tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21717709526046498122024-03-13T08:22:51.009-07:00Growing Up NipperLiving in the Pacific NW with our crazy, amazing, free-spirited children. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10235906409550288250noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171770952604649812.post-44930640969972095102015-04-29T12:43:00.002-07:002015-04-29T12:43:40.557-07:00Pardon the DustThanks for stopping by.<br />
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This blog is currently under a revamp/reconstruction.<br />
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Thank you for your patience!!<br />
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Amanda and the other Nippers.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10235906409550288250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171770952604649812.post-24114059435320258882013-11-07T11:33:00.000-08:002013-11-07T11:38:17.912-08:00Grain-free Rosemary Crackers by MHippieMomma<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">taylormademarket.com photo credit</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We've been grain free for several months now, and we're never going back! It is amazing how much better our bodies work, how much better we feel and even our weight and skin complexion has improved! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Today, I bring you a joyous treat, especially for those wine lovers out there... </span><br />
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Grain Free Rosemary Crackers</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Can we all do a collective "Yummmmm" now? </span><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">:)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We've always enjoyed our rosemary crackers with our "stinky cheese" as we like to call it, along with our favorite organic red wine, but even as delicious as it is, we're still not willing to cheat on our new diet just to enjoy it. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">That's where this yummy recipe comes in to save the day! This is my own adaptation of a few different recipes I have read here and there. I add more than most call for in rosemary, and I only roughly chop it, instead of chopping it finely as most recipes suggest. Rosemary is one of my favorites so I actually look forward to it getting stuck in my teeth a bit... MMmmm.. LOL But chop it finely if your heart desires! I also make my 1/2 tsp salt a HEAPING 1/2 tsp because my husband is a salt lover. I'm pretty sure he must have some sort of salt shortage going on in his system. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Here it is! Enjoy!! </span><br />
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<script src="http://www.advertisepals.com/includes/javascript/widget.js?uid=b5baa9c23ac3e015ad287b17a3d4afa3" type="text/javascript"></script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10235906409550288250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171770952604649812.post-53666928484726139532013-09-27T12:48:00.000-07:002013-09-27T14:08:06.867-07:00Homemade All-in-one Hair, Body & Shave Shower Cream <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">There's something about making your own cosmetics and bath products that lifts my spirits instantly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Not only does your wallet notice how much cheaper it is to make homemade products, but it adds so much more than that to you and your entire family. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Handcrafting something that is useful and healthy adds value & appreciation to an every day product. I find that every time I whip up something new, both my 5 year old, 15 year old and husband show some excitement in seeing, smelling and trying them out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After dropping off Abber-dabber at Kindergarten today, I went to the locally owned dollar store in search of any kind of contraption that would indefinitely trap and kill fruit flies {<span style="color: magenta;">it's bad this year!!!</span>}. This store is slowly becoming more of a liquidator than a typical dollar store, which is exactly the type of store I like to shop in! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Just one of the things I scored today is a <span style="color: #b45f06;">glass tea-diffuser pitcher</span>! The original price was $37 and I picked it up for $2.88. Woooooooop!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Rushing in the door with eagerness to try it, I grabbed a few sprigs of fresh lavender leaves and flowers on the way in, ran out back to grab a few mint leaves, disturbed them a little, then combined the two with a dash of fresh lemon zest, added hot water and <span style="color: purple;">WAH-LAH</span>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Delicious, homegrown tea. Ahh... Yes, it tasted a bit Spring-y, but that's the best I could do in a moments notice, and I'll take Lavender anything, any time of year!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Of course, combining herbs and making my own of anything always fires up my creative juices for the day, so I was not even close to done!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">As I sat staring at an array of supplies I've accumulated over the months, I remembered reading about a basic homemade shampoo that literally consisted of only two ingredients, water and baking soda. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">After trying this, the watery solution I ended up with was not satisfying. To thicken it up a bit I added some corn starch. It was... OK. But still not great. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">It needed some soothing oils. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">A dash of Olive Oil and a hint of Vitamin E oil did the trick!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">But it was still watery....</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Ah ha!! I have a gallon of unscented liquid hemp castille soap that I use tiny amounts of for Carlin's cloth wipie solution.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Added the soap, gave it a vigorous shake, and ended up with a wonderfully foamy, lathery, silky cream that feels incredible on the skin.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pictured: Citrus All-in-one Shower Cream & Patchouli/Sweet Orange All-in-one Shower Cream with the bubbly/lathering effect shown; Fresh herbs/herbal tea; Lavender Salt Bath Soak.</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ingredients in shower creams: water, baking soda, corn starch, liquid hemp castille soap, vitamin E oil, olive oil.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-small;">Lather as usual into scalp. onto loofa/rag for body & onto legs for shaving. Use within one month. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What is great about this cream is that it can literally be used from head to toe in the shower, which has me now calling it my <span style="color: #0b5394;">All-in-one Shower Cream</span>! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is perfect for a Shampoo, leaves you feeling clean and silky smooth when you use it as a body wash, and your legs will be soft and shiny after you used it as a shaving cream. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The <span style="color: orange;">Citrus Shower Cream</span> is a subtle pick-me-up as the aroma fills the shower all around you, while that <span style="color: #b45f06;">Patchouli-Sweet Orange Shower Cream</span> has a warm and earthy aroma, making it a perfect go-to for the Autumn season.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next, I will make a minty cream and a Juniper Berry cream, which has the essence of pine or tree sap (<span style="color: #e06666;">not berries!</span>), for a medicinal-smelling {<span style="color: #0b5394;">and winter appropriate!</span>} shower cream.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What is your favorite cosmetic you have ever made? Would love to hear about it!</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You can make these cosmetics at home too! You should give it a try! It's super easy and so very gratifying. </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But if you would love to benefit from homemade products that are better for you, your wallet and the environment but you cannot or do not wish to make your own, </span><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">you can buy them from muah, the </span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Modern Hippie Momma</span><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">! </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I make </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">sugar scrubs,</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">facial scrubs</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">, </span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">hair & body oils</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">, </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">coffee scrubs</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">, </span><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">bath salt soaks</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">, </span><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">lotions & creams</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">, </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">shower creams</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">... You name it!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">All natural. All made with Essential Oils.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lavender, Sweet Orange, Patchouli, Tea Tree, Juniper Berry, Peppermint, Lemongrass</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">2 oz = $6.00</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">4 oz = $12.00</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">8oz = $18.00</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">Buy 3 of anything, in any combination, GET THE 4th (lessor priced) ITEM FREE!</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">Perfect for a Harvest or Holiday gift & even Birthdays!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;">All shipments will be sent USPS Ground, unless otherwise requested. Purchaser to pay shipping.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;">Contact Amanda at</span><span style="color: blue;"> mhippiemomma@gmail.com</span><span style="color: #4c1130;"> to inquire.</span></div>
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<script src="http://www.advertisepals.com/includes/javascript/widget.js?uid=b5baa9c23ac3e015ad287b17a3d4afa3" type="text/javascript"></script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10235906409550288250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171770952604649812.post-19307690442262128852013-09-26T13:41:00.001-07:002013-09-26T13:41:54.181-07:00Hot Superfood Cereal Recipe that will bring you back to Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">After going <span style="color: #45818e;">Wheat-free</span>, <span style="color: #674ea7;">Gluten-free</span>, <span style="color: #bf9000;">Rice-free</span>, <span style="color: #783f04;">Yeast-free</span> & completely <span style="color: #274e13;">Grain-free</span> this year... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Well, let's just say that</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">One must get creative when it comes to eating!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">There's a lot more thought that goes into every meal now, and it's been a fun experience substituting, eliminating, adding things we've never tried and learning all kinds of new things about health & nutrition along the way.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">All was going well until one chilly morning when I ached for a warm bowl of oatmeal to accompany my one cup of coffee I allow myself each day.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The eggs were getting old and if I had to eat one more banana by itself, I may just have turned into one.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Something had to be done to replace this comfort food because going without was not an option.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And so..... The idea of making my own Hot Cereal was born. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>BEHOLD!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">An <span style="color: #3d85c6;">INCREDIBLY </span>nutritious (<span style="color: #b45f06;">much more than oatmeal</span>) hot cereal that will jump start your entire system each day, from your brain down to your toes!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Okay, your toes don't actually tingle or anything, but still.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">You'll feel fatabulishous</span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">! </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">{<span style="color: magenta;">says me!</span>}</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">For a sweet touch, drizzle some honey over the cereal after heating. Also add fruit if you'd like!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I always heat the almond milk first and then stir in the flaxseed meal, let it sit for a minute to thicken, and then add the rest of the ingredients. But you can essentially make it any way you want! Adjust the quantities to desired texture too if you wish. </i></span><i style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There's no messing this recipe up.</i></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">After just a few days of starting your day with this recipe, you will feel a difference.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> In fact, your body will be all but thanking you.... out loud, using its very own voice... saying, "</span><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Thank you, human that inhabits me...</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Okay, that was a scary scenario, but </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">you get where I'm headed with it, right? No? </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;">LOL</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">No matter, because y</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">ou'll be feeling light, rejuvenated, energetic and ready to face the day from now on. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Based on my experience....</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You'll be less fatigued.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Waking in the morning will get a bit easier.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You will notice your brain functionality will improve.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And talk about keeping you regular!!</span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-style: italic;">Oh yes, it does that too.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">This cereal is packed full of </span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Omega-3's</span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">, </span><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Fiber</span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">, </span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Antioxidants</span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">, </span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Protein</span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> and </span><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Minerals</span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">!</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Check out this great info I found on Shape.com:</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/diet-tips/ask-diet-doctor-should-i-eat-flaxseeds-chia-seeds-and-hemp-seeds" target="_blank">Flaxseeds:</a> </strong>Two tablespoons of flaxseed meal contains 4 grams of fiber, 2.4 grams of the short-chain omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), and 300 milligrams of a particular type of antioxidant called lignans. Both ALA and lignans are anti-inflammatory, and lignans may also help lower cholesterol levels. Flaxseeds <a class="kLink" href="http://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/diet-tips/ask-diet-doctor-should-i-eat-flaxseeds-chia-seeds-and-hemp-seeds#" id="KonaLink2" style="background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; border: 0px none transparent !important; bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; position: static; right: 0px; top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: none; border-bottom-color: rgb(219, 18, 120); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; padding: 0px 0px 1px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">should </span><span class="kLink" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: none; border-bottom-color: rgb(219, 18, 120); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; padding: 0px 0px 1px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">be </span><span class="kLink" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: none; border-bottom-color: rgb(219, 18, 120); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; padding: 0px 0px 1px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">eating</span></span></a> ground, otherwise they won’t be fully digested—and you won’t extract the nutrients.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/diet-tips/ask-diet-doctor-should-i-eat-flaxseeds-chia-seeds-and-hemp-seeds" target="_blank">Hemp Seeds</a>: </strong>Of these three seeds, hemp contains the most well-rounded and balanced nutritional profile. Two tablespoons contains 6 grams of fat (including 882 milligrams of ALA), 2 grams of fiber, and 5 grams of protein. One unique characteristic of hemp seeds is that they contain all essential amino acids—something uncommon with <a class="kLink" href="http://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/diet-tips/ask-diet-doctor-should-i-eat-flaxseeds-chia-seeds-and-hemp-seeds#" id="KonaLink3" style="background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; border: 0px none transparent !important; bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; position: static; right: 0px; top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: none; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; padding: 0px 0px 1px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">plant</span></span></a> protein sources—making them a great addition for people on a vegetarian or vegan diet.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/diet-tips/ask-diet-doctor-should-i-eat-flaxseeds-chia-seeds-and-hemp-seeds" target="_blank">Chia Seeds:</a> </strong>While most associate them with the infomercials trying to convince you to buy green furry pets, chia seeds were originally eaten by the Mayan and Aztecs. One of the goals of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans was to have people choose <a class="kLink" href="http://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/diet-tips/ask-diet-doctor-should-i-eat-flaxseeds-chia-seeds-and-hemp-seeds#" id="KonaLink4" style="background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; border: 0px none transparent !important; bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; position: static; right: 0px; top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: none; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; padding: 0px 0px 1px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">foods</span></span></a> that provide more dietary fiber. The typical American only eats 40 percent of their daily fiber goals (women should aim to consume 25 grams a day). Chia seeds can help you close this gap. With 5 grams of fiber per tablespoon, just adding two tablespoons of the seeds to your oatmeal or smoothie in the morning will double the fiber intake of the average American. Like flax and hemp seeds, chia seeds also contain the omega-3 fat ALA.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">If you're feeling a bit sluggish, need something to keep you feeling full for longer periods of time, or simply want all of the full benefits of eating a great Superfood breakfast, you should give this delicious and simple recipe a try.</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Your body will thank you</span><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">!!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">{</span><span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">but, hopefully not out loud in its own voice</span><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">}</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Do you have a favorite Grain-Free recipe? </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">I'm always looking for new ideas! </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Please share in the comments so we can mingle on the topic!</span></div>
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<script src="http://www.advertisepals.com/includes/javascript/widget.js?uid=b5baa9c23ac3e015ad287b17a3d4afa3" type="text/javascript"></script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10235906409550288250noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171770952604649812.post-23961593975762260172013-08-18T06:30:00.000-07:002013-08-18T06:30:00.114-07:00Organic Homemade Baby Food Recipes & Big Worm Update: 6 months Old<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">It's Official.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Carlin </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">(</span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">aka Big Worm</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">)</span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">is eating homemade baby food now! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">As earth conscious, GMO loathing, generally </span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">hippie minded</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> parents, it is only natural <span style="color: blue;">(</span><span style="color: #a64d79;">pun intended!</span><span style="color: blue;">)</span> for us to only offer our infant </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>organic varieties</b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> when it comes to the food we make for him or even the juice he drinks. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Finding food items that are </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>organic</b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> is not a difficult feat, as most believe, and it is not necessarily too expensive, especially when it comes to feeding a 6 month old. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For example, we went out and bought </span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Big Worm</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> a grocery bag full of all </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>organic produce</b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The single Avocado alone was $2.00. This is pricey for one avocado, but it goes a long way! </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hear me out... </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We completely removed all veins from the </span></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Organic Collard Greens </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and then</span></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">steamed them </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> <span style="color: magenta;">{</span> <span style="color: #674ea7;">note of worth: steaming, rather than boiling, retains the most nutrients</span> <span style="color: magenta;">}. </span>We diced the <span style="color: #38761d;">Organic Avocado</span> and blended them together until they became a puree, creating a perfect melody of flavor. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This took a few minutes of prep work, 10 minutes of steaming in our rice cooker and less than a minute of blending in our Baby Bullet, all to create.... </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Are you ready for this? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">18 MEALS!!! </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> </span></h2>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Seriously. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">Why BUY Baby Food?!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">He only eats a couple tablespoons at a time for now, so this will change eventually, but we will relish in the bounty of our glory by knowing the entirety of what's in his food, while also saving ourselves some dolla's! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">Think about it.... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The total cost of the meal was around $5.00. Let's break that down, shall we? </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">$5.00 divided by 18 meals = $0.28 cents per meal</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Here are a few Organic Homemade Baby Food Recipes that we've come up with from one </span><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hippie Momma</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> to another:</span></h2>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">***</span><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Plum& Kiwi: {</span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">breakfast time; snack time</span><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">}</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thoughts: Sour and sweet! Big Worm says "</span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">num num num num!</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">". I'm thinking his sour taste buds are not yet fully developed. </span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">:)</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yeilds about 12 baby meals at 2 tablespoons per meal.</span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 Organic Plum</span><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> (</span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">ours was a bit small</span><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 Organic Kiwi</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Blender or Baby Food Making Bullet/Blender</span></li>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Plums are not easy to peel but the peel will just fall right off of a nice ripe one! Cut the plum in half, remove the pit and gently peel away the peel from the fruit while holding the plum over the blender to be sure not to lose any valuable goodness! The think peel should come right off. Peel the kiwi, dice and add to the blender. Blend until completely pureed. Pour mixture into ice trays in appropriate portions, place in freezer to freeze. Once frozen, pop out the baby meals you made into freezer bags, label them with the ingredients, time and date and stick back in the freezer in a designated area for baby food to be sure it doesn't get crushed. </span><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">***</span><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Collards & Avocado: {</span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">lunch time; dinner time</span><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">}</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thoughts: Slightly sweet and "green" tasting, but still pleasant. Big Worm approves. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yeilds a little over 18 baby meals at 2 tablespoons per meal.</span></div>
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<li><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 bundle of Organic Collard Greens</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 Organic Avocado</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Blender or Baby Food Making Bullet/Blender</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rice Cooker or Steamer (</span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">you can make a steamer with a pot and colander too</span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">)</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Completely de-vein the collards. The veins won't do well when pureeing. Steam collards for 10 minutes and then add to blender. Cut avocado, remove pit, cut into slices while still in shell and then spoon into blender. Compost the shell! Blend until smooth. This is a thick mixture, so stopping the blender to stir a few times will be needed. Pour mixture into ice trays or other storage device in appropriate portions (</span><span style="color: #a64d79;">about only 2 tablespoons for Big Worm right now</span><span style="color: #274e13;">), place in freezer to freeze. Once frozen, pop out the baby meals you made into freezer bags (</span><span style="color: #a64d79;">I reuse my breast pump storage bags!</span><span style="color: #274e13;">), label them with the ingredients, time and date and stick back in the freezer in a 'designated baby food area' to be sure it doesn't get crushed. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;">***</span></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Watermelon, Strawberry & Boobie-milk Smoothies! {</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Anytime!</span></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">}</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thoughts: The smell is delish. The taste is soft. The texture is airy. Mommy loves it and Big Worm can't get enough of it! </span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 Seedless personal watermelon (</span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">we used MOST of it, but our teenager swiped the last few bites available</span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2 Organic Strawberries</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Blender or Baby Food Making Bullet/Blender</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Cut watermelon in half and spoon out the juicy fruit into blender. Cut leaves off of strawberries, cut them in half and add them to the blender. Finally, add 1 oz of breast milk to blender and blend until smooth. Pour some into a sealable container and refrigerate for 10 minutes. Feed fresh to baby with a spoon! Pour remaining mixture into ice trays in appropriate portions, place in freezer to freeze. Once frozen, pop out the baby meals you made into freezer bags, label them with the ingredients, time and date and stick back in the freezer in a designated area for baby food to be sure it doesn't get crushed. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">This is just the beginning of my baby food adventures! I can't wait to make more!! But all of this made so much, we have a month's worth of food almost! </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">How to Feed Your Baby:</span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"> </span></h2>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>THAT'S something you thought you'd never ask I bet! But this is something that comes up after you've managed to MAKE the food. NOW WHAT DO I DO?! I can answer that for you too. </i></span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">:) </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You can do this any way you feel most comfortable, but this is what we do. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We grab one portion of the desired meal, place in a shot glass</span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">( </span><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">LOL</span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">t</span><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">hey gotta get used for something these days!</span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">) </span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and then place the shot glass </span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> in a shallow coffee cup full of hot water, being sure the water does not go over the glass and into the baby food. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I place the coffee cup in the sink and let steady, hot water trickle just over the side of the cup to defrost the food, stirring every now and then to help speed it along. You can just set the coffee cup full of hot water on the counter, but it may take longer to heat the baby food. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The goal is not to heat the food up until it is hot, but to bring it to more of a luke-warm temp. From my own mothering experiences, I've found that the food is easier on the baby's tummy in the beginning years of eating food when it is not ice cold going down. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Another way to defrost/heat up the food is to put it in a smaller freezer bag by itself and run hot water over it until it melts and is not cold anymore. The only reason I do not do this is because I would feel wasteful of using too many of those damned plastic bags! </span></span><span style="color: #38761d;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You don't have to be a tree hugging </span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Hippie Momma </span><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">like me</span><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> to enjoy the simpler, more economical ways of eating, buying or simply living! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">My hope is that, even if you do not consider yourself a "hippie" per se, that you will at least be inspired </span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">{</span><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">and not afraid</span><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">} </span><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">to venture into making your baby's food right at home. It is best for baby, great for the bank and makes you feel all warm & fuzzy inside because you know what went in it! </span></div>
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<script src="http://www.advertisepals.com/includes/javascript/widget.js?uid=b5baa9c23ac3e015ad287b17a3d4afa3" type="text/javascript"></script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10235906409550288250noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171770952604649812.post-61202431220178466392013-08-17T08:16:00.000-07:002013-08-17T08:16:00.046-07:00Volunteer Squash Garden from Compost Pile + Help Us Identify Mystery Squash Growing!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">This Summer we had all kinds of goals, but it turned out that we were a lot busier than expected! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">One of our goals was to plant raised bed gardens throughout the yard and try to become mostly self sustainable, as far as produce goes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">This didn't happen. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">We did, however, have a volunteer garden, which I lovingly refer to as our </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">Free Spirited Garden</span>. <span style="color: blue;">:)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">{</span><span style="color: #e06666;">this is also what I call our flower bed in front of the house that runs wild & free with weeds galore... mainly because I have no time to bother with it!</span><span style="color: #0b5394;">}</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">BEHOLD!</span></strong> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-phSjFgjFTO0/UgztsjYGsfI/AAAAAAAAAuA/SlNFTvxGceU/s1600/IMG_0936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="486" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-phSjFgjFTO0/UgztsjYGsfI/AAAAAAAAAuA/SlNFTvxGceU/s640/IMG_0936.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">As you can see, it has grown up the fence and over the other side into the easement next to our home. We plan to donate all that grows on that side to the neighborhood once they are ripe & ready to be picked.<br /><br /></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Just a couple of months ago we were excited to notice a sprig or two of something sprouting out of our compost pile in the corner of our yard. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">At first we thought it could be a potato plant, and then we were sure it was a pumpkin... </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Every day we would go out back to see if we could tell for sure what it could be. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">The anticipation was exciting and it quickly became a sort of a daily hobby! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">It soon became clear that we have ourselves, not one, but a few different kinds of squash plants growing, among other volunteers that sprouted in the center of the plant. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">There's Tomatillos, Potatoes & who knows what else growing in the very center.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">We've enjoyed a squash or two here and there already, but it was just a couple days ago when we harvested our first FULL basket.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o3PzBZhJdRo/Ugzpz0EbQQI/AAAAAAAAAtc/-4_xAVTUbdM/s1600/bh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o3PzBZhJdRo/Ugzpz0EbQQI/AAAAAAAAAtc/-4_xAVTUbdM/s640/bh.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">Abigail loves to run outside and help Daddy!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">We know for sure we have some Acorn Squash, which is simply divine straight out of the oven... </span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Buttery-like, creamy, goodness.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">There's probably some Butternut in there as well, and at least a couple of other volunteers too.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">But we are not sure about one of them.... </span></div>
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<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Perhaps you can help name this one??</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--9jJG61t_R8/UgzrFHIB63I/AAAAAAAAAto/V5JnqTy2g4E/s1600/IMG_0944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--9jJG61t_R8/UgzrFHIB63I/AAAAAAAAAto/V5JnqTy2g4E/s320/IMG_0944.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We figure it is a cross between two or more squash, because we have no memory of eating something of this nature!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It's "knotty" and a bit ugly! </span><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">LOL</span></div>
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<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I'd think we would remember purchasing and eating something like this.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Can you identify it by chance? </span></div>
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<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We would like to know what it is so that we know when to harvest it. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We did pick one of them, but it was way too soon.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The ones over the fence are turning a bit green now, so we're thinking they have a little while to go before they are ripe. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Your thoughts are welcome! </span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">:)</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10235906409550288250noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171770952604649812.post-9524044995050019972013-08-08T08:23:00.000-07:002013-08-09T11:06:39.694-07:00Milk.Mom.Baby. Breast Milk Keepsake Locket Kit...... Product Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qCKOpCS8W20/UgK50YKNuyI/AAAAAAAAAsU/2FG47qqobwQ/s1600/milkmombaby+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="324" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qCKOpCS8W20/UgK50YKNuyI/AAAAAAAAAsU/2FG47qqobwQ/s640/milkmombaby+Collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666;">This is the Dublin Style locket. I chose this over the Sterling Silver selections because I felt it best fit my style. The chain is long, so I double wrap it around my neck. I like to wear it close to my heart.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You know those times in life when you come across something amazing </span><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">{</span><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">yet so simple</span><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">}</span><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> that someone else thought of, and the first thing that goes through your mind is ... </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"WHY didn't I think of that?!"</span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">This is the feeling I got when I received an email from Brooke, the founder of </span><span style="color: #ea9999;">Milk</span><span style="color: #134f5c;">.</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Mom</span><span style="color: #134f5c;">.</span><span style="color: #e06666;">Baby</span><span style="color: #134f5c;">., asking if I would be interested in doing a review. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-size: x-large;">My Thoughts -</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/milkmombaby" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e06666;">Milk</span>.<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Mom</span>.<span style="color: #e06666;">Baby</span>.</a> is Brooke's epiphany turned brilliant business where she has created the concept of not only being able to save something so dear to us nursing mothers, but also coming up with a way to carry something so precious <span style="color: #cc0000;">close to our heart</span>. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">She has given us a way to preserve our Breast Milk</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">, taking it from milk form, to putty form, to a sort of clay-like form and ending with a finished product that has the essence of a </span><b style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">pearl</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As a mother who nursed our first baby, and is now nursing our last baby, it is painfully real to me now of <i><span style="color: #0b5394;">ALL of the lasts that come with having no more children</span></i> after this one. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are many precious moments with a baby... Moments between baby and daddy, baby and siblings, baby with caretakers, and especially baby with mommy. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But there is no other moment that could compare to that of the <span style="color: #444444;">unique, quiet times between baby and mommy</span> during a feeding.</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Silent communication with his eyes and sweet smiles as milk trickles out of the corners of his mouth <span style="color: #93c47d;">...</span> The way pulls the breast to him with both of his hands in the most gentle way<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"> ... </span>The sound of his swallow<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"> </span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">... </span>How he tucks his little fist into the side of the breast to give extra support, like a pro <span style="color: #6fa8dc;">...</span> His little foot that always creeps up to rest on my chest or shoulder now that he is bigger <span style="color: #e06666;">...</span> The pure harmony in which we work together by way of this bond that only we can share...</i></span></div>
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</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">These moments are often unnoticed by everyone else, making them all the more precious. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But something else came from this entire experience of preserving some of my milk in a locket, giving even more sentiment to this whole thing. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Now, when he is nursing, he lovingly and ever so gently plays with the heart shaped locket around my neck that holds a significant piece of what bonds us as Mother and Son. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This necklace has become so much more than just a way to preserve Carlin's breast milk. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It has become a forever-tangible piece of what keeps him alive every single day in these precious and fleeting years of his life that has created all of these tiny little memories that only he and I share, and it can all be kept tucked away, in a locket, safe around my neck, where I can grab it, close my eyes and feel closer to these times anytime I please. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Differing Reactions -</span></h2>
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</span> <span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I've received various reactions from people over this past month when I excitedly show them my precious locket. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">My husband did kind of find it weird at first, but has since come around and realizes it is not as gross as it seems. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Others make a sort of funny face, asking what I'm going to do with it... "You're going to WEAR your breast milk.....", as if not to even ask the question, but more to just make the statement as if saying it aloud to me will let me see the error of my ways, or something. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I do have one friend, the one I lovingly call my </span><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Earth Sister</span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> who never batted an eye and was immediately in love with my heartfelt locket when I first got the shipment in and showed her my adorable little <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/milkmombaby" target="_blank">kit </a>that Brooke sent me from her <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/milkmombaby" target="_blank">Etsy Shop</a>. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="color: magenta; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The point I'm trying to make is this...... </span><br />
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</span> <span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Just like with anything in life, everyone sees things differently, and you can't deny yourself something simply because other's do not "approve" or think it is "normal".</span><br />
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</span> <span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I think it is about damn time we put down our iPads (</span><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I </span><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">don't own one</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">) and laptops every now and then and remember to, not only cherish these tender moments, but to also create little memories of them, whether being sure to jot down milestones in the baby book, or something cute your baby did that you want to remember, or by preserving something that you'll never be able to share with your little one again; </span><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">breast milk</span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">.</span></span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;">When it comes to </span><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">YOU</span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;"> and </span><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">YOUR baby</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">, </span><u><span style="color: magenta;">don't you ever think </span></u></span><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><u>TWICE</u></span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;"> about anything that has to do with saving a little piece of their existence from the short years of babyhood that brings back the precious memories of such a time, no matter </span><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">WHAT</span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;"> other's reactions are. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: x-large;">The Process -</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First of all, you can visit her <a href="http://www.milkmombaby.com/p/hello.html" target="_blank">website</a>, choose your locket and pay extra for your milk to be preserved for you, but from one nursing mommy to another, </span><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I highly recommend you do the entire process on your own</b></span><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. </span></span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;">It is so easy to do and you'll feel more connected to your little treasure than you could have imagined by the time you are wearing your one-of-a-kind finished product. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Brooke sells these Breast Milk Keepsake Locket Kits for you to do just that at her </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/milkmombaby" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Milk.Mom.Baby. Esty Shop</span></a><span style="color: #351c75;">.</span></span></div>
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</span> <span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Included in her kit is the necklace of your choice, thoughtfully attached to a stiff/glossy piece of paper, perfect for holding everything in place while you prepare your keepsake. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Also included are a set of directions, a paint brush, a tiny spatula, a vile of gloss, and two viles of what smells like vinegar to be used in the cooking process of the breast milk. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Here are the steps in my own words, along with my own words-of-advice ...... </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">{ </span><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">You will need 2oz of fresh breast milk, or 2.5oz of frozen breast milk</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">}</span></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Take your time. When you start this process, know that it will take you several days to complete, but also know that because of the time it takes, you will form a special bond with your little treasure. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">My locket came attached to a strong piece of paper, secured with a piece of tape, so I decided to leave it in place to make things easier during the glazing process. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Dip your paint brush in the glaze and evenly glaze the entire inner parts of your locket. Every area on the inside must be well glazed to avoid tarnish or rust over time. Let dry completely <span style="color: magenta;">(</span>I waited 2 hours<span style="color: magenta;">)</span>.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Glaze again once it dries completely. I repeated this step, glazing the entire inside probably 3 or 4 times. It is important to be sure to rinse the brush thoroughly after each use so that it is soft and usable the next time you need it. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">To ensure it dries completely, wait a full 24 hours before beginning the process of cooking down the breast milk.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Be sure you have about 15 minutes of no interruptions with this step! Grab a small pot, put over low/medium heat, dump your breast milk and one vile of the vinegar smelling fluid into the pot. Each vile is color coated and she instructs on which to pour first in the actual directions. To me, they both smell exactly the same. I imagine adding them a separate times effects the chemical/dehydration process that's needed to preserve the milk.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Bring to a boil and then add the other vile of fluid. Gently stir continuously and slowly once it has the appearance of sweetened condensed milk. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">In the instructions, she says to wait until it has the texture of clay and mentions rolling it between your fingers into a ball to be able to insert it and mold it into your locket. I gently guided the mixture onto a napkin and spooned it into my locket with the tiny spatula she provided while it was slightly thicker than sweetened condensed milk, before it ever got thick enough to roll in my hands like clay. I'm only telling you this so that you do not worry over the end result if things are not going verbatim to the instructions! <span style="color: magenta;">:)</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Get your milk into your locket soon! There is <span style="color: magenta;">NO</span> time to waste! </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Smooth it over as best as you can with your little spatula, being sure to come back every now and then to smooth it over some more. When it was getting dry and starting to have tiny cracks, I simply ran hot water over the spatula and smoothed it back out again. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I spent an entire day slowly molding and perfecting the shape of mine, feeling my attachment to it growing stronger as the hours went on. It looked different and better every time I came back to it! <span style="color: magenta;">{ </span>don't worry if it looks a bit yellow; it will eventually turn more of an off-white <span style="color: magenta;">}</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Wait 48 hours before this next step to be sure your milk is completely dry. If not, your milk could go rancid and your entire project could be ruined. <span style="color: magenta;"> :</span><span style="color: blue;">'</span><span style="color: magenta;">( </span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Dip your brush into the glaze and evenly coat the dried milk, not being shy about giving another light coat to the areas of the locket immediately surrounding the milk. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Repeat this step every couple of hours, 2 or 3 or 4 times if you'd like! </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I coated mine 3 times one day and 2 more times the next day, and then waited a full 48 hours before messing with it to be sure it dried completely. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Be sure your locket is secure, on a flat, safe surface for drying and remains open.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">THE BEST PART: </span> Anxiously running to your new little piece of sentiment to be greeted by a beautiful pearl-like appearance that only you could make. Only <span style="color: magenta;">YOU</span>! Your body made the milk, you lovingly prepared the locket and ingredients, and carefully molded and glazed your own little priceless treasure that will forever be close to your heart. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">I'm in </span><span style="color: red;">LOVE</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;"> with my locket and know that as the years pass, I will be able to hold my locket and be thankful for the gift I gave myself that allows me to hold on to a time with my son that flies by in the blink of a eye. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">And you should do the same. You'll be glad you did.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Modern Hippie Momma highly recommends</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/milkmombaby" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="131" src="http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u640/Amanda_Autumn_Nipper/milkmombabylogo_zps1b7708f8.gif" width="640" /></a></div>
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<script src="http://www.advertisepals.com/includes/javascript/widget.js?uid=b5baa9c23ac3e015ad287b17a3d4afa3" type="text/javascript"></script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10235906409550288250noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171770952604649812.post-91030695915824773282013-07-19T08:56:00.000-07:002013-07-20T14:00:27.718-07:00Homemade Scrubs & Masks<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FlSqFc2YZ84/UelfdnuFWnI/AAAAAAAAArE/RnTtnC7fTFI/s1600/homemade+recipes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FlSqFc2YZ84/UelfdnuFWnI/AAAAAAAAArE/RnTtnC7fTFI/s640/homemade+recipes.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I can't help it... The Hippie Momma in me can hardly contain myself!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Just in this last week I have made several DIY homemade remedies/cosmetics that are simply </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">GLORIOUS</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Recently I have met my seemingly long lost Soul/Earth Sister and we have every intention of starting a natural cosmetic business together in the near future. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here is a start to our collection of recipes:</span></h2>
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<i><span style="color: #351c75;">It is important to note that all of these scrubs can make the shower floor a bit slippery, so be sure to be careful and it may not hurt to give the bottom of the tub a wipe down with a dry towel just to be sure none of your kiddos (or hubbys) slip and fall. </span></i></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;">Coconut Patchouli Hair Mask:</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;">1/2 cup Coconut Oil </span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;">4-6 drops Lavender {<i>Lavendula Augustifolia</i>} EO</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;">8-10 drops Patchouli EO</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Shampoo and condition hair as usual. Apply dime sized amount to hair, starting at the ends. If hair is shorter than shoulder length, try a slightly smaller amount. (It doesn't take much at all!) Slowly work in until you reach the nape of the neck. Brush hair, starting from ends, to work mask through hair thoroughly, slowly working up to the scalp. Rinse if you wish, but it probably won't make a huge difference. The wonderful combination of Coconut Oil and Essential Oils are already working their magic! You will notice immediate differences in your hair after the first use. Continue use 3 times a week to maintain healthy, shiny, more manageable hair. </span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;">Sweet Orange Oatmeal Cookie Body Scrub: </span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;">1/2 cup Coconut Oil</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;">1/4 cup Crushed Oats</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;">1 1/2 cups Raw Sugar</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;">2 tbls Baking Soda</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;">4-6 drops Sweet Orange EO</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;">Mmm.... as tempting as it is, resist eating this one! This does not replace your body wash. Lather up as usual and rinse before applying this scrub. Rub small amount in palm of hands and rub over rough spots such as elbows, knees, bottoms of feet. Rub all over body for an invigorating, exfoliating and moisturizing finish to your shower! Try skipping the after-shower moisturizer and see how long your skin feels baby butt soft! It's amazing! Continue use at least 3 times a week to maintain beautiful, supple, firm skin. </span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;">Brewed Awakening Coffee Body Scrub: </span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;">1/2 cup Coconut Oil</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;">2 cups Raw Sugar</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;">4 tbls Ground Coffee</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;">2 tbls Brown Sugar</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;">2 tsp Cinnamon</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;">1 tbls Honey</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Rise and Shine! This morning body scrub will awaken the senses AND your skin! Caffeine is super good for the skin, making it more firm and has even been known to fight inflammation and cellulite! Use your body wash as normal, rinse and apply to rough spots and all over body for a perfect wake-me-up in the morning. You'll feel soft and lovely all day long!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #7f6000; font-size: large;"><b><u>Lemongrass Morning Facial Scrub:</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #bf9000;">1/2 cup Coconut Oil</span></div>
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<span style="color: #bf9000;">1/4 Baking Soda</span></div>
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<span style="color: #bf9000;">4 drops Lemongrass EO</span></div>
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<span style="color: #7f6000;">This is a moisturizer and toner all in ONE! Wet face, apply dime size amount all over face (careful around the eyes) and rinse with cool water. Pat dry with a towel and feel the natural astringent effects of the Lemongrass getting to work! Your face will feel tighter and so soft. Use daily as a morning pick-me-up! Our teenage son even loves this one!</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Lavender Nighttime Facial Scrub:</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">1/2 cup Coconut Oil</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">1/4 Baking Soda</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">8-10 drops Lavender {<i>Lavendula Augustifolia} </i>EO </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">This is another moisturizer and toner all in ONE! Wet face, apply dime size amount all over, rinse and wah-lah! Pat dry with towel and notice immediate differences in your skin. Use nightly to feel fresh and calm right before bed. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We are only getting started. Coconut oil is all we had on hand for this round but we have already put in our order for more ingredients to broaden our recipe collection. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;">Please let me know what you think! </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">While all recipes shown are inspired by other recipes we've come across in our hours of research, each of these are our very own, especially the names. We encourage you to share these fantastic recipes, but ask that you always reference this site. Thank You!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10235906409550288250noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171770952604649812.post-27437165974659825102013-07-07T08:00:00.000-07:002013-07-09T15:39:33.444-07:00What Is Leaky Gut Syndrome and Healing Options? .....Guest Post by Healthline.com<div class="normal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xXBxhl6L1hk/Udb6f0iqOLI/AAAAAAAAApU/61xOqJeQTqo/s1600/leaky-gut-syndrome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xXBxhl6L1hk/Udb6f0iqOLI/AAAAAAAAApU/61xOqJeQTqo/s320/leaky-gut-syndrome.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;">Leaky gut syndrome is not generally recognized by conventional physicians, but new evidence is suggesting the condition is real. Physicians and natural medicine practitioners are both agreeing that a lot of health issues have to do with the bowel, and healing these issues invariably involves first tending to the gut. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;">Leaky gut syndrome, <i>also known as increased intestinal permeability</i>, is the result of damage to the intestinal lining, making it less able to protect the internal environment as well as to filter needed nutrients and other biological substances. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;">Abnormally large-spaced lesions form on the intestinal wall lining, between the cell walls. Consequently, some toxins, bacteria, undigested foods and waste, not normally absorbed, may "leak" out of the intestines and into the blood stream. This triggers an autoimmune reaction, which can lead to gastrointestinal problems such as gas, skin rashes, autoimmunity, cramps, joint pain, fatigue, </span><a href="http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/about-rheumatoid-arthritis" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;">arthritis</span></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;">, periodontal disease and bloating. It's even been linked to autism. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;">Some believe that chronic inflammation is the source of this syndrome, along with other causes such as certain medications, excessive alcohol consumption and food sensitivity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;">There are, however, certain natural protocols you can administer to heal leaky gut. Among them are a good, clean diet, a healthy lifestyle and certain supplements. Check out the below list of suggestions for curing this condition:</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;">Healing Options for Leaky Gut Syndrome</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;">Supplements, Fiber, Digestive Enzymes and Herbs</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;">Since Leaky Gut is an absorption problem, certain vitamin and minerals such as vitamin-A, B, C and E, as well as Co-Q10, zinc, L-glutamine, probiotics, magnesium, calcium, iron colostrum and selenium helps to absorb food, heal the intestinal lining, rebuild the gut wall and reduces inflammation. Fiber is another good supplement, working double duty on protecting the gut and sweeping the abdominal wall for harmful bacteria and fungus. Great fiber sources include flax, chia seeds and organic psyllium powder...not to mention organic vegetables and fruits. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Digestive Enzymes like lemon and apple cider vinegar can improve low stomach acid levels. A deficit of stomach acid associated with leaky gut can present digestion problems and toxin leakage. Finally certain herbs like marshmallow root, sheep sorrel, ginger and even licorice root can calm inflammation, sooth and coat the intestinal tract, heal gut damage and minimize toxin absorption. To eliminate parasites that frequently follow a compromised digestive tract, garlic, cloves, black walnuts grapefruit seed extract and echinacea have been known to work. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: small; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;">Life Balance</span></b></span><br />
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While maintaining a balanced lifestyle is important for anyone at any age, it's particularly important if you suffer from Leaky Gut Syndrome. Exercise, eating right and adequate sleep are invaluable for encouraging a healthy digestive system. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;">Additionally, minimizing stress has also been shown to improve this condition. Many times, stress produces harmful hormones like cortisol, which is linked to stomach inflammation, and as a consequence, leaky gut. Getting a handle on the stressors in life can drastically improve or eliminate the leaky gut condition. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: small; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;">Clean Diet</span></b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;"><br />
It should go without saying that a clean diet is critical for a healthy body. What may not be so obvious is the fact that healthy foods play a vital role in repairing the gut. Eliminating bad foods is even more important, because generally speaking, bad foods can be a major contributor to Leaky Gut Syndrome. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;">We're talking about foods such as gluten, sugar, dairy, refined carbohydrates, alcohol, caffeine and processed foods. Rather, focus on high-fiber foods as well as clean, organic fare, since pesticides and GMOs, (genetically modified organisms), antagonize the situation. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;">Additionally, essential fatty acids from flax, borage, fish and chia are also key to healing the bowel and reducing inflammation. Drinking plenty of purified water is also a “deal-breaker” in avoiding gut-destroying contaminants.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;">Leaky Gut Syndrome is no joke. It's been linked to countless maladies, and the medical profession is beginning to recognize that the secret to a healthy body may very well originate in the gut. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;">So if you suffer from Leaky Gut Syndrome, take heed at the above suggestions, and incorporate some of these into your life to promote good health and relieve your body from an ailing stomach. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
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<i><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">David Novak is
a international syndicated newspaper columnist, appearing in newspapers,
magazines, radio and TV around the world. His byline has appeared in GQ,
National Geographic, Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, Reader's Digest, USA
Today, among others, and he has appeared on The Today Show, the CBS Morning Show
and Paul Harvey Radio. David is a specialist at consumer technology, health and
fitness, and he also owns a PR firm and a consulting company where he and his
staff focus on these industries. He is a
regular contributing editor for Healthline. For more information, visit </span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.healthline.com/" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: navy; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">http://www.healthline.com/</span></i></a></span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">.</span></i><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></i></div>
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></i>
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<a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=404709&u=815802&m=42894&urllink=&afftrack=" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="123" src="http://www.shareasale.com/image/42894/logo2.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=496849&u=815802&m=48108&urllink=&afftrack=" target="_blank"><img alt="Free cloth diapers on order over $49 ,free shipping" border="0" height="200" src="http://www.shareasale.com/image/48108/3.200-200.jpg" width="200" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10235906409550288250noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171770952604649812.post-30292442920317494482013-07-05T10:00:00.000-07:002013-07-05T10:00:02.706-07:00My Husband's Imaginary Book <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">From early on in our relationship, Paul has always found great pleasure in, not only laughing at my quirks, but also by writing them down in his imaginary "<span style="color: #351c75;">Things Amanda Says & Does</span>" book that he pulls out of his imaginary pocket when he feels the time calls for jotting down what just went down, for the sole purpose of being able to remember it at another time as a conversation piece at future gatherings of friends. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This was the beginning of his ritual: </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jDyNUHFbP2c/UdMGnXNqOGI/AAAAAAAAAo4/hNaa-8kjkOM/s300/popcorn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jDyNUHFbP2c/UdMGnXNqOGI/AAAAAAAAAo4/hNaa-8kjkOM/s200/popcorn.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We walked down the grocery isle arm in arm several years ago looking for some snacks for a movie we wanted to watch that evening. </span><br />
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{ <span style="color: magenta;">Now.. Don't Judge Me - I was young, OK?!</span> }<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">"What in the world?"</span>, I said looking at a container full of popcorn kernels.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">"It's... popcorn, baby"</span>, he said smirking and wrinkling his eyebrows as he does.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">"But... how do you get them in the </span><a href="http://bdash.ca/?url=NTQzODc1" target="_blank"><span style="color: magenta;">microwave</span></a><span style="color: blue;">..?? Won't they go all over the place?!"</span>, waving my hands in a motion demonstrating the '<i>all over the place</i>' I was talking about.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">"Baby......"</span>, was all he could say before laughing uncontrollably at the fact that I thought popcorn could ONLY be made in the microwave.<br />
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{ <span style="color: magenta;">Pause so you may commence to laughter as well.</span> }<br />
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After gathering himself, he reached in his pocket to document this memory as I spent the next several minutes trying to grab<i> <span style="color: #0b5394;">this imaginary book</span> </i>away from him. { <span style="color: magenta;">again, don't judge me!</span> }<br />
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He then told me he would buy me that container of popcorn kernels and show me how popcorn was made in our BEFORE <a href="http://bdash.ca/?url=NTQzODc1" target="_blank">microwaves</a> were invented.<br />
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And, so he did.<b><span style="color: blue;"> :) </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">Yep, true story. </span></b><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Happy to bring a smile to your face! </span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Enjoy your day!</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rGoXF7V9yNY/UX1nysd4FwI/AAAAAAAAATQ/xev-abH8vV8/s100/heart+signature.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rGoXF7V9yNY/UX1nysd4FwI/AAAAAAAAATQ/xev-abH8vV8/s100/heart+signature.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">After years of suffering, thousands of dollars spent on tests and several doctor's opinions, our family doctor of the last decade may have finally discovered the silent cause behind all of my husband Paul's ailments.</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To list a few....</span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inflammation of skin & joints</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Irritation of skin / Unexplained rashes</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instant heartburn after eating </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bloating</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fatigue (<i>which he didn't notice he had until after treatment started, when fatigue subsided</i>)</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are more things he suffers from (<i>nerve damage, chronic back pain, etc</i>) but those are due to a condition called Tethered-Spinal Cord Syndrome, something that is usually discovered in the early, toddler years of life, and not at the age of 35, which was Paul's case. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Her discovery comes after she has realized food allergens that she, her husband and children suffer from, and since noticing positive changes after they all began special diets and taking supplements, she has been leaning toward more natural approaches in her practice with her patients. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">We're loving this transition. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She told us about something called the <span style="font-size: large;">Leaky Gut</span>. {</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: magenta;"> it sounds horrid, I know</span><span style="color: #0b5394;"> }</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But it is rather fascinating once you start reading about it, and it has become clear to me that many probably suffer from this and haven't a clue! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Millions could find relief by changing just a few diet habits, taking some supplements and avoiding too much yeast, perservatives, bleached flours and foods high in sugars, or refined sugars. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We'll talk more on this later { look for a series of posts to document our new journey in defeating Leaky Gut } .... but this leads me right into this post and will give more understanding into exactly why Paul is on a new diet. </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">She ran an in depth test on him and discovered his body is allergic to certain things, most likely causing the various agitations he suffers from. </span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">So she wants him to do a 6 week trial of eliminating those things. After which, once we can get his body balanced and free from all of these things his body deems as toxins, he can surely enjoy these things in moderation.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">But for now this means.... </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No Wheat</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No Rice</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No Yeast {</span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">no beer</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">} </span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">:'(</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No Refined Sugar</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No High Levels of Sugar {</span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">no</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">fruit</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">}</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No Crab </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No Cranberries</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No Sesame Seeds (</span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">or oil</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">) </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No Sunflower Seeds</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Paul is the Cook of the household, and basically ALL that is mentioned above was pretty much the jest of our diet up until a few weeks ago.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">~</span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">Which brings us to his Father's Day</span><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">~</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We tend to only get each other gifts that are more thoughtful and less materialistic when it comes to any occasion, so this Father's Day it only seemed natural to make a trip to the local nutritional shop and purchase items that can help alleviate the changes in his diet, which can effect a person & their quality of life in their day-to-day {</span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">especially one who cooks!</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">} more than you'd think. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For him to be able to go to the pantry and grab a bag of pasta noodles to make his delicious chicken Alfredo without having to cringe at the thought of knowing that, </span><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>while the rest of the family will be enjoying the full meal with noodles, he will only be able to enjoy the chicken and the sauce....</i></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> His spirit is bound to avoid feeling a little broken.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To add to this thoughtful gift, the only thing that could make it better is if his lovely wife {</span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">muah</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">} conquered the rare feat of making a meal for</span><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">HIM</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">rather than he making one for me.</span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> :)</span><br />
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</span> <span style="color: magenta; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">So, here we go.... </span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PPW5qruQcXg/UcIWL_iX_7I/AAAAAAAAAlI/V--dFyjBANI/s1600/130616_0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PPW5qruQcXg/UcIWL_iX_7I/AAAAAAAAAlI/V--dFyjBANI/s320/130616_0007.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Consensus: Noodles made with both<br />
CORN & QUINOA are a bit more "crumbly" in texture.<br />
Noodles made with only CORN better imitate<br />
the standard pasta noodle.<br />
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</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span> <span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span> <span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The store had a variety of noodles, in fact... an entire isle. </span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;">After 30 minutes of reading labels, I came home with noodles made from solely CORN and noodles made with both CORN & QUINOA. (</span><span style="color: #674ea7;">pronounced KEEN-WAH</span><span style="color: #38761d;">)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</span></span> <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;">For this meal I chose the noodles made from both ingredients and set out to make a cold pasta salad for lunch.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZaQBKd8LMFU/UcIWLpBb9WI/AAAAAAAAAk8/Gm2LS026uBw/s1600/130616_0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZaQBKd8LMFU/UcIWLpBb9WI/AAAAAAAAAk8/Gm2LS026uBw/s320/130616_0006.jpg" width="231" /></a></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ingredients Used:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;">Lemon</span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"> </span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;">Peppers</span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;">Broccoli</span></div>
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</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Olive Oil</div>
</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Ginger</div>
</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Cilantro</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Chicken</div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I boiled the noodles, rinsed them with cold water to cool them and set</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> aside, all the while the chicken was cooking.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Next, it was time for the dressing. </span></div>
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<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T_ZAyXymCfo/UcIWMS3A28I/AAAAAAAAAlU/2vjX0LSBGAw/s1600/130616_0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T_ZAyXymCfo/UcIWMS3A28I/AAAAAAAAAlU/2vjX0LSBGAw/s320/130616_0009.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">About a 1/4 cup of Olive Oil, juice from half a lemon, about an inch of Ginger diced fine, lots of Cilantro {</span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">we LOVE cilantro!</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">} & Salt and Pepper.... </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And </span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">WAH-LAH</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">! Mmm... </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Toss it all together and BAM! </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IeYBwBU3kew/UcIWM2rGrrI/AAAAAAAAAlc/OymooILye_o/s1600/130616_0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IeYBwBU3kew/UcIWM2rGrrI/AAAAAAAAAlc/OymooILye_o/s320/130616_0012.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A visually appealing and tastefully satisfying light & healthy lunch was achieved. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">As was a well fed and happy husband with a calmed soul, a warmed heart and a smiling face. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>MISSION COMPLETE.</b></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This is only the beginning of this new adventure for us! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Life is always ever changing, sure to give us new perspectives at every turn. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It keeps things interesting and keeps us learning, that's for sure!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Stay tuned for more on Paul's new foodie-journey as we defeat all of his ailments in an effort to secure a more enjoyable quality of life for him. </span></i><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">I love you, honey.<br />
We WILL get through this.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rGoXF7V9yNY/UX1nysd4FwI/AAAAAAAAATQ/xev-abH8vV8/s1600/heart+signature.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rGoXF7V9yNY/UX1nysd4FwI/AAAAAAAAATQ/xev-abH8vV8/s1600/heart+signature.JPG" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=484990&u=815802&m=47058&urllink=&afftrack=" target="_blank"><img alt="The Perfect Gift For Her" border="0" src="http://www.shareasale.com/image/47058/728x90_00.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=496853&u=815802&m=48108&urllink=&afftrack=" target="_blank"><img alt="Free cloth diapers on order over $49 ,free shipping" border="0" src="http://www.shareasale.com/image/48108/3.728-90.jpg" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10235906409550288250noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171770952604649812.post-81055500027465260422013-06-23T10:00:00.000-07:002013-06-23T10:00:04.629-07:00Long Term Benefits of Breastfeeding.... Guest Post by Healthline.com <div class="normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal">
<a href="" name="h.gjdgxs"></a><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";">There are been numerous
clinical studies done over the past several decades that show what the </span><a href="http://www.healthline.com/health/breastfeeding-tips"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";">long-term benefits of
breastfeeding</span></a><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";"> are. </span></div>
<div class="normal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="normal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";">Most women who
are still in the phase of trying to decide whether they want to breastfeed
usually think of the bonding between mother and child first. While bonding is
very important, there are many other benefits that can last throughout the
child’s lifetime.</span></div>
<div class="normal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="normal">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The “Metabolic
Programming Effect” is one of the newest discoveries. It is the idea that the
nutrition a baby receives in the early stages of life programs a person’s
metabolism (how the body uses energy) and their over-all health in the future. </span></div>
<div class="normal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="normal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";">By breastfeeding, you are reducing your baby’s risk for developing diabetes,
hypertension, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease,</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";">asthma,</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";">high cholesterol and obesity in
adulthood.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">According to La Leche
League International (LLLI), breastfeeding is protective against a lot of
common childhood illnesses, including</span><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">ear infections, respiratory infections, allergies, colds, viruses, strep
throat, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, food poisoning, and Sudden Infant
Death Syndrome (SIDS).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="normal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";">This does not mean your
baby (child) will not become sick. However, the illness is usually less severe
and does not last as long than if the baby had been fed formula. </span></div>
<div class="normal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";">For both short
and long-term health, breastfeeding your baby at least until their first
birthday may be your best chance for lowering their risk for diseases and
giving them a better chance at a healthy childhood and adulthood.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Besides the health
benefit effects of a baby being breastfed, it also improves the intellectual
development. Breastfed babies score higher on IQ tests than formula-fed babies. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="normal">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Long-term nursing protects against ulcerative colitis, diabetes, asthma,
Crohn’s disease, obesity, and high cholesterol in adulthood. Babies who are
breastfed for a year or more are less likely to need braces later in life.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Breastfed babies are more likely to have
fewer cardiovascular risk factors in adulthood. They also tend to have Lower
Body Mass Index (BMI) and higher HDL levels ("good" cholesterol) in
adulthood. Breastfeeding can also lower the risk of immune system diseases, and
autoimmune disorders.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Babies who were
breastfed long term (a year or more) tend to be more secure and independent
than babies who are weaned early, because the babies had their needs met during
the helpless period of infancy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";">Long-term nursing also
provides several benefits for moms. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="normal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";">Many of the benefits of breastfeeding are
related to how long you breastfeed. Meaning that the longer you breastfeed over
the course of your lifetime, (taking into account the number of children you
have) the lower your risk of breast cancer and osteoporosis. </span></div>
<div class="normal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="normal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";">Breastfeeding is
linked to a lower risk of these health problems in women:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -17.95pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">●<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";">Breast cancer</span></div>
<div class="normal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -17.95pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">●<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";">Postpartum depression</span></div>
<div class="normal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -17.95pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">●<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";">Type 2 diabetes</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">●<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";">Ovarian cancer</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="normal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";">There are definitely
several benefits for both the baby and mom when it comes to long-term
breastfeeding. However, if you are only able to breastfeed for a short period
of time you and your baby will still reap most of the benefits.</span></div>
<div class="normal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Tammy Mahan has 20
years of healthcare experience; she is also a freelance medical/health writer.
Writing for </span><a href="http://www.healthline.com/symptomsearch"><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Healthline.com</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> is an enjoyable experience that allows
her to share information on numerous topics.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><iframe bordercolor="#000000" frameborder="0" height="150" hspace="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6534879.3099;sz=180x150;ord=[timestamp]?;lid=41000613802463511;pid=878730;usg=AFHzDLvBFM7ylDGp0qrV28EPVslojo4Q7g;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.kohls.com%252Fproduct%252Fprd-878730%252Fmy-brest-friend-paisley-breastfeeding-pillow-slipcover.jsp%253Fpfx%253Dpfx_shopcompare%2526cid%253Dshopping3;pubid=635673;price=%2420.89;title=My+Brest+Friend+Paisle...;merc=Kohl%27s;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.kohls.com.edgesuite.net%2Fis%2Fimage%2Fkohls%2F878730%3Fwid%3D600%26hei%3D600%26op_sharpen%3D1;width=85;height=85" vspace="0" width="180"></iframe><iframe bordercolor="#000000" frameborder="0" height="150" hspace="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6534879.3100;sz=180x150;ord=[timestamp]?;lid=41000613802463511;pid=878735;usg=AFHzDLtE-iPKC5D2VQvjwj-SN1hgfDapeA;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.kohls.com%252Fproduct%252Fprd-878735%252Fmy-brest-friend-twins-plus-breastfeeding-pillow-deluxe-slipcover.jsp%253Fpfx%253Dpfx_shopcompare%2526cid%253Dshopping3;pubid=635673;price=%2447.50;title=My+Brest+Friend+Twins+...;merc=Kohl%27s;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.kohls.com.edgesuite.net%2Fis%2Fimage%2Fkohls%2F878735_Green%3Fwid%3D600%26hei%3D600%26op_sharpen%3D1;width=85;height=85" vspace="0" width="180"></iframe><iframe bordercolor="#000000" frameborder="0" height="150" hspace="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6675330.4195;sz=180x150;ord=[timestamp]?;lid=41000613802463762;pid=UBM9780814480571;usg=AFHzDLsYFJ7t_f4MNOyG4KTZJ3fWzSXlFw;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.cdsbooksdvds.com%252Fproduct.jhtm%253Fsku%253DUBM9780814480571;pubid=635673;price=%2417.46;title=The+ABCs+of+Breastfeed...;merc=CDS+Books+and+DVDS;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fc374368.r68.cf1.rackcdn.com%2F9780814480571.jpg;width=56;height=85" vspace="0" width="180"></iframe><iframe bordercolor="#000000" frameborder="0" height="150" hspace="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6675330.4200;sz=180x150;ord=[timestamp]?;lid=41000613802463762;pid=UBM9780345506498;usg=AFHzDLumOfbFFcUgQi_nKkqiuXiJHeimbw;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.cdsbooksdvds.com%252Fproduct.jhtm%253Fsku%253DUBM9780345506498;pubid=635673;price=%2414.85;title=The+Essential+Breastfe...;merc=CDS+Books+and+DVDS;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fc380313.r13.cf1.rackcdn.com%2F9780345506498.jpg;width=56;height=85" vspace="0" width="180"></iframe><iframe bordercolor="#000000" frameborder="0" height="150" hspace="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6675330.4206;sz=180x150;ord=[timestamp]?;lid=41000613802463762;pid=UBM9780307345585;usg=AFHzDLsff03b6u_zeik0KuUq65LhpXPY7g;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.cdsbooksdvds.com%252Fproduct.jhtm%253Fsku%253DUBM9780307345585;pubid=635673;price=%2418.77;title=The+Ultimate+Breastfee...;merc=CDS+Books+and+DVDS;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fc379395.r95.cf1.rackcdn.com%2F9780307345585.jpg;width=68;height=85" vspace="0" width="180"></iframe><iframe bordercolor="#000000" frameborder="0" height="150" hspace="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6675330.4199;sz=180x150;ord=[timestamp]?;lid=41000613802463762;pid=UBM9780071598576;usg=AFHzDLvhZ5XAiVU9yIbl1aNpF3YuAYmMOA;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.cdsbooksdvds.com%252Fproduct.jhtm%253Fsku%253DUBM9780071598576;pubid=635673;price=%2417.59;title=The+Breastfeeding+Moth...;merc=CDS+Books+and+DVDS;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fc382427.r27.cf1.rackcdn.com%2F9780071598576.jpg;width=57;height=85" vspace="0" width="180"></iframe><br /></span></i></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10235906409550288250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171770952604649812.post-11241128070439550752013-06-15T07:00:00.000-07:002013-06-15T09:27:31.144-07:007 Natural Hair Masks Revealed.... Guest Post by Angela @ My Personal Accent<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AxCoujP2POo/UbjSSxLJUdI/AAAAAAAAAj8/_yxeuczzbNg/s1600/Hair+Mask+Feature+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AxCoujP2POo/UbjSSxLJUdI/AAAAAAAAAj8/_yxeuczzbNg/s320/Hair+Mask+Feature+pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hair masks not only give you healthy, shiny, and strong hair, they make you feel confident and beautiful. </span></h2>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EcZNo8RJfnQ/UbD-K-j7UlI/AAAAAAAAAhI/3vG82wV-woU/s1600/avacadomask+blackgirllonghaircom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EcZNo8RJfnQ/UbD-K-j7UlI/AAAAAAAAAhI/3vG82wV-woU/s1600/avacadomask+blackgirllonghaircom.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Credit: avacadomask blackgirllonghaircom.jpg</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow', Arial;">We pay a lot of money for deep conditioning treatments. You can spend upwards of $50 or more in some cases. I have used some of these hair masks over the years and some I have had friends who have used them. They make your hair look and feel good. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow', Arial;">These are some great natural recipes to save you money and revive your hair. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-56Wf5_VTSlU/UbD-KxxgIoI/AAAAAAAAAhM/VUr4qqFJ_Vg/s1600/almostexactlyblogwordpresscom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-56Wf5_VTSlU/UbD-KxxgIoI/AAAAAAAAAhM/VUr4qqFJ_Vg/s200/almostexactlyblogwordpresscom.jpg" width="114" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Credit: almostexactlyblogwordpresscom.jpg</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Olive Oil Mask (Promotes Hair Growth)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow', Arial;">5 Tbls. Olive Oil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow', Arial;">2 Eggs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow', Arial;">Mix and apply dry hair. Wrap in cap or towel and set 15 minutes before wash and rinse.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Egg and Yogurt Mask</span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow', Arial;">1 Egg</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow', Arial;">¼ C. Plain Yogurt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow', Arial;">¼ C. Mayonnaise</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow', Arial;">Beat egg well until foaming then add yogurt and mayonnaise to egg mixture. Massage scalp until hair becomes wet. Cover with plastic wrap and leave for 1 hour then rinse with cold one hour.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Egg Mask</span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow', Arial;">Egg whites strengthen hair and prevent damage. The yolks contain protein and fatty acids that assist in shiny hair.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow', Arial;">Mix 2 egg yolks with 3 tsps. olive oil. Massage i<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2171770952604649812" name="0.6__GoBack"></a>nto hair and set for 20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16pt;">Avocado Hair Mask</span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow', Arial;">1 Ripe Avocado</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow', Arial;">1 Tbls. honey</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow', Arial;">2 Tbls. olive oil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow', Arial;">Varies depending on how thick and long your hair. Leave in hair for 30 minutes and rinse and repeat. Avocados repair split ends extremely well.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YCotwD80C60/UbD-LQl6M9I/AAAAAAAAAhY/wdpeln4GliY/s1600/gingerhoney+feminyacom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="129" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YCotwD80C60/UbD-LQl6M9I/AAAAAAAAAhY/wdpeln4GliY/s200/gingerhoney+feminyacom.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Credit:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">gingerhoney feminyacom.jpg</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Coconut Oil Mask -Amazing Hydrator for Frizz Free Hair</span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow', Arial;">Apply directly onto your scalp. Massage your hair from root to ends. Leave on a minimum of 30 minutes, or as long as you can. Shampoo and rinse. You can use this mask up to three times a week. For deeper penetration, use as directed before bedtime. Cover with cap and sleep with mask in your hair. Shampoo and rinse in the morning. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Mayonnaise Mask</span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow', Arial;">Apply a generous amount of mayonnaise to your hair and leave in for 30 minutes. Note: Mayonnaise is a bit harder to get out of your hair so you may have to rinse and repeat several times to get the leftover residue but the end result is fantastic. At least that has been my experience.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O6dl2qiLONE/UbD-LEaJAdI/AAAAAAAAAhc/wiBHMYy3UlI/s1600/cucumber+wwwhangthebankerscom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O6dl2qiLONE/UbD-LEaJAdI/AAAAAAAAAhc/wiBHMYy3UlI/s1600/cucumber+wwwhangthebankerscom.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">photo credit: www.hangthebankerscom.jpg</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Oatmeal Hair Mask</span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow', Arial;">1 tablespoon of Oats</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow', Arial;">1 Tablespoon Fresh Milk</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow', Arial;">1 Tablespoon Almond Oil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow', Arial;">Mix well into a thick paste, however, be sure to make sure hair is dry and all combed out. Apply paste and leave in hair for 20 minutes. Rinse and use gentle shampoo.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow', Arial; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">By:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow', Arial; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Angela @ </span><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow', Arial; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 12pt;">My Personal Accent</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow', Arial; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.mypersonalaccent.com/" target="_blank">http://www.mypersonalaccent.<wbr></wbr>com</a></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k3hGYJJZYRg/UbozIW_h4MI/AAAAAAAAAkk/3KwJibIyw7I/s1600/Angela+@+My+personal+accent.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k3hGYJJZYRg/UbozIW_h4MI/AAAAAAAAAkk/3KwJibIyw7I/s640/Angela+@+My+personal+accent.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10235906409550288250noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171770952604649812.post-28822519217931663922013-06-06T05:00:00.000-07:002013-06-06T06:55:47.242-07:00Love At First Sight - An Ode to us, to our Love<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seven years ago today, I married the man who captured my heart after only first locking eyes with him. </span></h2>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Love at first sight. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What does it feel like? How do you know when it's happening?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For me... the only way I can describe it is....</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">He instantly felt "right" to me. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being in his presence, talking with him, laughing with him, his eyes & body language... </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It all just felt... Right. </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As if I'd already known him in some other lifetime, and was just meeting him again in this lifetime. </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This may or may not make any sense whatsoever to you, but that is exactly how it felt. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We met in the tattoo shop he owned at the time in Georgia, with our first meeting consisting of him mending the wrongly done belly piercing someone else did, and ended with me wanting a new belly ring from his display case but I was several dollars short, so I tried to negotiate the price down... well.. I didn't just <span style="color: magenta;">TRY</span>.. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You could see the instant connection within his eyes.. the compassion behind all of the facial piercings and "<span style="color: #351c75;">tough guy</span>" image he'd spent years building up as he smiled like a school boy saying he'd take what I had and make up the difference himself, as I clumsily counted pennies, dimes and nickles on his counter. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've always been a body-language observer... The way people move, respond, turn, laugh and the expression & depth within their eyes... </span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Paul has such an attractive smile. It radiates in his entire face. His eyes light up.. OH.. </span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">AND he has dimples. Oh yes.</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> LOL </span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Handsome times 100 points for dimples!!!! I always wanted a man AND kids with dimples! I got them. </span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">:)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A person's body language, especially their eyes, shows us the true person underneath. The person at the heart, and not the body they walk around in. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Watching him converse with people, I believe the conscious thought (<span style="color: magenta;">or at least something similar</span>) appeared in my brain...</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">"I know him. I'm going to know him. He's familiar... and I think I already love him." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He asked for my number and after spending all night (<span style="color: magenta;">for several nights</span>) on the phone, the strong, pure, unmistakable chemistry we instantly felt upon only first meeting naturally grew.... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the rest is history. <span style="color: magenta;">:)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before we knew it (<span style="color: magenta;">2 years later</span>) we were <a href="http://modernhippiemomma.blogspot.com/p/more-about.html" target="_blank">driving across country</a> starting our new life together and leaving all we had ever known behind us as we were running off to get married, which ended up being aboard the Portland Spirit River Cruise in Portland, OR. #magical <span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;"><--that deserved a hastag </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And here I am, 7 years later writing about a time that honestly seems like it was just a year or two ago. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I would be lying through my teeth if I told you it has been easy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just because you find your other-half and seemingly missing link on too many levels to mention... does not by any means indicate that the road to a long a happy life together will be peaches & cream. (<span style="color: magenta;">peaches & cream... mm.. That's my Southern roots showing!</span>)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In these 7 years together, we have learned (<span style="color: blue;">both as</span> <span style="color: blue;">individuals & as a couple</span>) so much about ourselves, about life, about other people.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We see the world differently now, and through it all, we have grown so much internally that it's as if the people we were when we first met seem like babies (<span style="color: blue;">spiritually speaking</span>) compared to who we are today. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">It's amazing to me how you can look back at just the last few years of your life and know that you've come so far since then. I just love this life. </span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">:)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Something I learned and will always carry with me, is not only realizing the <span style="color: magenta;"><i>extraordinary love & devotion my husband has for me</i></span> and our relationship... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I also learned what <span style="color: red;">LOVE</span> means. What <span style="color: purple;">MARRIAGE</span> means. What "<span style="color: blue;">FOR BETTER or WORSE</span>" means. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not by definition, but by living through it, working through it and by being on the other end of it here today, completely in love, happy and closer than ever. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The way Paul loves me, the way I have seen him fight for our love, for our family and what we have... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The incredible integrity this man has by being careful to not just criticize me when our relationship hit a brick wall, but by also looking within himself to evaluate what he could be doing differently... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The bravery and courage he has shown countless times over the years... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The way he tirelessly works to better all of our lives, doing all he can to make each of us happy, being sure we all live a quality life as individuals, as a mother, as his children, as his friend, as his family... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The way he will go through great lengths just to see us smile... </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Over these past 7 years I have learned the meaning of 'being a Man'. My husband is the true, walking, real definition of a man. An honorable, wonderful man.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">It is without a doubt in my mind that I am more in love with him now than ever before.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today, on our seventh (<span style="color: blue;">marriage</span>) anniversary, I want to say <span style="color: magenta;">Thank You</span>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #990000;">Thank you, my love, for all that you do, for all that you are,and for all that you will be in this adventure of Life that we vowed to accompany each other on. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After my <a href="http://modernhippiemomma.blogspot.com/2013/05/may-is-for-all-women-project-post-2.html" target="_blank">Papa passed away recently</a>, at least once a week I talk with my dear Granny on the phone who he left behind and we just sit and sob together. She feels like a lost puppy without the man she was married to for more than 50 years. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She looks at his empty recliner next to hers. </span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She lays her hand on his side of the bed and clutches his pillow, crying herself to sleep every night. </span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She reads his beautiful words he wrote her over the years, as that is all she has left of him... which is now the only way she can feel the love of her life touch her. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How empty she feels... how fast all that time flew by... How painful it is for her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And so now, once a week at minimum, I am reminded to stop, appreciate, love and cherish my husband, my other half. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For one day, he will leave my side in this bodily world, and one day it will be ME who is the lost puppy, grasping on to the remnants of all that he was in this world. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All that I am as a mommy, a wife, as Amanda up to this point in our lives, has everything to do with the beautiful partnership that we share. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Our love is seamless</span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> ~ </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Our minds, hearts & souls are connected</span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> ~ </span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">We flow like a steady river current</span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> ~ </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We are ONE. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"All because two people fell in love", as it says on the 50th Anniversary Invitations for Granny & Papa.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's to us and <i>many, many, many</i> more years together. Here's to our Little Nippers too. <span style="color: blue;">;) </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You are my rock. You are my best friend. You are so amazing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I loves you, honey... more than I could ever express. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You are truly the most admirable man I have ever known and will ever </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">love</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you for loving me the way you do.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">Happy Anniversary my love.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">Love, baby xxxooo</span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10235906409550288250noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171770952604649812.post-89994386411598419982013-05-30T15:13:00.001-07:002013-05-30T15:13:57.649-07:00PreK to College ~ What Happened?!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Completely caught off guard, Abigail runs to me after Daddy brings her home from from vising her surrogate Grandmother and hands me a bright pink flier saying... </span><br />
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<i><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">"Mommy, please read this important special paper", <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">folding her hands in front of her in the prim-n-proper little way that she does. </span></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">It is an invite.... to her PreSchool Graduation Program.</span></div>
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Reading each line aloud, smiling yet crying more with each word... All I can think is,</div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">How is this happening?! lol</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">She </span><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">JUST STARTED</span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"> PreK!</span></div>
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I was <span style="color: blue;">JUST</span> sobbing uncontrollably in the hall as I watched her class get further and further away from me (<i><span style="color: magenta;">after managing to hold it together until she couldn't see me anymore, of course</span></i>) on her first day of school, clutching my wrist where we had drawn a smiley, peace sign and heart on ourselves so we could think of each other every time we looked at it on that momentous day.</div>
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It may have been nearly a year ago... but the days, hours, minutes.. where have they gone?? </div>
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Somehow even in the midst of grasping on to each day as if it were the last, excitedly helping her with her once-a-week homework, watching her carefully (<span style="color: magenta;"><i>and eclectically</i></span>) get her school clothes ready every night, helping her choose something for '<span style="color: #cc0000;">Show & Tell</span>' for every Thursday morning and eagerly asking her how her day went everyday when I picked her up.....<br />
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Somehow it all passed us right by, and now our <span style="color: blue; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">baby girl</span> who we brought home at just 4.5 pounds is graduating PreK and will be starting Kindergarten.<span style="color: magenta;"><b> :(</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">{....</span><span style="color: magenta;">crying again</span><span style="color: blue;">....} </span></div>
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All of these tiny milestones keep creeping up on us, and no matter what they are, they grasp my heart and instantly remind me that these precious times are just that; <span style="color: #990000; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Precious</span>.<br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I cry now for the woman in me that will one day be as I sit on the bleachers on the day of her <i>High School Graduation</i> crying at the years that passed us by... wishing I was only crying at her PreK Graduation Day again, rather than getting her packed for college. </span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I cry now for the woman in her that she will one day be... Not because I don't want her to grow up, but because she must grow up. </span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">She must face this world as a </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Woman</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">, </span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Adult</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> & </span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Individual</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">. </span></div>
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And if we as parents {<span style="color: blue;">in general</span>} are sure to remember exactly <span style="color: blue;">WHY</span> we are living, working, breathing...<br />
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If we are sure to allow ourselves to<span style="color: blue;"> FEEL</span> and <span style="color: blue;">CRY</span> in these times so that we are reminded to slow down and <span style="color: blue;">ENJOY</span> our little ones during these precious years that we'll never get back ...<br />
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It is then that we can be sure to give them the quality kind of <span style="color: magenta;">CARE</span>, <span style="color: red;">LOVE</span> and <span style="color: blue;">ATTENTION</span> that they need to one day face this world<b> confidently, intentionally, thoughtfully and successfully</b>.<br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">These 5 years have gone by in a flash, and it is our promise to you, Abber-dabbers, that we'll be here for you at your every achievement/milestone, with smiles on our faces and with tears swelling in our eyes. </span></div>
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<i><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mommy & Daddy loves you baby... And we're so very proud of you. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You're sweet, caring, creative, smart, loving, intuitive, polite and you love to learn. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What more could we ever expect of you.</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <3</span></i></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10235906409550288250noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171770952604649812.post-50030745234387605542013-05-24T00:00:00.000-07:002013-05-24T07:06:44.334-07:00"May is For All Women" Project Post 3<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: medium;">May is for All Women and I have a Post Project for you this month to celebrate just that!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: magenta;">***Don't worry if you're just now learning about this.... You can jump on board at any time this month!!!***</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Join me in a series of posts about, not just biological Mothers, but also of those women throughout our lives that have impacted us, helping shape us into who we have become and will become, all simply by being the beautiful embodiment of Motherly Support RIGHT when we need it most.</span></div>
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<u><span style="color: #444444; font-size: medium;">Here are the guidelines:</span></u></div>
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<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px; text-align: left;">Please become a follower of our blog Modern Hippie Momma and please 'like' our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mhippiemomma" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Facebook Page</a>. Be sure to leave us a comment if you're participating so we can follow you back!! :) </li>
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<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px; text-align: left;">Find a quote that inspires thought and reminds you of a particular moment in time with a woman in your life that you know has impacted you in some way... The way you live, think, deal with things/people/kids/LIFE in general, etc.</li>
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<ul style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em; text-align: start;">
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px; text-align: left;">Write a post about all that you are reminded of with that woman and a particular moment. </li>
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<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px; text-align: left;">Repeat this at least once a week (more if you'd like) for the entire month of May. </li>
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<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px; text-align: left;">GRAB THE OFFICIAL "May is for All Women" BUTTON ~ Post it proudly on your sidebar and <i><b>especially at the bottom of your post</b></i><b><i>s </i></b>all month to help spread the word and get other's to join in! Be sure to type a one liner just above it to encourage other's participation! </li>
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<ul style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em; text-align: start;">
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px; text-align: left;">Don't forget to share it with us on our Facebook Page < <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mhippiemomma" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">HERE</a> >! We want to read your stories!! </li>
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<ul style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em; text-align: start;">
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px; text-align: left;">If you can, share the story with the person who inspired you to write your post. I'm sure your lovely thoughts and reflections would be a beautiful and memorable gift to her. :) </li>
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<i><span style="color: #990000;">Thought inspiring quotes..... Oh how I love them. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #990000;">They spark one simple thought and BAM! </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #990000;">All of a sudden you're reminded of moments, people, smells... and sometimes find yourself asking a few questions, inspiring more thought.. and BAM! </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #990000;">You realize there's nothing left to do but... Oh yes.. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #990000;">Blog about it. :)</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #990000;">So what are you waiting for?? </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #990000;">Search for quotes, get inspired and get your BLOG on!</span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">"May is for ALL Women" - Post 3</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #444444;"> by Amanda* @ <a href="http://modernhippiemomma.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Modern Hippie Momma</a></span></h2>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Eki6-G1MWLM/UZ5_goJyQaI/AAAAAAAAAa0/8c8huWf6kRM/s1600/mother+is+born+quote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Eki6-G1MWLM/UZ5_goJyQaI/AAAAAAAAAa0/8c8huWf6kRM/s640/mother+is+born+quote.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Nothing can prepare a woman for all that takes place internally after having a baby. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is something I knew to be true after having Abigail, but there are some things I expected to be at least slightly different after giving birth a second time. </span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I was so wrong. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today... well, right now actually... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Is the first time I have officially left our infant, Carlin, who is now 3 months old, in the care of someone else. The longest I have gone is maybe 30 minutes and even then, I was taking a really long shower and Carlin was downstairs with his daddy and siblings. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There's a sort of natural, maternal, magnetic-like "pull" that takes place when I part from my infants that is beautifully primal, yet still painful. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It feels like it starts deep in my soul, from the bottom of my gut, goes up through my heart, makes a knot in my throat and feels like an imaginary rope between my body and my baby. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's by pure nature that the body responds in this way, and even as beautiful as that is to me... and even as I fully understand the survival/nurturing instinct that is kicking in to cause all this....</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">It hurts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Carlin is currently safe at his surrogate grandmothers, just waking from his nap, goo-ing and smiling at his bigger sister who he loves and is familiar with.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It is Mommy who is not handling it so gracefully.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After my husband made a comment today about yet another "event" (with the insinuation that he'd like to attend said event) coming up in Portland, I quietly cried over my omelet I was making myself for lunch, knowing that I... WE could not go on much longer in this way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>We embrace the concepts of Attachment Parenting fully, but we must be sure to remember ourselves as</i> </span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Husband & Wife</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i> in the process. Remembering this will help us be more successful at parenting.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was then that I knew that we as a couple could not last 3 more months of little intimacy or any time alone together, enjoying things as a couple again without the presence of our children.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As much a I truly soak in and enjoy every moment caring for Carlin, it is also quite desirable to have an afternoon of walking in downtown Portland as we used to with the only concern being what MAX Train we want to take next.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paul left the house to return to work and I decided to waste no time.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was now or never, and it may as well be now, because apparently I need to go cold-turkey with this or it will simply never happen!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The primal pull was most painful when backing out of the driveway of our babysitter's house. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Driving back home, I sobbed like a baby, struggling to see through my tears and the heavy "February Rain" in the middle of May. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: purple;">This is the process we go through as Mothers. </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: purple;">We join this club after giving birth.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">It is the beginning of the growth we experience with being a new mommy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It just didn't occur to me that, it doesn't matter how many children you have...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You go through it ALL over again with each one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Or, I do anyways! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've said it before a hundred times, and I'll say it again...</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being a parent is undoubtedly the most beautiful, amazing, terrifying, incredible, extraordinary, awesome, painful, wonderful thing a person could ever experience.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After 30 minutes of being away from my little man who has been attached to me like a parasite these past few months, I called and checked on him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He was fine of course. </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">It has now been 46 minutes. :) .....and 53 seconds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I think I'll go back to get him now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Slowly, but surely, I'll get myself just a little closer to being able to be my husband's wife again, and not just the woman that keeps our son alive. ;) </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For the record, my hubby Paul is incredibly supportive and in no way wants me to feel like I'm doing anything to <i>him</i> by prolonging our time before we can have a bit of "freedom". We went through a lot that hindered me from being able to do the things I do for Carlin, for Abigail, and it is just as important to Paul as it is to me that this time is different for the better of our baby.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I think that this </span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hippie Momm</span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> has officially arrived at the point where it is simply TIME. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Time to take time for me and for us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As a matter of fact, before the day is over, I just may make that massage appointment that I have a gift card for. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Oh yes. It is SO time.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rGoXF7V9yNY/UX1nysd4FwI/AAAAAAAAATQ/xev-abH8vV8/s1600/heart+signature.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rGoXF7V9yNY/UX1nysd4FwI/AAAAAAAAATQ/xev-abH8vV8/s1600/heart+signature.JPG" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10235906409550288250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171770952604649812.post-2312786394259474632013-05-12T07:00:00.000-07:002013-05-12T07:00:04.199-07:00"Today I Lived and You Did too".... Guest Post by Rachel @ Hands Free Mama<br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Introducing Rachel @ Hands Free Mama</span></h2>
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<i><span style="color: purple; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">"</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">I’m going Hands Free. I want to make memories, not to-do-lists. I want to feel the squeeze of my daughter's arms, not the pressure of over-commitment. I want to get lost in conversation with my spouse, not consumed by a sea of unimportant emails. I want to be overwhelmed by sunsets that give me hope, not by extracurricular commitments that steal my joy. I want the noise of my life to be a mixture of laughter and gratitude, not the intrusive buzz of cell phones and text messages. I am letting go of distraction, disconnection, and perfection to live a life that simply, so very simply, consists of what really matters. I’m going Hands Free. And if this sounds like a life you want to start living, come along. A Hands Free revolution starts here! I hope you will join me!</span></i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">"</span><span style="font-size: 24pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">It is with absolute HONOR that Rachel has allowed us to broadcast her</span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> beautifully written ode to Motherhood, Womanhood & Life, and we are </span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">THRILLED</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> to bring it to you on this special day, </span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mother's Day</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">For me, her words are a great reminder to slow down and simply </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: magenta;">LIVE </span></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">the moment in the </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: magenta;">Present</span></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="color: purple; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">She reminds us that life is made up of tiny fleeting moments, and if we don't slow down, we'll miss them.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="color: purple; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">Her words in this post, as well as her entire new-found philosophy, is such an inspiration and is.... in my opinion...</span><br />
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</span> <span style="color: purple; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">So "hippie mommma" of her. :) </span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 24px;">Please be sure to visit her page to finish reading her post! </span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 24px;">You MUST read the entire post to appreciate it! </span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 24px;">She has recently accepted a book deal (YOU GO GIRL!) so we're being SUPER careful about this Guest Post. :)</span><br />
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Today I Lived and You Did Too</h1>
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<span class="meta-prep meta-prep-author" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Originally Posted on</span> <a href="http://www.handsfreemama.com/2013/05/07/today-i-lived-and-you-did-too/" rel="bookmark" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #888888; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="12:58 pm"><span class="entry-date" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">May 7, 2013</span></a> <span class="meta-sep" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">by</span> <span class="author vcard" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="url fn n" href="http://www.handsfreemama.com/author/admin/" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #888888; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts by Rachel Macy Stafford">Rachel Macy Stafford</a> @ <a href="http://www.handsfreemama.com/2013/05/07/today-i-lived-and-you-did-too/" target="_blank">Hands Free Mama</a></span></div>
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Today I was awakened by the sound of shuffling feet.<br />
It was my early-bird riser in her big sister’s pajamas that drug across the floor.<br />
I wanted to pull the covers over my head and feign sleep.<br />
But instead I got up and made toaster waffles that she said tasted “divine.”<br />
She kissed me with syrupy sweet lips.<br />
Getting up wasn’t my first response. But I did it.<br />
Today I lived.</div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Bitstream Charter, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Today she lost her shoes for the 37</span></span><sup style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; bottom: 1ex; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 10px; height: 0px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">th</sup><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Bitstream Charter, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"> time in two weeks.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Bitstream Charter, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">It was right before we needed to head out the door.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Bitstream Charter, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">I wanted to scream, to scold, to throw my hands in the air.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Bitstream Charter, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">But instead I held her. I held her. My shoeless girl.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Bitstream Charter, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Together we found them wet with dew in the backyard and she whispered, “Sorry, I am forgetful, Mama.”</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Bitstream Charter, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Being calm wasn't my first response. But I did it.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Bitstream Charter, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Today I lived.</span></span></div>
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Today the birds.... <a href="http://www.handsfreemama.com/2013/05/07/today-i-lived-and-you-did-too/" target="_blank">CLICK HERE TO READ MORE</a> </div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: magenta;">Please visit </span><a href="http://www.handsfreemama.com/2013/05/07/today-i-lived-and-you-did-too/" target="_blank">Hands Free Mama</a><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: magenta;"> to read the rest of this well written post that does exactly what we try to do here at Modern Hippie Momma with every one of our posts.... Inspire Thought. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Handwriting'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">Happy Mother’s Day!</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Lucida Handwriting'; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: magenta;"><iframe bordercolor="#000000" frameborder="0" height="250" hspace="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6534879.1636;sz=300x250;ord=[timestamp]?;lid=41000613802463511;pid=1285545;usg=AFHzDLuwHQjq1EYJwRVwydwdjrwlx172fA;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.kohls.com%252Fproduct%252Fprd-1285545%252Fsummer-infant-mother-s-touch-large-baby-bather-pink.jsp%253Fpfx%253Dpfx_shopcompare%2526cid%253Dshopping3;pubid=635673;price=%2424.98;title=Summer+Infant+Mother%26%23X27%3BS+Touch+Large+Baby+Bather+-+Pink;merc=Kohl%27s;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.kohls.com.edgesuite.net%2Fis%2Fimage%2Fkohls%2F1285545%3Fwid%3D500%26hei%3D500%26op_sharpen%3D1;width=135;height=135" vspace="0" width="300"></iframe><iframe bordercolor="#000000" frameborder="0" height="250" hspace="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6534879.1641;sz=300x250;ord=[timestamp]?;lid=41000613802463511;pid=963697;usg=AFHzDLv2fy4Lk3--xzXYeL1gkP9H2DVmXQ;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.kohls.com%252Fproduct%252Fprd-963697%252Fsterling-silver-mother-heart-pendant.jsp%253Fpfx%253Dpfx_shopcompare%2526cid%253Dshopping3;pubid=635673;price=%2424.00;title=Sterling+Silver+Mother+Heart+Pendant;merc=Kohl%27s;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.kohls.com.edgesuite.net%2Fis%2Fimage%2Fkohls%2F963697%3Fwid%3D500%26hei%3D500%26op_sharpen%3D1;width=135;height=135" vspace="0" width="300"></iframe><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10235906409550288250noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171770952604649812.post-49525070706132719242013-05-10T08:00:00.000-07:002013-05-10T08:00:04.340-07:00Very Inspiring Blogger Award<br />
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In the midst of grieving over the passing of our loving Papa,</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: 13.5pt;">I came across a
comment that lit up my energy in an instant. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">It was from my new
friend Jamie over at<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://beingpositivewithadepressivesoul.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Being
Positive with a Depressive Soul</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The dear heart has
nominated me for the </span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Very Inspiring Blogger Award</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I have to admit that, after receiving 7
Liebster Awards in one week a couple of weeks ago, I have given up on trying to
accept them and do the work of nominating 11 blogs for EACH AWARD I received. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Let’s face it…. I am of course HONORED,
but that takes a LOT of time, and I do have to be a Mommy and Wife at some
point! </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.5pt;">J</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">So needless to say, I was thrilled to
learn I had received a brand new award!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">RULES:<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="color: #e36c0a; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">List 7 Facts about Yourself<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #e36c0a; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">Nominate 15 Other Bloggers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Since Jamie nominated me (<i>and I happen to agree with her</i>), I will
follow her lead and only nominated 5 blogs, instead of the 15. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><u><span style="color: purple;">Here are my 7 Random Facts:</span></u></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #7030a0;">Becoming a Mommy has made me a
stronger and better me, giving me the ultimate empowerment, making me feel like
there isn't a thing in this world that I cannot do. </span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I LOVE to
upcycle/restyle things… Specifically right now, I make totes, purses,
headbands, necklaces and MORE from used shirts, sweaters & skirts. Check
out our store! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Handwriting'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/ModernHippieMomma/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Delightfully Hippie</span></a></span><span style="color: #c00000; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I truly
believe that we can each change the world, one person at a time, by simply
offering compassion, a listening ear, positive perspectives, or even just a
smile any chance we get.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">4.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I’m obsessed
with drinking smoothies! It’s SUCH an
easy (and YUMMY!) way to get loads of fruits, veggies & protein in your
body. (for protein I use Hemp Seed Hearts… 13 grams of protein in only ONE
teaspoon!!!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">5.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Instead of
stressing about content or how many posts I still need to make in a week, I
follow a simple rule… Each post I make on my blog is meaningful and comes from
the heart. If I have to force it, I close my laptop and try again later. It’s the best and only way, in my opinion, to
keep readers coming back for more, because they need to FEEL your words, not
just read them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">6.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">After fleeing far,
far away from the South (born and raised there), the only thing I miss (besides
my family) are the incredible thunderstorms that make the hair on your arms
stand up, and the heavy rain on a tin roof. Ahh….. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">7.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I like waiting
until no one is here but me and my little man, and then turning on some music
and dancing all over the place. </span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> It’s a great workout but… It is also simply good for the
soul.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><span style="color: #002060;">I award the following 5
blogs the</span></u><u> </u></span><u><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">Very Inspiring Blogger Award</span></u><u><span style="font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">: <o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.handsfreemama.com/" target="_blank">Hands Free Mama</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://juliawritingjewelsking.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Writing Jewels</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://effectivelyhuman.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Effectively Human</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Giggling Truckers Wife</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://delightfullyludicrous.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Delightfully Ludicrous</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Please show some </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>LOVE</b></span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> to these wonderful bloggers, and be sure to let them know we sent you!!!</span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10235906409550288250noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171770952604649812.post-87501047265599016412013-05-08T16:12:00.000-07:002013-05-08T16:12:37.368-07:00"May is For All Women" Project Post 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: medium;">May is for All Women and I have a Post Project for you this month to celebrate just that!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: magenta;">***Don't worry if you're just now learning about this.... You can jump on board at any time this month!!!***</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Join me in a series of posts about, not just biological Mothers, but also of those women throughout our lives that have impacted us, helping shape us into who we have become and will become, all simply by being the beautiful embodiment of Motherly Support RIGHT when we need it most.</span></div>
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<u><span style="color: #444444; font-size: medium;">Here are the guidelines:</span></u></div>
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<ul style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em; text-align: start;">
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px; text-align: left;">Please become a follower of our blog Modern Hippie Momma and please 'like' our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mhippiemomma" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Facebook Page</a>. Be sure to leave us a comment if you're participating so we can follow you back!! :) </li>
</ul>
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em; text-align: start;">
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px; text-align: left;">Find a quote that inspires thought and reminds you of a particular moment in time with a woman in your life that you know has impacted you in some way... The way you live, think, deal with things/people/kids/LIFE in general, etc.</li>
</ul>
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em; text-align: start;">
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px; text-align: left;">Write a post about all that you are reminded of with that woman and a particular moment. </li>
</ul>
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em; text-align: start;">
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px; text-align: left;">Repeat this at least once a week (more if you'd like) for the entire month of May. </li>
</ul>
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em; text-align: start;">
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px; text-align: left;">GRAB THE OFFICIAL "May is for All Women" BUTTON ~ Post it proudly on your sidebar and <i><b>especially at the bottom of your post</b></i><b><i>s </i></b>all month to help spread the word and get other's to join in! Be sure to type a one liner just above it to encourage other's participation! </li>
</ul>
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<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px; text-align: left;">Don't forget to share it with us on our Facebook Page < <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mhippiemomma" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">HERE</a> >! We want to read your stories!! </li>
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<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px; text-align: left;">If you can, share the story with the person who inspired you to write your post. I'm sure your lovely thoughts and reflections would be a beautiful and memorable gift to her. :) </li>
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<i><span style="color: #990000;">Thought inspiring quotes..... Oh how I love them. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #990000;">They spark one simple thought and BAM! </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #990000;">All of a sudden you're reminded of moments, people, smells... and sometimes find yourself asking a few questions, inspiring more thought.. and BAM! </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #990000;">You realize there's nothing left to do but... Oh yes.. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #990000;">Blog about it. :)</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #990000;">So what are you waiting for?? </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #990000;">Search for quotes, get inspired and get your BLOG on!</span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">"May is for ALL Women" - Post 2</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #444444;"> by Amanda* @ <a href="http://modernhippiemomma.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Modern Hippie Momma</a></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This morning came early. I lay dreaming snuggled up next to our little man as the sun just began to rise and awoke to my loving husband laying across my back holding me tight, with his tears streaming down my shoulder. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Opening my eyes and with an immediate knot in my throat, I asked him what's wrong....<br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">He had already gone to work and had come right back home because he didn't want me to have to learn of the news of my Papa's passing (my father's Dad) and have no one there with me. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">It was nice being able to hear it from someone I love and it was even better to have someone there to hold me as the</span></span> cries from my core bellowed out in sorrow, saying Papa's name, crying out to him as if to beg him to stay just a little longer. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Life goes by so fast. </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>One day you're sneaking out of your house, told your parents you're "going to work"...</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>...but really you're jumping in the car with your high school sweetheart to run off and get married... </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>.... and then the years fly by in the blink of an eye and suddenly you're telling nurses </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>where to put the hospice bed in your house... for your high school sweetheart.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #a64d79;">Papa was a living, breathing, walking example of </span><span style="color: #990000;">LOVE</span><span style="color: #a64d79;">, </span><span style="color: #674ea7;">EMPATHY</span><span style="color: #a64d79;"> and </span><span style="color: magenta;">LAUGHTER</span><span style="color: #a64d79;">. </span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>We were all so lucky to have him in our lives, for as long as we had him. </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>He outlived the doctors that told him 10 years ago he'd only have a few years to live. </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It is the strength of Granny that kept Papa going and the humorous & lightheartedness of Papa that gave Granny hope. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">They were each other's other half and they fit like puzzle pieces. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Today when I write for the May is for All Women Inspirational Writing Project, it is without question that the woman in my Granny has everything to do with the man that was my Papa.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Resting in my husband's arms, I am sure to FEEL him and appreciate him, as </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I know one day I too will be feeling the emptiness of losing my best friend and other half. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Opening my back door and letting the breeze come in today made me somehow feel closer to my grieving family who are way across the country. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Closing my eyes and feeling the sun on my face, I took a moment to remember life as a child with Granny & Papa........</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The smell of peanut brittle throughout the house after waking from a nap.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A salty watermelon on a hot, Florida day.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Running in the field of daisies in my Easter dress. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Papa's sweet voice over the phone. His piercing blue eyes and handsome smile.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Papa's drenched shirt and hair as he passionately preached his sermon, dancing all over the place with the Spirit running in his veins.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How Granny & Papa were always so in love... flirting and picking on each other.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I always wanted a relationship like the one they had.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The sound of Papa praying.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The sound of Granny praying.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Papa's piercing blue eyes and handsome smile.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">....I could go on forever.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The quote above is a great reminder that we never really leave this world; we just leave our bodies. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It reminds us that living in our bodies is only a part of our existence, and that we continue on by returning to this earth in our most truest form.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The bittersweet cycle of life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our daughter Abigail is only 5 but she appreciates the beauty around her better than most adults and was quick to appreciate the sun this morning, saying that Papa made it "sunshiney" to make her happy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"I'm certain he did", I told her. :) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><span class="userContent" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">♥ I love you, Papa. We miss you already. RIP. ♥</span><span class="userContentSecondary" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><span class="fcg"> </span></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Please Join Us in the </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000;">"May is for All Women"</span></b><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Project to </span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Celebrate All Women, All Month Long!</span></b></div>
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<div align="center" style="padding: 5px;">
<img alt="Modern Hippie Momma" src="http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u640/Amanda_Autumn_Nipper/MayisforAllWomenbutton_zps04c6599e.jpg" title="Modern Hippie Momma" /></div>
<pre style="background: #f0f0f0; border: solid 1px #cccccc; color: #777777; display: block; font-size: 90%; height: 50px; margin: auto; overflow: auto; padding: 10px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 90%;"><div align="center"><a href="http://modernhippiemomma.blogspot.com/2013/05/may-is-for-all-women-project-post-2.html" title="Modern Hippie Momma"><img src="http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u640/Amanda_Autumn_Nipper/MayisforAllWomenbutton_zps04c6599e.jpg" alt="Modern Hippie Momma" style="border:none;" /></a></div></pre>
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<span style="color: magenta;">*~</span><span style="color: yellow;">*</span><span style="color: magenta;">~*</span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b>A Message from Our Beautiful Sponsor</b></span><span style="color: magenta;">*~</span><span style="color: yellow;">*</span><span style="color: magenta;">~*</span></div>
<a href="http://ramblingmomma03.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u640/Amanda_Autumn_Nipper/1b7e2e79-a34d-49fb-b452-50a2547ef8f3_zps6d851a22.jpg" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: magenta;"><b>If you follow Terri and comment on her blog to let her know, she ALWAYS follows back! ;)</b></span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10235906409550288250noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171770952604649812.post-34817186931846602482013-04-28T12:28:00.001-07:002013-04-28T12:28:46.139-07:00What the Sun Does to Her<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lCB_v9pbVbs/UX11tTBbirI/AAAAAAAAATs/_761gu6dSyg/s1600/048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lCB_v9pbVbs/UX11tTBbirI/AAAAAAAAATs/_761gu6dSyg/s400/048.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
Oddly enough, right in the middle of Spring... the Sun came out!<br />
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It does not go unnoticed up here in Washington, especially with Abigail and, I'm sure, the rest of the Pacific NW children.<br />
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She rises quickly on a weekend morning, the sun only just barely peaking through the crack in her window. The clouds are still huge and heavy in some places, and the wind remains, but even the back and forth between the Sun and the grey is enough to make her Aura instantly <span style="color: orange; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>vibrant</b></span> and <span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">energized</span>.<br />
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All morning she has consistently asked me in many polite, Abigail-like ways if I would go watch her out front while she played...<br />
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WHY is the front yard so much better than the back yard?? LOL I'll never know. The backyard is bigger!<br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>"Mommy... would you so kindly, if you mind, you could watch me as your beautiful self.. um... in the front yard while I run and jump and play?" </i></span></blockquote>
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<i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><bats eyes, smiles and tilts head></span></i></blockquote>
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She's... <span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">irresistible</span>, really.<br />
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She is amazing, smart, bright, kind, polite, stubborn, <span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">FREE</span>, beautiful, and strong... She is SUCH my daughter.<br />
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It is the middle of the day now and she dances and twirls in the front yard sporting her multi-colored striped tights, her pink jumpsuit (as she calls it), a long sleeved shirt underneath, her shiny black dress shoes with her favorite lip gloss on.<br />
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She picks some of our Lavender and holds it out in her hand...<br />
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<i><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">"Close your eyes and smell that, Mom."</span><span style="color: #0b5394;">... as she lovingly smiles.</span></i> </blockquote>
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She's just so beautiful to me, inside and out.<br />
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We ran giggling as I chased her around the yard for at least 5 minutes. She makes me feel like a kid again.<br />
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Children are the most amazing, <span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">magical beings</span> we are so blessed to have and to raise, <span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">love</span> and cherish.<br />
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I love all of our children, even if they drive me nuts half the time.<br />
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Life would not be the same without them.<br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Happy Sunday :) </span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10235906409550288250noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171770952604649812.post-34010510377951602542013-04-26T13:05:00.000-07:002013-04-26T13:06:43.701-07:00My Wonderful Complaints<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After deciding to stay home with the kids and not work for a while, my brain has been going nuts with </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ALL </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">of the things I have ever wanted to </span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">do</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">try</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">,</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> <span style="color: purple;">create</span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, and all the NEW things that I am discovering I may want to</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> <span style="color: orange;">do</span>,<span style="color: red;"> try</span> and <span style="color: blue;">create</span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></div>
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Nursing Carlin is my new reality, as I have joined the club of millions of </span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">selfless women</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> who choose to nurse their infants by sacrificing our bodies 24/7 for a year <span style="color: purple;">(or more) </span>of our lives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And being that I probably nurse him 8-10 hours in a day, fitting in all of my creative aspirations can be a bit difficult. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Well</i>... a lot difficult. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It probably doesn't help that my brain is not exactly as organized as it once was, which is hard because when that happens, I feel like I am not doing everything to its fullest!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For example...</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1) The bathroom is half painted. <span style="color: #674ea7;">To be fair</span>, 3/4 of the way painted. </span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">:) </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Started it yesterday but woke up with a cold!! So I have been trying to catch up on the bloggy world because now I feel crummy and do not want to do anything physical.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2) Also, </span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(and speaking of the bloggy world)</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I have been nominated for </span><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>3 Liebster Awards</b></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, and after discovering I was nominated for the 3rd one, I had only JUST finished finding the first 21 blogs I wanted to nominate from my first 2 awards! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now I need to find <i><span style="color: #b45f06;">11 more blogs</span></i> to nominate. Trust me, these are good things to have to whine about! :) It's just... I really do take the compliment that comes with the award to<span style="color: #990000;"> heart</span>, and when I nominate 11 other blogs as the rules state to do, I take it seriously and want to take my time! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3) And... I have gone to the thrift store <span style="color: #38761d;">twice in 2 weeks</span>, found new t-shirts to restyle/upcycle and got inspired! So now I have 3 unfinished products for my Etsy shop. <</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">face palm</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4) I even admit to spontaneously finding (and maybe.. searching out intentionally... occasionally.. Or, a lot. Don't judge me!) yard sales on the way home from dropping Abigail off at Pre-k, and inevitably accumulating </span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">MORE </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">things that inspire yet another project.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All the while... when I am nursing our</span><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> little man</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, or sitting still for any reason, I'm thinking of something else I'm working on and what I can do to it next. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Still, <span style="color: red;">I am on my own time</span>, doing things at my own speed. It's a nice change from the working life when my time revolved around what the corporate world demanded of me 40 hours per week, which means the house, family, chores and creative ventures had to come second. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the midst of my <span style="color: #674ea7;">creative mess of a brain</span>... I do feel like a sense of clarity has set in. </span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">:) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">For once, it feels good to have complaints. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Time flies, and I will one day miss these days. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Life is good when my these are my kind of complaints. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Living Life Openly, waking up ready and receptive to all that the Universe has to offer each day. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">:)</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10235906409550288250noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171770952604649812.post-46691785789712603602013-04-18T14:32:00.001-07:002013-04-18T14:38:51.589-07:00And the Music Never... Oh Wait! It Did! It DID Die! :(<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our stereo in the truck (</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">which I drive!)</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> has been broken for nearly a year now (</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I KNOW!!!</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The fact that I have survived all this time without it is nearly unbelievable. Music is my life and it is usually the </span><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: blue;">only</span> </span></i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">way to get me moving, pick me up when I'm down, to clean the house, or whatever. And it was always the best way to start the day, for both me and </span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Abber-dabber</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ahh.. those were the days. Often I would take an extra back-road (<span style="color: #274e13;">or three</span>) when we had a little extra time just to get to the best part of the song (<span style="color: #e06666;">and the part that I just so happen to sound fantastic at</span>) so I can wail it out. It has a sort of therapeutic effect for me and can alter any mood. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So now on the way to school every morning, I try to sing songs aloud to </span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Abigail</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> that I remember (<span style="color: #0b5394;">from the days of old when <i>I HAD A STEREO!</i></span>) but quickly learned that I don't really know all the words to some songs that I thought I did. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At least it inspires </span><i><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>giggles</b></span></i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do you do that?</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Sing songs that you sing all the time but notice that you only really know the words when the </span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">actual song</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> is playing? </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Weird.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And I don't know how to explain it but there are songs that I love (<span style="color: #741b47;">and I mean <b>LOVE, LOVE</b></span>) and come to find out,</span><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> I don't even know half the words!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's... It's just such an </span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>odd feeling</i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">. As if it lets me down or something. I know this is dumb. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b>OH! </b></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And when you know exactly what song you want to sing but for the </span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">LIFE</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> of you, you cannot think of even the first word</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">?! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Better yet! You can remember</span><i><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b> half</b></span></i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> of the chorus, but not the rest, and you know... you just </span><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>KNOW</b></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b> </b>that if you could remember just the first word or two, the entire thing would come back to you. </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">YES! </span><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>THAT</b></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> is what I'm talking about. I feel like I'm going to get a lot of support on that one. That's got to happen to everybody, right? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Does it...? </span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10235906409550288250noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171770952604649812.post-24024370186551648882013-04-15T11:17:00.000-07:002013-04-15T11:21:44.524-07:00Life As I LOVE It<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XE7e61jo6-Q/UWxDYRtoMwI/AAAAAAAAANM/DZXsMnigT4E/s1600/loving+life.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XE7e61jo6-Q/UWxDYRtoMwI/AAAAAAAAANM/DZXsMnigT4E/s1600/loving+life.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You know those mornings when the alarm sounds and your eyelids feel like elephants are sitting on them, and when you try to open them, it </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">feels</span> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">like it is more like</span><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><i> <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">3:00am</span></i></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">instead of </span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><i>6:30am</i></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">? </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mondays (usually)....</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> </span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was something I thought I was getting rid of when I stopped punching an actual clock at a corporation 40 hours a week. But having to get up before </span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><i>8:00am</i></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> after getting up a few times with an infant to get Abigail up, ready, fed and off to school.... </span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">oh, and ON TIME</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That just turned out to be my morning workout sometimes! </span><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Especially on </span><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Monday's</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But it's good to know I'm not alone! Taking Abigail to school on Monday's consistently has the same feel to it. We take our kids into the school, trying to look as graceful as possible while walking them into the hallway as we all could have probably benefited from arriving just a </span><i><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">couple</span></i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> of minutes earlier. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We give</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> kisses</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, clean their faces a little one last time, tell them to have a good day and send them off to sit in their line and wait for their teacher. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Abigail likes it when I wait for her teacher to come so that I am there to waive to her as she walks by Carlin and I in the hallway on the way to her classroom. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few other Moms do the same, which is nice because we inevitably started talking to one another and now it's something that I kind of look forward to! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A teacher will join in the conversation most of the time and it is kind of nice, especially for us stay-at-home-moms, because </span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>every woman</i></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> can find something to relate to in one another.</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">But ANYWAYS..... </span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Then it hit me. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My dearest friend, Ann, always says to me when she comes by... </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><shakes her head and smiles> </span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">"THIS is your life" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple; font-weight: normal;">... as I watch reruns</span><span style="color: purple; font-weight: normal;"> of FRIENDS and munch on the SMORES (Or REESES; depends what day she comes over) I made from my super secret stash of munchies that I hide from the kids.</span><span style="color: purple; font-weight: normal;"> (which I'm SURE we're AALL guilty of at one point or another!) ;) </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not to mention when my first post on Facebook in a couple days was about Carlin's </span><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">massive</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> poopy that required me to just hang his little butt under the faucet to effectively clean it! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-weight: normal;">When she saw me she said, </span></h3>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">"You're posting about poop. THIS is your life."</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's when I thought, standing there in Abi's school in my ankle tight yoga pants, bright blue Converse (shoes that make your feet look HUGE), half combed hair and wearing my hoodie...... </span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"This IS my life. THIS IS MY LIFE!!!" </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Working full time worked for me for a while, but my heart (and my hubby's) felt the need for a change, so we went for it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And here I am, talking and sharing stories of morning or weekend events with other Mommies, and coming home to watch <span style="color: #073763;">FRIENDS</span> (and <span style="color: #0c343d;">ELLEN!!</span> I admit, I just <span style="color: #cc0000;">LOVE</span> her!), nurse our baby, attempt to manage a clean-ish house, do projects and, most of all, </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">BLOG! </span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">:) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This has given me a chance to grow & awaken to my abilities, expand my creative side and enjoy myself, our little family. </span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">I truly value how I spend my time more than I ever have. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Paul, my husband, said it best....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>I love that you're so content, baby.</i></span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Yeah, "Content" .... That's it. </span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">:) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Content, and SO humbly happy and thankful. </span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10235906409550288250noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171770952604649812.post-77278484289579366102013-04-12T09:31:00.002-07:002013-04-12T09:39:28.088-07:00Mule Wrestling! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yes, I said</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mule Wrestling! </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZfVYk3YLgGk/UWgzyuBbrBI/AAAAAAAAAM0/S4ofmfDkXjE/s1600/127873317_0575aa8ec0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZfVYk3YLgGk/UWgzyuBbrBI/AAAAAAAAAM0/S4ofmfDkXjE/s320/127873317_0575aa8ec0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">No.... Not that kind. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">Keep reading!! </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ever since I have been out of work, my mind has been going nuts with all of the things I have always wanted to do but have never had any time for. It has gotten so crazy (in my head) that I have informed the family that we will be doing a </span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Family Vision Board</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A vision board is simply a poster with photos and/or descriptions of your goals, and its purpose is to be hung where it is always at eye level so that you do not forget what you want to do next. It has been proven to work, as people tend to ALWAYS reach all of their goals because their goals are visually in front of them, keeping it all at the tops of their minds. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I so needed this because I felt like my creative bubble was going to explode, feeling a bit overwhelmed with what to do first and how to start and what to buy and ... and..... UGH! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am a bargain shopper and do not wish to spend a lot of money in one place no matter what I am buying, and being that I am a </span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">hippie girl</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, I'd rather reuse, recycle, upcycle things instead of try to create things from brand new, unused materials. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, this is my first attempt at "Upcycling/Restyling". I cannot sew (never tried) and have zero patience right now to try to learn, so I researched what no-sew creations I could make. </span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">T-SHIRTS!!! Perfect! </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On one of my Thrifty Trips that I take once or twice a week, I found a rack of t-shirts for 50 cents a piece. <span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">SCORE! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After swinging by the craft store to grab some fabric tape, fabric glue and some good, sharp scissors for cutting fabric, I raced home to begin creating. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I found two shirts that have the name of a local-ish school's wrestling team on it and found it funny enough to be a style of it's own, so I grabbed one of them up to work on first. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The bags/totes I created this time can be used every day for holding your wallet, phone, etc. Although I suggest putting any smaller items (such as lip gloss) in a makeup bag within the bags, otherwise they will just slip right out the bottom. </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, the only thing I have to hang these on is my daughter's painting easel, so bare with me on that. :) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here it is.... </span></h3>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QWANkXc0KHI/UWgttBHiVgI/AAAAAAAAAL4/DQ15l598Hi8/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QWANkXc0KHI/UWgttBHiVgI/AAAAAAAAAL4/DQ15l598Hi8/s400/004.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shoulder strap bag with fringed bottom and top corners, topped with my first attempt at a fabric rose. <br />
"Mule Wrestling"!! See what I mean?! LOL It is its own style. </td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here is my second bag.... (Abigail's fav)</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B9W5R3Js2qc/UWgtsmYET6I/AAAAAAAAALo/v0BOzrNAuUo/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B9W5R3Js2qc/UWgtsmYET6I/AAAAAAAAALo/v0BOzrNAuUo/s400/003.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Should strap bag fringed on the bottom and top corners with a heart design on front (covering up the label that came on the shirt). The hearts will just get better looking as time goes on, getting more curly along the sides.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Here is the third bag.... </span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: x-small; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EIxvENOgS1w/UWgttZXaNsI/AAAAAAAAAMI/O9iH8LHdoHE/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EIxvENOgS1w/UWgttZXaNsI/AAAAAAAAAMI/O9iH8LHdoHE/s400/005.JPG" width="300" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">This is a Hobo Tote Bag with shorter shoulder straps....</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V9IcKrFK_wQ/UWgxkZbBqII/AAAAAAAAAMo/pu0SnGgQynk/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V9IcKrFK_wQ/UWgxkZbBqII/AAAAAAAAAMo/pu0SnGgQynk/s400/007.JPG" width="311" /></a></div>
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... and a drawstring bottom...</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cJ0QlnW1Bfo/UWgttuLuRnI/AAAAAAAAAMA/JgBcMwYSxmQ/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cJ0QlnW1Bfo/UWgttuLuRnI/AAAAAAAAAMA/JgBcMwYSxmQ/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This bag is perfect for a reusable grocery/produce bag, a small beach bag, or for just running into town really quick!</div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">But wait.. There's more! </span></h3>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">I also made this... </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-meCx9VENQeA/UWgtukjQGKI/AAAAAAAAAMc/nXtolPCa0Js/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-meCx9VENQeA/UWgtukjQGKI/AAAAAAAAAMc/nXtolPCa0Js/s320/009.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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A head band from the scraps from my bags (plus a cloth napkin I found at the thrift store)</div>
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Not so bad for my second attempt at a cloth flower!!! :)</div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">It's amazing what you can make with a pair of scissors, a little bit of fabric tape and some old t-shirts! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a new addiction of mine and I don't plan on stopping here. Not sure if anyone would ever buy such things from me but who knows! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My time is my own right now and having this time to center myself around my family, our goals and my creative aspirations is something I am not going to take for granted, so there's more to come! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are so many ideas I have for creating my own business out of our home, hobbies I want to start, things I want to sell... The sky is the limit and I have a long way to go because I haven't even left the ground yet!! :)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So there you go. I've shared with you the very beginning of my attempt to be crafty. Hope you like my creations! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>What are somethings you have made with your own hands? </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Kristen ITC'; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><3</span><span style="color: #20124d;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Handwriting'; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">MHM</span></span></h2>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10235906409550288250noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171770952604649812.post-31805959416146851392013-04-08T16:07:00.003-07:002013-04-09T13:10:56.980-07:00Little Miss Fashionista <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/6870915/?claim=7bmzjufx88j">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; white-space: pre-wrap;">While the rest of us were getting ready for a day trip to Olympia, WA to have lunch with some friends we made in Occupy who </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">traveled</span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; white-space: pre-wrap;"> from WA, DC, Abigail ran around the house in her “fashionable” and well thought out outfit loudly expressing her excitement to try a new Indian restaurant. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Daddy had just finished getting ready and sat down while he waited on the rest of us to get ready (and by that, I mean Mommy. But I have to get everything else ready for the day ahead!). He asked Abi to come to him so he could brush her hair when he asked her (being jokingly serious … ? Yes, that works)…</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y6G2Xo5-dyk/UWNNLpUgYWI/AAAAAAAAALE/cjdUTjHOw0M/s1600/AWP_0853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y6G2Xo5-dyk/UWNNLpUgYWI/AAAAAAAAALE/cjdUTjHOw0M/s320/AWP_0853.jpg" width="212" /></a><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Abigail, are you sure that black dress coat is “fashionable” (a term our daughter has re-defined) with your outfit? I’m sure the rainbow sweater with the hood would go much better”, he says with a smirk to be funny, but was actually making an honest observation. </span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; white-space: pre-wrap;">Abigail tends to match some pretty random articles of clothing together by pairing cowgirl boots, tutu’s and small dress coats with pants and halter tops. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Free expression is encouraged in our household. It keeps things interesting to say the least!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“That’s OK, you don’t have to listen to me. I’m just the stylist”, he continued as she stood with hands on her hips looking at him like… “REALLY DAD??”</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was then when I chimed in and said, “Yeah babe, maybe go get your black boots to match y</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; white-space: pre-wrap;">our dress coat.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She then lovingly walked over to me, put her hand on my shoulder and said,
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Mommy, please stay out of this.”</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">LOL OH that child… </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our daughter is a little fashion diva and has been since she was big enough to walk and talk. It may have been the princess movies she watched, or the ballerina movies and her obsession of becoming a rock star that inspired her “fashionista” personality, but it certainly </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">wasn't</span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; white-space: pre-wrap;"> from me . Sure I dress well when I need to and may have my own sense of layed-back-hippie-style but it is not in my nature to stand in front of the mirror and prep for very long. Brush the hair, throw on some facial lotion, minimal make-up and some lip gloss and I’m done!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Abigail will change several times in one day, and when she knows something is coming up that she will soon be attending, she will pick her outfit out ahead of time with every piece carefully thought out. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Her murmurs can be heard from her room as she giggles and says things like… “This will go PERFECT with this tutu.” (EVERYTHING should be accompanied by a tutu, according to Abigail) “Oh yes.. this will be fashionable. Daddy will approve.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Daddy is her personal stylist. This is just something that developed organically over the years. To be specific, he is also the Chef and (main) Gardener. :) I am the glue. I keep everyone and everything in order (and I use that word lightly), delegating tasks to keep the house in some sort of decent condition, while also being sure we have fun along the way. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But it is Daddy who, when we go to our favorite thrift store full of very lightly used/like-new clothing for children to replenish Abigail’s wardrobe (Shout out to Tiny Hiney's in Vancouver, WA!), is the one who picks out all of the clothes which are usually as funky and unique as our Abber-dabbers. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It will be interesting to see if this pans out over the years as she gets older. </span></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10235906409550288250noreply@blogger.com6