPKk8/Tx7-Y-bBpTI/AAAAAAAAA9M/NImzMBBlups/s1600-h/IMG_2051%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2051" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_2051" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ChPhlMIWf06PTcqzpIjOXILO0MhvRA_K90_9pwaQuzzEKlVsxXw1WKCMh9dkgMhrTGEdyoyeSRj7qJH9digon-N92BuN2yZ_VnGaMGti2HAaQ8_8MDcI2VvYR7TNAUD1jqia94l1VRs/?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a></p> <p align="center">the kitchen from the dining area</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HiCriIGSUfM/Tx7-ZuDU9VI/AAAAAAAAA9c/df_TNdL7CDE/s1600-h/IMG_2053%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2053" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_2053" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FCvTAfZ90O4/Tx7-Z2XYc1I/AAAAAAAAA9k/3yJJl9lvJkY/IMG_2053_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-kv-YKsz_LDA/Tx7-advJA9I/AAAAAAAAA9s/NPYeOjESqUE/s1600-h/IMG_2054%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2054" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_2054" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-h4SUlkVUlDg/Tx7-atL_ImI/AAAAAAAAA90/-K-rr5gdZ2Y/IMG_2054_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5qvZ2phQvvc/Tx7-bEvshJI/AAAAAAAAA98/yvJY8X4UPos/s1600-h/IMG_2056%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2056" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_2056" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpxhgfUJozchYIBhSLS7_E5bTjWzTfeV2su_F0O7WPZVDFC3gXxvjs7GRyGGkdPRn0W6kUdEo6Y7b4HbxPMuai3sp4yf6jb7WF8kk0Ixf8pqVNhfD7GoHD1wAqsRxx5P5pFdL0ZZFgXkk/?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3ecs62M4Jws/Tx7-bhCspgI/AAAAAAAAA-M/_IN6mMM3k8A/s1600-h/IMG_2057%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2057" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="431" alt="IMG_2057" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZLdQw_YG9OEk3P-b6o2m0Y2LLlW26DnNYW7mWp1uycaI24o9a191toq44fIOKvu-RJchmvbzqcVewFRWoygS4EAtwB6tkt2aBgh8RwGz5D95FYW3MYQdKrTDqVVekpX4PKVv4fCQLi0/?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw6QzxUVACp6ScwEPsXHpsrco2FPdKHSbvAM3wk0OXtGcMdeaDp_Tw3m79aoridATQJYLUQ7_ZU4pJaojSyb8sgn8EF3YbXpStGvXq6X0qG6U8kUqEF4Om4tz05fj-8BG734d4iEq-rnU/s1600-h/IMG_2058%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2058" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="431" alt="IMG_2058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6wewo083O2oufOlir3qYgqPJ_3qiR88nxKIDY6Py4dSK0YpvzSPZx8IECeSe0KqfeFu5TOawqluYRyayWGfCQDC46lQdpWaX2tXvCs4lj49CfPEAc82A_1ezmQkjnk6qdI42uJZiLUQ4/?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4q8vqlXFIZI/Tx7-dB7VMAI/AAAAAAAAA-s/VOLQ1Gd7k1E/s1600-h/IMG_2068%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2068" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="431" alt="IMG_2068" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCsBR5W1mx_FrLJB9SefqB0KtGYgKj0WxKOexSjtvYuHh8Lo6GccaKSQiX0dAZar5xiaqEweFCr1YIrGBTGZPvmZ0KppLSDK0W5s24hRXe6Trh6MWgsTp411Lgj-XP9g9Ww46KUcwvmo4/?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0"></a></p> <p align="center">the pantry</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZgWaSKMk7sI/Tx7-d7y8osI/AAAAAAAAA-8/4QkHSyp3q48/s1600-h/IMG_2076%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2076" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_2076" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8DwwJjdWT70y1TeYtiml3nUI6SHnJC1PM1RzaSglgNlMNyjE-RxTtbkwJClZiRO8fLueTbQTweUQDobIN78ST2ON1DulQSS3SdistxoYrpI8UFtvDrW0pEeuDbYEfUrNFC8cbq_-nt2Q/?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a></p> <p align="center">looking down into the family room</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-j5kTuvOIGB8/Tx7-evA3P5I/AAAAAAAAA_Q/zBQrpiRzv60/s1600-h/IMG_2080%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2080" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_2080" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-M5qbGcLF8Zg/Tx7-fHwsmbI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/ldfQUGO8rAs/IMG_2080_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a></p> <p align="center">the girls’ bathroom upstairs</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UKPo5PcOs8o/Tx7-fdtROjI/AAAAAAAAA_g/bB8kEbRfTE8/s1600-h/IMG_2090%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2090" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_2090" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-iXteX0WcRqc/Tx7-fmIlVRI/AAAAAAAAA_o/lv30E6TIZgI/IMG_2090_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a></p> <p align="center">the master bedroom</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Y5IDVR1UadQ/Tx7-fyJgEfI/AAAAAAAAA_w/o0FiUL2BiBE/s1600-h/IMG_2103%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2103" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_2103" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HIVVYgglkP0/Tx7-gIzsBYI/AAAAAAAAA_4/_O1Mz4PaGg0/IMG_2103_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a></p> <p align="center">the master bathroom</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bhYoDDFkLdU/Tx7-gi0mQsI/AAAAAAAABAE/UhJ8LaGmWgA/s1600-h/IMG_2110%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2110" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_2110" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0qL6j_XU9g0/Tx7-hGlA4TI/AAAAAAAABAM/C_NQNT7s_qg/IMG_2110_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a></p> <p align="center">the girls’ bedroom</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ckeTSpOI-mA/Tx7-hihNRWI/AAAAAAAABAU/URqFVyMDQbI/s1600-h/IMG_2117%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2117" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_2117" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-oTV8dzDItjA/Tx7-iC48XBI/AAAAAAAABAc/vr4vNx9lubQ/IMG_2117_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-dQCORYj-am4/Tx7-iaSpztI/AAAAAAAABAk/d9b2hxfaZeI/s1600-h/IMG_2123%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2123" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_2123" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-s_F9CCmD1BY/Tx7-i5ZKIEI/AAAAAAAABAs/AkQ0pIYNXC4/IMG_2123_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a></p> <p align="center">the office/ third bedroom</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX91JT6NdOc0ObVCM9gVtDZshyCub_YBHRddiRt1m2lmwS8Efjlx5j7aDylgOIAI37CTdvAOmDkP9x82EO-Cm9DaqcQkIlWK67Eu1zI8QpAaQQYCOAiYlLJQmmQcXn4byzrK6esWszSJY/s1600-h/IMG_2134%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2134" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_2134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAH5QXqjpR7l7ZaWrRSLQ2ykXNomkphd2tMc74QaqCKCrcbdVVcdxUfcSIplPEnzkugLQK1RxPPmziUghc5MyIxZASpVIjKzOlanOxSgYHfO81bh3tmRs5u74rJjCMR_09xeysNrfusik/?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a></p> <p align="center">the family room again</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gTZv__ZtJ74/Tx7-jvUW5TI/AAAAAAAABBE/tCtMSzzXTkg/s1600-h/IMG_2138%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2138" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="431" alt="IMG_2138" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hoB4adPiXIQ/Tx7-kEq8aEI/AAAAAAAABBM/LVUYG6gtBT0/IMG_2138_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElLwSnGHDz7IKNXYmBI5PbUzTEhlRi_VryoZpmA7oOLkgXfGZ-kKsxxTS6SzfyyPUOxOQQ2WbVKSisnigPQZs0gNjDL36Tb0UlqGOthmocaa7PKUwf18Tm3Ip7M4vXVhu30kKwtJ4TTw/s1600-h/IMG_2145%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2145" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="431" alt="IMG_2145" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-FtHwUJmyR4Q/Tx7-lNQEHWI/AAAAAAAABBg/ywBwDoZwb1E/IMG_2145_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtIOgTdkLIFBeBr-eqXMcbElA9mmWFJOwLQ-SWBdWfvCRa54dRp-jpE8JtEmuqVND9CKpXhp_7O3z7LzMjXKPij3AYYGF9djdiLu9_De3ht38cjBDVHli1OzUgOu1G0z3xPLC_NoNqho/s1600-h/IMG_2148%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2148" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_2148" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8Bl8dbB-mTM/Tx7-mLeHnhI/AAAAAAAABBw/2irSvsBKq1s/IMG_2148_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ep65-ZM6RLQ/Tx7-mfZPwRI/AAAAAAAABB4/V7HsrJ9oM6I/s1600-h/IMG_2150%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2150" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_2150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzA_4g-vWklM6cD9DFeDSyKNvf0s-D5kRUx7851A1rkjiM4yNKF2n3WcBzY8AXJeNAKG4U9lq5u2D88-QCUR8MWTOZWpjByPZRo_YfoDjumAXUOi1dPJagjpdNMJK-hgo4rm5P_mudXys/?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a></p> <p align="center">the main bathroom and wash room</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGkJ6m8rI03pilCCJlrKZ5qJJOQPFARBKz4A59_A9MfMPiHjJBJVp8-1YYLYQsRtW1DTq5JlueZ-VRpl65YpyiiKvyXdIT7KqyzRuvp9htVoZKduzJcSMz8XIRhYEmWOsCtLqG-NEM2oE/s1600-h/IMG_2155%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2155" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_2155" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-frrWvkTOtY0/Tx7-nFU1uTI/AAAAAAAABCM/8VZYLvQyLrU/IMG_2155_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-GT11loSTeKQ/Tx7-nk638CI/AAAAAAAABCY/lp479QHuH-E/s1600-h/IMG_2157%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2157" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_2157" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wJPox-Ya9TM/Tx7-n9GwzsI/AAAAAAAABCg/9BWclrV6WTA/IMG_2157_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Gar0muTmi78/Tx7-oDqdVgI/AAAAAAAABCo/zxXMsuaMNeo/s1600-h/IMG_2159%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2159" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_2159" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KQObaV8ndoA/Tx7-oi_ABzI/AAAAAAAABCw/MVkrDuKzP1s/IMG_2159_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a></p> <p align="center">looking into the basement</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Qyfo0w7r0u8y8DISZiZwk9WLg6Jj_z1LY_f4daVA3HoS9pp_lVZ8IwAMv_dnbRv4U4dKDBI_lEKewzoGxSbW0yqR4fxz1eJX29egmju_Yu6EeZTY1gVbvJspbSz95hM1e7OaNjMaais/s1600-h/IMG_2173%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2173" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_2173" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NbQE663cajU/Tx7-pJHIHTI/AAAAAAAABDA/hO6O4bmsJ5g/IMG_2173_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a></p> <p align="center">the playroom/nook</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-didaTX8leS0/Tx7-pU0j2eI/AAAAAAAABDI/yuW4fnHfYs8/s1600-h/IMG_2174%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2174" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_2174" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LVAb-LR4HX8/Tx7-pnCcMqI/AAAAAAAABDQ/lhL-G8VYMyY/IMG_2174_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-tJywacLPYMs/Tx7-qhCJ8gI/AAAAAAAABDc/6BaQKpokSAY/s1600-h/IMG_2176%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2176" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_2176" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-1cx98A6ofoo/Tx7-q7gGgqI/AAAAAAAABDk/-ExQDPA2bks/IMG_2176_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a></p> <p align="center">the guest/craft room</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PHDIaozQPEI/Tx7-r_XglYI/AAAAAAAABDs/hLQdhQzr9i4/s1600-h/IMG_2186%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2186" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_2186" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-hYy-220YCNw/Tx7-sKgHzkI/AAAAAAAABD0/K04XbYFmJi4/IMG_2186_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-VdBkCSUCo-U/Tx7-si58aaI/AAAAAAAABD8/yciNiId1Lqo/s1600-h/IMG_2188%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2188" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="431" alt="IMG_2188" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-WjwKESbUUng/Tx7-s8MssSI/AAAAAAAABEE/e9zBJyBXdiw/IMG_2188_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0"></a></p> <p align="center">looking at these photos I am already amazed at our progress in the past two months… I can’t wait to talk more about everything we have done. </p> clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03870827011388451645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6685855284191159806.post-3101728470691175482012-01-15T20:31:00.001-07:002012-01-15T20:31:02.480-07:00family - eating together as a family<p><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" height="303" src="http://medicapblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/family-eating-at-dinner-table.jpeg" width="452"></p> <p>image from google.com</p> <p>This past weekend I attended a conference on strengthening your family. We talked of various things you can do, but one that I wanted to share was strengthening your family by eating together. </p> <p>It can be really tough to get a family around the table. Between sports, dance, school, work, and personal attitudes getting a family together can be a pain sometimes and may not seem like it will make a difference. However, it does make a difference. Here are 8 more reasons you should keep pushing for family meals 5-6 times a week:</p> <ol> <li>model manners – mealtime as a family is a perfect place for you to show your kids the appropriate table manners for when they are in a place not so forgiving. Try to keep the mood light and don’t criticize. Try to teach by example.</li> <li>Expanding cultural views – mealtime is a great way to introduce cultures besides your own. it takes about 10-15 times for a child to accept a new food so keep on putting it on their plate. In our family we have a rule, you can have a lot or a little, but you have to try some. When allowing your children to help out with the meal (see number 4) they will also be more likely to try the veggie if they prepared it. </li> <li>nourish – when you eat out, you are rarely getting a balanced meal… not only that, how do you know the ingredients and how they cooked it? home made dinners are lower is sugar, salt and fat; and higher in vitamins and minerals. </li> <li>self sufficient teaching – it is the perfect place to teach your children how to be self sufficient… have them help plan dinners, make dinners, and clean up dinner. Heck, you could even have them help shop (even though you know you will spend more when they come :). Even your younger children can sit on a stool and tear lettuce, or mix batter. Having your children help gives them a sense of “ownership” to the meal and can be proud. this builds great self image. </li> <li>destructive behaviors – five or more family dinners a week are associated with lower rates of smoking, drinking, and illegal drug use in teens. So you know what this means… schedule!!! It can get tough with your teens, but if you want them to succeed, you need to show them you care and want to work around them. </li> <li>communication and well-being – conversations at the dinner table (or counter in our case) provide greater bond between parent/child relationships and even child/child relationships. it is a chance for each child to get extra and special attention from the parents. ask questions and give good and positive feedback. Again. restrain from negative comments, and criticism. </li> <li>improves grades – children do better at school when they eat with their parents and family. But it has to be four or more times a week together to make a difference in performance in the academics. </li> <li>saves money – meals purchases away from home cost 2-4 times more than meals prepared at home. I know families who eat fast food every single night, even sundays. I can’t imagine the percentage of the income in the family that goes to this habit.</li></ol> <p>Some other ideas</p> <ul> <li>have your children have a night when they plan and prepare a meal… </li> <li>be flexible on your menu</li> <li>create a menu – you will save SO much money and time</li></ul> clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03870827011388451645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6685855284191159806.post-59014496041673953492011-11-11T13:12:00.001-07:002011-11-11T13:12:57.450-07:00lessons– teaching by example<p>one of the subjects that my professors in college beat to a pulp was that our children learn best by example. In some cases, it doesn’t matter what you teach them, they will learn and repeat more of your actions than your words. </p> <p>last week we gave a lady from our ward a ride to school when we saw her walking across the road, as we were on our way to the gym. I knew she had at least two miles left to walk and it was freezing! Plus, it wasn’t much of a difference from my day – service is always a sacrifice. After we dropped her off and headed back to the gym- I talked with my daughter about service and how good it makes us feel. I also told her how Heavenly Father needs us to take care of his children and Sister K was his daughter. She then replied “like I help Little Miss B?” Exactly…</p> <p>So last night one of my dear girl friends called me and needed some help getting groceries into her home (she is prego with twins). As I was leaving A asked to go. She was supposed to be on her way to bed, so I declined the want. As I left her tears started heavily. She exclaimed, “Mom! I love her!” As I was walking away, I had the thought of how important it is for A to know that I love to serve others and know how to do it… by example. So I turned around and headed back for her – pajamas, burger king crown and Dora Crocs.</p> <p>‘A’ helped me carry groceries into my friend’s home and then we made her dinner, did her dishes and put away groceries. As we left with her garbage, A said to me, “Mom, I feel so good! We helped one of Heavenly Father’s children like we gave that one girl a ride last time?” “Yes! Yes!” I told her in return. Parenting success!</p> <p>So worth the hour later of bedtime- </p> clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03870827011388451645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6685855284191159806.post-41934021859766426212011-10-26T19:53:00.001-06:002011-10-26T19:53:14.318-06:00lessons–the script of mother and wife<p><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" height="322" src="http://www.newwritingsouth.com/images/script%20on%20grass.jpg" width="322"></p> <p>sometimes I don’t feel like I am heard as a mother and wife (tonight being one of those nights). who cares about mom? what does she know? oh, that’s just mom talking… no biggie, let’s keep playing. But expectations are SO high as to having dinner on the table, getting the house in livable condition, and listening and being there for someone whenever they need you. NEVER visa versa…</p> <p>I get interrupted and never get to finish stories or even my sentences. I rarely get my space and always have someone in my space. I get demands for snacks and food, I cook and clean up after everyone. I even get peed on and thrown up on. </p> <p>so important, but unimportant… </p> <p>Sure there are rewarding experiences… but sometimes, I would just like to clock out and just be Clarissa for a while. Sadly that will never happen. And most days, I wouldn’t even consider clocking out. I love being this, but I worry that me as a person, is getting lost. I am just becoming a role – a character that the playwright wrote in to fill the empty holes while the rest of the characters get to give in to their every whim without responsibility. </p> <p>It is like those movies that you realize they didn’t clean up the counter in one scene, but it is cleaned up in the next… kind of like a glitch… well, guess who did the cleaning? MOM!!!</p> <p>It makes me understand God and his role with his children in deeper context. We often forget that he is a person. We expect so much out of him, but rarely ever listen to him and what he has to say to us. Being a mom sure helps me understand his mercy, compassion and unconditional love and sacrifice. </p> <p>my insight time is up and my one hand is tired of typing. guess what’s in the other? a baby... of course!</p> clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03870827011388451645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6685855284191159806.post-35989163180614615942011-10-19T18:03:00.001-06:002011-10-19T18:03:34.572-06:00the analogy of the gondola<p>Elder David Bednar of the quorum of the twelve talked at BYU-Idaho a while back. He spoke on technology and how it is taking us into a technology virtual reality and away from this reality. You can find his talk here… <a href="http://www.byub.org/talks/Talk.aspx?id=3543">http://www.byub.org/talks/Talk.aspx?id=3543</a></p> <p>It is an incredible talk and from Claire’s 101 – so “before its time.” Even though it was only given two years ago, I have seen more and more people get sucked into this “virtual reality.” </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-SHiMr9u5C0I/Tp9lTJHAkmI/AAAAAAAAA1s/y5-Aqcgbhhs/s1600-h/IMG_2403%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2403" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMG_2403" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ePbFvFaYXzM/Tp9lTvuEoNI/AAAAAAAAA10/9CBCX3QjMpY/IMG_2403_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0"></a></p> <p>Here’s my story to go along with this talk-</p> <p>So this past month, my mom took me and my girls down to Telluride, CO for a trip on the Gondola ride. It is free and so gorgeous (two amazing pluses in my book!) Anyway, Little Miss A was thrilled at how big she felt going on the Gondola. Her anticipation was so worth the two hour drive. As we went up the first stretch, she realized that there were gondolas passing us every so often… and that they were filled with people. </p> <p>We told her that she can wave to the people in passing and that if she waved good enough, they would probably wave back. Excitedly, she started waving her hand at every gondola passing by. And guess what? It worked! A group of people saw her and waved back. A’s enthusiasm rose as her faith was strengthened and her “testimony” and grew of this. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-SfKuCb_gQZI/Tp9lUD7xDgI/AAAAAAAAA18/Q4wGIKJJDL0/s1600-h/IMG_2450%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2450" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="431" alt="IMG_2450" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-r_i_xfvFVjc/Tp9lUc9soRI/AAAAAAAAA2E/k6hXtbTnOGk/IMG_2450_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0"></a></p> <p>As each gondola passed, we noticed an interesting trend. Each gondola that had a group of people waved. Almost every single time! They were engaged in the outside world as they happily interacted with this sweet girl passing. However, each gondola that passed with only one person never gave a wave in return. In fact, they didn’t even see my sweet A. Each single, alone person was looking down and either on a phone, texting, or listening to music. </p> <p>These people were not of this reality. They had chosen to distance themselves of the gorgeous surroundings and of my sweet A. As we got off the gondola, I suddenly felt sorry for those people who missed this interaction. It could have made their day… way more than a text from a friend. Plus, if they would have just looked up, they might have seen her and realized that they were missing out on this beautiful experience and scenery. </p> <p>I love in Elder Bednar’s talk he says'-</p> <blockquote> <p>“I testify that God lives and is our <br>Heavenly Father. He is the Author of the <br>plan of salvation. Jesus is the Christ, the <br>Redeemer, whose body was bruised, <br>broken, and torn for us as He offered the <br>atoning sacrifice. He is resurrected; He <br>lives; and He stands at the head of His <br>Church in these latter days. To be <br>“encircled about eternally in the arms of <br>his love” (2 Nephi 1:15) will be a real and <br>not a virtual experience.”</p> <p> </p></blockquote> <p>I second this with my testimony that even though technology is good and can be used for great things, Satan is fully aware of the fact that we do have physical bodies and he doesn’t. He will do everything in his power to keep us from enjoying this reality. There are so many things that we can spend our time on – social networking, blogs (ours and every one else’s), tv and movies online, music, games, pinterest, etc… One of my favorite bloggers who I read religiously just posted about realizing that she spent too much time blogging and now sets the timer for fifteen minutes to manage her time better, so she can enjoy her family more. </p> <p>So what can you do to come back to this reality? Does it mean to let your calls go to voicemail? Turn your phone on silent during evening hours (like 5-8pm)? Drop your FB account and focus on your kids more? </p> <p>One cool idea that I have seen is to have a basket at functions that asks people to drop their phones off for the time. I loved it!!!</p> <p>PS- I just have to let you know that even I am not perfect… because as I went to put photos on this post, I noticed something IRONIC</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-or5mJmAE9GI/Tp9lVFXe-NI/AAAAAAAAA2M/ygAV7htvnO0/s1600-h/IMG_2425%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2425" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="265" alt="IMG_2425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPLpZ47tJnDkgqQq3g_17gZahs6ZsK0L84ZYi6a0brchvfRzl4c6zYsRH5STQXY5oGObCEmKFAcSNiK5FGGqMUUvs9a1eKYGSOLAL_h5DIKHmlbI_en8ifsFPXyCGB6joiWMvaK_ADQk/?imgmax=800" width="391" border="0"></a></p> <p>I got a phone call on the gondola! I had to answer it because it had to do with us selling our car. Now that I think about it, I was so frustrated and cut the call short because I wanted to enjoy this moment with my girls. Ha! See, I am normal-</p> clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03870827011388451645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6685855284191159806.post-68401718118901076162011-09-25T12:05:00.001-06:002011-09-25T12:05:15.848-06:00sewing–quickly<p>I made my <a href="http://rissdesigns.blogspot.com/2011/03/peek-boo-car-seat-canopy.html" target="_blank">baby a car seat cover</a> and have had my girl friend tell me how much she loves it… and she just had a baby, so it was the perfect opportunity for me to whip one up… and whip I did. During my baby’s nap time, I sewed as fast as I could. Thankfully I didn’t have any big hitches! Which also allowed me to make a skirt (posting this week). I have always loved this fabric and now that I have made something out of it, I want to find something else because I love it so much! </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPef34FBS-AxZhj3M6tPqPEK61x5SmyDvQnZqSVd7H9lVIchXt60x-RpyVxvPg8tQFPn_pmtH7NX3v3z43SgKieNfd41aTcVGtAwLWFXIHphwtKoFL8GlldDwYaLqli5zQ2L3juRRRK6w/s1600-h/IMG_1964%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1964" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; background-image: none; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="431" alt="IMG_1964" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5atJJJprbx_JtwCsYhan0rkyw9vgAphNvZCgUX3ZliV1XtU7kxduz7NtYSd1tC28wbMotRXAkAvPcD2KECyQMj9C0AnGZ022Izoj2EyrEVna_If5Q37Yfl_p4EztPV-IeRrgOHs57U3o/?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0"></a></p> clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03870827011388451645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6685855284191159806.post-81237062045785171672011-09-09T09:33:00.001-06:002011-09-09T09:33:04.479-06:00adam & eve–a lesson on self-reliance<p>I was asked to speak on self reliance as it relates to Adam and Eve at a RS meeting this past week. These were my thoughts- <p><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" height="480" src="http://www.jesusneedsnewpr.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Adam-and-Eve.jpg" width="361"> <p>My 17 year-old brother was discussing the matter of gardening with my parents just the other week. Now, he definitely is a teenager so parents and what parents do is EXACTLY opposite of what he wants to do… even if they are eating ice cream! BUT, I really feel like the generation of teens right now really feels like they are entitled to all the earth! That is another discussion for another day, but he just couldn’t understand the idea of growing a garden. For one, he was asking about the financial incentive, but he also was questioning the work when you can just “go buy” from the grocery store. He honestly just thought that gardening was a “hobby.” <p>I have mentioned before and will mention again how much I love Adam and Eve. There is a reason why there is so much focus on them in the temple! It was mentioned that Adam and Eve are really hard to relate to because they lived so long ago. I beg to differ! They are the perfect role models for each of us and our relationships. However, I do think that the idea of learning self-reliance from them is a little tricky and, as I have found, really subjective. <p>Through all my reading and studies this week, I feel that Adam and Eve did teach us about self-reliance… but not like our “year of food supply, 72-hour kit, bomb shelter” kind of self-reliance. They taught us about self-reliance through relying on God. <p>We are asked to become self reliance to learn; learn responsibility, work, equality, and to be more like god. On top of this we can grow a stronger relationship with God and in our marriage. <p>The first reason for self-reliance is that we need to learn responsibility. We have to take care of ourselves and to learn that, we have to learn how to take care of something like a garden or finances. While Adam and eve were in the garden, they were given freedom to take care of the garden. I believe this was in preparation to go out into the “world.” So while our children are in our “garden” we can prepare them to be responsible outside of the “garden” as God did for Adam and Eve. I don’t think that they were responsible for the garden though. This is why… the definition of responsibility is: The state or fact of being accountable or to blame for something… Adam and Eve weren’t accountable for anything in the garden because they didn’t have opposition. It wasn’t until they partook of the fruit that they became accountable. Plus, in the second article of faith it says that we are accountable for our own sins and not for Adam’s sin. So we are to learn responsibility in self-reliance so that it will transfer to other areas of our lives and we will know that to have anything worthwhile, we need to be responsible for our actions. <p>Secondly, we need to be self-reliant to learn equality. The state of being equal means to be the same in status, rights, and opportunities. Self-reliance teaches us that we all have equal opportunities to learn and grow. Adam and Eve became equal in their work load of collecting food and getting themselves shelter. I honestly don’t think Eve was a diva and sat down while Adam built a shelter around her! If that were so, she wouldn’t be respected in our religion as much as she is (however, I do think she is misunderstood lots). We also learn from self-reliance that we all have the status of living creatures (that we all need to take care of ourselves or we die) and that we all have rights to what can be produced out of the ground… it is not one person’s right to grow and another to consume… that is inequality. <p>Third is the knowledge of work that we learn. In order for living things to function, they need to take care of themselves. And this takes effort and work. Back to the idea of entitlement… I really feel that God has asked us to be self-reliant because he knew that our world would feel entitled to things without working for it. We have renters in New York in our rental properties that think we should pay for their rent… when they don’t have jobs and aren’t working two keep the rental property taken care of!!! Obviously this idea of entitlement is a vicious parasite… how do we teach our children (and ourselves) that entitlement isn’t an eternal principle? By work… work is an eternal principle and won’t stop after death! We know that missionary work goes on after death and we know that we will be able to create worlds and more children after death… and if you think that it won’t take work, then you need to be pulled back to reality by potty training a toddler! :) Actually, we can see this because again, Adam and eve worked in the garden and Adam worked to help create the earth. It is also mentioned that Adam was cursed to eat by the “sweat of his brow all the days of his life, for his good.” For his good… that work is good. <p>I also think that self-reliance helps us to be humble. We not only have to rely on God for ends to meet and to fully let go of relying on our parents, friends, etc. But I also have been humbled with the help that I have received from others as they have brought over parts of their harvest (like zucchini) to share. <p>Finally we are to learn to be more like God. God created the earth for the use of man. We are tending to God’s creations with respect and love… and then we will learn what God is like. I know that when I am outdoors and have my hands in the dirt, that I feel closer to God. I know that taking care of my finances and being frugal helps me rely more on God and then I feel closer to him. <p>Isn’t God perfect in these things that we have talked about: responsibility, equality, and work? Would he ask us to be self-reliant if he wasn’t? <p>As a side note, and my final note, I feel like self-reliance helps us grow a stronger marriage/relationship with our spouse and God. We have to work together to be self-reliant and that is ultimately what Adam and Eve show us in their examples. Eve was created from Adam’s rib (not head or foot)… but right in the middle to become a helpmeet… a companion, and equal. As we carry the burden of being self-reliant, we can look to Adam and eve’s example. They worked and learned together to live in this world outside of the Garden. They needed one another to keep going. Eve wasn’t planting and sowing while Adam was eating the harvest. They worked as one and so can we as we let go of others and are self-reliant together. In a sense, self-reliance isn’t being alone as the word self implies, it allows for a more full joy on this earth as we draw closer to god (and our spouse if we are married) because we are learning eternal principles and practices. clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03870827011388451645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6685855284191159806.post-89515319226168457302011-08-29T20:50:00.001-06:002011-08-29T20:50:06.343-06:00marriage: parent & adult child relationships<p><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" src="http://media.rd.com/rd/images/rdc/mag0905/13-things-you-mother-in-law-af.jpg"> <p>How are we supposed to treat the parent-adult child or in-law relationships in our lives? This is a question that has almost plagued me in my marriage. My hubby and I come from completely different backgrounds! The longer we are married, the more opposite we seem because of how we were raised. He folds his socks as matches are made. I put all the socks into a pile and then match and fold them at the end of the other folding. His family goes boating on Sundays, mine barely lays a finger out the front door (except for church responsibilities). Our families carry different standards and values, and somehow my hubby and I ended up together. <p>I was asked by a friend of mine what I know and have studied about extended family relationships and thought of how much I really needed to revamp my knowledge on extended family and what parent-adult child relationships should be like. <p>My first thoughts took me to the scriptures (most answers can be found in those things!). I first went to the Book of Mormon and looked at the relationship of Nephi and his father Lehi. Nephi obeys his father’s desires to leave Jerusalem, to go get the plates, and then to get a wife (but who wouldn’t obey that one? I mean, Laman and Lemuel followed that one straightway). But Nephi didn’t just blindly follow his father… he chose for himself. This is apparent in the Tree of Life vision. Lehi shared his vision and then Nephi asked for himself. I also love that Nephi came away with different and more in-depth answers to that vision. So how can this relate to the parent-adult child relationships we have? <p>The other story that I read about in Patricia Russel’s talk is on Ruth and Naomi in the bible (Building Good In-Law Relationships By Patricia Russell). Even though these two women were only family through marriage, the love and devotion they had to one another is a perfect example of what our relationships can and should be with our in-laws. Easier said than done right? Right. <p>So in order to have in-laws, we need to have a spouse! And the idea of marriage has been in God’s plan since day one. Cue Adam and Eve! <p>Adam and Eve are my ultimate role models of how to create a good marriage. If you are in a jam, it seems that these two have the answers. In Genesis 2 the Lord creates man. After creating Adam, the Lord caused a deep sleep to come upon Adam and out of Adam’s rib, he created Eve. This scripture follows, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). To cleave means to be loyal, devoted, and steadfast. It is important for husbands and wives to heed this counsel and apply it in their marriage. Adam wasn’t complete until he had a wife and vice versa. It wasn’t that Adam was complete with God, his father. <p>The role of mother, father, son and daughter cannot be expected to stay the same when a child gets married. Parents will need to give up their previous roles and allow independence. However, the couple will need to realize that there are previous relationships that existed before they came along and that even though this will change, the change won’t be a onetime thing. <p>As a couple, you have to create your own marriage identity. Kind of like how Nephi took the vision and got his own interpretation out of it; couples can take what they have been taught and decided for themselves what will define them as “one flesh.” President Spencer W. Kimball talked about the following three things: a couple needs to confide and counsel with each other, a couple needs to establish their household separately from parents, and a couple needs to prayerfully consider counsel from outside sources together. This will help you and your spouse define boundaries. In Helping and Healing our Families it states, “It helps a…married couple to think of themselves as existing together inside an invisible fence” p.328. So information stays in and people stay out. <p>This is really tough to do. In my life, sometimes this isn’t possible. My hubby works for his parents. He talks to and sees them at least twice as much as he does me. There is communication that goes on between them that I cannot be a part of; business and personal communication. So not only does that happen, but he is so busy that I cannot get a hold of him to communicate as much as I may think necessary for our relationship. It is a heavy burden to bear. But I am grateful for how wonderful we do communicate when time is made… and for how much sacrifice I know it sometimes is for my hubby to listen to my incessant phone calls :) <p>This invisible fence that is created needs to be discussed often to protect, maintain and heal if needed. I think especially for women (and especially for me in my situation), this fence is really important to give women a sense of security in marriage. Especially for them to feel that they are not in the fenced area alone and their hubby in a fenced area with his parents. <p>Sometimes there are intrusions between parents and children (a couple) into this invisible fence. Intrusions can be physically (coming over too much) and emotionally (opinions and expectations). Enmeshment is when parents and children feel they always have to be together and there is no room for excuses. It can cause lots of strife and burden in the pressure of making it to family events if a family is enmeshed. If something like this is happening , it is more likely that parents are dealing with their emotional issues and you aren’t the issue. So what can you do if enmeshment is happening? An option comes from Helping and Healing Families. It says, “they (children) may want to express love and gratitude, explain they have a need to further strengthen their couple identity, and explain how the expectations for being together with the family are getting in the way of their couple relationship.” Do this in a respectful and humble manner. <p>So what can parents do or not do to strengthen their relationships with their in-laws and adult children? Gloria Horsley in The In-law Survival Manual: A Guide to Cultivating Health In-law Relationships says parents can strengthen that relationship by avoiding these things: <ol> <li>1- giving advice</li> <li>2- criticizing</li> <li>3- pinning down children in-law as to the specific reasons they are missing a family event</li> <li>4- taking over discipline of grandchildren</li> <li>5- trying to control everyone and everything including children in-law’s beliefs</li> <li>6- indirect and unclear communication</li></ol> <p>If a parent-in-law does things right the effect can be eternally positive and long felt. What are the right things? I am sure as a parent-in-law, you don’t feel like you can do anything right. Well, I am sure your daughter-in-law or son-in-law feels the same way. Being mindful and respecting their different backgrounds, beliefs and standards is a good start. Not feeling defensive that they married your son/daughter. Don’t expect them to do things the way you do… it might be nice to share with them what you have done as a family (traditions, routines, etc). Give them space and “open the doors” to your world and let them come in. Don’t force them to do something they have reservations about. Prayerfully consider when to step in and when to allow space. <p>What can you do as a child and in-law to strengthen your relationships with your spouse’s and your own family? First, you need to set boundaries for what is allowed. This is to be done together between you and your spouse. Don’t have your spouse be the go between for you and your in-laws!!! It causes mistrust and can damage future growth of relationships. Contacting your families together regularly is also important; it shows that your relationship with them is something you value. When you are comfortable, disclose personal information that will open their eyes to who you are and what you believe. Communicate openly, accept differences, and use empathy to further these relationships. <p>Overall, I believe that the most important thing for both parents and married children to use is forgiveness and repentance. With each new marriage comes new experiences, trials, and joys. We are not perfect and therefore, you cannot expect them to be perfect. We can let these things hinder us, or make us stronger. How much more joy we can feel if we open our hearts to new growth and love. <p>So how is your relationship with your parents and in-laws? What can you do to strengthen that relationship? <p>I know that the family unit is ordained of God. It has been established since day one with Adam and Eve and is meant to be a central focus of this earthly life. Our relationships are eternal and we have to develop them into the kind of relationships that are positive… now. Not waiting for the other to initiate the growth. You need to step in. Create that imaginary fence with your spouse so that security is fastened and then you can pursue your other relationships knowing that you and your spouse are on the same page and will support one another. <p>Remember the Lord commanded us to leave our parents and cleave unto our spouse. What can you do today to cleave? <p><b>Further Reading and Resouces</b> <p><a href="http://lds.org/general-conference/1995/10/the-family-a-proclamation-to-the-world?lang=eng&query=proclamation+world">The Proclamation to the World: the Family</a> <p>Helping and Healing our Families: Chapter 37 Edited by Craig H. Hart, Lloyd D. Newell, Elaine Walton, and David C. Dollahite <p>Strengthening Our Families: An in-Depth Look at the Proclamation on the Family Edited by David C. Dollahite <p><a href="http://lds.org/ensign/print/2000/03/building-good-in-law-relationships?lang=eng&clang=eng">Building Good In-Law Relationships by Patricia Russell</a> <p>The In-law Survival Manual: A Guide to Cultivating Health In-law Relationships by Gloria Horsley clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03870827011388451645noreply@blogger.com2