tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49482788602311262502024-03-13T13:35:11.968-07:00Staying Afloat!The adventures and survival of a mom living in a sea of testosterone.Hopes@Staying Afloat!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04394821620148448570noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948278860231126250.post-44812584679840799132012-06-20T23:05:00.000-07:002012-06-20T23:05:06.513-07:00What a Difference a Mountain Range Makes<strong></strong><br />
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So last year summer in the <st1:place w:st="on">Pacific
Northwest</st1:place> was crap! </div>
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I mean it seriously sucked! </div>
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We MIGHT have got two weeks of okay weather in August, but
that could be a stretch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was losing my
mind with all the “when will summer get here mommy?” questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Us Pacific Northwesterners tolerate the rainy fall, winter,
and mostly spring seasons to get to what we all think is the most glorious
weather in the world during the summer months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yeah…last year it didn’t happen.</div>
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So when it looked like we were heading down the path of
another rainy horribly cold summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
most of the days in June so far looked like this:</div>
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We are fortunate to live in a state where a short 3 hour
drive over the mountains can land you in almost a completely different
world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dry and warm, but still
beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And our favorite place to go
on the other side of the state is at a lake!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>WIN…WIN…WIN…WIN!!</div>
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So that’s where we are now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So we can get this</div>
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And see the gorgeous blue sky like this</div>
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And okay, have some more of this</div>
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What???<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It IS summer
after all!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Three boys around each other, all day...every single flipping day? Yeah....wine is a necessity for summer!</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How have you been
enjoying your summer so far? How has the weather been in your neck of the woods?</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.mamamash.com/" title="Mamamash"><img alt="Mamamash" src="http://mamamash.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/ippp-polaroid-125-x-125.jpg" style="border: currentColor;" /></a></div>Hopes@Staying Afloat!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04394821620148448570noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948278860231126250.post-21097012585823586252012-06-14T00:00:00.000-07:002012-06-14T00:00:18.469-07:00Project Chickville<br />
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Have you been to one of those wall to wall trampoline places
with your children yet?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If not you
should!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a ton of fun and wears the
heck out of your children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots of
exercise and lots of smiles equals a win-win in my book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Now, that I have you thinking about a big warehouse with trampolines on the
floor and the walls, add some on the ceiling. </div>
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Then add a bunch of boys jumping all over the place.</div>
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Then add Legos, lots and LOTS of Legos all over the
trampolines. </div>
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And Superhero action figures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can’t forget those.</div>
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And Hot Wheels. </div>
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Throw in dirty clothes with emphasis on the stinky socks and
that right there my friends is my house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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All boy! All. The. Time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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Don’t get me wrong, it’s a ton of fun at the same time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean who DOESN’T like jumping on wall to
wall trampolines!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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But there are times during the day, week, month where I
would like a little something that screams GIRLY!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Or a room in the house you could walk into and say to
yourself, OHHHH a girl lovingly decorated this room and it looks like her
personal space.</div>
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There is a TON of talk on the internet and within the media
about men having a “mancave” or a “manland” in their home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But my whole house IS in fact the definition
of “manland”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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What I need?? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I
really really need is some small place girly that I can go to to get some “me”
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It could happen….someday right?</div>
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I’ve recently decided that that place, lovingly named as
Chickville is going to be our Master Bedroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The décor of which up until now could only be described as a clean
modern day frat house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I’ve started with small steps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Small steps like an actual bed frame with a
headboard, and nightstands to match.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Whhhhaoooo!!!</div>
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Then, just recently I purchase honest-to-goodness grown up,
pretty bedding to go with the furniture!! It’s the little things, you know! </div>
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See!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pretty
right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And dare I say sort of girly
even! </div>
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It’s currently a work in progress, but it’s a FUN project
and I’m excited!</div>
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But I would love your help.</div>
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Are you game?</div>
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Would you mind sharing your secrets with me?</div>
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Here’s what I’d like to know…</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What would you do to a space in your home to make it your very own
Chickville?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br />Hopes@Staying Afloat!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04394821620148448570noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948278860231126250.post-17551113032958068672012-06-10T00:00:00.000-07:002012-06-10T00:00:02.134-07:00Sunday Sweetness ~ That Smile<br />
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This last week Buggy turned two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>TWO!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
only wish that was a typo!</div>
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I don’t know where the time has gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Well I do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s gone
to diapers, and bottles, and spit-ups and ear infections.</div>
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But it’s also gone to snuggles, and kisses, and endless hours rocking him to
sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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It’s gone to trying to figure out how the world works. </div>
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It’s gone from cooing, to babbling, to talking and actually
being understood.</div>
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It’s gone from trying to focus on his brothers, to watching
them intently, to actually keeping up with them….well, at least half of the
time. </div>
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It’s gone to little giggles in the beginning, to full on
make-me-laugh-so-hard-I-cry belly laughs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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It’s gone from grinning because of gas to a full on smile
because he’s happy or finds something funny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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And that smile….that precious amazing,
light-up-the-world-smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well it keeps
this mommy searching each day to give him something else to smile about just so
I can see it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just so I can see those
eyes light up and his face exude happiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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Because this smile…</div>
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I’m convinced could very easily conquer the world and cure
whatever ails it!</div>
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Happy, Happy Birthday dear sweet Buggy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You were the biggest surprise of my life, and
the best gift anyone could ever ask for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am humbled and honored each and every day to hear you call me
Mama.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That role is my biggest joy in
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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</div>Hopes@Staying Afloat!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04394821620148448570noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948278860231126250.post-86669147125977857672012-06-07T00:00:00.000-07:002012-06-06T21:45:13.930-07:00One Moment at a TimeI’ve heard about it.<br />
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I knew it existed.</div>
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I swore I wouldn’t be affected by it.</div>
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I was wrong.</div>
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That thing that everyone who has a blog inevitably talks
about…..BALANCE.</div>
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And that one word?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yeah, it beat me to a pulp.</div>
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When the little eyes of my children peered over the top of
my laptop followed by a little voice asking “why are you on the computer so
much?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew I had failed at finding
that balance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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So I did what I had to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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I unplugged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Completely unplugged from all things social media related. </div>
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And I plugged back into motherhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I paid attention, played more, snuggled more, and even slept
more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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But more importantly I thought more. </div>
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More about how to find that balance, and I’m not sure I have
the answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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But I do know this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
promise to write when I can; when it doesn’t interfere with family life and
motherhood life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because that to me is
what life is all about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This space is
where I share all the craziness of a life outnumbered by boys, but I cannot
share those little tidbits of life if I’m not living that life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Don’t get me wrong, I’m here; I’m more focused than ever
before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I also have a little bit
more…dare I say, balance then I did when I started this blog almost a year
ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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And I can’t think of a better comeback than to be over at
one of my favorite places in the whole wide world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m over at <a href="http://www.thekircorner.com/2012/06/proud-mommy-moment-a-proud-mommy-double-feature-kristen-and-melissa-welcome-to-the-corner/"><span style="color: blue;">The
Kir Corner</span></a> today talking about one of my <a href="http://www.thekircorner.com/2012/06/proud-mommy-moment-a-proud-mommy-double-feature-kristen-and-melissa-welcome-to-the-corner/"><span style="color: blue;">Proud
Mommy Moments</span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.thekircorner.com/about-me/"><span style="color: blue;">Kir</span></a> is amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, A-MAZ-ING!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything she writes is liquid gold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She oozes talent with every stroke of her
keyboard and her personal strength is something that has me in awe every single
time I read the stories of what she went through trying to conceive her
adorable twin boys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides, she loves
cupcakes…and shoes!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told you she was
amazing!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m absolutely honored beyond
belief to be over at <a href="http://www.thekircorner.com/"><span style="color: blue;">her place</span></a> and I’d
love for you to join me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<center><a href="http://www.thekircorner.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m516/KimberlyMuro/Kir%20Corner/PMMbutton.png" /></a></center>Hopes@Staying Afloat!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04394821620148448570noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948278860231126250.post-50868129560127350832012-01-18T14:18:00.000-08:002012-01-18T14:18:09.383-08:00Having SNOOOOOWWW Much Fun!Cheesy title I know but how else do you describe this...<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y0IXAc5ODA4/TxdCo1d3JAI/AAAAAAAAADo/VvEngSTuw2o/s1600/photo+%252816%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y0IXAc5ODA4/TxdCo1d3JAI/AAAAAAAAADo/VvEngSTuw2o/s320/photo+%252816%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Or this.....</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_-m9MuNoy-s/TxdC0TqFNwI/AAAAAAAAADw/Sb3XSLYsIlk/s1600/photo+%252817%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_-m9MuNoy-s/TxdC0TqFNwI/AAAAAAAAADw/Sb3XSLYsIlk/s320/photo+%252817%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We've had a fabulous snow storm in our neck of the woods for the last few days. This kind of snow is rare so when it comes around we choose to get out and enjoy it. </div>
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Other's in our state are calling this storm Snowmageddon, or Snowpocolypse! We get seriously panicked when the word Snow is in any part of our newscast! It is hilarious to watch people going to the store and stocking up with enough food to literally feed an entire army, just to be "prepared" for the SNOOOWW!!!! </div>
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But whatever people choose to call it, and however they choose to handle it...at this house we are having a blast in it. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4aILi8GgbW0/TxdDu0uP5pI/AAAAAAAAAD4/XgSc98iV11g/s1600/photo+%252818%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4aILi8GgbW0/TxdDu0uP5pI/AAAAAAAAAD4/XgSc98iV11g/s320/photo+%252818%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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It just makes you want to be a kid again doesn't it?<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wR7YgbqUrVw/TxdD8G8B5wI/AAAAAAAAAEA/wV8xqmarcWg/s1600/photo+%252819%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wR7YgbqUrVw/TxdD8G8B5wI/AAAAAAAAAEA/wV8xqmarcWg/s320/photo+%252819%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong>So tell me...do YOU panic or play in the snow??</strong></div>
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<a href="http://www.bellebeanchicagodog.com/"><img alt="iPhone Photo Phun" border="0" src="http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af279/bellebeandog/iPhone-Photo-Phun-1.jpg" /></a>Hopes@Staying Afloat!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04394821620148448570noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948278860231126250.post-79859229504558684742012-01-11T15:24:00.000-08:002012-01-11T15:24:00.488-08:00My Favorite Kind Of DecorationsIn our house, we LOVE decorating for the holidays. It doesn't matter which holiday. We just love to have a little something (or a lot in some cases) in the house to celebrate the occasion. <br />
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We have lots of decorations to choose from but my all-time-without-a-doubt favorite decorations??<br />
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These...<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myqwrV_NV3U/Tw4WlZ8FmvI/AAAAAAAAADg/xFbs6tt8kn0/s1600/photo+%252815%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myqwrV_NV3U/Tw4WlZ8FmvI/AAAAAAAAADg/xFbs6tt8kn0/s320/photo+%252815%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I absolutely LOVE and ADORE the boys hand made decorations that they make at school. The house is full of them.</div>
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These hearts just went up today to prepare for Valentines Day. I have kept every single decoration they have made throughout the years. I can't wait to see if they bring home more this year to add to our collection! </div>
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My house may not have a "theme" or a "feel" to each room. It may not have fancy decor perfectly placed to accent the room...blah blah blah. But you can't say my house isn't decorated. </div>
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It IS....with my children's artwork and I wouldn't have it any other way!! </div>
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Take THAT Martha Stewart!! </div>
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Linking up again with the fabulous Liz for <a href="http://www.bellebeanchicagodog.com/">#iPPP</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.bellebeanchicagodog.com/"><img alt="iPhone Photo Phun" border="0" src="http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af279/bellebeandog/iPhone-Photo-Phun-1.jpg" /></a>Hopes@Staying Afloat!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04394821620148448570noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948278860231126250.post-3104339952048731792012-01-09T00:00:00.000-08:002012-01-09T00:00:05.281-08:00In Sleeper Mode<br />
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This blog that is, not me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve done everything BUT sleep lately. </div>
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Hey there my dear blog!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How the heck are ya??</div>
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I’ve missed you.</div>
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I’m still missing you.</div>
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Here’s a little tidbit about me, Hopes, the author of this
blog (just in case you were wondering or forgot, or was saying to
yourself…ummmm WHO are you again?).</div>
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When I get overwhelmed I shutdown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like go into robot mode to do what has to be
done during the day, but any kind of creativity in any area of my life is
shot…type of shutdown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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The holidays tend to overwhelm me at times but this year was
a doozy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had to get our recently torn
up house ready for our annual hosting of holiday events.</div>
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Here’s another insider tidbit on me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I LOVE entertaining.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>LOVE IT!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But, I tend to be a bit…just a little itty bitty bit of a perfectionist
when it comes to hosting
events/dinners/parties/gatherings/anything-that-requires-entertaining in my
home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I succeeded only about 80% this year, in my “I’m not a
perfectionist” way of seeing things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
didn’t have a powder room, and two main rooms of our house were missing
sections of carpet BUT we had walls and molding that were up and painted, doors
hung, and hardwood floors one finish away from being actually finished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Why were things unfinished?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because I put a stop to the repair work so that my kids could have a
Christmas tree in their house for more than 2 days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So that we could dance to Christmas music
while putting up our decorations and make our previously draped with plastic
home festive again!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Because my children having decorations, and spirit and
memories meant more to me then having floors completely finished and bathroom
fixtures installed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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So I learned the art of improvising.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I put furniture and a Christmas decoration
over the missing carpet area in our family room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just ignored the demolished and ripped up
playroom that everyone had to go into to use the restroom and I decided to just
sing “Jingle Bells” in my head instead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I was thankful that everyone who entered my home was family
either by blood or by friendship and they knew the situation and understood.</div>
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Because the bottom line is it’s not about the place, but
about the people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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And I’ve got amazing people!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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BUT, it zapped all the energy out of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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For almost an entire week after Christmas I sat in my PJ’s
watching my kids (who were also in their PJ’s) happy to just be home without
having strangers (aka construction workers) here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I watched them play with their Christmas loot
and just be comfortable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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So yes, you can say this blog and what I put into it has
been in sleeper mode for much longer then I would have ever liked it, or
expected it to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Here is the last tidbit about me for today.</div>
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I write when I have something to say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I write when I want to express myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I want to brag or nag about my children,
when something strikes me as funny, interesting, fantastic or off-the-wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I may be random at times….oh who are we
kidding, ALL of the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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But one thing is constant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I always write from the heart and I’m always real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t try to fill the pages just because I
think I should write when I don’t have something to write about.</div>
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So the crickets you’ve been hearing on the board?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m hoping that this post is going to silence
them…even just a little bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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My creativity has been displaced for the time being.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never knew how much went into choosing the
correct color/shade/style of carpet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or
how many bathroom vanities were out there to choose from (a freaking MILLION in
case you were wondering).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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But I’m here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m just in a strange current within
the sea of testosterone that consists of construction and Star Wars Legos/figurines
(yeah, that’s a story for another time)!</div>
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I’m coming back slowly but surely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe I’ve hit the maximum taps on the
snooze button and it’s time to come back to play!</div>
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Are you ready?</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How do you keep your
creative juices flowing??<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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</div>Hopes@Staying Afloat!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04394821620148448570noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948278860231126250.post-45877172913817837952011-12-12T00:00:00.000-08:002011-12-11T22:48:53.909-08:00In My Hometown<br />
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I am one of those lucky people who loved where they grew up
so much that I came back to raise my family and hopefully give them as many
wonderful childhood memories as I had growing up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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It’s a place where:<br />
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<br /></div>
~falling asleep to the sounds of the ferry and the train
horns in the distance is considered soothing<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
~all coffee is DEFINITELY not the same<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
~you can watch a great movie at the local family owned
theater that only has one screen and gives popcorn to children free of charge<br />
<br />
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<br /></div>
~virtually everything is within walking distance if you are
willing to venture out<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
~you can have an amazing meal at your choice of several
fancy little hole-in-the-wall restaurants<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
~there are children and retirees GALORE<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
~the beach is just a few minutes away (don’t get too
excited, it’s not a beach by <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:state>
standards, but we love it)<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
~the poor fountain in the center of town is always the focal
point for high school pranks<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
~you don’t have to drive or walk very far to find
nature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are beaches, trails,
woods, and parks abound.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the views,
oh the views…mountains, water, and gorgeous sunsets. *sigh* <br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
~people feel safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They care for their friends and neighbors and generally look out for one
another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are always willing to lend
a hand and they care about their community.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
I love my hometown and I hope that my children will someday
feel the same way!<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What do you love the
most about your hometown?</b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p>
</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Linking up with <a href="http://www.northwestmommy.com/">The Listmaster</a> herself for <a href="http://www.northwestmommy.com/2011/monday-listicles-23">Monday Listicles</a>
and this weeks selection was chosen by the fabulous <a href="http://lilahbility.blogspot.com/2011/12/where-heart-is.html">Amanda from Lilahbility</a>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<a href="http://www.northwestmommy.com/category/monday-listicles" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.northwestmommy.com/home/Listicle3.jpg" /></a>Hopes@Staying Afloat!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04394821620148448570noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948278860231126250.post-18736756356432469642011-12-07T00:00:00.000-08:002011-12-07T00:00:09.285-08:00WTF Wednesday ~ There Is Something Seriously Wrong With My Kids<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
As a child I knew that the holiday season started as soon as
the toy magazines would arrive in the mail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Back then it was mostly Toys R Us, Kmart, Sears (back when they used to
sell a TON of toys…yeah I know, I’m dating myself with that one).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as soon as they were in our mailbox my
brother and I would negotiate which one we would look at first and the rotate
until we both had made it through all of them.</div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
After the initial looksie I began the methodical process of
deciding which toys to circle and which pages to dog ear so that I would not
forget to put it on my Christmas List.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Once on the list, I would put stars next to the items that I
definitely didn’t want my parents to miss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A Christmas list is serious business people!</div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
C’mon, you know you did the same thing!</div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The thing is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
children…they don’t!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Okay, so I may have taken it to extremes but I had several
years to build up to that extremeness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
My boys didn’t even know what to ask Santa for this past
weekend.</div>
<br />
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<br />
I mean to the point of running around the house chanting “I don’t know what to
ask Santa for” over and over again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I had to get into the car with Big T (8) and Sweet Pea (5)
on the morning of the day we were going to go see Santa and take them to the
toy store so they could see what is out there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Did anyone else have to do that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thought so! </div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I’m either doing something really wrong or really right as
their mother.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
What kid doesn’t know what toy they want for Christmas? </div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
WTF????</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<center><a href="http://www.funnyorsnot.com/funny-or-snot/wtf-wednesday/"><img src="http://www.funnyorsnot.com/memebutton.jpg" /></a><center></center></center>Hopes@Staying Afloat!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04394821620148448570noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948278860231126250.post-91085048689904082772011-12-05T08:27:00.001-08:002011-12-05T08:28:00.282-08:00Wishful Thinking Christmas List<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
YAY!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The holiday
season is finally upon us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The season of
giving!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
It really, really is my favorite time of year for so many
reasons!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Watching the joy on children’s
faces as they take in the magic of the season!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
But it is also Monday, and you know what that means…Monday
is Listicles Day here on the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Sea</st1:placetype>
of <st1:placename w:st="on">Testosterone</st1:placename></st1:place>! </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
This week Stasha has asked us to put aside our giving mommy hearts for a brief
moment and actually make a list of things we want for ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now this was a harder task then I anticipated
because I love finding the “perfect gift” for everyone on my list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>LOVE IT!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Love it so much it’s probably considered a sickness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will hunt and hunt for the “perfect
gift.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even when I find something that
someone would like, I keep shopping to see if I can find something better,
which of course means, I’m shopping A LOT!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>See, told ya…a SICKNESS!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when
it comes to making a list of things I want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I draw a blank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every. Single.
Year!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There isn’t much I want in the way
of material things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, when we saw
Santa this last weekend he asked Sweet Pea what his mommy wanted for Christmas
and his answer was “Good Children.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ding, ding, ding, ding…we have a winner!! </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
But I’m going to give it my best try for today because of my
love for list making!</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Self-cleaning
bathrooms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three boys well four if you
count my husband, four bathrooms….enough said!</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Everyone
has heard about men and their “Mancaves.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Well, my whole HOUSE is a giant Mancave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I would give anything to have a little piece of my house designated
lovingly as “Chickville.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>I
would kill for a personal Chef.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
tired of having to come up with creative dinner ideas for my family only to
hear “ewwww I don’t think I like that.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>A
personal shopper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need HELP in the
fashion department.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am currently the
Mayor of Frumpville and I’d like to step down and have someone else take over
thankyouverymuch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Diamonds!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sorry, there is just nothing that makes
you feel more girly then sparkly diamonds and you can never, EVER have too
many!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>EVER!</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>I
would love for my two older boys to stop fighting for a whole month!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What??<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s my list right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can ask for
the moon and stars…just this once.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>I
would love not to have to pick up a spill of some sort for a day…just a day!</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>I
would love for my family to remember how we feel during this time of year and
keep that special magic in our hearts all through the year.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>I
would love to be able to help everyone in need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I really would.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel so very
blessed to have the life that I do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everyone, EVERYONE should feel that way.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Happiness for all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peace on Earth might be asking a tad too
much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if everyone were happy, really
truly happy…I think it would take the human race a long, LONG way! </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What are you wishing
for this year??</b></div>
<a href="http://www.northwestmommy.com/category/monday-listicles" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.northwestmommy.com/home/Listicle3.jpg" /></a>Hopes@Staying Afloat!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04394821620148448570noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948278860231126250.post-84156979829434456682011-12-02T07:34:00.001-08:002011-12-02T07:37:11.121-08:00Gone Sailing To Embrace The Chaos<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Today I’ve traveled east to visit my dear friend Jamie over
at her fabulous site <a href="http://www.mychosenchaos.com/2011/12/if-i-could-turn-back-time-staying.html"><span style="color: blue;">Chosen
Chaos. </span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Jamie is just flat out WONDERFUL we always have a great time
together during #wineparty on Twitter and I was so very honored when she asked
if I would participate in her fabulous meme called <a href="http://www.mychosenchaos.com/2011/12/if-i-could-turn-back-time-staying.html"><span style="color: blue;">If
I Could Turn Back Time</span></a> where you get to write a letter to your 18 old
self!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How FANTASTIC is that?</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
So please, go over to <a href="http://www.mychosenchaos.com/2011/12/if-i-could-turn-back-time-staying.html"><span style="color: blue;">Jamie’s
place</span></a> and see what I’m saying to my much younger and much thinner 18 year
old self!</div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.mychosenchaos.com/p/hello-18-year-old-self.html"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb459/chosenchaosblog/series18-165.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
If you are visiting from <a href="http://www.mychosenchaos.com/2011/12/if-i-could-turn-back-time-staying.html">Chosen Chaos</a>, </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
WELCOME!! I'm so glad you're here. May a pour you a cup of
Starbucks Coffee? A little wine perhaps (my beverage of choice)??<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sit and stay awhile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I’m a mom to three boys….yep I said that right THREE
boys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
So I bet you wonder what I say when people ask are you <a href="http://hopestostayafloat.blogspot.com/2011/07/gonna-try-for-girl.html">GonnaTry For A Girl?</a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Or my thoughts on <a href="http://hopestostayafloat.blogspot.com/2011/08/who-is-this-murphy-guy-anyway-and-why.html">Murphy's
Law</a> now that I'm a mom.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Did you know I have a <a href="http://hopestostayafloat.blogspot.com/2011/08/saving-wooo-old.html">Superhero</a>
living in my house? Yep! I do!</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
But after all is said and done, I owe my crazy happy life to
<a href="http://hopestostayafloat.blogspot.com/2011/09/packages.html">one very
special gift.</a> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would love for you
to ride the waves of the sea with me, please leave a comment so that I may get
to know YOU better too!! </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
Thanks so much for visiting!</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Hopes</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>Hopes@Staying Afloat!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04394821620148448570noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948278860231126250.post-25373077259946515682011-11-23T15:56:00.001-08:002011-11-23T16:00:07.255-08:00I Bet You’re Wondering….Now Why Don’t She Write?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
HOLA! <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Como</st1:place></st1:city>
Estas? </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I’m back!</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Well, I’ve been back for almost a week already! </div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
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So I’m sure you’re wondering where I’ve been, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why haven’t I posted anything?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah okay, so maybe not…maybe that is all in
my head, in my DREAMS even…but I’m going to tell you anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
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I came home all relaxed and with a TON of fabulous blog
topics in my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t wait to
get back into the blogging world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
then my world went WACKO!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like
Wow-Wow-Wiggle-Waddle-Wazzy-Woddle-WOOOO! Wacko! </div>
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<br /></div>
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First, Buggy got an ear infection and a fungal infection
while I was away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I was expecting it,
but he was so uncomfortable and clingy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just wanted to be with his mama!</div>
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<br /></div>
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Then BAM!</div>
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<br /></div>
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We had yet ANOTHER water issue in our home that had to be
dealt with ASAP!</div>
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BAM!</div>
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<br /></div>
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Big T gets a fever of 102!</div>
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Another BAM! No…I’m not channeling Emeril.</div>
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<br />
Sweet Pea has a coughing fit in the middle of the night that lasted 3 friggin
hours!</div>
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<br /></div>
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So three sick kids home for the last 4 days and they decided
to share with their mommy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>SO very kind
right?</div>
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<br /></div>
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The last straw?</div>
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BAM!</div>
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<br /></div>
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My Internet went kaput on my laptop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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So needless to say the reentry into real life hit me like a
falling tree!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I must have done
something to Karma in a previous life because apparently she doesn’t like me
much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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BUT, the kids seem to be on the mend, and I finally have my
Internet access back so things are starting to balance out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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But tomorrow is Thanksgiving!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How did that happen anyway?</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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So I’m here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll be flooding your inbox once
again very, VERY soon you lucky, lucky readers you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
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But first, I’m taking a day to be with my family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To show them how thankful I am for each and
every one of them.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Even if they do rub their snot all over me when they give me
a hug and sneeze in my coffee…</div>
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<br /></div>
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I’m thankful nonetheless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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I’m also thankful for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yep, you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you for hanging
in there with me while I went away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thank you for welcoming me back and thank you for your patience as I got
things all squared away!</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Since I’ve been out
of the loop lately I’m dying to know…what’s been going on with you?<o:p></o:p></b></div>Hopes@Staying Afloat!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04394821620148448570noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948278860231126250.post-30458434705836636842011-11-16T00:00:00.000-08:002011-11-16T00:00:08.267-08:00WTF Wednesday ~ Do You Hear What I Hear?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I don’t know what it is about commercials that get me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some will make me laugh to the point of tears
and other ones make me wonder who was asleep at the wheel during the
production.</div>
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<br /></div>
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For others I just know someone was reverting back to their
childhood days and trying to get away with something without their boss
catching it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>OR they were doing it with
their boss and well, that’s just all kinds of messed up.</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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Take this one for example</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/fcYWGwQu2WI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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Okay, so what do you hear those little elves doped up on
Helium saying?</div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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Sure it’s a commercial for a cell phone company so you can
figure it out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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</div>
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<br />
But the last time I checked, cell phone carriers were not in the business of
offering an Orgy Wonderland with their plans.</div>
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</div>
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I know sharing is all part of the Christmas spirit, but...WTF?? </div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
<br />
<center><a href="http://www.funnyorsnot.com/funny-or-snot/wtf-wednesday/"><img src="http://www.funnyorsnot.com/memebutton.jpg" /></a><center></center></center>Hopes@Staying Afloat!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04394821620148448570noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948278860231126250.post-17959145883404223682011-11-14T00:00:00.000-08:002011-11-14T00:00:08.646-08:00A Perfect Vacation<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
It’s time for another fantastic list for Stasha’s <a href="http://www.northwestmommy.com/">Monday’sListicles</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m really loving making
these lists and reading everyone else’s lists. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I’m even more excited about this week’s topic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because well, I was given the honor of choosing
this week’s topic and it’s all about VACATIONS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Which is my favorite topic aside from my children of course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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You all know how I feel about family vacations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They aren’t vacations at all, they are
adventures. </div>
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<br /></div>
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While there is absolutely nothing wrong with adventures (I’m
really fond of them), sometimes a perfect vacation is just what the doctor
ordered.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Here are the things that HAVE to be present in order for me
to call a vacation perfect.</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">SUN!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I live in the land of rain, so sunshine
is a must for my vacations.</li>
</ol>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<ol start="2" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">A
large body of water preferably a tropical sea of some sort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am a water girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love the sound of the water lapping up
onto the shore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love the swimming
and snorkeling you can do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, my
perfect vacation needs to have water in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pools are fine too, but they have to be
in addition to sea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
<br />
<ol start="3" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">To go
along with that water there must also be sand!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is nothing like putting your bare
feet into sand that has been warmed by the sun!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NOTHING!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></li>
</ol>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">There
must be a tropical flower, fruit, or a fun umbrella in whatever I’m
drinking…even if it’s just water!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I love it!</li>
</ol>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<ol start="5" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">There
should be a wonderful server who brings these drinks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone who is attentive and notices
when the glass is just about empty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It helps if there is a flag you can raise to have your server come
out to the beach and take your order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hey now, the topic is PERFECT vacation after all.</li>
</ol>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<ol start="6" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">A swim
up bar at the pool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Need I say
more.</li>
</ol>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<ol start="7" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">A
book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not a computerized copy of a
book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An actual book with actual
pages that I can crease and turn and basically ruin by the time I’m done.</li>
</ol>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<ol start="8" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">There
does need to be things you can do in the area if you are feeling
adventurous, but if you’re not…no biggy.</li>
</ol>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<ol start="9" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">The
company!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need to be able to enjoy
the company I have on vacations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To
not feel like I have to do everything they want to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When it’s my husband that’s a no
brainer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Friends can get a bit
tricky because you are living with them for a solid week. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Family is the same way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your company can make or break a
vacation so choose wisely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
haven’t been disappointed yet! </li>
</ol>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<ol start="10" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">TIME!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need more time while on a perfect
vacation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One week just isn’t
enough, two would be ideal or hey…if I’m dreaming a month would be
OUTSTANDING! </li>
</ol>
<br />
<a href="http://www.northwestmommy.com/category/monday-listicles" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.northwestmommy.com/home/Listicle3.jpg" /></a>
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<br /></div>Hopes@Staying Afloat!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04394821620148448570noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948278860231126250.post-54223941059079990042011-11-13T00:00:00.000-08:002011-11-13T00:00:09.496-08:00Sunday Sweetness ~ The Wonderful Man In My Life<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p>
</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
This weeks Sunday Sweetness without a doubt goes to my
husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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Here’s the skinny.</div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
We bought a timeshare at our favorite place in Cabo San
Lucas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With that purchase we received a
few bonus weeks one of which expired this year.</div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Since we went to Maui for our 10 year Anniversary in May of
this year, and my mom watched all three of my boys, with all three of their
schedules we didn’t want to ask her to watch them again, which I know she would
have agreed to do, despite the bowing down to me when I got home from Maui
(which I’m convinced she did just to make me feel like a better mom).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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So we were left wondering what to do with that extra
week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
My husband suggested that I should take my mom for a week down
to Cabo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
That’s right!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
HIS idea for me to go away, without him or the kids and just with my mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Partially as a “Thank You” for all the free
babysitting she’s done in the last 8 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But MOSTLY for my mom and I to have time together! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Back off people, he’s MINE!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
And you know what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He’s excited to have this time with the boys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Excited to see the things he misses on a day
to day basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Excited to hear the
stories, and share in the excitement of things when they happen instead of
hours later. </div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
HE, gets to be the parent our boys run to if they are hurt,
or sad, or have a fantastic story to tell about their day at school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>HE gets to do all the things I’ve title as
mundane and repetitive because I do them every single day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he sees it as something new.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Did I leave a list a mile long about all things I do on a
daily basis and the running schedule I have in my head?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can bet your bottom dollar I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>#ControlFreak!</div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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But!</div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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Do I feel he can handle it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Absolutely!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I even think he will
do a better job than I do on any given day (because who can’t rise to the
occasion for a week?).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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But after all is said and done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gave me a gift.</div>
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</div>
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<br />
Sure we bought the timeshare together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We live under the whole “what’s his is mine and what’s mine is
negotiable mentality” (not really, but I FRIGGIN LOVE that saying).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he spoke up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>HE said that I should do this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>HE had to talk me into it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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And for that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The man
surely deserves a trophy right?</div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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Okay, that may be going a bit too far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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But at the very least he deserves a Sunday Sweetness post
expressing my deepest gratitude for his genius idea that puts me sitting here
sipping a margarita under a palapa with my mom!</div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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So thank you my love!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You are AMAZING!!</div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What selfless thing
has your significant other done for you??<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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</div>
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</div>Hopes@Staying Afloat!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04394821620148448570noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948278860231126250.post-33679462673746204202011-11-11T00:00:00.000-08:002011-11-11T00:00:13.691-08:00It’s Not You, It’s Me<br />
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So most of you know I’m on vacation right now in Cabo San
Lucas Mexico.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you don’t know, man oh
man, I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again…get yourself on Twitter!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not just to keep up with me (but why wouldn’t
you want to) but for the vast amount of knowledge that is shared there!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
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I’m unplugging….for a whole week. </div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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In the blogging world that usually implies an understandable
bloggy burnout.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve learned very
quickly (as we all do) that blogging can take a toll on you and you need to
just walk away sometimes.</div>
<br />
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<br />
But that’s not the case for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t
have bloggy burnout. I actually spent the last few days vacillating between
which computer devices I want to take with me to “stay connected.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turns out, laptop, iPad, and the iPhone are
just a bit too much for me to bring to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
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No my burnout is of a different sort.</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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I’m in a Mommy Burnout! </div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
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So I planned this trip a long time ago, even BEFORE I
started blogging…GASP!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is going to be
a fun week away with no children and no husband just me and my mom for a
mother-daughter getaway!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
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My mom, I LOVE my mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We have so much fun together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
used to go out on mother-daughter weekend getaways here locally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the last time we did that was before I
got pregnant with Sweet Pea so that is basically 6 years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This time we are doing it up BIG! </div>
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<br /></div>
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We are going to have a BLAST!</div>
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<br /></div>
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As far as blogging goes, I am of course going to have stuff
for you fabulous people to read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m too
much of a control freak not to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wait,
did I just admit that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>DAMN that was
supposed to be a secret!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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But what I won’t be able to do, and what I really do feel
badly about…is read and comment on all your fabulous blogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Hear this!</div>
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<br /></div>
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I LOVE to read your words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You inspire me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You make me
think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You make me cry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You make me go and hug my children just a
little bit longer that evening. You make me laugh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I want to be able to tell you these things every time you
put yourself out there with your posts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But for one week, I won’t be able to.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Now I know you don’t rely on my comments for validation
(hardly).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I realize that I’m not the end
all be all to your comment feed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Far
freaking from it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I wanted to let
you know that I will miss reading your thoughts, your insight, and your humor.</div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
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I promise I will be up and running in a weeks time! </div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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And you better watch out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because this mama is going to have blogging/tweeting/commenting
withdrawals and there’s no telling what she will do when I get back!</div>
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<br /></div>
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Will I think about you ABSOLUTELY! Will I go out of my way
to spend a bazillion dollars just to connect with you via my phone (oh yeah, I
checked into it), nope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that doesn’t
mean I don’t love you or want to know what you’re thinking.</div>
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<br /></div>
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It just means that I’m in Mommy Burnout mode.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m taking a break for station identification
and will be back soon.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Hasta La <st1:place w:st="on">Vista</st1:place> Baby!</div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
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I will raise a Margarita in honor of each of my
readers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, okay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not each and EVERY one of you because that
would land me in a Hospital in a foreign country and THAT is something I would
like to avoid at all costs!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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So I will catch you on the flip side and I expect a full
report about what I’ve missed when I get back!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Since I’m in
paradise, what is your favorite tropical drink??<o:p></o:p></b></div>Hopes@Staying Afloat!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04394821620148448570noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948278860231126250.post-19728157125633231952011-11-09T00:00:00.000-08:002011-11-09T08:16:11.073-08:00Wordless Wednesday ~ Seasons OverIt's been a LONG season.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9jDGszkG08/Tri20aRGKcI/AAAAAAAAADE/d48kozaJrzI/s1600/photo+%252813%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9jDGszkG08/Tri20aRGKcI/AAAAAAAAADE/d48kozaJrzI/s320/photo+%252813%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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But the boys had a great time and are already excited for next year. Me? Well I'm ready to put these things away</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4XK8FbvxAns/Tri3QT371LI/AAAAAAAAADM/A6-ffe6b72U/s1600/photo+%252814%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4XK8FbvxAns/Tri3QT371LI/AAAAAAAAADM/A6-ffe6b72U/s320/photo+%252814%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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And not have to look at them, until next year.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Goodbye Soccer Season. It's been fun. </div>
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<br /></div>
<a href="http://www.bellebeanchicagodog.com/"><img alt="iPhone Photo Phun" border="0" src="http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af279/bellebeandog/iPhone-Photo-Phun-1.jpg" /></a>
<br />
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<em>{Linking up for Wordy-Wordless Wednesday with the fantastic </em><a href="http://www.bywordofmouthmusings.com/2011/10/howlerific-halloween-wordy-wordless-wednesday/"><em>By Word of Mouth Musings</em></a><em>, </em><a href="http://liveandloveoutloud.com/"><em>Live and Love...Outloud</em></a><em>, </em><a href="http://www.angryjuliemonday.com/"><em>Angry Julie Monday,</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://merrywithchildren.com/"><em>Merry With Children</em></a><em>}</em></div>
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</div>Hopes@Staying Afloat!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04394821620148448570noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948278860231126250.post-62088229309722644842011-11-07T00:00:00.000-08:002011-11-06T23:02:03.774-08:0010 High School Memories<br />
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This week is such a fun week for <a href="http://www.northwestmommy.com/2011/monday-listicles-bitb">Stasha’s Monday Listicles</a>
because the fabulous<a href="http://lovelinks.freefringes.com/"> Lovelinks</a> got to choose the topic and even created a cute
button to go with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The topic is High
School.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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But, before I start on this week’s list I have to tell you
how VERY excited I am to have been chosen to come up with next week’s
topic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Little Ol’ Me was actually asked
to come up with a <a href="http://www.northwestmommy.com/2011/monday-listicles-bitb">Monday Listicles</a> topic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I swear I must be dreaming right??<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m honored, so very honored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
along with this honor comes a bit of pressure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I mean there are some great topics out there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t want to let all the wonderful
listicles people down now do I?</div>
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<br /></div>
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So I had a ton of ideas run through my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I kept coming back to one.</div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
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I’ve talked about how I just started embracing Fall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well it seems Winter is here already!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How did that happen??<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not ready!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So in protest I will be going on a vacation
later this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And by vacation I mean
a REAL vacation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No kids, no husband,
just me and my mom for a whole week in Cabo San Lucas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
next week’s <a href="http://www.northwestmommy.com/2011/monday-listicles-bitb">Monday Listicles</a> topic is:</div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">10 things that make a
perfect vacation. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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Have fun with it, spin it however you’d like!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t wait to read them all!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
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And now, here are 10 of my High School Memories.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Being in High School during the early 90’s in the <st1:place w:st="on">Pacific Northwest</st1:place> really was, well…lets say
interesting!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a lot of fantastic
memories of High School but there are a few that stand out.</div>
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1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>FLANNEL.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I never wore so much flannel in all my life.</div>
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<br /></div>
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2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The footwear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You basically wore three things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>KSwiss<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And my personal
favorite…Birkenstocks with socks for every. Single. season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You wear them with jeans and flannel shirts
in the fall and winter, and shorts in the spring and summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were extremely versatile and extremely
UGLY!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>HA! </div>
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<br /></div>
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3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the many, many
concerts I performed while in the select choir called the Mello-Aires.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We performed at a used car lot and the
fanciest hotel downtown and everywhere in between.</div>
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<br /></div>
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4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Along the same
lines of our select choir.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were able
to march in the Inaugural Parade for President Clinton and then later that
week, in Disney World.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Band/Choir geek
or not, that was a pretty amazing trip and one I will remember forever.</div>
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<br /></div>
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5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>School
dances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking back it seems we had
dances for everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was the
homecoming dance (which wasn’t formal by the way…yes I’m still bitter), Winter
Formal, and Tolo’s up the yin-yang.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Didn’t matter if it was formal, or if you were in a safari costume
(yep…I was).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They always, ALWAYS played
Billy Idol’s song Mony Mony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And of
course, everyone in the school changed the lyrics!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the record, Billy Idol’s lyrics were much
better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Football games.
These were the most memorable because of the friends and not the game itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, friends and a little candy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This candy I’m referring to are those “O”
shaped gummi candies that taste like apple or peach or something like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course these candies were re-named by a
certain friend who brought them to every game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The new name was “penis-rings.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Childish, immature and stupid right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Abso-freakin-lutely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it was
High School.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can name a bunch of
things that fall into that category. </div>
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<br /></div>
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7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t make a
list about high school without mentioning my car accident.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a HUGE part of my high school life.</div>
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8.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Skipping school in
the afternoons in the spring time, like A LOT to go down to the beach and play
volleyball, have a BBQ, more volleyball.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was HEAVEN!</div>
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<br /></div>
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9.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glasses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had contacts, but I was up so darn early in
the morning for my select choir class I never wore them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I look back at so many of my pictures in high
school wondering why the hell I didn’t wear my friggin contacts!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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10.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They made my high school memories what they
are, plain and simple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were there
for me in my times of need, celebrating my times of triumphs, and reassuring in
my times of uncertainty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t have
made it through High School without them.</div>
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<a href="http://www.northwestmommy.com/category/monday-listicles" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.northwestmommy.com/home/Listicle3.jpg" /></a>
<a href="http://www.northwestmommy.com/2011/monday-listicles-BITB" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.northwestmommy.com/home/BITB.jpg" /></a>Hopes@Staying Afloat!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04394821620148448570noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948278860231126250.post-75656019182271014532011-11-06T00:00:00.000-07:002011-11-06T00:00:07.331-07:00Six Words Sunday ~ 4 Days Until I’m Cabo-Bound<br />
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Sun-kissed Cabo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Margaritas,
fun, relaxation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bliss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>Hopes@Staying Afloat!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04394821620148448570noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948278860231126250.post-4123632561783873802011-11-04T00:00:00.000-07:002011-11-03T20:21:38.211-07:00I’ll BEE Cruising Today!<br />
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That’s right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
taking a cruise.</div>
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<br />
Well not a REAL one…I WISH!</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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But I am taking myself on an imaginary cruise up to my
Northern neighbor to <a href="http://www.beeswithhoney.com/">BEE </a>with one of my favorite people in the
Blogosphere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is so very sweet, kind
and supportive and her blog was one of the first ones I started reading
religiously when I started on my blogging adventure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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I’m so incredibly honored to be able to say that I’m over at
<a href="http://www.beeswithhoney.com/">Bruna’s</a> place today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is the amazing
talent behind <a href="http://www.beeswithhoney.com/">Bees With Honey</a>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is
the stunning mother of three GORGEOUS little girls and she writes about her
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t wait to meet her someday,
SOON I hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also has an amazing
feature on her fabulous blog called Let’s Bee Friends where you can link up and
meet new people?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How fantastic is
that??<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br />
So please go and visit me over <a href="http://www.beeswithhoney.com/2011/11/lets-bee-friends-with-hope/">there</a> today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m shedding a little light on <a href="http://www.beeswithhoney.com/2011/11/lets-bee-friends-with-hope/">what makes me, ME</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.beeswithhoney.com/lets-bee-friends/" target="_blank"><img alt="Let's BEE Friends" height="150" src="http://www.beeswithhoney.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/letsbeefriends.jpg" title="Let's BEE Friends" width="150" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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If you are visiting from Bees With Honey,</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
<br />
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WELCOME!! I'm so glad you're here. May a pour you a cup of
Starbucks Coffee? A little wine perhaps (my beverage of choice)??<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sit and stay awhile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
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I’m a mom to three boys….yep I said that right THREE
boys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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So I bet you wonder what I say when people ask are you <a href="http://hopestostayafloat.blogspot.com/2011/07/gonna-try-for-girl.html">GonnaTry For A Girl?</a></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
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Or my thoughts on <a href="http://hopestostayafloat.blogspot.com/2011/08/who-is-this-murphy-guy-anyway-and-why.html">Murphy's
Law</a> now that I'm a mom.</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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Did you know I have a <a href="http://hopestostayafloat.blogspot.com/2011/08/saving-wooo-old.html">Superhero</a>
living in my house? Yep! I do!</div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
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But after all is said and done, I owe my crazy happy life to
<a href="http://hopestostayafloat.blogspot.com/2011/09/packages.html">one very
special gift.</a> </div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would love for you
to ride the waves of the sea with me, please leave a comment so that I may get
to know YOU better too!! </div>
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<br />
Thanks so much for visiting!</div>
<br />
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Hopes</div>
<br />
<br />Hopes@Staying Afloat!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04394821620148448570noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948278860231126250.post-68073459544771177682011-11-02T00:00:00.000-07:002011-11-02T06:52:02.539-07:00Wordy Wordless Wednesday ~ Halloween Round-Up<br />
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The questions started early in the morning before breakfast.</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mommy, when can we go
Trick or Treating?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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After school</div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mommy, can we go
Trick or Treating NOOOOWW?</i></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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Right as my husband walked through the door.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mommy, Daddy is home
lets go, lets, go, LETS GOOOO!!!!</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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It wasn’t looking good and two little boys were on the verge
of panicking. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xwdjpumxaec/TrCMIwmDTWI/AAAAAAAAACk/Va8_KlAeR1A/s1600/photo+%25288%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xwdjpumxaec/TrCMIwmDTWI/AAAAAAAAACk/Va8_KlAeR1A/s320/photo+%25288%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">
</span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Okay, Okay </i>I
say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Let’s
get you guys into your costumes and we will take our pictures.</i></div>
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They were so excited to just be in their costumes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They spent the next 30-45 minutes “practicing”
their doorbell ringing, Trick or Treat asking and “Thank You” techniques.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Then they took it upon them selves to save the world and rid
it from all it’s evil candy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a
tough job.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l0Ikk9LHqy8/TrCM_RvxX_I/AAAAAAAAAC8/roUbfy5qs0A/s1600/photo+%25289%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l0Ikk9LHqy8/TrCM_RvxX_I/AAAAAAAAAC8/roUbfy5qs0A/s320/photo+%25289%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then I asked for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Just
ONE more picture with their baby brother! </i>This of course turned into twelve
pictures before I could get Buggy to look at me.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-947eM1dbQoI/TrCMGHnsjiI/AAAAAAAAACc/GshujNxpS3Y/s1600/photo+%25287%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-947eM1dbQoI/TrCMGHnsjiI/AAAAAAAAACc/GshujNxpS3Y/s320/photo+%25287%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Finally!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were
off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Had a fantastic time at our friends
house for pizza, wine (adults only of course gesh) and trick or treating in
their neighborhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Then it was off to Nana and Papa’s house for pictures galore
and some awesome Halloween presents!</div>
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Then back to our neighborhood for the final wave of Trick or
Treating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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At the end of the night I had three very happy and excited
little boys.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K1ZFHXWErME/TrCMx6TUrFI/AAAAAAAAAC0/mpWRFsxkLdg/s1600/photo+%252810%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K1ZFHXWErME/TrCMx6TUrFI/AAAAAAAAAC0/mpWRFsxkLdg/s320/photo+%252810%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Well, wouldn’t you be?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Look at this haul!!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8HO1LYGz2XM/TrCMvHOdz5I/AAAAAAAAACs/x2RqIstxB1o/s1600/photo+%252811%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8HO1LYGz2XM/TrCMvHOdz5I/AAAAAAAAACs/x2RqIstxB1o/s320/photo+%252811%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Here’s hoping our children come down from their sugar high
sometime this week!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Linking up with the fabulous Nicole at <a href="http://www.bywordofmouthmusings.com/blog/">By Word Of Mouth Musings</a> because I think this fabulous Bat should be named HARVEY!</div>
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<center><a href="http://bywordofmouthmusings.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff519/jessdtorres/HalloweenBat.jpg" /></a></center>
<br />
And also with the amazing Jessica at <a href="http://fourplusanangel.com/">Four Plus An Angel</a> and <a href="http://www.sellabitmum.com/">Tracy at Sellabit Mum</a> for Boo In The Blogosphere<br />
<div align="center">
<a href="http://sellabitmum.com/2011/10/29/boo-in-the-blogosphere-halloween-costume-link-up/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://fourplusanangel.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/halloween_night1.jpg" title="Four Plus an Angel" /></a></div>
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<br />
And of course since all the pictures were taken with my iPhone Camera, I'm linking up again for #iPPP</div>
<a href="http://www.bellebeanchicagodog.com/"><img alt="iPhone Photo Phun" border="0" src="http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af279/bellebeandog/iPhone-Photo-Phun-1.jpg" /></a>
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<br /></div>Hopes@Staying Afloat!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04394821620148448570noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948278860231126250.post-72678794137914280002011-10-31T06:57:00.000-07:002011-10-31T07:00:51.197-07:00Sharing My Two Cents<br />
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Happy Happy Halloween everyone!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I hope everyone is having a fantastic day and enjoying all the
festivities of this creative and fun holiday!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>May your costumes be epic and your Halloween Candy buckets be plentiful.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
As with any holiday, even the ones that require costumes, I believe you should surround yourself with people you love. </div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So, I have floated myself on over to <a href="http://www.tammystwocents.com/">Tammy’s Two Cents</a> place
today to give my two cents about what <a href="http://www.tammystwocents.com/2011/10/friends-you-love-blog-hop-meet-hopes-from-staying-afloat/">friendship means to me</a> in her fabulous
Blog Hop!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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So come and visit me over <a href="http://www.tammystwocents.com/2011/10/friends-you-love-blog-hop-meet-hopes-from-staying-afloat/">there</a> because I’m talking about
you, and you, and you,and even you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Because <a href="http://www.tammystwocents.com/2011/10/friends-you-love-blog-hop-meet-hopes-from-staying-afloat/">friendship</a> is where it’s at for me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<center><div align="center">
<a href="http://www.tammystwocents.com/2011/10/friends-you-love-blog-hop-meet-hopes-from-staying-afloat/"><img alt="Friends You Love" src="http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/ad202/That_One_Mom/Friends%20You%20Love%20-%20TFC/BlogHop-FriendsYouLove.png" /></a> </div>
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</center>Hopes@Staying Afloat!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04394821620148448570noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948278860231126250.post-83997039216299961862011-10-30T00:00:00.000-07:002011-10-30T00:00:01.001-07:00Sunday Sweetness ~ A Normal Day<br />
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For the last few weeks we’ve been living in <a href="http://hopestostayafloat.blogspot.com/2011/10/under-construction.html">chaos</a>.</div>
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<br /></div>
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There have been water damage repair companies, plumbers,
insurance adjusters, contractors, contractors, more insurance adjusters, and
did I mention contractors? in our house.</div>
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<br /></div>
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There have been fans, dehumidifiers, and plastic containment
barriers up in our home.</div>
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<br /></div>
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There is no immediate end to the chaos in the near
future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to get used to this
being a way of life for the next few months.</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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But last Friday?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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Friday was the first day in over 2 weeks where we didn’t
have some stranger come into our home to look at something, or test something,
or do something, or quote something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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No, Friday we woke up had breakfast, and ran errands just
like any normal day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got to play with
my two younger boys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Buggy was calm and
not scared and clingy like he had been for the last two weeks because of the
sheer volume of strangers in our home.</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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I got to put Buggy down for a nap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ON TIME!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And he slept so well.</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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I got to rock with Sweet Pea, read him a few books and then
let him have quiet time while I went downstairs and sat in the silence of the
house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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By the time Big T got home from school everyone was up and
rested and ready to have some fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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It was a typical normal day, and I LOVED every minute of it.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I will think back and remember that day whenever I feel
myself feeling antsy because I need to be “doing something” other than they
typical normal day-to-day stuff. </div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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Because sometimes a normal day is just what the doctor ordered.</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Do you find pleasure
in your normal day?<o:p></o:p></b></div>Hopes@Staying Afloat!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04394821620148448570noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948278860231126250.post-86291685819376179942011-10-28T00:00:00.000-07:002011-11-01T07:30:13.696-07:00Mommy Mush Brain<br />
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People warn you.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Mothers, grandmothers, friends…the warnings come from all
over.</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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They come fast and furious.</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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They come by way of “enjoy your brain now sweetie because
once you’re pregnant it all goes bye-bye.”</div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Ah yes, pregnancy brain.</div>
<br />
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<br />
For me that meant a certain amount of fogginess that just never went away. Pair
the fogginess with hormonal emotions and you’ve got flying blueberry pancakes
and a major breakdown over the texture of the nursery walls.</div>
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<br /></div>
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After you give birth, more warnings come.</div>
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<br /></div>
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“If you thought pregnancy brain was tough just wait until
mommy brain.”</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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Ummm yeah….mommy brain?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mommy brain is tough!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Early on mommy brain meant not remembering if I showered,
brushed my teeth or had a meal that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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It meant trying to remember how many ounces of formula my
baby had and how long ago he had it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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It meant trying to remember all the stats and percentages
after a well baby visit at the pediatricians’ office.</div>
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<br /></div>
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After getting out of the infant baby stage and you’re
starting to sleep through the night you think that you will finally get your
normal non-pregnancy, non-mommy brain back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Yeah, that doesn’t happen. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Well at least it hasn’t happened for me yet and I’ve been
waiting and looking for it.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Mommy brain sticks around well past the baby stage because
now what you are trying to remember is not just meals and doctors appointments.</div>
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<br /></div>
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In addition NOW you have to keep school work, activities,
field trips, and parties in your brain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You have to keep soccer practice, games, and snack schedules in your brain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t forget the pick up and drop off times
(for school and sports) You have to keep dentist, and hair appointments in your
brain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to mention all the typical
household stuff like if everyone has enough clean underwear or not. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Sure an organizer and calendar help, IF you remember to look
at it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then again, that is one more
reminder to keep in your brain. </div>
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AND if you have more than one child you have to keep all of it straight and try
not to mix it up between the kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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This usually results in you calling one child by every other
name in the household (including the dogs) before actually getting to his real
and actual name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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So after a long day of remembering everything listed above
and then some by the time the evening rolls around I don’t just have Mommy
Brain, but Mommy Mush Brain.</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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It hits about the same time every night, right around
7-8pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You ask me a question and I’ve
got the “deer caught in headlights” look as a response.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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There is nothing left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My brain feels like Cinderella after the ball, except I’m not the
princess who goes from wearing a gorgeous gown to rags.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My brain is the gorgeous flowing carriage
that turns into a pumpkin and then gets trampled on by horses.</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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And that….that is Mommy Mush Brain! </div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong>Do you get Mommy Mush Brain as much as I do?</strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
<a href="http://lovelinks.freefringes.com/2011/11/01/lovelinks-29-open/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+freefringes%2Flovelinks+%28lovelinks%29"><img alt="lovelinks" src="http://lovelinks.freefringes.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/blog_badge_29.jpg" title="lovelinks" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<br /></div>Hopes@Staying Afloat!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04394821620148448570noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948278860231126250.post-3395988595117483242011-10-26T00:00:00.000-07:002011-11-07T21:56:59.118-08:00Embracing Fall<em></em><br />
Okay, most of you know that I've seriously been fighting the arrival of Fall,
mostly because we didn't really ever <a href="http://hopestostayafloat.blogspot.com/2011/09/ready-set-cram.html">HAVE a REAL summer</a> this year. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
But I've finally caved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The crispness
in the air, the changing colors, the rain. I simply cannot deny it anymore. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
But there is another more compelling reason why I've resigned to the fact
that Fall is actually here.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Those of you who aren't on Twitter, first...why the heck not? And second,
you may not know that I recently got my very first iPhone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See if you were on Twitter you would totally
known this!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I’m not going to lie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m having a
TON of fun with it since getting it only last week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of my favorite parts about it is the
camera.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m finding myself taking all
kinds of pictures I never would have before because of how easy it is to do
with my new iPhone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Which also means I can finally participate in the #iPPP (iPhone Photo Phun) meme that I've been dying to link up to! </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So here I am, finally willing and ready to embrace Fall:<br />
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
By enjoying my hot coffee on cool brisk mornings while waiting at the bus stop with Big T.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RUJ4Z3u7UVI/Tqc7LQpVo-I/AAAAAAAAAB0/BSHq-14r3R0/s1600/photo+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RUJ4Z3u7UVI/Tqc7LQpVo-I/AAAAAAAAAB0/BSHq-14r3R0/s320/photo+%25284%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
By taking in all the vibrant changing colors of the fall leaves </div>
<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PhrfG09blL8/Tqc7V4780_I/AAAAAAAAAB8/KYg2IGEmzo8/s1600/photo+%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PhrfG09blL8/Tqc7V4780_I/AAAAAAAAAB8/KYg2IGEmzo8/s320/photo+%25285%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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And by picking the perfect pumpkin at the patch with my kids.</div>
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</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k0XAFWr-G3g/Tqc7izkFKQI/AAAAAAAAACE/wxrSANp8zFI/s1600/photo+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k0XAFWr-G3g/Tqc7izkFKQI/AAAAAAAAACE/wxrSANp8zFI/s320/photo+%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Bring it Fall! But please stick around for a little while, because I'm definitely not ready for winter yet! <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bellebeanchicagodog.com/"><img alt="iPhone Photo Phun" border="0" src="http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af279/bellebeandog/iPhone-Photo-Phun-1.jpg" /></a>
</div>
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<em>{Also linking up for Wordy-Wordless Wednesday with the fantastic </em><a href="http://www.bywordofmouthmusings.com/2011/10/howlerific-halloween-wordy-wordless-wednesday/"><em>By Word of Mouth Musings</em></a><em>, </em><a href="http://liveandloveoutloud.com/"><em>Live and Love...Outloud</em></a><em>, </em><a href="http://www.angryjuliemonday.com/"><em>Angry Julie Monday,</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://merrywithchildren.com/"><em>Merry With Children</em></a><em>}</em></div>Hopes@Staying Afloat!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04394821620148448570noreply@blogger.com52