tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152949732024-02-21T11:16:32.136-05:00Blue Daisy GraphicsDigital graphic design specializing in social media marketing support graphics. logo design, custom graphics for blogs, twiiter backgrounds, digital scrapbooking and card making.Sue daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13064834741197075001noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15294973.post-81126114068238093672011-01-06T15:30:00.000-05:002011-01-06T15:30:49.972-05:00WAHM another lie to mislead us women.Here I am a Mom to 4. A Mom who also enjoys working. I am a designer. Ever since I was a littel girl I loved to draw. I used to want to be a billboard painter when I grew up. I pursued my art degree at a four year college. I landed a job right out of school and soaked up the expereince like a sponge. I also wanted a family. Met a fabulous guy who wanted the same things as I. We did it all the way you are supposed to. Got engaged, got married, moved to a more economical city, so one of us could stay home when we started our family. Bought a house, adopted a dog, and got pregnant. I worked for the better part of my oldest's baby and toddler years while my husband stayed home. You see I had a great paying job that I loved. We had our second son and for another year, I pushed through the guilt of leaving my babies. When our second turned one work changed a bit and the love was fading fast. My husband was offered fulltime. So we switched it around, my husband worked fulltime while I would freelance. I remember a colleague, also a woman, not married and had no children said to me when I quit, "I have a friend like you who thinks she can do it all also". That still burns 7 years later. you see I thought of course I can do it all, I will just work from home. And I tried, I would plan to stay up all night, and one of the boys would get sick, and want me. Or I would stay up all night and one of the boys would get sick and not be able to go to school, or the sitters (my parents and a neighbor). I worked freelance for a women who took risks and failed. On my own it was hard to have a meeting with a client. Folks would ask me if I took a phone call while in the car if I was in car pool? I never wanted to invite a client to the house because, who has time to clean for a client, let alone be a mom and a wife and work at home. So for the past 6 years, and two children more, I dabbled. I took classes, took on a client here and there. I did work for friends and family. Tried to launch a digital scrapbooking business, launched websites, designed logos, custom cards, anything graphic that I could sell on etsy.com. I just could not let it go. From this I fell into another love, Social media marketing, and it is going great. So great that I am forced to entertain childcare and it's expense to give my business and my clients the time it deserves. How do I justify the expense? Will I make enough to cover the cost of putting my 2 year old in fulltime daycare? And will I survive the self loathing. I am so ready to go back to work. The opportunity presented to me is something I can't postpone. I am excited to grow my business and possibly pull a paycheck! The risk is going to be worth it. I apologize in advance to my kids, I did really try to do it all. What happened is I did do it all, but none of it really very well. A WAHM - well there just is no such thing. You either are a working mom or a stay at home mom. I will succumb and I will work at home while my children are somewhere else.<br />
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sue daisySue daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13064834741197075001noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15294973.post-21421547155162227322010-08-28T18:36:00.000-04:002010-08-28T18:36:01.373-04:00The big unveiling of the social media friendly logo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihI2bmq3hn7aMj2ImXAVtP0Kt1hsAeVfglPSGjN8-AiKrEBoJf_LV4KXHJ0XZvEeg1TqBZDLEdgw8ZX3YnQrrjLsLkpw-QQVOgArQeyYdvSK0DjGPDIqM-yZU6g68w_APS47EQ/s1600/amazon_bdg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihI2bmq3hn7aMj2ImXAVtP0Kt1hsAeVfglPSGjN8-AiKrEBoJf_LV4KXHJ0XZvEeg1TqBZDLEdgw8ZX3YnQrrjLsLkpw-QQVOgArQeyYdvSK0DjGPDIqM-yZU6g68w_APS47EQ/s320/amazon_bdg.jpg" /></a></div>Introducing my new, more social media friendly logo for Blue Daisy Graphics.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVvsz3COi-icKevsln_vQqBr0-SUS-_837S7lTNiz__9bYFJvww6rXs1fvN3ATCHOAzJDDHnpzjcPOlEEmUOVy6DMypxHZHH8p3Ns58hrW22Z_gn5uyRehm9SvD4MaZ93P-gc2/s1600/bdg_logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVvsz3COi-icKevsln_vQqBr0-SUS-_837S7lTNiz__9bYFJvww6rXs1fvN3ATCHOAzJDDHnpzjcPOlEEmUOVy6DMypxHZHH8p3Ns58hrW22Z_gn5uyRehm9SvD4MaZ93P-gc2/s320/bdg_logo.jpg" /></a></div>I can easily isolate the daisy,<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYzO3cr9Tph3hU_XBa__8wMvEcNfNGXEhwjWtb6-ICA64JN4zLoIfvzHOPEh2jHNOz0nkhu5jmJ6sbtyoXsZkw8O-zbnJCmfn9H7ktKmxZu8YwSifmtDl2yGk7MMw9vGZvrML/s1600/twitter_avatar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYzO3cr9Tph3hU_XBa__8wMvEcNfNGXEhwjWtb6-ICA64JN4zLoIfvzHOPEh2jHNOz0nkhu5jmJ6sbtyoXsZkw8O-zbnJCmfn9H7ktKmxZu8YwSifmtDl2yGk7MMw9vGZvrML/s320/twitter_avatar.jpg" /></a></div>and use it in an avatar,<br />
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to see it see it live<br />
visit me on twitter here <a href="http://twitter.com/bluedaisygrpx">@suedaisy</a> and facebook <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Atlanta-GA/blue-daisy-graphics/174981896944?ref=ts">here</a><br />
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contact me and I can create a more social media friendly logo for you too.<br />
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suzanne</div>Sue daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13064834741197075001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15294973.post-87230297718240277732010-06-06T08:36:00.004-04:002010-06-06T08:42:40.653-04:00Designing Inside the BoxSo I went to this lunch and learn recently about twittering, and social media marketing. It was a great event. @<span style="background-color: white;"><span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat;">swaygrl</span> </span>put it together. It introduced me to more ins and outs of twitter and how to use social media to market my design business. I immediately became painfully aware that my old logo was not social media savvy. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-eWJzOyPXrdROLfKsjiuGfuVzqxGtKHryUyrjavia3ZDMLSN9pg3xZj30thnbn2XZUw0EzR7PtdVT34fOABAnAJWL944jKMd5DWexoKlgYeEvoJximrOUnJFqQbPrx5eCP4s/s1600/myOldLogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-eWJzOyPXrdROLfKsjiuGfuVzqxGtKHryUyrjavia3ZDMLSN9pg3xZj30thnbn2XZUw0EzR7PtdVT34fOABAnAJWL944jKMd5DWexoKlgYeEvoJximrOUnJFqQbPrx5eCP4s/s320/myOldLogo.jpg" /></a></div>Those tiny little avatars 48px x 48px made my logo look awful. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHd2W2w1ya2cqKmFSTfFhZCKQFTXlc5Vxh6Es_dTG0LQmiNQxUa0LcGwnMTF2E3HCkentdKBFUV6feb5L89FRqhtNi62JOjfHZAX0h8RbY2JyFjiTK7st8n3WETulPv3UMrpDh/s1600/tiny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHd2W2w1ya2cqKmFSTfFhZCKQFTXlc5Vxh6Es_dTG0LQmiNQxUa0LcGwnMTF2E3HCkentdKBFUV6feb5L89FRqhtNi62JOjfHZAX0h8RbY2JyFjiTK7st8n3WETulPv3UMrpDh/s320/tiny.jpg" /></a></div>I am redesigning, so the logo will be more social media friendly. I will take the blue daisy out of the logo and use it in my avatars and <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background: #ffffff;">favicons</span>. Another example of a logo that is not social media friendly is Seattle's Best Coffee. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCtjhRF-BmnS7NbcBejBkXOyg8twTRhKBmv2SDHquj_L2SC5LhhZ_DUxkZqsI9PdIyFonkD3gnYobdurh4HyNU7x0Ulk8l46rvtIStPfX2QmDDn458QZ8C8K8Q_e7li2uSOsu/s1600/seattlesOld+Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCtjhRF-BmnS7NbcBejBkXOyg8twTRhKBmv2SDHquj_L2SC5LhhZ_DUxkZqsI9PdIyFonkD3gnYobdurh4HyNU7x0Ulk8l46rvtIStPfX2QmDDn458QZ8C8K8Q_e7li2uSOsu/s320/seattlesOld+Logo.jpg" /></a></div>They just went through a major restyle. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_WuqcO0kd7tI0fIV4As6g_1YZAuCedKzRCrUkLrymSoNzP2HgSZeutkUhRY0CITbTuIOO7ozS9GzXYr2cwHcnB-pPgTvKW3TANeOzEtqVwecNTjFdNkOJVhb0V1jNP5yM0qY/s1600/seattleNewLogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_WuqcO0kd7tI0fIV4As6g_1YZAuCedKzRCrUkLrymSoNzP2HgSZeutkUhRY0CITbTuIOO7ozS9GzXYr2cwHcnB-pPgTvKW3TANeOzEtqVwecNTjFdNkOJVhb0V1jNP5yM0qY/s320/seattleNewLogo.jpg" /></a></div>They got some <a href="http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/05/18/seattles-best-new-logo-sparks-debate-blood-coffee/">slack</a> for it too. I understand why they did it though, and now see others that have already made the transition, like Dairy Queen <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-1Ji1y9HgFkSoNmXkHSF9d3OG0M4ew75PdLraX1muqhBB_scYHPFQa_HaorS5SsZWfwlg1v9QhSomAWPWXgfhKM9ahVloXPLN97BMcEpnvAlm54xEJPV85bVlAq9WXSXpoeg/s1600/newDQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-1Ji1y9HgFkSoNmXkHSF9d3OG0M4ew75PdLraX1muqhBB_scYHPFQa_HaorS5SsZWfwlg1v9QhSomAWPWXgfhKM9ahVloXPLN97BMcEpnvAlm54xEJPV85bVlAq9WXSXpoeg/s320/newDQ.jpg" /></a></div>and<span style="background-color: white;"> <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat;">Dunkin</span></span> Donuts <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWttATv-f9BQOTCnCQGb2CAC4N5DRsqfA56cQOuRUSOo4FJ-TwQ-wY8X0Ntl_qa_TC1fHQAKwgYu8QftAVWSV4FQOLBeHTuGMnAW57fqB8MKgSvFIsibnsAgv8i__DfoIKrJH6/s1600/dunkin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWttATv-f9BQOTCnCQGb2CAC4N5DRsqfA56cQOuRUSOo4FJ-TwQ-wY8X0Ntl_qa_TC1fHQAKwgYu8QftAVWSV4FQOLBeHTuGMnAW57fqB8MKgSvFIsibnsAgv8i__DfoIKrJH6/s320/dunkin.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Then it hit me, here's a direction to go with my design business. I can design social media logos, avatars, twitter backgrounds, graphics <span style="background-color: white;">for blogs and <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat;">etsy</span>.com stores. I can use social media to market myself and market for my clients as well. As I complete a new logo design or restyle I'll tweet about it, include it on my blog, pimp it on <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat;">facebook</span>. I'll start</span> with my own, look for my logo restyle launch in the next few days.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqlMJqWaB4TT9ezM5hn383eYfcDFcyscHFMUan4iuwdtvLbhhxOvtqeF3z_jK2d8DkZV423nRes-RgIdzT7e_4X14ZUsJOio8UMGPiFCFZI0fNM8IcijpJorWtKy80PwHDECh/s1600/avatar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqlMJqWaB4TT9ezM5hn383eYfcDFcyscHFMUan4iuwdtvLbhhxOvtqeF3z_jK2d8DkZV423nRes-RgIdzT7e_4X14ZUsJOio8UMGPiFCFZI0fNM8IcijpJorWtKy80PwHDECh/s320/avatar.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Suzanne</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">@<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat;">bluedaisygrpx</span></span></div>Sue daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13064834741197075001noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15294973.post-12803623397357016992010-02-16T18:38:00.003-05:002010-02-16T21:13:28.659-05:0010 year old birthday countdown 10, 9, 8My oldest will be 10. So trying to think of a theme for his birthday that was not too young, was daunting.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Then Jack's birthday came and he received a rocket and some astronaut ice cream as a gift. I was inspired and talked to Sean who is starting to study the solar system, so we thought how about a space themed party?</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8MldOl7q3KZhGBScKuCHsKJ31Dhid0VhKv7X_ryzdOE93GCtm6UO2m1S2yQ6UJRnA1hyphenhyphenVXx4A3rM_cFNQPrGJxj7MNDs-Z4J_gi4ysPpjGT6uvbyL_MA-Nfu403Gkm0K6e9d/s1600-h/cosmicrocket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8MldOl7q3KZhGBScKuCHsKJ31Dhid0VhKv7X_ryzdOE93GCtm6UO2m1S2yQ6UJRnA1hyphenhyphenVXx4A3rM_cFNQPrGJxj7MNDs-Z4J_gi4ysPpjGT6uvbyL_MA-Nfu403Gkm0K6e9d/s320/cosmicrocket.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Immediately I researched the rocket that Jack received and found the Cosmic Rocket and the ice cream were easily available online. For the party we'll keep the invite list small and those invited will build their rockets. </div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Then we'll sample astronaut ice cream and </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicI2_kUlB0LjRMLQYm8-Gdf_8-UPSl9YLckBZiyDrkvtmdkEv0RnxTxDwkDPUCqwJ0VuxOgim9yFxPOn6wEJlnWIRT777maPLpB6r_ZqU8eni_zpdIBLzpjjjtvjNMJwUAfzz_/s1600-h/icecream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicI2_kUlB0LjRMLQYm8-Gdf_8-UPSl9YLckBZiyDrkvtmdkEv0RnxTxDwkDPUCqwJ0VuxOgim9yFxPOn6wEJlnWIRT777maPLpB6r_ZqU8eni_zpdIBLzpjjjtvjNMJwUAfzz_/s320/icecream.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">we will also experiment with the mentos in a soda as demonstrated <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKoB0MHVBvM">here</a>. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1wHWNTdlQSAd2e_79kpRjcEqmZQs285bJhrmZP_kw1XujeHn-vZC8fenJ81E9fqrWXd2jYn4E70bALYCFEDqKTBD0btkQvg5N0IJ-8artWzSvkLrMIBc6Dyknn1O0rabH_qQ/s1600-h/geyser+tube.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1wHWNTdlQSAd2e_79kpRjcEqmZQs285bJhrmZP_kw1XujeHn-vZC8fenJ81E9fqrWXd2jYn4E70bALYCFEDqKTBD0btkQvg5N0IJ-8artWzSvkLrMIBc6Dyknn1O0rabH_qQ/s320/geyser+tube.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">You can find a kit online <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/bludaigra-20/detail/B000NP7PD2">here</a> or at Learning Express.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLnOrlE0v_yehR3vIRK9mQ4mLt3_mcAN91UWx2cJGVzx0NIncvht8-LltulVtvkYyvMQhNJC5QH6ZmwvuMplUu27qjT0fB50XBKnBioRuh1PZTBa-bah3RUIBHtHaWzWbKDGTF/s1600-h/let.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLnOrlE0v_yehR3vIRK9mQ4mLt3_mcAN91UWx2cJGVzx0NIncvht8-LltulVtvkYyvMQhNJC5QH6ZmwvuMplUu27qjT0fB50XBKnBioRuh1PZTBa-bah3RUIBHtHaWzWbKDGTF/s320/let.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">we'll serve Tang of course... </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZczY-jGGiFZL6rBf_Q7Biva2olzTWgvQGg7c6Wq7ajQDd4IPJUT4kRgNZZOuduzE_07mD6PsjITq0dMrqBBa5S0tRz-Qu-escI3WqvfXaCZAR5BJtGSNdC71CvR5DSF5IldK/s1600-h/tang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZczY-jGGiFZL6rBf_Q7Biva2olzTWgvQGg7c6Wq7ajQDd4IPJUT4kRgNZZOuduzE_07mD6PsjITq0dMrqBBa5S0tRz-Qu-escI3WqvfXaCZAR5BJtGSNdC71CvR5DSF5IldK/s320/tang.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I also bought some pump air rockets to play with and have as a take away. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEEg0kBDg9OQe3OCCw0lljgc5o6qFvvusqSpLN5PMLb6bIR6XcRoMK-u5hE0AJlmEkHXay7PrYZPG6zIqPdn8e-9g_chJ51HAsAywGxNNT0o18XiJiKlQJrXzbJLJNe5GPS5b/s1600-h/rockets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEEg0kBDg9OQe3OCCw0lljgc5o6qFvvusqSpLN5PMLb6bIR6XcRoMK-u5hE0AJlmEkHXay7PrYZPG6zIqPdn8e-9g_chJ51HAsAywGxNNT0o18XiJiKlQJrXzbJLJNe5GPS5b/s320/rockets.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Sometimes you can get these at the dollar store. I ordered mine from <a href="http://www.rockbottomdeals.biz/pd_monster_mini-rocket_game.cfm">here</a>.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We will have a pinta and whack a planet or meteor, filled with milky way and mars bars.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnBTs4AUiZoMOOR-BseNPk83n4MkgY3RChA75jYEk-yO4f_gHqlzkEWAzpD2A_zNiM_FUiglMV-E2uyNwUh-1pWCqFOAKrOQ6I8Pw9m-6ieJa3VHn6CfZ-wPTsB8NlH0txn2_g/s1600-h/milkyway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnBTs4AUiZoMOOR-BseNPk83n4MkgY3RChA75jYEk-yO4f_gHqlzkEWAzpD2A_zNiM_FUiglMV-E2uyNwUh-1pWCqFOAKrOQ6I8Pw9m-6ieJa3VHn6CfZ-wPTsB8NlH0txn2_g/s320/milkyway.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">A cookie cake decorated like the solar system, and some more mentos to take home as well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhihWIRDnXqO84jnfMw5TWl6VBqOr4OV1R5cbPMnOYIOxpwdKyjHEpNEYPNu330DvTULJKvF_uexCBVSecjusBcyRZrA6S2h4EEuEGyIz17GWzPHAsZuz7bjEVwDRTcF3L_smWW/s1600-h/mentos.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhihWIRDnXqO84jnfMw5TWl6VBqOr4OV1R5cbPMnOYIOxpwdKyjHEpNEYPNu330DvTULJKvF_uexCBVSecjusBcyRZrA6S2h4EEuEGyIz17GWzPHAsZuz7bjEVwDRTcF3L_smWW/s320/mentos.gif" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I also thought of some space or moon inspired background music, here are 10 that I thought of;</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">1. Fireflies - Owl City</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">2. Man on the Monn - R.E.M.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">3. Starman - David Bowie</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">4. Space Oddity (from Space Oddity) - David Bowie</div>5. Moonshadow - Cat Stevens<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">6. Walking on the Moon - the Police</div>7. Rocketman - Elton John<br />
8. If There is a Rocket Tie Me to It - Snow Patrol<br />
9. Drops of Jupiter - Train<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">10. Moondance - Van Morrison</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>leave me a comment of some other songs if you think of any.<br />
<br />
Hope his party is out of this world!<br />
<br />
SuzanneSue daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13064834741197075001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15294973.post-88651850216596246552010-02-13T10:49:00.006-05:002010-02-13T11:53:59.443-05:00Bunco... how to get started<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCksBbEVqdj5IXMysq1qAbu-Yo8KcncKDdId25tDizuXDdVlp_ZnS5Th3ZddD_JFyVPul8HZ8807qkAT3Ar8c_jhyphenhyphenX-oQgc-b-zn6h5SwKk008x3ADO3xy_E01dvf3aDTQsSS/s1600-h/invite.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 203px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437767216398020866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCksBbEVqdj5IXMysq1qAbu-Yo8KcncKDdId25tDizuXDdVlp_ZnS5Th3ZddD_JFyVPul8HZ8807qkAT3Ar8c_jhyphenhyphenX-oQgc-b-zn6h5SwKk008x3ADO3xy_E01dvf3aDTQsSS/s320/invite.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>I wanted to get <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bunco</span> started on my street. I am going to share the steps I took.</div><br /><div>You have to have a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">bunco</span> set, see if someone has one they are not using, or you can purchase one from <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/bludaigra-20/detail/B00012O43G">here</a>.<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGPB88bvXvRqZZVzlAVeAy7MoTkHRO1kqcDaOYyZo7yGZzpt0UiowEu8fNmZ1pyoq36W83TAJXOzUo-4OXiqDdRJr2N8fcwwko2l-M3nE7h4L0sCRVXGb-PBu_7qFHafM7ucPg/s1600-h/game.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 280px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 280px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437770670054020738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGPB88bvXvRqZZVzlAVeAy7MoTkHRO1kqcDaOYyZo7yGZzpt0UiowEu8fNmZ1pyoq36W83TAJXOzUo-4OXiqDdRJr2N8fcwwko2l-M3nE7h4L0sCRVXGb-PBu_7qFHafM7ucPg/s320/game.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><div>1). Talk it up among your circle of friends. Get a reading on who might be interested in playing. I used <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">facebook</span> to reach out to folks on my street, and got a very good initial response.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>2). Pick a date to have an introduction to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bunco</span> party, and invite folks. I'll use <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">facebook</span> and email as well as traditional invitations for those that are not on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">facebook</span>. This is where those that are interested can come, learn how to play, learn about the time <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">commitment</span> involved and we can decide if it will be just snacks and dessert, or a full dinner, a BYOB, and what prizes we'll have and then determine what day of the week, and what week of the month you will play. Then folks can exchange contact information, and using a master calendar, pick a month to host.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>3). Play a round or two so those new to the game will get a chance to play, and a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">refresher</span> to those who have played before. Many folks play differently so this is a good time to decide how your <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bunco</span> group will play.</div><div> </div><div> </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>4). Have name tags.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>5). Get excited for the first game. I have met folks who have played for 15 years plus.</div><div> </div><div>How many of you have played Bunco before? and for how long have you played?</div><div>Do you give prizes, have dinner? Tell me what worked for you.</div><div> </div><div>Suzanne</div><br /><br /><div></div></div>Sue daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13064834741197075001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15294973.post-37446307898559033152010-01-08T08:53:00.007-05:002010-01-08T09:39:18.986-05:00New Decade, New Year, New Day.So I was one of the Kris Allen over Lambert folks on American Idol. I really thought that Kris could sing well, and looked forward to his take on each song each week. My favorite was <a href="http://mp3.walmart.com/store/artist?trackId=104560581&albumId=104560576">his cover</a> of Kanye's <a href="http://mp3.walmart.com/store/artist?trackId=103449334&albumId=103449331">Heartless</a>.<br />Then Kris Allen's album came out and his first release is <a href="http://mp3.walmart.com/store/artist?trackId=104560581&albumId=104560576">Live like we're dying</a>.<br /><br />Am I the only one noticing a trend? Live like we're dying, Nickelback's got a song out, Never gonna be alone, and other's have lyrics about living in the moment.<br />I agree that it's important to tell those you love that you love them, and tell them often.<br />I also think that we must also "save our pennies for a rainy day". Teach our children to save for things that they want, pay cash, look towards the future, more than just looking forward to the next holiday or birthday. You never know what's going to happen, you may die today so live life with no regret, but you may live till 100. You can't rely on someone else to be there to help so do things now that will take care of you later.<br /><br />Encourage your children to spend some of that birthday money, but save some also.<br />We use ING for the children and once a year with money we have saved here and there for them we buy relevant stock. Sean's is Home Depot, Jack's is Hershey. ING had a program called Sharebuilder, you can set up an automatic investment each month to purchase stock you've selected from over 7000 companies. Right now they are having a promotion $40.00 to start investing. Visit <a href="http://content.sharebuilder.com/MgdCon/Jump/Web/welcome/promo/50ig/?s_tnt=25372:0:0">ING.com</a> now to learn more. It's nice to have something tangible for the children to see. you can get a certificate of the stock at <a href="http://www.oneshare.com/">oneshare.com</a> to frame.<br /><br />Never pay the difference needed when your child is so close to saving enough to get that item they must have. Encourage them to save, do chores so they will know that reward of saving and working hard to earn something that they wanted.<br /><br />Also, always kiss them good bye, and never go to bed angry with them. Make sure that they know that you love them. Foster relationships with family near and far. Also, if they have a good friend, encourage them to develop that. Everyone needs at least one good friend.<br /><br />Most important, live what you teach. Save for that rainy day, live without regret, stay close to family, and don't lose touch with close friends. If you live to 100 you'll have friends and family to celebrate it with, and enough saved to throw the party yourself.<br /><br />SuzanneSue daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13064834741197075001noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15294973.post-20109739125663326422009-12-27T10:35:00.005-05:002009-12-28T10:44:45.340-05:00Flip is fun and practical.Having fun with my <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/bludaigra-20/detail/B001HSOFI2">flip camera</a>. A must have for Mom's, capture those quick to pass moments, and other staged moments with one hand! In this instance I was holding my 15 month old! Software allows for ease of sharing via multiple social networks! price is good.... <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbkb2VxSNGB7VXmA-5GgoeeeJxCeMmDLLVSYSEHsrXucqD5fXLza_V8V8UILzHwzCUauw7Jd59Hbz1VIny0gzKolf86JIq22ND7MjwQtrTsvAmLKLxtgjVGRJqr8UGVv9p4Uo/s1600-h/flip-camera.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 277px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419946774636066562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbkb2VxSNGB7VXmA-5GgoeeeJxCeMmDLLVSYSEHsrXucqD5fXLza_V8V8UILzHwzCUauw7Jd59Hbz1VIny0gzKolf86JIq22ND7MjwQtrTsvAmLKLxtgjVGRJqr8UGVv9p4Uo/s320/flip-camera.jpg" /></a> Craig and his friends.<br /><br /><p><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwyHQZVIv1AWq18xzE2PJcnTKpq-f1FHfch5AbE431TUbm0AO9mvw5kt4GkRP9fuKoGguYCa9K-HK8' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p>Sue daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13064834741197075001noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15294973.post-19121647584741382172009-12-13T10:18:00.003-05:002009-12-13T10:35:30.943-05:0012 days of giveaways...On the 12th day before Christmas my casual friend gave to me....<br /><a href="https://secure2.bk.com/en/us/campaigns/bk-dollar-holidays.html#Card/2">A Burger King Christmas card.</a><br /><br />Visit the website and look at the cards and tell me here which one is your favorite,<br />I love this one from the commercial.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnOZfYanBcduzcGyXR1yRimguMcOKpXeKBXD_FocBm0hg97j1zX53ISvxEnDoq317WXxmKMosFtCHpZvdCkvFVnp8K149xCarPR7mG8oEAmgiykzmDainNCbyZ1kD2oKueV4hZ/s1600-h/bk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnOZfYanBcduzcGyXR1yRimguMcOKpXeKBXD_FocBm0hg97j1zX53ISvxEnDoq317WXxmKMosFtCHpZvdCkvFVnp8K149xCarPR7mG8oEAmgiykzmDainNCbyZ1kD2oKueV4hZ/s320/bk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414743117078986722" /></a><br /><br />I am a fan of sarcasm, though i am not quick witted enough to dish it out!<br /><br />Tonite (sunday) after midnight i'll pick a winner at random and either send you a card or send one in your name for you!<br /><br />Merry Christmas.Sue daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13064834741197075001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15294973.post-82891207660600423332009-11-23T23:00:00.001-05:002009-11-23T23:09:32.062-05:0012 days of Christmas.<div>Recently we all got in the car and headed to Bass Pro shops for their free Christmas picture with Santa and Holiday craft. It was a rainy Sunday and seemed like a great way to spend the day. I was wrong, actually it was a mistake. When we arrived at just after 1:30, all the cards called a <a href="http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CFPageC?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&lf=&appID=8457&template=photo.cfm">bass pass</a> they hand out for your place in line to have a few minutes and a picture taken with Santa were already handed out. They started handing them out at 10:00am, something not mentioned on the website. So the boys got to see Santa from a distance. And guess who actually took and hour break from 2:30 to 3:30? Really Santa, an hour? On a busy Sunday when you are allotted to be there from 12:00 to 5:00? I am just sayin'... While there we were handed the craft, I asked for three, no room to create at the store, we'll make it at home. Next, we headed over to the fish tank, the boys loved this. From the tank we could see the "big grey mountain" also known as the rock climbing wall. There were a few kids in line and we watched. My boys were not interested in trying. We headed over to the arcade, an old style shooting arcade, that costs $.0.50. We had no change and the change machine was broken or empty. We went over to a register and were told they can't open a register for change unless we buy something? The boys played the video game for awhile and looked at the toys available. Sean had his eye on a coon skin hat for $9.95. We were curious to see what else was at this mall so we ventured out. We visited the lego store, slot car racing, saw the carousel, and then tried to eat at Johnny Rockets... very unsuccessfully. Hungry and tired we left through the Bass Pro Shop where Sean did buy the coon skin cap, and then headed home. The morning after Craig wanted to go back to that cool store. Me not so much.<br /><br />So why call this post the 12 days of Christmas. I do better at home, proof positive by this latest trip. So I have come up with about 12 different tasks/ crafts to look to entertain the kiddos as the anticipation grows. I will mark our calendar for events that we should not miss, like Santa at the clubhouse, and the Grinch Who Stole Christmas on TV. Then I will place on strips of paper other ideas and place them in a jar. I have pre-purchased all ingredients to accomplish such tasks. And as the big day approaches we can look to the jar for something to do for fun.<br />Some examples are: a gingerbread house, purchased from joanne's that we just need to assemble. Make these cardboard ornaments that look like <br /><a href="http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/retro-ornaments-807089/">snowflakes</a> from Family Fun Magazine. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ep_G9LA8isHRgkn8iv156Wcox24MYFvV_6n6T4RQ4Clytwdq-w6TjxOkY694vmSRxuCtqfBHatKOpFA0YE3REYe-YzegU6YfwKA0-BD9oVDin4f9K6v0s-8b6PiLBTkIffl4/s1600/retro.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 260px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ep_G9LA8isHRgkn8iv156Wcox24MYFvV_6n6T4RQ4Clytwdq-w6TjxOkY694vmSRxuCtqfBHatKOpFA0YE3REYe-YzegU6YfwKA0-BD9oVDin4f9K6v0s-8b6PiLBTkIffl4/s320/retro.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407506823800815474" /></a><br />Make these <a href="http://familyfun.go.com/christmas/christmas-2009/twinkle-lights-807098/">stars</a> also from Family Fun, <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8okR4ax7OkqhamcvabfCoCNj63nrH4htPBrftIemnktXaOZYig7iGBueDDrXSXFyHxwo5PLU18M5Og0R4khFLBeaZiFumzt9O6H2l50tMSSHt6B-IsQoG8tFYzOteP1_8Y6e/s1600/foil.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8okR4ax7OkqhamcvabfCoCNj63nrH4htPBrftIemnktXaOZYig7iGBueDDrXSXFyHxwo5PLU18M5Og0R4khFLBeaZiFumzt9O6H2l50tMSSHt6B-IsQoG8tFYzOteP1_8Y6e/s320/foil.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407509256098741314" /></a><br />for our tree that's lit up and placed on our front door step. Call Grammy and Grampy. Make Shrinky Dink ornaments, Make <br /><a href="http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/homemade-dog-treats-701464/">dog biscuits</a> for Blue and our neighbors' dogs too. Or these <a href="http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/tweet-treats-671034/">Tweet Treats </a>for the birds.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-kX8cnqnCmAwnvS89kSjxKxNiLcO0OWlmHX90RCbLEr627ORAWaNL5O-GpH-vCUvZ5zXmv7kG8HwYJyq22KzMz9BTnXosVfCDhAUFwlyqY8uSsA9YnNv3FC2cdzgPWKQa_zj/s1600/birdfeeder.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 260px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 260px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407506006275503186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-kX8cnqnCmAwnvS89kSjxKxNiLcO0OWlmHX90RCbLEr627ORAWaNL5O-GpH-vCUvZ5zXmv7kG8HwYJyq22KzMz9BTnXosVfCDhAUFwlyqY8uSsA9YnNv3FC2cdzgPWKQa_zj/s320/birdfeeder.jpg" /></a>Make these <a href="http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/crunchy-the-snowman-682480/">pretzel rod snowmen</a> from Family Fun as well. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLE1DBkVPKepGV0rEm9uJN7_qu8eggvCkdmod8hZXe_jVePpq87wXuPWhA6v0yUnHDeVAdILqmpWGGn4nbwszm96l30dNXS43sp7qci6LxVZk62Df8kNWhvmwlKnX5_HAroR_/s1600/snow.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 260px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLE1DBkVPKepGV0rEm9uJN7_qu8eggvCkdmod8hZXe_jVePpq87wXuPWhA6v0yUnHDeVAdILqmpWGGn4nbwszm96l30dNXS43sp7qci6LxVZk62Df8kNWhvmwlKnX5_HAroR_/s320/snow.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407510930721275346" /></a>Make <br /><a href="http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes.aspx/chocolate-chex-caramel-crunch/f27cec20-f6fd-4b65-a357-5f53f7a664e9">Chex Mix</a> for gifts for our teachers and coaches. Watch a Christmas movie. Make <a href="http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/glittery-window-clings-674868/">glitter snowflakes</a> for our windows. There's so much to do. We'll keep those little hands occupied. And I am looking forward to the memories we'll be making. Leave me a comment about your favorite treat or craft to make each holiday.<br /><br />Suzanne</div>Sue daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13064834741197075001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15294973.post-25678780524242877462009-11-07T10:40:00.019-05:002009-11-16T10:11:08.077-05:00Great gifts for before Christmas day!<div>and the winner is....</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbgTl4vBv7Z9H9IBODHdOVGcERP2AKU2Dq1T3RTwjh9dmWPQdJYZXNQRy-CV5klXc6hWCssrlk9C2D3qm-L7_tEPDnlARlPJdWbQQX_gvg6PMrigZm7RBxSl2it9GjXM9sW_f/s1600/shrinky.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404718249387778066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 207px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbgTl4vBv7Z9H9IBODHdOVGcERP2AKU2Dq1T3RTwjh9dmWPQdJYZXNQRy-CV5klXc6hWCssrlk9C2D3qm-L7_tEPDnlARlPJdWbQQX_gvg6PMrigZm7RBxSl2it9GjXM9sW_f/s320/shrinky.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjybWmo5hsaa1zyYW2cgp7KLr-PVCmrdlCDBCnQ7Fw-yYc-RS-oE3P4MlwbT5nF6mU27589zaxIZC8cffy9eOjy3_HUKYrxAP92uOz43Mz6-zn1CRCMjOoOlgRsLSW9OAbXoqKV/s1600/shrinkydinks.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 273px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjybWmo5hsaa1zyYW2cgp7KLr-PVCmrdlCDBCnQ7Fw-yYc-RS-oE3P4MlwbT5nF6mU27589zaxIZC8cffy9eOjy3_HUKYrxAP92uOz43Mz6-zn1CRCMjOoOlgRsLSW9OAbXoqKV/s320/shrinkydinks.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404718851047100002" /></a><br /><br /><br />congrats Ike... look for a surprise in your mailbox shortly! Thanks to all for your comments. happy holidays!<br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2Om0LXGl5uhmN88EgspDQ2_rMpHWh-u9dmjogQC8vri32ClQx-avcrBBFs8K0LQbv-uW-6f-heaqfwW4Or3G_3M4XHWIJP52N_3YMDmYsw7o63Cmj-9yJru4tZoUZ70v0nzc/s1600-h/shrinky.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401403581485106274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2Om0LXGl5uhmN88EgspDQ2_rMpHWh-u9dmjogQC8vri32ClQx-avcrBBFs8K0LQbv-uW-6f-heaqfwW4Or3G_3M4XHWIJP52N_3YMDmYsw7o63Cmj-9yJru4tZoUZ70v0nzc/s320/shrinky.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />As I was perusing websites for the next great holiday gift, I came across this <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/bludaigra-20/detail/B000UEDTWC"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">shrinky</span> dink holiday kit</a>. What a great idea, a craft for us to do before the holiday as the buildup starts for the big day. Which then sparked my memory that it's time to order my <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/bludaigra-20/detail/B001US699M"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">legos</span> advent calendars</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6A9kVKC2166nf7yCCumMNjD7dLf83Gy-bLajZt6O-gKDKhmcFJOOMQXn7IpKClGfjfHIHhpd1N1-w83t92OpWuGIPHx4XBKsgdsUKAXZw1MugyyZYdK9Q2v8csXj4GI65vEX/s1600-h/legos.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401403253553293378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6A9kVKC2166nf7yCCumMNjD7dLf83Gy-bLajZt6O-gKDKhmcFJOOMQXn7IpKClGfjfHIHhpd1N1-w83t92OpWuGIPHx4XBKsgdsUKAXZw1MugyyZYdK9Q2v8csXj4GI65vEX/s320/legos.jpg" border="0" /></a>You see every year we get an advent calendar. And every year we exchange gifts with some old neighbors, still friends. So one year I ordered extra advent calendars and sent them early so they would have them before Christmas. I made sure to mark the box Please Do Open Before Christmas. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Legos</span> can be small for little kids and not so super for little girls,<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvycP85iF1kASHSWroiCe1S_MKE8bHwFPqZ73WA7QMOZrCwYujn8y4KbpBfU4lXa8SuzksXaIg1CdoF6Etz3D_8EkMUaWV9QpGaw_uyg0lLOjY9oftx1UDwfm-A3T05KZZ_CCb/s1600-h/polly.jpg"></a><br />so I found the <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/bludaigra-20/detail/B001JIA4H6">littlest pet shop</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBH0gz0R-L5kLqSGstZGXV_v9YDkcTzGzP7v74G72RBJd2Dr1M5N1FJWtOLdSerMUjQv0n7IIpsatA-KAirjCCITu6Jkq_O04T0ZuePA9nAL4yzWN3IBtQHEPI6kLPZsBkmKT/s1600-h/petshop.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401403264715505618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBH0gz0R-L5kLqSGstZGXV_v9YDkcTzGzP7v74G72RBJd2Dr1M5N1FJWtOLdSerMUjQv0n7IIpsatA-KAirjCCITu6Jkq_O04T0ZuePA9nAL4yzWN3IBtQHEPI6kLPZsBkmKT/s320/petshop.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br /><p>and <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/bludaigra-20/detail/B000II7AK2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">polly</span> pocket advent calendars</a>.</p><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxw1YaSCiJrf_SA63qaeGe9VIpcxtvplDDz8iPVCZ60eEcxecNMcluGwBfsv_QPnELbRMp08LIOwLlqy9FGZ1AuBC3czLrQmaPi-Od-8Hhv8S79bgOhZA9CBGlqlCckVyKO_mJ/s1600-h/polly.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401409470487599650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 186px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxw1YaSCiJrf_SA63qaeGe9VIpcxtvplDDz8iPVCZ60eEcxecNMcluGwBfsv_QPnELbRMp08LIOwLlqy9FGZ1AuBC3czLrQmaPi-Od-8Hhv8S79bgOhZA9CBGlqlCckVyKO_mJ/s320/polly.jpg" border="0" /></a> I see that they have <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/bludaigra-20/detail/B001FXU61O">My little Pony</a>, </p><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><p><br /></p><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGk9FULoUokk42M6Im73Ms1LMtaoGHNslem0K1zvEnYJsrtjpdYWQAKVW3dfBwbaybvAgYpjHm_TIFdXF6i4LHm0azU-O-fUokVrMQmP6_8Mpu7x1chenM2-aFaYlsGdP6aWuT/s1600-h/pony.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401403584232382674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGk9FULoUokk42M6Im73Ms1LMtaoGHNslem0K1zvEnYJsrtjpdYWQAKVW3dfBwbaybvAgYpjHm_TIFdXF6i4LHm0azU-O-fUokVrMQmP6_8Mpu7x1chenM2-aFaYlsGdP6aWuT/s320/pony.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><p>and <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/bludaigra-20/detail/B001L82HTM">Barbie calendars</a> as well<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-8zutOKV82ze23u_UhJplUjjzyBe1naG5WlSU-WFMjs5DNGWkZvzlg7iRoPUHaheT3yeEeaIu9dyBKqrEoFOO8HbzTK6ZxpgM0JHevOMz6HOYTUzGaeEbaTTwdRieKwOYxeWX/s1600-h/barbie.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401407708055905762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-8zutOKV82ze23u_UhJplUjjzyBe1naG5WlSU-WFMjs5DNGWkZvzlg7iRoPUHaheT3yeEeaIu9dyBKqrEoFOO8HbzTK6ZxpgM0JHevOMz6HOYTUzGaeEbaTTwdRieKwOYxeWX/s320/barbie.jpg" border="0" /></a>Everyone loved their gift that year. I repeated for the next 2 years, until I came across the<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxGcbnIGL9Z5sOnC2iK7GKCXehn0xYM6zFzk4mGBJz7GsGfiPDG4L4SMIrv5bIgEKbHplhJGi5HXrGvKcY_OdXhrKxUod8iSFLjvD70siw84KUYrdYB4ERQ9TVi1Nb29Rk8DB/s1600-h/elf.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 236px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxGcbnIGL9Z5sOnC2iK7GKCXehn0xYM6zFzk4mGBJz7GsGfiPDG4L4SMIrv5bIgEKbHplhJGi5HXrGvKcY_OdXhrKxUod8iSFLjvD70siw84KUYrdYB4ERQ9TVi1Nb29Rk8DB/s320/elf.jpg" href="http://astore.amazon.com/bludaigra-20/detail/B000XR6MBQ" /></a></p><br /><br /><p><a href="http://astore.amazon.com/bludaigra-20/detail/B000XR6MBQ">Elf on a Shelf. </a>Here's info on him <a href="http://www.elfontheshelf.com/#/home">here</a>. We received him one year as a gift to enjoy early as well, you place the elf on a shelf somewhere in your home and he observes the children's and parent's behavior in the house each day and while we sleep reports back to Santa. Then next morning he appears in a different spot. The fun begins once you name him, read the companion book, and then trying to find him every morning. I must add that this tradition is a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">commitment</span> as your elf needs to remember to report to Santa each evening, and finding new spots to appear can get challenging? My out of the area friends loved their elf on a shelf, my local friends already have one. I believe he's available at Hallmark now, so make sure he's still a novelty before you gift one. So this year I am back to the advent calendars, I even found that the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">legos</span> from the years past are worth a substantial amount of money (unopened of course). As the boys get older one set will not do as they fight over whose turn it is, and some days are better <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">surprises</span> than others. So We really enjoy the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">playmobil</span> sets.<br /></p><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2M3Y91fN0EtVeTbHApWuVPKZBYbU1u5dwu9KyitrrnFW13C2kVLFtpGHJWmpmLYoKX-DMgtTrxki-ZiGwy4Xr3qDm2hnJbVMljHR0BiEuUAQKVVlisubeki-3OhjtHAmELQz/s1600-h/playmobil.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401403262051745154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2M3Y91fN0EtVeTbHApWuVPKZBYbU1u5dwu9KyitrrnFW13C2kVLFtpGHJWmpmLYoKX-DMgtTrxki-ZiGwy4Xr3qDm2hnJbVMljHR0BiEuUAQKVVlisubeki-3OhjtHAmELQz/s320/playmobil.jpg" border="0" /></a>We have, <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/bludaigra-20/detail/B000GWFAGG">Christmas in the Park</a>, and <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/bludaigra-20/detail/B000GSO5NO">A Knight's Duel</a>.<br />Compared to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">legos</span>, those pieces tend to last long as they don't have to be assembled.<br />I highly recommend <a href="http://www.amazon.com/">amazon.com</a> to order your calendars as they are very hard to find in stores, and amazon will mail them to the person you wish to receive them for you. I did see the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">legos</span> advent calendar at Target with a $5.00 off coupon in their Christmas catalogue.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0whNH8gzcpf0PPbQcVVM8i9gsOCyGLMyNc-uq3WOfIH6Q7bacxoxI0FbgZmFtwUF2kx3yt5aCHHxKvtw0zDoyXAfk9VqRNVqBsEhN3eg4yk5YhnSTYaMBtpnb09zmnnF2SSie/s1600-h/cookie.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401405469839268290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0whNH8gzcpf0PPbQcVVM8i9gsOCyGLMyNc-uq3WOfIH6Q7bacxoxI0FbgZmFtwUF2kx3yt5aCHHxKvtw0zDoyXAfk9VqRNVqBsEhN3eg4yk5YhnSTYaMBtpnb09zmnnF2SSie/s320/cookie.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Some other ideas are <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/bludaigra-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=7"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Christmas</span> cookies sets</a>, you can buy sugar cookie mix, sprinkles and cookie cutters and send them as a kit. Or the <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/bludaigra-20/detail/B000I4LCSM">gingerbread tree kit</a> is worth the money. </p><br /><br /><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGer9B25MiMEkecdz9Q09PI-VtGNFkPYUvW-yXA3my3_pO8F3B-oD9GtTWHQ1uJzBprYyxIXZt2rA7HJW6-UG1NLF1NPeCIqgSVwgR2r5iddadd7gkfayhpCttU72PLgpVznBE/s1600-h/cookietree.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401407702829119778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 243px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGer9B25MiMEkecdz9Q09PI-VtGNFkPYUvW-yXA3my3_pO8F3B-oD9GtTWHQ1uJzBprYyxIXZt2rA7HJW6-UG1NLF1NPeCIqgSVwgR2r5iddadd7gkfayhpCttU72PLgpVznBE/s320/cookietree.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Super easy to do and they come out pretty cute.<br />Have fun building up to the holiday. It's a memory maker for sure and adds to that reason for the season feeling.<br /><br />Tell me some of your before Christmas, customs or traditions. I will pick a random winner Sunday November 15, 2009 at midnight and send you a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">shrinky</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">dinks</span> holiday tree for leaving a comment.</p><br /><br /><p>contest available to us residents only.</p><br /><br /><p>Suzanne</p></div>Sue daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13064834741197075001noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15294973.post-83761066470251044792009-11-01T19:05:00.016-05:002009-11-02T11:42:13.898-05:00New design for bluedaisygraphics.com<a href="http://www.bluedaisygraphics.com/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399297765492329650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 228px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMt1EYZ6hJmKIT1gREluCH5vNki7ZhydLYe0AsitSo2uIm0WjI5JgOjtBJ04SwBvNJLDLqtZLZP54J6wSm7faAhhOQZLklYIOtQBT-VITx098-EiQVI71yZ8_XsK_eOGEfzZ8h/s320/website.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I am very excited to launch my new look for my website. Please check it out here<br /><a href="http://www.bluedaisygraphics.com/">http://www.bluedaisygraphics.com/</a><br /><br />It's been a couple of years since I redesigned, so I wanted to use my blog as a platform to announce the new look. If you are visiting thanks to my email blast, Thank you, I have a freebie for your time. <br /><br />I have been designing Holidays cards and was inspired to take the same drag and drop approach to my digital scrap booking kits. I will provide layouts, two 12 x 12 pages, where all the elements will be on a separate layer, and you can easily drag and drop your photos into the existing layout, customize as needed or, use the different elements from the kits as you see fit.<br /><br />My kits will still be A thru Z themed, with the intent to post a new kit weekly, starting with A is for apples, B is for butterflies and C is for cupcakes. I will throw in freebies often to thank you all for visiting, and hopefully forwarding my info to your friends. This blog will have other giveaways than just scrap booking so look for that as well.<br /><br />On my website, I have condensed the info and have a link to sign up for my email newsletter. I am using constant contact for my newsletters and email blasts. I also have a store on etsy.com where I list my digital designs for cards and my A to Z scrap booking kits. I am using carbonmade to display my portfolio, so visit that if you want to see examples.<br /><br />If any of these vehicles interest you let me know and I will help customize them for you and your needs.<br /><br />facebook and I have become quite friendly and I am dabbling in having a page there for Blue Daisy Graphics. A link is in the sidebar if you want to become a fan.<br /><br />Here is the freebie I promised, from my A is for apples kit. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtiCoYazpQ-VtDWxIL4IW7jWgP8TUrVwQPPHWEYbdiaBtc4taxqmNI8L_YISSgaG5Odvb5sNo53UduibMJMiCGdvwJdui20pOAFjYy0Bpz2GsioUOZhxGLwg_OgPpKRSyaEqIG/s1600-h/BDG_ls_apple.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399295224227253970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 288px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 288px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtiCoYazpQ-VtDWxIL4IW7jWgP8TUrVwQPPHWEYbdiaBtc4taxqmNI8L_YISSgaG5Odvb5sNo53UduibMJMiCGdvwJdui20pOAFjYy0Bpz2GsioUOZhxGLwg_OgPpKRSyaEqIG/s320/BDG_ls_apple.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />click on the image to take you to a link to download the compressed zip file.<br /><br />to receive more updates signup for my <a href="http://visitor.constantcontact.com/manage/optin/ea?v=001fCFdTiS7mDQ3JuVftKvDDQ%3D%3D">email newsletter</a>.<br /><br /><br />Thanks for supporting me.Sue daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13064834741197075001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15294973.post-74712679144569153732009-10-27T12:00:00.000-04:002009-10-27T12:00:05.432-04:00Custom Digital Christmas Cards<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwE_qYGRiJfeJHc33DdCILm7WtV1BvoKr2SWrfqoJjIrRRx2N6cugtA7m3sjjVu8cyd1pwjCovMo4bTdvCspn-yjhjYnhT4xnWHj_bQ4pgl32z7cLgg10YDO_0NH8cI4YV6Wa2/s1600-h/striped.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397302588765483154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 216px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 302px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwE_qYGRiJfeJHc33DdCILm7WtV1BvoKr2SWrfqoJjIrRRx2N6cugtA7m3sjjVu8cyd1pwjCovMo4bTdvCspn-yjhjYnhT4xnWHj_bQ4pgl32z7cLgg10YDO_0NH8cI4YV6Wa2/s320/striped.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I am creating many different styles of Christmas or Holiday Cards.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4w28gsU-pXGeNcfLLZ94uzmahG54RPrwPdJAhR_1nWadXWnL4FuulQI2L_56E3KsImkfN-khCl1Y1tNpY6KyDa3JGe_iek5z71CRbclneRhEXm1Fm644VFHMITK4z4e5LsB5g/s1600-h/funky.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397302600459240674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 216px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 302px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4w28gsU-pXGeNcfLLZ94uzmahG54RPrwPdJAhR_1nWadXWnL4FuulQI2L_56E3KsImkfN-khCl1Y1tNpY6KyDa3JGe_iek5z71CRbclneRhEXm1Fm644VFHMITK4z4e5LsB5g/s320/funky.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Pick your favorite and I will email you the file as a layered Photoshop file, you just drop in your photo and upload to your favorite Photo sharing/printing website. Some I can recommend are <a href="http://www.snapfish.com/">snapfish</a> and <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/">shutterfly</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVODQ2HXVaSl7TuiCXIBVrZizPSqqgLor4iCLZJBh2RxG6NFstgPvKPrTMH7tsfXlVMMvV7O8fJYM13YGpqtamahAwO03AcT6wG587kF60SukcZGu7kaMAAFpc-IXn-DPI4cW/s1600-h/merry.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397302594225029026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 216px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 302px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVODQ2HXVaSl7TuiCXIBVrZizPSqqgLor4iCLZJBh2RxG6NFstgPvKPrTMH7tsfXlVMMvV7O8fJYM13YGpqtamahAwO03AcT6wG587kF60SukcZGu7kaMAAFpc-IXn-DPI4cW/s320/merry.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Another option is to pick your favorite design, then send me your photo/photos and sentiment and I will create a digital card that you can either fullfill yourself or I can get the cards printed for you.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqab6doEfCpbSoOlLpmxzQLxwg0jjpKTDwgbWgwqyYZWTJ2Qx95iMeNkqFAxn0Di4-iO-R7ytE-2n0dzYYviQuDxnlCQD3MoDI7n2nS5ADKq9guPi1o4lkJVugezNydAupjXHL/s1600-h/snowflake.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397302592461420466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 302px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 219px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqab6doEfCpbSoOlLpmxzQLxwg0jjpKTDwgbWgwqyYZWTJ2Qx95iMeNkqFAxn0Di4-iO-R7ytE-2n0dzYYviQuDxnlCQD3MoDI7n2nS5ADKq9guPi1o4lkJVugezNydAupjXHL/s320/snowflake.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I will do custom designs as well, and printing on cardstock is available. Check out my store on <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5716526">etsy</a>, and email me with any questions.<br /><br />SuzanneSue daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13064834741197075001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15294973.post-21097607335684838972009-10-22T11:50:00.010-04:002009-10-22T15:48:12.099-04:00Pouch vs. Can<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1PnXkwB3jdO68uc20XWlaagjHN9_PlbWkGUL6GXPEAD0xJv8AJtc9Pjxt9vKJ5huTwAcQCrh88AkmKCRQQSEV8Y7fcBRRq8uz5H_oYUAtnLqTQbQc4eA9AUn2BuZeU4yKllb/s1600-h/both.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1PnXkwB3jdO68uc20XWlaagjHN9_PlbWkGUL6GXPEAD0xJv8AJtc9Pjxt9vKJ5huTwAcQCrh88AkmKCRQQSEV8Y7fcBRRq8uz5H_oYUAtnLqTQbQc4eA9AUn2BuZeU4yKllb/s320/both.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395459381219473938" /></a><br />So I just made lunch for the first time using the <a href="http://www.starkist.com/template.asp?section=products/pouch.asp">Starkist tuna pouches</a>. It was very nice to not have to battle with the can opener. I did not have to squeeze out the oil/water the tuna was packed in. This tuna was ready to be mixed right from the pouch with a spoonful of mayo. <br />Long ago I went to a pampered chef party, and came home with the <a href="http://www.pamperedchef.com/our_products/catalog/product.jsp?productId=603&categoryCode=CE">can opener</a> that would not leave a jagged edge. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5d6dh5c80a82ZelCo3CWTpfs2774HqFXVN2iQvbBY8YqWyC6eF7MXCJrEPgHbMkKHwjRGYadXlOfZjnrkKdu2HjOH7OtIlKwMmsJ_vQp2o_p_icL4QYLNG7YA6MOpzaW8uDKt/s1600-h/pamperedchef.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5d6dh5c80a82ZelCo3CWTpfs2774HqFXVN2iQvbBY8YqWyC6eF7MXCJrEPgHbMkKHwjRGYadXlOfZjnrkKdu2HjOH7OtIlKwMmsJ_vQp2o_p_icL4QYLNG7YA6MOpzaW8uDKt/s320/pamperedchef.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395459384852998434" /></a><br /><br />What a fantastic idea, until the first time you try and make tuna. The can opener does not leave you the top in the form you need it to drain out the water in the tuna can. So now I have two can openers, one for tuna, and one for everything else.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQROhQREdA7RRkn9hE6A5H6WW5M6_q1YlQXfFYIsadORRA56vJZgnnDmr-XkBy36gh057p8dFP8Pzp6dRHjlcKuXnEZZ00JQDCJj_YZQ7YKAgdPUgBx5bWxmWx_s089kB4IIwQ/s1600-h/handheld.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQROhQREdA7RRkn9hE6A5H6WW5M6_q1YlQXfFYIsadORRA56vJZgnnDmr-XkBy36gh057p8dFP8Pzp6dRHjlcKuXnEZZ00JQDCJj_YZQ7YKAgdPUgBx5bWxmWx_s089kB4IIwQ/s320/handheld.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395459395958962562" /></a><br /><br />As you can start to tell, I am not a fan of can openers. I think they are pretty dirty. The memories of the electric can opener,<br /> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFwASeA4CNuqK9JdQ8yDBzikBWAkPUJoUJbhzN9AU6_Nif2ayfxdQh_oUoDoU_lt_0-ppvT9cpv9yjZCrmONLm5EKSozsPxQ17KFNjPnrM2g1E1sjwXCchD9jam2cqAPef7Lcf/s1600-h/electriccanopener.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFwASeA4CNuqK9JdQ8yDBzikBWAkPUJoUJbhzN9AU6_Nif2ayfxdQh_oUoDoU_lt_0-ppvT9cpv9yjZCrmONLm5EKSozsPxQ17KFNjPnrM2g1E1sjwXCchD9jam2cqAPef7Lcf/s320/electriccanopener.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395459389094309266" /></a><br /><br />just crusted with food on a counter for who knows how long before someone cleans it. And it could be cat food, from before they introduced these pop tops. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMm6Puiskw5RUCHW03wzlc3wW6Oed8jmExd_Q-iXkqEH-vs6S2pBxQynyOY9SqnObN0Gy-dwygAaOC_W_DS17xXuqGJzcEvrhsESmxM7u1FnhoV8FLGAmMhnc3MgA5GF_OMZ3U/s1600-h/catfoodpoptop.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMm6Puiskw5RUCHW03wzlc3wW6Oed8jmExd_Q-iXkqEH-vs6S2pBxQynyOY9SqnObN0Gy-dwygAaOC_W_DS17xXuqGJzcEvrhsESmxM7u1FnhoV8FLGAmMhnc3MgA5GF_OMZ3U/s320/catfoodpoptop.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395459392351001058" /></a><br />I know folks don't always clean a can opener after each use, electric or old style hand held. So the cleanliness of the tuna pouch caught my eye. I was very happy, though someone does NOT agree with me. Someone does NOT want the tuna can to be replaced with the pouch.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJoVBuIkGZqf3BVR-5d9cwUPgBFB-hDZHGdIAcnpsztsypd-TJmccTCjvC-bHszC4BBwVeuhrpW2VSfEQ34Go1a5Q9fSlG5fPpTlEAL4Lg3uVetplGRucihiwBqSrqPNntDrV/s1600-h/daisy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJoVBuIkGZqf3BVR-5d9cwUPgBFB-hDZHGdIAcnpsztsypd-TJmccTCjvC-bHszC4BBwVeuhrpW2VSfEQ34Go1a5Q9fSlG5fPpTlEAL4Lg3uVetplGRucihiwBqSrqPNntDrV/s320/daisy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395509732556264114" /></a><br /><br />My cat Daisy, she loves when I make tuna, and will come from under the bed covers at the very first scent of tuna. Today that happened, and well, no can to place on the floor with bits of tuna stuck to the sides for her to sample. The pouch just got tossed in the garbage, with all those tasty morsels still clinging to the inside of the pouch. One very disappointed kitty. Sorry Daisy, I am not going to get all full of tuna trying to open the pouch so that you can get to what's inside. Just like I'll never buy these cat food pouches, for that very same reason. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Vrn78M0COPXOXS-IssYA0RgIGtSKV5jSCw_RLbJQb5CZ186C_sX7iRs2u-ODo_jx_9xRJodAbfE-DkKW3mDuMimm23kSrimYvZe2QfhpB_YDMIULE1PPIDgUi7cUHs4aUbWW/s1600-h/catfoodpouch.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Vrn78M0COPXOXS-IssYA0RgIGtSKV5jSCw_RLbJQb5CZ186C_sX7iRs2u-ODo_jx_9xRJodAbfE-DkKW3mDuMimm23kSrimYvZe2QfhpB_YDMIULE1PPIDgUi7cUHs4aUbWW/s320/catfoodpouch.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395460512869846690" /></a><br />Pray sweet kitty, that the pouches continue to cost more per ounce than the cans do.<br /><br />What do you think? can or pouch, and have you tried the flavors?<br /><br />SuzanneSue daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13064834741197075001noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15294973.post-80981027878459858672009-09-02T13:30:00.008-04:002009-09-20T19:45:40.788-04:00Little Tikes toys that last and last and last.....<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-W7c-pisNSoybHFjI_THm7pZKi-T-6W7ZNGzOF8Kp5HoX8SSosCOpNgZXcMLv_ecnE3NAP664gZlOWpFLKLBG4nyg3W8bB6dGvSFYOPQNnLjj6ThILKB_kHbyZ5-jU7M-XpnG/s1600-h/LOGO2TK.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376901037456593938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 187px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-W7c-pisNSoybHFjI_THm7pZKi-T-6W7ZNGzOF8Kp5HoX8SSosCOpNgZXcMLv_ecnE3NAP664gZlOWpFLKLBG4nyg3W8bB6dGvSFYOPQNnLjj6ThILKB_kHbyZ5-jU7M-XpnG/s320/LOGO2TK.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>I am a sucker for Little Tikes. I love their line of toys for outside play. We own the pool, which we bought for our dog Blue 11 years ago, and we own this playset the wave climber, that we got at a garage sale for $60.00, </div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxngzohReWv7WFDtPHMnaRPIXIY-11rlsohkKrENT53Cbe3s0gPXVrDA1DewoTcYhWliKQ8gEwMWMHE8e_wMQgpmmBl8upRnAI17BvT9ZDNdTAlLA6mohG9lt1-yrFEJ1GcSN/s1600-h/wave+climber.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376901378739054834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxngzohReWv7WFDtPHMnaRPIXIY-11rlsohkKrENT53Cbe3s0gPXVrDA1DewoTcYhWliKQ8gEwMWMHE8e_wMQgpmmBl8upRnAI17BvT9ZDNdTAlLA6mohG9lt1-yrFEJ1GcSN/s320/wave+climber.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />the cozy coupe car we found at the bottom of someones' driveway with a "take me" sign on it,</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKAlI03yY4ruGJLQwgCOZQXNmOBAZFAMjWhyphenhyphendJoNBKPWBvwTaDwUaB0gtZHWsldMQCmchNbjCtsuphLzoLVhGNd4V1yqz50IznPQi5eKbY1A6h11vRKslW8KcmvVuc7Xxv0D_/s1600-h/cozycopue.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376901051130601186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKAlI03yY4ruGJLQwgCOZQXNmOBAZFAMjWhyphenhyphendJoNBKPWBvwTaDwUaB0gtZHWsldMQCmchNbjCtsuphLzoLVhGNd4V1yqz50IznPQi5eKbY1A6h11vRKslW8KcmvVuc7Xxv0D_/s320/cozycopue.jpg" border="0" /></a>the picnic table, we have had since Sean was little, and it was given to us by an old neighbor whose kids had outgrown it, </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ONR055tgEfNF9XgWRyL4kr7lTfiTk_z0uWMmpEhrOlMH_0gQafa9STDXnznrJjfXVaNfeIPNyQcBwZCeCvCE9uN7gvEEY62U5K3xNs9KAoVZ4kyNcPguG7IhthyVGF3ZlWVx/s1600-h/picnic+table"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376917771038160546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ONR055tgEfNF9XgWRyL4kr7lTfiTk_z0uWMmpEhrOlMH_0gQafa9STDXnznrJjfXVaNfeIPNyQcBwZCeCvCE9uN7gvEEY62U5K3xNs9KAoVZ4kyNcPguG7IhthyVGF3ZlWVx/s320/picnic+table" border="0" /></a> the turtle sandbox we got at a garage sale for $.50, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZv_y3uRIesA_YG_lmY_Tpir1USWR3scaqlY2h3PpQy3o0ZfuUje0fiw1eE2rT_D03FVaWVxya3Pgzg8kj3kCFpJeBB3VlU5JE49ZRG2zuSFEoPotjO3iN6KouLAoTEO129FhE/s1600-h/turtle.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376901381471178626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 319px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZv_y3uRIesA_YG_lmY_Tpir1USWR3scaqlY2h3PpQy3o0ZfuUje0fiw1eE2rT_D03FVaWVxya3Pgzg8kj3kCFpJeBB3VlU5JE49ZRG2zuSFEoPotjO3iN6KouLAoTEO129FhE/s320/turtle.jpg" border="0" /></a>the rocking horse, </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8VLAX53FTBn_ycUHYJxqTa6XBlA3hbmE5Czrv_Jqc9vVc8tyFl1-Jbp-C5G3JIbSs-o0aoN3YWVvGRtpI08jIs7Fub2km_nugkNpYYcdNQsMFOxuopwfQ9N_oI1GRlXPWO1x/s1600-h/rockinghorse.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376901060770911682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8VLAX53FTBn_ycUHYJxqTa6XBlA3hbmE5Czrv_Jqc9vVc8tyFl1-Jbp-C5G3JIbSs-o0aoN3YWVvGRtpI08jIs7Fub2km_nugkNpYYcdNQsMFOxuopwfQ9N_oI1GRlXPWO1x/s320/rockinghorse.jpg" border="0" /></a>and this push/ride on car were hand me downs as well, </div><br /><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJAdXUMPSWEdZKPj_HO-7An_CIO5f0cyPj3W3US-0v9RExbzTgWXtxTMEKdCAHdWtjf8JXXwUmak_iqpDW3Eu2nui1ohACab1p3AwFWWpQyJFgqw45zPFd3bYiv4D4Ark11rZI/s1600-h/pushandride.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376917776687288098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJAdXUMPSWEdZKPj_HO-7An_CIO5f0cyPj3W3US-0v9RExbzTgWXtxTMEKdCAHdWtjf8JXXwUmak_iqpDW3Eu2nui1ohACab1p3AwFWWpQyJFgqw45zPFd3bYiv4D4Ark11rZI/s320/pushandride.png" border="0" /></a> and thanks to Grandma and Pa we have recently added the <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/bludaigra-20/detail/B000MG7XRA">sand/water table</a>. Which in our case is the <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/bludaigra-20/detail/B001DEYPAS">moon sand</a> table. All three boys have slept in the firetruck bed (actually a competing brand Step 2) which is about to go into storage until Scott moves out of the crib.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QnZ2ca_zPclD5CzspX70Ulba_q9OZZdEhuv4XItPsjbPIntTuo2E220rJdPA6p2gqngecSAj3UOQJbKxvRcRAys0KlMXHx7Mc5Y3hN4aGpHz4oXirjf_adv7SQ4xxyjUCsMw/s1600-h/steptwofiretruck.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376901384540752066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QnZ2ca_zPclD5CzspX70Ulba_q9OZZdEhuv4XItPsjbPIntTuo2E220rJdPA6p2gqngecSAj3UOQJbKxvRcRAys0KlMXHx7Mc5Y3hN4aGpHz4oXirjf_adv7SQ4xxyjUCsMw/s320/steptwofiretruck.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />We have owned the tool table and some kitchens through the years, and have since passed them on. Currently I am on the hunt for a kichen for Scott.<br /><br />I remember visiting a friends niece pre marriage, I had no kids of my own. This girl had the coolest dollhouse that was from Little Tikes and actually had scaled down versions of the larger Little Tikes toys. Now that I have kids of my own, they have stopped making that dollhouse. You can still find it and the toys on ebay, and at garage sales. Look at how cute these are, check some of these out. That's our picnic table, coupe car and I have seen that kitchen in many a playroom.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKsHa7xleHh-lr_BeqHkJa6_crXkTLH0wnBtRzKM6owYr3IW6TUvOtV2qtkBA51t3Kp3cKc_XWVdLKOKaYNtniq7SDqwSMMDwdhrwMP1B-6ZqG0hdN0eaSyCOaIWP-l799ornT/s1600-h/dollhouse.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376901044009735282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKsHa7xleHh-lr_BeqHkJa6_crXkTLH0wnBtRzKM6owYr3IW6TUvOtV2qtkBA51t3Kp3cKc_XWVdLKOKaYNtniq7SDqwSMMDwdhrwMP1B-6ZqG0hdN0eaSyCOaIWP-l799ornT/s320/dollhouse.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />So I can't entertain my desire and easily acquire these toys, though they would be a great investment cause years down the road there will still be a market for the toys. Pending their condition you could turn around and sell them on ebay and probably get what you paid for them. I am just saying...<br /><br />Lo and behold, I found in a magazine a review of this little diddy. <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/bludaigra-20/detail/B001KZGV8E">The Little Tikes Turtle mealtime set</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://astore.amazon.com/bludaigra-20/detail/B001KZGV8E"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376901053173740706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvb05VYYU5cqZtGXvmJvG56JXMP0kH3oSZ-Pofp6JDjA5BQEvd4Ga_4SmBa94yKreDtGOiNIVcL3HT206hUetHR0rbFE6uWZnMWmrYONkY_lirdKoF7J3T-FSQlxu2HwrfqwQ9/s320/mealtime.jpg" border="0" /></a>The fork and spoon are a shovel and a rake.<br />I promptly checked the local retail stores, Target and Walmart, Babies R Us and Toys R Us, with no such luck I could not find it....Until I froogled (Google.com/shopping) and found it on amazon.com . To qualify for free shipping I ordered three, gave one to my neighbor for her first birthday, kept one for Scott and figured I'd give one away. Leave me a comment about your little tikes toys and I will pick a winner at random on Sept.19th at 12:00am.<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">eta remember to either come back and check to see if you won or leave an email addy that i can notify you at... </span><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>Thanks, Suzanne </div><br /><br />and the winner is....<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ5WkCvi6XGJvL7faIH61SwuWFv70WsbY0NGIbsGqVnwIAH9NyLQO3Aq0vpg1eZXhY5BZgAqADd0YxIkPbwrBMMDfaLTX-_wtkTsoBTAb7ih8VoR8zQZwbdKqouMGHVEzqtA_1/s1600-h/littletikes.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383699223089371170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 218px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ5WkCvi6XGJvL7faIH61SwuWFv70WsbY0NGIbsGqVnwIAH9NyLQO3Aq0vpg1eZXhY5BZgAqADd0YxIkPbwrBMMDfaLTX-_wtkTsoBTAb7ih8VoR8zQZwbdKqouMGHVEzqtA_1/s320/littletikes.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div>congratulations Sharon</div><br /><div>email me your address and I'll send this off to you in the mail...</div><br /><div>you'll have 5 days to do so or i'll pick another winner at random...</div><br />thank you everyone for your comments.<br /><div></div><br /><div></div></div>Sue daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13064834741197075001noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15294973.post-34692586934124780772009-06-25T15:26:00.016-04:002009-07-01T08:38:53.099-04:00Our Summer Experiment- who's got the best shakes?So we are having a contest this Summer to see who has the best milkshakes.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEgnoffWITQ_-fo2_2-JE30oqA-jW1xaydmVJB8UqTDZqj4bxJOo7iahufZK8M9LaJ6tuNJTmk7ClH1luXZscYS3upQDH02DpRm33kb-fddn6JDYgMjh6cRPcOTBJv4f4s8zmn/s1600-h/chickfila.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351351119705319298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEgnoffWITQ_-fo2_2-JE30oqA-jW1xaydmVJB8UqTDZqj4bxJOo7iahufZK8M9LaJ6tuNJTmk7ClH1luXZscYS3upQDH02DpRm33kb-fddn6JDYgMjh6cRPcOTBJv4f4s8zmn/s320/chickfila.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We started at Chick-fil-A cause I was given a gift card by Sean's teacher and well, being a <em>damn yankee</em>, I had never been to a Chick-fil-A before. We truly enjoyed their chicken sandwich and hand spun milk shakes, and the bar was set very high. They have two sizes, and top each creation with an ample dose of whipped cream and a cherry. Sean had vanilla, Jack and Craig each had chocolate and I had to have the cookies and cream...Yum...<br /><br />So the contest came about as I was trying to replace our outside umbrella and well, boys do not like to be dragged from store to store to shop for umbrellas in this heat unless, you promise them a milkshake! So...off to Burger King we went because I had heard they had a nice size shake on the dollar menu...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJQgnKsdTTp7iTZ76qdOBVPt2iAI7cCF700Nin98sAv6A7Nnr4EIBwOlS_qDVxOXv0eRZKPV8CQTu05yyrU5KUYu1wiSt-rS8rvCd0LiKEV8PjSPN-KCw7MyFHLNfRgl06Afl/s1600-h/burgerking.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351352642357527410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJQgnKsdTTp7iTZ76qdOBVPt2iAI7cCF700Nin98sAv6A7Nnr4EIBwOlS_qDVxOXv0eRZKPV8CQTu05yyrU5KUYu1wiSt-rS8rvCd0LiKEV8PjSPN-KCw7MyFHLNfRgl06Afl/s320/burgerking.bmp" border="0" /></a>The boys liked them well enough, though the vanilla did not taste much different from the chocolate, In fact after the indecision of my four year old, "I want chocolate, no wait I want vanilla, no wait I want chocolate"...well let's just say I handed him a shake and then he asked what flavor it was and I said, "what did you order" and he said, "chocolate", and it was vanilla but I let him believe it was chocolate crossing my fingers and saying a quick prayer under my breath, and fortunately he bought it.<br /><br />So this one is funny, we stopped at McDonalds to celebrate Craig's success at his first round of swim lessons...and I asked the boys what flavor shake they wanted and they said to me that McDonalds does not have shakes. I was flabbergasted, those were THE shakes when I was a kid.<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4k2RxaECd8ATMq3uQ692TtjuprOaSS2w9TmomKp1HZDIdrojaehXuR_O7cryknuUD6wZCwZaXIMgsAifU2IGOUrdHG55xSQ8XXVb6uXjEkidkkgur1Sk-DcG0TX5qU79upCOm/s1600-h/shamrock.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351355752535928018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 244px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4k2RxaECd8ATMq3uQ692TtjuprOaSS2w9TmomKp1HZDIdrojaehXuR_O7cryknuUD6wZCwZaXIMgsAifU2IGOUrdHG55xSQ8XXVb6uXjEkidkkgur1Sk-DcG0TX5qU79upCOm/s320/shamrock.jpg" border="0" /></a> Shamrock shakes for Saint Patricks Day, delish! Replaced by the McFlurry. But I, up until now was able to convince my kids that they don't even sell shakes. OK I may regret this later, but we ordered them...They are not what I remembered, tasted very artificial. Sorry Ronald, but I do love your new Cafe' mochas! </p><br /><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkSJnslaxXLe5-9lD_a-Chq2HZbRZVAHVEl4dcIHFhrIPelO5EEiuWwd2vhz0TLst6sjbTA71PXYS-rNtmT7dv7aR0AcivWQ92E4ljB0G-6hYng2b7Sb11Z5dEoV0lhEnBbkM/s1600-h/mocha.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351376252567867682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkSJnslaxXLe5-9lD_a-Chq2HZbRZVAHVEl4dcIHFhrIPelO5EEiuWwd2vhz0TLst6sjbTA71PXYS-rNtmT7dv7aR0AcivWQ92E4ljB0G-6hYng2b7Sb11Z5dEoV0lhEnBbkM/s320/mocha.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><p>So now to the place that compelled me to write this post. Another cleverly advertised fast food joint that I have never been to. Until today, Where they not only had shakes, but limeades and java frozen heaven. Yes, you know it well...Sonic </p><br /><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinF61duKx9HJco8TuPC1Ob6gn6RBcSLT1-2wv-6PKws_XBE5qhKhsnsURiQIH3zLt1EDZfaper9GA7INUg_M_-AHGrA6Nyg6qq93n6HyBOGkHWmpokzZmYEu-fEtcR7jrUnN1f/s1600-h/sonic.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351377725828851202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 194px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinF61duKx9HJco8TuPC1Ob6gn6RBcSLT1-2wv-6PKws_XBE5qhKhsnsURiQIH3zLt1EDZfaper9GA7INUg_M_-AHGrA6Nyg6qq93n6HyBOGkHWmpokzZmYEu-fEtcR7jrUnN1f/s320/sonic.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p>I am not sure if it's the novelty of the old fashioned drive up and order, which I enjoyed mostly cause I was not being barked at like drive thru window operators can be known to do? And we ordered a burger, popcorn chicken, an oreo blast, one vanilla and one chocolate shake and of course, since I have to participate, I ordered a java mocha, frozen. It was heaven! I will gain weight as the result of this experiment, but the kids are really enjoying the comparisons. Sean's even involved in the different costs vs. quality. Sean noticed that Sonic has Happy Hour from 2:00 to 4:00, all drinks (probably not shakes) half price.<br />Next stop is Steak n Shake....hand dipped, whipped cream and that cherry...<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4oWpdSg1UW2FStwZEIzaCXlNaYklhwPyHBnwwMVX6TZcr0z-Ro96S97OhFVzpxa4UvYk2aYOJTFtb-bsvTvBgivpheSKtMZoonsJuefa3hCuaqOimX-EloQM5ORte4AiNhA1c/s1600-h/sands.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351397536083208402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 262px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4oWpdSg1UW2FStwZEIzaCXlNaYklhwPyHBnwwMVX6TZcr0z-Ro96S97OhFVzpxa4UvYk2aYOJTFtb-bsvTvBgivpheSKtMZoonsJuefa3hCuaqOimX-EloQM5ORte4AiNhA1c/s320/sands.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p>Leave me a comment telling me about where you get your favorite shake, and flavor. I'll randomly pick someone to get a $5.00 gift card to McDonald's. remember to include a way to reach you. Contest will end June 30th at midnight. <span style="color:#6666cc;">We have our winner thanks for playing!</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0YTUfUcmV4hRvqtKJfikdCMYhlsSyNZJF8dwjYNjfo9EulaKirPk9ncU3p57ccW5RfnGUH2fU_mjfO8Sml9caq3IS_TybmC6MB3jWbF-DJR0qhhYp_odoct2ZzFua5mz9hfQG/s1600-h/mcdonalds.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0YTUfUcmV4hRvqtKJfikdCMYhlsSyNZJF8dwjYNjfo9EulaKirPk9ncU3p57ccW5RfnGUH2fU_mjfO8Sml9caq3IS_TybmC6MB3jWbF-DJR0qhhYp_odoct2ZzFua5mz9hfQG/s320/mcdonalds.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353470030619988258" /></a><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">Misty...please email me your address and a I'll pop a gift card into the mail for you!</span></div><div> </div><p></p><div><br /></div><p>suzanne</p><div><br /></div><p></p><div><br /></div><p><br /></p>Sue daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13064834741197075001noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15294973.post-45792048453593482572009-06-22T12:15:00.001-04:002009-06-22T12:17:08.176-04:00Custom Twitter Pages.<a href="http://lordofdesign.com/twitter-buttons-and-icons-pack/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350184411798057986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 259px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 190px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOXePmvBQI5NhTutyBveDw4E8lpL6UpSblspa-f_Lms9WaBSiNm-Hc5DLYVQ-JZoRTj0PyDXJnQRdvTuZGh8iEKdZyR01KjIlH7GmRKC6uwlXvx22ABZGvHXzoAsEBMR-Ni-bx/s320/pic.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Remember when domains came out and people were buying up domain names like crazy, with a "ya never know he could become famous and want his/her name as their home page."</div><br /><div>Well Twitter is free, and you should sign up up even if you don't really intend to twitter just yet?</div><br /><div>Grab your name in case sending tweets becomes the norm/<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">neccessity</span> like the cell phone. </div><br /><div>to all you newbies out there,</div><br /><div>here are a few commands to get you started</div><br /><div><br />@<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">username</span> + message<br />directs a twitter at another person, and causes your twitter to save in their “replies” tab.Example: @<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ijustine</span> I love that song too!</div><br /><div><br />D <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">username</span> + message<br />sends a person a private message that goes to their device, and saves in their web archive.Example: d <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">krissy</span> want to pick a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Jamba</span> Juice for me while you’re there?</div><br /><div><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">WHOIS</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">username</span><br />retrieves the profile information for any public user on Twitter.Example: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">whois</span> jack</div><br /><div><br />GET <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">username</span><br />retrieves the latest Twitter update posted by the person.Example: get <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">goldman</span></div><br /><div><br />NUDGE <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">username</span><br />reminds a friend to update by asking what they’re doing on your behalf.Example: nudge biz</div><br /><div><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">FAV</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">username</span><br />marks a person’s last twitter as a favorite. (hint: reply to any update with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">FAV</span> to mark it as a favorite if you’re receiving it in real time)Example: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">fav</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">al</span>3x</div><br /><div><br />STATS<br />this command returns your number of followers, how many people you’re following, and which words you’re tracking.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So go register at <a href="http://twitter.com/">http://twitter.com/</a> and let's take it the next level and let me customize it,</div><br /><div>like mine <a href="https://twitter.com/suedaisy">https://twitter.com/suedaisy</a> just visit my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5716526"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">etsy</span> store.</a></div><div></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;">twitter image from </span><a href="http://lordofdesign.com/"><span style="font-size:78%;">http://lordofdesign.com</span></a></div>Sue daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13064834741197075001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15294973.post-37310458769837780022009-06-03T21:21:00.003-04:002009-06-04T07:09:27.690-04:00It's a Scavenger Explorer,Treasure Party.Sean was 9 this year and he is the party monster. Loves the whole party planning, creative games, and the more the merrier. Unfortunately since his birthday falls in winter, we must have a backup plan if the weather is too cold to party outside. First, keep control of how many are invited. Second, control how long the party will last. It's a good thing we do, cause this year the weather was terrible.<br /><br />He wanted a scavenger hunt, spy type, explorer theme. We went with it and my Aunt Pat made this pinata.<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil558T-fyYR4QJq8iex6f0QwvlYqvpAnApa7m-CBOyg8i8ARnMwk-uJvj8jK4nH_gZLWgVC7qVeCMTJriCE9hve5fuTr_eqJAG2oatHqlfavIVxfb-V6FmjXennju5NzAaqSjP/s1600-h/feb09+055.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343257914214214066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil558T-fyYR4QJq8iex6f0QwvlYqvpAnApa7m-CBOyg8i8ARnMwk-uJvj8jK4nH_gZLWgVC7qVeCMTJriCE9hve5fuTr_eqJAG2oatHqlfavIVxfb-V6FmjXennju5NzAaqSjP/s320/feb09+055.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p><p>We called him Pedro. So from there we got these <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Tan-EVA-Foam-Safari-British-PITH-HELMET-costume-hat_W0QQitemZ120401170071QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item1c08780e97&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1262&_trkparms=%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A30">pith hats</a> at <a href="http://www.michaels.com/art/online/home">Michaels</a>, </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDiTp8h8iBkVDe2MT_MchSjUYbh06L9MyqL1CvJRp9TTQEqKwC2t8LEWxCl5yPPDCk4MvSgSBuII5S0r70HRK7uICsEY8pS_t3k6vsDUsB_pD6HgjaXtYfEq04s6NeR2vRxTa/s1600-h/feb09+050.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343258422911952370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDiTp8h8iBkVDe2MT_MchSjUYbh06L9MyqL1CvJRp9TTQEqKwC2t8LEWxCl5yPPDCk4MvSgSBuII5S0r70HRK7uICsEY8pS_t3k6vsDUsB_pD6HgjaXtYfEq04s6NeR2vRxTa/s320/feb09+050.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I hid them downstairs once the kids arrived and I knew how many there were, I wrote a number on the inside of each hat that when they added them together it would equal 415. This would be for a riddle later.<br /><br />On the kitchen table was the first riddle. <strong>Go to the room under the house and look under the book about a mouse.</strong> They flew down the stairs. Earlier I had taken the book , "<em>If a Mouse Ate a Cookie"</em> and put it in the basement on our coffee table that lifts open. Inside were the the hats. They quickly figured that first clue out and were sporting their hats. <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1Ysbt-WR5EjpT_K5wjSoZI_iug6lwTKRKrVMHi_Ou0foW4HOcUQpM89p6JSOiAgD01SCPUen0mJ-lXOMtAFDY4t7GPm8NUG5yK1LChOYDGRwkmNYJ7dTIq6jpaH3Z4T8ZK-O/s1600-h/feb09+068.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343259520686931458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1Ysbt-WR5EjpT_K5wjSoZI_iug6lwTKRKrVMHi_Ou0foW4HOcUQpM89p6JSOiAgD01SCPUen0mJ-lXOMtAFDY4t7GPm8NUG5yK1LChOYDGRwkmNYJ7dTIq6jpaH3Z4T8ZK-O/s320/feb09+068.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Inside one of the hats was a clue to go to another part of the basement where they had to figure out a secret code. Each child got a strip of paper with a series of colored dots and dashes that represented a letter and they were instructed to look at a chart and figure out what their code stood for. I used rocks and minerals, like sapphire, topaz, and diamond. Once they figured out their code they brought it to my assistant Miss Mary Beth who gave them each a lanyard with two different shapes and colors on it. Then we directed them to the mine which was our turtle sandbox filled with sand, and these <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/bludaigra-20/detail/B0027I4C2K">self stick jewels</a> from the scrapbooking aisle. <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHAgmzcP2En3OrcxqScniLGs2NswRd4HbgcCjX-jwP5_MlthJnTJnMIjMzXxtlEko8lEzh3zdQDgkaL1l3suFvFAJ75psSQX2WGzAAJWiD2a21L8R_3ZrSWihg423OfkmYnpO/s1600-h/feb09+074.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343261051905895394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHAgmzcP2En3OrcxqScniLGs2NswRd4HbgcCjX-jwP5_MlthJnTJnMIjMzXxtlEko8lEzh3zdQDgkaL1l3suFvFAJ75psSQX2WGzAAJWiD2a21L8R_3ZrSWihg423OfkmYnpO/s320/feb09+074.jpg" border="0" /></a> They had to pan for their matching jewels on their lanyards. To have control we allowed two at a time, the other boys played darts and fuzz ball to keep them busy. Once everyone found the jewels, <p></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcx02QMRuHfhyphenhyphenucfWJl9iRG-vmoKFhxCtNTOhJtjSdJ4JLS_jCsnl7SaTs9JpVnyhx8Xjwk4_KfDsAcKnhXndek6f_hB3m6ch5LN5omajGumlJSx3K1HoGHliqU6BuKJsycc8F/s1600-h/2009+03+02_0065.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342745443181860642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcx02QMRuHfhyphenhyphenucfWJl9iRG-vmoKFhxCtNTOhJtjSdJ4JLS_jCsnl7SaTs9JpVnyhx8Xjwk4_KfDsAcKnhXndek6f_hB3m6ch5LN5omajGumlJSx3K1HoGHliqU6BuKJsycc8F/s320/2009+03+02_0065.jpg" border="0" /></a> we did more riddles, including adding the numbers on their hats which led them to our mailbox (415) that had a riddle sending them back to the kitchen. We sang happy birthday and ate a cookie cake we decorated as a compass. We then opened the presents and finally, the last riddle lead them back to the basement and the destruction of the pinata.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYpddDSzltK_Nmws51XsGAPqKSHEVzzu48eLv_nVN3rvFSWkqaMXHkSoJffWap4IbHztgcXQKe9P-a43gPLh4AeLZIdLDIWYtyAE9yTkXxh-c2nQcajUMuXMy2oBWzrIph43-/s1600-h/feb09+084.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343262469581200018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYpddDSzltK_Nmws51XsGAPqKSHEVzzu48eLv_nVN3rvFSWkqaMXHkSoJffWap4IbHztgcXQKe9P-a43gPLh4AeLZIdLDIWYtyAE9yTkXxh-c2nQcajUMuXMy2oBWzrIph43-/s320/feb09+084.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxEDb8QNVvbaX0PgNGmI6ZJQ_4ofeIe2cZEetya_vZh42Ccuue-DQlaCidYud83OUoOUaHL08lq38RsHHr_FD7_6xi-VYloq-vCtRm6fyTUYfidcSPgCfkuAl81zkn6OFtNBy/s1600-h/feb09+082.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343262467796630498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxEDb8QNVvbaX0PgNGmI6ZJQ_4ofeIe2cZEetya_vZh42Ccuue-DQlaCidYud83OUoOUaHL08lq38RsHHr_FD7_6xi-VYloq-vCtRm6fyTUYfidcSPgCfkuAl81zkn6OFtNBy/s320/feb09+082.jpg" border="0" /></a>Pedro held out for a long time and there was plenty of candy for everyone. </div></div><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3RUVMZLs_dU-_83Ulyx4k5nCB5XFElgChDddKWhyphenhyphenVelQcOJ2o8tXV3kCrxsb2eT4pRpezEXvSG3RNGQa7U_00dMB7W5JFAQWYPRxT7mThOmG9yMRoPzOy4y_VnmB8vb3-Ctv/s1600-h/feb09+070.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343262475036712018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3RUVMZLs_dU-_83Ulyx4k5nCB5XFElgChDddKWhyphenhyphenVelQcOJ2o8tXV3kCrxsb2eT4pRpezEXvSG3RNGQa7U_00dMB7W5JFAQWYPRxT7mThOmG9yMRoPzOy4y_VnmB8vb3-Ctv/s320/feb09+070.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p></p><p>We all had a fantastic time.</p><p></p><p>suzanne<br /></p>Sue daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13064834741197075001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15294973.post-47416555536485601112009-05-02T11:16:00.007-04:002009-05-02T12:01:12.478-04:00It's a Tiki Beach Party<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7pRXpVYbuFQjMq4CxjDjnw6MOdG2xNye5S9AroSBMP0WeFglaGQUsN9FxkFJu4iPPemn_D0bUzPwTvlzZLWVq1wvXLbTLKKdffoHscoFMOVO1_edGzbZ34zf5J6sUYn1ejbou/s1600-h/2009+04+26_0205.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331255200020940178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7pRXpVYbuFQjMq4CxjDjnw6MOdG2xNye5S9AroSBMP0WeFglaGQUsN9FxkFJu4iPPemn_D0bUzPwTvlzZLWVq1wvXLbTLKKdffoHscoFMOVO1_edGzbZ34zf5J6sUYn1ejbou/s320/2009+04+26_0205.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Ok so since we've been in the new neighborhood, we went from one of the greenest yards to one of the least enviable yards on the street. So after hiring a lawn service, and doing some research on leveling lawns, we had 5 yards of sand and 5 yards of top soil delivered. So what do I think of? <br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-z-aVI99PdmrscraCYVCfPxebaaGdvMYmS78-B6mXZTZqVMvmTnL_Y1RoECttqjrQlCYRiu_voMlVurFms2impfV9tL6Ats4Ps-7s3CBqeNGBdoGuSfeOTFn2WbjIrmT6sW2y/s1600-h/2009+04+26_0206.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331255204907943874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-z-aVI99PdmrscraCYVCfPxebaaGdvMYmS78-B6mXZTZqVMvmTnL_Y1RoECttqjrQlCYRiu_voMlVurFms2impfV9tL6Ats4Ps-7s3CBqeNGBdoGuSfeOTFn2WbjIrmT6sW2y/s320/2009+04+26_0206.jpg" border="0" /></a>A theme for Craig's fourth birthday party. Backyardigans Tiki beach Party. Kids love sand. Let's build a party around the need to improve our yard.<br />Invites went out of our plan. We purchased sand buckets, bubbles and trucks from Big Lots. I found some hula hoops, and some shells at Walmart. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOS3M8zgDueg4zAuGDWlaqmvbEIVBhnKZIZpYhs5AgHCtXyIb0DEEhE2Y2NLaHxjQN5rSHSTNbCgdiznL38hiXKXboi15SAxbcXDOfJPb-1iwUrfVcItH6cLMtJx5gYyc9-0_x/s1600-h/2009+04+26_0191.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331255216043051218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOS3M8zgDueg4zAuGDWlaqmvbEIVBhnKZIZpYhs5AgHCtXyIb0DEEhE2Y2NLaHxjQN5rSHSTNbCgdiznL38hiXKXboi15SAxbcXDOfJPb-1iwUrfVcItH6cLMtJx5gYyc9-0_x/s320/2009+04+26_0191.jpg" border="0" /></a>And my Aunt made a Pablo pinata. We had a blast. Sun was out, we used our water tables, filled one with water and one with <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/bludaigra-20/detail/B000UOW59K">Moon Sand</a> and played <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=">Hulabaloo</a>. <br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGDTS0eWT7Q4LtgYYa380WE6JUKkl9UDpfFz7QhO7fIuQEXYn3JwFmjVRADF2QmTwRBFrari6ssIpJ4-vw1nzZcVToRWzWygRUh6qsjxWH4hFzrsjF034QuuXNMHBsao8LHLF/s1600-h/2009+04+26_0198.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331255211497035426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGDTS0eWT7Q4LtgYYa380WE6JUKkl9UDpfFz7QhO7fIuQEXYn3JwFmjVRADF2QmTwRBFrari6ssIpJ4-vw1nzZcVToRWzWygRUh6qsjxWH4hFzrsjF034QuuXNMHBsao8LHLF/s320/2009+04+26_0198.jpg" border="0" /></a>And the next day, my husband spread the sand and topsoil, and we are that much closer to a nicer yard. Think outside the sand box.</div></div></div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6qMLqJpu3b-PqxSeMtWeB4OEDUp8srEVLH8a4d-mphMlhpxTnkk0QT8s_Wh7jixGU19xPmn2pRiGeCkLhz6Tkc8nKNs6qZDwgQneFYKcp4V3NbgfubKDFqOSL7L3lwnIB40G/s1600-h/2009+04+26_0214.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331255206547166290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6qMLqJpu3b-PqxSeMtWeB4OEDUp8srEVLH8a4d-mphMlhpxTnkk0QT8s_Wh7jixGU19xPmn2pRiGeCkLhz6Tkc8nKNs6qZDwgQneFYKcp4V3NbgfubKDFqOSL7L3lwnIB40G/s320/2009+04+26_0214.jpg" border="0" /></a>Sue daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13064834741197075001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15294973.post-22747994045299868252009-04-23T14:12:00.009-04:002009-04-26T22:47:42.442-04:00You can do this, Cake Pops.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQhKmbAlhh9rzAkMaKXiUSRUU0Y_4OdyKcdjtujCq5X_9_izRkztSB0FeInWnahkzbQ7rJVwEYRPkC0UAjqJl43G8TbYQiykV3NmJRgr2poVxNcWHihmKI56P0gbOfzfs6uDW/s1600-h/2009+04+21_0182.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327903741363216514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQhKmbAlhh9rzAkMaKXiUSRUU0Y_4OdyKcdjtujCq5X_9_izRkztSB0FeInWnahkzbQ7rJVwEYRPkC0UAjqJl43G8TbYQiykV3NmJRgr2poVxNcWHihmKI56P0gbOfzfs6uDW/s320/2009+04+21_0182.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here's my attempt at cat cake pops. But i have to admit that the pink cats look like pigs? I love this site <a href="http://bakerella.blogspot.com/">Bakerella</a>, she came up with these ideas for cake balls on lollipop sticks and her creativity and imagination and execution is enviable. Here's a link to her <a href="http://bakerella.blogspot.com/2008/04/make-your-cupcakes-pop.html">blog</a>, and the actually video of her demonstrating how to make cupcake pops on the Martha Stewart show.<br /><br /><br /><div>I decided to try and make cat pops for Craig. as he's in the Cat class at his school. I figured blue for boys, and pink for girls. Here's how I made these kitties. Visit Bakerellas' site for more ideas for decorating.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWNa-Kv_9_JqxeOjLXVnKiNtu8NOiQCapeSj_WaMnzriYPuIwaXb1upntkXeEzOcm2gxUZINCN78pMcSteu2CWFvlVkzUufdJGK11xVUGC6TGXvV7Rr0CoxgeCHfHHXU15e_4/s1600-h/2009+04+21_0164.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327581305743263074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWNa-Kv_9_JqxeOjLXVnKiNtu8NOiQCapeSj_WaMnzriYPuIwaXb1upntkXeEzOcm2gxUZINCN78pMcSteu2CWFvlVkzUufdJGK11xVUGC6TGXvV7Rr0CoxgeCHfHHXU15e_4/s320/2009+04+21_0164.jpg" border="0" /></a> Bake one box of cake mix according to directions and let it cool completely. A lighter cake mix works well with a lighter candy melt, as the darker cake mix will show through.</div><br /><div><strong></strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAtzeqJ9SUfz2GxCos8HaeyOnsqo51lIt5ul4DEBIAVzDHLzBnAUHSZMRy2kBxTTiO4PkHNzbF0k5Fh9R8NZRedfjK-ytPfxSUMPnc0fB2MrALlXfKWY-DSkXDzjuZqorOd5al/s1600-h/2009+04+21_0167.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327581312021237154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAtzeqJ9SUfz2GxCos8HaeyOnsqo51lIt5ul4DEBIAVzDHLzBnAUHSZMRy2kBxTTiO4PkHNzbF0k5Fh9R8NZRedfjK-ytPfxSUMPnc0fB2MrALlXfKWY-DSkXDzjuZqorOd5al/s320/2009+04+21_0167.jpg" border="0" /></a> Break the cake mix up into smaller pieces into a bowl. Add one can of frosting and mix together. Think meatballs.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZUgXYQSgmLg9r_7LV3srd-PblOD13bawnVw3K4Pnflx9EseCsFDzpWrT5QR6vjm08RrrN2T7iuRpI7tFhqrhwcljc7wjyQhmBHSFbIMxi_ex6xnZwmY5eIuowhjpvSq46DZQ/s1600-h/2009+04+21_0168.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327581312954300146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZUgXYQSgmLg9r_7LV3srd-PblOD13bawnVw3K4Pnflx9EseCsFDzpWrT5QR6vjm08RrrN2T7iuRpI7tFhqrhwcljc7wjyQhmBHSFbIMxi_ex6xnZwmY5eIuowhjpvSq46DZQ/s320/2009+04+21_0168.jpg" border="0" /></a> Once it looks like this. cover and place in the fridge to cool somewhat before rolling into balls. </div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNCWqtf7K8c2GXKrEkOoT2td9AIK3KIfTYyg3g5pKePgViAr7Pjg4P2jtsXdzn7w8gz6gkpnObbnIHOjCVMcx_x3z7Z8aj_-6raXaWrZmd_GAOhFxxuLb6tGtvTMoDL0JIiml-/s1600-h/2009+04+21_0169.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327581313851747010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNCWqtf7K8c2GXKrEkOoT2td9AIK3KIfTYyg3g5pKePgViAr7Pjg4P2jtsXdzn7w8gz6gkpnObbnIHOjCVMcx_x3z7Z8aj_-6raXaWrZmd_GAOhFxxuLb6tGtvTMoDL0JIiml-/s320/2009+04+21_0169.jpg" border="0" /></a> Line a cookie sheet that will fit into your fridge with wax paper. and make your balls. I made 42 from this batch. Place back into fridge to set.</div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi46ERvfulYHsWA1azzqAqGUsNiZHv5auCVTAfhWo6SS6evDOX7Fpc1WtgP3u3d43eBz_WUjlwsWwB1Ij5sgg0saQ3zwRqGC5bYFNSdO6Pi0Lq5XNvURHCxlFnC1Pk-9MCzSR3G/s1600-h/2009+04+21_0170.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327581318665113410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi46ERvfulYHsWA1azzqAqGUsNiZHv5auCVTAfhWo6SS6evDOX7Fpc1WtgP3u3d43eBz_WUjlwsWwB1Ij5sgg0saQ3zwRqGC5bYFNSdO6Pi0Lq5XNvURHCxlFnC1Pk-9MCzSR3G/s320/2009+04+21_0170.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here I melted some pink and blue melts and dipped the stick into the melt before placing into the balls. Then get a Styrofoam block and stick pops into the block so they don't touch. I added the ears which were white chocolate morsels, by dabbing a tad bit of the melts onto the morsel with a toothpick and then stick it to the ball. (sans the toothpick)<br /></div><div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327583000276333522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXbwHO2G2JrAcN8nJOuunn8fU_9yQRBtzTS9xxyYUkb5zcRsyzcehBvTzBJDxqBmSyE8CkJK9YFRmvQNRwWVQ_-7PVOh_XRwrh54HVRe2lOeN1_tjNB39lKh6ilyYCHb2neCKq/s320/2009+04+21_0172.jpg" border="0" /> You can see them take shape now. Melt enough melts to completly cover the pop and dip the entire head in at once and tap lightly to remove excess. Place back into foam.</div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehjb6fnAPhm8kmtbjrdBjqLCXmaiLJnK3CV8j0vNGA0AVHVNieqrjUsxCHSAgVPKII2hUKVycuSOrIxjJtdggLwXMSC-JYOQhFrOd4IhzLmwOkBY5YNXBTjDgIQ5tJeB-cEdG/s1600-h/2009+04+21_0179.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327583005656486290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehjb6fnAPhm8kmtbjrdBjqLCXmaiLJnK3CV8j0vNGA0AVHVNieqrjUsxCHSAgVPKII2hUKVycuSOrIxjJtdggLwXMSC-JYOQhFrOd4IhzLmwOkBY5YNXBTjDgIQ5tJeB-cEdG/s320/2009+04+21_0179.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here the pink is setting up...<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfY3n_kMW6Zr80sBGc6jnWlxqwLbmMtd7m15lFO1UGS9to9SYxY7H0ZLRXQr7gUUk6j5yhmFwIJdSjlbeNCRJnuxK07ZcrbJNaLAJNvM2UIf-HNnOGOiqln3rAGhVDKPEsWEC_/s1600-h/2009+04+21_0181.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327583006598638194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfY3n_kMW6Zr80sBGc6jnWlxqwLbmMtd7m15lFO1UGS9to9SYxY7H0ZLRXQr7gUUk6j5yhmFwIJdSjlbeNCRJnuxK07ZcrbJNaLAJNvM2UIf-HNnOGOiqln3rAGhVDKPEsWEC_/s320/2009+04+21_0181.jpg" border="0" /></a> I added eyes with white icing writer and nonpareils and the noses are mini M&M's. Aren't they cute? They each have their own look.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-A3Eh0F6TMrScsaJyU83Mvv0b629pxkKVSo6ZeXKyVMv284bnb8Rk9FoyHOoOCuZZ10HfySx9yXD2QxbWGPkofj4MqSYuO2QREE6LRppg5XXH1p0NzndwA1-zD4RcN4Usaat/s1600-h/2009+04+21_0183.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327583008781669426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-A3Eh0F6TMrScsaJyU83Mvv0b629pxkKVSo6ZeXKyVMv284bnb8Rk9FoyHOoOCuZZ10HfySx9yXD2QxbWGPkofj4MqSYuO2QREE6LRppg5XXH1p0NzndwA1-zD4RcN4Usaat/s320/2009+04+21_0183.jpg" border="0" /></a>Package them with a cellophane bag or Saran wrap and a ribbon. Just to cute, great idea for a bake sale.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxynk-_X8aq_Xfq9-mhqziq4tgRXkT-_TLnNLmfQ4xJY0I4nmOwwjqfrtat0cwLpZEfLG83OVYT0NsCumoyffSRHJylFCc9Qw0A0F_8PwhUjtku5GV9wTMSd654h5cZ26CB7jD/s1600-h/2009+04+22_0153.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327904410520024802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxynk-_X8aq_Xfq9-mhqziq4tgRXkT-_TLnNLmfQ4xJY0I4nmOwwjqfrtat0cwLpZEfLG83OVYT0NsCumoyffSRHJylFCc9Qw0A0F_8PwhUjtku5GV9wTMSd654h5cZ26CB7jD/s320/2009+04+22_0153.jpg" border="0" /></a> And they taste as good as they look.</div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieT-DQc_yWo4JJrDEalD3z7gZ6Fy0wXSSFy9jostv-yHd-VjUEjpB-s8tcfhqiI5nrAI0lDWtEsfeD7tTQwsoIceRchOWNcCuwrxRcQK0dk2Jqg6YUQgPteiT1Z8JVlUswz-ap/s1600-h/2009+04+22_0159.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327904414842345810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieT-DQc_yWo4JJrDEalD3z7gZ6Fy0wXSSFy9jostv-yHd-VjUEjpB-s8tcfhqiI5nrAI0lDWtEsfeD7tTQwsoIceRchOWNcCuwrxRcQK0dk2Jqg6YUQgPteiT1Z8JVlUswz-ap/s320/2009+04+22_0159.jpg" border="0" /></a>(baby used for demonstration only, I did not let him actually eat the pop...teeth are required.)</div><div>enjoy and leave me a comment about how crazy I am to do these.</div><div>Sue daisy<br /><br /></div></div><br /></div>Sue daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13064834741197075001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15294973.post-12077568695245557852009-04-21T13:41:00.001-04:002009-04-21T13:28:22.438-04:00Star Wars Jedi in Training Birthday Bash<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_mfLo6C85VgVfL6SUekDB2oFhygZaTO0LmmTpN9eDX-qU2BKSNQVWLMy8YtKfL3w91tsfYMca5pKmEpiG1osVA1aJ8RzVoKIIwk2dBLrwH5GPbHo4HzlthxRfKsDpiWR5lGE/s1600-h/jan08+024.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327157313817527394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_mfLo6C85VgVfL6SUekDB2oFhygZaTO0LmmTpN9eDX-qU2BKSNQVWLMy8YtKfL3w91tsfYMca5pKmEpiG1osVA1aJ8RzVoKIIwk2dBLrwH5GPbHo4HzlthxRfKsDpiWR5lGE/s320/jan08+024.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /></div><div>Some of you know that I have 4 boys. We like to do the birthday parties at home. The boys love coming up with different themes that I then plan the party around. Jack's 7th birthday comes first and his theme idea this year was a toss between Mario Cart or Star Wars. I thought Star Wars would be easier to plan around so I persuaded him.</div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br />The Party store stuff is pretty basic. This is where I hope this post will help you take it a tad farther. I did a quick search of Happy Meal toys on ebay and some really nice Star Wars choices came up, but they were pricey as Star Wars are big collectible items. I suggest you do a search on ebay for any themed party, just give yourself enough lead time for an auction to end, and the seller to mail it to you in time for the party.</div><div><br /></div><div><br />Also on ebay, I came across some really cute cupcake toppers <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/Star-Wars-Mini-Bust-8-Pc-Party-Cake-Toppers-Play-Set_W0QQitemZ370147438248QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item370147438248&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50">here</a>, and got some <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/bludaigra-20/detail/B000WLKE9O">Star Wars themed Pez dispensers</a>. My favorite find was the star wars shaped <a href="http://stores.ebay.com/favors4all">candy molds</a>. They had many choices, and we decided that C3PO, storm trooper and darth vader would be best. These are super easy to make and a great display for decor and take home favor. Just purchase some <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/bludaigra-20?%5Fencoding=UTF8&node=2">candy melts</a> and follow directions on package. My husband made light sabers using pretzel rods and <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/bludaigra-20/detail/B0000CFH1O">yellow candy melts</a> that the children enjoyed with this recipe for Yoda Soda. 1 bottle lemon lime soda, 1 bottle of green gatorade, and scoops of orange sherbet. It looks swampy, and tastes yummy.</div><div><br /></div><div><br />I then asked Jack what sort of cake he wanted and he asked for a Storm Trooper cake. So off to Google I went and came across these <a href="http://www.starwars.com/kids/activity/crafts/f20051026/">templates</a>. Bookmark this site for later and print out three storm trooper masks. Bake two batches of cake mix. use a 13 x 9 inch pan, 12 cupcakes, and a 9 x 9 inch pan. I let cake cool completely and used one of the print outs as a template on the 13 x 9 inch sheet for the base of the cake, then iced with white icing. Then I used the second template to cut out shapes that would give the mask dimension. Assemble and ice with white icing. Use the third template for the dark black. Place the paper under some wax paper or parchment. Trace using a toothpick and melted chocolate melts. Once cooled invert and place on cake smooth side up. Too cool.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVt8oaFza5gZjkUlLbG2gd54p-Vodo4KhiCylpJOn_ZSa7_gH35SAV6Ti1ilxEbYuxSwwuQc_bYfdRi6A0yKUZVCjjbmsEXjhOM3r8cnoBXokJLiOimhVfsH0rpnqTL4PZ5183/s1600-h/jan08+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327158257636454226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVt8oaFza5gZjkUlLbG2gd54p-Vodo4KhiCylpJOn_ZSa7_gH35SAV6Ti1ilxEbYuxSwwuQc_bYfdRi6A0yKUZVCjjbmsEXjhOM3r8cnoBXokJLiOimhVfsH0rpnqTL4PZ5183/s320/jan08+004.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Here are those awesome cupcake toppers. </div><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76vsriTVYkuGZ1UdQZDXn3aMppL6s8_1pYLXdrS0TesubB8L72n01jyFtbgAO1y_cs_k43Rg5NuqO-qlhe3S0rG9WzhkGlqYCOMuqVmiV5kyet-tLmTI-6VenhkpbCKdKguwg/s1600-h/jan08+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327158519648567298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76vsriTVYkuGZ1UdQZDXn3aMppL6s8_1pYLXdrS0TesubB8L72n01jyFtbgAO1y_cs_k43Rg5NuqO-qlhe3S0rG9WzhkGlqYCOMuqVmiV5kyet-tLmTI-6VenhkpbCKdKguwg/s320/jan08+003.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div>Now the theme of Star Wars evolved to <strong>Jedi in Training</strong>, when I came across this <a href="http://www.degraeve.com/jedirobe/">site</a> of How to make a Jedi robe.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwpHk3TVJIiW2vQtY6Oqh5XyAKRW12YOGIRJuLH5d9xe-7oc02bL2DhpIKLFUp1BLk_DzO2vav5JBSawDI1qMjgiW7qCYJpitIO8lFmCAuDPgVObv1ugzP1qOpfmi8fbPPmxE/s1600-h/jan08+013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327161066745532562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwpHk3TVJIiW2vQtY6Oqh5XyAKRW12YOGIRJuLH5d9xe-7oc02bL2DhpIKLFUp1BLk_DzO2vav5JBSawDI1qMjgiW7qCYJpitIO8lFmCAuDPgVObv1ugzP1qOpfmi8fbPPmxE/s320/jan08+013.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>I purchased the fabric cheap at Walmart and was able to turn around 9 robes and belts in half a day. These really helped everyone get into character as a Jedi in Training. </div><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00iVL6-PLkYW3963szniCpakyj9wCvWPiqSlqSkIXxP4lZX8SfzmvxiaYcqv4QoAkGjLkWBU7VG-9kbtPnVvJwSg368b7OIHDw3zvC3WJpH6I2RalBJSEJf05uuiCmqNZzl6D/s1600-h/jan08+102.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327161056043163298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00iVL6-PLkYW3963szniCpakyj9wCvWPiqSlqSkIXxP4lZX8SfzmvxiaYcqv4QoAkGjLkWBU7VG-9kbtPnVvJwSg368b7OIHDw3zvC3WJpH6I2RalBJSEJf05uuiCmqNZzl6D/s320/jan08+102.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>I created the invitation inviting the boys to train, we came up with different tasks and missions, and a passport that kept track of their completed tasks. </div><br /><div>As the boys arrived we played Star Wars music and handed out the masks I printed from this <a href="http://www.starwars.com/kids/activity/crafts/f20051026/">website</a>, and mounted to <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/bludaigra-20/detail/B0007PC9FM">bristol board</a> with <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/bludaigra-20/detail/B00178QQJ8">mod podge</a> for added strength. </div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdzQeVYqjasK7BZQDw2Vh61BJvnEImx0hLbaLfWIonSjKGVEbcD0Xz79J5zRoSxuzt_6QC3gsPw7PrRsP00p_jAph7ipXnTh-dIbQadQjfezRZMidQk3DGYAl49AZps8Zi6DP/s1600-h/jan08+103.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327161055151994402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdzQeVYqjasK7BZQDw2Vh61BJvnEImx0hLbaLfWIonSjKGVEbcD0Xz79J5zRoSxuzt_6QC3gsPw7PrRsP00p_jAph7ipXnTh-dIbQadQjfezRZMidQk3DGYAl49AZps8Zi6DP/s320/jan08+103.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />When everyone had arrived they were each fitted with their robe, and handed their passport for participation. I just designed this simple passport, printed it and "laminated" using packing tape. Punched a hole in it, enough string to wear around their necks and off they go. One thing, the tape made the corners sharper than I liked so I used my <a href="http://www.creativememories.com/MainMenu/Our-products-and-services/Traditional-Scrapbooking/Tools/Cropping-Tools/Corner-Maker/Corner-Maker">corner rounder</a> from my scrapbooking stash.<br /><br /><div>First mission was to recite the Jedi oath. Once completed they got their first punch in their passport.</div><br /><div>Once everyone completed mission one it was time to test their agility and complete an obstacle course through the swamp. They enjoyed this so much they did it a couple of times.</div><br /><div>Once again a punch in their passport and they were awarded their light sabers, foam swords I found at the dollar store.</div><br /><div>Now some training with the light saber, we blew up balloons and each had to try and keep their balloon afloat using only the light saber. This was a blast for them and fun to watch. They cheered each other on. Once they grew tired of this they got another punch in the passport and headed inside in search of the gold star.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjI0xZhCLu-dElrgaWsaAf5tOTHU8R6zg727MuADjdSlyknm0E8wm0kfwXy2Eqcj_gx-59JRHQNnEOlehXj6fDkeci0OZ1EhFLKFz65CV2dG-pN6iqWxKnqDfptG3UKOvD6K9/s1600-h/jan08+022.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327159154427757474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjI0xZhCLu-dElrgaWsaAf5tOTHU8R6zg727MuADjdSlyknm0E8wm0kfwXy2Eqcj_gx-59JRHQNnEOlehXj6fDkeci0OZ1EhFLKFz65CV2dG-pN6iqWxKnqDfptG3UKOvD6K9/s320/jan08+022.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>All I did was blow up a bunch of balloons and put a gold star for each guest in one of the balloons. They popped the balloons till everyone had a star. I stuck the star to the flip side of the passports and gave another punch and they headed upstairs to the refueling station.</div><br /><div>Here they munched on their light sabers and drank Yoda Soda. We then sang Happy Birthday, had cake, and opened the presents.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYlS1-HjnLJ5DoPWcPgCJ-v02z7Jgj_63z-OXmJdpa8vGO68xWi8tyslogA6n4hnc3ZKhZ4ip8jCpl2ODhZ30rDW588TTsiZuGDXZE9NyuxptUFKHIHpeNpSHGvkQ_c4jnHZ0/s1600-h/jan08+033.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327161064827472418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYlS1-HjnLJ5DoPWcPgCJ-v02z7Jgj_63z-OXmJdpa8vGO68xWi8tyslogA6n4hnc3ZKhZ4ip8jCpl2ODhZ30rDW588TTsiZuGDXZE9NyuxptUFKHIHpeNpSHGvkQ_c4jnHZ0/s320/jan08+033.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Once they were all finished with the presents we headed outside for battle. Earlier we had wrapped tinfoil around plastic Easter eggs, and then had placed two tubs that we had on opposing sides of the yard. If it rained this would have worked inside as well.</div><br /><div>We divided the boys up into two teams and they threw the bombs at each others tubs, all whilst protecting their own tubs with only their light sabers. This was great fun and they imagined that good was vs. evil and just had the best time. When all the bombs were released, we counted up the ones in the buckets to see who had more, all got a punch in their passports regardless. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>We then did the pinata. Poor Yoda, my Aunt makes these from scratch, balloon and paper mache. In hindsight we should have made it the Emperor or Darth Vader. Yoda did look great though.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySiAQGBuBU4Snb2mR75V4L_VOdFNkkw3p9hLvYO37s0AmjN0oWShKjoA2V6HA6-5YuRZxxjFDt_Pz699J7Tlt3ytIIhbntQPkrVeiNi6G3fcF7NINHb5APqiYWr7gbE6dJep4/s1600-h/jan08+073.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327161974222327954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySiAQGBuBU4Snb2mR75V4L_VOdFNkkw3p9hLvYO37s0AmjN0oWShKjoA2V6HA6-5YuRZxxjFDt_Pz699J7Tlt3ytIIhbntQPkrVeiNi6G3fcF7NINHb5APqiYWr7gbE6dJep4/s320/jan08+073.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>So the party is almost over, I ask them to show me their passports, and I gave them a certificate I had made for each child stating that they were now Jedi certified. Each child also got a goodie bag with the candy pops, and a pez dispenser, they also got to take home their light sabers and robe, and loot from the pinata.</div><br /><div>It was a great time. One very happy 7 year old, only 3 more parties to go.</div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR10xk9C_o70LCz9jy1lST54U5vptbkwr0qhl90QVGXVtCzDVA4bGbMlcPNAWNBUhszxmgsex3I17gQCHsqvf1LPrIMmrdz4Ze9KVqoXYszdkLAIJRkws3EJRnDRDkjE4j73yX/s1600-h/jan08+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327161066864383122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR10xk9C_o70LCz9jy1lST54U5vptbkwr0qhl90QVGXVtCzDVA4bGbMlcPNAWNBUhszxmgsex3I17gQCHsqvf1LPrIMmrdz4Ze9KVqoXYszdkLAIJRkws3EJRnDRDkjE4j73yX/s320/jan08+005.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6t78NzSmGU-NK58_17vYH6RZ2g9KqatcEEyDhyphenhyphen4LQ7K6CGQ6YJsLmY6RkGWWIA5iM8ZOjpCKdLnlvpm59vykiqXrnk_nQAyXlNKdJUU1hQ6NO2PEGCo4jntM5phwLaZyo2jc8/s1600-h/jan08+003.jpg"></a></p>Sue daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13064834741197075001noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15294973.post-70211851320374820292009-04-07T10:42:00.002-04:002009-04-07T13:08:35.141-04:00<strong>No more excuses</strong><br /><br />My fall back excuse for not working out and losing weight is gone. I always thought why work hard to get in shape, I'm just going to get fat again when I get pregnant. I can't diet, I'm nursing, and need the extra calories. I have been pregnant or nursing for about 9 years. My youngest, Scott is six months now, my other excuse "it's OK to be a little chunky you just had a baby" no longer flys. He is our last, so now it's time to lose this weight for good. No more excuses.<br /><br />Did I say no more excuses? I can't find time to walk with 4 children, and can't rationalize the expense of a gym membership or a purchase of an eliptical or treadmill for home. And though my family would love it if I thought that the <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/bludaigra-20/detail/B000VJRU44">Wii fit </a>was the solution, I can't justify that we'd also have to buy a better TV to use the Wii. Oh, and we'd have to buy the Wii too. I don't want an audience when I workout either. But I can justify $8.00 for a DVD that I can watch in any room now that I am wireless and own a laptop, and away from curious eyes. So I chose <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/bludaigra-20/detail/B00127RAJY">Jillian's 30 day Shred. </a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2gPuULt5bIxYlGg9B9BMz9fRAfb_Yu9Z0VjzxNhiX0SCPkHZtEn7vDWKUWGZVgFCqWbJquG87oaSD1ClkIPAw4eYOgHLlUmwkiWX6QiR3MDpDoTDWUn4bSHdOqc7x2vY3iTo/s1600-h/jillian.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321976120319043042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 142px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2gPuULt5bIxYlGg9B9BMz9fRAfb_Yu9Z0VjzxNhiX0SCPkHZtEn7vDWKUWGZVgFCqWbJquG87oaSD1ClkIPAw4eYOgHLlUmwkiWX6QiR3MDpDoTDWUn4bSHdOqc7x2vY3iTo/s200/jillian.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Now we should set a goal. I used to say I'd like to have Britney Spears body, who wouldn't?<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgllSjiUn9zssJP4wLfRs451HAOFzQdmL3VCuyrLaRtd6HG0OvYTokM0ktz256om7cHEzo-ZN5YTnnr32Te31at2gshyphenhyphenY7cYuK5Dyqr91FIKDZ52d9KLF9F3c28lGzk2yDFDgDm/s1600-h/britney_before.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321967252612034962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgllSjiUn9zssJP4wLfRs451HAOFzQdmL3VCuyrLaRtd6HG0OvYTokM0ktz256om7cHEzo-ZN5YTnnr32Te31at2gshyphenhyphenY7cYuK5Dyqr91FIKDZ52d9KLF9F3c28lGzk2yDFDgDm/s320/britney_before.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Then she had two kids and went and got mine. but after a minor breakdown, she had to get all skinny again. So I will set that lofty goal for myself. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00127RAJY?ie=UTF8&tag=bludaigra-20&link_code=as3&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=B00127RAJY"></a>And, because I want immediate gratification, after all if I am to bust my butt and cut back on the food <strike>chocolate</strike> that I love I want to see results fast. Jillian promises quick results. All I would need is some hand weights and a mat. Hence 30 day shred, 3 workouts that take 25 minutes. You conquer phase one and move up till you master phase three and are "shredded."</p><p><br /></p>Day one was April 6th, Scott and I watched the dvd. I did not do one move, but acknowledged that they were fairly uncomplicated, and could be done. I will start tomorrow day one, and 30 days from now maybe just maybe I'll look a little less like this Britney,<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissO59QH7q-T46YZEC8f5mlcS3A7xkMoP2oPMQa43itY6S3EDEVoGxxmV25rJrifKTKZINUH_jvxvJZK-9xPjc38Pr5ronYGMvg6rqXspJTb8w2DtVM4gTZ_JZc4IHqTnyBbGd/s1600-h/during.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321981229834870802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissO59QH7q-T46YZEC8f5mlcS3A7xkMoP2oPMQa43itY6S3EDEVoGxxmV25rJrifKTKZINUH_jvxvJZK-9xPjc38Pr5ronYGMvg6rqXspJTb8w2DtVM4gTZ_JZc4IHqTnyBbGd/s320/during.jpg" border="0" /></a>and more like this one.</p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yjFlT8qWJUrMspZ-nPywF3uuIYR3Ncr_xXv03p8JtkyLZcxWgqkVYdumWjp33s03RULR5EsRmvkQDFJhyphenhyphenBgX3sI1RGRsbNndxjPfHrBGy58UoTvCzIoRm3vEOD4Wo1vmqtFq/s1600-h/britneyafter.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321982166240108610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 228px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yjFlT8qWJUrMspZ-nPywF3uuIYR3Ncr_xXv03p8JtkyLZcxWgqkVYdumWjp33s03RULR5EsRmvkQDFJhyphenhyphenBgX3sI1RGRsbNndxjPfHrBGy58UoTvCzIoRm3vEOD4Wo1vmqtFq/s320/britneyafter.bmp" border="0" /></a> Suzanne<br /></p>Sue daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13064834741197075001noreply@blogger.com1