tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47388851577573255732024-03-13T01:00:32.911-05:00NightLight JourneysReflections from the winding road called lifeMonikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16441533058382582186noreply@blogger.comBlogger218125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738885157757325573.post-8731662805788830442015-06-28T08:00:00.001-05:002015-06-28T08:00:36.425-05:00Stream of Consciousness Sunday: Preoccupied<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Father's Day this year was also the first day of Summer, so obviously I've been pretty preoccupied with my seasonal passion - Gardening. I was so excited when Fadra first announced that Stream of Consciousness Sunday was coming back as it gave me some motivation to dust off this blog & do a bit of writing again. My Tumblr has gotten much more action as I use it mainly to post photographs. It's been a busy transition from the end of school to Summer Munchkin activities so a few weeks of posting have been missed. Hopefully with the end of Baseball and Summer Hockey still a few weeks away, more posts will get done here each week.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So here's my 5 minute brain dump...</span><br />
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<img alt="SOC Sunday 2015" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjoKeTnnuouGzz9fWRbx68Yqk9nlPkcU0LumtJPi7VRPk9l6S8lyfeayplTexkUbZPCoKvfQOZjmXDR2ijAcEI95e8No0AefuzD9Heqh0gn2VCsSyhFasScrLDBIexUqDx1cGilBtV9bvpRI8m_D-BRi-6U-s-GSTE4bcEuZuXgWPKXfrIjypg=" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Morning comes quickly when I realize I've skipped a day of Allergy medicine. It's been a particularly bad year for Allergy sufferers, like no year in the past. It started with my son. After a conversation with his pediatrician, she advised me that the Claritin we had been taking was the bottom of the strength chain as far as OTC meds go. I quickly switched him from Claritin to Zyrtec because he is usually much more sensitive to the triggers than I am.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The switch was successful for him, but I thought it made more sense for me to use up the Claritin we had left in the house - those pills can get costly when you are taking them for months at a a time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Until I played a round of golf after work one day a few weeks ago, not realizing I had forgotten to take my daily dose. Of course the grass pollen counts have been sky high, so the next morning I felt like I was catching something. Took a hot minute to realize I felt like crud because of that one little white pill. I switched to Zyrtec as well because the pollen counts did not look to be going down for quite some time. Took about a week to have the new medication to build up in my system & to feel like my old self again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After transplanting up 10 pepper seedlings yesterday and putting down 1 1/2 cubic yards of cocoa bean mulch in the backyard landscape, again it hit me about 5:00 am this morning that I missed taking an allergy pill. I took the pill, then checked on my plants to make sure nothing got tossed about in the storm last night. After a shower & doing my hair & I checked to see if Fadra had posted yet & she hadn't, so linking up will wait. Perhaps she's been preoccupied too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>This was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…</i></span></div>
<ul id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_349" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;">
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Set a timer and write for 5 minutes.</span></li>
<li id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_385"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. This is <i>writing in the raw</i>.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.</span></li>
<li id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_352"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Link your new posts to <a href="http://allthingsfadra.com/" target="_blank">All Things Fadra</a> (feel free to use her SOC Sunday graphic).</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gardening is a labor of love. Spring comes & I am on a mission to do my part to keep our family eating well with the freshest produce we can get. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hummingbirds frequent our backyard & have for years. This is the first year we've had a feeder out & so far these are the only birds that are snatching up the dripping nectar. I was amazed to hear that you are supposed to clean & replace the nectar in the feeders every 2 days. That's crazy right?! Others have said they only clean it when it's empty - I have settled on doing it once a week. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The nectar in the feeder is clear. I'm not convinced that "red on the feeder" alone is enough, so I'm getting some red nectar to mix with the clear to see if that makes the hummingbirds come more quickly. I bought another feeder with a bottle that is blue, but now looking back on the decision, I shouldn't have chosen that one! I put together a red floral arrangement as well - hoping that the hummingbirds love it as much as I do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Clematis are blooming.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The peonies were gorgeous.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even sneaked a few pics of the neighbor's varieties - so different than ours.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is one of the stinkers eating on the plants in our landscape </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- also enjoying our plush grass.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Therefore the best of the produce is grown on the deck - far out of reach for big eyes like these, although the squirrels now venture up to steal a tomato or two quite often.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A small sampling of the plants from seed we have going: Flowering Eggplant (from Tyrant Farms)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">FLowering Tomatillos (from Tyrant Farms) for Salsa Verde.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Austrian Winter Peas </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(from Tyrant Farms)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sugar Daddy Peas, Super Snappy & Blue Podded Peas </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(from Tyrant Farms)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are 3 varieties of carrots in this pot. (Incl one red cored </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">from Tyrant Farms)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Garden Beans & Royal Burgundy Bush Beans </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(from Tyrant Farms)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Flowering Peppers (from Tyrant Farms)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So many new experiences thus far due to it being the first year I've sowed from seeds almost my entire deck garden. If you don't know about Grow Journey seeds yet, Google it & be prepared to be enlightened & tempted to take a plunge & give the subscription service a try.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am not being compensated to talk about Tyrant Farms Grow Journey seeds. From one year to the next, I've learned so much about what to do to improve each year's gardening experience. Documenting will be key to understanding what was done well & what needs improvement for the next season.</span>Monikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16441533058382582186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738885157757325573.post-75399129772244082842015-05-17T00:40:00.000-05:002015-05-17T00:40:30.488-05:00Stream of Consciousness Sunday - Perceptions Cloud Reality<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I write, AMC is running a Mad Men marathon. Just finished watching my first episode. while it's intriguing, I'm glad it wasn't a show I felt a need to watch. The main character Don Draper seems to be rather crazy in an obsessive, compulsive & controlling sort of way after having had a messed up childhood.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's been a stressful week at work but a relaxing week at home. The first week in a long while that I wasn't running a million miles an hour trying to meet every obligation. Was even able to see a few girlfriends & celebrate a belated birthday over appetizers & a glass of wine.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fadra has taken a couple of weeks off from Stream of Consciousness Sunday posting, but we're back on again this week.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So here's my 5 minute brain dump:</span><br />
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<img alt="SOC Sunday 2015" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjoKeTnnuouGzz9fWRbx68Yqk9nlPkcU0LumtJPi7VRPk9l6S8lyfeayplTexkUbZPCoKvfQOZjmXDR2ijAcEI95e8No0AefuzD9Heqh0gn2VCsSyhFasScrLDBIexUqDx1cGilBtV9bvpRI8m_D-BRi-6U-s-GSTE4bcEuZuXgWPKXfrIjypg=" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What did we do before the internet...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When feelings of depression overcame us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When a friend passed away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When you lost touch with someone who you thought might be your friend forever.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When you couldn't get a hold of your weight & felt hopeless.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When your kids actions made you feel life your control as a parent was slipping away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When you couldn't find a job that paid a living wage.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When you are homeless and are feeling like there's no light at the end of the tunnel & things will never improve.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All these things passed by my eyes via social media this past week. Social media is that place where we all feel as if we need to put our best foot forward & show the world that everything is perfect. Picture perfect posts get likes & heart-warming comments and who doesn't want those things. But sometimes it's ok to be perfectly imperfect. It's ok to extend an ear to a friend who could use someone to stop for a moment & listen, to offer advice or just be a virtual shoulder to lean on. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are so many seemingly perfectly decorated homes which stay immaculate & impeccably organized & photo-ready at the drop of a hat which grace the pages of blogs & Instagram - but yours is far from that, no matter how much you shop & rearrange & tidy up your home is just too ordinary to showcase to anyone. But that is the rule - not the exception as the internet would have you believe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And that's just fine...because perceptions cloud our reality.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>This was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…</i></span></div>
<ul id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_349" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;">
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Set a timer and write for 5 minutes.</span></li>
<li id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_385"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. This is <i>writing in the raw</i>.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.</span></li>
<li id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_352"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Link your new posts to <a href="http://allthingsfadra.com/" target="_blank">All Things Fadra</a> (feel free to use her SOC Sunday graphic).</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Last year for Mother's Day my MIL gave all of the girls - her daughters & we "outlaws" tulip bulbs. While I'm a pretty good container deck gardener - learning a little more every year, I'm a rookie landscape gardener. We dug up the existing borders that line our backyard patio beneath the deck. Hubby let me take over the bed & do whatever I pleased. These are the tulips that were planted last fall. I had no idea which varieties they were so I just planted them & prayed they would come up & look halfway decent. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The anticipation was immense, but totally worth the wait:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also received a Home Depot basket of bulbs from my big & little boys with both Daffodils & more Tulips, so come fall, those will be added to that same bed & hopefully they will all return next Spring, filling out the bed even more.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">For Mother's Day today, hubby got these fun birdhouses to add to the deck, which has become a haven for so many birds, bees & butterflies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">These blooms always appear early under the shade of the deck. I don't know off-hand what they are called but they're so pretty & unique.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The gardening process is always a marathon - not a sprint. It always takes a few months to get everything into place & then before we know it the season here in the Twin Cities is gone in a heartbeat.</span><br />
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</span>Monikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16441533058382582186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738885157757325573.post-60770949079016127022015-04-26T22:35:00.001-05:002015-04-26T22:35:53.721-05:00 Open Season<h2 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Drought abounds here in the Twin Cities. The temps are crawling up. We desperately need rain because there wasn't much snow this past winter & we haven't had much in the way of April Showers. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I have a really good head start on my deck garden - started a few seeds in early March. The progress is rewarding... we had a late crop of some varieties of Tomatoes last Summer & Fall because I waited a bit too long to start the seeds. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Not everything I planted sprouted though - live & learn. I'll know better not to pair certain things that sprouted early (tomatillos & various types of tomatoes) with seeds that need more time like Peppers, Parsley, Peas, Broccoli, Celery, Spinach and a number of other veggies.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Planting a few of some seeds because I wasn't sure which would sprout. No doubt I'll do that again - no guarantee how much of which seeds will germinate.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Pictured below are the Black Krim, Hillbilly, Yellow Pear, Garden Peach, Roma, Super Sweet 100s, Honey Delight, Tomatillos & the one Austrian Winter Pea that sprouted out of 12 (yes that made me very sad.)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I'll blog the progress as the weeks go by. It may be a couple more weeks before we no longer have lows in the 30's & I can move these babies to containers out on the deck.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjoKeTnnuouGzz9fWRbx68Yqk9nlPkcU0LumtJPi7VRPk9l6S8lyfeayplTexkUbZPCoKvfQOZjmXDR2ijAcEI95e8No0AefuzD9Heqh0gn2VCsSyhFasScrLDBIexUqDx1cGilBtV9bvpRI8m_D-BRi-6U-s-GSTE4bcEuZuXgWPKXfrIjypg=" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjoKeTnnuouGzz9fWRbx68Yqk9nlPkcU0LumtJPi7VRPk9l6S8lyfeayplTexkUbZPCoKvfQOZjmXDR2ijAcEI95e8No0AefuzD9Heqh0gn2VCsSyhFasScrLDBIexUqDx1cGilBtV9bvpRI8m_D-BRi-6U-s-GSTE4bcEuZuXgWPKXfrIjypg=" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the things I love about Spring is the opportunity to re-fresh our home decor, including finding new ways to utilize & display pieces I don't use that often. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxMCEPRpIL95l0H0Uv1mfZD45pANItfT0i2kA7liuh3-LjnrlihEprQoPD-IVmaz1yJFjBq4cJVjtS27Nt3U9nqQA9gLU5yqnvShm7RAKlSBLZPkC3JbuHe3uqpzI9DVR7hliBaq6QAX6l/s1600/IMG_20150426_172914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxMCEPRpIL95l0H0Uv1mfZD45pANItfT0i2kA7liuh3-LjnrlihEprQoPD-IVmaz1yJFjBq4cJVjtS27Nt3U9nqQA9gLU5yqnvShm7RAKlSBLZPkC3JbuHe3uqpzI9DVR7hliBaq6QAX6l/s1600/IMG_20150426_172914.jpg" height="640" width="425" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This pitcher is from the now defunct Taste of Home Entertaining line. Unfortunately I am not the Multi-Level Marketing type & never did much more than sign up to sell it, then buy a few pieces for personal use at a discount. The kitchen window view I put on Instagram just didn't do this simple & classic arrangement justice, so I brought them outside into the sunshine.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But it's Sunday & with our beyond crazy</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> schedules, I've skipped a couple of weeks, so check in with me next week for a 5 minute Stream of Consciousness brain dump...</span>
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Others in my circle have experiences heartbreaking losses, or are dealing with a family member with disease diagnosises requiring aggressive treatment. It never seems fair or just, it just is. We are left to do what we can to support our friends & loved ones as best we can.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; text-align: start;">So here's my 5 minute brain dump...</span></div>
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<img alt="SOC Sunday 2015" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjoKeTnnuouGzz9fWRbx68Yqk9nlPkcU0LumtJPi7VRPk9l6S8lyfeayplTexkUbZPCoKvfQOZjmXDR2ijAcEI95e8No0AefuzD9Heqh0gn2VCsSyhFasScrLDBIexUqDx1cGilBtV9bvpRI8m_D-BRi-6U-s-GSTE4bcEuZuXgWPKXfrIjypg=" width="400" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spring is arriving sooner than normal for Minnesotans. It's barely April & my husband has already played his first round of golf. I have high expectations for this year's growing season, the efforts more planned & calculated than ever. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When we moved into this home coming up on 10 years ago, the lansdcape was beautifully done - the work of the previous owners, who left behind meticulous records of everything planted on the property. It was overwhelming to say the least - I knew nothing about maintaining landscapes or distinguishing between a dozen differn't types of fertilizers. I still don't.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So since Hubby had proclaimed the outside of the house his territory to maintain & the inside was mine, I let him go at it. But outside of lawn care & anything other than trimming hedges back or cutting back hostas at the end of the fall, he was just as lost as I was in that department,. As he slowly started to decontruct the existing landscaping, attempting to make it a lower maintenance effort from year to year, my love of gardening started to emerge.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I started with filling pots with colorful arrangements of flowers to brighten up our front walkway & steps, then branched out into the world of container gardening on our deck. Over the years, my love of growing has blossomed. Last year 27 containers filled our deck & each year I am anticipating more & planning how to do things better, getting more yield from my efforts. Our landscape continues to evolve. Last fall, I planted new tulip bulbs, a Mother's Day gift from my MIL last year. Blanket Flowers, Zinnia, Lillys & strawberries will edge our home again & for the first time I'll plant more Blueberries in the yard & grow a couple patio varieties along with a few strawberries on our deck. I intend to plant some wildflowers on the edge of our marsh. A peek at this year's seedlings...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnFMVoWI97Pil_4YCZY3U8G9eKImUIUGzI73mmCKqv83Zvhoco1C7eUq1GW-hOOBwLKk-vBPQ7N2nqj_eG3qldlmGNpXfBw-pht-aTI30Oo5YJEILjQm7jb31085aFCddRPtXaYdhzi-pp/s1600/Seedlings+3_29_2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnFMVoWI97Pil_4YCZY3U8G9eKImUIUGzI73mmCKqv83Zvhoco1C7eUq1GW-hOOBwLKk-vBPQ7N2nqj_eG3qldlmGNpXfBw-pht-aTI30Oo5YJEILjQm7jb31085aFCddRPtXaYdhzi-pp/s1600/Seedlings+3_29_2015.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>This was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…</i></span></div>
<ul id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_349" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;">
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Set a timer and write for 5 minutes.</span></li>
<li id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_385"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. This is <i>writing in the raw</i>.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.</span></li>
<li id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_352"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Link your new posts to <a href="http://allthingsfadra.com/" target="_blank">All Things Fadra</a> (feel free to use her SOC Sunday graphic).</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's almost 3:00 pm on Sunday - much later than when I'm normally sitting down to write this post. While online late last night I noticed Fadra had not yet done her writing so I gave her a little shout-out on Twitter & found out her internet had been down, plus she had simply forgotten to write her own post.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All is good now - she & a few others have linked up - but after I do there will still be plenty of room for you to do the same - so get after it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: start;">So here's my 5 minute brain dump...</span></div>
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<img alt="SOC Sunday 2015" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjoKeTnnuouGzz9fWRbx68Yqk9nlPkcU0LumtJPi7VRPk9l6S8lyfeayplTexkUbZPCoKvfQOZjmXDR2ijAcEI95e8No0AefuzD9Heqh0gn2VCsSyhFasScrLDBIexUqDx1cGilBtV9bvpRI8m_D-BRi-6U-s-GSTE4bcEuZuXgWPKXfrIjypg=" width="400" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So Munchkin Hockey is back - for a short while. You don't realize what a huge part of your life it is until you are away from it. Ran into an association mom who is on a different team in our game league and she claimed to be going through withdrawal - in only a week found herself missing the comraderie & conversations with other Hockey Moms. I know exactly how she feels. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wouldn't call it mid-life crisis, but things are changing - priorities shifting from my own to that of my son's as has my sense of self worth. Haven't spent as much time on myself as I do making sure my son's life is in order. Beginning to think that needs to change. That saying "if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy"totally applies here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Someone posted on Facebook last night 2 questions which had to be answered in 2 words: </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Are you happy?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What made you answer the way you did above?</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My answer was - Yes, Gratitude</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I did not lie - I'm extremely grateful for the blessings that have been bestowed upon me, but I would be fibbing if I didn't admit that I had an answer for the "No" too. Sometimes we are so careful to project outward all the fun & what we deem to be the things that others in our social circle will deem interesting & light. Who wants to be around a downer?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As the washing machine & dishwasher slosh & whir while the tea kettle whistles - I think of everything I should be doing besides writing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But at least for this 5 minutes I was able to take my mind off of all those things that remain undone for work, for this home & for me.</span><br />
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<div id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_383" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>This was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…</i></span></div>
<ul id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_349" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;">
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Set a timer and write for 5 minutes.</span></li>
<li id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_385"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. This is <i>writing in the raw</i>.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.</span></li>
<li id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_352"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Link your new posts to <a href="http://allthingsfadra.com/" target="_blank">All Things Fadra</a> (feel free to use her SOC Sunday graphic).</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A rare weekend without kid sports is coming to an end. Last weekend was the finale of a really fun & busy kid hockey season so I didn't find time to do any free writing. I'm back - once again at the end of the day when I should be logged into work right now, but I'd much rather chill for just a few minutes more...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So here's my 5 minute brain dump...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rituals.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjoKeTnnuouGzz9fWRbx68Yqk9nlPkcU0LumtJPi7VRPk9l6S8lyfeayplTexkUbZPCoKvfQOZjmXDR2ijAcEI95e8No0AefuzD9Heqh0gn2VCsSyhFasScrLDBIexUqDx1cGilBtV9bvpRI8m_D-BRi-6U-s-GSTE4bcEuZuXgWPKXfrIjypg=" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="SOC Sunday 2015" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjoKeTnnuouGzz9fWRbx68Yqk9nlPkcU0LumtJPi7VRPk9l6S8lyfeayplTexkUbZPCoKvfQOZjmXDR2ijAcEI95e8No0AefuzD9Heqh0gn2VCsSyhFasScrLDBIexUqDx1cGilBtV9bvpRI8m_D-BRi-6U-s-GSTE4bcEuZuXgWPKXfrIjypg=" style="text-align: center;" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our snow is almost gone... a bit early for Minnesota but we're not complaining. Everyone has seasonal rituals. Call it New Year Resolutions, Spring Cleaning, Fall Back whatever you prefer, we all have certain things we do when the change of the seasons come along.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The want-to-be interior designer & personal shopper craves changing things up in our home for the Fall, the holidays & now for Spring. It started out as something for my kid, to create life-long memories & traditions - but now I realize it's exactly those things, but for myself. Often times we wish for things we saw other friends have but didn't...and for me it was family rituals & traditions. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So when the forecast called for sunny skies & temperatures in the 60's, the rest of the winter decor had to go. Out came the bunnies, the Easter eggs, the linen pillows, a lighter throw for the living room couch and the gardening decor. The look is fresh, much lighter, more crisp, a bit eclectic but still warm. I planted my second tray of seeds & did a little shopping... incorporating a few new pieces of decor into the mix. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My favorite go-to places for the finds are HomeGoods, TJMaxx, Zulily & sometimes Marshalls. Check out my Tumblr blog & you'll see a few of the fun things I spot.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Overall it was a great weekend, it actually hit a record 70 degrees today - but I'm curious if I'm the only crazy mom who lives for the seasonal switch?</span><br />
<br />
<div id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_383" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>This was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…</i></span></div>
<ul id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_349" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;">
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Set a timer and write for 5 minutes.</span></li>
<li id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_385"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. This is <i>writing in the raw</i>.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.</span></li>
<li id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_352"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Link your new posts to <a href="http://allthingsfadra.com/" target="_blank">All Things Fadra</a> (feel free to use her SOC Sunday graphic).</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's late on Sunday night & I could just as easily skip this task and chill. It's been a busy but a productive weekend, but 5 minutes of writing will do my mind good. So here it is:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This week's 5 minute brain dump...</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img alt="SOC Sunday 2015" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjoKeTnnuouGzz9fWRbx68Yqk9nlPkcU0LumtJPi7VRPk9l6S8lyfeayplTexkUbZPCoKvfQOZjmXDR2ijAcEI95e8No0AefuzD9Heqh0gn2VCsSyhFasScrLDBIexUqDx1cGilBtV9bvpRI8m_D-BRi-6U-s-GSTE4bcEuZuXgWPKXfrIjypg=" width="400" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When you're a working mom, you can find yourself living for the weekends. All week long you are racing against the clock. It's not easy to work an extra hour or two here & there anymore in the office. You squeeze as much as possible into each day, then drag your laptop home at night or for the weekend & using whatever little bit of energy you have left, usually in the wee hours of the night, you try to focus on what there wasn't enough time for.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But it's hard, so hard to squeeze that time away from my child, the housework, and all the other family obligations that we all have. I was a very productive mama this weekend - mountains of laundry washed, folded & put away, floors vacuumed or swept, bed linens stripped cleaned & replaced, grocery shopping done, bathrooms cleaned, plants watered, family time - lots of it with an outing on Friday night, hockey on Saturday & church activities Sunday morning. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Meals for the week have been planned, the kid has started his homework for the week. It's going to be Spring soon, so I started planting a few seeds. My hubby asked if I intended to start my entire garden from seed this year & I hope to be able to get a good portion of it started from seed vs buying starts. Every year there is so much more to learn about the art of gardening.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I didn't blow this off - I'm finding time to do the things that matter, the things that re-charge me & make me relax a bit more going into the next work week, even if it means getting things done under the wire.</span><br />
<div id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_383" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>This was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…</i></span></div>
<ul id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_349" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;">
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Set a timer and write for 5 minutes.</span></li>
<li id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_385"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. This is <i>writing in the raw</i>.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.</span></li>
<li id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_352"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Link your new posts to <a href="http://allthingsfadra.com/" target="_blank">All Things Fadra</a> (feel free to use her SOC Sunday graphic).</span></li>
</ul>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Fallthingsfadra.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F01%2FSOCSunday-2015.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjoKeTnnuouGzz9fWRbx68Yqk9nlPkcU0LumtJPi7VRPk9l6S8lyfeayplTexkUbZPCoKvfQOZjmXDR2ijAcEI95e8No0AefuzD9Heqh0gn2VCsSyhFasScrLDBIexUqDx1cGilBtV9bvpRI8m_D-BRi-6U-s-GSTE4bcEuZuXgWPKXfrIjypg=" -->Monikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16441533058382582186noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738885157757325573.post-10788597008974386172015-02-22T00:01:00.000-06:002015-02-22T00:01:00.048-06:00Stream of Consciousness Sunday - The Volunteer Society<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Every time I get through an exceptionally stressful week, it feels like there should be a break where I don't have a ton on my plate, but that never happens. Being a parent presents you with so many additional responsibilities...those things that no one tells you when you are discussing starting a family. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's been both good & bad that we have only been blessed with one child. Given that between work, church & personal agendas there are an amazing number of opportunities available to give of your time for charities of your choice. But when kids are in the mix, you come to realize that things seem to have changed significantly since we were school-aged.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So here's my 5 minute brain dump...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
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<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img alt="SOC Sunday 2015" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjoKeTnnuouGzz9fWRbx68Yqk9nlPkcU0LumtJPi7VRPk9l6S8lyfeayplTexkUbZPCoKvfQOZjmXDR2ijAcEI95e8No0AefuzD9Heqh0gn2VCsSyhFasScrLDBIexUqDx1cGilBtV9bvpRI8m_D-BRi-6U-s-GSTE4bcEuZuXgWPKXfrIjypg=" width="400" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They start you out easy with kid sports. It all seems so low key - relatively inexpensive and manageable. You fill their preschool days with as many activities as you can, wanting them to try everything & figure out what they really enjoy. There's swimming lessons, t-ball, soccer, gymnastics, tumbling, skating lessons and here in Minnesota, there is hockey. The list goes on & on.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From the first open house for elementary school you figure out that not a lot happens in the schools unless parents are available to give of their time & talents. The long table of sign-up sheets was so intimidating. Looking at the names of the events, you have no clue what any of it is, or what you are getting into if you volunteer. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The easiest route to take is to volunteer in your kid's room - that you can handle, knowing that you'll have to bite the bullet & find at least a couple more things you can take time off to help with in the course of the year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You feel guilty after the first year of school when you figure out that the majority of the go-to volunteers are the stay-at-home moms - and that doesn't work for you - a working mom.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then comes the sports leagues, where they have you write the checks up front - one for the fundraiser & the other for volunteer hours. There is a minimum & your motivation for getting all your volunteer hours in is the threat of that enormous check getting cashed. You are after all a parent living in a volunteer society and they have you at hello.</span><br />
<div id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_383" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>This was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…</i></span></div>
<ul id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_349" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;">
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Set a timer and write for 5 minutes.</span></li>
<li id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_385"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. This is <i>writing in the raw</i>.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.</span></li>
<li id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_352"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Link your new posts to <a href="http://allthingsfadra.com/" target="_blank">All Things Fadra</a> (feel free to use her SOC Sunday graphic).</span></li>
</ul>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Fallthingsfadra.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F01%2FSOCSunday-2015.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjoKeTnnuouGzz9fWRbx68Yqk9nlPkcU0LumtJPi7VRPk9l6S8lyfeayplTexkUbZPCoKvfQOZjmXDR2ijAcEI95e8No0AefuzD9Heqh0gn2VCsSyhFasScrLDBIexUqDx1cGilBtV9bvpRI8m_D-BRi-6U-s-GSTE4bcEuZuXgWPKXfrIjypg=" -->Monikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16441533058382582186noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738885157757325573.post-63089896572114479092015-02-15T18:06:00.003-06:002015-02-21T22:52:00.037-06:00Stream of Consciousness Sunday: Late to the Party<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's Sunday evening & I'm not the least bit stressed for a change because it's a holiday weekend & I know I get to spend tomorrow at home with my family. I have some work to do from home, but knowing I don't have to rush my child out of bed, off to school, then race through rush hour traffic to get to the office is a rare treat. So here we go.</span><br />
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://allthingsfadra.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/SOCSunday-2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="SOC Sunday 2015" border="0" src="http://allthingsfadra.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/SOCSunday-2015.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5 minutes seems like an eternity & a heartbeat - all at the same time. Finding 5 free minutes to write shouldn't be difficult, right, but it is. My 2 boys, the big and the little are both fast asleep napping, so continuing making dinner can wait. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I admit it, Fadra, I miss the writing prompts. So many things racing through my head as I sit inside the warm house, thankful this Minnesota winter has been crazy easy so far. A shortage of snow & bitterly cold days makes me appreciate why we love to live here & not the East Coast given the hell Boston has been delivered in the past several weeks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I worry about the fact that we can see the grass in our yard & the days it warms up I'm afraid the tulips that I planted in the backyard might get a bit confused & start to bloom way too soon. Spring planting is not that far away. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last year I started with quite a few plants from seed, but I was a bit late to the party & could have started that process much earlier. Excited to get planting in only a few short weeks this year, I have a wonderful collection of "Grow Journey" seeds from South Carolina's Tyrant Farms. Google them if you're curious. I'll be blogging quite a bit about my gardening adventures in the months to come.</span><br />
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<div id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_383" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>This was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…</i></span></div>
<ul id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_349" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;">
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Set a timer and write for 5 minutes.</span></li>
<li id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_385"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. This is <i>writing in the raw</i>.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.</span></li>
<li id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_352"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Link your new posts to <a href="http://allthingsfadra.com/" target="_blank">All Things Fadra</a> (feel free to use her SOC Sunday graphic).</span></li>
</ul>
<ul id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_349" style="background-color: #f79443; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5240001678467px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
</ul>
<ul id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_349" style="color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5240001678467px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
</ul>
Monikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16441533058382582186noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738885157757325573.post-4691020372481700592015-02-08T00:00:00.000-06:002015-02-21T22:51:46.846-06:00Stream of Consciousness Sunday: Letting Go<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So, <i>technically</i> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">it's not </span>Sunday yet here in the Central Time Zone, however I'm pushing hard to get back into the habit of blogging at least once (or twice) a week. It's been an eternity since I was in a writing groove, but I'm determined to let the words flow once again. There's no better way than this to oil the gears, so here it goes.</span><br />
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<br />
<img alt="SOC Sunday 2015" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-11928" src="http://allthingsfadra.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/SOCSunday-2015.jpg" height="400" width="400" /><br />
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<div id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_383" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The office. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It's always been my downfall, my Achilles heel, my torture chamber of disorganization. It's the dumping ground for mail, catalogs, magazines, crafting supplies, wrapping supplies, scrapbooking supplies, mountains of books, gifts, Munchkin school papers, etc. I could go on for hours. It's the one place I toss things in to be dealt with another time, were I shut the door & say "don't go in there." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">There is sentiment, worry, doubt, fears, fabulous memories & not so fabulous ones. Old photo albums, old cards - all those things which I am afraid to let go of. But it's time... beyond time for a cleanse, a massive purge, a new start.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Before I can change my mind, before I have time to question if I'll need it someday.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Three bags of shredding & garbage taken out in the past couple of days. It's a small start to letting go.</span></div>
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<div id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_383" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;">
</div>
<div id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_383" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>This
was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes
of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…</i></span></div>
<ul id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_349" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;">
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Set a timer and write for 5 minutes.</span></li>
<li id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_385"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. This is <i>writing in the raw</i>.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.</span></li>
<li id="yui_3_17_2_1_1423367740309_352"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Link your new posts to <a href="http://allthingsfadra.com/" target="_blank">All Things Fadra</a> (feel free to use her SOC Sunday graphic).</span></li>
</ul>
Monikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16441533058382582186noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738885157757325573.post-54477809395227188622015-02-07T00:19:00.001-06:002015-02-07T21:45:34.290-06:00Almost Spring Cleaning<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It's been months since my last post - June of last year - gasp... it's true. This blog has been on ice - literally, stone cold as I am super busy with the normality of daily life. Work continues to be a constant challenge. Downtime is non-existent in the world of overlapping campaigns.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So while everyone else was busy making New Year's resolutions, I was trying to hold my head above the water - meeting deadline after deadline. In what little "downtime" I can squeeze out, my goal for 2015 is to dig out of my world at home. Reminders are everywhere about purging. There are how-to books, professional organizers, blog hops, magazine articles, <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/34762228350002912/">infographics</a> - so many ideas.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I started with a few trips to sell both Munchkin clothes & then my old Maternity clothing. A Goodwill run followed with old clothes, kid underwear & white socks & old tennis shoes - things I did not want to end up in a landfill. I have another trip to PRISM planned with a ton more maternity clothes that are in great condition, but were not new enough to sell as well as excess toys that I decided not to give Munchkin for one reason or another. I went through old cosmetics & purged things I've held on to since we moved into this house & tossed a ton. I went through our pantry to remove expired items and cleaned the shelves on the door of the refrigerator. I've rounded up all the vases from around the house & organized them all into a single location.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In the office a frequent tossing of catalogs is due for attention as well as the mountains of mail that needs to be sorted into toss & shred piles. The mountains of papers & receipts are so overwhelming at times, but I'm determined to tackle a little at a time until everything is manageable ongoing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The needs are endless and this Full-Time working mom is determined that 2015 will be the year I finally conquer the clutter. What are you doing to make strides to purge & keep your home organized?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Need some tips to get you started? Try this Pin from Better Homes & Gardens Magazine: " Expert Advice to Tame Clutter": <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/34762228350008561/">https://www.pinterest.com/pin/34762228350008561/</a> </span>Monikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16441533058382582186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738885157757325573.post-59655403181696219632014-06-05T00:17:00.000-05:002014-06-05T00:28:16.529-05:00Wishing on a KitchenAid Mixer - a Kitchen Dream<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I just ran across a fun giveaway posted on Dagmar Bleasdale's blog. <a href="http://www.dagmarbleasdale.com/2014/06/kitchenaid-mixer-giveaway/#more-17345">http://www.dagmarbleasdale.com/2014/06/kitchenaid-mixer-giveaway/#more-17345</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I follow Dagmar on Instagram & she had a tease about this sponsored post for PartSelect.com.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The rules: </span></span><br />
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<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">"How to Enter:</strong><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> choose from one of the blogging topics, write a post on your blog about it, and send the URL of the post to </span><a href="mailto:Contests@PartSelect.com" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">contests@partselect.com</a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">. Easy!"</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">My chosen topic:</span></span><br />
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<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Do you long for a dishwasher? A double oven? </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Beyond a KitchenAid Mixer, tell us about your top three dream kitchen appliances!"</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So in the slim chance that I actually win one of the 3 KitchenAid Mixers they are giving away, I'm sharing my top three dream kitchen appliances.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. If cost wasn't a factor I'd chose the <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Thermador PODC302J. </span>Each oven is 4.7 cubic feet! I miss the double ovens I grew up with at my parent's home & when we are hosting large family gatherings, the two ovens is almost a necessity. As long as there were no strings attached & I had my choice, it would be a loaded package like this one.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">See </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Photo on <a href="http://www.warnersstellian.com/product/11016/thermador-podc302j">http://www.warnersstellian.com/product/11016/thermador-podc302j</a></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. My second choice would be a much larger refrigerator. We have a very small opening today & I was sad with how tiny we had to go to replace our current refrigerator. This <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Electrolux EI23BC35KS would certainly work for us with the double doors, double wide shelves, ice & water in door, plus shelves & baskets in the freezer.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="http://www.warnersstellian.com/product/10009/electrolux-ei23bc35ks">See Photo on http://www.warnersstellian.com/product/10009/electrolux-ei23bc35ks</a></i></span><br />
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3. Choice number three would be an upright freezer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Electrolux EI32AF65JS has some great features. An alarm system to alert you of a power failure or if a door has been left open. With 18.6 cubit feet of space I would be able to go prepare meals in advance and have plenty of storage to hold it all. Shelves would be wide enough for full size pizza boxes. I could even make homemade ice cream or Popsicles.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">See Photo on </span><a href="http://www.warnersstellian.com/product/10505/electrolux-ei32af65js">http://www.warnersstellian.com/product/10505/electrolux-ei32af65js</a></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One day when we remodel our 80's era kitchen, I hope to add at least one of my dream items to our plans. One can certainly dream, right?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was not compensated for this post, but I sure as heck hope I win a brand new KitchenAid mixer... I know you're jealous of my old school hand mixer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(And yes, I still keep it in the original box.)</span></div>
Monikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16441533058382582186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738885157757325573.post-11463832096557552502014-05-25T17:46:00.002-05:002014-05-28T00:51:52.887-05:00Spring in Minnesota...Finally! Each year about this time I do an obligatory gardening post. This past winter was an extrordinarily horrid one. So many hashtags emerged to help us all deal with the day after day of frigid cold. A sampling...<br />
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#PolarVortex<br />
#Coldmageddon<br />
#BlameJerrid<br />
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One reward for having an abundance of patience is gardening. It allows you have a place to strategize, plan, retreat & relax...to nurture, to escape.<br />
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It is a few days away from June and most of us only started the serious in ground & container planting this past week. I started with sowing seeds. Being a complete amateur at growing things from seed did not deter me from giving it another go. Last year sowing pea seeds was a rousing success & the herbs were a huge flop.<br />
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This year I have two indoor trays going... 2 kinds of Swiss Chard, 2 kinds of carrots, green onions, 2 varieties of tomatoes and a sweet pepper mix. This time everything has sprouted except the peppers. Outside I am direct sowing seeds for peas, sugar snap peas & green beans.<br />
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Growing tomatoes is a treat here in Minnesota. Summer & Fall's home grown tomatoes make up forball the cold months of suffering with bland hot house tomatoes. Come October, we actually start coveting the last few ripe tomatoes which can be picked & saved before the threat of a hard frost.<br />
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Along with Mr. Stripey Heirloom, Sweet 100's, Roma & Wisconsin 55 Heirloom starter tomatoes I've planted cucumbers, 6 varieties of peppers, tomatillos, basil, thyme, oregano, chives, mint, cilantro and rosemary. Oh...and Strawberries. Can't forget those.<br />
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The front of our home is well shaded by mature trees, so the selection of annuals is always slim pickings. The Fushia is a new choice, but it's quickly growing on me.<br />
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<br />Monikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16441533058382582186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738885157757325573.post-16959127667330309752014-05-25T17:34:00.001-05:002014-05-25T17:38:39.477-05:00Previously Unpublished Reflections: Take Me Out To... Target Field<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;">Stumbled upon this draft post from forever ago. Not only do we have funding for the new Vikings Stadium, but construction has begun, plus they were awarded the Superbowl in 2018. How times have changed in such a short time! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Finally it was my turn to visit Target Field with my Hubby & Munchkin. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It's truly a sight to behold.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fvyY4lhY7rR_YCCVfs_DoA1qojgG4hJNoD5mfvgxpJ6vB3MX-HeRsjbYYsoU7-xaoOGLtvrrM5Plj6jdH547jJ6Unu3ktMX1aLeH-wCzQtreMOHCVHi4Pq_3mECs9cl09zODL5k3NkoO/s1600/IMG_0652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fvyY4lhY7rR_YCCVfs_DoA1qojgG4hJNoD5mfvgxpJ6vB3MX-HeRsjbYYsoU7-xaoOGLtvrrM5Plj6jdH547jJ6Unu3ktMX1aLeH-wCzQtreMOHCVHi4Pq_3mECs9cl09zODL5k3NkoO/s400/IMG_0652.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2LRSRq1jWfLkSdbOOr7nRPxpCt_mF6QZFF_4aajZEVE7nc3J43Lxy5GnOFiUVV3nN9IBCvRuXY1a8rXp53Goaa3pZO3VhozkzPjYC-f8zb9LDwQuddkp8s2cQMAmb2hmQ7dL83drtlu97/s1600/IMG_0654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2LRSRq1jWfLkSdbOOr7nRPxpCt_mF6QZFF_4aajZEVE7nc3J43Lxy5GnOFiUVV3nN9IBCvRuXY1a8rXp53Goaa3pZO3VhozkzPjYC-f8zb9LDwQuddkp8s2cQMAmb2hmQ7dL83drtlu97/s400/IMG_0654.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Although we didn't win I now know: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">We are truly blessed to have been able to build this fabulous home for our Minnesota Twins. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">(Now if only the Minnesota Vikings could get their act
together & sell the legislature on rallying around funding for their new
stadium)</span></div>
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Monikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16441533058382582186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738885157757325573.post-75537271445686702772013-11-06T23:16:00.000-06:002013-11-06T23:57:25.330-06:00A Minnesota Blogger Conference 2013 Q & A Session with Greg Swan<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As a member of the event planning committee, about a month ago I had the pleasure of doing a remote interview for the Minnesota Blogger Conference website. The post highlighted one of our Closing keynote panelists - Greg Swan. I finally had the opportunity to meet Greg face to face on the day of the conference. Below is a link to that post. Please take a few moments to hop over & check it out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<a href="http://mnbloggerconference.com/2013/10/07/q-a-with-mnblogcon-closing-keynote-panel-speaker-greg-swan/">http://mnbloggerconference.com/2013/10/07/q-a-with-mnblogcon-closing-keynote-panel-speaker-greg-swan/</a></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGSLmWyE-mdxC-f4ZC4Mxd87U7ozsgADWtSW5iupVFDnnXAxU2LguDqOt9t7ef-7TjSJH6fUE3fkHzyLDjlBFC2rZKMlJnh2eahAx73EIYNFQXOpmapXTKx2d0SBmWm8u6axqLNnmrYepO/s1600/IMG_20131012_194630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGSLmWyE-mdxC-f4ZC4Mxd87U7ozsgADWtSW5iupVFDnnXAxU2LguDqOt9t7ef-7TjSJH6fUE3fkHzyLDjlBFC2rZKMlJnh2eahAx73EIYNFQXOpmapXTKx2d0SBmWm8u6axqLNnmrYepO/s400/IMG_20131012_194630.jpg" height="400" width="400" /> </a> </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>Greg is below on the far right wearing the Google Glass</i></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9JAjmLEA9QWdilELfQ2dMOX_L3HHAANBN5PsWUv_3Hhxj9cxQd5BrrSmrEyE9EinU9pdbNfrBYUkTY8_TCsQJDGle9x68kNhu4wtCq9Zmn-hVegA8bWhe4NvhO2dlhxufybLqc3SHKo5/s1600/20131012_154427_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9JAjmLEA9QWdilELfQ2dMOX_L3HHAANBN5PsWUv_3Hhxj9cxQd5BrrSmrEyE9EinU9pdbNfrBYUkTY8_TCsQJDGle9x68kNhu4wtCq9Zmn-hVegA8bWhe4NvhO2dlhxufybLqc3SHKo5/s1600/20131012_154427_2.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a> </div>
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Monikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16441533058382582186noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738885157757325573.post-29509511466836880892013-05-29T08:00:00.000-05:002013-05-29T08:00:00.674-05:00Wordless Wednesday - Signs of Spring<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">One of the things I love about the lot we live on is the abundance of nature that surrounds us. Having a new camera allows me to capture way more than I was able to in the past. Until we get a new PC the photos I'll post will be unedited:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVSYlcW6K3arsgqLBQZmoo6adp_JOle8ld3NmEgoGEH7lLe2fNwTh_58MwNZKPWLSE2XW9rX_kP9UNfi9_B_cQh-Q9z9omGkEn4nwrpHjWgKojiKd2DWjMpXu0eS16H482a2enqsTiT9_k/s1600/IMG_1104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVSYlcW6K3arsgqLBQZmoo6adp_JOle8ld3NmEgoGEH7lLe2fNwTh_58MwNZKPWLSE2XW9rX_kP9UNfi9_B_cQh-Q9z9omGkEn4nwrpHjWgKojiKd2DWjMpXu0eS16H482a2enqsTiT9_k/s400/IMG_1104.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Goose Egg - Hatched</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_BEl15ogLpiWnIH8P_Zd5cWTzSX8DanLq3QPmrT3WZIuhUExDX3vlQ0u5wLN0rp9qFqxdKJhTi75okR_YvgKlFbrsq9tfFuyeWOoJL0Fa6dLdlxoSQjuoSsKRSPafmkX9Ds9RfIerTQw8/s1600/IMG_1134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_BEl15ogLpiWnIH8P_Zd5cWTzSX8DanLq3QPmrT3WZIuhUExDX3vlQ0u5wLN0rp9qFqxdKJhTi75okR_YvgKlFbrsq9tfFuyeWOoJL0Fa6dLdlxoSQjuoSsKRSPafmkX9Ds9RfIerTQw8/s400/IMG_1134.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My Munchkin tells me both of these must be males because they are so colorful...</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwYI6dDXZpCDYNWa-J3LO5U8s1Cd0iGRVXPoUJmd1NJ3pLgoGD8WRi1l4aWlA4llnqZU4y625kBGSLoCAKGqTZGPjgTU08IjKcs-vU04tCSvrI3GG1tz6CaFWlsab3ZTZiaRKGOLtw2qK_/s1600/IMG_1136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwYI6dDXZpCDYNWa-J3LO5U8s1Cd0iGRVXPoUJmd1NJ3pLgoGD8WRi1l4aWlA4llnqZU4y625kBGSLoCAKGqTZGPjgTU08IjKcs-vU04tCSvrI3GG1tz6CaFWlsab3ZTZiaRKGOLtw2qK_/s400/IMG_1136.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbe1MZO8Zw-qS6V-_VJ4j8ZkC262Xw-k-HW2gxOl4qg_Gzpk_cHCNWIQuBA71N7c_JRDu72vfWOlfjDAL8EG44P-rs3eviaorHog2JKW5gonFtlgtnfjJ0fGRyLD9c3FUTW_LykuzbnkqE/s1600/IMG_0962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbe1MZO8Zw-qS6V-_VJ4j8ZkC262Xw-k-HW2gxOl4qg_Gzpk_cHCNWIQuBA71N7c_JRDu72vfWOlfjDAL8EG44P-rs3eviaorHog2JKW5gonFtlgtnfjJ0fGRyLD9c3FUTW_LykuzbnkqE/s400/IMG_0962.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9zg_62HIPcGvAa7c-ElHgyDVXmSlxSoevulkI7S_uhbt8yLY8JNvBj0NFt8GhAV7vRpw2_ixFJDjfhsuJpQNo3zofJZMh48WHRphwFV0BIcWuAWaNCj8N5jrSehtXKAViOjYUjaKXxzVx/s1600/IMG_0986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9zg_62HIPcGvAa7c-ElHgyDVXmSlxSoevulkI7S_uhbt8yLY8JNvBj0NFt8GhAV7vRpw2_ixFJDjfhsuJpQNo3zofJZMh48WHRphwFV0BIcWuAWaNCj8N5jrSehtXKAViOjYUjaKXxzVx/s400/IMG_0986.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sassy Male Cardinal</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwy2j5tqaAa65TIV30DCHeVz5feFWblqqqaUECB1uO8u_VVmRiEl2BTP34dJHXsf_1dJcPsduW4bdwXbsiNZN9LQtRPhqNQ1MzRAPrLdDYwP_RbHD_VYq9X-iaQwcUoHREmf-u2YAmQSuq/s1600/IMG_0987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwy2j5tqaAa65TIV30DCHeVz5feFWblqqqaUECB1uO8u_VVmRiEl2BTP34dJHXsf_1dJcPsduW4bdwXbsiNZN9LQtRPhqNQ1MzRAPrLdDYwP_RbHD_VYq9X-iaQwcUoHREmf-u2YAmQSuq/s400/IMG_0987.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XIwLwGmeDjVQYRBci4fuUK2I1M9URApCiIjvOrq0sfs2HZfgFLYrOu1RfXDyWrCRYzYcvClg3a7DmwI0QxARj8LWTekuZNiBl-8Klr_pbH3ln4EGNUuIqj9XwYoNs0Tc8cJazvlRkdIm/s1600/IMG_1133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XIwLwGmeDjVQYRBci4fuUK2I1M9URApCiIjvOrq0sfs2HZfgFLYrOu1RfXDyWrCRYzYcvClg3a7DmwI0QxARj8LWTekuZNiBl-8Klr_pbH3ln4EGNUuIqj9XwYoNs0Tc8cJazvlRkdIm/s400/IMG_1133.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Gathering worms for their young after the morning rain.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GTMKTPUPDmP28Pc-l-xABCYLW3QPRn6WX50JYucSKB74WEsya-pTXEcdeKaXQYPAEDz2D0-gnHSZVhlUtdSljiLNBW04hBikTivoqHbR8EQobx1g7U5W7H97VGA5YEQEQ30UsGkx7D58/s1600/IMG_1011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GTMKTPUPDmP28Pc-l-xABCYLW3QPRn6WX50JYucSKB74WEsya-pTXEcdeKaXQYPAEDz2D0-gnHSZVhlUtdSljiLNBW04hBikTivoqHbR8EQobx1g7U5W7H97VGA5YEQEQ30UsGkx7D58/s400/IMG_1011.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Nosy rabbit on our deck before the garden was planted.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj14tak7ookTfsZF_fXoSjV9XuuWD8-6iPLjBIdT1htpg8mtStsDZh50e6eNHMIret43IR_7yO_PgR5D_gRU_DNf8D2LzbGBiWxovZL-ki-7Kwe9rtAlQj3voOpWnlgr5-kZERL_svEr4AY/s1600/IMG_1077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj14tak7ookTfsZF_fXoSjV9XuuWD8-6iPLjBIdT1htpg8mtStsDZh50e6eNHMIret43IR_7yO_PgR5D_gRU_DNf8D2LzbGBiWxovZL-ki-7Kwe9rtAlQj3voOpWnlgr5-kZERL_svEr4AY/s400/IMG_1077.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Frog or toad? Not exactly sure.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHZzQDkmaoCunIKEH66Mrgjd9el5jlPSr4wBe9X08-qAXssEohW2JDXcuzVXAZVur-sD9TbRqV9_YzzmRUlayL19wDSQvSkI0g8CJEb8RO4BcF1wenjunYxrIaoqCyy84PrljEdqdFDtE/s1600/IMG_1084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHZzQDkmaoCunIKEH66Mrgjd9el5jlPSr4wBe9X08-qAXssEohW2JDXcuzVXAZVur-sD9TbRqV9_YzzmRUlayL19wDSQvSkI0g8CJEb8RO4BcF1wenjunYxrIaoqCyy84PrljEdqdFDtE/s400/IMG_1084.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sugar Spa Peas from seed</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Still amazed how quickly they grew...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> I'll be sure to post garden pics throughout the summer... Trying a lot of new things this year on the deck. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8hjm8V9WhKYPudWDpa6h5FvlfEa9VNKDuguX-2TQqu6Og_CLEwo8AFgLTiLqsH58F8WsL9AAP-2uVf5Z688jVRdUf_ONQfZqcWPnj3QmC2QWFQ-L1LiIpUhfZxGydBY43t0QaZZLYZtY/s1600/981090_10200413968724208_672955741_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8hjm8V9WhKYPudWDpa6h5FvlfEa9VNKDuguX-2TQqu6Og_CLEwo8AFgLTiLqsH58F8WsL9AAP-2uVf5Z688jVRdUf_ONQfZqcWPnj3QmC2QWFQ-L1LiIpUhfZxGydBY43t0QaZZLYZtY/s640/981090_10200413968724208_672955741_o.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Already getting ideas on self watering systems to add </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">for next year</span>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">If you enjoyed this post, you might also like:</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://nightlightjourneys.blogspot.com/2012/05/may-flowers-new-experiences.html">May Flowers & New Experiences</a> or </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://nightlightjourneys.blogspot.com/2011/08/wordless-wednesday-patience-reaps.html">Wordless Wednesday - Patience Reaps Reward</a></span></span><br />
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Monikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16441533058382582186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738885157757325573.post-36849179370216138942013-03-23T15:18:00.002-05:002013-03-23T15:18:30.961-05:00Spring 2013 - HomeGoods Finds<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's been far too long since I sat down to write, but <span style="font-size: small;">with so many changes in our lives over the past school year it's been an impossible task to find the time. Munchkin is now <span style="font-size: small;">in</span> Kindergarte<span style="font-size: small;">n. And I am officially a hockey mom<span style="font-size: small;"> after having survived <span style="font-size: small;">our</span> first Mini Mite Hockey session. I say "our" because it really is a family endeavor<span style="font-size: small;">. Parents are very involved in the Le<span style="font-size: small;">ague, so vo<span style="font-size: small;">lunteer work <span style="font-size: small;">at<span style="font-size: small;"> the ice rink </span></span>took up quite a bit o<span style="font-size: small;">f time outside of the hours spent preparing to go to the rink & watching Munchkin skate. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Over his vacation, <span style="font-size: small;">hubby tackled another majo<span style="font-size: small;">r remodeling project, removing wallpa<span style="font-size: small;">per from our massive dining & living rooms. The 18 foot vaulted ceilings meant the job was no joke. But in only a week the new paint is up & my mind have been on <span style="font-size: small;">interior decorati<span style="font-size: small;">ng for the updated spaces.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I had a couple hours of "me" time to spend while my Munchkin attended a birthday party last Friday. I sneaked over to the neighborhood HomeGoods store. Rarely do I stop in there without filling my cart with great things to freshen up the decor in our home. Yesterday was no exception!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I snapped a few photos of the things I purchased as I made my way through the store:</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEuonuOroJDvG_YABNehwfj1RrDIw979PGa6zbdaUADzkfOwc2Ug_wT6UT3nqIOQk4nZicPl1Qalburf_iU3kzRRqqJsPoiBJS-TCgg30m8wfZuAn0oWpNbrasW3fnuLyWfqJDxvjdgJl/s1600/Feminine+Chair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEuonuOroJDvG_YABNehwfj1RrDIw979PGa6zbdaUADzkfOwc2Ug_wT6UT3nqIOQk4nZicPl1Qalburf_iU3kzRRqqJsPoiBJS-TCgg30m8wfZuAn0oWpNbrasW3fnuLyWfqJDxvjdgJl/s1600/Feminine+Chair.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">These chairs were the first thing in the store to really stand out - If I were single, these definitely would have made it into my cart - FABULOUS!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJqBIYLfMdc7Ln5yFT8nPS0d4k3kXFECLFoR7oDwN-FriT7u-GvdRmdE-l1PCJF5Pl-QMDkIIK_H2oELPYEvmcCxRJTWKka_T5PIVI_V2EWV9rnJqbt2bizaxEfV0iUVFrBCQH2T3No6d/s1600/Chandelier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJqBIYLfMdc7Ln5yFT8nPS0d4k3kXFECLFoR7oDwN-FriT7u-GvdRmdE-l1PCJF5Pl-QMDkIIK_H2oELPYEvmcCxRJTWKka_T5PIVI_V2EWV9rnJqbt2bizaxEfV0iUVFrBCQH2T3No6d/s1600/Chandelier.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This tabletop chandelier/candelabra was really pretty too. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhar9bz9qGUJRKj97mor0vgLC67Gb-2F4Kv7WpCbGujvIWOafV46C8iSmCSAEsgDBOWu-_bJy0FnO-N6hJK8NERvU9xCqoM64DCMZ505XRpe-g_t_DA_JjxvlPzooNlTaqv3wzTgfEopZfT/s1600/Bathroom+Set.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhar9bz9qGUJRKj97mor0vgLC67Gb-2F4Kv7WpCbGujvIWOafV46C8iSmCSAEsgDBOWu-_bJy0FnO-N6hJK8NERvU9xCqoM64DCMZ505XRpe-g_t_DA_JjxvlPzooNlTaqv3wzTgfEopZfT/s1600/Bathroom+Set.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I loved how saturated the color was in this Cynthia Rowley bathroom accessory set - so unique.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLV0P3FCdVEN9At9tpS5QfbykXo3-DkWRzq4syg7udBXDYin5aFB4Sv14POaGT8O3adW2Zd6H_2n2qJIOXGsU7PJW2P0QA9PNgZouMdnMWNEggaKaqwkn4iNWjbJjXOYh1X0iY6BCAmcx7/s1600/Quilted+Leather.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLV0P3FCdVEN9At9tpS5QfbykXo3-DkWRzq4syg7udBXDYin5aFB4Sv14POaGT8O3adW2Zd6H_2n2qJIOXGsU7PJW2P0QA9PNgZouMdnMWNEggaKaqwkn4iNWjbJjXOYh1X0iY6BCAmcx7/s1600/Quilted+Leather.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> If they would have had more than one of these, I would have grabbed them to go in my living room. A classic look any couple would be able to agree on, plus the quilting was a nice touch.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0IhvnLmupmdZQvlAYoxrbTiTuoKmOtebBpgAiNXV_YlCqLCtHSuP5xJtXoBU1E-ofPfmkY1vpPvoHI94iaD-XMz1yj-4ofCYW5HUWHzXFu7diGDfpKYADiNa5KOvIoqLTTKETSmP7gTV/s1600/Milk+Bottles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0IhvnLmupmdZQvlAYoxrbTiTuoKmOtebBpgAiNXV_YlCqLCtHSuP5xJtXoBU1E-ofPfmkY1vpPvoHI94iaD-XMz1yj-4ofCYW5HUWHzXFu7diGDfpKYADiNa5KOvIoqLTTKETSmP7gTV/s1600/Milk+Bottles.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">How fun would these milk bottles look in someones kitchen?! No place to put them or they would have made it into my cart.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJPLrpnufjwj6VbcLHOAy6c3DpODUYJb-MH5uQPzhgPr3QsK5_EXOQfJlWbgA0N55huDCD1uoDdokhJ4o9hvdDgjjGyD4Ld65Y1kg00LgSImT1WOBFQxIJxwy0sVsLe5UU6Uiwex-dgTM/s1600/Towels+_Bitters+Bottle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgHydOR-GOsVPsqS51S89cLzh0-o5jShlkL7wcKqkUqn-pPU7ZKAkcvsCsATmWUKAMK0D9-CXbV0IXAOnYe16cLcQx44O-CRiJKQleaxC9V4ShTOQFgYQaiut2zUB5RnKmBYNXgyCiXBZ/s200/Spring+Pillows.jpg" width="200" /> <img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJPLrpnufjwj6VbcLHOAy6c3DpODUYJb-MH5uQPzhgPr3QsK5_EXOQfJlWbgA0N55huDCD1uoDdokhJ4o9hvdDgjjGyD4Ld65Y1kg00LgSImT1WOBFQxIJxwy0sVsLe5UU6Uiwex-dgTM/s200/Towels+_Bitters+Bottle.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Now finally something I did take home. The pillow on the right is now at home on my living room couch. The pillow on the left just wasn't the right color combination so back on the display it went.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The towels matched the color scheme in my main floor guest bathroom & I filled the bottle with caviar potpourri.</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Was originally shopping for throws for my living room, but I couldn't find any, so I moved onto the art.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicF_lQp3qtqexFDI4ORitjPP0RrC1ewRGsQvsaBBu2kVNE8w1V1ps0GFyZ1OWy2ci58u-sAi2efYxp23HGp1a4GISTdYwyB-HFKZD6N8a33OCnOn2EevRDaIQEiRoygA4QRYb4zHYTMyvO/s1600/Think+You+Can.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicF_lQp3qtqexFDI4ORitjPP0RrC1ewRGsQvsaBBu2kVNE8w1V1ps0GFyZ1OWy2ci58u-sAi2efYxp23HGp1a4GISTdYwyB-HFKZD6N8a33OCnOn2EevRDaIQEiRoygA4QRYb4zHYTMyvO/s1600/Think+You+Can.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This would have been perfect for my Munchkin's room had I chosen a train theme when he was a toddler.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUObxDQNCB6shB8XEgLcCG2pbezCQP7n-EEgXyS3ZhmwhTNrDE6zVaoseCOyDVR2-wPlPOOaH0TxmI2JAElurgLLud1F-0Yam4vmmV4pvvLLuJqlDUry5sGz0EIfapL0fPVzwArUfrIblq/s1600/Life+is+short.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUObxDQNCB6shB8XEgLcCG2pbezCQP7n-EEgXyS3ZhmwhTNrDE6zVaoseCOyDVR2-wPlPOOaH0TxmI2JAElurgLLud1F-0Yam4vmmV4pvvLLuJqlDUry5sGz0EIfapL0fPVzwArUfrIblq/s200/Life+is+short.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYocPPUIpuU3Mtyi6Vzp9nkhZ0jwe2Gub3-QByHV6D7PDXXM5sHq7aVD5aIl1Jc3k3-xd_tM-n3RpapXQeI7QUOvKUbw6WYlIhygNNMxqIEJPrlNS32ib1JemrhEm51QcMPVnCt5CxnR2/s1600/Find+What+Makes+You+Happy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYocPPUIpuU3Mtyi6Vzp9nkhZ0jwe2Gub3-QByHV6D7PDXXM5sHq7aVD5aIl1Jc3k3-xd_tM-n3RpapXQeI7QUOvKUbw6WYlIhygNNMxqIEJPrlNS32ib1JemrhEm51QcMPVnCt5CxnR2/s200/Find+What+Makes+You+Happy.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Some really fun "chalkboard" style prints. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The messages are great too.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OiuqKf9EiHALJLKoQpuz_J21x3CDchGH8s6mt_eODfcp0FzP6sjyP5qeQ8ykOjYkW9I1slsRG1dT5chSVw52UioE9A1aHmy12xLsaKv-tmDtYgzmKZQ52at5rjeI2xz0BBtars-PjKWW/s1600/Floral+Pair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OiuqKf9EiHALJLKoQpuz_J21x3CDchGH8s6mt_eODfcp0FzP6sjyP5qeQ8ykOjYkW9I1slsRG1dT5chSVw52UioE9A1aHmy12xLsaKv-tmDtYgzmKZQ52at5rjeI2xz0BBtars-PjKWW/s1600/Floral+Pair.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">After looking through about a hundred diffe<span style="font-size: small;">rent prints, I tossed around</span> picking up these to see if they would work. After some <span style="font-size: small;">thought, I realized</span> there was just too much orange for my taste. Hopefully someone grabbed these<span style="font-size: small;"> finds and<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>made a home for them.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjomTKN45-mcCqivmI2daOOGZYw5xYt39FryJ6DMMqTY5BtKYwagcaev_QFjTQDwNQY3dcbc5Tkbc6JUfH99dftDmKnXaV0oKl11xCOotfHMGiV3M0EP8_JwcFRlLrVSlRikvGFKlevfNzo/s1600/art+in+master.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjomTKN45-mcCqivmI2daOOGZYw5xYt39FryJ6DMMqTY5BtKYwagcaev_QFjTQDwNQY3dcbc5Tkbc6JUfH99dftDmKnXaV0oKl11xCOotfHMGiV3M0EP8_JwcFRlLrVSlRikvGFKlevfNzo/s640/art+in+master.jpg" width="480" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Above are a sampling of art I've purchased - </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">all from HomeGoods for a Master Bedroom & Bath mini remodel. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> The one on the bottom is from my most recent trip. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The beauty of HomeGoods is that the inventory <u>is always changing</u>. </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Quality merchandise <span style="font-size: small;">can be found</span> e<span style="font-size: small;">verywhere </span>throughout the store. </span></span>It's like shopping with a trusted friend. The buyers have great taste, plus they understand what their customers are looking for. </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Every time you visit, t</span></span>here will always be a great find. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i><b>Disclaimer:</b> <b>HomeGoods</b> did not compensate m</i></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>e for writing this post. I've been a </i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>"fan" and shopper of <b>HomeGoods</b> for many years. It's truly one of my favorite home decor stores to shop. Not sure I could live without it really.</i></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">If you enjoyed this post, you might also like: </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://nightlightjourneys.blogspot.com/2012/01/stream-of-consciousness-sunday-kick.html">Stream of Consciousness Sunday: Kick Back & Relax</a> or </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://nightlightjourneys.blogspot.com/2012/01/stream-of-consciousness-sunday-daily.html">Stream Of Consciousness Sunday: Daily Distractions</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://nightlightjourneys.blogspot.com/2010/09/my-lens-into-first-ever-mn-blogger.html"></a></span>Monikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16441533058382582186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738885157757325573.post-9884218485054023912012-09-18T00:00:00.001-05:002012-09-20T10:31:40.088-05:00Recent Food Truck Tour Stops - Sushi Fix & AZ Canteen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So it's been a while since I've done a post on lunchtime visits to some of the downtown Minneapolis area food trucks. I'm a creature of habit, frequenting the same three food trucks most of the time, but in the past weeks I've tried a couple of new trucks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First up is Sushi Fix.The truck is normally parked between 7th & 8th street on Marquette when it's in downtown Minneapolis. The owner: Enkhbileg “Billy” Tserenbat, who is a former executive chef from Yumi Sushi Bar.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Nothing is pre-made. Everything on the menu is made to order. The fish they use is as fresh as possible delivered to the them the night before they use it. No fishy smells, it is so tasty & tender, not hard & cold from sitting assembled in a package with fake green plastic leaves beneath it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For $15, I splurged I tried that day's special... <b><i> </i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>"</i></b><i><b>The Hennepin Roll:</b> </i><i>Inside: shrimp tempura, avocado, cucumber </i><i>Outside: Spicy Tuna, Tobiko, Sweet sauce."</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">It was a good sized portion, so I shared a piece with an inquisitive co-worker. We agreed it was the best sushi either of us had eaten in a long time & could hardly believe it was made in a truck. Yum!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">I had also heard good things about Andrew Zimmern's newest food truck venture called AZ Canteen from Jason DeRusha on Twitter. AZ Canteen is normally parked a couple of trucks down from Sushi Fix on the same block. While Jason was singing the praises about the tongue he had eaten there, I was more eager to try the Andouille, Oyster & Crab Gumbo.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk8c7f_QR9Ygdp5xMApZ3QMxZefudkBVmbZSIgco-Drw1CK2LtZ39L_ZW2iYE-agbkCMjUCHvCvI5nELJ12GB1g6zNfdxxpyekz9UJ95CEWwAfGOBia-98n0iaeC45TOVJHo8wGfD5RUDv/s1600/TempImage1347803389004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk8c7f_QR9Ygdp5xMApZ3QMxZefudkBVmbZSIgco-Drw1CK2LtZ39L_ZW2iYE-agbkCMjUCHvCvI5nELJ12GB1g6zNfdxxpyekz9UJ95CEWwAfGOBia-98n0iaeC45TOVJHo8wGfD5RUDv/s1600/TempImage1347803389004.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">This particular recipe is a bit different than the Baton Rouge-style Gumbo I grew up with my Daddy making for me, which was always chock full of shrimp & crawfish, beside the sausage & chicken. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The different ingredient in this cup was oysters. I admit I wasn't quite sure what to expect. It was actually really enjoyable. The roux was well made & the gumbo had a nice consistency - not too thick or thin There was even a taste of okra in the cup. Light on heat, it could have used a few splashes of Louisiana Hot Sauce, but for a dish made for a MN palate, it was pretty tasty.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">The logo design is very quirky & fun. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">In honor of the Great Minnesota Get Together, aka The MN State Fair, Smack Shack came up with a </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lobster Corn Dog in a Sweet Corn Batter & served with Lemon Chive Aioli</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">, which was incredibly yummy. We have been begging & pleading on facebook for them to be brought back to the truck before the season is over.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Last but not least, our building management held a get together in the lobby for tenants of the building. Although this has nothing to do with food trucks, I had my first taste of "ice cream", or Raspberry Sorbet as this variety was, from Izzy's Ice Cream Cafe. It was good - I might just be tempted to stop by their store in St. Paul sometime with my Munchkin & try out some other flavors.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">So that's it for a while. This coming weekend is the 3rd annual Minnesota Blogger Conference. I'll be attending & will place recaps of the sessions out here. Renewed inspiration for getting my blogging grove back is what I expect to find, along with a taste of Muddy Paws Cheesecake & a new avatar/head shot.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">If you enjoyed this post, you might also like: </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://nightlightjourneys.blogspot.com/2011/09/mn-blogger-conference-2011-take-two.html">Mn Blogger Conference 2011 - Take Two</a> or </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://nightlightjourneys.blogspot.com/2010/09/my-lens-into-first-ever-mn-blogger.html">My Lens Into The First Ever MN Blogger Conference</a></span></div>
<br />Monikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16441533058382582186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738885157757325573.post-82926923054540153252012-07-21T17:14:00.001-05:002012-07-21T17:16:26.574-05:00Gateway to Change<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Releasing fears...the gateway to change.
I have avoided blogging about my determination to continue getting back into shape over the past few months. Back in April, I signed up to do a 90 day BeachBody fitness challenge at the prodding of a friend who had recently become a BeachBody coach. I wasn't thinking of it being a transforming process at the time, but surprise, surprise that's what it has turned out to be. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I wasn't compensated to try this 90 day challenge. I shelled out some hard earned cash & ordered <a href="https://twitter.com/bretthoebel">Brett Hoebel</a>'s Rev Abs program. He's easy on the eyes & figured that counts if I'm going to be working out with this dude 6x a week - right!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Most of us don't believe in overnight miracles when it comes to achieving fitness goals. There is no such thing. Sweat, consistency, persistence, pain, they all need to be in the equation to see any progress. But it is totally worth experiencing all of those things.
Maintaining a higher level of fitness is something we all struggle with. As we age, it becomes an even larger challenge. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">One of my biggest fears throughout this challenge has been the scale. It was one of the requirements to participate to get on the scale & weigh-in, plus take measurements every Monday. Not only did we have to chart the progress, but we needed to post in a private Facebook group, sharing with people we didn't know, but who all shared this goal of conquering this challenge together. We signed up to be open honest & to offer each other encouragement along the way.
It worked for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The gateway to change - an important place to pass through if what you crave is uncover the you that used to be. So just because the 90 days is up today, it's not the end. 12 lbs & 18" gone from my body in the process - a great result. I'm satisfied. </span><span style="font-size: small;">It's so incredibly motivating and pressure-filled at the same time. </span><span style="font-size: small;">The workouts must continue at the same intensity & probably more so than before. Once you move forward it becomes that much more difficult to take steps back because <b>you know</b> <b>what you can achieve</b>. <b>You remember what you are capable of</b>, plus you can't bear to lose the "<b>me time</b>."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">If you enjoyed this post, you might also like: </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://nightlightjourneys.blogspot.com/2012/05/lifes-lessons.html">Life's Lessons</a> or </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://nightlightjourneys.blogspot.com/2012/04/stream-of-consciousness-sunday-90-days.html">Stream of Consciousness Sunday: 90 Days to Success</a></span></div>
<br />Monikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16441533058382582186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738885157757325573.post-48809536710534659102012-07-01T19:04:00.003-05:002012-07-01T19:04:22.119-05:00Reinvention and the final Stream of Consciousness Sunday<br />
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<img alt="stream of consciousness Sunday" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5254" height="136" src="http://allthingsfadra.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/SOCSunday2012.jpg" title="SOCSunday2012" width="200" /> </div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span><span style="background-color: #990000;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #990000;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #990000;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #990000;"></span></span></b></i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Say it isn't so!</b></i></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I've totally been delinquent, preoccupied, whatever you'd like to call it & haven't done many of these lately but it certainly won't be the last post of this nature - I'll just be providing my own inspiration vs. relying on Miss Fadra, who has told us </span><a href="http://allthingsfadra.com/2012/07/stream-of-consciousness-sunday-reinventing-myself/" target="_blank"><i style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>she is moving on</b></i></a><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> from hosting this weekly forum. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">While it's nostalgic & a bit sad, I imagine it's </span><b style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>incredibly freeing</i></b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> for Fadra to let go of this weekly obligation & I support her wholeheartedly. I get it. I feel the pressure too, so it totally makes sense to move on, but before we do, here's one last linked post.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Today’s (Optional) Writing Prompt: </strong>What does it mean to reinvent yourself?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Today my son asked me "what I'd like to do for a living." A few days ago, I was joking around with him in the car and he told me: "Mom, you are going to be out of control when you grow up!" The thought of being a 40 something mom of a soon to be school-age child begs for a constant state of reinvention in my life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">if you read my <a href="http://nightlightjourneys.blogspot.com/2012/06/long-time-no-see.html" target="_blank">last post</a>, you would see how overwhelming my life has become lately. I'm fighting to keep up, yet I know my season of change is never-ending or at least it will feel that way for the distant future. I'm at a stage in my career where I know I need to be doing something else & I've taken steps to get where I think I need to be, but the path has not taken me where I expected it to go. I'm re-evaluating what I really want to be when I grow up, literally.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">It's like my kid has ESP & knows what I've been preoccupied about lately even though I don't say a word about it to him. He's sensitive, loving & caring. I'm certain he knows when I'm stressed & when I don't want him to know I'm stressed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The major victory this year has been getting back to the business of being in shape. I had put that on the back burner, but now I'm cooking with gas...down a clothing size & on the way to dropping one more. Feeling more like my old self, but in a different way - not my old competitive self, but comfortable in my own skin. I've learned it's not ok to put myself last ALL the time. I'm a better person for it - both inside & out. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I know that it will take some time to put all the pieces in place so that my future will be more clear, but I am moving forward nonetheless. I'll know it when I get there, but for now I am trusting that this path to reinvention will end in a happier place.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">If you liked this post, you might also enjoy:</span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://nightlightjourneys.blogspot.com/2012/04/stream-of-consciousness-sunday-90-days.html">Stream of Consciousness Sunday: 90 Days to Success</a> or </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://nightlightjourneys.blogspot.com/2012/02/stream-of-consciousness-sunday-caught.html">Stream of Consciousness Sunday: Caught Up In A Twist Of Fate</a></span></div>Monikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16441533058382582186noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738885157757325573.post-42820019121811795742012-06-23T23:55:00.000-05:002012-06-24T11:49:40.713-05:00Long Time No See<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Holy smokes it's been over 3 weeks since I blogged last. It's been such a stressful few weeks - like nothing we've experience before as a family, but we are adjusting as we go. A roller coaster of celebrations, goodbyes, new beginnings, emotions & experiences.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">---> Preschool Graduation</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">---> Saying goodbye to the old teachers</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">---> New School Age Summer Care provider w/ fieldtrips</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">---> Making lunches daily </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">---> Adjusting to the new teachers</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">---> Birthdays</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">---> Father's Day</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">---> T-ball Lessons</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">---> Swimming Lessons</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">---> Wedding</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">---> New schedules for everyone</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">---> Volunteering</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The list goes on. All in the last 3 weeks. I can hardly fathom getting through it all, but we have. Everyday is a struggle. Like an amusement ride that never ends. The strength starts from within but from where I'll never know. No time to recharge the batteries, no time to second guess. Just go with it. Follow the schedule. It's just about all I can do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I've been squeezing in some "me time" too. A girlfriend talked me into joining her Beach Body Challenge group - remember? We are on day #62 of a 90 day program. I chose Brett Hoebel's Rev Abs. Even with this crazy schedule I've made huge progress for me... 8 lbs down & 14 1/4" gone from all over my body. I've dropped a clothing size & overall am feeling more like my old self. They goal is to be down 2 sizes by the end of this & to continue what I finish, meaning I choose a new program to do at the end of this one to continue the progress.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">My garden is taking shape & babies are everywhere:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5RTlyc79ATgUHLCDdElvRY8y-my57w3bvE_AAqxnsDnnX63ERMwdwPuQl6_vChHM8CwPf_sMTsoiJWZbc3nXDFFwnbS2vHQsC0jv7wynMkR5O_HNaZOBsQPR5rrBF2HK9QFAFFvm9Env/s1600/2012-06-23+11.46.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5RTlyc79ATgUHLCDdElvRY8y-my57w3bvE_AAqxnsDnnX63ERMwdwPuQl6_vChHM8CwPf_sMTsoiJWZbc3nXDFFwnbS2vHQsC0jv7wynMkR5O_HNaZOBsQPR5rrBF2HK9QFAFFvm9Env/s320/2012-06-23+11.46.23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQN0zaA-RUDAF6FRqxHMJYtluBpHRlosSF61ESjxdbgXxf6dzUIpEn4FvLqt2fJYDQUeP8rl6YCMb_O-S8YLAj-dkHKqxmlmovHxfFUE2rttds6lzur8tCpYOGZGx7mLA9xYY8ALvl07t/s1600/2012-06-23+11.48.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQN0zaA-RUDAF6FRqxHMJYtluBpHRlosSF61ESjxdbgXxf6dzUIpEn4FvLqt2fJYDQUeP8rl6YCMb_O-S8YLAj-dkHKqxmlmovHxfFUE2rttds6lzur8tCpYOGZGx7mLA9xYY8ALvl07t/s320/2012-06-23+11.48.31.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfOoKI7wMJmQn7MyovBp202IeWXBG6AJpDrzYyjIT8F7uAdNMPSY4z7kBxCuoJm68fTiwNxP2unh3Da2ZJiMAQYO07Rq_o5fKDLwfItHksZdebCYLuj4D8AhUYPHDnFtmA_5_q2WuxPUu_/s1600/2012-06-23+11.49.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfOoKI7wMJmQn7MyovBp202IeWXBG6AJpDrzYyjIT8F7uAdNMPSY4z7kBxCuoJm68fTiwNxP2unh3Da2ZJiMAQYO07Rq_o5fKDLwfItHksZdebCYLuj4D8AhUYPHDnFtmA_5_q2WuxPUu_/s320/2012-06-23+11.49.24.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Gives me some peace & joy to see them taking shape, plus it's a great daily reminder for Munchkin that patience reaps rewards. So hopefully it won't be quite so long before I blog again. Time will tell.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Oh! Guess what?! I pulled the trigger & ordered an <b>iPad (version 3) </b>today. Our family's first. <b>I can hardly wait to pick it up</b>. The badly needed new PC will have to wait ; )</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">If you liked this post, you might also enjoy:</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://nightlightjourneys.blogspot.com/2012/05/may-flowers-new-experiences.html"> May Flowers & New Experiences</a> or </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://nightlightjourneys.blogspot.com/2012/04/stream-of-consciousness-sunday-90-days.html">Stream of Consciousness Sunday: 90 Days to Success</a></span></div>Monikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16441533058382582186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738885157757325573.post-43452557783511884132012-06-01T22:57:00.003-05:002012-06-01T22:57:23.740-05:00Blink & You Just Might Miss It<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Where are the noise makers, balloons & confetti?! <b>This is post number 200!</b> Do I get a virtual high five for that, because it's been really difficult to get motivated to write lately. My theme for the near future is "Back to Blogging" at least until the words begin to flow freely again. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">It's already June 1st & the older I get the faster time seems to pass by. The month of May was very productive, leaving me feeling blessed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">We took a couple of big leaps toward getting our <b>Master Bedroom</b> in shape. The 80's wallpaper is gone. Here's a swatch so you can appreciate how hideous it really was in there:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1lL01dltpzdpp7mONSDNiEyNSeIzBIA7XEpJpIdIMwFrx3SS6ziBDgUOdPcIwN-0_k7Uz9WdIvofsOy4OuxFpTdLkGekWDqPmyVHrTAVpepsIOSjD5PSEAnfokpypYWYdRSS9I4fiReO/s1600/wallpaper+swatch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1lL01dltpzdpp7mONSDNiEyNSeIzBIA7XEpJpIdIMwFrx3SS6ziBDgUOdPcIwN-0_k7Uz9WdIvofsOy4OuxFpTdLkGekWDqPmyVHrTAVpepsIOSjD5PSEAnfokpypYWYdRSS9I4fiReO/s400/wallpaper+swatch.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">It was coordinated with this equally obnoxious print adorning the walls of our Master Bathroom:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGaEP17AnhjfaSGpL6_wG9P1pDb0Jq9UxuoEKkaz9Hr5pQbvByYW37cxUSvUCtW8NCiyU9QC7r2eUfBfhSnNN5kwEJf_jKztVRUuKeKp2-qVO2CiCv6F_LceXMrGap7SyQvzd1k-ucUt3P/s1600/wallpaper+swatch_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGaEP17AnhjfaSGpL6_wG9P1pDb0Jq9UxuoEKkaz9Hr5pQbvByYW37cxUSvUCtW8NCiyU9QC7r2eUfBfhSnNN5kwEJf_jKztVRUuKeKp2-qVO2CiCv6F_LceXMrGap7SyQvzd1k-ucUt3P/s400/wallpaper+swatch_2.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>There! See what I mean?! Totally gross!</b> I gave some hints in my last post, but no photos so I'm including a couple now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The Master Bath mini update was the first thing we tackled years after our then two year old Munchkin started the job of removing the wallpaper from the wall, my hubby finished the job. Some new mirrors, vanity lights & fixtures make a big difference.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqvhgJjgAJMr6ebsD0trEwiV0oD4AI1lkiFKA0w19h9OCMKl9YVdewqjyuCr1pfFl9lKA2eafQlDhHNiiel9djWTw4rSQcWHGYXoJX7RSMIvJuW6IJLz-sEUSdDoL0PYisgZ0YQ_pkgOC/s1600/2011-01-23+16.47.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqvhgJjgAJMr6ebsD0trEwiV0oD4AI1lkiFKA0w19h9OCMKl9YVdewqjyuCr1pfFl9lKA2eafQlDhHNiiel9djWTw4rSQcWHGYXoJX7RSMIvJuW6IJLz-sEUSdDoL0PYisgZ0YQ_pkgOC/s400/2011-01-23+16.47.47.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I loved it & was excited for another big change. Almost 7 years after we moved in and our Master is light years more cozy, warm, grown-up, & serene. My hubby now calls it "the hotel" & wonders if room service is a possibility. (Not a chance!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYXt7TR-xLugLvEdovuFz0mdjzonmm0LdJths0JVWY26R71yr4Ofkb6OMczvF8-ZXYLjB_z5yl8UbL7UbJozl_RbueK-nHxwY2ARsOPkLoDSQegjOAgJGEmaBtfqgnRfcOsx-z7s_sXUsf/s1600/2012-05-27+12.47.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYXt7TR-xLugLvEdovuFz0mdjzonmm0LdJths0JVWY26R71yr4Ofkb6OMczvF8-ZXYLjB_z5yl8UbL7UbJozl_RbueK-nHxwY2ARsOPkLoDSQegjOAgJGEmaBtfqgnRfcOsx-z7s_sXUsf/s400/2012-05-27+12.47.14.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Kindergarten</b> preparation tasks topped my to-do list. We needed to finish the enrollment process for our school year child care & get Munchkin's assessment completed. After two attempts full of angst & disappointment, he finally decided that he was up to the task of sharing exactly how much he knew with the assessor and stopped resisting. He talked faster than she could keep up with. </span><span style="font-size: small;">The assessor </span><span style="font-size: small;"> kept saying "Wow!" and "Slow Down!" He floored her with his knowledge base & remarked that my son had taught her something in light of how successful he was, despite the results of the prior visits. She thanked <b>me</b> for <b>my patience</b> in bringing him back. I was beaming from ear to ear. Munchkin had made me <b>so proud</b> that day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Munchkin's <b>first fishing trip </b>with hubby was this past weekend. This child was not only stoked to go, he wanted to be prepared, so he practiced his casting in the front yard not once, but twice after he got his new fishing pole.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">In no time he was casting his line very well...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-n14xgTDhq1Xodw1Fl95lPPjBs_M-Ep7tSrr1lVkDEeCjCltW7ExpuZivmddIuOTLYGpFLA6liahC5BfIu87Y0IbQnJQHeJjWD0WnhaNizi2YLvUa20CQnblBPhylZe-yY3BFg0rPOpnA/s1600/2012-05-26+11.53.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-n14xgTDhq1Xodw1Fl95lPPjBs_M-Ep7tSrr1lVkDEeCjCltW7ExpuZivmddIuOTLYGpFLA6liahC5BfIu87Y0IbQnJQHeJjWD0WnhaNizi2YLvUa20CQnblBPhylZe-yY3BFg0rPOpnA/s400/2012-05-26+11.53.19.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">And reeled the line back in like a pro...and it paid off. <b>The little guy caught eleven fish!</b> Who would have imagined. Munchkin had quite the fish tales to share with his friends on Tuesday at preschool.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vcbXlW3_hteweuryKAZllb47AQydfZwlTGDOSfLgLohoaT9Ig0giRfNJ7Q9gZj_pZXqlMMZeUlDYPXl1tZgY6iwME25otfatSeHvk6qikuqfZkWC7HR-HuQyN6-jVYa9hUUPWVHQKRKD/s1600/2012-05-26+11.52.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vcbXlW3_hteweuryKAZllb47AQydfZwlTGDOSfLgLohoaT9Ig0giRfNJ7Q9gZj_pZXqlMMZeUlDYPXl1tZgY6iwME25otfatSeHvk6qikuqfZkWC7HR-HuQyN6-jVYa9hUUPWVHQKRKD/s400/2012-05-26+11.52.50.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Over the Memorial Day holiday, I finished planting everything I'd found for the deck garden this year, eleven pots in all. I have to say I did a great job <b>: D </b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0mh7MzJM9hwZ31D7W1wjGqkT2KOgcAke7YQ4hIhXJ2yozcmcIx2aBI40g7G8C2pN9dsgyPTeV1tUUjPwhLb3kDpGCaoAjhsnNwAsxlmctpCMPJMh_JtHT3qJdO6ddg7o1gIqIJJ_Et-U/s1600/2012-05-28+14.19.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0mh7MzJM9hwZ31D7W1wjGqkT2KOgcAke7YQ4hIhXJ2yozcmcIx2aBI40g7G8C2pN9dsgyPTeV1tUUjPwhLb3kDpGCaoAjhsnNwAsxlmctpCMPJMh_JtHT3qJdO6ddg7o1gIqIJJ_Et-U/s400/2012-05-28+14.19.34.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">This Summer will prove to be one filled with new
experiences for the entire family. I'm afraid if I blink I might miss
something on the schedule I should have remembered. So I guess it's time to buckle up... off we go!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>If you liked this post, you might also enjoy: </span><span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://nightlightjourneys.blogspot.com/2011/12/stream-of-consciousness-sunday-another.html">Stream of Consciousness Sunday - Another Big Milestone</a> or </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://nightlightjourneys.blogspot.com/2012/01/two-strikes.html">Two Strikes</a></span></div>Monikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16441533058382582186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738885157757325573.post-1333831593633272692012-05-19T23:11:00.001-05:002012-05-19T23:11:18.997-05:00May Flowers & New Experiences<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Looking back to see the last time I blogged & it's a little embarrassing. Once a week used to be my absolute minimum, but life's been a bit over whelming & every time I sit down to write, you might say my mind is overflowing. So much so that I can't decide what to focus on. Spring has been a lovely one but one that has been full of pending transitions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">My only son is going to be a Kindergartener in the fall & I'm not sure I am ready for all the changes to come in his little world starting with a daycare provider change in less than a month. It's a huge deal for me - not so much for my husband. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Sometimes it makes you wonder - all the things that we as women process differently in our day-to-day lives. The things that give us wings when we feel like we can't make it another day & calm us down when things get hectic are very different. I would care less about a cold beer, I'd rather relax with am extra large mug of hot Chai tea. As much as I love golf, my hubby loves it a lot more. My passion this time of year has become setting up & tending to my gardens.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgMyai9YhQzUCYjxIPqywmn1fp8UUvbA34IHSNYvDB1Iz1mX-zR6WIwgJo6aQ0GzYInV249pb2v6uSnyI_FeFA7m2f3yQpk1GU6bZweZIAA2_7W7-XeFmghyphenhyphen9yijVEqePeUm_2h07YLxgX/s1600/TempImage1337442831503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgMyai9YhQzUCYjxIPqywmn1fp8UUvbA34IHSNYvDB1Iz1mX-zR6WIwgJo6aQ0GzYInV249pb2v6uSnyI_FeFA7m2f3yQpk1GU6bZweZIAA2_7W7-XeFmghyphenhyphen9yijVEqePeUm_2h07YLxgX/s400/TempImage1337442831503.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The first few strawberries plants are in, using a different "pot" than I've used in the past. I've got about six more plants to load into this, but it's a start.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3PllJtn20Rp-dS9YImWMvgs-K_CkrtKGrkbhDPI5_BeRGe1QKDNxTIqBEyFREgdYx-PuZ1yv0CAa0NKQ84bg-ZmazVAcnnYS7fQX3uJEJ7vxKuvqYEfpqx4BpvG7d_XYe7YbSziM3IaT/s1600/TempImage1337442848545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3PllJtn20Rp-dS9YImWMvgs-K_CkrtKGrkbhDPI5_BeRGe1QKDNxTIqBEyFREgdYx-PuZ1yv0CAa0NKQ84bg-ZmazVAcnnYS7fQX3uJEJ7vxKuvqYEfpqx4BpvG7d_XYe7YbSziM3IaT/s400/TempImage1337442848545.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Two tomato plants are in their new homes for the season - I plan to find 3 more varieties to add to the mix...if I can find more of the pots I need to grow them properly. As much as I love my wooden pots, they aren't wide enough or heavy enough to stay upright in a good wind or as the plants grow really tall.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmfsn0XBC-WQ3n60Qqgl6PvWkQlJeYUXEaRUf3JK4KuQKEdXJ14EqL2rG2sAQqknG6xQ5WFQPtvo1ryn2MXv1PwBcopocGXdBLZbyZngFbN4SO801lLtjZ667Z2xzMhWFjV_280EZKCTEF/s1600/TempImage1337442859270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmfsn0XBC-WQ3n60Qqgl6PvWkQlJeYUXEaRUf3JK4KuQKEdXJ14EqL2rG2sAQqknG6xQ5WFQPtvo1ryn2MXv1PwBcopocGXdBLZbyZngFbN4SO801lLtjZ667Z2xzMhWFjV_280EZKCTEF/s400/TempImage1337442859270.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I love to take photos of the arrangements I've planted to give color to the front of our home until the fall. The plants always look so meager at first but as they grow, they always fill in the posts so nicely.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> The after pics are a joy to look back on - giving me a huge boost of confidence.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGGYjBdZLhR97-nVzjynwJGzlL-TxqUw1j6HfHdF0imdSIPnvLu2kJZ7c2wdWmC84Aar42_cmA4HXtbDtiDSSc2bxY7Gl55HNVr1s9P3z1Srq_EAgTS5ITmVow5tlToTQUxShtxUO6vx9/s1600/TempImage1337442868772.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGGYjBdZLhR97-nVzjynwJGzlL-TxqUw1j6HfHdF0imdSIPnvLu2kJZ7c2wdWmC84Aar42_cmA4HXtbDtiDSSc2bxY7Gl55HNVr1s9P3z1Srq_EAgTS5ITmVow5tlToTQUxShtxUO6vx9/s400/TempImage1337442868772.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">From year to year, I try to change things up. I'm not very predictable, at least in my opinion, even though my shade to part shade varietal choices are few.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6mheHpGgY_i7b-1tvrQMMJwM-Q2GinS2Mxts9xN-vbNU8VcPhKznS0KGO7kps7q9gMryCVO4pOs-Mk6jaD8f9YjPgMKsmUFAwGrW-_23vDV_NDcjnE7cmQqrxuXF8cXdUYJGH2ubywm-/s1600/TempImage1337442875911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6mheHpGgY_i7b-1tvrQMMJwM-Q2GinS2Mxts9xN-vbNU8VcPhKznS0KGO7kps7q9gMryCVO4pOs-Mk6jaD8f9YjPgMKsmUFAwGrW-_23vDV_NDcjnE7cmQqrxuXF8cXdUYJGH2ubywm-/s400/TempImage1337442875911.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">My Mother's Day gift from my sister-in-law made it into this pot - a red Gerbera Daisy - the color Munchkin chose - his favorite.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">We are finally getting our Master Bedroom together <b><i>after almost seven years</i></b>, which energizes me like you would not believe. It's always been the one room in our home that I didn't want anyone to see. The <b><i>horrid</i></b> 80's poorly coordinated wallpapers drove me nuts & made me very sad. I never really felt rested in that space with all the "honey do's" swirling in my head.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3dt118CCaUMnJPQgLLgYbt7PhFcBUN6vk-KlaF1hTrbjL8hbcCbp-JPRnvT_0FK0B-4kyzjZoecbnlMA0qABd1uocp1vCZUF2FeamZLT6KoCyf0Xcow2TOOXm8sQD4rTVjun0vW0iJn-d/s1600/TempImage1337443000412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">With only our new headboard left to install along with a few more pieces of art to hang, m</span><span style="font-size: small;">ost of the things on my Master Bedroom list are checked
off as complete. The room has the feel of a fancy hotel room rather
than an old run down motel room. I am at peace & feel calm when I'm
in the space now. ( I promise to post the "after" pics when the last few elements are installed.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The Master bathroom got a phase one facelift, which will be complete once hubby installs my new faucets. Phase two will have wait for a big windfall - I have such plans to make that space a retreat. One day...it will be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">My favorite thought for the day was: </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>"Sometimes you take chances in life, not because you know it's the right
thing to do, but because it's the only thing to do in that moment."</i></span></b></div>
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There have been so many actions taken lately where I've felt like I was shooting from the hip - choices that perhaps seemed bold for me, but they needed to be made. I refuse to regret or second guess those decisions. This life is an evolution - a web of paths traveled & consequences; joy & pain. I pray all the new experiences ahead in the coming months are worth every ounce of anticipation.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">If you liked this post, you might also enjoy: </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://nightlightjourneys.blogspot.com/2012/04/stream-of-consciousness-sunday-90-days.html">Stream of Consciousness Sunday: 90 Days to Success</a> or <a href="http://nightlightjourneys.blogspot.com/2011/08/wordless-wednesday-patience-reaps.html">Wordless Wednesday - Patience Reaps Reward</a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://nightlightjourneys.blogspot.com/2012/02/stream-of-consciousness-sunday-caught.html"></a></span>Monikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16441533058382582186noreply@blogger.com1