tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24379791894289856382024-03-12T23:52:29.464-08:00My World of Crazy FunMikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07059406266962099273noreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437979189428985638.post-90271199224474486722015-10-02T21:59:00.000-08:002015-10-02T21:59:07.131-08:00Dog Rescue<span style="color: #999999; font-size: large;">There is this wonderful no kill rescue in my hometown called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BethelFriendsofCanines?fref=ts&ref=br_tf" target="_blank">Bethel Friends of Canines</a>. They are strictly volunteer run and operate on donations as well as fundraisers like their annual auction. The rescue has been raising funds to build their no-kill shelter, which is partially done and is located in remote Alaska where costs are high and supplies and options for foster homes are limited. All donations and money funds raised are used to help with food, spaying/neutering, immunizations, supplies, as well as other rescue overhead. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-size: large;">I made a few items to donate to the auction. One was this adorable treat/leash holder sign. The jar can be used for many things like poop bags. I'm thrilled with the outcome and please remember to adopt, not shop. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKy08wS4UjWqg_hI-Xw6strLnDr9LK8IYdgMx6eAilOXvPrMIz7A02ixzxhryueAK5zlc-tzNfrrZRhA4eIOudipoH831G0OwtGmmrYYvkCjqwYWV7yOzMMKucy4K8HcvmfabKnlOJPzW5/s1600/MWCFDogLeashTreatSign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKy08wS4UjWqg_hI-Xw6strLnDr9LK8IYdgMx6eAilOXvPrMIz7A02ixzxhryueAK5zlc-tzNfrrZRhA4eIOudipoH831G0OwtGmmrYYvkCjqwYWV7yOzMMKucy4K8HcvmfabKnlOJPzW5/s640/MWCFDogLeashTreatSign.jpg" width="474" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-size: large;">And last, but not least, here an old photo of my daughter's ridiculously adorable rescue dog, Salsa. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-CdVWzPlW-tYRpc5tNXIYKRxWZw8UusVnt5WE4XvXzuTBRUqBiDQmkJHV_by_kTpVrQAkLmoI-tYQ41ZT-JNLXoelA1xMdaln_gBSi5nT6f2C6mYA_ogFrsbAqfBWdTC1xDzfLEBCNwq/s1600/Special+Salsa+2577x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-CdVWzPlW-tYRpc5tNXIYKRxWZw8UusVnt5WE4XvXzuTBRUqBiDQmkJHV_by_kTpVrQAkLmoI-tYQ41ZT-JNLXoelA1xMdaln_gBSi5nT6f2C6mYA_ogFrsbAqfBWdTC1xDzfLEBCNwq/s640/Special+Salsa+2577x.jpg" width="456" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/37/9E3DB5348DA0DDF6A61EDCE61C1F6963.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Mikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07059406266962099273noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437979189428985638.post-28069864600456084952015-09-04T16:44:00.000-08:002015-09-04T16:44:07.777-08:00Hello Again!<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Obviously I haven't kept up the blog, sorry. Life happened, I got a job, moved, and so on. I haven't done much crafting in the last couple of years, but when I do get the chance, I tend to work on things like hats, because they are quick and easy. I also do some <a href="https://www.facebook.com/maloneimages907" target="_blank">photography</a> on the side. Life remains crazy, other than that, not a whole lot going on in the creative department.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With that said, I have a new craft room in my new home, so hopefully I'll get that set up and actually use it. Don't worry, it's not a total waste, my daughters all use it.</span> I do have some small projects I'm working on so stay tuned. </span><br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/37/9E3DB5348DA0DDF6A61EDCE61C1F6963.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Mikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07059406266962099273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437979189428985638.post-76011664974564785942013-04-09T11:38:00.000-08:002013-04-09T11:38:07.942-08:00Spring in Alaska<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Anytime we see any sign of Spring approaching, Old Man Winter decides to pay us a visit. Here we are in April with a tad bit of snow. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Looking out the front of my living room window, you'd never know it is supposed to be Spring.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">The view from my dining room isn't much different either. Unfortunately we got dumped on this past weekend. . . </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">But I can't complain too much. Snow days make for perfect indoor time spent crafting. I decided to try my hand at knitting cables, and out came this cute "mug sweater," as my daughter mockingly refers to it as. My favorite coffee cup is quite cozy, don't you think?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Off to enjoy some more coffee. Until the next time. . .</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/37/9E3DB5348DA0DDF6A61EDCE61C1F6963.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Mikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07059406266962099273noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437979189428985638.post-90868207756791590632013-02-14T13:45:00.004-09:002013-02-14T13:45:47.779-09:00Happy Valentine's Day<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Wishing you a beautiful Valentine's Day and hoping your day is filled with much love and happiness. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wI95CYpY1X3BiNHlHGav4oEKJPtIFtuhLB5jqTzcpOW7kbhwvUWiXEtne6EmQCHh_8ibovaA4A0sNvV_E8Fkaf3eDIMC00AFbVKaJr_YBCdbVjl42Wq7EOxp69gTdXu9uzLRfyN3usA6/s1600/Riley's+2013+Valentine's+Day+Card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wI95CYpY1X3BiNHlHGav4oEKJPtIFtuhLB5jqTzcpOW7kbhwvUWiXEtne6EmQCHh_8ibovaA4A0sNvV_E8Fkaf3eDIMC00AFbVKaJr_YBCdbVjl42Wq7EOxp69gTdXu9uzLRfyN3usA6/s1600/Riley's+2013+Valentine's+Day+Card.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/37/9E3DB5348DA0DDF6A61EDCE61C1F6963.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Mikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07059406266962099273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437979189428985638.post-13299749669449006572013-02-12T11:11:00.001-09:002013-02-12T13:43:39.974-09:00Photography - VERY Basic Tips To Getting Started <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">I have people ask me all the time about my photography equipment. The truth is that I have, by industry standards, a dinosaur of a camera, a Fuji Finepix S3 Pro. I don't think it's even made anymore. It's perfect for studio work, but does have limited options for low light ambient light situations. I use a very inexpensive off brand lens (Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8) or a nice quality lens (Nikkor 85mm f/1.4) depending on what I'm shooting. Some day I will upgrade to my dream camera, but probably not anytime soon.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3X-WycOMocjoDlkD8nZ7j0g97Co7kvnRQu7ZBKRql2B8vahf2qH2XagOA7s-b5MVMWyI0x1g72DrSC1-pXcmbSowYhzWGxNL64JNrLp3JO4zruGfs5g_8PBMahQ7G4mtiuEAakmVrGL0/s1600/dlsr-camera1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3X-WycOMocjoDlkD8nZ7j0g97Co7kvnRQu7ZBKRql2B8vahf2qH2XagOA7s-b5MVMWyI0x1g72DrSC1-pXcmbSowYhzWGxNL64JNrLp3JO4zruGfs5g_8PBMahQ7G4mtiuEAakmVrGL0/s1600/dlsr-camera1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">You may have heard before, it's not the camera that takes a good picture, it's the person behind it. Well, I agree with that. . . . for the most part, but I won't deny that having a good equipment certainly helps, especially lenses. </span><br />
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<a href="http://thebigworldpicture.blogspot.com/2012/12/a-quick-guide-to-lenses.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIMfs9K4M4Ug3iU4mjXPDqw6EwMw5PpQ-4_2Uyd7fMjxTqHKt7EKWU0KnO1JUIeOD__snJf5jR3ER_THNSAoxQVfFI5sQhi6JYBSIAKbegxzVkKHUNja758ztWhQTX-bXNMIxqlax4Z-e/s1600/lenses500.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">If you're serious about taking better photos, my best advice is to forget the big Canon or Nikon debate and do some research of your own to see what sort of camera will fit your needs. Everyone takes photos for different reasons. Once you invest in your camera, <b><u>LEARN TO USE YOUR MANUAL SETTINGS</u></b>. Once you gain a basic knowledge of proper exposure, the sky is the limit. It's not going to happen overnight, believe me, I'm still learning, but here are a few suggestions to help you get started. </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.dpreview.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-LQSOQlUL9ml3VQuXcNq7ARR7J2yDUYa7eGtAfbNN_evSOylxv8ATWpFoHYeiuQCzmMdjleLTc0gp5nxj-muCMgednGjar9CRLl7o-jmwW6oSEyqRSOR8D7kHJxZp16KwExIIyra7zTu/s1600/logo-v3.png" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Check out <a href="http://www.dpreview.com/" target="_blank">DP Review</a> and do some side-by-side comparisons on some cameras. Read the reviews and specs, but ignore the brand wars. The truth is there are many great camera brands out there, you just have to find out what works for your photographic needs and your budget.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.kenrockwell.com/index.htm" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="12" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_zbUVAgUIx4llVYF36GD2-VLpWO46r3aeDhFUt_vdEt2uzz-NOGg6aT27Z0GhViyK3OedmWsTx3qCg09-ksAVo-3rk9tnLXUl5GIhCBTxwH71RisbIDO0rAje3iqQ_AxUD-tlLR67kGt/s400/ken-rockwell-tricolor.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Be careful of black and gray market products and be sure to use a reliable source to purchase your equipment. B&H Photo Video and Adorama are two reputable places to purchase quality photographic equipment*</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqF52BOq1R-j2RmldvQv-IiBp5lIvXUT_5CLInDhHqazYYgMKl1VImjGKZKi0_q3ppcwXrlJXtbzQoqYLJKqrcbHWP05GrsFcgSs_KI3OoGGdtyF9oZa-F5D_Ir8y4tnQbcWAkvAjksqK/s1600/m_logo.gif" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.adorama.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4LhR5lzqCPbRmFHk32lt61I60_jtwAkqcakLpuemJH8hzkFgMCsk2li-kDfltWzAxcyTcO7QrECmMSioHcQkLC31B6bJFwEUcxnVMaz4vE3c_crFKnvrF-j540oc-4euu9_AY2HNxnI3/s1600/logo.png" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Don't focus so much on kits, but rather what it is you're going to be shooting and what sort of equipment will offer the best outcome for your needs. Perhaps you already have a nice DSLR, and you want to upgrade your lens. Having quality glass can really make a big difference, but again, isn't always necessary.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Check out additional review sites that are geared for a broader consumer audience and not just for professionals, like Ken Rockwell's site. </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Photography-10th-Edition-Barbara-London/dp/0205711499/ref=pd_sim_b_1" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzjYBzat-0RxjXt1BNiwuvFHLphOJpIZIDbPgS-t19pexF6XYRYxZb0ujY_3BGQEvJjrpVydDiy_bEW9fUu6qJqac-SG0uYcD-vTv7000EMfG6Xrj_moYXbOhQ9gVgZaNoE0E9yP0Ku-p/s1600/51YS0hHnnkL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Invest in books that will help you gain a greater knowledge and better understanding of photography. </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Exposure-3rd-Photographs-Camera/dp/0817439390/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1360697640&sr=1-1&keywords=understanding+exposure" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFAFhhiB0DCb5DOmxokDlP5RWBNQQIt2iL4v_tG1y8ieDqbdlREpW51yOwWACbGJK94yOVLR-Ioa_sAuG0pJl8CTx8OSb_tzaSQI7smNZDJqJXDD45a1r2y1C4dIE-15oMIwKStlQ90jE3/s320/51h5YSPBIIL._SS500_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">I recommend the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Photography-10th-Edition-Barbara-London/dp/0205711499/ref=pd_sim_b_1" target="_blank">Photography text by Barbara London, Jim Stone and John Upton</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Exposure-3rd-Photographs-Camera/dp/0817439390/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1360697640&sr=1-1&keywords=understanding+exposure" target="_blank">Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson</a>. I have older versions of both, and they are wonderful references.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">You might also want to join, or browse, some online photography communities. Not all are geared for the novice, but many do have valuable information and resources. Here are a couple links you could start with. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials.htm" target="_blank">Cambridge in Color</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><a href="http://improvephotography.com/category/beginning-photography-tips/" target="_blank">Improve Photography</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Last, but not least, get out and SHOOT SHOOT SHOOT! Practice what you've researched and try to gain a solid understanding so your images will be consistent. If you're frustrated because your pictures don't look like the pros, but you feel like you have a solid understanding of basic photography, you can now get started with your post processing journey. Post processing is meant to enhance a photo, but nothing can replace proper exposure out of the camera. The more you shoot and practice gaining control of your camera's settings, the better your straight out of camera (SOC) images will be and the less post processing you'll need to do. I will touch on post processing someday, in the mean time, go out and practice your manual settings!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Until the next time. . .</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/37/9E3DB5348DA0DDF6A61EDCE61C1F6963.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Mikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07059406266962099273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437979189428985638.post-91695272470806812342013-01-29T13:06:00.000-09:002013-01-29T13:06:28.578-09:00Lip Chap Cozy Giveaway<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Many times after a gymnastics competition, gymnasts receive goody bags. Those goody bags obviously don't fill themselves, so parents, at our gym, are asked to contribute 40 items to go into those bags. Since I'm on a limited budget, and I didn't want to give junk or candy, I decided I'd make 40 of something.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">I didn't want to overwhelm myself and take on a project too big. I also wanted to make something budget friendly and quick, and ultimately decided on lip chap cozies (my daughter started calling lip balm lip chap as a baby, and it's since become the adopted term in our house). </span><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/MyWorldofCrazyFun" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5Es9jPbLUKfR5Hq8GXs-sVCGByyTwBbbY2It9o-ovNCg6zMEClsEAHXduPNhlzynyN2P_vbfXdzFZVrRK6HYVfxCxGxOVS8Ii8gPPedUHRZkledO_ojW6NEzZYEOBJQ8JgnZqWWC3-s-/s1600/MWCF+Lip+Chap+Cozy.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">I looked online to find the perfect pattern, but most required fancy key fobs or D rings, which I didn't have, so I came up with my version of a lip chap cozy. I made a few to see which prototype I liked best and I think I'll be using this one. I don't have pictures of the other two as they were snatched up quickly by my daughters and are already clipped to their school bags. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">These make great little gifts and are quite practical especially during the cold dry winters. Head on over to my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MyWorldofCrazyFun" target="_blank">Facebook</a> page for a chance to win this cute little lip chap cozy.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Until the next time. . . .</span></div>
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/37/9E3DB5348DA0DDF6A61EDCE61C1F6963.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Mikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07059406266962099273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437979189428985638.post-58964606092546063622013-01-27T17:17:00.002-09:002013-01-27T17:17:47.269-09:00A Few of My Hats<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">As absent as I've been from blogging and posting projects on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MyWorldofCrazyFun" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, I've actually been getting some crafting done while I sit at the gym for nine hours a week as my girls do gymnastics, and when I can't sleep at night. I've been terrible about taking pictures of the things I make though, so when I received this picture of my daughter's wonderful team of middle school teachers, I was quite thrilled. I made each of them a hat for my daughter to gift to them for Christmas. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFBOgkb4pBci1M1wSqyynUpEisO2k2LYKso6HIwzhyphenhyphenb9j_JwkQwdg-X14KwW6PhAS_KInpP_0DjrYP5yxiCCuvKZ0p-hFCTzns1TzjsP9CmDm3q8gYsC_d0U1k_p_jHwb-u4kWCtv6QHa/s1600/teamphoto+x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFBOgkb4pBci1M1wSqyynUpEisO2k2LYKso6HIwzhyphenhyphenb9j_JwkQwdg-X14KwW6PhAS_KInpP_0DjrYP5yxiCCuvKZ0p-hFCTzns1TzjsP9CmDm3q8gYsC_d0U1k_p_jHwb-u4kWCtv6QHa/s1600/teamphoto+x.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L to R: Ynez Slaymaker, Kirsten Roos, Clare Shea, Cynde Anderson<br /></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Taylor picked out the colors for each teacher. She said Sra. Slaymaker liked blue, Ms. Roos liked green, Ms. Shay liked orange, and Ms. Anderson liked purple. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">As we were driving home from her competition yesterday, I said to her, "It seems like you're really interested in all your subjects this year because you keep talking about them, that's great, " and her enthusiastic response was, "I need someone to share all my knowledge with!" </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Thank you to this wonderful team of teachers for doing such a great job. You all have inspired my daughter more than you know, and I know you're doing a job well done when my daughter comes home all excited to tell me about what she's learned each day.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Until the next time. . . .</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/37/9E3DB5348DA0DDF6A61EDCE61C1F6963.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Mikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07059406266962099273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437979189428985638.post-85262836389588284702013-01-27T13:45:00.002-09:002013-01-27T13:45:11.799-09:00Yummy Homemade Hot Chocolate<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">It's been a while! While I'd love to craft and blog all day everyday, life's duties do come first. Between competitive gymnastics, Junior Nordic, skating and most importantly, school, this blog will probably continue to be neglected. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Now that my excuses are out of the way, I have to tell you, it is COLD here in Alaska! Just when I was beginning to think we weren't going to have a winter, our temps have dropped to single digits, and in some areas below zero! I can't complain though. Cold weather usually brings brighter days with blue skies and best of all, a reason to drink lots of hot chocolate. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ-BO2lcDNqcR7XJb4A8GCHyhyphenhyphenj4s2QUyGByGa6ek-LNpvcezNjNUE-6MF3zrGKn8J_GdzSYVczxrMkhIx0F-wP9y3Lklq4tLgLAiUo1y4sJWm1kLU0FjNYhq6BcM-yLuBYgDaUHc62BCI/s1600/Yummy+Homemade+Hot+Chocolate+Blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ-BO2lcDNqcR7XJb4A8GCHyhyphenhyphenj4s2QUyGByGa6ek-LNpvcezNjNUE-6MF3zrGKn8J_GdzSYVczxrMkhIx0F-wP9y3Lklq4tLgLAiUo1y4sJWm1kLU0FjNYhq6BcM-yLuBYgDaUHc62BCI/s1600/Yummy+Homemade+Hot+Chocolate+Blog.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">This morning I made some tasty homemade hot chocolate. I don't make it often or I'd probably be diabetic. It is not fat free or healthy, just a delicious treat. If you're looking for heart healthy, don't bother trying this recipe.</span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFghPJ9ctd52v7HwJhXut7X4qlMT0_veEYy7GI2qEYNqadvM0hTZJAvLzPkSrE30Mhg_tZYmSuY7oq-iVB7PFjLDhmx9PP3xtEbptxrYA3ykLEKiXLjbt8fOYMo9MMT7-4m1xeYfQMhPxI/s1600/MWCF+Yummy+Homemade+Hot+Chocolate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFghPJ9ctd52v7HwJhXut7X4qlMT0_veEYy7GI2qEYNqadvM0hTZJAvLzPkSrE30Mhg_tZYmSuY7oq-iVB7PFjLDhmx9PP3xtEbptxrYA3ykLEKiXLjbt8fOYMo9MMT7-4m1xeYfQMhPxI/s1600/MWCF+Yummy+Homemade+Hot+Chocolate.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">However, if you're looking for a warm and yummy chocolate treat that doesn't entail baking, then give this recipe a try. The vanilla I use is from Puerto Rico, and I think it's infused with cinnamon which makes it so much better. If I were to use regular vanilla I would definitely add a teaspoon of cinnamon to the sugar mixture. Oh and I use 1% Organic Milk and it's plenty rich, and not too watery. Really any recipe can be altered to your liking so if you have any great tips to improve this recipe, feel free to share. Enjoy and stay warm!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Until the next time. . . .</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/37/9E3DB5348DA0DDF6A61EDCE61C1F6963.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a>Mikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07059406266962099273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437979189428985638.post-63019159672230867492012-11-19T09:13:00.000-09:002012-12-31T10:27:58.417-09:00Another Chance For The Classroom Subway Art Silhouette File<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">I've been pretty absent lately, but I do try to take the time to read and respond to emails that I get here or on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MyWorldofCrazyFun" target="_blank">My World of Crazy Fun Facebook page</a>. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRjXgy6oqimgmbGwWqJoA1otfP_CNmOzHrwiiFQ5n7RlThickdBCDRGCw4O72jVzui4_o0B8TpQHce6zOUG9cQ7liljCHs4SwsiOh-8hyt11wdygeJyVfT_YyzchUyIRG-TzLPWx2JM3I/s1600/Subway+Art+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRjXgy6oqimgmbGwWqJoA1otfP_CNmOzHrwiiFQ5n7RlThickdBCDRGCw4O72jVzui4_o0B8TpQHce6zOUG9cQ7liljCHs4SwsiOh-8hyt11wdygeJyVfT_YyzchUyIRG-TzLPWx2JM3I/s1600/Subway+Art+4.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">One of the frequent emails I get is asking for the Silhouette classroom subway art file so I'm sharing it again, but there is a catch. Go to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MyWorldofCrazyFun" target="_blank">My World of Crazy Fun on Facebook</a> and become a fan, then come back to this post and leave me a comment saying you're a fan and I will send you a link to the file. That's all. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Until the next time . . . .</span><br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/37/9E3DB5348DA0DDF6A61EDCE61C1F6963.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">*Edited to include fonts used in my file. Without these fonts, you will need to substitute & resize to make words fit in the space. I suggest insuring you have these fonts first before you try to open my studio file unless you prefer to substitute. Thanks again!*</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Impact</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">American Typewriter</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Apple Casual</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Arial Black</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Euphemia UCAS</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Times</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Handwriting - Dakota</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Charcoal CY</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Herculanum</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Arial</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Arial Narrow</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Arial Rounded MT Bold</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Apple LiSung</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Papyrus</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Chalkboard</span></div>
Mikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07059406266962099273noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437979189428985638.post-34420314014994430762012-10-01T14:51:00.002-08:002012-10-02T22:14:05.786-08:00Free Pumpkin Hat Pattern<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Remember the cute pumpkin hat I posted? Well <a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7cM7PQls1yhNXUtUk5ta2hnckk/edit" target="_blank">here's the pattern</a>. I am a beginner in the knitting world, and have never written a pattern, but decided to try it out when I couldn't find a pumpkin hat pattern using the yarn and needle sizes I was looking for. As with anything, if you find ways to make it better, please feel free to alter your work to fit your needs, this just happened to work for me. This is a child's pattern, but it could easily be altered to fit an adult by adding about 3 rows to the body of the hat before decreasing. If you have an extra large head, you will have to cast on more according to the circumference of your head and choose the amount to knit and purl and slightly change the decrease. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9pItl2oVYGVQvnYKVSmmCaAe4U4f9Raxwzgc4k9oyUC0kaq3VlyEPXvCAnDe4fuOhgTutnGFuW__lc3o8bfyl4ppNn_Ta8KM3pwbB6suLJq6Ktx2BOJ35BAigsh2vtrTWZ7xa7GBAmWCq/s1600/WorldofCrazyFunPumpkinHat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9pItl2oVYGVQvnYKVSmmCaAe4U4f9Raxwzgc4k9oyUC0kaq3VlyEPXvCAnDe4fuOhgTutnGFuW__lc3o8bfyl4ppNn_Ta8KM3pwbB6suLJq6Ktx2BOJ35BAigsh2vtrTWZ7xa7GBAmWCq/s1600/WorldofCrazyFunPumpkinHat.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Please do not sell this pattern as your own. Feel free to sell the hats you make, but remember to give credit to My World of Crazy Fun.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Thanks and I hope you enjoy the pattern. Until the next time. . . .</span></div>
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/37/9E3DB5348DA0DDF6A61EDCE61C1F6963.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.uncommondesignsonline.com/2012/10/uncommonly-yours-link-party-48.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:#.UGvXIo6NVOc" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuK5vulCZrzZZd3vWJqDISX9kERDKIPxjTpBOKz4Q8tVD5b1E_PVCGY7o2Bj2b1kn1Zv-vUgrcf9b4SFghJyK41AN6CI-zP5IinXBMtoKeBF0OkS4vCHHK2TykptcVQij_IgKNkViXt-S/s1600/UncommonlyYoursLinkParty.jpg" /></a></div>
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Mikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07059406266962099273noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437979189428985638.post-4211474834963961092012-09-29T13:25:00.000-08:002012-09-29T13:31:51.416-08:00A Little Halloween Giveaway<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">I had the urge to make a pumpkin hat out of Lion Brand Super Bulky Yarn because I knew it would be quick. I set out to find patterns, but I found nothing I was looking for so I attempted to make my own pattern. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9pItl2oVYGVQvnYKVSmmCaAe4U4f9Raxwzgc4k9oyUC0kaq3VlyEPXvCAnDe4fuOhgTutnGFuW__lc3o8bfyl4ppNn_Ta8KM3pwbB6suLJq6Ktx2BOJ35BAigsh2vtrTWZ7xa7GBAmWCq/s1600/WorldofCrazyFunPumpkinHat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9pItl2oVYGVQvnYKVSmmCaAe4U4f9Raxwzgc4k9oyUC0kaq3VlyEPXvCAnDe4fuOhgTutnGFuW__lc3o8bfyl4ppNn_Ta8KM3pwbB6suLJq6Ktx2BOJ35BAigsh2vtrTWZ7xa7GBAmWCq/s1600/WorldofCrazyFunPumpkinHat.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">I think it turned out so cute, but apparently my youngest daughter is too cool to wear it so I'm giving it or a colorful and fun Halloween pillowcase away. Head on over to my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/My-World-of-Crazy-Fun/87858561276">My World of Crazy Fun's Facebook page</a> and become a fan by pressing "like" AND post a comment on the giveaway photo. I'll be drawing a name from fans who have commented on Monday October 1st. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">In the mean time I will write up the pattern I used and post it soon. Good luck and until the next time. . . .</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/37/9E3DB5348DA0DDF6A61EDCE61C1F6963.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Mikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07059406266962099273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437979189428985638.post-37211521115268346822012-09-22T10:54:00.000-08:002012-09-22T10:55:08.450-08:00Fall Solstice<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Happy Fall Solstice! It's closer to the end of Fall here. Pretty soon we'll be seeing the white stuff.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNI9rU5MCi0C-A5noqQ6lkoAbGMWMGcwN9f8-R6iNDsZjErUqRBLp2Euk4F2cx5ODg3jBKjJ2DofhwYJMIeTaxdfZVN7jfklIJwbfOcLXv8g98o82niplxrcDDT3m01d_LqEId4-Ve5M-5/s1600/92112Fall0048+Reduced+For+WEb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNI9rU5MCi0C-A5noqQ6lkoAbGMWMGcwN9f8-R6iNDsZjErUqRBLp2Euk4F2cx5ODg3jBKjJ2DofhwYJMIeTaxdfZVN7jfklIJwbfOcLXv8g98o82niplxrcDDT3m01d_LqEId4-Ve5M-5/s1600/92112Fall0048+Reduced+For+WEb.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Not quite ready for winter, but the kids sure are. Until the next time. . . .</span><br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/37/9E3DB5348DA0DDF6A61EDCE61C1F6963.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Mikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07059406266962099273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437979189428985638.post-1221847307153493432012-09-21T07:56:00.001-08:002012-09-21T07:56:56.132-08:00Under Water<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Remember the crazy weather I mentioned in a previous post? Well it's still here and causing a lot of damage. Check out the front page of the Anchorage Daily news <a href="http://www.adn.com/">here</a>. You'll notice that not only is the crazy weather featured, but crazy people as well.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinrZQLoR7tTisQCChOAQrxm3kWhZKGADHT3OnM-0TBk9GV0tHsfq4febs3UIO2U92ajurdAshGfthTxaTIKhripJAvL4WjX7cCq7_noxeINQ5XLdqiEL-nQVv52kVR-fziMBghh41LsF8V/s1600/ADN+front+page+9-21-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinrZQLoR7tTisQCChOAQrxm3kWhZKGADHT3OnM-0TBk9GV0tHsfq4febs3UIO2U92ajurdAshGfthTxaTIKhripJAvL4WjX7cCq7_noxeINQ5XLdqiEL-nQVv52kVR-fziMBghh41LsF8V/s1600/ADN+front+page+9-21-12.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">While my residence is no where near affected, unfortunately I can't say the same about our cabin on the Yentna river. I'm really hoping this rain lets up soon. For more information on the flooding, check out the following links.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/MatSuBorough">Matanuska-Susitna Borough Facebook Page</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">(They've been doing a fantastic job updating on the flooding out in the Mat-Su)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><a href="http://www.ktuu.com/news/state-officials-coordinating-response-to-southcentral-flooding-092012,0,1055321.story">KTUU</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><a href="http://www.adn.com/2012/09/20/2633519/persistent-rain-makes-a-mess-in.html">Anchorage Daily News</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: large;">Until the next time. . . .</span><br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/37/9E3DB5348DA0DDF6A61EDCE61C1F6963.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Mikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07059406266962099273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437979189428985638.post-66198925949834922792012-09-20T13:00:00.000-08:002012-09-20T13:01:32.795-08:00Tough Alaska Chick<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">The weather in this part of Alaska is still wild and crazy only now they have issued flood warnings in some areas due to all the rain. So not only are people having to contend with the hurricane force winds, but some have to be evacuated from their homes due to flooding. Fortunately, other than an occasional power outage, the storm has had little impact at my house. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">In fact, I braved the breeze and rain to do a senior photo shoot yesterday and I have to say, my senior is definitely a tough Alaska chick. Knowing the weather was far from ideal, she still wanted to go ahead with the shoot and I'm glad we did.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_PqqgEkYGQhlmQ5XxS5qwBVrCA6BEA20TZtIeN7APKGYkzDdX3XRItP3QxlEXEiLRAYnZpCifDBlLl2NVrkcgkAXqnLxaIlBOtCzwUfS-sByGuhc7YLfq4Ma5WIplVE7xWwRaDcJFsU1u/s1600/DSCF0094+reduced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_PqqgEkYGQhlmQ5XxS5qwBVrCA6BEA20TZtIeN7APKGYkzDdX3XRItP3QxlEXEiLRAYnZpCifDBlLl2NVrkcgkAXqnLxaIlBOtCzwUfS-sByGuhc7YLfq4Ma5WIplVE7xWwRaDcJFsU1u/s1600/DSCF0094+reduced.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">You see, this was a very special photo shoot for me because I've known Miss B since she was born and I was honored when she asked me if I'd take her senior photos. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmT1CeRcTcJNvXqmIYvtEcF-p6f6tGor8lVCSvoNywwDKtQ2IGJU-Zt96C36ZnAqOcqiqEsBBH9dZb2QPrfijwA2uJq1VqoCpygIMLDPgkW_9Np6dp8qN77YJWeC9zqAbc3eeamO2qR8Z/s1600/DSCF0082+reduced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmT1CeRcTcJNvXqmIYvtEcF-p6f6tGor8lVCSvoNywwDKtQ2IGJU-Zt96C36ZnAqOcqiqEsBBH9dZb2QPrfijwA2uJq1VqoCpygIMLDPgkW_9Np6dp8qN77YJWeC9zqAbc3eeamO2qR8Z/s1600/DSCF0082+reduced.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Considering how wet it was and the fact that I couldn't keep my lens dry, we managed to get some good shots.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-WHZ-nMoutKxz0Hl6DthVgAzQPXYSogALzQrDhdrFrF2U-t-qp4zyZYECeFdbFh0ClJduVmWrOP0-iXLLYS9l0-e4TAzuSWmzWC4xl-mOK7Cx_jRaavvmlVBCfqZAqNnPDk7k6zcxN8AM/s1600/DSCF0035+reduced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-WHZ-nMoutKxz0Hl6DthVgAzQPXYSogALzQrDhdrFrF2U-t-qp4zyZYECeFdbFh0ClJduVmWrOP0-iXLLYS9l0-e4TAzuSWmzWC4xl-mOK7Cx_jRaavvmlVBCfqZAqNnPDk7k6zcxN8AM/s1600/DSCF0035+reduced.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">We will be m</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">eeting again on a better day for a second shoot to get some more creative poses in when we're not so rushed.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVU4KDmG4KMYIk7wMrAUhPDKKg89jDvZsg1YO5_ZU_RfINnAc8VzP_Xa2Hs3BGrv696lDvee569WmeVs_cgUaEJH6mJkvzTHNmMaaRyzTz-Xqeqq5igi90qnzY9k9RyW0X1pBpP2UztWO/s1600/DSCF0009reduced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVU4KDmG4KMYIk7wMrAUhPDKKg89jDvZsg1YO5_ZU_RfINnAc8VzP_Xa2Hs3BGrv696lDvee569WmeVs_cgUaEJH6mJkvzTHNmMaaRyzTz-Xqeqq5igi90qnzY9k9RyW0X1pBpP2UztWO/s1600/DSCF0009reduced.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Beautiful easy going people sure make taking photos fun, and I can't wait to meet up with this lovely young lady again. Until the next time. . . .</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/37/9E3DB5348DA0DDF6A61EDCE61C1F6963.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a>Mikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07059406266962099273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437979189428985638.post-3587123917426396532012-09-06T09:31:00.000-08:002012-09-06T09:31:07.568-08:00I Love Power<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">I really do love power. I'm not talking control power, although I do like that too, but electricity. After over 33 hours without power, it is finally back on. We had a crazy wind storm with hurricane force winds in many parts of the Anchorage area. I wanted to share some photos submitted to the media from community members after a the wind storm.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151128226049194&set=a.10150205036614194.324865.143262569193&type=1&theater"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuAVDOccpit0_CSp_mFY8NwQL0nNue4boQYQFUR1SqMuoYmThiH9VmlOibeMMcWJQUaUzHqEnOWcZTAIbo5pRQRf8z4J2u9OTK1Lvk4v7-40UG4xg-qSEMhmWejVMYPr1LY1zQfBDsmbAd/s640/418724_10151128226049194_172467991_n.jpg" width="468" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Here is a chart the Anchorage Daily News posted on the preliminary wind speeds of the recent storm.</span> </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.adn.com/2012/09/05/2612648/wind-toppled-flagpole-reaps-a.html"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUqtxpKj1vf5GoZTgmxc1wjyAefsFGtJXm0wmmavkS6XDrF3HewZ1wmQQH9-zoFOhdbc58Yi2WPbl7N30i4_sbJQ2HwXmoXvn1ajSJOIz5aQVr7RW4Ne1xuzZLQzKER3PlqJjekhiaK4Q/s400/538829_10151128495249194_1364931704_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">The wind blew over a wooden flag pole downtown where this time capsule had been hidden. What a neat hidden treasure.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQQ2bbOj6GxMhYYGRTBb1UFRMwZNsfozxvYWt-apnXZiP9HRktR4HrFXheJwoaN1KgxPa9WkiyXNVG7Ja6wJA5UPqXb-QZOWSXDhp-DsySKYrGZkMolzCzOCxMAoUTvaQ4vzsyaXNi4JW/s1600/23-11979008-107136-307628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQQ2bbOj6GxMhYYGRTBb1UFRMwZNsfozxvYWt-apnXZiP9HRktR4HrFXheJwoaN1KgxPa9WkiyXNVG7Ja6wJA5UPqXb-QZOWSXDhp-DsySKYrGZkMolzCzOCxMAoUTvaQ4vzsyaXNi4JW/s400/23-11979008-107136-307628.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">There were many reported trampolines and swing sets that were said to be damaged. Ours were fine, but then again the wind wasn't as strong where we are located.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUHlDYJSbXaXAwbYvSFnzPomExpnBqzt2pRiDAjCYqlXvuFUtOEmYcLO__VFnNEStbJ_ZnHpT7nKgSliWLrCkO3UxF4twhMsTFFzVnGbALgThqmr4CNPqyw6PwmLakUED4TuUg1GChrC3/s1600/23-11979008-156845-787067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUHlDYJSbXaXAwbYvSFnzPomExpnBqzt2pRiDAjCYqlXvuFUtOEmYcLO__VFnNEStbJ_ZnHpT7nKgSliWLrCkO3UxF4twhMsTFFzVnGbALgThqmr4CNPqyw6PwmLakUED4TuUg1GChrC3/s400/23-11979008-156845-787067.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Unfortunately Merrill Field was hit with some of the strongest winds so there was damage to some aircrafts.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31sIN0EnAt_1FGWuhN5b_s9ztJMzFlmn4o7fUtFjgRs6wH76jz_6r6A2D33z3WBmg3eWa3p883t7FhadCzaJz7ilyVdTJExfhChrhAjew5F3WLNqEusZ11rP5a3rA-bgXWHAhk0NSut9D/s1600/23-11979008-242888-109028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31sIN0EnAt_1FGWuhN5b_s9ztJMzFlmn4o7fUtFjgRs6wH76jz_6r6A2D33z3WBmg3eWa3p883t7FhadCzaJz7ilyVdTJExfhChrhAjew5F3WLNqEusZ11rP5a3rA-bgXWHAhk0NSut9D/s400/23-11979008-242888-109028.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Many people don't have garages or don't use them, so there were quite a few reports of damaged vehicles.</span> </div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Check out this uprooted tree. Anchorage is used to seeing winds, but not often do they do this much damage. I'm just thankful for the crews that worked tirelessly to restore power and clean up the debris. Many worked for over 24 hours cold, wet and tired. I hope that those with medical needs that require electricity weren't too negatively affected. I'm glad it's over and I sure hope we don't see one of those storms in the middle of winter. In case we do though, I will have extra gas for my back-up generator and a lot of wood for the wood stove stored.</span></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">To check out more photos of the damage caused by the crazy winds, check out<a href="http://www.adn.com/2012/09/04/2611310/wind-storm.html"> the Anchorage Daily News</a> or <a href="http://www.ktuu.com/features/ktuu-windstorm-damage-20120905,0,5118739.ugcphotogallery">KTUU's reader submitted photo page</a>.</span><br />
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</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Until the next time. . . </span><br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/37/9E3DB5348DA0DDF6A61EDCE61C1F6963.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a>Mikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07059406266962099273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437979189428985638.post-4152774722464878782012-07-17T13:17:00.000-08:002012-07-17T13:17:38.596-08:00Stunning Young Lady<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Yesterday I had the pleasure of photographing an absolutely stunning young lady who was up visiting from sunny Arizona. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8JOvDQzpEezHqiBQCwzfHK4RPi8v5w79MM92FHPwc2W4vI8lv8RBM_L2q3ZEhKKpxOmCH9cofSbgIgbjFH0qermya9ijoUqp4xPJVT858wr-qN8Oruu7uZkYmUxlk2YhHdeVmIKoUdofe/s1600/DSCF0079+Reduced+For+Web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8JOvDQzpEezHqiBQCwzfHK4RPi8v5w79MM92FHPwc2W4vI8lv8RBM_L2q3ZEhKKpxOmCH9cofSbgIgbjFH0qermya9ijoUqp4xPJVT858wr-qN8Oruu7uZkYmUxlk2YhHdeVmIKoUdofe/s1600/DSCF0079+Reduced+For+Web.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">She did great considering she's used to 100+ degree weather and it was in the 50's last night.</span> </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO66SmcOX_xp4eXkWUgooWFPcJ52XMfwkai7YfUl_f6KD7xGmkaJCzRGCEMxJxKQj0y3dNDMQky-qiw2nNLrnxIujXvQy6Ts85AFm_DD2TC54xuAvX4qqtGRJPIMt1c-0oBX2S_FsCds9K/s1600/DSCF0079b+Reduced+For+Web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO66SmcOX_xp4eXkWUgooWFPcJ52XMfwkai7YfUl_f6KD7xGmkaJCzRGCEMxJxKQj0y3dNDMQky-qiw2nNLrnxIujXvQy6Ts85AFm_DD2TC54xuAvX4qqtGRJPIMt1c-0oBX2S_FsCds9K/s1600/DSCF0079b+Reduced+For+Web.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Here is a cropped version of the photo above. I couldn't choose which photos to share so I decided to share the original and cropped versions of a few. </span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7czsdsKXgHpFrYtyWznS2PqUzPJlMUXZ9Y4RsE5ddikKXUElYEz4JS-wEZD0b8YSqdMaJ8G2_ekiCfTrM3QzJapz2eA8lkTOxe4Gi6I8-D52JV8zFmOyRZJBwBomb6KQzQe4museyO3n/s1600/DSCF0096+Reduced+for+Web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7czsdsKXgHpFrYtyWznS2PqUzPJlMUXZ9Y4RsE5ddikKXUElYEz4JS-wEZD0b8YSqdMaJ8G2_ekiCfTrM3QzJapz2eA8lkTOxe4Gi6I8-D52JV8zFmOyRZJBwBomb6KQzQe4museyO3n/s1600/DSCF0096+Reduced+for+Web.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: large;">There are so many great photos of her, but I couldn't wait to share just a few. It was truly an honor to photograph this beauty. I'll post some more of the session in the near future. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: large;">Until the next time. . . .</span></div><br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/37/9E3DB5348DA0DDF6A61EDCE61C1F6963.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a>Mikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07059406266962099273noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437979189428985638.post-57274881138237275622012-07-11T02:12:00.000-08:002012-07-11T02:12:42.710-08:00Quick Back Yard Photo Shoot<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">I've had my 85mm lens for a while, but haven't used it much, and for no real reason. So the night before last, I asked my daughter if I could take her photos. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSoO-KjE1xyNduRQCEay7h3DyR94xu3gDnF8sdqjc_4Y5V88s77o8VpgkVjQzfEwbADUqA_2NtbRayJVhr_ThxJ4SzDcmPc6isDfF9f0e_61I6xx4CGuvStRbvijbYM8yj6-0wMn24BGh/s1600/DSCF0040+reduced+for+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSoO-KjE1xyNduRQCEay7h3DyR94xu3gDnF8sdqjc_4Y5V88s77o8VpgkVjQzfEwbADUqA_2NtbRayJVhr_ThxJ4SzDcmPc6isDfF9f0e_61I6xx4CGuvStRbvijbYM8yj6-0wMn24BGh/s1600/DSCF0040+reduced+for+blog.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">She agreed to brave the chilly and drizzly evening along with the blood thirsty mosquitos just to make me happy, oh and to bargain for candy.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdatQdAizR9u1ZAWCL5Hk29TfIyVKyk7g0kKKE-LnvUTd7ZVcEjDp6FAEszXu7oSpIydnPa6I9DDXuHtqh5Z-0HP4c1_dxvNtrWfJjNYsJSdGqBDEUThYdJ5b687NmRJowf0iyOU5zZp9/s1600/WOCF+Petes+collage.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdatQdAizR9u1ZAWCL5Hk29TfIyVKyk7g0kKKE-LnvUTd7ZVcEjDp6FAEszXu7oSpIydnPa6I9DDXuHtqh5Z-0HP4c1_dxvNtrWfJjNYsJSdGqBDEUThYdJ5b687NmRJowf0iyOU5zZp9/s1600/WOCF+Petes+collage.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">And I'm sure glad I agreed to her deal. She really was a good sport.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyM7ERSPG7cqHzfKa6F4eZKKhJD9CL5Rb1luNQxuDCjTJTyYq_VaY0_qWowYLJ5ifcPO3KznFV2uOC_oC-xDXKpZ0uC6qUCsaPU021udY-dbFdZiYcY_JxTUf3Bsy-EbjjozWObLLZblTi/s1600/DSCF0016b+reduced+for+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyM7ERSPG7cqHzfKa6F4eZKKhJD9CL5Rb1luNQxuDCjTJTyYq_VaY0_qWowYLJ5ifcPO3KznFV2uOC_oC-xDXKpZ0uC6qUCsaPU021udY-dbFdZiYcY_JxTUf3Bsy-EbjjozWObLLZblTi/s1600/DSCF0016b+reduced+for+blog.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">This is the daughter we often refer to as Pig-Pen. Like the Peanuts character, she's usually just a filthy mess.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6j-rkeMjJHdMLxdzTz99R5k69pdtw08fVvB3MptxRuNs79P8R_hF8nhqfBeTgQsFdI5D5gfSQIsnkoRz5vyTTwC5qd1V8PTh4ELPUyZHVkOsNEsAFvQaEoPv-Kp2fpqcRLXK2IZLL8QAD/s1600/DSCF0023+reduced+for+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6j-rkeMjJHdMLxdzTz99R5k69pdtw08fVvB3MptxRuNs79P8R_hF8nhqfBeTgQsFdI5D5gfSQIsnkoRz5vyTTwC5qd1V8PTh4ELPUyZHVkOsNEsAFvQaEoPv-Kp2fpqcRLXK2IZLL8QAD/s1600/DSCF0023+reduced+for+blog.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">But my beautiful little tomboy sure does clean up well when she wants to. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Until the next time. . . .</span></div><br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/37/9E3DB5348DA0DDF6A61EDCE61C1F6963.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a>Mikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07059406266962099273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437979189428985638.post-28746431904584885672012-05-22T10:16:00.001-08:002012-05-22T11:50:31.519-08:00Art In Nature Form<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-size: large;">My girls were out late playing while I enjoyed a little peace and quiet after a day of working in the garage. During my moment of R&R, I received an email from my oldest daughter and this is what I found.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx9G0rv8cl0oGUYzbedzq64A4Qu0G2yW0vDVX4KOvfi-wAi8rgEb7Ey8MAAm5yfMvzZMwfjtoNjVvwPCoNqe4bGzOSilgVYGUh7-P6NmJsT4mC1agoXMEwEBun55ssdmpcCYYRt5KaCxux/s1600/photo-37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx9G0rv8cl0oGUYzbedzq64A4Qu0G2yW0vDVX4KOvfi-wAi8rgEb7Ey8MAAm5yfMvzZMwfjtoNjVvwPCoNqe4bGzOSilgVYGUh7-P6NmJsT4mC1agoXMEwEBun55ssdmpcCYYRt5KaCxux/s1600/photo-37.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">I love it! I'm a proud Momma when my girls use their creativity to entertain themselves and express themselves artistically. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Until the next time. . . .</span></div><br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/37/9E3DB5348DA0DDF6A61EDCE61C1F6963.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Mikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07059406266962099273noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437979189428985638.post-26652195180203282892012-05-21T00:19:00.000-08:002012-05-21T00:19:32.572-08:00Bonus Day<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">I'm so excited for summer to arrive, and boy has it been slow approaching since our record winter snowfalls. It's still a bit chilly out most days, but we did have some awesome weather last Thursday and Friday. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgitHT8CG7HMDnGigi1hPq6H4UYnXzHiAxINsYYQlJq4vL2lq-HkO_Yim6q5ejAk3gDyb_8n8Fiuz4ezkAM-suCWECncKvQ7XhyLY5GPE40nBdQfR0XtRWlw4sTL9Rq2PyLFUqs-PVM4l38/s1600/WOCF+Waterfall+Braid+Reduced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgitHT8CG7HMDnGigi1hPq6H4UYnXzHiAxINsYYQlJq4vL2lq-HkO_Yim6q5ejAk3gDyb_8n8Fiuz4ezkAM-suCWECncKvQ7XhyLY5GPE40nBdQfR0XtRWlw4sTL9Rq2PyLFUqs-PVM4l38/s1600/WOCF+Waterfall+Braid+Reduced.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">What I'm most excited about summer, besides the warm weather, is that I'm hoping to brush up on my photography skills. I've got three built-in models, although most of the time they aren't cooperative. Today I got lucky and my oldest daughter let me do her hair in one of my favorite braids, the waterfall braid. She even agreed to let me take pictures of her afterwards, which wasn't planned, but a nice little bonus for this camera loving mom. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">I hope to have more bonus days this summer. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Until the next time. . . .</span></div><br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/37/9E3DB5348DA0DDF6A61EDCE61C1F6963.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Mikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07059406266962099273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437979189428985638.post-56359289113663809792012-05-20T23:34:00.001-08:002012-05-21T20:18:34.251-08:00More Teacher Gifts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">So school is out for the summer and we couldn't be more excited. As I previously mentioned, my daughter and I were working on some projects that she is going to be selling to raise money for her Spain trip, and these were among them. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">They turned out super cute. So cute that we ended up giving them as end-of-the-year teacher gifts, and the best part is that the girls did a lot of the work.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCvAG_-hgVx2zmBuAVsXblrDmf_SBJ9vj0LihDpeBb2AZWvgyUQJtmnxhd9coOrTYd-uGwj_AsCpEmIeKKmnADndLcaOR-748Pako5EFu0PvX8oG5TVRaTo67VFYCfKCeOptvpy3HQp4Ji/s1600/WOCF+EggShell+Pendant+Green.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCvAG_-hgVx2zmBuAVsXblrDmf_SBJ9vj0LihDpeBb2AZWvgyUQJtmnxhd9coOrTYd-uGwj_AsCpEmIeKKmnADndLcaOR-748Pako5EFu0PvX8oG5TVRaTo67VFYCfKCeOptvpy3HQp4Ji/s1600/WOCF+EggShell+Pendant+Green.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">It's hard to tell, but they are actually glossy, sort of glass-like.</span> </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3_i6-d82QbgwFcQVpaw0LRvmSwX5ut3OGWBypWSnEiQ34mLq-n10MDOeJSAxoPCMb7IRJF4M2zxNQTHewF0UT9Se12ege11SQFqTzcgSZeqB3QcDhMCYHmjtmVs1zQoXCdAhvIchZgMx/s1600/WOCF+EggShell+Pendant+Multi+Teardrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3_i6-d82QbgwFcQVpaw0LRvmSwX5ut3OGWBypWSnEiQ34mLq-n10MDOeJSAxoPCMb7IRJF4M2zxNQTHewF0UT9Se12ege11SQFqTzcgSZeqB3QcDhMCYHmjtmVs1zQoXCdAhvIchZgMx/s1600/WOCF+EggShell+Pendant+Multi+Teardrop.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">They are made out of egg shells, can you believe it?</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIrxsBc3WMNrFPc4gSXTGB_A_BfQVPvTUWtLsRsT_Pcfe1iO7thjv_CQ73YzNuarcBQaRC9XoGVQ3NMy5GHaA2YjuubOq-3WZXX37mYE6RKyxPGm4QKPuAin0hknV21-LhxQlmVQ0yrNrn/s1600/WOCF+EggShell+Pendant+Multi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIrxsBc3WMNrFPc4gSXTGB_A_BfQVPvTUWtLsRsT_Pcfe1iO7thjv_CQ73YzNuarcBQaRC9XoGVQ3NMy5GHaA2YjuubOq-3WZXX37mYE6RKyxPGm4QKPuAin0hknV21-LhxQlmVQ0yrNrn/s1600/WOCF+EggShell+Pendant+Multi.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">And we used alcohol ink to get the fun bright colors.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ZCn55oT9VINvx97m-R18fshBEpAZH71cgMI1dNhfEe1KDfl8qlVZDqVo8P34fNTILkT3oVIXwjozTEE7Pev1e6x7jRXugNlwW_lXRFf1b2Ae9GnYDpbPBD7fG5pSGYqhphiQ2dtOdrkC/s1600/WOCF+EggShell+Pendant+PurBluGry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ZCn55oT9VINvx97m-R18fshBEpAZH71cgMI1dNhfEe1KDfl8qlVZDqVo8P34fNTILkT3oVIXwjozTEE7Pev1e6x7jRXugNlwW_lXRFf1b2Ae9GnYDpbPBD7fG5pSGYqhphiQ2dtOdrkC/s1600/WOCF+EggShell+Pendant+PurBluGry.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">We used both craft wood and scrap wood.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjei0Pp0yzHxyQMl3nq2yb3Dqnxmj9s8dwa7BRQSTDnQaO6vh8fP1pJoBQ46uAz5lXt-S7eK54MF5S6To9laYz97n6gJOAzeVtg1cQxKHIBjM29HzDyULOsl-U9Jm7Zz4fQPZxvwIgw5G29/s1600/WOCF+EggShell+Pendant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjei0Pp0yzHxyQMl3nq2yb3Dqnxmj9s8dwa7BRQSTDnQaO6vh8fP1pJoBQ46uAz5lXt-S7eK54MF5S6To9laYz97n6gJOAzeVtg1cQxKHIBjM29HzDyULOsl-U9Jm7Zz4fQPZxvwIgw5G29/s1600/WOCF+EggShell+Pendant.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">The girls and are so in love with them, and their teachers really liked them too. They are just so pretty. I'm thinking a tutorial is in order, if I can get motivated enough to take pictures. So stay tuned!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Until the next time. . . .</span></div><br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/37/9E3DB5348DA0DDF6A61EDCE61C1F6963.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">I shared this post with:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com/2012/05/take-look-tuesday_21.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9_hnjgyRbGfNikt7hWlPEHc53EuyOK-d2RL5zKC47-Q75vqE68Zzo4zNmMw6VpnaeZlU9riHodVHI_HxyUrraOoSEfqvCJyPHKHdJ3oBr4IgAGBLmoaUWwfZ-ilc7iGkVZw8XMlvrDb0/s1600/takealookbutton.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><br />
</span></div>Mikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07059406266962099273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437979189428985638.post-42008653412135992212012-05-12T08:33:00.001-08:002012-05-13T15:26:07.650-08:00Fun Projects Ahead<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">I've been busy with end of the year activities at the school so not a whole lot of anything exciting going on. Here are a couple things my daughter and I have been working on when do have a little time. Her goal is to raise $3,500 in a year for her middle school trip to Spain. She's already got many projects planned so we'll be busy this summer.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdeQkFcGQi8U3tX3s3wR3C6xsG2pRtY-GheU2kDE-MaSiWCgxx2RuauxaORDjCvcG71sY2UvLlsjztRwi1hhbYDrH66iT0yjbNAdXYy33E9UeBWA9IJ6IN0e-IhToQp3pdVd3R-AmOA0qe/s1600/MWOCF+Colored+Beads+1+Reduced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdeQkFcGQi8U3tX3s3wR3C6xsG2pRtY-GheU2kDE-MaSiWCgxx2RuauxaORDjCvcG71sY2UvLlsjztRwi1hhbYDrH66iT0yjbNAdXYy33E9UeBWA9IJ6IN0e-IhToQp3pdVd3R-AmOA0qe/s1600/MWOCF+Colored+Beads+1+Reduced.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Beautiful and colorful paper beads. I think they look great as is, but I'm sure they'll be even prettier once they're made into something. No two beads are the same, similar maybe, but not identical.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrwHPXgzDPhb61Pwo-phSoiuQVRPZIuSnMZXbbmzl5y1XHDfhMLWCB60mKjHZjPqD5WLuU8FbPSa0UYUYnN5ZPmPQli3xYup5KJqVVU7EFEK2nC-4PPtoc_zGaBHURsmsKZDnn2LhhxN1U/s1600/MWOCF+Colored+Beads+2+reduced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrwHPXgzDPhb61Pwo-phSoiuQVRPZIuSnMZXbbmzl5y1XHDfhMLWCB60mKjHZjPqD5WLuU8FbPSa0UYUYnN5ZPmPQli3xYup5KJqVVU7EFEK2nC-4PPtoc_zGaBHURsmsKZDnn2LhhxN1U/s1600/MWOCF+Colored+Beads+2+reduced.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ajxYA-I0iqtM9sVrkj1A_feVMt1Ao3ODU4X4wKE_FbUr50jVD8_Xeqp4BAyljiZyze4LkXxCPFnAT7Z281jugaO8Ak9U_EPRJcABV2-m_76LEl8_5Dk0kmcCTiJMKrE4SiO_4VaK6cIq/s1600/MWOCF+ES+Pendants+Reduced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ajxYA-I0iqtM9sVrkj1A_feVMt1Ao3ODU4X4wKE_FbUr50jVD8_Xeqp4BAyljiZyze4LkXxCPFnAT7Z281jugaO8Ak9U_EPRJcABV2-m_76LEl8_5Dk0kmcCTiJMKrE4SiO_4VaK6cIq/s1600/MWOCF+ES+Pendants+Reduced.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Colorful pendants made out of eggshells that she'll be combining with her paper beads to make beautiful necklaces. I can't wait to see the designs she comes up with.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Stay tuned to see more of my daughter's projects. Until the next time. . . .</span></div><br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/37/9E3DB5348DA0DDF6A61EDCE61C1F6963.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a>Mikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07059406266962099273noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437979189428985638.post-73539627500921638672012-05-06T14:30:00.000-08:002012-05-06T14:30:11.362-08:00Cinco de Mayo<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">There was nothing special going on at this end for Cinco de Mayo yesterday. Two of my girls were out at a Cinco de Mayo birthday party/sleep over. Those of us who stayed home enjoyed some S'mores around our first outdoor fire of the season. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Perhaps next year, I'll get ambitious and do something for Cinco de Mayo. . . we'll see. In the mean time I thought I'd share links of recipes and ideas, other than the usual tacos and enchiladas, that might be fun for a future Cinco de Mayo fiesta.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=297224"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWDXWePB6v_7QmSz4A5cEWQeziKd5UxTp8PtLdrSibypZ2nWxBIbihhg23p7CY4kqiCYWU5jxHVWHzsq9rdod_XBUr-wXiBSh21q_-oNjME3RJBWR4qo0TOQ3uPjBunnBAsGpgBuAfHn0c/s320/l181950651.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">First and foremost, whether you're talking about a Cinco de Mayo fiesta or any other party, this is must have recipe for most parties. That's right, Pico de Gallo is the perfect party food. It's quick, easy, tasty, and and can be made to your liking (I often add fresh lime juice or orange juice to mine). Here's a <a href="http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=297224">basic recipe</a> that would go good with tortillas or any other Mexican dish. Yum!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/958083/cinco-de-mayo-pinata-cookies"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT4AZOieZdOrxR8vr3nkH1_2UqIo-Rh-byAQhdqOu2jIWaWTJvUkwQ1u1_qOpqsVjHi6GVC430_D1ZUlBfazuc49CRBOoK5LbHFcxsUnfdvy8flRYpipPtg8cPxYeA3haDbJJOxvGGokaf/s1600/Cinco-de-mayo-pinata-cookies.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">These <a href="http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/958083/cinco-de-mayo-pinata-cookies">colorful pinata sugar cookies</a> by She Knows Food & Recipes would be a fun and tasty treat for your guests.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMK8Qhb2DHnqZBfBWfyaC2nXI8AinhbGeFh-O7ZNWYZe7C1KePzM0ROijZH2J9NeGD8QFCzvLEOAV5lu4PUPDPeHvXvXfuYzSn8GuVI5EZ48EaRAokQEdivgDtoyF4RPbWcEqE35MURx_J/s1600/259519997247296079_HvJikzNl_f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMK8Qhb2DHnqZBfBWfyaC2nXI8AinhbGeFh-O7ZNWYZe7C1KePzM0ROijZH2J9NeGD8QFCzvLEOAV5lu4PUPDPeHvXvXfuYzSn8GuVI5EZ48EaRAokQEdivgDtoyF4RPbWcEqE35MURx_J/s1600/259519997247296079_HvJikzNl_f.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: large;">Who doesn't like delicious queso dip, except maybe those who are lactose intolerant. This is a <a href="http://penniesonaplatter.com/2011/11/30/queso-blanco-dip-the-second-and-final-attempt/">recipe from Pennies on a Platter</a> that I'll definitely be trying in the future. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/mrswifestinepalmer/home/margarita-shots"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9AcwXOQVUSXq8pCON1b_c15B4PBdf7bXMrBC4KpmLfSyzB_-AJ8qyRx42iaoUDUJ6ATn62mqIV157n2UPMMLz7-al0aXoteCaOSCuPqSSmlBjgpiWPscpXY0VG9jhNgK0yhVZ1l2T9vKF/s400/Margarita+Shots+9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">I haven't tried these <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/mrswifestinepalmer/home/margarita-shots">Margarita Shots</a> by Mrs. Wifestine Palmer, but they would be dangerously fun for a future Cinco de Mayo fiesta, although I have to admit, I think I'm too old for shots.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://scissorsandspatulas.com/2011/05/a-different-kind-of-margarita.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5y4e12O091-66g3MTOvFJZ4Vz88WL2j6B82RAlGFpLxyVqX5xQAf4K8rehXSw6TnFFiJ-nI-sGiNzyAvuu3KYcflr5eFNzCFiZrV9BY8ihkZRh8ZMvuoRo2wi4JolcqacHedssXEPBsN/s1600/IMG_4720.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Here's a different kind of <a href="http://scissorsandspatulas.com/2011/05/a-different-kind-of-margarita.html">margarita recipe from Scissors and Spatulas</a>, obviously not a traditional recipe, but looks super yummy.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/margaritas/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09-uMllBcDRDXWd4F_k9W_C_YdZRYyxqrbWUaWXdZw83JmCDEpa1E3JwdhMvgywo4NfDDte7LGK4zO0q0he0k6YLjuftNMfwV6hUJc_eq7Ax9MJ2R43CQHE3dpJ0zk2y5ohxnYV7A5PRC/s1600/14163.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/margaritas/">Here's a really easy margarita recipe</a> posted by Katherine on allrecipes.com that looks quite delicious.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/901788/mexican-fiesta-ideas/@center/307033/spring-holidays#/284483"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaq-967yrNZdFGsyzipTokN37besXoN_lV-IcKhTM1J1albBt2e40v_g1jyFL4rqFjgH5oPpaOGq4q-JywrAlxb7-m8MjuGt46mt4vcxG7KQ_W0KsllAC5xDPsxF2OVioQ56aTC5V44rfJ/s400/md105279_0810_msl_009_melon_vert.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">If you're looking for a less traditional way to serve your alcohol, then check out these<a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/901788/mexican-fiesta-ideas/@center/307033/spring-holidays#/284483"> Frozen Melon Margarita Pops by Martha Stewart</a>. They can certainly be served without the spirit soak for those who don't consume alcohol.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.moms-mexican-recipes.com/churros-recipe.html"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUObVyE4BPcVw8B_oT9b28ABAzWIDrPSe6TZZDoCz_yLAkoC163I9BVitqsYGy3rWHK2M1dJLWWYeLUPLX0Dn1fNyVqp-sWziQ3Cu2jtHig9rf4SBFDBp3GYNwYjWlv1AhQL9HY3DJetkT/s320/churros-recipe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">A fiesta would be all the more complete with yummy churros on your menu. These are a great hit with both<strike> big kids </strike>adults and little kids. Here's a <a href="http://www.moms-mexican-recipes.com/churros-recipe.html">recipe by Mom's Mexican Recipes</a> that might be worth a try. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.partypinching.com/parties-holidays/cinco-de-mayo/"><img border="0" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Xbn4DD7LBMp47iCFn8QFRhwg-S_epNwAlHALDboiKVsjKyGmJf0599zEs8jAZT4Ds07xC_BLjG3A-gw6gscJIUg9pGo-Dh3SmY2_Lv1h7pIzxcgv9rr8t0JVES1rGKAVWczFiUXUbxH3/s400/cache_2878035204.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">If you're the type to go the extra mile, don't forget to dress up your table with these adorable <a href="http://www.partypinching.com/parties-holidays/cinco-de-mayo/">mini chili pepper pinata favors</a> as shown by Party Pinching.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thetomkatstudio.com/free-printable-files-cinco-de-mayo-fiesta/"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJa22spePhf0ZS2aSNzdypRZkttMO5_pQe3yv6vx4X4a12nOw3VaPQby9beYwspcR3wLryu431kpKgPFULN1r1FxcDl_i3vY5vnVA3LJhhQ9bmEG9cWnnxUUk3l2u4sS3T0WqYohDNtje7/s400/photos.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">And if you're looking for some some quick invitations, check out <a href="http://www.thetomkatstudio.com/free-printable-files-cinco-de-mayo-fiesta/">Tom Kat Studio for these colorful and free printables</a>. She has a variety of other fun party theme ideas so make sure you browse through her site.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.curbly.com/users/capreek/posts/13776-roundup-7-mini-diy-pinata-ideas-for-cinco-de-mayo#jump"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbTqfdL5nbXzGM_AVsJuLsnEpD9VAP05k5uoa0qWn8C1yFucnSwTKgxxAe-6OeYVVRmfhPFMGtzpERlnWLZaYR8ZDJdMEzHOJXBoTRvGd9VwVb-AnGinKK3BvtqQjUTVetyXPZtpBQa2o/s320/1_large_jpg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">You can't have a fiesta without a pinata. <a href="http://www.curbly.com/users/capreek/posts/13776-roundup-7-mini-diy-pinata-ideas-for-cinco-de-mayo#jump">Curbly</a> has some links to great mini pinata ideas.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Last, but not least, I leave you with one of my tried and favorite margarita recipes from our close family friend, Jon, otherwise known as Grandpa Jon. I'm not sure if this is his personal recipe, but he's who shared it with me.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><u><b>Margarita on the Rocks</b></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><u><br />
</u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><b>Ingredients:</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">(I have tried this recipe with cheaper brands, but it definitely wasn't as good)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Tequila </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">(I use Sauza or Patron)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Orange Liqueur </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">(I use Patron Citron)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Brandy </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">(I use Presidente Brandy)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Sweet and Sour Mix</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Rose's Lime Juice</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Lime</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Margarita Salt</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Ice</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">In a drink shaker filled with ice mix the following:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">1.5 ounces of tequila</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">.5 ounces of orange liqueur</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">.5 ounces of brandy</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">4 ounces of Sweet and Sour Mix</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Splash of Lime Juice</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Rub the rim of your glass with a fresh lime wedge, dip the rim into your salt, pour your freshly mixed margarita into your glass filled will ice and garnish with the same lime wedge. Enjoy and please drink responsibly. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Until the next time. . . .</span></div><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/37/9E3DB5348DA0DDF6A61EDCE61C1F6963.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" />Mikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07059406266962099273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437979189428985638.post-70604553085302404202012-05-04T08:54:00.001-08:002012-05-04T23:34:08.119-08:00Duct Tape Creations<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Recently I was going through my friend, Paige's online photos of her son going to his spring formal. I didn't think anything of the pictures other than the kids looked great. Then after about the umpteenth photo, I realized that Coleton wasn't just wearing any old suit to the dance, he was in a duct tape suit!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUw6DLt1s5Fx-K7iFpS71aPpNK3onuB7pQgCvI82Au6UCnIjsGR2_x5j_SK36HCpQt1LOO3hHxSH07gBGLnjGDX4CiaKfwclnLo-xiHnBx8guyk9SCPzpHpEn0QnEP_Cz7jF_yS8xukMT/s1600/575129_3712998900646_1145852149_33463740_739725565_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUw6DLt1s5Fx-K7iFpS71aPpNK3onuB7pQgCvI82Au6UCnIjsGR2_x5j_SK36HCpQt1LOO3hHxSH07gBGLnjGDX4CiaKfwclnLo-xiHnBx8guyk9SCPzpHpEn0QnEP_Cz7jF_yS8xukMT/s1600/575129_3712998900646_1145852149_33463740_739725565_n.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">I love the touch of color on their suits, and I think they look quite handsome in them. I wonder how easy it was to dance in them and how many rolls of tape they used?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjycxB8sGe6Jn9So1MJxKIWPMFaoLE6eHqdxwBjGysb9qzndJDsZlGy9LF0uhnj7Mt_I0NWsPEWx_LzRZrVNC5Z3eLCcyYr45VBpRuFecDXAVAuLhZR00kZDhlt1es9dT72fjpr4zczatXb/s1600/525829_3714352174477_1145852149_33464476_392134203_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjycxB8sGe6Jn9So1MJxKIWPMFaoLE6eHqdxwBjGysb9qzndJDsZlGy9LF0uhnj7Mt_I0NWsPEWx_LzRZrVNC5Z3eLCcyYr45VBpRuFecDXAVAuLhZR00kZDhlt1es9dT72fjpr4zczatXb/s1600/525829_3714352174477_1145852149_33464476_392134203_n.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">I mean how cool is that?! I love it! Heck I just love duct tape and so do my girls. I don't have photographs of their projects, but here are some photos of some pretty neat Duct Tape creations.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://duckbrand.com/Promotions/stuck-at-prom/Gallery/2011/5752.aspx"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ND9MN4L9wsOhGVpW7iuY_5dzjgPCo3xtufSycBXCE-pzg41iH-uyjJF6S2WXKDkGmFklk8keBJn5SIAaX4wk27j3tGJpVZxXDC7xAR0CXneUXCxAuVw6PcbmzYB5CX4pJdtPS7uRmphK/s1600/duct4-ace7.ashx.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Beautiful and fun gowns by <a href="http://duckbrand.com/Promotions/stuck-at-prom/Gallery/2011/5752.aspx">Celeste and Nora</a>. Amazing! I can't imagine the hours spent putting those dresses together.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.duckbrand.com/Duck%20Tape%20Club/ducktivities/purses-and-handbags/dreamsicle-purse"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ87bxIcn30JUa-A5vNp9ji0ycO5bb9cLIfXbuchHu2b36CgUGFZNhRkrIGS5J_LOpLCEj5pBIsjs6e37Jh6udwquWANFSWxiIKyho7gGzE26x1rdpFN53-J7zJs0Z_zEBpKtbVq_RjV_T/s1600/dreamsicle-purse.ashx.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">I love this yummy dreamsicle purse shown <a href="http://www.duckbrand.com/Duck%20Tape%20Club/ducktivities/purses-and-handbags/dreamsicle-purse">here</a>. Perfect summer colors.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEW4YRl5NSgzf7xUPlbjDCOV7qo0Kz_nrRckrBLz9bwO2_uSaHRQ3gU123NU4WxijeOT33nWaUp0WoHdaa0WZ-9hjQ6Zf3lfEBTT5WsdBbwP0T_b7PLiqC5tgvC8PSHHZaFiLQefEdE6ZG/s1600/ducktapeprom_061810_m-261x425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEW4YRl5NSgzf7xUPlbjDCOV7qo0Kz_nrRckrBLz9bwO2_uSaHRQ3gU123NU4WxijeOT33nWaUp0WoHdaa0WZ-9hjQ6Zf3lfEBTT5WsdBbwP0T_b7PLiqC5tgvC8PSHHZaFiLQefEdE6ZG/s1600/ducktapeprom_061810_m-261x425.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Speaking of summer colors, how fun is this ensemble?! I want that umbrella! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.houseofhepworths.com/2011/03/29/how-to-make-adorable-accessories-from-duct-tape/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HlsB3Ir_ZHNktrBVZ7Ns_wHOwRrUzo77mlVfOhPTsss8PllLk5Hrr4ow-Fw42EWIl3RQ68WwQjK_nFyoPoyH4Ey3jMSt_iQCy-A5YbjmKuo39qoVkwvNzoGZvzgUe-p1YjHKUSpAMAq6/s1600/5525149624_f3228f15e3.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Check out these totally adorable accessories by Allison at <a href="http://www.houseofhepworths.com/2011/03/29/how-to-make-adorable-accessories-from-duct-tape/">House of Hepworths</a>. Her blog is one of my favorites to follow. HOH is like following a real person and not just a corporate representative. I'm not saying the other bloggers aren't real, just that Allison's projects seem attainable and she provides great tutorials on products she too would use.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/waterproof-beach-bag-672913/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYWmUB_robWUhWpWhE3OkxRgLU-echc9Nqh1rQKKJZH1-FOWV-2e-ygwQMo6rpHpqn3dL9MpVuuuzMr5ywLFgSLMtuwgUqSp_i_6tBt3-uMQ3yTqxnPmvevv5ZM52dnlwzluPGU73ZrDMg/s1600/beachbag-summer-craft-photo-260-FF0807EFFA01.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Just in time for your summer trips to the beach, lake or your favorite picnic spot, head on over to <a href="http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/waterproof-beach-bag-672913/">Family Fun</a> to learn how to make this cute tote.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://alittlebitothisnthat.blogspot.com/2011/02/make-it-your-own.html"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61F02wnqy5fLTjCu5HF8ngoj75Xh1gfOhjXeNhfmCqb93SaIjMk0yUVMhuMw08RIee1-UjoSrzadHON4AjJM_g-Xd1-B_Mj7SB29hupPkWFzXOrKVu7Kfghe-W6k8ZLBsF2uqLWtwdEDj/s400/IMG_8267.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">I Love this beautiful wreath by Maeling at <a href="http://alittlebitothisnthat.blogspot.com/2011/02/make-it-your-own.html">A Lil' Bit O' This N' That</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://craftysoccermom.blogspot.com/2011/11/duct-tape-beads.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bEHcKXIF723Wf7Td6BBWzHa56EW0axrWlHchvo9w6Vp5hnsRm6Z43UoHIkcdrYStwp_jbIJ8rxKPUrobwhGqukGTT_APe9goHHX6Xnoyg2Fk9BMiIDndLJH3HPeFT9QeDpS4VdQlV8tl/s1600/dtbeads7.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><a href="http://craftysoccermom.blogspot.com/2011/11/duct-tape-beads.html">Crafty Soccer Mom</a> has a tutorial on how to make these cute <a href="http://craftysoccermom.blogspot.com/2011/11/duct-tape-beads.html">Duct Tape beads</a>. My girls have a nice supply of Duct Tape so I'll be showing this tutorial to them.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ducktapebandit.deviantart.com/"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr7IIQeOByoKHrGZFQcf7eX64Tqeps-hVjp87_ruKA68KARZpma87vhgg-1Y4dnxZ0aPsF7EQrcpRIdWRwCvGWxe0HukfnXHx-ksBsPNjdOLoHjHB4zFmxdlJdIo5_F_CT1xZ1QUG8Rkmt/s640/2e50d5df0a20fef607b133b8560af9a9-d1nlmo0.jpg" width="489" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">This <a href="http://ducktapebandit.deviantart.com/">Queen of Hearts Dress</a> has to be one of my favorites in Duct Tape fashion. I want one! Obviously not for everyday use, but this would be a fun Halloween or costume party dress.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://secondchancesbysusan.blogspot.com/2011/11/duct-tape-purses.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWKPhKGA18TjMiSrztFKMNoFafJ-yNpyLKYJ7-HYYaQ6jAkBGP0tNK0p4fH4MgDQTbSxroLuZAxpjefaXat_5Sraj2VBU3y7uErKx7bX2GtWnMBgW4htQjhNailbdBougQbyDw-iXwg3b5/s1600/Anenome.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">And my most favorite projects are these gorgeous <a href="http://secondchancesbysusan.blogspot.com/2011/11/duct-tape-purses.html">bags (above and below) from Second Chances by Susan</a>. Aren't they beautiful?!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://secondchancesbysusan.blogspot.com/2011/11/duct-tape-purses.html"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwwoEmAO78aV60wl4CaqACLnFuX5VDWvMFkUW5SzdSzD7iVmg6XEC4Sj93v4si6v2wusNHbEC5LH3jjG4z8HAbLzFS7M1-7yJKuynrul5DYd322PkaykH6d1tKnInX-nv8R_Zsx1_vI2I/s400/Teal+Flower+copy.jpg" width="395" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Back in 1998, during college, I went to a Halloween party. I spray painted my hair silver, painted my face silver, put on silver lashes, and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">I had duct taped my clothes in the old silver traditional Duct Tape, probably the only color at the time. I thought I was so clever, but most people didn't get my costume. I was a left-over! I don't have any pictures of my duct tape costume, but wish I did.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">I'm thinking I'm going to have to create something with Duct Tape soon. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.howjoyful.com/2010/08/duct-tape-joyful-flower-tutorial/"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKCDIvqdekqjfph80ZfBglolWY8v2VOz7_2AZ3XOLk8hkL_N-ITPeWVDhBd7EEMH7DqUqHVOoijMLzgE0aWOU12cMyCgBmkoxgjYlfV3ll4ZGIeYpJ5V5lF4XCRwqMreC0bnKNWBL9voz/s400/flor2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">In the meantime, here is a simple and cute Duct Tape flower tutorial by <a href="http://www.howjoyful.com/2010/08/duct-tape-joyful-flower-tutorial/">How Joyful</a> to try out.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Until the next time. . . . </span></div><br />
<img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/37/9E3DB5348DA0DDF6A61EDCE61C1F6963.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" />Mikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07059406266962099273noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437979189428985638.post-51931251734530591472012-05-03T11:51:00.002-08:002012-05-03T15:59:22.950-08:00Hair Play<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">I love doing hair. . . . other people's hair, that is. I can never really seem to do my own, nor do I have the interest in fussing with myself. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Thanks to the release of The Hunger Games movie, my girls have been asking me to put their hair in all sorts of braids, but mostly the Katniss braid. I love it! I feel like I have my babies back! Here are three variations of the Dutch braid, most commonly referred to as the Katniss braid, around here. Excuse the poor quality of the photos, they were all taken with my iPhone.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbNe6bS-jtVTPJSr3VqsebJO7YO9P2uvLcHHNW8oknQvkYKqcBZD9PntdwbtoW2ZlqRcFjaJOjxGt86mCwIvYU2gFZSvsMX09AnDZovgX8AW1yuQiafgzc7tFkhM4OlGKipWb9SwKTN0dn/s1600/dutch+braid+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbNe6bS-jtVTPJSr3VqsebJO7YO9P2uvLcHHNW8oknQvkYKqcBZD9PntdwbtoW2ZlqRcFjaJOjxGt86mCwIvYU2gFZSvsMX09AnDZovgX8AW1yuQiafgzc7tFkhM4OlGKipWb9SwKTN0dn/s1600/dutch+braid+2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">This was my first attempt, not too shabby. My daughter was happy. I don't spend a lot of time on these braids so I don't go for perfection.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbPVaxJqb93ojqhGKhSJ_XEI0sW2wuHo1abaa7cuGWAkww3HOb05tDNKYy9hAs17hRfTm9WQKwUPmgKWNdv3RIwxq2yIjLVtLKs6IgOD9Sm-HQgBrIiHwZGTjVj1QAoC_V1TYso04t3B6/s1600/dutch+braid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbPVaxJqb93ojqhGKhSJ_XEI0sW2wuHo1abaa7cuGWAkww3HOb05tDNKYy9hAs17hRfTm9WQKwUPmgKWNdv3RIwxq2yIjLVtLKs6IgOD9Sm-HQgBrIiHwZGTjVj1QAoC_V1TYso04t3B6/s1600/dutch+braid.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Another try, another daughter, another day. Now if I could only learn to deal with fly aways.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6NDUsssWqeCUZ1ZFuzC1UI2XlB8oCGPHQ-F7MymrYp0OxvZApP_GKhroHgTkzA7iuMhMfdaMApg8Lp2nORZSU0BuVue6-dFQDah64KKLUYKaCi3yUw_A8W8ifhAf_3FIDQKqvxddoYucz/s1600/MWOCF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6NDUsssWqeCUZ1ZFuzC1UI2XlB8oCGPHQ-F7MymrYp0OxvZApP_GKhroHgTkzA7iuMhMfdaMApg8Lp2nORZSU0BuVue6-dFQDah64KKLUYKaCi3yUw_A8W8ifhAf_3FIDQKqvxddoYucz/s1600/MWOCF.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">I was attempting to do a half crown braid today, but did it a little too high. If you're looking to do a Katniss braid, or a simple dutch braid and don't know how, check out <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=katniss+braid&oq=katniss+braid&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&gs_l=youtube-psuggest.3..0l10.357.2011.0.2175.13.9.0.4.4.1.158.879.5j4.9.0...0.0.">YouTube</a>, there are a ton of tutorials out there. I happened to know how to do a dutch braid so I didn't didn't need a tutorial, but my oldest daughter taught herself using video tutorials. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5c-0Wnvo2TS6ZSHDFUx251YnP50wdvneYKbEh4w-Akw9Ywig87Rk-rCUDAe0aUNQlgAnCyNwdcFVnfmNpKiMCDjAqJLHXzfqpjGiqWpAYzr7cBxCrUKdOoAwohVyS_ON3w179skWdiMY5/s1600/MWOCF+Braid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5c-0Wnvo2TS6ZSHDFUx251YnP50wdvneYKbEh4w-Akw9Ywig87Rk-rCUDAe0aUNQlgAnCyNwdcFVnfmNpKiMCDjAqJLHXzfqpjGiqWpAYzr7cBxCrUKdOoAwohVyS_ON3w179skWdiMY5/s1600/MWOCF+Braid.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Today one of my girls wanted something like the braid Katniss wore on the day of the reaping. My daughter's hair is much shorter though so I did what I could.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJenPXiwDHukh_t3uCRIK_808XMa9oK3HDuTgcB-53oEgaKG709T3FqPd4C3EeGVU7On6RNYmjQEJ7N6NPQVf_mZ_N0dmh93p6ewEgdv3sK85Hxd2kpPimxUFLnUzmmQPjmbbeQoqU8T2/s1600/Updos+for+prom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJenPXiwDHukh_t3uCRIK_808XMa9oK3HDuTgcB-53oEgaKG709T3FqPd4C3EeGVU7On6RNYmjQEJ7N6NPQVf_mZ_N0dmh93p6ewEgdv3sK85Hxd2kpPimxUFLnUzmmQPjmbbeQoqU8T2/s1600/Updos+for+prom.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">I was also recently privileged to do hair for my friend's daughter and her friend for their JROTC ball. I'm not a trained professional, so they aren't perfect, but I thought their hair turned out beautifully. This was taken before the girls headed out to have their make-up done.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKMbqNG6aFZ5koYowCecRHvTMrq-xa26ltL26GRjkwpCsTw7_g0JpUBfUvy6KBG6VSgFRN-wvYAKa8fj8ZXsvFxIKrP2g5Ii4-CBv9mqijG5BzQyq_Rii0cvzIymi30nkHL-7ovvHnsb-/s1600/Prom+Updo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKMbqNG6aFZ5koYowCecRHvTMrq-xa26ltL26GRjkwpCsTw7_g0JpUBfUvy6KBG6VSgFRN-wvYAKa8fj8ZXsvFxIKrP2g5Ii4-CBv9mqijG5BzQyq_Rii0cvzIymi30nkHL-7ovvHnsb-/s1600/Prom+Updo.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">I just love how Kait looked. Her updo was very classy looking.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmksxzSj-q-gAAhLBjOy1Nd9oaxOWq6jTsWkxkqiH4W87BYW6199CzP03dBz0vplHbI0n17dXBvJC6RYqWcl2g4XaFJIhuyP9AuDsG7hHNTAJvtyIgkjghUjsSAeOVSyks1ynCLvzCY1x3/s1600/WOCF+Prom+Updo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmksxzSj-q-gAAhLBjOy1Nd9oaxOWq6jTsWkxkqiH4W87BYW6199CzP03dBz0vplHbI0n17dXBvJC6RYqWcl2g4XaFJIhuyP9AuDsG7hHNTAJvtyIgkjghUjsSAeOVSyks1ynCLvzCY1x3/s1600/WOCF+Prom+Updo.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Daley wanted to incorporate a braid and a high updo with curls. The girls were both gorgeous and I was quite thrilled that I got to play with hair.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Until the next time. . . . </span></div><br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/37/9E3DB5348DA0DDF6A61EDCE61C1F6963.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a>Mikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07059406266962099273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437979189428985638.post-9970077638019632622012-04-27T00:52:00.000-08:002012-04-27T00:52:12.867-08:00Etched Glass<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">I thought it would be neat to etch this design on a glass. It's the same one I used on the shirt I shared yesterday. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/My-World-of-Crazy-Fun/87858561276"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHArsPCKKkcmh9K37lBBFSS90DadtatMzTeO5OHx248zmMuSuPCLIbCVt1Iv1klx3nvjeF8gcXtAEMCem2HYybt88GAyZwh6l5RkZ1q9UJXFxkI_KG_vdfuJqIbaVJVM4kbz9gp77mKiCq/s1600/WorldofCrazyFunEtchedGlass.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Until the next time. . . .</span></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/37/9E3DB5348DA0DDF6A61EDCE61C1F6963.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Mikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07059406266962099273noreply@blogger.com1