tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89866818822217005852024-03-05T18:14:35.151-06:00Mississippi MamaDaniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523282062825450228noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986681882221700585.post-49173434505004394382010-03-04T14:04:00.001-06:002010-03-04T14:06:16.180-06:00Swagbucks!Y'all, I'm here to tell you that you need to join <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/MississippiMama">Swagbucks</a>. :) In the next couple days I'm going to earn my 11th Amazon gift card. Once you get up to 450 <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/MississippiMama">Swagbucks</a>, which isn't at all hard to do, you can cash them in for a $5 Amazon card. So I've got over $50 sitting in my Amazon account, just waiting for me to use it. All I did to get that money was use <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/MississippiMama">Swagbucks</a> for searches, and use the codes they give out from time to time.<br /><br />I'm saving up to "buy" a Nikon D40. I say "buy" because I probably won't spend a penny of money out of pocket. If things keep going well, I could buy that sucker by the end of this year.<br /><br />Check out this video of something fun a family got with their <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/MississippiMama">Swagbucks</a>...<br /><br /><lj-embed id="181"><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/O7dXlcDU2Yg&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/O7dXlcDU2Yg&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></lj-embed><br /><br />Maybe I'll go for one of those next. :)<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/MississippiMama">Click here</a></b> to sign up under my name. If you do that, I'll benefit from your searches, too. And then if you refer friends who sign up under you, you'll earn money for their searches. Check it out? :)<br /><br />I promise you it's 100% legit. The money sitting in my Amazon account is proof of that. I never get spam email from them, either. If you join, be sure to <b><a href="http://swagbucks.com/?cmd=sb-plugins">download the toolbar</a></b> and become a fan on <b><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?filter=lf#!/swagbucks?ref=ts">Facebook</a></b>, because they often post codes or hints to codes there. If you're on <b><a href="http://twitter.com/SwagBucks">Twitter</a></b>, follow them there, too, for codes. And there's stuff on their <b><a href="http://blog.swagbucks.com/">blog</a></b>!<br /><br />Let me know if you join, or if you have any questions!Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523282062825450228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986681882221700585.post-43172628316705090332010-02-20T15:15:00.006-06:002010-02-20T15:37:17.325-06:00This Mama's Had It, Too.<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(WARNING: This post contains a photo not suitable for little eyes.)</span><br /><br />I was greatly inspired by BooMama's post <a href="http://boomama.net/2010/02/16/mamas-had-it/">Mama's Had It</a> the other day, where she gives a large national bookstore chain a good old what-for over their placement of the <span style="font-style: italic;">Sports Illustrated</span> swimsuit edition right where children can see it. Click over there and read the post for sure.<br /><br />I'll often make a call to a store's manager when customer service goes spectacularly wrong (or right), but now that I have a son, I know I'm going to have to make more calls of a more, um, sensitive nature. I just didn't expect to have to do it so soon after reading BooMama's post.<br /><br />We went to a birthday party for Elmo today at a large chain bookstore. (I don't know why I'm being nice and not using their name, but if you knew about the Elmo party or if you follow me on Twitter, it's not hard to figure out.) As soon as you enter the store at its one and only entrance, there's a little foyer-type area with bookcases that always display budget books. They always have something for everybody from kids to adults to hobbyists to home cooks. Imagine my surprise to see, without really even looking at all the books, a book called <span style="font-style: italic;">Smut</span> with a photo of a barely-concealed naked woman on it. Hey, whaddya know, I took a photo:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpMJ7s5OMSyjikK-wsO75jVKqWu2pDA2oi2qmmzMF5q-DKj9nZ3z79zpp-qBnvG6v7BdxDHOaI039nGAHi16ATUzbSGXSy3yoGmYL_5sCArBp6jPGds-SFPFHYY26DpAWVhsA5HmoplHE/s1600-h/100_1732.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 290px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpMJ7s5OMSyjikK-wsO75jVKqWu2pDA2oi2qmmzMF5q-DKj9nZ3z79zpp-qBnvG6v7BdxDHOaI039nGAHi16ATUzbSGXSy3yoGmYL_5sCArBp6jPGds-SFPFHYY26DpAWVhsA5HmoplHE/s400/100_1732.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440439168760367618" border="0" /></a>Seriously? Really? <span style="font-style: italic;">Are you kidding me?</span><br /><br />I turned the book's cover around and we went on in to the party. I sent BooMama a direct message through Twitter and she was equally grossed out. When I got home, I sent the bookstore a message through Twitter, left them feedback on their web site, and called the store's manager. After explaining politely that while my son who's two wouldn't be bothered by it, there are teenaged boys in that store all the time for whom it could be a problem. There are grown men who struggle with pornography for whom it could be a problem. I asked if she'd consider moving the book and she sighed and sounded bored and put-out when she said, "Alright, I'll go up there and see about it." That wasn't the response I was looking for, but I didn't want to be rude so I didn't press it further. I might swing by Sunday afternoon to see if it's been moved yet. Speaking to someone in person might pack a greater punch.<br /><br />Mamas and Daddies, we need to be vigilant about this sort of thing. The world is out to snatch your little ones (and your husbands, girls!) from you, and we're the front line of defense. If we don't make the phone calls or talk to the managers, who else will? Start a trend. Speak up.<br /></div>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523282062825450228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986681882221700585.post-84514259679003542592010-02-19T12:14:00.003-06:002010-02-19T12:20:03.805-06:00Review: The Search for God and Guinness by Stephen Mansfield<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRK5cOVFcBoyPrbVN9Sg38ESUH0WF_uIpRbBvpKlcgtc-3oqAanmNY3hFPcBvjjqwpDPepdtvZuSR1pNExKwK10j_0pu_NSHqQeqsxFiGRRTHLt2JpuQU01rm_BP7tNzdNtwyxdYJEnc/s1600-h/guinness.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRK5cOVFcBoyPrbVN9Sg38ESUH0WF_uIpRbBvpKlcgtc-3oqAanmNY3hFPcBvjjqwpDPepdtvZuSR1pNExKwK10j_0pu_NSHqQeqsxFiGRRTHLt2JpuQU01rm_BP7tNzdNtwyxdYJEnc/s400/guinness.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440020989496716194" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Stephen Mansfield gave himself a big job in <span style="font-style: italic;">The Search for God and Guinness</span>: write a history of one of the world's most famous beer companies and focus as much attention as possible on the company's founder, Arthur Guinness, about whom very little information exists. His attempt works, for the most part.<br /><br />The early part of the book, containing fascinating information about the history of beer leading up to the founding of the Guinness company, is sure to be thrilling for any history buff. Mansfield also write about the early days of the company with an obvious affection. There was a need for something safe to drink in Ireland, due to poor water conditions, and Guinness filled the need. The company was also at the forefront of caring for its employees and their families in ways most of us can hardly imagine today.<br /><br />But the book falters a bit when the real meat and potatoes about Arthur's life has already been explained. What follows isn't exactly filler, but it doesn't make for riveting reading, either. Business owners and business students will find the latter half of the book helpful in their own careers.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(Disclaimer: This book was received for free from Thomas Nelson Publishers in return for an honest review on my blog for <a href="http://booksneeze.com/">Booksneeze</a>.)</span></div>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523282062825450228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986681882221700585.post-67997015964287314192010-02-01T21:08:00.002-06:002010-02-01T21:12:42.912-06:00Good Things: JanuaryI didn't tell anyone I was doing this, not even John! A blogger I read posts a Good Things wrap-up of each month, and I decided to try it this year. So, one good thing that happened on each day of January...<br /><br />1. I started Couch to 5k.<br /><br />2. The Ole Miss Rebels won the Cotton Bowl against Oklahoma State 21-7.<br /><br />3. I finished a good book and made a yummy chicken pot pie.<br /><br />4. It snowed! It came down in beautiful flakes for about five hours, and even though there was no accumulation, it made me happy.<br /><br />5. The boy had a bad diaper rash from getting his two-year molars, and I was able to take him to the doctor right away and get medicine that helped him feel better.<br /><br />6. Rush Limbaugh returned to the radio after his chest pains (which turned out to be nothing serious). Yay Rush!<br /><br />7. I weighed myself and found that I had lost 2.6 pounds after a week of sort-of doing Weight Watchers on my own.<br /><br />8. It was a dangerously cold day (the high was 20), but I got to stay in my warm house all day with the boy. That night, John and I had Bop’s hot chocolate.<br /><br />9. I went to the newer Kroger by myself and mapped out the store for an organized shopping list. Little things make me happy!<br /><br />10. I had a sore throat and was able to stay home from church by myself and indulge in my fascination with the English royal family by watching episode three of <span style="font-style: italic;">Monarchy: The Royal Family at Work</span>.<br /><br />11. The boy and I stayed in our jammies and spent much of the day playing in his room, building towers out of Mega Bloks.<br /><br />12.I watched <span style="font-style: italic;">The Bachelor</span> and was so incredibly grateful that I’m not husband-hunting. Well, mostly I’m grateful I was never as desperate as those women are! And my single girlfriends are not like those girls, thank the Lord!<br /><br />13. Due to the continued water outages in Jackson, Wednesday night church stuff was canceled, and we had breakfast for dinner at home instead!<br /><br />14. The weather was very nice and we stayed out on the playground for a long time.<br /><br />15. It was hard to find something happy on this day, because I had a really bad sinus infection. I guess the best thing was that the boy and I stayed in our jammies all day and I had a great nap in the middle of the day while he napped.<br /><br />16. We slept late and had a good breakfast, and I got to read a lot!<br /><br />17. Stayed home from church again due to the sinus infection that wouldn’t die. But! Most of the day was spent on the couch reading! That’s what Sunday afternoons are for.<br /><br />18. I did the weekly grocery shop and saved almost $30 by using coupons and store deals.<br /><br />19. At work, we spent the WHOLE morning outside. It was beautiful out there! Also, I took John to work because his car was in the shop, and I got coffee at Seattle Drip on the way home.<br /><br />20. More time on the playground at work, and I had a good chat with my friend Kathryn over supper at church.<br /><br />21. John cooked supper! He grilled turkey burgers and tater tots and they were yummy.<br /><br />22. We had supper at Jason’s Deli and had really sweet family time. We also discovered that the boy will happily drink milk again, as long as it’s chocolate!<br /><br />23. During the boy’s nap in the afternoon (and while Daddy was home, of course), I took a little time for myself and went to the library, Borders, Target, and a couple stores looking for spring/summer clothes for the boy. It did me a world of good!<br /><br />24. After church, I took myself to the movies to see <span style="font-style: italic;">Leap Year</span>. I enjoyed it!<br /><br />25. Instead of running errands like I usually do on Mondays, the boy and I stayed home and in our jammies all day. I think we both needed it. I got some needed housework done, too, and that night I was finally able to go walking in the neighborhood again. That sinus infection hung around forever!<br /><br />26. It was GORGEOUS outside, and we spent all the time we could on the playground. Everybody’s spirits are better on those days! (The boy is also 26 months old today!)<br /><br />27. At choir practice, our director handed out photocopied first pages of Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” with the words changed to a made-up happy birthday song. We stood to sing and our sweet organist started playing and slowly turned beet red as she realized we were singing to her. It was awesome.<br /><br />28. My sweet boy spent the morning on the playground gathering up rocks and bringing them to me. I think I should save them all and buy a tumbler that makes rocks all shiny, and keep them forever.<br /><br />29. The boy and I drove to Hattiesburg today in a torrential downpour. We made it there safely, though, and spent the night with my parents!<br /><br />30. The boy and I had fun in Hattiesburg and got him some cute spring clothes. The drive back was rain-free, thankfully!<br /><br />31. The month ended with a quiet Sunday at home with my fellas after church. John and I watched most of the Grammys together, too.Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523282062825450228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986681882221700585.post-88430927692449710182010-01-24T23:03:00.001-06:002010-01-24T23:05:50.252-06:00<div style="text-align: justify;">We had a horrible cold snap over the past couple weeks and I spent nearly all my free time on my couch under an electric blanket and a fleece blanket while wearing sweatpants, socks, (fake) Uggs, a long-sleeved shirt, a jacket, and sometimes a scarf. I love winter, but man. I'd had enough of that mess.<br /><br />So now that we've got some positively spring-like temperatures here at the end of January, I'm in the mood to shop. I'm like most girls and I don't really love shopping for clothes for myself, but thankfully I've got a cute little boy living in my house, and shopping for him is a breeze!<br /><br />I'm not the kind of mama who likes to put her little man in t-shirts covered with skulls and crossbones, angry dinosaurs, guitars with lightning bolts or semi-rude slogans, so I was happy to find a few offerings in the preppier section of The Children's Place.<br /><br />There's a little bit of this...<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAAd-H9Q_bw2At0ZNaYneWfV0EckmIy3QIYn7WgBGFzWoLAJ0ugqTkPoSqSLHMMXnR_Slg5IWJ-pVTfqLNZkHbL4NoTIZh-6YiIsaNTXdsR-8K6aPacr30Xo6DYyD55vlhD_IjRbXGSs/s1600-h/clothes05.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 272px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAAd-H9Q_bw2At0ZNaYneWfV0EckmIy3QIYn7WgBGFzWoLAJ0ugqTkPoSqSLHMMXnR_Slg5IWJ-pVTfqLNZkHbL4NoTIZh-6YiIsaNTXdsR-8K6aPacr30Xo6DYyD55vlhD_IjRbXGSs/s400/clothes05.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430538857997619362" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr67Zyk9wqoJUyT4_B4HhpAPicHsePvrIpOczngmqH_ONe3rKNMlYbZYz5KMNNSNdpMIS6wffQeTtmJ1apmz7RobhcyngWJnkcJ735Uh9y1gpuXzVTD_NFhcBgEIrnsJY5zngjUEzmBSY/s1600-h/clothes04.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr67Zyk9wqoJUyT4_B4HhpAPicHsePvrIpOczngmqH_ONe3rKNMlYbZYz5KMNNSNdpMIS6wffQeTtmJ1apmz7RobhcyngWJnkcJ735Uh9y1gpuXzVTD_NFhcBgEIrnsJY5zngjUEzmBSY/s400/clothes04.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430538853270651474" border="0" /></a>And some of this...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknjlCahM7NkE6I4LJsS-vkJSdGkFRVyW_gttfHJ4Pj_a_4uUzHmwIZnbO8BxcZtuft1Q7Hizda2-nlWTRNM6Sf0Pdmtu2pzLHvgchOA9y7UYQTbfyApOsiazBxsLaQCpOqeX6HM6IkNA/s1600-h/clothes03.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknjlCahM7NkE6I4LJsS-vkJSdGkFRVyW_gttfHJ4Pj_a_4uUzHmwIZnbO8BxcZtuft1Q7Hizda2-nlWTRNM6Sf0Pdmtu2pzLHvgchOA9y7UYQTbfyApOsiazBxsLaQCpOqeX6HM6IkNA/s400/clothes03.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430538852071425042" border="0" /></a>And then at Target, there were cute swim trunks and rash guards. Last year I made the mistake of waiting too late to look for trunks, so the poor bear had to wear the previous year's trunks, which were way too small! He's prepared now!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNrCS6_VQXfIz2H5duU7YUY4gE4xC7wLtbQFH02TFXPGQGI1Apc-0Sxa6YTkRRT7os0dODcSOUZpLMzDN2rmDxR-2VNTLJOWKh0w8ylVsLrlNjCwM0nVb2em-bu57Cl6_aygdXwfwcFz8/s1600-h/clothes02.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 394px; height: 344px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNrCS6_VQXfIz2H5duU7YUY4gE4xC7wLtbQFH02TFXPGQGI1Apc-0Sxa6YTkRRT7os0dODcSOUZpLMzDN2rmDxR-2VNTLJOWKh0w8ylVsLrlNjCwM0nVb2em-bu57Cl6_aygdXwfwcFz8/s400/clothes02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430538847371059634" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMDWPb47hiOH5i2-h7zxBD_R1d6OGHit0ABc5KhD7f9hu_BXrqkyEXoXtm7swtDMHAN82nOlIybbyT2yVoqVYtR-mcs4z_c7VNdL6MFHDo6RH_6O8eEEzqWztpfOkabAzNTXPDc3TX-yw/s1600-h/clothes01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 366px; height: 389px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMDWPb47hiOH5i2-h7zxBD_R1d6OGHit0ABc5KhD7f9hu_BXrqkyEXoXtm7swtDMHAN82nOlIybbyT2yVoqVYtR-mcs4z_c7VNdL6MFHDo6RH_6O8eEEzqWztpfOkabAzNTXPDc3TX-yw/s400/clothes01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430538844951715986" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">When it's July and August and I'm complaining of the heat and waiting for winter, maybe I'll look back at this post and try to remember how excited I was for warmer weather!<br /></div>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523282062825450228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986681882221700585.post-90120231922059471842010-01-24T22:59:00.001-06:002010-01-24T23:00:52.810-06:00Well, I'll be!<div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">Who Dat indeed!! The Saints are in the Superbowl!<br /><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4R12DqA56pH2ix-MGKVLNXmEQsxY3kstdDlVK3hdGL0wU4cEVpH-zdy4aG83PK9GQRsmCYsJ63fFDAHtLbLxgKRgwXtqDRup932_boLEPZZXGtARLDZVEejqBf3mv4becN4K3RUfkaQ/s1600-h/New-Orleans-Saints-Logo.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 327px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4R12DqA56pH2ix-MGKVLNXmEQsxY3kstdDlVK3hdGL0wU4cEVpH-zdy4aG83PK9GQRsmCYsJ63fFDAHtLbLxgKRgwXtqDRup932_boLEPZZXGtARLDZVEejqBf3mv4becN4K3RUfkaQ/s400/New-Orleans-Saints-Logo.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430537770826165554" border="0" /></a>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523282062825450228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986681882221700585.post-40248690764595107442009-04-16T14:14:00.008-05:002010-01-24T23:02:57.902-06:00Tax Day Tea Party - April 15, 2009<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0fpogPfZASBWkMYe9DyNHCWfwatjHn7t2Uf60KsturNNTHNWk1h8gFPhkrchtv0ExuoiEtW-zKujFjgSuGk8nved4ANtnlkPGDaLl6upHzNyufNK7ikbJNI-aL_xGO1m6YI6mx1rI1lQ/s1600-h/post01.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325370274004117266" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 300px; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0fpogPfZASBWkMYe9DyNHCWfwatjHn7t2Uf60KsturNNTHNWk1h8gFPhkrchtv0ExuoiEtW-zKujFjgSuGk8nved4ANtnlkPGDaLl6upHzNyufNK7ikbJNI-aL_xGO1m6YI6mx1rI1lQ/s400/post01.jpg" border="0" /></a>I’ve only been an activist one other time in my life.<br /><br />When I was a kid, my mom homeschooled me in 5th and 6th grades, and we once took a field trip to Jackson from our hometown of Clarksdale for a pro-life rally. I vaguely remember standing inside the state Capitol, surrounded by other pro-life folks, listening to elected officials talk about their support of the movement. This was in early 1987, when the pro-life movement was largely still in its nascent days.<br /><br />On April 15, 2009, I returned to the Mississippi Capitol more than 20 years older but not a whole lot different otherwise. I was a child on that cold January day, but even then I knew in my heart that what I was doing was important. I knew that what I believed was right. I heard family and other pro-lifers around me talk about the battle being long and hard, but I knew, even then, that it was worth it.<br /><br />That battle still rages, and will become even tougher in the coming months and years, but yesterday, I stood with my fellow Americans on the cusp of a different battle, and my changed season of life brought it so much more into focus.<br /><br />This time, I’m an adult. This time, I pay taxes. This time, I have a mortgage. This time, I have a husband. But most important of all, this time, I have a son.<br /><br />I went to the state house on Wednesday for my child. I went for his future. I went for his children and his grandchildren. I went for your children, too.<br /><br />I stood side-by-side with other Mississippians ready to begin the process of taking this country back. No, we’re not the rightwing extremists the Department of Homeland Security would have you believe. There will be no riots. There will be no violence. There will be no burning effigies or flags. There will be no acts of treason against our government. Anything even appearing violent or treasonous will not be accepted by us, because we love our country, we respect our leaders, and we wish no physical harm ever to come to any of them.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325371243922294450" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKRDIDBMBvCaAAnz-IKg7egIP6w_SUkQ2U-eaxHQvREQLFhMNTpo8mypcqG18c1PGXwL3slVfYPuYAudBWBwEU9qFtv-brjBZfz_yCuVxoUKR9aWuu_8UfK3tfjQrQo8w6qrw8npLeayc/s400/postextra.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325370273091344642" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5BNIeMXrONW_HukmkfXVTACAeiO1oXZPpCSmvzS-fhdSSJUTngVg4864yALCkwkPx2YujTHYarsxyXR4CMkxPbewxzKYLZIO2VVoOd8EtaV6C6i85I2JT2p5W-_1zfoTRz-y79wXxr2M/s400/post02.jpg" border="0" /></div><div align="justify"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325370272402246546" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCLjMzKp7RTDYskRJXE2xZ0AMIqGTtY0IvStJSZ5KZLGE6dLDyyCuskiAd-bK47S_iZMW12Wz3FTL03qwdVBmLN5wIx-vH2x0nltRqZkidDLOLwQpNqK375LbbfBAM3HnUEiTXWKXpTQE/s400/post03.jpg" border="0" />What there will be is prayer. There will be groups of people joining together to stand before the Lord and beg His forgiveness and intercession. They will ask Him to go before us into the fight, because they know there will be no lasting success without Him.<br /><br />What there will be is knowledge. There will be reading, and discussion, and study of our history and our form of government. There will be careful, serious thought and scholarship.<br /><br />What there will be is action. There will be more people joining whichever party most closely lines up with their beliefs. There will be campaigning, and questioning, and letter-writing, and phone-calling. There will be running for office. There will be change.<br /><br />I couldn’t wait to get to the Capitol yesterday. My aunt graciously came from out of town and kept my sweet son at our house so we could be totally focused on the event. I arrived at the Capitol before 1:30, ready to work. I helped sell t-shirts. I carried a walkie-talkie for the first time ever. My bright green STAFF shirt and credentials garnered lots of requests for assistance and information. I was in my element, apparently!<br /><br />The crowd started to gather, and I noticed especially the groups gathered around our Pledge of Allegiance and Declaration of Independence tables. We asked fellow patriots to sign the Declaration as a symbolic gesture, a reaffirmation that our allegiance as Americans, after God, is to the republic. The scroll was 100 feet long, and by the end of the event, the paper’s end had been reached. Every inch was filled with signatures.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325370269506239378" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS2gHCJFqTV-mLPZ5HbZ2900Z2b22xwo9rGIkd8qXkxLEodNZcgi6NlV_HREH9pXXFvXZH-ivYsay4_c44XFYjxs-lXJNujjCQYRxZYs_LsJodjCPQrR_KZnyr4os6zHUGmxAMo5nNZkk/s400/post04.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgC8i0HG_JlAro8OvPyao2RfF2o9gOo22uxrHWcB3MPFp0JtOYIWcXB2RCWne8LVJWSfv3hLDvJsr55SFU6zGJCboAuW6WNg2TDz8hvBJhwgoh9BLOeAo2tcoCpKeY2M5nYDXYUzwEh5A/s1600-h/post05.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325370270180145506" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgC8i0HG_JlAro8OvPyao2RfF2o9gOo22uxrHWcB3MPFp0JtOYIWcXB2RCWne8LVJWSfv3hLDvJsr55SFU6zGJCboAuW6WNg2TDz8hvBJhwgoh9BLOeAo2tcoCpKeY2M5nYDXYUzwEh5A/s400/post05.jpg" border="0" /></a>About five minutes before the start, I ascended the Capitol steps with my husband and looked at the crowd. I got tears in my eyes and said to him, “We did it.” My expectations were exceeded. On February 27, at our first tea party, there were 12 of us there. I didn’t yet know how many we had this time, but I knew the number was far greater.<br /><br /><div align="justify"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325370077349735842" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7E-zmX_5L4viDtaYATDWgQsv0v-9vfZytAiTR06oZ-VLIBWQbUNtAnNoVeEvaBXs6aTAfBqqzh0xIrwr6WWuApL5w9yPwYDFIWHC5GJGzJygIGWuL6yCegfl5vBnhMW-6ogWKHyABE7k/s400/post06.jpg" border="0" />The event began with the Pledge of Allegiance and our national anthem and my tears fell again. We heard from a variety of speakers, from elected officials, to businessmen, to a conservative radio show host, to a minister. We heard from a microcosm of the real Mississippi, both black and white.<br /><br />Each speaker drove home the point that this is not Republican vs. Democrat or conservative vs. liberal. This is not about black or white. This is about freedom and fiscal responsibility. This is about elected officials doing what their constituents send them to Washington to do: Keep us safe, adhere to the Constitution, and vote fairly. No more, no less.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325370074064710770" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYSnIi81u6YqFXOw-sDv1Q-lB8HI8wBfLR48HwjmXrN0hQAnA0smPltYHdGLhzobBVoqIvbblbv0ADi7ExUivZuSc0MMqEjbdDDQHajsxdu1kRmuJyuactFE_t4ChyphenhypheniCeKOp3zZr99J4/s400/post07.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgef_N00XJMTGaef5RK5GFSGWRWTIngLUCFeHUEaer_4zWFBCy3-Dw2ZDBBpeLECHkqByEQ8gm1okszeSJx9-HaE1i8a3LnyJFAgpirIbx7QHUw-bkFxbkJ6MOWWJLYVjOfyQYSiTNk4/s1600-h/post08.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325370073790936082" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgef_N00XJMTGaef5RK5GFSGWRWTIngLUCFeHUEaer_4zWFBCy3-Dw2ZDBBpeLECHkqByEQ8gm1okszeSJx9-HaE1i8a3LnyJFAgpirIbx7QHUw-bkFxbkJ6MOWWJLYVjOfyQYSiTNk4/s400/post08.jpg" border="0" /></a>This will not be the end of the <a href="http://msteaparty.ning.com/">Mississippi Tea Party</a>, or the greater movement nationwide. This week, the silent majority has been awakened from its slumber. This is only the beginning. We went from 12 people in Jackson on February 27 to upwards of 3,500 people on April 15. That’s less than seven weeks of time. Imagine how this will continue to grow in the coming months. Imagine the change we will bring in 2010 and 2012.<br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3uEBBhiVZ_aoS9f_tBdL3HWIZILSOkKl8C9h9AgtawAsFimkPT15u9IH4REMrZ5TLluva0WhYyoHrL3CwtK1bxy25Ht3ozsu3dPOuBFjIDS8vUppPv0xvZC7o8zJpL8yXbixAky7zTb4/s1600-h/post09.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325370073570542546" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 300px; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3uEBBhiVZ_aoS9f_tBdL3HWIZILSOkKl8C9h9AgtawAsFimkPT15u9IH4REMrZ5TLluva0WhYyoHrL3CwtK1bxy25Ht3ozsu3dPOuBFjIDS8vUppPv0xvZC7o8zJpL8yXbixAky7zTb4/s400/post09.jpg" border="0" /></a>My growing involvement in the political process probably gets my name written in the DHS book of rightwing extremists. So be it. I’m doing this for my son, and there is nothing in the world that will stop me. This is my county. I’m taking it back.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5A7vdyYDSxEcgHVcDwVEjsc7yvi0C6OTOdUURzcVECaVk4qZfnTvFRj2Tdi5_Reh8rTolL9arov0fwyX_M8XJ07igTMXG3Vs4IPBJSP5l0G3O3WJBrX1rMEplctbPNCuNiZ6a8I6xjk/s1600-h/post10.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325370066169306258" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5A7vdyYDSxEcgHVcDwVEjsc7yvi0C6OTOdUURzcVECaVk4qZfnTvFRj2Tdi5_Reh8rTolL9arov0fwyX_M8XJ07igTMXG3Vs4IPBJSP5l0G3O3WJBrX1rMEplctbPNCuNiZ6a8I6xjk/s400/post10.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523282062825450228noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986681882221700585.post-66333558164925228002009-03-19T18:32:00.004-05:002009-03-19T18:51:18.284-05:00The Most Amazing Soup Ever<div align="justify">This soup has some sort of name like "Super Foods Soup", but that's kind of lame. Plus, I've changed the recipe so much that it barely resembles the original. Whatever you want to call it, it's awesome. It couldn't be any simpler to make, cooks as fast as it takes to come to a boil, and is even better a day or two later as leftovers. This is the kind of thing to take to a friend who's sick. You'll score major points with it. My son and I are currently mucho sick with bronchitis (both of us) and double ear infections (him) and I know it helped us both feel better when we had it tonight for supper.</div><br /><strong>INGREDIENTS</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />1 or 2 cloves garlic, minced<br />1 small red onion, diced<br />32 oz. frozen chopped spinach<br />1 can diced tomatoes, undrained<br />1 can black beans, drained<br />1 can corn, drained<br />32 oz. chicken broth (can substitute water)<br />1 pkg. (8 slices) pre-cooked sausage (can substitute turkey sausage), roughly chopped<br />1 pkg. (refrigerated or dried) tortellini, any flavor<br />salt and pepper<br /><br /><strong>DIRECTIONS</strong><br /><ol><li>Open and drain canned vegetables</li><li>In a large stock pot, saute garlic and onions in a small amount of olive oil</li><li>As soon as the garlic and onions are done, add spinach, corn, black beans, tomatoes, chicken broth, sausage, salt and pepper to the stock pot. Stir well</li><li>Cover and bring to a boil; add tortellini and stir well</li><li>Reduce heat, cover and simmer approximately 20 minutes</li></ol><p align="justify">This makes A LOT of soup. You'll easily be eating the leftovers for days, but it gets better the longer the flavors boogie together. We love spinach around here, so I use 32 ounces. You could easily halve that and still have plenty of bulk. You could leave out the meat, or do a different pasta, or throw in a bag of shredded cole slaw mix instead of spinach. It's so easy and so quick that there's no trouble making it your own. Enjoy!</p>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523282062825450228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986681882221700585.post-7031183096634408592009-02-27T14:30:00.005-06:002009-02-27T14:42:42.179-06:00Mississippi Tea Party<div align="justify">Bear and I met up with my husband today at noon on at the Mississippi capitol building. We took part in the nationwide tea party to protest Obama's stimulus package. We had a merry little band turn out. Below are some of the pictures I took today.<br /><br />Thanks to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEZB4taSEoA">Rick Santelli for getting angry and speaking up</a>, and to <a href="http://smartgirlpolitics.ning.com/">Smart Girl Politics</a>, <a href="http://www.topconservativesontwitter.org/">Top Conservatives on Twitter</a> and <a href="http://www.michellemalkin.com/">Michelle Malkin</a> for organizing the events and spreading the news.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHoWWBX2GizqbGM7tOCmXs-Zx9Gsf2S8k6mzWZPjQbzAWep3tJuFUlviGvefPDazGPHx3sJSKzzft8nSIw8HVlMkB-uzri0PCa-SKfaXV-Qo7aafRJH_H-z4PWaW_QHSqCk_I9y41xZIw/s1600-h/jackson_ms_teaparty01.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307579605246087922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHoWWBX2GizqbGM7tOCmXs-Zx9Gsf2S8k6mzWZPjQbzAWep3tJuFUlviGvefPDazGPHx3sJSKzzft8nSIw8HVlMkB-uzri0PCa-SKfaXV-Qo7aafRJH_H-z4PWaW_QHSqCk_I9y41xZIw/s400/jackson_ms_teaparty01.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307579599707007666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_2OA47orWDVjwSNSgsiL7tYRxt1jqqfLlbC1zapYpacoI6aEUvc7eEalruI5RjZIIVoaPoSUgXinW5RvGyz6Bnsdbm4CmN7ABdk6oYeUBfgeLNrgybjo8PmcIk9UltHReRf_MsfdgUI/s400/jackson_ms_teaparty03.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLIEZCr0Isd7MYMXKrtjZU5P0SgD0W7xTi8f47OS3jpUiqbsz5_wDt0AIl2tctclJC9dbZx1fPsEwc_gas9STrSVgmnrJlzhATJvylwsHiDkAIiGAsb-5RBnC1sfu2iDRZb0bYQ8rzaUw/s1600-h/jackson_ms_teaparty04.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307579594871133778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLIEZCr0Isd7MYMXKrtjZU5P0SgD0W7xTi8f47OS3jpUiqbsz5_wDt0AIl2tctclJC9dbZx1fPsEwc_gas9STrSVgmnrJlzhATJvylwsHiDkAIiGAsb-5RBnC1sfu2iDRZb0bYQ8rzaUw/s400/jackson_ms_teaparty04.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4YnEjPsM-QZWIGIT4JglBj1T8zBG7OnHcsAkPNGVSoYUnGR9YocvYAUEGGw8TWIgL_DcnlynhDt5_aPgH-v_dSq2QZdo5tQ-FfxRj65mJNJJMCAJGTtZDwrd7qargn2s0fpteahbfccg/s1600-h/jackson_ms_teaparty05.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307579591219426386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4YnEjPsM-QZWIGIT4JglBj1T8zBG7OnHcsAkPNGVSoYUnGR9YocvYAUEGGw8TWIgL_DcnlynhDt5_aPgH-v_dSq2QZdo5tQ-FfxRj65mJNJJMCAJGTtZDwrd7qargn2s0fpteahbfccg/s400/jackson_ms_teaparty05.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0I4ANsYAccWBrN9b7IU-cs9I9Yc-BDb6Hg3h9T5K5b0RiYf-CMz4plNlCmgCQI1_iJvEA5Oh1R1Z-PWPsrkeICm_LXSfly-XT6bnOB0T4WZOuBoa1B3h5ak6h8k17B7MZCq6o8uGDwAk/s1600-h/jackson_ms_teaparty07.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307579578939294386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0I4ANsYAccWBrN9b7IU-cs9I9Yc-BDb6Hg3h9T5K5b0RiYf-CMz4plNlCmgCQI1_iJvEA5Oh1R1Z-PWPsrkeICm_LXSfly-XT6bnOB0T4WZOuBoa1B3h5ak6h8k17B7MZCq6o8uGDwAk/s400/jackson_ms_teaparty07.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEudLWBP95F0EvZcx5lruvNVtY2ACuoz9EHQql_cY8DwMbvgplbjFqL2TtISNPT1L7UF1U5_9VBHvqKHiqyXkLjBBFj92EpBqAHneeU3LvTV3p_tTS7HX3KK0ROYpnUFhjWn-3jS97N0/s1600-h/jackson_ms_teaparty08.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307579392141079058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEudLWBP95F0EvZcx5lruvNVtY2ACuoz9EHQql_cY8DwMbvgplbjFqL2TtISNPT1L7UF1U5_9VBHvqKHiqyXkLjBBFj92EpBqAHneeU3LvTV3p_tTS7HX3KK0ROYpnUFhjWn-3jS97N0/s400/jackson_ms_teaparty08.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJgfVOekFVoQ2Czuv0UJCvu6H0QIxbWAEO8E13KH2YLDN0aklKHP_gr1nOCEM9aAHiKzb-Uj_EOENK0R5Ng8EHW1HKA4RusKIIkdD3D8fXrv65K2dH7bNRf-GZu4LJZwOq0rx3T-qACw/s1600-h/jackson_ms_teaparty09.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307579388943900338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJgfVOekFVoQ2Czuv0UJCvu6H0QIxbWAEO8E13KH2YLDN0aklKHP_gr1nOCEM9aAHiKzb-Uj_EOENK0R5Ng8EHW1HKA4RusKIIkdD3D8fXrv65K2dH7bNRf-GZu4LJZwOq0rx3T-qACw/s400/jackson_ms_teaparty09.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0BFmqS99Fpvk6rxLvRDfW6KK4lIGRtW5aQKVur4u6W3r7nVSevx32ztQm3Znb_YvlyJGXknWIGvmLTVhw3J-8bXA6JBfJ9yHDxCpYsSoiBZ-OHjJHFDYWU8-xqaoJRAdj3lHNvrkd72E/s1600-h/jackson_ms_teaparty10.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307579386425155778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0BFmqS99Fpvk6rxLvRDfW6KK4lIGRtW5aQKVur4u6W3r7nVSevx32ztQm3Znb_YvlyJGXknWIGvmLTVhw3J-8bXA6JBfJ9yHDxCpYsSoiBZ-OHjJHFDYWU8-xqaoJRAdj3lHNvrkd72E/s400/jackson_ms_teaparty10.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpt5-4_8VJQuQ0RGovpuodzhxDaNP919Fj4IxBTM8C-SqgIvqXVLwwhxS7DdibHNWGk1WfDFAXCUDuZcL0nmm3tLJPWKVjJncyYGlusgCxK_6_VbOM50ie3FEri2ESOeOns5dGrUmhRBo/s1600-h/jackson_ms_teaparty11.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307579376728763010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpt5-4_8VJQuQ0RGovpuodzhxDaNP919Fj4IxBTM8C-SqgIvqXVLwwhxS7DdibHNWGk1WfDFAXCUDuZcL0nmm3tLJPWKVjJncyYGlusgCxK_6_VbOM50ie3FEri2ESOeOns5dGrUmhRBo/s400/jackson_ms_teaparty11.jpg" border="0" /></a>Bear's first political rally!! He was the only baby there and really got into it, hollering out a few chants of his own.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGN5l9Z0SmEYstoY0gngE3hhZDxDMc39cVYq8CGsn6Yd7Arck5YhOuRBJhA8pPO0XvIuAveYTbI6rpBvquiJgiL9pehEOl4rLa0Vbi_nS_29B8YlDhojweGBn4LZoCYIo9zN8cFQugWs/s1600-h/jackson_ms_teaparty14.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307579374401674386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGN5l9Z0SmEYstoY0gngE3hhZDxDMc39cVYq8CGsn6Yd7Arck5YhOuRBJhA8pPO0XvIuAveYTbI6rpBvquiJgiL9pehEOl4rLa0Vbi_nS_29B8YlDhojweGBn4LZoCYIo9zN8cFQugWs/s400/jackson_ms_teaparty14.jpg" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523282062825450228noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986681882221700585.post-53305394127799960072009-02-20T08:38:00.003-06:002009-02-20T08:40:29.230-06:00Praise Baby<div align="justify">I'm happy to be able to take part in a bit of blogging for <em>Praise Baby</em>, the CDs and DVDs that have saved a parent's sanity more than once! We love the sweet music in our house! Go check out the fun new blog! Here's my entry:<br /><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://praisebaby.com/blog/?p=126">Because he likes to boogie...</a></div>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523282062825450228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986681882221700585.post-31630703792129056272009-02-18T11:46:00.005-06:002009-02-18T12:41:27.088-06:00I draw the line at discarded food, though.<div align="justify">Every girl grows up swearing she'll never turn into her mother, and then there's that inevitable moment when she realizes that dadgum it, her mother has taken over her body. Don't deny it.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">I realized this about myself a few months ago when I took a few extra streets to get home after choir practice, just so I could listen to a song I liked on the radio. As providence would have it, I drove past a house that had just been moved out of, with piles of junk at the curb, waiting for the trash men.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">My mother's spirit entered my body (despite the fact that she's alive and quite well, thank you) and forced me to slow down. I saw something amazing there on the curb and raced home to get the stroller out of the car and breathlessly tell my confused husband that I'd found a treasure and would be right back. And then my mother's spirit made me do the unthinkable: I drove back to that house; pulled over; stopped; got out; raised the hatch on the back of my station wagon; and there, in the dark, hoisted no less than 50 pounds of abandoned mirrors into my car.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">I drove the short distance home with a huge grin on my face and my heart pounding. For me, other people's trash (literally) is often my treasure. I couldn't believe somebody would throw these gems away, because I instantly knew what to do with the two smaller mirrors. The huge, heavy one is still in my garage, untouched. I think these must've gone on top of a dresser. Beats me why they were thrown out.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPpDvbzhhhvmZEt0mHiZ-i0jVxtR81Zm1jX41oAUa3PUjvp6UOoyay7VB3ymjfAJjf020R6k_Lnh8pTHHsn3Vy11gU6Rdt0K186z0Sttz_3E7NjQ5fv3Bx86a6xWFEGqlybY0bWOg3yE/s1600-h/mirrors01.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304196224327808338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPpDvbzhhhvmZEt0mHiZ-i0jVxtR81Zm1jX41oAUa3PUjvp6UOoyay7VB3ymjfAJjf020R6k_Lnh8pTHHsn3Vy11gU6Rdt0K186z0Sttz_3E7NjQ5fv3Bx86a6xWFEGqlybY0bWOg3yE/s400/mirrors01.jpg" border="0" /></a>The two side mirrors, plain and with an oh-so-80s discount furniture store patina. But they're HEAVY, so they're real wood. They also have sweet beveled edges on the glass.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2SRpXdbJKQ61K0UX8HUK6pWxynNkmRy4FySizRrl476TncyzitZinxHzyP8PK8Mc9JP6_Sjqi0ywGbcc75U4Rwwmvc1VpxxE5SxHpO84333a6Cht-vAPwG7vaEbrYwWimkmI-_PWz9mA/s1600-h/mirrors02.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304196217209326450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2SRpXdbJKQ61K0UX8HUK6pWxynNkmRy4FySizRrl476TncyzitZinxHzyP8PK8Mc9JP6_Sjqi0ywGbcc75U4Rwwmvc1VpxxE5SxHpO84333a6Cht-vAPwG7vaEbrYwWimkmI-_PWz9mA/s400/mirrors02.jpg" border="0" /></a> I started by using newspaper and painter's tape to protect the glass. This was by far the longest and most tedious part of the whole process.<br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBxT6JhwjUPj0FBQ2U-Eldjka8MWmTOcp6JV24IwuZv3jpiEF_-CqOqcYnLU1DQ9gqVg5Qs8DJj_jWJ8rU1oaKegxhNXYcCZu0RpgEKXgrF3u2J-xq2C6jFcMtmApRRXOy7hPpo81gVZk/s1600-h/mirrors03.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304196135925664450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBxT6JhwjUPj0FBQ2U-Eldjka8MWmTOcp6JV24IwuZv3jpiEF_-CqOqcYnLU1DQ9gqVg5Qs8DJj_jWJ8rU1oaKegxhNXYcCZu0RpgEKXgrF3u2J-xq2C6jFcMtmApRRXOy7hPpo81gVZk/s400/mirrors03.jpg" border="0" /></a>Then I got out a cheap girl's best friend: black spray paint. I don't live at Morticia Addams' address, so these certainly weren't going to stay black. But I needed a base color, so I let these dry until the next day.<br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcqJoUIbJ4cUT-SD4xBNXlWXXJO60YD06v2ZfFB3UsEJ7J98uaO9wjT5xU4K1XdXgOgW8PU2o9iUzyD8RasiatKy2ZZEzl80oQV53N5tx_IlqbTU9l3PoHua1ysuFprFUo9bOigEWhA8/s1600-h/mirrors04.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304196135851461826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcqJoUIbJ4cUT-SD4xBNXlWXXJO60YD06v2ZfFB3UsEJ7J98uaO9wjT5xU4K1XdXgOgW8PU2o9iUzyD8RasiatKy2ZZEzl80oQV53N5tx_IlqbTU9l3PoHua1ysuFprFUo9bOigEWhA8/s400/mirrors04.jpg" border="0" /></a>And then, be still my shabby heart, I spray painted them white. I could barely stand the nearly 24-hour wait to make sure the black coat was dry.<br /></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Here's where several steps are missing, because I get excited about these things and forget to take pictures. I let the white paint dry for about 45-ish minutes, until it was nearly dry but still a bit tacky to the touch. I went to town on it with some heavy-duty sandpaper. I attacked all the edges and the corners and it really did end up looking like an old piece of furniture that's been moved around and beat up and loved for years.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">I waited two long, torturous days for them to dry completely, and then! THEN! Here's what I did with them!<br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304196134099113442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUjdu5b4jiSfTlc9OFM841AmeW61sFu1zbvz2HGV6JtwNh1lJXPQzN2ONPzA0V1Jb2P4cz18jBYcNweMlgFcH1d4Wbb6nf2GvHHuZ0M2bq3IneJukgDwdWtBltnUJswY2u0gL_a80M24/s400/mirrors05.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWyJGSg010H1YiUTtPQcSC6MBiB0E8glzFuFcd4q-zpVAKsNfHNj_43BYvJrUo4Jl8Q8bUe7JfYXO-inX4aNKfTLmTg1VCGDCITcbg_Cj7LA2Q6TEQhymllQIwaRpFSO9i2EJ8o2jisw/s1600-h/mirrors06.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304196130088006370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWyJGSg010H1YiUTtPQcSC6MBiB0E8glzFuFcd4q-zpVAKsNfHNj_43BYvJrUo4Jl8Q8bUe7JfYXO-inX4aNKfTLmTg1VCGDCITcbg_Cj7LA2Q6TEQhymllQIwaRpFSO9i2EJ8o2jisw/s400/mirrors06.jpg" border="0" /></a>Pretend there's no pumpkin there and that I didn't take these photos back in the fall. (Oh, here's a tip: the pumpkin got lost in the bottom of the compote dish, so I gave it some height by standing it up on top of a baby bottle cap. Fancy.)<br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5V4342e72z9JqPEIUU-VBYcivsfil43aT_qwk0ObzCsFvE31oxKhYerWSlUOY5nEB4qRc-bhSN4El1cR_9rPlHUP_0L9WvSw-fnJ4u2kAEsTmeW7mzwq1xTuCYcZBPmNCUK6BhBNCMY0/s1600-h/mirrors07.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304196133420449746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5V4342e72z9JqPEIUU-VBYcivsfil43aT_qwk0ObzCsFvE31oxKhYerWSlUOY5nEB4qRc-bhSN4El1cR_9rPlHUP_0L9WvSw-fnJ4u2kAEsTmeW7mzwq1xTuCYcZBPmNCUK6BhBNCMY0/s400/mirrors07.jpg" border="0" /></a> Scruffy, shabby corners!</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">I like to pretend these beauties' former owner is reading, all sad she threw them away and didn't see their potential. Sorry, sucka! They're mine now!</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Kidding, kidding.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">My mom paid them a high compliment and said they look like they belong there. She should know, since it was her conniving spirit that forced me to dig them out of the trash in the first place.</div></div><br /></div>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523282062825450228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986681882221700585.post-92224302894348860062009-02-16T21:10:00.003-06:002009-02-16T21:12:53.655-06:00Are we sure we know what's in the bottle?<div align="justify">I had to get antibiotic and cough syrup prescriptions filled for Bear this afternoon. He's got a sinus infection and a cough bordering on bronchitis, though you'd never know it from his energy level. I swear the liquid is laced with speed.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Anyway, this instills loads of confidence, no?</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4Ph49hkzbJxRFc5V7V-X-C-QfaLd4ayzT_56dN9SEdPwufSfHUdOgS4G9XlsBJjE6MqZsYfpSOz8jgYh16aSMyhNyrlUrjAPGrodEL8XeifwEa4T5qC1GeC6EwFJBBOJrUY4VbGo76c/s1600-h/saywhat.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303598538725924514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 69px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4Ph49hkzbJxRFc5V7V-X-C-QfaLd4ayzT_56dN9SEdPwufSfHUdOgS4G9XlsBJjE6MqZsYfpSOz8jgYh16aSMyhNyrlUrjAPGrodEL8XeifwEa4T5qC1GeC6EwFJBBOJrUY4VbGo76c/s400/saywhat.jpg" border="0" /></a>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523282062825450228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986681882221700585.post-32142619020446109152009-02-16T12:43:00.006-06:002009-02-16T13:03:35.477-06:00Whatcha got cookin'What did I get up to on Valentine's Day? Cupcake baking!<br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7QicxX3cZZtHfD6NRHl-TnvltON42EwbLxSZvcamgKXJ3gBx8u16ymAPdarsSe6Iyqpw1QFQOZrL65irDSzNMcaG2A61Xy8Z_6OxuwNFb3wYohtkq0FkXdiRHB4xBPD_YgMQfzNCNBjI/s1600-h/cupcakes05.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303468427318522786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7QicxX3cZZtHfD6NRHl-TnvltON42EwbLxSZvcamgKXJ3gBx8u16ymAPdarsSe6Iyqpw1QFQOZrL65irDSzNMcaG2A61Xy8Z_6OxuwNFb3wYohtkq0FkXdiRHB4xBPD_YgMQfzNCNBjI/s400/cupcakes05.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />If the way to a man's heart is indeed through his stomach, then my man's heart is made out of all things cherry. (That made better sense in my head). He LOVES anything cherry-flavored, and these preserves, from a nearby fruit and veggie stand, do not disappoint.<br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk8yinvqW0ct6rqfej9ldkpPUw5IbjI0uGCx32_wyYLEEdW42udBejs_2o_1Esg9SZMy73PUwNItvp0Agv6Cu31hs5cn17Oe8F1V_1HgSxoPV_O-NfMCn85fRq9fXOICcU9virNXXq1a4/s1600-h/cupcakes01.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303468428320811010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk8yinvqW0ct6rqfej9ldkpPUw5IbjI0uGCx32_wyYLEEdW42udBejs_2o_1Esg9SZMy73PUwNItvp0Agv6Cu31hs5cn17Oe8F1V_1HgSxoPV_O-NfMCn85fRq9fXOICcU9virNXXq1a4/s400/cupcakes01.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Doesn't that batter look great? I had to remind myself that it contained three raw eggs and wasn't really good for me to eat raw. Boo.<br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBBprgP97py6olfWsiozfr8GJVaxVzyW507x4cVFdZB2QusqqYVIdEMmBot98_doWAPhE6PtfgGakPoutOlsotmIzA1WhA3saYpmuFM93_NyUFRGnXduwh0_d0lOY1wPscU6FxcNlVdM/s1600-h/cupcakes02.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303468424387747922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBBprgP97py6olfWsiozfr8GJVaxVzyW507x4cVFdZB2QusqqYVIdEMmBot98_doWAPhE6PtfgGakPoutOlsotmIzA1WhA3saYpmuFM93_NyUFRGnXduwh0_d0lOY1wPscU6FxcNlVdM/s400/cupcakes02.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />OH YES I DID. I stole this idea from the awesome <a href="http://www.jennsylvania.com/">Jen Lancaster</a>, who stole it from Martha Stewart. Martha probably stole it from somebody else.<br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5mL_mupwS1KRGQVH94pexj2QKyeKT_rPGJQ12YjON8DqrXG3uZebxZhOVTbJgwoGzJBjP6UiI8pLPhSL2EN3JSbW1z4REm3BEE790hPEQSVrUrz3L1rn3dDnG5SCHilra_REzIEaewrA/s1600-h/cupcakes03.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303468422609925058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5mL_mupwS1KRGQVH94pexj2QKyeKT_rPGJQ12YjON8DqrXG3uZebxZhOVTbJgwoGzJBjP6UiI8pLPhSL2EN3JSbW1z4REm3BEE790hPEQSVrUrz3L1rn3dDnG5SCHilra_REzIEaewrA/s400/cupcakes03.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I'm pretending to put a spoonful of preserves in my mouth, but it looks like I'm kissing them. I promise I did neither.<br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsupWnqOQMjFNXDuiwERdYP5_kCIcqsKHHJjgk-8wF8GsTfxWyilWNAaa851G9xyEBfL2URvqXEMDA9_lZBWIt5DYmTRfTSUMdvduFOioF_a-QF9aKFbBlMvJa1zkXZ78V3ImmjfsQlgg/s1600-h/cupcakes04.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303468420952810738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsupWnqOQMjFNXDuiwERdYP5_kCIcqsKHHJjgk-8wF8GsTfxWyilWNAaa851G9xyEBfL2URvqXEMDA9_lZBWIt5DYmTRfTSUMdvduFOioF_a-QF9aKFbBlMvJa1zkXZ78V3ImmjfsQlgg/s400/cupcakes04.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />It's blurry because it was time to EAT. Mmm, these were yummy. The preserves all ended up on the bottom of the cupcakes, stuck to the papers, so next time I think I'll let them bake a little while before adding the preserves. Still, they're delish! (I don't have a recipe to offer, because any old fool can figure out how to work a Duncan Hines cake mix and Betty Crocker frosting. Ahem.)<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303468614085062258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxiI4SqAzrjfA0ixx5vuiaDzcEFTYtw9RG1ZjcwiSxIRDTtNmfGrGxBS7X6gdv_snuu0nRI2U_T7OBNjZaUX-MFGwY8NTsjCqY_UyXEiiyFWM1qpKf70lqYwJxjBPEOojwxyjnPQQryH8/s400/cupcakes06.jpg" border="0" /><br /><a href="http://www.hypnodog.com/">Stains</a> approves!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303468611646839202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 305px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcXRS1eGCUuxW2dgma9VQr-FOcEKwly5-Iz0QCz5Pknn9mr_1WegMtY1TFZEY4B4T98TdjJEx8CjWAsigOnMEWzUD4py_9a-JNIOa5qONLSc6jwbOApUZIeFfXMTUVT8Nc2mMfJ-KdNY/s400/stains_hearts.gif" border="0" /><br />So, what'd you do for your sweetie on the big day? </div></div></div></div></div>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523282062825450228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986681882221700585.post-41685414175894638142009-02-14T15:06:00.003-06:002009-02-14T15:11:21.873-06:00Wanna be startin' somethin'I'm listening to my son beat on the kitchen window while my husband corrupts him with some kind of techno version of a Michael Jackson song on the TV's music channels. If that doesn't say love and romance on Valentine's Day, I don't know what does.<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302763047817280162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMOZnZGoxViaZXsVreNbDKvtYFBrk_imxfwfA-3x8jRP2hGKstvPtkqiGmKjz5ZXjx5YWl8qZPnSApGo-HaevsC1V_8PTeQrSAwGe4MiPaQNw3WRra_xL64edku-0rPMp4ozh-ClbSCQw/s400/020509.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>Actually, that's okay. That's how we roll around here. It's an overcast and chilly day out there, so it's fun to be inside with my favorite fellas, one of whom is not Michael Jackson.</p><p><span style="font-size:78%;">(In case you're wondering, and I'm sure you're not, the rest of the word LOVE is spelled out up there on my mantle. Unfinished letters from Hobby Lobby, scrapbook paper, Mod Podge and an X-Acto knife. Voila.)</span></p>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523282062825450228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986681882221700585.post-8089019264713378212009-01-24T17:45:00.006-06:002009-01-24T17:52:30.283-06:00This is what it's about...<div align="justify">My fellas went out of town today to visit the in-laws and give me an entire day to myself. This is the first day I've had alone since the Bear was born 14 months ago, so this is also the longest I've ever been away from him. I miss them both fiercely. They'll be back tonight, and there will be much hugging and smooshing (kissing) and cuddling. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Yesterday Bear and I met two dear friends and their daughters for lunch and playtime at the park. It's been unseasonably warm, even for Mississippi. For two days we had glorious sunshine and temperatures in the 60s and 70s. Today it's back to rainy, grey and 45. Bear loved the park. He loved the sand at the swings, going down the slide, playing ball with his friends, gathering up pinecones, and touching the soft - if a bit dead - grass. Spring and summer are going to be so fun with a curious toddler who's definitely all boy! </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">I love this picture of him and had to share it. This is what life is all about: exploring God's beautiful creation with joy and abandon, with the sun shining down on you and the ones you love most close by. Life is good.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0NnpEXdff6UNgf9ErOzs0Y5jU-M3jTmy7i9ESXCorfKOaZHr9FVYRRg0yHekvjP619zbyWrvrMGY94ic4W0cX5n8FqUTiiTJUAU_684ofI4yqQI3aIode_19w60SUcLGBIiEVsfLcRuA/s1600-h/2009_0123_park06.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295010747538275394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0NnpEXdff6UNgf9ErOzs0Y5jU-M3jTmy7i9ESXCorfKOaZHr9FVYRRg0yHekvjP619zbyWrvrMGY94ic4W0cX5n8FqUTiiTJUAU_684ofI4yqQI3aIode_19w60SUcLGBIiEVsfLcRuA/s400/2009_0123_park06.jpg" border="0" /></a>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523282062825450228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986681882221700585.post-69865972752454879092008-12-29T12:20:00.003-06:002008-12-29T12:24:11.169-06:00when the house is too quiet...<div align="justify">I was in the home office answering a few emails, when things got very quiet. Too quiet. I went on a hunt through the house for Bear, who, at 13 months, is into everything. I found him sitting on the kitchen floor, a mouthful and fistful of catfood, with bits of food all around him on the floor. The cat was watching him disdainfully from her perch on the kitchen table. At least he left her a gift in return. I'm sure she needs a USB camera cord, right?</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285279164227254338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhT8NiBiwY6eW8XPy7RtD9pDf6ro2EDULBbayG8-jFVas_y9-30OqA9TAsboeN31XlVr3BGMeYhzf3YJ1GjsEm0fjy6aEACnRizGN8CHBwANHgWfZNKmjDZVhEx66DQ1UsXrI0fcNc6o/s400/food_cord.jpg" border="0" />Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523282062825450228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986681882221700585.post-89681537023049792132008-12-14T20:45:00.011-06:002008-12-14T21:16:24.858-06:00Welcome!Hi, everybody! You might be joining me here from Boomama's Tour of Homes. Happy to have you here! I'm Danielle, and I'm a happy wife and mama in Mississippi. I had every intention of participating in this little tour last year, but having a baby just a few weeks before the event kind of took over! I'm happy to play along this year, though, and can't wait to look around at all the pretties you have posted! Come on in!<br /><br /><div align="center">~ ~ ~<br /></div><div align="justify">This happy Santa stands on our front porch, welcoming you into our home. </div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279843297400118978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj155w-NuRKO0gqPI0W-dJzPx35QRycHRZWuDrTaY6q5DqIORyQ5TrnsCjPU-mNR2p6Lsjykf4Mxzn_68qwbmPD1E5LAIOTpqChoU8uOq8_A-hppsVFJr7hM4gdOuc7J-jCYevA-pQwRTA/s400/santastand.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>In the living room is our big tree. I highly recommend the pre-lit kind. ;)</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279843305358179394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgSUlE54azPY52BLSk0faZFg3uiAoRH_lgtdeTu7TzqMHn56YGC89wcEOp2hbA8JLrVGKO_EQhk6PNR_KFFrRbxTPJSMVKZ6qLS-SHU-DbWyNSye-LjgdQ03Hn0aTKMA3peVqBfOnYsJc/s400/tree01.jpg" border="0" /></div></div><br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279843311532406194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQUi2g9NBbHLZ16RvqMs4RiP5QyZFXUyZDMpdsLzhxepEkta9oVMBOfGzxivdOstDMU2UJya0VJhmcuQtFKvCs_1d5HU6XNi8FT3jRg7CgSBLF4iGFy8fiz_MtQolta0j-Tm7tn2NLrA/s400/tree02.jpg" border="0" /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279848733771878946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRs2ryugys1XXp_tNz93GKfmtRNJfQ4PXTh3h7UVYBrGspthRolmP2G0JPZpNYVqcRlonH_7_jXAjrzTbrupcxBKF5sNUU7bDMdu8NE3G-ie46bEL9ZB7nlVqRld0dyeOVy4Vgul8sGs/s400/IMG_5205.jpg" border="0" />(I'm always looking for excuses to get my two fellas under that mistletoe!)<br /><br /><br /><div align="center">~ ~ ~</div><div align="left"><br />We have lots of fun little goodies in the den and kitchen. Here are a few of my favorites. </div><p align="justify">This turquoise bowl was a wedding gift, and I love using it to hold ornaments.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279844270169423618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG484WGaLW5Xjsf8vtmoSvoBUArGO6qL9n_crrbp5qPuBivCJheS5WEUn-WqhHlAjvzbstnCa8OvJ9RC6sB1GjYCSmdhEJGV-sUDUL5rijiVdEaUcy3iRa-U780c96MfOF2L_vwCtXey0/s400/IMG_5194.jpg" border="0" />An angel stands watch over it.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279844272200629794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvKjICt1l4osXtW2YYUAnVwFwBW9e6b4UqqJ873DgUydx3UkJK8x6lB_3VvQWndvNQ3WukXHyyEQE0ILxNu791eOsGCSSio-NCqu8H_kyVJ-3DtuKZjnd-_tCUVtCa1lCUGQNXGxy2_Sc/s400/IMG_5195.jpg" border="0" /><br />I know the Little People Nativity set is for kids, but we're having fun with it this year. Bear can play with it next year. :) <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279844271262429170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRjp3BZ9IfZYDeyj1phjL00AsVx2iomsiuNsbIYWC0QcHKCPTmbQYqzaKHnvAZLIsHmxZA39_j8uROHLFBso-vukBJw4nEZqYd1hLzloY7Z2mV44sxvnqaAo07XQoNO-1mOyNYrZvJKpA/s400/IMG_5196.jpg" border="0" /> We don't eat many cookies, so our Santa cookie jar fills his bag with pretty ornaments instead. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279845656026218610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVTwnyyck8c1SHjgJvxsRYATRBSvTIkdga2X05uM-15-BSNUNGdW41FGiUQ5lXqr6ROg10a9WpfLg4POi6_U46-qVoi4AhPF7q9TuRkL3KHqSdmtyP56Ow0R4BJUB_Mvbvwfkb3srxUTQ/s400/cookiejar.jpg" border="0" /><br />One of my favorite corners of our kitchen holds this cheese plate with our last-name initial. I like it so much I might just leave it up all year! <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279845652381585602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37vTKJeLl_ut8Ls5_OpcAT8FdS3VesT_EvVM62YS-bmyCLNdJA15unEJn-JKOh6jNdV0PTZ4eZJE7dvsgwu5U1mpeY0w0fesQxgT1ri0ogrsWipv3f6X0Ot8FuGN8u6LogAGw4ultvhE/s400/plate.jpg" border="0" />Our sweet Bear's room has his very own Nativity!<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279845663405351826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2UX6ZeuzEo9nhs2Qy-SV-uzxO0C_UPaXEbV1TfpXAzXi-SEYeTTrMlC7_qb66pTBt6XWRrg2QFI-Kl1EmvXXehBeFvF2R7hk5jvztbG9-uWcVt0qPctxVzGKmo1qPPsc_rDZImTqjwcg/s400/bearnativity.jpg" border="0" /><br />Full disclosure time: Our living room is not quite as neat and put-together as it might appear in the other photos. I love a good macro shot! If you were to come over most days, this is what you would see. Life with a boy is the messiest and most fun thing in the world!<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279849879846617890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LuSAuRWFgITvN8twzImiyByCuy_2375B4B52-KorGL5FedoCEEr0hog5E53JQZaL0PxgkxeYsn8PNpqOx1jYDb69yGwKqD23DJiLSC47368-o1csmb3qwOHJsAsdlF_jDpgCYOIk3a0/s400/IMG_5209.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>But forget the mess and just let our Elf on a Shelf wish you a very Merry Christmas!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279847524026640098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 159px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Nrc1yQeC7vg-Muh0FgF0KAHiNYlKWf0KXRkcjifwuBu4rgEaq-BkyhBbBMyHpHOEjctgwQFuxoyHXR8585dXWYnQqkNSHwFnrfRfavVcZMCaewK_Na9nOwy4i-VRgb8fD1VVBOWaXVk/s400/shelfelf.jpg" border="0" /></p>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523282062825450228noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986681882221700585.post-53017459794329315132008-12-07T15:39:00.004-06:002008-12-08T08:04:41.964-06:00Noticing the little everyday things...<div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnghkJZ5IB7HU9x1bh12g9gjRpQxomr1Va2BwDOMfGdIbdrYNQKerqaQ3qWJpQNyRuUHR0l1vsM01kwy8s7tas_6uoweVcjMhdjuJWeigRIg27cRk9CHWEHJ79_9kBR39pLUAdwyAvH_E/s1600-h/tonkamen.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277166075820788130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnghkJZ5IB7HU9x1bh12g9gjRpQxomr1Va2BwDOMfGdIbdrYNQKerqaQ3qWJpQNyRuUHR0l1vsM01kwy8s7tas_6uoweVcjMhdjuJWeigRIg27cRk9CHWEHJ79_9kBR39pLUAdwyAvH_E/s400/tonkamen.jpg" border="0" /></a>The wise men arrived at the Nativity in Tonka trucks, right? </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"><br /> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">See more everyday moments <a href="http://emmafree.blogspot.com/2008/12/everyday-unwrapped.html">here</a>.</div>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523282062825450228noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986681882221700585.post-13160215970920465842008-12-01T08:39:00.009-06:002008-12-01T08:57:54.951-06:00Journaling Christmas - the setup<div align="justify">I read several scrapbooking and stamping blogs for inspiration, and saw an idea on one that caught my attention. The challenge was to journal and scrap everything you can about Christmas this year, from December 1 until January 6 (the 12th day of Christmas). The challenge cost $30 to join and included prompts, layout sketches and access to discussion among other scrappers. Well, I know how to keep a journal and how to scrapbook, so I don't need to pay somebody $30 to tell me what to do! It's a great idea and I'll make it personal by doing it all my own way.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">The first order of business was finding a suitable journal for the project. I didn't want something too small or fancy, and I didn't want a traditional scrapbook. I wanted this to be something that could bear my handwriting mistakes proudly and would end up stuffed with photos, embellishments and trinkets from the season. This is Bear's second Christmas, but the first he'll really be aware of, and I don't want to miss a thing.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">I happened upon this journal at Target, and it's absolutely perfect. It's 8x8, spiral-bound, and has lined pages. There are even some heavy cardstock pages with pockets for storing bits of things that won't fit on the page. And at $2.79, it was a complete steal. I bought two others but might see if they still have a few more. There's so much that can be done with these journals!<br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274832739189098290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPB_7ucVcCi6ILGNS8ugH4zjXgze7lvwZdUhDLttYSKdLPTpYXFsAoRd5Sg80_2BN11NKrpwXU23oDuxNySgbGx2LWEphvP76Hy-XpAItST6986ar0zMNyWyWIDBVk0xABtwD61WgzkE/s400/journal01.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274832927971958994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB2AiWn4kQUIcdcJ6JWrFAiVks8yijZBflWwbrd07XB17kCuhX_KevvjvCkHn8kf-LoiSAZ75L3tG5Nzfs5fpfxQTy5ztejY1V61tSvOBYvOdjUzcYeGZFji-ETCDawe-x8W2TxCwTwWE/s400/journal02.jpg" border="0" /><br />(Aren't my placemats cute? I practically stole them from Kohl's. I got four of them for $2.00!)<br /><br /><div align="justify">My personal challenge is to journal and scrap every little thing about Christmas this year. I started the day of my son's birthday (which was the day before Thanksgiving), because Christmasy things happened that day. I think I'll finish on whatever day we put away our decorations. I hope to carry my camera with me everywhere, and if I see pretty decorations or something festive, I'll snap a photo and write about it. We have concerts, parties, lots of good food and a sweet baby's excitement to capture. I want to remember it all! </div><div align="justify"><br /> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><p align="justify">It's not too late to do this if you want to. Just find a journal and start writing. Your decorations haven't been up too long, so snap a few pictures of them and write about the experience. Did one of your kids break a pretty glass ornament? Write about it! Have you tucked into the eggnog already? Journal it! is there an awfully gaudy house in your neighborhood? Sneak out at night and take its picture! If you're not a scrapbooker, who cares? Just have fun.</p><p align="justify">Be present this Christmas. Remember it all.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274834040522223634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgel7woUjCJjNhyQMS-lS9yEssE8OQRpMqYtEak76Zh-U1d-9Y6PNDdWscHqwpYX4mPtPuhHZ-Suc1HddNf8FxM9ptUv8Qb1qmhZkK0Wv2r4tfu-0mYhgYcrJ2p7hkoC6E2xOTySQqy15Y/s400/tree02.jpg" border="0" />Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523282062825450228noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986681882221700585.post-85831161330950583312008-11-07T22:09:00.005-06:002008-11-07T22:13:11.229-06:00Totally rad!My mom is a total hoot.<br /><div></div><br /><div>My husband and I have been taking a photo of the Bear every day in 2008. I upload them all to my Flickr account, and my mom looks at them faithfully each night and comments on them. Here's tonight's photo, with oh-so-clever cropping: </div><div><br /> </div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266134259140202274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 312px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 328px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXggBynojL8zp18xo05kBso6lSR7wXA_CNeO5Gb6a_h5uItUPIRCoH9EbVt4rOn7PIfhggcubbQWiwp85N85kzbzMJR1fnO9uw2VBqu72JT7ekhjtpoVw1DpIqlG6xnWuE-05JqdJFMMc/s400/redsocks.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>Her reply?</div><div><br /></div><div><em>Hey Dude, Those red socks are the bomb!</em></div><div><em>Mimi</em></div><div><em><br /></em></div><div>She cracks me up!!!</div>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523282062825450228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986681882221700585.post-63678235528071965572008-10-16T21:27:00.001-05:002009-02-20T08:47:48.396-06:00Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523282062825450228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986681882221700585.post-2877359123882358072008-09-22T14:01:00.004-05:002008-09-22T14:16:43.089-05:00more autumn decor<div align="justify">Despite the fact that it's hovering close to 85 today, I am welcoming the first day of autumn with a little house-sprucing. I'm not going to show you the coffee table that's never cleaned off, or the piles of laundry that haven't learned how to wash or put away themselves. Nooo. None of that. I'm going to show you my little bits of fun. Showing off your home decor is all about creative staging, girls. Nobody has to know about the clutter. We all have beautiful, Southern Accents worthy show homes if we know how to use the macro setting on our cameras.</div><div align="justify"><br />Enough with the chatter that my husband will never read.</div><br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZOvG5lx0YwXBXyTyQjrTWrTzE4r3PBolug4DJYdqAkqdVmN87N_qS1x97OFqp157cSz4w_FLjbQXrdF0lBRHW7zPo21Gi6-OAgavMAjqq5SGxViCZBGaZD55fKQKudNKrA-23pGGI0Io/s1600-h/2008_fall01.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248923474898040946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZOvG5lx0YwXBXyTyQjrTWrTzE4r3PBolug4DJYdqAkqdVmN87N_qS1x97OFqp157cSz4w_FLjbQXrdF0lBRHW7zPo21Gi6-OAgavMAjqq5SGxViCZBGaZD55fKQKudNKrA-23pGGI0Io/s400/2008_fall01.jpg" border="0" /></a>I'm kind of tickled about this. I took a heavy crystal cake plate (read: useless but pretty wedding gift) and turned it upside down. On the base I set this happy little pumpkin, which I think was originally purchased at Hobby Lobby for my classroom a few years ago. It needed a little something else, so I pulled out some pretty picks I got last year and arranged them around the upturned plate. Voila!</div><br /><br /><p align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_JlAmp1JvoBEdyo8LtTzsBSA0gY1zW0SrArw-xv1TaASvQ98jkvmRc5dR4Jmdsph1GkUYvGom7BOU_vqh2bVzmWP9-_rZxoaY29dBUMC43rwIGqhRdLoMcILBMBaqa-WU3ncv2FtEryk/s1600-h/2008_fall02.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248923479338883954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_JlAmp1JvoBEdyo8LtTzsBSA0gY1zW0SrArw-xv1TaASvQ98jkvmRc5dR4Jmdsph1GkUYvGom7BOU_vqh2bVzmWP9-_rZxoaY29dBUMC43rwIGqhRdLoMcILBMBaqa-WU3ncv2FtEryk/s400/2008_fall02.jpg" border="0" /></a> Is a pineapple a summer thing? Don't tell me. I don't care if it is. My mom gave her to me when we bought our house, and she usually sits on the mantle. The hurricane is filled with little pinecones I picked up on the playground of the church where I work. I'd be some kind of fool to pay $5.00 for a bag of pinecones when I can spend a few minutes picking them up, dumping them in a Walmart bag, and washing them off at home for free. I am cheap, y'all.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHB9Cc7MkwUhjavYHJiArber7xNwP19zT5LTZTxdPqzST9FQRFeNPEt017YOq-QaeDXrQPCTECbjdNfHGeCDaB9CPWHhaJ2IA6GlzJtWsNvaKM6IhKO0EwP3g9BCWW_8xCiVtliWs4GgQ/s1600-h/2008_fall03.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248923486005021410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHB9Cc7MkwUhjavYHJiArber7xNwP19zT5LTZTxdPqzST9FQRFeNPEt017YOq-QaeDXrQPCTECbjdNfHGeCDaB9CPWHhaJ2IA6GlzJtWsNvaKM6IhKO0EwP3g9BCWW_8xCiVtliWs4GgQ/s400/2008_fall03.jpg" border="0" /></a> Yes. I like pineapples. This is usually on my mantle, too. The pitcher is Gail Pittman (any self-respecting Southern girl knows who Gail Pittman is) from my days as a Southern Living at HOME rep. My mom got the little bird for her yard but never used it, so she gave it to me. It has a friend around here somewhere.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIIjtUpknvX0iPKa8HMs6zNmIXiQEth_KKvbqSbJFwjNz4gTmvcVVwKddOwKW2uD4Gh-QwPRxlL9hSg4cCuCIJJ9BFX7gGBr2hUYOb6svH97n0fLU-5ad_Qypn4l8BejICYdOcSAdRA3I/s1600-h/2008_fall04.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248923484760705554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIIjtUpknvX0iPKa8HMs6zNmIXiQEth_KKvbqSbJFwjNz4gTmvcVVwKddOwKW2uD4Gh-QwPRxlL9hSg4cCuCIJJ9BFX7gGBr2hUYOb6svH97n0fLU-5ad_Qypn4l8BejICYdOcSAdRA3I/s400/2008_fall04.jpg" border="0" /></a> I know they're awfully trendy, but I love me some white pumpkins. This one came from Hobby Lobby. Of course. I hear the Dollar Tree has some cute ones, so I might get a few and spray-paint them white. I need more pumpkins!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxx7aEPbc_b569M1ZOHGjaAvHP8Q0oqSzUPSpabXaTBdSn6AYy4mDjNEaXwzToJcfvH-IkOb0-1_iiuv_OnNVIOMjJWH7qhO1oOWgQFejT2TVU4JkKBhVaSe4lE5umQIoSKUjq6bNcIPk/s1600-h/2008_fall05.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248923495091130418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxx7aEPbc_b569M1ZOHGjaAvHP8Q0oqSzUPSpabXaTBdSn6AYy4mDjNEaXwzToJcfvH-IkOb0-1_iiuv_OnNVIOMjJWH7qhO1oOWgQFejT2TVU4JkKBhVaSe4lE5umQIoSKUjq6bNcIPk/s400/2008_fall05.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="justify">What, you've never seen a little bird in a compote bowl before? Well, here you go. I got him on clearance at the end of spring this year at Pier 1, and the bowl is also from Southern Living At HOME. It would appear I have a thing for birds, too. Hmm.</p><p align="justify">You don't have to spend a lot of money to have cute things, nor do you have to decorate the same way every year. My autumn decor was completely different last year, using mostly the same stuff. I haven't spent a penny out of pocket this year, but everything feels fresh and new to me. I love making our home comfortable and pretty on tiny or non-existent budgets. That's much more satisfying to me than spending big dollars on high-ticket items. Where's the fun in that?</p><p align="justify">Anyone reading who's decorated, leave your links here! I love looking at other people's homes and need to do a better job of showing mine off here!</p><p align="justify">Happy fall!!</p>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523282062825450228noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986681882221700585.post-35516414067742839162008-09-22T13:39:00.003-05:002008-09-22T13:57:56.696-05:00WELCOME, AUTUMN!<div align="justify">I loooove autumn. It is by far my favorite season. I know it seems weird to say this, as a bona fide Mississippi girl who loves her state fiercely, but I hate summer. I hate it! Every year I say I'm going to be positive and happy about it, but when it hits 102 in July and we know we've got two more months of misery to go, it is just not easy to be happy about that, girls.</div><div align="justify"><br />I didn't have a nice wreath for my front door, so I decided to make one for myself. I had a grapevine wreath left over from an Easter project I never did. Last week, Hobby Lobby (every crafter's best friend) had their fall foliage 1/2 off, so I got a few things with a birthday gift card. I spent a total of $13 and change on that gift card and got to make what I wanted. I don't need to pay $50 for a wreath somebody else makes!<br /><br />I'd never made a wreath before, but I didn't let that deter me. All it takes is a little poking here and shoving there, and you're good. I only used my trusty glue gun in a couple spots, too. I can add to or change anything I want next year! Easy! On to the pictures...</div><br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiW0Q5Ins81KToL5MSDMUatYIjn4IcWj9ET9sYoIwm0XGtizY87fqQqZaNfIUI0vFOgNqeJ3SpqNWck6JmkACd_FI5MbnP4_7kDZ4eztbwLCsKTsk13rYV8ORt1VnPxPGLeGW8eJbibtA/s1600-h/2008_wreath01.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248918745581651394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiW0Q5Ins81KToL5MSDMUatYIjn4IcWj9ET9sYoIwm0XGtizY87fqQqZaNfIUI0vFOgNqeJ3SpqNWck6JmkACd_FI5MbnP4_7kDZ4eztbwLCsKTsk13rYV8ORt1VnPxPGLeGW8eJbibtA/s400/2008_wreath01.jpg" border="0" /></a>All the materials gathered together. Don't you love my sassy summer tablecloth and Wilton bowl full of baby toys? We do it fancy around here, y'all. </div><br /><br /><p align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1LPbr8rgi6wQfKSSh2pbvWesezaO8QkFSq0ZwVJssAFU005nvl15jU4hUsQpeivpmCQllzf2REGan3rvpU7mGUPgu5G6natD27N-tzXoupgHCGmx0nzRA5DZCXoYtwagM0ZeguPVXbI4/s1600-h/2008_wreath02.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248918756811010002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1LPbr8rgi6wQfKSSh2pbvWesezaO8QkFSq0ZwVJssAFU005nvl15jU4hUsQpeivpmCQllzf2REGan3rvpU7mGUPgu5G6natD27N-tzXoupgHCGmx0nzRA5DZCXoYtwagM0ZeguPVXbI4/s400/2008_wreath02.jpg" border="0" /></a>Dacey the cat. At this point, I still wasn't sure whether she'd really fit with the overall color scheme I was shooting for, but I was willing to give it a chance. She nestled herself in there so sweetly, after all.</p><p align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOss5Qq829bkbjDv2Fg69J_gV0vAlOILw0Wjncr_Di0JVvzyyZ_g0yT37161uBO_heI08EJ5ZpfHyJx4GhwhmzwPCznUzmvyu6uoSJgmMYlcsz0S21r3wHWOOYDiaYVxl11XoSSepGrV0/s1600-h/2008_wreath03.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248918761578639362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOss5Qq829bkbjDv2Fg69J_gV0vAlOILw0Wjncr_Di0JVvzyyZ_g0yT37161uBO_heI08EJ5ZpfHyJx4GhwhmzwPCznUzmvyu6uoSJgmMYlcsz0S21r3wHWOOYDiaYVxl11XoSSepGrV0/s400/2008_wreath03.jpg" border="0" /></a>Tearing apart the picks was awfully satisfying. And of course, I had to give in to my compulsive need to organize things and arrange it all by type. Stop looking at me with such a judgmental glare. I can stop organizing whenever I want. </p><p align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrLK01w40ba4dFcWVWBVJi4FLhpPZF7NX5T2-NTXyGpBvGCAs9XTrWGEsbghilldR-O8KEQsNSNUiXNRLjqeioY808bYRuHu3LaBs74W3ahxAV6QHOCiMqHhg6XshhSmpfsxsPkl9eNyk/s1600-h/2008_wreath04.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248918762565649330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrLK01w40ba4dFcWVWBVJi4FLhpPZF7NX5T2-NTXyGpBvGCAs9XTrWGEsbghilldR-O8KEQsNSNUiXNRLjqeioY808bYRuHu3LaBs74W3ahxAV6QHOCiMqHhg6XshhSmpfsxsPkl9eNyk/s400/2008_wreath04.jpg" border="0" /></a>More bits. Notice the real feather. One of my sweet baby girls at the church where I work Mothers' Morning Out gave that to me. I told her I'd put it in my fall wreath, and I keep my promises! The yellow "feathers" were just 50 cents each when half off and added a fun pop of color.</p><p align="justify">I hate that phrase, "pop of color". But there's no better way to put it. It's color. That pops. Got something better? Let me know so I can start using it and eventually grow to hate it, too.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4apoMyYuBUrjUpHhtyuV8baJPWjyaDWiwOMT6P3OWEgoCdESihGPf2YTJzi1gTd1uKG-LDRPIRfHeN3bmyxn44l-yDSTqMrGJe6W5jD-xNtfDvVP-1fWZ9kvYLpLPheJJcH8Ax79rIyA/s1600-h/2008_wreath05.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248918763698668962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4apoMyYuBUrjUpHhtyuV8baJPWjyaDWiwOMT6P3OWEgoCdESihGPf2YTJzi1gTd1uKG-LDRPIRfHeN3bmyxn44l-yDSTqMrGJe6W5jD-xNtfDvVP-1fWZ9kvYLpLPheJJcH8Ax79rIyA/s400/2008_wreath05.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="justify"></a>And here's the finished product! Please pretend my front door is black. It will be someday, because of the <a href="http://mississippi-mama.blogspot.com/2008/08/help-sister-out.html">confused dog incident</a>. Things will pop (argh) so much better on a black door. I think the wreath is pretty good, for my first attempt. Let's just pretend the wreath doesn't have a slight egg shape. Who knows, you might see it again in the spring covered in plastic Easter eggs! There's no telling what I might get up to.</p><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Next up, little bits of autumn fun in my house!</div>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523282062825450228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986681882221700585.post-27044542184469132652008-08-12T12:48:00.004-05:002008-08-12T12:52:50.423-05:00Happiness Challenge - Day 9, 10, 11, 12<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkU0qGTBUn6tfNs7uKapPvO4SOM076mFBozkVjfvmRG7H90L0siKdocdx7ClRBk45UaEosay-WP8pkV3kvWfgLDU-VMVUfWhAkuNOGpasUZYAG1q9IzEtydNRK5Ovgd82R6maf9Um0wgg/s1600-h/happiness_challenge.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233689633074546354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkU0qGTBUn6tfNs7uKapPvO4SOM076mFBozkVjfvmRG7H90L0siKdocdx7ClRBk45UaEosay-WP8pkV3kvWfgLDU-VMVUfWhAkuNOGpasUZYAG1q9IzEtydNRK5Ovgd82R6maf9Um0wgg/s400/happiness_challenge.jpg" border="0" /></a>Ack! I promise I haven't stopped being happy! I decided not to post Saturday and Sunday and then completely forgot about the happiness challenge! So here are the past few days in one post. <p align="justify"><br />Saturday - Michael Phelps and his amazing skills as a swimmer make me happy. How could I not be thrilled watching him?</p><p align="justify">Sunday - An afternoon of rest and quiet with my favorite fellas made me so happy Sunday. After church, we rested and were lazy all day. It was great.</p><p align="justify">Monday - Rain, rain, rain! I'm a girl who loves a rainy day. It's been raining steadily since Sunday, and that makes me happy. The dark sky and cooler temperatures can almost convince me it's October!</p><p align="justify">Tuesday - I don't know anything about whitewater rafting other than just looking at it exhausts me, but watching Togo win its first Olympic medal ever? That's got to make anybody happy!</p></div>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523282062825450228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986681882221700585.post-14814982682323765262008-08-08T14:13:00.003-05:002008-08-08T14:19:09.142-05:00Happiness Challenge - Day 8<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYO7CU6xLA2IisdFrBRxRuBkaAcblybNMhULeai0lwFH94g-49cRyFtkodh7b3wD0LMJXmEEhtSvbIvn3o3HjYw2C1ZV7oPvHhD9JXXDi8FFA_ZKNhvoyPO1apm-eNk4JCZUdrTAhfGgQ/s1600-h/happiness_challenge.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232227431428441122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYO7CU6xLA2IisdFrBRxRuBkaAcblybNMhULeai0lwFH94g-49cRyFtkodh7b3wD0LMJXmEEhtSvbIvn3o3HjYw2C1ZV7oPvHhD9JXXDi8FFA_ZKNhvoyPO1apm-eNk4JCZUdrTAhfGgQ/s400/happiness_challenge.jpg" border="0" /></a> I'm just tickled for this guy!<br /><div></div><br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfG5tgUCfKKG4VaZ3cjlZzIsiNX_sNu3oShyl0b2iWDkbuzi1BMcywWBpqsUIizhApqM4RBPUn3VYvaemsEYgrjyiUFaJVSutyHru5xfe_pP-pYQdWTbFXqF8owVNJNG3hOB0IV7P2Rs/s1600-h/Joshua_Allen.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232227322556464466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfG5tgUCfKKG4VaZ3cjlZzIsiNX_sNu3oShyl0b2iWDkbuzi1BMcywWBpqsUIizhApqM4RBPUn3VYvaemsEYgrjyiUFaJVSutyHru5xfe_pP-pYQdWTbFXqF8owVNJNG3hOB0IV7P2Rs/s400/Joshua_Allen.jpg" border="0" /></a>Joshua Allen's win last night on <em>So You Think You Can Dance</em> made me so happy! I'd been rooting for him from the start, so I was all claps and happy tears when he won. All season long he's been consistently excellent, able to do anything the choreographers throw at him. He's untrained in every style, yet he looks like he's been dancing all these complicated styles his entire life. All I know about dance is how it makes me feel when I watch it. Watching Joshua makes me feel <em>great</em>. He seems to be a total sweetheart, and he credits his third grade teacher with encouraging him to try dancing. She was in the audience with his family, watching him win, and was absolutely sobbing! Gotta love that. I hope he has a bright future!</div>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523282062825450228noreply@blogger.com0