tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29064037598483559042024-03-18T22:09:01.025-07:00Care Wear Sharecarewearsharehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12744460474804263661noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906403759848355904.post-84672940134891784132012-04-22T13:42:00.000-07:002012-04-22T13:42:30.532-07:00Earth Day, A little help for Spring-cleaning and getting rid of electronic clutter<!--StartFragment-->
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbz9-ihcOaiQRS4hUiDziFiWb1vQnwhLtAxJnG16HLHrQsE-Qt5J7HAEzuMllSNlcek17sjkIM-pqsax4OMNn8o3ndg8kK4fwwwfScwAmBjQh3FQ5CyqtrtbbzbAQiEjRINhWVdzfFy1Mt/s1600/recycling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbz9-ihcOaiQRS4hUiDziFiWb1vQnwhLtAxJnG16HLHrQsE-Qt5J7HAEzuMllSNlcek17sjkIM-pqsax4OMNn8o3ndg8kK4fwwwfScwAmBjQh3FQ5CyqtrtbbzbAQiEjRINhWVdzfFy1Mt/s1600/recycling.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Electronic recycling from EFORCE, www.eforcecompliance.com</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">A</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">sk those who love me how I do with cleaning, and they may
reply, “Marcie has some trouble there,” or “Marcie’s place is a friggin mess.”
Sadly a major paradox of my life is that I love neat, tidy, and warm spaces and
yet I am thrown into a panic at the thought of cleaning. I avoid, I fret, I
poor a class of wine, maybe write a blog post… and I find better things to do than keep my home clean
and decluttered. Now there are several things that do end up helping me, one of
which is having the knowledge that things I get rid of will go to a new home or
be properly broken down and recycled.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> Electronic
items often pose difficulty here, as most thrift shops won’t take them and I am
loathed to add them to waste in landfills. Happily, for those of us in Philly
and the surrounding areas there is <a href="http://www.eforcecompliance.com/" target="_blank">EFORCE</a> recycling. They accept and will
recycle any items that can be battery operated or plugged in. They sponsor
events in both the public and private sectors, and there are a slew of <a href="http://www.eforcecompliance.com/collection_events_residental_2012.html" target="_blank">free collections</a>
happening over the next several months! Notably, <a href="http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/" target="_blank">Whole Foods</a> in Devon (April 28</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">)
and Jenkintown (April 129</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">)
will be holding collections this upcoming weekend, and <a href="http://www.xpn.org/" target="_blank">WXPN</a> will be hosting one
May 4</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">. Go ahead, declutter your life and rest assured your
electronic items are being responsibly recycled and broken down! Celebrate
Earth Day and your new freedom from electronic clutter!</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Items EFORCE accepts:</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Electronics, batteries, lamps, mercury devices, furniture
and equipments, paper, bottles, cardboard, and glass </span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->carewearsharehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12744460474804263661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906403759848355904.post-40310343338747011122012-04-19T07:41:00.000-07:002012-04-19T07:41:19.207-07:00Darkening up Without the Nasty Chemicals & a Brief History of "The Tan"<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj550rz42cVjeZ0bu0MPI8ozKf1LOK07vYaSqjutzguND3ghNOhGB_G7AChdHWbVIxberpl64W1LLZ5zyoMgYwiulwnHxkMeuEyIEEDxdCaEAtVBUhme3XNkML31lhR1u_mcskf3zFkOhjo/s1600/sunless+tanner+good+pic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj550rz42cVjeZ0bu0MPI8ozKf1LOK07vYaSqjutzguND3ghNOhGB_G7AChdHWbVIxberpl64W1LLZ5zyoMgYwiulwnHxkMeuEyIEEDxdCaEAtVBUhme3XNkML31lhR1u_mcskf3zFkOhjo/s640/sunless+tanner+good+pic.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Current price of natural sunless tanners at Whole Food, spring 2012</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I </span>am one of those gals who never tans; I’m a quintessential light(ish) haired freckly gal who burns after approximately ten minutes in the sun. Well actually if I allow myself to get repeated sun burns I may darken a tick or two before the end of summer, but why risk the damage? We all know skin cancer is real, and it’s not just the pale guy and gals who are susceptible. People of all shades and color skin can develop skin cancer. So why bother getting darker? Well truth be told, even when we know skin without a tan is perfectly healthy, darkened skin now speaks to being active and fun outdoors. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">There is an interesting cultural shift among western white folk that has occurred the last hundred years, and I’m not going to give you historical footnotes here, but this is what I remember from past research. At least as far back as the Renaissance pale skin, especially for women, was seen as highly desirable. Reasons were both classist and racist. Having light skin allowed a women to distinguish herself as wealthy, as evidenced by any lack of a tan she would surely have were she poor and forced to work in fields. Additionally, it announced her “purely” European ancestry by denying and mix of subjugated people’s in her background. This was the status quo for centuries until the advent of the Industrial Revolution. With the proliferation of factories and women’s subsequent employment in them, the average white working-woman was now, as a rule, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pale</i>. Couple the desire of the wealthy to maintain class distinction with the rise of “leisure time” (sports, bathing, and tourism) and suddenly being tanned became a status symbol of vitality, youth, health, and wealth. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">And now that we’re all feeling ambivalent and uncomfortable because of the unpleasant history of skin tone preference…Let’s just admit most pale light-skinned folk, myself included, would like to be tan. But, we’d like to do so without increasing our risk of cancer or our exposure to nasty chemicals contained in conventional sunless tanners. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Natures-Gate-Sunless-Tanner-Tanning/dp/B003AFI8D8" target="_blank">Nature’s Gate</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Alba-Sunless-Tanning-Lotion-4-Ounce/dp/B001E77M8Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334846108&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Alba</a> each make a naturally derived sunless tanner. I have tried both, and was actually happiest with the less expensive Natures Gate. The lotion has a dark tint, making it easy to see where you have already applied, and it gives a nice warm natural looking glow. The Alba is slightly orangey looking and because of the clear nature of the lotion, I had increased streaks and missed spots. Now, Alba says it has improved the formula, so it may be better than last year. Both last about a week and can be purchased at <a href="http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/" target="_blank">Whole Foods</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/b/?ie=UTF8&node=507846&tag=amazusnavi-20&hvadid=3555589301&hydpos=1t1&hydexid=&hydnetw=g&hydrand=568058492415807690&hydpone=&hydptwo=&hydmt=e" target="_blank">Amazon,</a> and hopefull <a href="http://www.essenemarket.com/" target="_blank">Essene Market and Cafe</a> on S.4th Street will have some coming in soon. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, if you are looking to darken up without loading up on cancer causing ultra violet rays or crazy chemicals (the affects of which we do not know) try <a href="http://www.natures-gate.com/" target="_blank">Nature’s Gate</a>! And whatever your skin shade, go ahead, love yourself and slather on that sunscreen! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
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</div>carewearsharehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12744460474804263661noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906403759848355904.post-90027818576837859712012-03-21T08:44:00.000-07:002012-03-21T08:44:50.977-07:00You might leave out your steam iron for a day or two and find ants are using it as a watering hole….<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKhzIneeocpzl9zP1zUbptvZh29VJya3grjpqSL_aAF-8n_wAj9d6LNnDlgJixsgkKFBTbblyMPy83xYP48gnQKc7Z0vWDFRINYM_ciQ4rLEOT8GZpqTc_VqMD9vbxzOBy2ajN99lyKCRP/s1600/ants+going+down+the+drain.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="480px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKhzIneeocpzl9zP1zUbptvZh29VJya3grjpqSL_aAF-8n_wAj9d6LNnDlgJixsgkKFBTbblyMPy83xYP48gnQKc7Z0vWDFRINYM_ciQ4rLEOT8GZpqTc_VqMD9vbxzOBy2ajN99lyKCRP/s640/ants+going+down+the+drain.JPG" width="640px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The insect Carnage post rade on my iron...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFb_FvVdp_FQhDBAz0ruLOcD0tB-0iT92SJFYiV3gkR3KY0vzzytesu7nEGJUbwQdqkzZWRbRjcD5AQHyhI3Hz868LqJjXqUyX4D_2DksNqwDPAJ0xdKdMJTbpNPJyxuqT3tps1HDOP0F/s1600/close+up+iron+with+ants.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFb_FvVdp_FQhDBAz0ruLOcD0tB-0iT92SJFYiV3gkR3KY0vzzytesu7nEGJUbwQdqkzZWRbRjcD5AQHyhI3Hz868LqJjXqUyX4D_2DksNqwDPAJ0xdKdMJTbpNPJyxuqT3tps1HDOP0F/s320/close+up+iron+with+ants.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The little guys "taking a swim" </td></tr>
</tbody></table> <span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span>rue story: Last week, in the process of tidying my living room, I reached down to pick up my iron that had been reposed in the corner for maybe a week (or two or three….) and I recoiled in disgusted yet fascinated amazement at the sight before me. A tiny yet determined little army of ants was crawling in and out of the water intake funnel. Apparently my iron was a water oasis in the midst of the desert that is my apartment. Upon further investigation I could see clearly through the water level window there were tons of the wee invaders in there!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now I am a peace loving {mostly} vegetarian {just started eating some seafood after fifteen years of being flesh free} but this was plain gross and I needed my iron! In case ants should ever take to hanging out in your iron, because apparently this can happen to you, here’s how to go ballistic on their little asses and got rid of the enemy forces:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><ol style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Turn on the iron and place the steam setting to, “HIGH”</span></li>
</ol><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I know this may sound cruel, but allowing the temperature of the air and water within the iron reach death inducing heights seemed the most expedient way to handle the insurgence.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in;"><br />
</div><ol start="2" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Stand with thumbs poised to squish any six-legged warrior who managed to escape boiling death trap. </span></li>
</ol><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Again, sounds cruel, but very necessary, as I could not allow any to flee and return with reinforcements.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in;"><br />
</div><ol start="3" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Set homemade Borax and sugar traps for the scouts will invariably come investigate the fate of their comrades. </span></li>
</ol><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Total annihilation needs to be the goal here. Borax, though toxic, is far less damaging to the environment at large than many ant traps. For recipes and suggestions check out this <a href="http://tipnut.com/ant-killer/" target="_blank">page</a>. Since it is reasonable to suppose most ant home invasions will not be focused on your iron, this is actually your most needed resource for a counter attack on your insurgents. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;"> *Marcie </span></span>carewearsharehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12744460474804263661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906403759848355904.post-16987476094110900822012-03-12T11:40:00.000-07:002012-03-12T11:40:11.160-07:00Nerding Out: Essential Oils<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></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;"><img border="0" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjAU09n30xchl4c5gobb5HbKl0QtCDvRo1LxKJmY1XNfqsZj-xt_8l-BOZFlIHKeCj2P0UYG6_XSWw61eHyfuKl2BM4Uda5ew0jelcuoZfNJEhmBAnmBPJ0aj313X-VoTjb64S2w2uQHO/s640/IMG_1250.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toddler Melissa doing "homework."</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I used to like doing homework. A lot. It was satisfying to come home from a long day of school and practice what I had learned. Perhaps I would fill in the blanks, or circle the one thing that was not like the other things, or, in later years, solve for x. I didn't always get the right answer (especially when it came to finding x), but I was grateful that there was a right answer, and that I could tune out all the surrounding chaos at home and try to find it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Fast forward to today. Here I am, a much older nerd, about to isolate the essence of cinnamon by extraction with methylene chloride. See how laughter and joy is just pouring out of me? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12SOYJSR_pzicReKQbbpdIPFr__zr0x-9EpYyyLnVgyikXeStKnOacg0bacbrqyy1wC1HDaG1qL7F723uIB_-46Jsth2J_cFST_geEaqRowfz8tHDdUOU2zQf4Fj6oeYFXu56g3h1uJ_u/s1600/IMG_1235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12SOYJSR_pzicReKQbbpdIPFr__zr0x-9EpYyyLnVgyikXeStKnOacg0bacbrqyy1wC1HDaG1qL7F723uIB_-46Jsth2J_cFST_geEaqRowfz8tHDdUOU2zQf4Fj6oeYFXu56g3h1uJ_u/s400/IMG_1235.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wouldn't this make a great passport photo?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">In fact, isolating natural products is cool, if a little tricky. There's a real art to distillation technique. It made me want to do it at home without using toxic chemicals. If you decide to make your own essential oil don't ingest it. That would be gross. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Here's how we did it in the lab: </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">1) Take a cinnamon stick and break it up into smaller pieces. The pieces were placed in a round bottom flask with 4 mls of water and a boiling stone. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwalYNms9Ha-co7PGJe14DAnGzTBP99nZfy3dANfmwSM0pRrukuqknPNOka_SubRxVEejDj5i3C2B-xhznxsRp38aM30NCNjEpyxX3qO5f4Hnsryqus88umlXsaBLxA5DUSCoX6BdXrXT/s1600/IMG_1231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwalYNms9Ha-co7PGJe14DAnGzTBP99nZfy3dANfmwSM0pRrukuqknPNOka_SubRxVEejDj5i3C2B-xhznxsRp38aM30NCNjEpyxX3qO5f4Hnsryqus88umlXsaBLxA5DUSCoX6BdXrXT/s640/IMG_1231.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Use stick, not powdered cinnamon for better results.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">2)Attach a still and condenser to the flask, heat it in a sand bath at 150-160 degrees C. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaudphm6p438yFFm0qlxSn3EuSlNIKpJpnWjt72zmpnSq5fHjzVaHLmOsU88BDHU9VDkdDevov_LL5Lwurn0TDCjgDSpDZXGIwpV6hfj0okWvS9K4ollNujqhYWUmzH8wwsi3tw4pwCt_v/s1600/IMG_1232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaudphm6p438yFFm0qlxSn3EuSlNIKpJpnWjt72zmpnSq5fHjzVaHLmOsU88BDHU9VDkdDevov_LL5Lwurn0TDCjgDSpDZXGIwpV6hfj0okWvS9K4ollNujqhYWUmzH8wwsi3tw4pwCt_v/s640/IMG_1232.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hickman still and air condenser.</td></tr>
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">3)A milky distillate forms in the still. This was removed using a syringe and placed in a centrifuge tube.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg7TQAFrc1ZW46X21c0RU7yFeUasqw_NRpPYiggAboFIQAQopwDI-51oCq9fKO_8yG5_ZYdPEu1t_qRqGhLQoBnFJViKtRL_zVb2LRXeN5qBGuEdi9249nZfM6wH62b3g7F4abS6mIqIAT/s1600/IMG_1243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg7TQAFrc1ZW46X21c0RU7yFeUasqw_NRpPYiggAboFIQAQopwDI-51oCq9fKO_8yG5_ZYdPEu1t_qRqGhLQoBnFJViKtRL_zVb2LRXeN5qBGuEdi9249nZfM6wH62b3g7F4abS6mIqIAT/s640/IMG_1243.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">4) The organic layer of essence was extracted from water in the distillate using methylene chloride.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO86_VU4kPaQ7CfAf4N9r3mJXe0np5MwpJ6bbLIfwqvuqmjYeoNGzdh79wptaT1xhvDZglOkgz1qIB3Wuj5IwvjCZVB3PUro34aqKgLiaEQ2EkxRmSHdEl5pCRWm7zEBCpjmLUae1_BtxB/s1600/IMG_1241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO86_VU4kPaQ7CfAf4N9r3mJXe0np5MwpJ6bbLIfwqvuqmjYeoNGzdh79wptaT1xhvDZglOkgz1qIB3Wuj5IwvjCZVB3PUro34aqKgLiaEQ2EkxRmSHdEl5pCRWm7zEBCpjmLUae1_BtxB/s640/IMG_1241.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Milky layer of plant matter.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> </span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">5)We evaporated the methylene chloride over gentle heat, and analyzed the product. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxbtQzemAeKYBXrZ5SEfhfL73v2FgmfQgdVFr6QqO9mXN64fGT9Df9tjpjw7Tt7QiY27jEBRzpGgg3C7Xx9WxTVRkvOYIkKSoHDTtzaSgWD7LIgp_G-tH3BXP9tz7w5Mr2GSJPNPf57MI/s1600/IMG_1245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxbtQzemAeKYBXrZ5SEfhfL73v2FgmfQgdVFr6QqO9mXN64fGT9Df9tjpjw7Tt7QiY27jEBRzpGgg3C7Xx9WxTVRkvOYIkKSoHDTtzaSgWD7LIgp_G-tH3BXP9tz7w5Mr2GSJPNPf57MI/s640/IMG_1245.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yay a graph!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Essential oils smell great and distilling them has been a human endeavor since the early days of alchemy. I find it fascinating that the way a molecule is shaped determines how it tastes or what odor it has. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Have you ever chewed spearmint gum for a really long time and noticed it eventually tastes kind of like rye bread? Carvone is the molecule responsible. In one form it is the flavor of spearmint, but its mirror image is the flavor of caraway seeds. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI2uRlsFvNOk6YvN4jmyKNla59T-Noyh8OXm0dzRJE1K28Kv79ASkQ_ejQ0QlQeUP6Mvwy7OgepBl416Z3GbrP4nL_CMeCg3dukPKEimZ62_4IpIvQU3ci55l8qqM6oDPa0NTJ5GoCqOnV/s1600/IMG_1258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="604" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI2uRlsFvNOk6YvN4jmyKNla59T-Noyh8OXm0dzRJE1K28Kv79ASkQ_ejQ0QlQeUP6Mvwy7OgepBl416Z3GbrP4nL_CMeCg3dukPKEimZ62_4IpIvQU3ci55l8qqM6oDPa0NTJ5GoCqOnV/s640/IMG_1258.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Somehow I manage to out-nerd the graph.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">There are so many flavors to experiment with. If you don't have a still (who does?) you can use jojoba oil, add some crushed flower petals, or the rind of an orange, or fresh mint leaves. Let the plant material steep in the oil for a day or two in a closed container. Strain the oil and repeat until you get your desired pungency. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">-Melissa </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> </span>carewearsharehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12744460474804263661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906403759848355904.post-54965840472955860812012-03-11T11:08:00.000-07:002012-03-11T11:08:01.394-07:00Asparagus Season<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I know it's barely asparagus season, but since we are having an early spring and all... I couldn't help myself from sauteeing up this delicious lunch</span>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKXcvUqX2zASiDUdFtRF08Ktc9cLgMfx0hj1RRMqc706S-5huBw9IeZ1mdh28N2fMdQYXHG8IngRy4Qw_r__IVkOvTP5kfSdugxPloVnWTUQ0X2BylAqrBrNijkkK_X6ghf9nIHuxDpJ8M/s1600/IMG_1254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="596" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKXcvUqX2zASiDUdFtRF08Ktc9cLgMfx0hj1RRMqc706S-5huBw9IeZ1mdh28N2fMdQYXHG8IngRy4Qw_r__IVkOvTP5kfSdugxPloVnWTUQ0X2BylAqrBrNijkkK_X6ghf9nIHuxDpJ8M/s640/IMG_1254.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I chose relatively mature asparagus with resilient stalks and cut them up into bite-size pieces. Then I heated some butter in a pan, added the asparagus, chopped basil, a little salt and pepper, and finally some whole grape tomatoes. Garnished with parmesan. The key is to cook the asparagus until it is tender, but still leaving enough crunch to keep the texture interesting and satisfying. Asparagus and butter is divine, but olive oil could work too. </span>carewearsharehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12744460474804263661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906403759848355904.post-64738893533635768022012-03-10T10:23:00.002-08:002012-03-11T13:54:55.125-07:0010, 9, 8 76ers!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3uwPRJi5FISmUZ-x-DfiXLo7Gqm3-3EbiK1nB1FVvi5FuRrJ_WU3GVJbTSkUpJWHASQlqz2Ym61eOgC37Rer31JZdbMPwFmr06-Cgfq2pMlAW_LkueYK3t3sTKo20z4mESYHUBMbYUc6v/s1600/philadelphia_76ers_logo-9984.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3uwPRJi5FISmUZ-x-DfiXLo7Gqm3-3EbiK1nB1FVvi5FuRrJ_WU3GVJbTSkUpJWHASQlqz2Ym61eOgC37Rer31JZdbMPwFmr06-Cgfq2pMlAW_LkueYK3t3sTKo20z4mESYHUBMbYUc6v/s200/philadelphia_76ers_logo-9984.gif" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Last night my boyfriend took me to see the 76ers play the Utah Jazz. It was not so much a date as it was an opportunity for me to witness a guys' night out. So out of place was I that one fan assumed I was the designated driver of the group. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I haven't been to a sixers game since I was 16. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Iverson" target="_blank">Allen Iverson</a> was the star of the team then. Now people love <a href="http://www.nba.com/playerfile/andre_iguodala/" target="_blank">Andre Iguodala</a>. Say that name aloud - Andreiguodala. It just rolls off the tongue. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Plus, look at this cute logo. It's nice and retro. It reminds me of converse hightops and those basketball socks that approach your kneecaps. I approve of the new (since 2009) jerseys. When it comes to logo design less is more:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5DaUqzTEFr3g3Dl4fbRyIDzfghYJ9lzyUzEpr8gKvOYWmhIRjWbEeL9ZSSW7pHRiVXoXxDQcbKPaXOJVyfOj40dQ-Xa-WppMNMVVgzCLHVAJ_xSVDutARFDXfhMFs9m7Ogk0uV_hzbeX/s1600/images-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5DaUqzTEFr3g3Dl4fbRyIDzfghYJ9lzyUzEpr8gKvOYWmhIRjWbEeL9ZSSW7pHRiVXoXxDQcbKPaXOJVyfOj40dQ-Xa-WppMNMVVgzCLHVAJ_xSVDutARFDXfhMFs9m7Ogk0uV_hzbeX/s320/images-1.jpg" width="245" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Too much going on here: this logo is lame 1997-2009</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOhMqCexEjNi2z2-mB0ECON31w_4NVIP5Hfk0rQcRPcHV-YheOuubcr7b9opQatWODjsSCLQWT9RFXO0iAxsvn0bifv2byfm4V1FW4sHJlH2tWmzDjXQvyBPACufrQi4-1N53qkVnv1m0H/s1600/images-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOhMqCexEjNi2z2-mB0ECON31w_4NVIP5Hfk0rQcRPcHV-YheOuubcr7b9opQatWODjsSCLQWT9RFXO0iAxsvn0bifv2byfm4V1FW4sHJlH2tWmzDjXQvyBPACufrQi4-1N53qkVnv1m0H/s1600/images-2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Allen Iverson is happier in retro chic block letters.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Basketball is my favorite game to watch. I like sports where the ball is in play close to 100% of the time, and scoring happens every 20 seconds. AND I played third string point guard in junior high, so clearly the sport is dear to my heart. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">At these games you enter into another universe, where giant men hold giant balls upside down in the palm of one hand. Smaller men dunk baskets as they flip off trampolines. Toddlers, teens and grown women do slutty dancing for MY entertainment. Welcome to Comcast Country, as the sign above the court reads. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Hearing the 76ers oldschool anthem was definitely a highlight in an evening full of highlights. I can't decide if I prefer the oldschool song or G. Love's nineties interpretation (ahhh halter tops and brown makeup - very <i>Friends</i>-esque). </span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gEKK3GVd150?rel=0" width="480"></iframe><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Q8tq9Va6U68?rel=0" width="480"><p>&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Als &amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;</p></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The 76ers beat the Jazz, 104-91. I'm not even going to pretend to be able to interpret the game. For more information, I refer you to <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/phi/philadelphia-76ers" target="_blank">sportshouting</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Confession of total ignorance: I thought the Jazz were from LA or at least somewhere more Jazzy than Utah. I was grateful when a friend pointed out that the Jazz were originally a New Orleans team, which makes a lot more sense. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I hope to get to another game this year. The Phillies have all the attention lately, but I think the Sixers are way cooler. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">-Melissa </span>carewearsharehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12744460474804263661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906403759848355904.post-56262546019525331462012-03-07T14:27:00.004-08:002012-03-09T06:55:18.837-08:00Channeling Your Inner Prep: Classic American Mail-order<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUApmPlvXqH_tw-sMvZ2i0pOCLRGXXfH0L1x1nfb1TKIgycAdjTCGqyv1Rn1kZ4C-8nBGB139xU_1OkjQPkKyZJkn5_q8vWV98NtkwaHWuCYh8tQEGzZ908R1-ugQ3uqmEFqsVI43UmOW/s1600/120305_sig_sub_dept_headers_w_dresses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="174px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUApmPlvXqH_tw-sMvZ2i0pOCLRGXXfH0L1x1nfb1TKIgycAdjTCGqyv1Rn1kZ4C-8nBGB139xU_1OkjQPkKyZJkn5_q8vWV98NtkwaHWuCYh8tQEGzZ908R1-ugQ3uqmEFqsVI43UmOW/s640/120305_sig_sub_dept_headers_w_dresses.jpg" width="640px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.llbean.com/llbeansignature/llb/shop/8?subrnd=1&nav=siggn@metricsPageToken@" target="_blank">From L.L. Bean Signature </a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD2P4MuRwsORntqVNu6FR2e1DRiy1QFzSscFGAIizQzlIGXCp8i-_lluRCwjSps_JENXQN_8RM7515w3novy8TGZr-YzTOa6y4DIUs0XZfzUJezCq9ErnWzss1o4pqcmQdRmXvCibrC_Dy/s1600/03071212_mn_jackets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="140px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD2P4MuRwsORntqVNu6FR2e1DRiy1QFzSscFGAIizQzlIGXCp8i-_lluRCwjSps_JENXQN_8RM7515w3novy8TGZr-YzTOa6y4DIUs0XZfzUJezCq9ErnWzss1o4pqcmQdRmXvCibrC_Dy/s400/03071212_mn_jackets.jpg" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://canvas.landsend.com/canvas/index.html" target="_blank">From Land's End Canvas</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: large;"><b>Marcie</b>: Let's face it, most middle-class kids have had an L.L. Bean or Land's End catalog darken their door. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: large;"><b>Melissa</b>: I definitely wore an all-cotton, forest green turtleneck religiously as a tween.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy241Nl0wwhTlEasbQlhIixQxBD7yyUYpUhP_BILgH-gy1pJ8aGxpv2OUbf42HUlai1Smv4qOdBgFdbcrNiqxQZPuYeiHOZUJ_h6tfl__66h0frwXJWb-MP0f8K4B9-WGu8VcmeGlcMd9g/s1600/103372_2800_42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy241Nl0wwhTlEasbQlhIixQxBD7yyUYpUhP_BILgH-gy1pJ8aGxpv2OUbf42HUlai1Smv4qOdBgFdbcrNiqxQZPuYeiHOZUJ_h6tfl__66h0frwXJWb-MP0f8K4B9-WGu8VcmeGlcMd9g/s1600/103372_2800_42.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/62852?feat=816-CL1&attrValue_0=Red" target="_blank">L.L. Bean Deluxe Book Pack</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: large;"><b>Marcie</b>: Sure, who hasn't hauled around a giant backpack with <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">M</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">B</span>L</span></span> (or your initials) on it? But by the time I had my braces taken off I had to accept the fact that oversized polo shirts and crisp khakis weren't going to earn me any street cred. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: large;"><b>Melissa</b>: Yes, even though I LOVE the high quality cotton fabric of a Women's Boat Tee as much as the next girl, for years I have held back the urge to have one delivered to my doorstep. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9BiJ3J9rOXg5kNfzYxfCTGeI-2hPRHTCfVcwcYyOxE5zDNvDQ8hZjE9MeM5fwvtxm5LPPehCJi6HMvC8NSeSpwTm8LcD71mH_Y5De0-KvynhEx-9QSvUkVW6su3GjzX1aW-TbQasUy0A7/s1600/272166_34372_42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9BiJ3J9rOXg5kNfzYxfCTGeI-2hPRHTCfVcwcYyOxE5zDNvDQ8hZjE9MeM5fwvtxm5LPPehCJi6HMvC8NSeSpwTm8LcD71mH_Y5De0-KvynhEx-9QSvUkVW6su3GjzX1aW-TbQasUy0A7/s400/272166_34372_42.jpg" width="337px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/69403?feat=505948-GN3&attrValue_0=Currant" target="_blank">L.L. Bean Signature Wool Blanket Coat, Plaid</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: large;"><b>Marcie</b>: Well hold back no more! In my search for appropriate work clothes I have discovered that both Land's End and L.L. Bean are moving beyond unflattering front pleats and polar fleece. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: large;"><b>Melissa</b>: Marcie it's true! <a href="http://www.llbean.com/llbeansignature/llb/shop/8?subrnd=1&nav=siggn@metricsPageToken@" target="_blank">L.L. Bean Signature</a> holds on to that woodsy, conservative, classic style we have always loved, but now their designs are utterly wearable for young urbanites. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4nC235JgrX_qmsAGx6qayz9YepzV23fQKLVW8hTbcwriEiWhX6F-YUbGL4jByiVbcMh4784womZqN3Y4Czir6_DTCY4YwoE716zebkjEvoT5as54tQGP1z1aiTPRjxswKeU81f9tMkya/s1600/411642_X412_D1_QK6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4nC235JgrX_qmsAGx6qayz9YepzV23fQKLVW8hTbcwriEiWhX6F-YUbGL4jByiVbcMh4784womZqN3Y4Czir6_DTCY4YwoE716zebkjEvoT5as54tQGP1z1aiTPRjxswKeU81f9tMkya/s1600/411642_X412_D1_QK6.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://canvas.landsend.com/pp/womens-lightweight-slouch-chinos~235329_-1.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::QK6&CM_MERCH=IDX_women-_-new-arrivals-_-pants-shorts&origin=index" target="_blank">Women's Lightweight Slouch Chino's from Land's End Canvas</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: large;"><b>Marcie</b>: And <a href="http://canvas.landsend.com/canvas/women/index.html?cm_re=Canvas-Women-_-D-1" target="_blank">Land's End Canvas</a> has an even more extensive collection of hip, high-quality weekend wear that I can rock in Philly. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: large;"><b>Melissa</b>: I am a sucker for "investment pieces." When I buy something that's good quality I want to be able to wear it for years. I love this brushed lambswool cardigan in blue (below). It's the kind of sweater that you can wear season after season. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjntjKuVn6JUlXEq7ikZxTuOCl0UOmAFpEyXK7O-pNqGmb2vTPcQ9aFYr2sA4W4qguyN7Hv_ssqUc98QTvBlDrT8ZXoeFHXRGRk1HT6RsmZzOndbqHDXSPi-gt3LFZilQi91aSxSg1QIAD1/s1600/273256_74_42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjntjKuVn6JUlXEq7ikZxTuOCl0UOmAFpEyXK7O-pNqGmb2vTPcQ9aFYr2sA4W4qguyN7Hv_ssqUc98QTvBlDrT8ZXoeFHXRGRk1HT6RsmZzOndbqHDXSPi-gt3LFZilQi91aSxSg1QIAD1/s400/273256_74_42.jpg" width="337px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/71118?feat=505954-GN3" target="_blank">Brushed Lambswool Cardigan from L.L. Bean Signature</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: large;"> <b>Marcie</b>: The Land's End line seems to be more casual (not to mention less expensive), while the L.L. Bean line ranges from casual to dressy.Melissa, I'm so glad we got to have this little talk.I like embracing my inner WASP ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;"><b>Melissa:</b> And I'm so glad we get to recapture our childhoods and channel our inner prepster ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">*Marcie and Melissa are major fans of these clothes and hope you find the humor<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> in this "</span></span><a href="http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/full-list-of-stuff-white-people-like/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Stuff White People Like</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">," inspire</span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">d post. Remember to watch </span>for Marcie and Melissa cruising the mean streets of Philly clad in their newly aquired, quality, casual New England weekend wear.*</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wJsDADbDSa7SzWjo2IBzmAgtvsqU8bqiPXmbaqM1QO1vSWLUq6gss28ZtIIUeZysL_n7uj0Bqh3VkSiKpv4BYLsF6UgFBdnoaQ0cqIq1u-DRzpmvm08DphvTKxyLuXorL7KJoAf7J_rh/s1600/275121_668_42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wJsDADbDSa7SzWjo2IBzmAgtvsqU8bqiPXmbaqM1QO1vSWLUq6gss28ZtIIUeZysL_n7uj0Bqh3VkSiKpv4BYLsF6UgFBdnoaQ0cqIq1u-DRzpmvm08DphvTKxyLuXorL7KJoAf7J_rh/s400/275121_668_42.jpg" width="337px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/73689?feat=505954-GN3&attrValue_0=Multi" target="_blank">Shawl Collar Cardigan from L.L. Bean Signature</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>carewearsharehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12744460474804263661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906403759848355904.post-5058831982133890262012-03-02T07:28:00.000-08:002012-03-02T07:28:04.116-08:00“Leap Day comes around every four years, but a girl like you only once in a life time.”<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is real life! Actor Dan Hodge kissing his new fiance, Krista, at the end of Wednesday's "The Mousetrap." </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span> <span style="font-size: small;">am a huuuuge <a href="http://agathachristie.com/" target="_blank">Agatha Christie</a> fan, and for those of you who happen to be under ninety who probably aren’t familiar with the delightful Dame Aggie, she happens to be the most published author of all time!{<a href="http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3AAgatha%20Christie&page=1" target="_blank">check out her books here!</a>} Quintessentially British, she wrote in the post WWI era, and penned delightfully wry and astute observations of human nature throughout her works. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span> </span>Philly’s <a href="http://www.walnutstreettheatre.org/" target="_blank">Walnut Street Theater</a> is rapping up their rendition of her murder mystery <a href="https://www.the-mousetrap.co.uk/online/default.asp" target="_blank">The Mouse Trap</a>, with their last show being March 4<sup>th</sup>. This play just <span> </span>happens to be, “the longest running show of any kind, in the world,” and Wednesday, the elusive February 29th, Melissa, my sister Tegan, and I sat in the cheap seats (ten bucks!) for this delightful “who dun it.” Walnut St’s rendition was solid. And, I must say it was a joy and a delight to spend time with two of my favorite gals and be pulled into quaint 1950’s England- it’s looks, humor, words, mannerisms, and murders (their murders of course being allot more civilized than ours…) </span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span> </span>At the curtain call the actors of course requested we keep the secret of the identity of our diabolical murderer, and of course I will. But one surprise I must share! Wednesday night’s audience was treated to an event I suppose those who go for the remaining performances shall not get to see- the proposal of Dan Hodge (who played Giles Ralston) to his totally shocked and thrilled girlfriend, Krista! The crowd was equally wooed as Mr. Hodge got on one knee and declared, “Leap Day comes around every four years, but a girl like you only once in a life time.” As if the crowd could have loved the couple more, they promptly dropped the ring and upon recovering it, both remained on one knee. Love, delightful love, and an ending Aggie would have been proud of! Go check it out while there’s still time! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"> *Marcie </span></span>carewearsharehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12744460474804263661noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906403759848355904.post-56577490677185770382012-02-27T18:54:00.000-08:002012-02-27T18:54:52.264-08:00Nostalgiafiles<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I went back to my family home in Bedminster, PA this weekend. In a wave of nostalgia I started going through the closet in my childhood bedroom. I tried on my prom dresses (pathetic? weird? you decide!) and flipped through pictures from junior high school. In my school we used to give wallet-sized copies of our school pictures</span> <span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">to our friends with messages written on the back. We shared a lot of inside jokes. Jokes so remote that I've completely forgotten why I once found them funny. "Always remember Reese's clipboard" reads the back of one photo. Well, I'm sorry, but I have no memory of what that's about. "And always remember all the indoor golf." Again, nope, indoor golf not ringing any bells. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I found some tokens from my more recent past: $65 worth of renminbi, from when I was in Beijing after college. I don't know why, but seeing them reminds me of Chinese Starbucks Lattes made with UHT milk. Does Beijing have fresh milk these days? I wonder... </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMPQ0rhFqSjJZfqyZf8OZGYF1yGfyfQ77UY3RRqVq85l_dG_NHsSxmK9kDpifd81qb_Jo0bCcoXA1cRJVtW1n2Zq-DUulIcGBzTl9SunkTxiWD7HSTTWXO8CHoo1nCbPOtI3mdQzN9kI3i/s1600/IMG_1197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMPQ0rhFqSjJZfqyZf8OZGYF1yGfyfQ77UY3RRqVq85l_dG_NHsSxmK9kDpifd81qb_Jo0bCcoXA1cRJVtW1n2Zq-DUulIcGBzTl9SunkTxiWD7HSTTWXO8CHoo1nCbPOtI3mdQzN9kI3i/s640/IMG_1197.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
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</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><a href="http://blogs.amctv.com/mad_men_carousel_photo_gallery/kodak-presentation-2.php" target="_blank">Don Draper once told me</a> in Greek nostalgia means "the pain from an old wound."</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">When I was little I used to play outside as soon as I got home from school. We lived on ten acres, and I didn't have any neighborhood kids to play with, so I would explore the backyard wilderness alone. I didn't have a camera. I never took any pictures of what the land looked like then. This past weekend I took my phone with me and snapped some shots as I revisited this unconventional piece of land. The landscape has changed a lot over the last 25 years. It's filled with trees that are just a little bit younger than I am. My dad planted hundreds of them, so I guess that's why I feel so nostalgic about them. They are where they are because of my family. I can just about remember when they were all saplings, and today a young forest is there. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsT0nHXOluGvLydHq8fOMSNwWWeP182fhVBemFdUU8P_D6Bs5f7NKNkfBP7DJfFtZREWBI0YDfAS_MyvNcQ_KSkV5byLILgWqT5F7BBktlhC44gniSP86zpI26U6dW-IsodfwFhpg2po46/s1600/IMG_1200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsT0nHXOluGvLydHq8fOMSNwWWeP182fhVBemFdUU8P_D6Bs5f7NKNkfBP7DJfFtZREWBI0YDfAS_MyvNcQ_KSkV5byLILgWqT5F7BBktlhC44gniSP86zpI26U6dW-IsodfwFhpg2po46/s640/IMG_1200.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Here is some moss, and in the background out of focus is some shale. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFu5Sx1n0svq3NL6WLIpfjHe6odq7u-VxNqt2UYFsRRDcssx6je-LyePB2w1ffvvvQkKCraHGpuajq708dJtvxZDyb-0AUEY7UnDLZi-5h6RFMajuUs9rA1TSm9tcULwfwlv9SesA7GWgq/s1600/IMG_1201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFu5Sx1n0svq3NL6WLIpfjHe6odq7u-VxNqt2UYFsRRDcssx6je-LyePB2w1ffvvvQkKCraHGpuajq708dJtvxZDyb-0AUEY7UnDLZi-5h6RFMajuUs9rA1TSm9tcULwfwlv9SesA7GWgq/s640/IMG_1201.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPcFVzBoIgTaDHvC9lk-Aw6vxxJdz7ezSziPGNb4SauDMgTWa0mDXMnBUDigGlphDjO8DzERxx-kl6D7lZOJNrnFZ5E2mvIvVaZvp01Dq8OuwnJPNSP9idL3gHBX4dw6LlB41DD0dp_5S/s1600/IMG_1202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPcFVzBoIgTaDHvC9lk-Aw6vxxJdz7ezSziPGNb4SauDMgTWa0mDXMnBUDigGlphDjO8DzERxx-kl6D7lZOJNrnFZ5E2mvIvVaZvp01Dq8OuwnJPNSP9idL3gHBX4dw6LlB41DD0dp_5S/s640/IMG_1202.jpg" width="480" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The moss is growing on a cylinder of concrete. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Below, a young deer has been killed and scavenged. (Possibly by my dog). </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDOnkKF26hKbhu7pKph4xTxjqJJXml5agiPvd52Of9_CJYLv7iuz91xaFIAXHFVuvHgsezTIhyyBjHUMXPNMjU8i0TcQwedrM5_oPWTnR5UFRPtWRC2Uk3R7RKDQ-fX3_XtTaQXttvVup/s1600/IMG_1203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDOnkKF26hKbhu7pKph4xTxjqJJXml5agiPvd52Of9_CJYLv7iuz91xaFIAXHFVuvHgsezTIhyyBjHUMXPNMjU8i0TcQwedrM5_oPWTnR5UFRPtWRC2Uk3R7RKDQ-fX3_XtTaQXttvVup/s640/IMG_1203.jpg" width="480" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And here is the young forest, with grasses that are dead from winter.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVO_x5GDyHb5vIQ8CQCCVVaZHffQC3OoIgpTmMNlbEtuYSEcMff2XySqmNxOeXYq_doTBoBWMgbWnma7TBR20N6jaTX-czAfsk6jiqI7HceXuOauagKF1O936nskpcTfkJIdQ6VzzXIjNL/s1600/IMG_1210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVO_x5GDyHb5vIQ8CQCCVVaZHffQC3OoIgpTmMNlbEtuYSEcMff2XySqmNxOeXYq_doTBoBWMgbWnma7TBR20N6jaTX-czAfsk6jiqI7HceXuOauagKF1O936nskpcTfkJIdQ6VzzXIjNL/s640/IMG_1210.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The crocuses are coming up. These are at the very back of the property. I was too early to catch any blooms. </span> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNbyEwjKBi48KGB4JjKBe3PaNktF7CtlWj_7FsB3tXy0iUsVU74bDjJnNYkzCf8b4KvtzIvXCRbpEDggCaif6zNvSg_2lc-fRVxO-uPEfFpPPk03HzWEfCZkG5jmvxTrGaDergteVGYSD/s1600/IMG_1216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNbyEwjKBi48KGB4JjKBe3PaNktF7CtlWj_7FsB3tXy0iUsVU74bDjJnNYkzCf8b4KvtzIvXCRbpEDggCaif6zNvSg_2lc-fRVxO-uPEfFpPPk03HzWEfCZkG5jmvxTrGaDergteVGYSD/s640/IMG_1216.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And here is more moss, growing in electric green. </span> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW55rWPg4cfdbnqGLBTRcnNS5zzlURotDJgQTXY6nIzUYb1HOF0eRAqAkphkOvrRagNQ32fWumMavczouEiFr5b7vha_wVyqhmShMQdwSwaiR9BHFQZ0g5aswnKo4BV2cCoTNqSLkZDio7/s1600/IMG_1218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW55rWPg4cfdbnqGLBTRcnNS5zzlURotDJgQTXY6nIzUYb1HOF0eRAqAkphkOvrRagNQ32fWumMavczouEiFr5b7vha_wVyqhmShMQdwSwaiR9BHFQZ0g5aswnKo4BV2cCoTNqSLkZDio7/s640/IMG_1218.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqTEEoCre9mIZ0kf11u_saI-56wnNyms9XEvgtZJIO6UE3ltzs3jYhjNEK3yxcO_4kbPLNW99zlwmTFBWIQOKscq612mxedyLRSH_gdN6hbp3ojHpmJMxkITppWqtD6RG8MlC3MRKvak2/s1600/IMG_1221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqTEEoCre9mIZ0kf11u_saI-56wnNyms9XEvgtZJIO6UE3ltzs3jYhjNEK3yxcO_4kbPLNW99zlwmTFBWIQOKscq612mxedyLRSH_gdN6hbp3ojHpmJMxkITppWqtD6RG8MlC3MRKvak2/s640/IMG_1221.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Cattails growing in a pond.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjI0UJM0aKDALTt8WUrsghpFfddfRxJD4cvBVHvMvl8Vdbk45wzpbjUTczFtd8OhHqeyCUMtanCWW5P5JAYCRyUqHzJ-UIFWM1x69mn30tFFZEvckHKhwNgutnZ5UOELDPYyuITX3GgOT/s1600/IMG_1224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjI0UJM0aKDALTt8WUrsghpFfddfRxJD4cvBVHvMvl8Vdbk45wzpbjUTczFtd8OhHqeyCUMtanCWW5P5JAYCRyUqHzJ-UIFWM1x69mn30tFFZEvckHKhwNgutnZ5UOELDPYyuITX3GgOT/s640/IMG_1224.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Deer fur.</span> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLIPn-RgEvXISVfZBVBkNjXPo0zLfJsJ1eY9JidgHcoSUc9O5aYtY4th_Eu7KGo0mA4C4fTbACryXbiwhlWCmYDfvYokYw36ChN-zFl7S-WFRVtxYrIGG7adYy4lxX1WZC8yE9r804dE_h/s1600/IMG_1227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLIPn-RgEvXISVfZBVBkNjXPo0zLfJsJ1eY9JidgHcoSUc9O5aYtY4th_Eu7KGo0mA4C4fTbACryXbiwhlWCmYDfvYokYw36ChN-zFl7S-WFRVtxYrIGG7adYy4lxX1WZC8yE9r804dE_h/s640/IMG_1227.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">-Melissa </span>carewearsharehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12744460474804263661noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906403759848355904.post-14532328676474040322012-02-25T07:28:00.000-08:002012-02-25T07:28:46.662-08:00Free Cabin Porn<div class="photo_div"> </div><div class="photo_div"></div><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">There's been hardly any snow this winter</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">, and I've finally come to accept that I won't be going skiing this year. It feels like spring is here, and whenever the seasons change I start to get pangs of wanderlust</span>. <span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Since I can't get away from my work long enough to travel anytime in the near future, I am grateful for all this <a href="http://freecabinporn.com/page/6?6bd1cbc0" target="_blank">free cabin porn</a> out there on the interwebs. Trolling through page after page of cabins is highly addictive. I recommend you play the following game:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">1) Look at the photograph of the cabin without reading the caption below.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">2) Try to guess where it is. (I was caught off guard when I thought Slovenia was Montana! How humbling.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">3) If possible, do this with a friend. Backpacking alone is dangerous. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" 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://stanleytislavold.blogspot.com/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Reader Submission from Stanley Tislavold:
Cabin in Tykostølen, Suldal, Norway" class="photo_img" height="480" src="http://www.tumblr.com/photo/1280/cabinporn/15724978317/1/tumblr_lxp0hzgbJ71qzwmss" title="http://freecabinporn.com/post/15724978317/reader-submission-from-stanley-tislavold-cabin" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">From <a href="http://stanleytislavold.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Stanley Tislavold</a> via <a href="http://freecabinporn.com/" target="_blank">Cabin Porn</a>.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> -Melissa</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="photo_div"> </div>carewearsharehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12744460474804263661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906403759848355904.post-73919956466273678742012-02-24T23:03:00.003-08:002012-02-25T06:37:53.835-08:00Nature is Amazing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: large;">Good morning! I was going to open this post with some angry words about <a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/299399/20120215/rick-santorum-global-warming-denial-never-bought.htm" target="_blank">Rick Santorum calling global warming a hoax</a>,followed by more angry words about the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/09/pennsylvania-fracking-bill-governor-corbett_n_1265489.html" target="_blank">gas-drilling industry's invasion of my hometown</a>, but it's the weekend and anger is not my Saturday morning emotion of choice. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: large;">Last week I learned in school that nature is amazing. The earth's atmosphere is full of oxygen because of bacteria that lived two billion years ago. Oxygen in the atmosphere made it possible for lots of exciting new creatures to evolve. Two billion years. Two billion years ago the most general type of cell that we are made of did not even exist yet. Life on earth was completely different. How can we even grasp how long two billion years is? We humans get maybe 80 years, 100 years if we are lucky. That is nothing compared to the age of the earth. 2 followed by 9 zeros. Just think about what it means in time for 2 to be followed by 9 zeros. It's rare for people to get even two zeros in their age. We hardly get any time to live on this amazing planet. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: large;">Look how amazing this network of rivers is. The green parts are mangroves. </span><br />
<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;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNprs2aCvohWJcYpfCCIyJYfMimr90Jv3pjLLt2GPGQx3CNC42oFSmqV7CjC9tsnibD4RlKrFDLs-QGlQB502pudKe5P94GGqmZgx9FicU0LDTh3j7X3OUnLF9LcO-MTrwrgFPODnckGQ1/s1600/IMG_1155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNprs2aCvohWJcYpfCCIyJYfMimr90Jv3pjLLt2GPGQx3CNC42oFSmqV7CjC9tsnibD4RlKrFDLs-QGlQB502pudKe5P94GGqmZgx9FicU0LDTh3j7X3OUnLF9LcO-MTrwrgFPODnckGQ1/s640/IMG_1155.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">From the BBC series Planet Earth, episode "Freshwater."</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: large;">And these are snow geese migrating up the east coast of the United States. I love the way the geese look like a low wispy cloud, and the way the marshes contrast with the blue of the water. It's like an analog of what earth looks like from space. </span><br />
<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;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5aa9CLDbc348htLN_ksrW2QcwSzrgkP4usV0a6sZJ0a2P_qZpnqMDekCkLxBChKbBkoPSq4I7j63uhdT22mx9j8UDPmnDV3UkBqaeOUogDFvBp_b0YPuo7JaEDMZuqfI1PcR5hPxwQq-9/s1600/IMG_1158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5aa9CLDbc348htLN_ksrW2QcwSzrgkP4usV0a6sZJ0a2P_qZpnqMDekCkLxBChKbBkoPSq4I7j63uhdT22mx9j8UDPmnDV3UkBqaeOUogDFvBp_b0YPuo7JaEDMZuqfI1PcR5hPxwQq-9/s640/IMG_1158.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Also from the BBC series Planet Earth, episode "Freshwater."</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> -Melissa</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>carewearsharehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12744460474804263661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906403759848355904.post-60618368160291670402012-02-12T15:11:00.000-08:002012-02-13T08:58:49.119-08:00Easy DIY Paper Flower Valentine's Necklace? Yes, Please!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfcy0pJ6JYISL-iOJfBCBHUw1Unadw2tXiMLJhUK2dfXHzOSyDotOzWeesCUs3bx7n4E5V3gNeRGtDpHRdWHlScCQr2fUYskN5muDGkJ1QBc-fXVYNsrUJBdZOnfUa6zwuDE6YRdXuuSo/s1600/P2120620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfcy0pJ6JYISL-iOJfBCBHUw1Unadw2tXiMLJhUK2dfXHzOSyDotOzWeesCUs3bx7n4E5V3gNeRGtDpHRdWHlScCQr2fUYskN5muDGkJ1QBc-fXVYNsrUJBdZOnfUa6zwuDE6YRdXuuSo/s640/P2120620.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">I</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">'m I big fan of paper flower making {<a href="http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&keywords=Paper%20flowers&rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3APaper%20flowers%2Cp_n_feature_nine_browse-bin%3A3291441011%2Cp_n_feature_nine_browse-bin%3A3291442011&page=1#/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Paper+flowers&rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3APaper+flowers" target="_blank">here's a number of books that are great resources!</a>}. I've been dabbling in it for the last fifteen years or so (I know you're impressed, but remember the <a href="http://www.chinatownconnection.com/chinese-paper-flowers.htm" target="_blank">Chinese</a> have apparently been doing it for two thousand years, and the <a href="http://www.mexican-folk-art-guide.com/mexican-paper-flowers.html" target="_blank">Mexicans</a> have been making them with gusto for centuries....) For Valentine's this year I thought I'd get crafty and make myself a snazzy paper flower pendent. If you're interested in creating something similar, here's my how to:</span></span><br />
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJomeeclmc90YBlQgQQHyW_pI0kiYND-0JNZImnVCBLmoMH-wv07M8oqElG-zV3hr39rAVowZOxL8PmbLBcXLk3u2MpsdsHfbJ6fD_eRNIzybxTuuD-HeC0_xgDM_JNxjmVfjXxkXoTZj/s1600/P2120626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJomeeclmc90YBlQgQQHyW_pI0kiYND-0JNZImnVCBLmoMH-wv07M8oqElG-zV3hr39rAVowZOxL8PmbLBcXLk3u2MpsdsHfbJ6fD_eRNIzybxTuuD-HeC0_xgDM_JNxjmVfjXxkXoTZj/s400/P2120626.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The finished product!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: large;">What you'll need: </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">sturdy and beautiful magazine pages </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">or pages of old books</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">needle</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">thread</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">scissors</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">a metal necklace chain or embroidery floss/string</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMljszv2eQP27pHqCkgiksO-MRtoZnrmlrxjSx2cK5tPQCDG_lr7BXHxwhSaJqCpip7HUDmV8jnsJYhtJrIlwU659_MAdEjhqs6KyzJOHPQW99R2FEVSJRI_vFtM1BpP3MDAS6nAgyxT7T/s1600/P2120621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMljszv2eQP27pHqCkgiksO-MRtoZnrmlrxjSx2cK5tPQCDG_lr7BXHxwhSaJqCpip7HUDmV8jnsJYhtJrIlwU659_MAdEjhqs6KyzJOHPQW99R2FEVSJRI_vFtM1BpP3MDAS6nAgyxT7T/s400/P2120621.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: large;">1. Decide the size of your flower, and cut four large petals {</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: large;">as with all things in nature, variation in flowers is the norm, so there's no need to be obsessively precise}. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">2. Cut three smaller petals </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">3. Over lay large petals so they touch in center, sew securely together {don't worry about stitches being perfect. But since you are sewing on paper, try not to put the stitches too close so as not to rip the paper}. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9ePHayoR6vZNPDig8yZPd39klEE3VlL2mW_IhierpaDZJ2L9QJnKGWJCfdy3WufTZNl2jG7JbUuguOaelIZn1RuiGmax4CAjZOhHoHupTgnRJijIEMU4x7MsIAoQZuP7W_w97NHuYbFc/s1600/P2120623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9ePHayoR6vZNPDig8yZPd39klEE3VlL2mW_IhierpaDZJ2L9QJnKGWJCfdy3WufTZNl2jG7JbUuguOaelIZn1RuiGmax4CAjZOhHoHupTgnRJijIEMU4x7MsIAoQZuP7W_w97NHuYbFc/s400/P2120623.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: large;">4. Roll the smaller petals into loose cones, and sew each, one at a time, into center of flower. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegvs1tJ3raiwuprbUpQson1L04zY1GF9JJlbrRCb0L-BVr1SUft6G8nqM2WyvVyLqOax0a6qmIhrXuFxTE_yYuoYEJWTE0VvZHvCAwPoh8s_a01KyCMtFvCSdhM27mAXImBn8ikVD4djz/s1600/P2120624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegvs1tJ3raiwuprbUpQson1L04zY1GF9JJlbrRCb0L-BVr1SUft6G8nqM2WyvVyLqOax0a6qmIhrXuFxTE_yYuoYEJWTE0VvZHvCAwPoh8s_a01KyCMtFvCSdhM27mAXImBn8ikVD4djz/s400/P2120624.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">5. Lay out necklace chain, or string/ embroidery floss you have cut to size, and place flower where you would like it to lay. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7gxJ6u31Pcsuj02jm9Y7cqUfpFqwGm7mNy7zD3oyBOHuzf_zYf6h7JNKfj4gTtR3RWTNnUFyN21hXmkW30hagJ9AdHGoZoS9VlLFIJfVlQUet9tvhKnp3T_BTUsDuuztuueIsxwZFP15/s1600/P2120625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7gxJ6u31Pcsuj02jm9Y7cqUfpFqwGm7mNy7zD3oyBOHuzf_zYf6h7JNKfj4gTtR3RWTNnUFyN21hXmkW30hagJ9AdHGoZoS9VlLFIJfVlQUet9tvhKnp3T_BTUsDuuztuueIsxwZFP15/s400/P2120625.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">6. Sew flower to necklace. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">7. Sew bead to center for finishing touch. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">8. Go have dinner with your sweet heart! </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">* Marcie</span></span>carewearsharehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12744460474804263661noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906403759848355904.post-9833870896645500512012-02-03T11:27:00.000-08:002012-02-04T11:18:16.997-08:00Can we take a moment… and welcome my new CareWearShare partner, Melissa?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOmnQcyyKrEWyL85yydJ4KMe4HQzCEIDJLSboRVreKcLV4QTPTnw7YmL1E1a7TFeyHn3wn4GZLv_966IUc_DuxrQxTXKCJaiar8EmKWTsYPvcZThdJ9jXV5PCOlwnx8id0erTFUxXpOvek/s1600/me+and+mel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOmnQcyyKrEWyL85yydJ4KMe4HQzCEIDJLSboRVreKcLV4QTPTnw7YmL1E1a7TFeyHn3wn4GZLv_966IUc_DuxrQxTXKCJaiar8EmKWTsYPvcZThdJ9jXV5PCOlwnx8id0erTFUxXpOvek/s640/me+and+mel.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Melissa and Marcie in Fay's car, c. 2001</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">P</span>icture it… Perkasie… 2000. Two young ladies, who had been in classes together for years, finally <i>saw </i>one another- finally recognized the insane amount of latent friendship potential within. Melissa and I began our acquaintance in Junior High, at the famed Pennridge Central Middle School. Sitting in the lovely Mrs. Kosa’s English class I remember thinking, “aw, this bobbed hair smiley girl is so cool…” Me? Not so much. Or rather, I was “o cool” inwardly, but was fighting a formidable shyness and lack of a centered self back in those days. But, I digress…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> Aside from a few interactions in Mr. Daniels’ Barbershop select Chorus and the time on a field trip to six flags when riding a roller coaster (which I hate doing by the way) I happened to look over and see her holding the hand of the boy I liked * insert heinous pop song depicting woeful teen heartache* we didn’t have much contact.<strong> </strong>We moved in our own little spheres until in twelfth grade, life and Mr. Denton Ponzle’s AP Euro History flung us together. With our friend Fay we created a little triad of fun and mayhem. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> Together, we may have shed the shackles of our upright rural exultance; we may have run just a wee bit amuck. We may have left school to go swimming in-between classes, or called out sick and gone to Philly. We may have seized the day and engaged in little glorious acts of rebellion that can only be savored by those whose lives were as Green Gables-sque as you’re likely to find this day and age. Way may have been just about as bad ass as one can be and still make the honor roll ;) And if we were, I have to say it was good for me. My relationship with these gals and my other high school friends helped me to open up, be freer, and be more me. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> Fast forward ten years and you’d get to the point in the story where our once joy-filled friendship had dwindled to nothing. With the college and subsequent life we had lost contact, until out of the blue I happen to see a message from my Mel-iller saying she was moving to Philly and asking to get together. I made my reply in the affirmative, but it was not without a little trepidation, “What if things were awkward. I mean it had been like ten years….” I had my fears, but on that fateful spring day in 2011 when I opened my door and saw that same bobbed hair and smiley face, I knew it was the same! In these many months since our reunion I've come to see Melissa being back in my life is such a huge blessing! I’ve gone through my share of rough times, and the rekindling of my friendship with Melissa has been an incredible reminder to be open to the unexpected blessings the good Lord may send my way, even in the midst of chaos. Thank you Melissa! And thank you to all of my friends who bring me so much joy! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> *Marcie</span></div>carewearsharehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12744460474804263661noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906403759848355904.post-6754782073203524952012-01-31T08:36:00.000-08:002012-02-02T06:35:29.409-08:00A Toast, To Getting Older<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span">On a muddy riverbank south of the Thames there is a pub called The Ship. I am thinking about this pub today because it is my birthday, and because last year this time I was living in London, toasting white wine and sharing a plate of chips with good friends there. My 7th grade crush, now a US air force pilot, came to celebrate with two of his buddies from the force. They were stationed in Germany and up for an adventure to London. Then there were my Aussie friends, who always represent on a night out. Friends who I've worked with, studied with, danced with were there. My friends whose shoulders I cried on re: relationships that weren't working out, they were there too. When I think of all the friends I've had over the years I am overwhelmed. The more I move around, the more my friends begin to represent all that I've done in my life. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span">So a year on, my life looks completely different. The setting, my hairstyle (long hair, bangs), not to mention the age (29 gasp!) have all changed. In the past year I have 1) resigned from a career, 2) moved from Europe back to the U.S., 3) become a full-time student, 4)gone from being single to being in a relationship, and 5) felt serene about all of these changes. Like a river rock, never surrounded by the same water but still a rock (with bangs) - that is how I feel right now. It's as if I have reached a new plane of emotional wholeness I didn't know I was capable of reaching. Getting. Older. Is. Awesome. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Marcie and I often find ourselves taking moments to appreciate what is going on in our lives. When one of us begins to say, "can I just take a moment..." our partners inevitably roll their eyes at our sentimentality. But talking about stuff we appreciate is a way of life for us, and no degree of mocking will stop us. So now I'd just like to take a moment... to appreciate all of my friends old and new, and wherever you are in the world. May you drink deeply from the Starbucks cup of life and never want for adventure. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> Love,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> Melissa</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"> </span>carewearsharehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12744460474804263661noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906403759848355904.post-73510247072083096012012-01-26T09:17:00.000-08:002012-01-27T23:15:22.763-08:00How to Remove an Ink Stain<div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_English_Patient" target="_blank">There are always millions of tons of dust in the air, just as there are millions of cubes of air in the earth</a>…And sometimes there is a ballpoint pen in your washing machine, which explodes and does this to your bathrobe: </span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><style>
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmV2mNiGWRQyu2xcgwHuQAPiZCeEXx2PHHUFdIwKsrEO74CQbhtllPOjNxaXm-d9Lt4UTUl20fQgMRHbND8BdHEXWGO-g5oJnWRiLA0_DkVVXD9sdS4dgWoLpy8_x3e-JWEW3LORMl69vB/s1600/Ink01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmV2mNiGWRQyu2xcgwHuQAPiZCeEXx2PHHUFdIwKsrEO74CQbhtllPOjNxaXm-d9Lt4UTUl20fQgMRHbND8BdHEXWGO-g5oJnWRiLA0_DkVVXD9sdS4dgWoLpy8_x3e-JWEW3LORMl69vB/s640/Ink01.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc3YdOVA5CtKWVMilNFlzmAgRcJ19j4DO9ic8m0SWXJN6e4nJXDJfDgu8BVd0SHuK24VklDvVm62y4sWc6LjxPmq_6HT8ISbIZ1cR8_H2qSko2VG9H1-98EXm_zh_ISeRQThss-DObWQpy/s1600/Ink04.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc3YdOVA5CtKWVMilNFlzmAgRcJ19j4DO9ic8m0SWXJN6e4nJXDJfDgu8BVd0SHuK24VklDvVm62y4sWc6LjxPmq_6HT8ISbIZ1cR8_H2qSko2VG9H1-98EXm_zh_ISeRQThss-DObWQpy/s640/Ink04.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">The culprit</span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Eight of us went for a very muddy hike at Lake Nockamixon, so afterwards we did a load of laundry. A couple of loads later when I pulled the exploded ballpoint pen out of the machine, I knew immediately it was Ben's. He had already claimed a handful of loose change and a set of keys from a previous wash that day. He must have been distracted when he put his pants in the wash...</span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, men are like this right? Always forgetting to empty their pockets. </span></div></td></tr>
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</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">But why did it have to be the load of whites? Some quick googling turned up an effective solution: rubbing alcohol. When it comes to stain removal always remember the chemists' adage, like dissolves like. Soap and water will work on water based stains. This is also why your nail polish dissolves in nail polish remover (acetone), but not in water.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKUQwV86g2ukKSCL-1AxbjLUdpEfXbWn4sR16oaTQZc4eCNScAhjsmkej8wxS2QGizMBT-DfGeAfiVgHUJDFVQwrgTvYlHUDB-IuG6mxy7DltYk5TQyO-Dldpb2EAXhy3myGUjU41otXih/s1600/Ink13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKUQwV86g2ukKSCL-1AxbjLUdpEfXbWn4sR16oaTQZc4eCNScAhjsmkej8wxS2QGizMBT-DfGeAfiVgHUJDFVQwrgTvYlHUDB-IuG6mxy7DltYk5TQyO-Dldpb2EAXhy3myGUjU41otXih/s640/Ink13.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We did everything we could to save Papa Smurf, but the bleeding was unstoppable.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">First I </span><span style="font-size: large;">panicked and started to liberally douse the bathrobe in rubbing alcohol.This produced two results. One, the ink stain immediately dissolved in the rubbing alcohol like magic (yay!). Two, the excess ink began to spread out all over the fabric (crap!). To remedy the situation I had to get organized. I folded paper towels into blotters and laid the fabric down on top - this part was tricky because the robe had two layers, and so I had to tackle each layer separately while being careful not to let stained portions of fabric touch unstained portions of fabric.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmp0S_m-5E_synxA3L_KTtoSF_-S-jYspscM4IbHSG_8_qQOvIkYaoe1FttRwLPcNnEh35F5FjHiVoXC6s1-WrWuR51U0CVnCngBMUfSi2O1NDrUDQUeOdWCMw3m4veSl8LABpO7WxVIpO/s1600/Ink10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmp0S_m-5E_synxA3L_KTtoSF_-S-jYspscM4IbHSG_8_qQOvIkYaoe1FttRwLPcNnEh35F5FjHiVoXC6s1-WrWuR51U0CVnCngBMUfSi2O1NDrUDQUeOdWCMw3m4veSl8LABpO7WxVIpO/s640/Ink10.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Then I used more paper towels to section off the stain from above. Now when I poured alcohol on the robe, the excess ink was trapped on the paper towel blotter. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClwd8p3afL77PyxgdlRHCfsSqEEZnpL5JSkk8zbDioilDcoUnjtlLlFtyhLYt6_XKoLsXgO9Jnl0ev87Qm_x1JVtvx1XETceZ0OkdyXdYYYbxLDDxWKS1q5TpfqWUgcaWfZn76K5kbn2F/s1600/Ink05.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClwd8p3afL77PyxgdlRHCfsSqEEZnpL5JSkk8zbDioilDcoUnjtlLlFtyhLYt6_XKoLsXgO9Jnl0ev87Qm_x1JVtvx1XETceZ0OkdyXdYYYbxLDDxWKS1q5TpfqWUgcaWfZn76K5kbn2F/s640/Ink05.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></div></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuEZeEGgmUfXVl_TZ5j-SU9XqInMWGV5_hF0hRBnGvIUKkiswQvOfGf-ckJSiec3nlHp4MJJR70Apm_4fnhZLO7pOtFaARiSgnkWF6FVF6PRWAcopu4zAlfA3ZpgaZQ9mAX2NlXvxJ0Rl/s1600/Ink03.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuEZeEGgmUfXVl_TZ5j-SU9XqInMWGV5_hF0hRBnGvIUKkiswQvOfGf-ckJSiec3nlHp4MJJR70Apm_4fnhZLO7pOtFaARiSgnkWF6FVF6PRWAcopu4zAlfA3ZpgaZQ9mAX2NlXvxJ0Rl/s640/Ink03.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: small;">Paper towel blotters and rubbing alcohol.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">After the excess ink was blotted away there were still some faint blue marks. Using toothbrushes, hydrogen peroxide, and some soap, Marcie and I got to work removing as much of the remaining ink from the fibers of the fabric. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkm1QqkoTRZA13QgvJncEBQDA1nYzMMOWWvIQXFHt9usYLHEpq9-Rtp9wQ-154zy9JmrL4uHnQS5pr7-VAFvfgb5fRnU5ThCUDuyCWUU2fP4Nc0bII0f5DBtl0Xyqa0ZINWyT2-u9NWK_/s1600/Ink09.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkm1QqkoTRZA13QgvJncEBQDA1nYzMMOWWvIQXFHt9usYLHEpq9-Rtp9wQ-154zy9JmrL4uHnQS5pr7-VAFvfgb5fRnU5ThCUDuyCWUU2fP4Nc0bII0f5DBtl0Xyqa0ZINWyT2-u9NWK_/s640/Ink09.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxr30rYgiUlWKogQYZVJKQ0aB3CZqlghf466Kqll6ks4sxHY0Nz4sBIvMM76eivduQTtbD5TlCCFYZCQS21LS5PW48pLCY0zwLNvy1Ua3IZC_XdsTzpiUxrwkBVNsi1Wy5wsTNz0C4UfmG/s1600/Ink08.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxr30rYgiUlWKogQYZVJKQ0aB3CZqlghf466Kqll6ks4sxHY0Nz4sBIvMM76eivduQTtbD5TlCCFYZCQS21LS5PW48pLCY0zwLNvy1Ua3IZC_XdsTzpiUxrwkBVNsi1Wy5wsTNz0C4UfmG/s640/Ink08.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then we used a bleach pen to treat whatever discoloration was left. Finally we sent the robe through the wash cycle on cold, twice. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVTY8OB65WBpWq2Jy-8CwHp_4dasRH5P8B1Bic1RghSGSSkD_5ZniveHub9V1PoG5qijt5AxvBA6VNItD8nrVgOdh39Xuz820TspGKLSqQlhgv29_W_zc2M0VCzlpP8Hq9aIxloTlyrerF/s1600/Ink02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVTY8OB65WBpWq2Jy-8CwHp_4dasRH5P8B1Bic1RghSGSSkD_5ZniveHub9V1PoG5qijt5AxvBA6VNItD8nrVgOdh39Xuz820TspGKLSqQlhgv29_W_zc2M0VCzlpP8Hq9aIxloTlyrerF/s640/Ink02.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Using a bleach pen to get the last of the ink out. Success!</span> </span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Ncb7g1w58bkdUoPMi_f22lGtmaDClZUIrJPsLg2QbtokPk0qz4c1fxa5aomWKpTwIu4YNMyeuBEJhwhrXGUDGq9mMdTu9kalAIH-4I8tTcMtFCVZciM4bOvFIKBgODtSl6LXCMKQnwoX/s1600/Ink11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Ncb7g1w58bkdUoPMi_f22lGtmaDClZUIrJPsLg2QbtokPk0qz4c1fxa5aomWKpTwIu4YNMyeuBEJhwhrXGUDGq9mMdTu9kalAIH-4I8tTcMtFCVZciM4bOvFIKBgODtSl6LXCMKQnwoX/s640/Ink11.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The final result was great. You could barely tell the robes had been stained at all. There were points along the way where we thought we were going to have to buy replacements. Fortunately, instead of shelling out hard-earned cash, we were able to salvage them with chemistry and a little elbow grease!</span></div>carewearsharehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12744460474804263661noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906403759848355904.post-33480172046354957572012-01-18T13:16:00.000-08:002012-02-01T18:15:28.699-08:00When he reached for his ticket, his hand grazed mine....<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJit20plGAZSn0WFrLphnNosi5a0BBvYJJ_4aPl2osQVPqrx-aYbvqw5s-GJ_SKNsF0jzMSU7OTIod4nhySRc2vay48Vqf_bR6dQAmo2JyOeo-arKJTGoI0WH_vdEI4LENhgDjZnJwaiv/s1600/Philadelphia_Love_Tra_Star_s640x427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJit20plGAZSn0WFrLphnNosi5a0BBvYJJ_4aPl2osQVPqrx-aYbvqw5s-GJ_SKNsF0jzMSU7OTIod4nhySRc2vay48Vqf_bR6dQAmo2JyOeo-arKJTGoI0WH_vdEI4LENhgDjZnJwaiv/s640/Philadelphia_Love_Tra_Star_s640x427.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="small caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Krisy Plourde, center left, and Tom Golden, center right, kiss after they were married on the “Love Train,” a SEPTA elevated train festively-decorated for <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/valentines-day/">Valentine's Day</a>, on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011 in Philadelphia. The train toured the Mural Arts Program’s “Love Letter” project by artist <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/stephen-powers/">Stephen Powers</a>. (AP Photo/Philadelphia Daily News, <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/david-maialetti/">David Maialetti</a>) from Washington Tmes article, http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/feb/13/the-science-of-valentines-day/?page=all</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> I</span> was flipping through the <a href="http://www.metro.us/philadelphia" target="_blank">Metro</a> today and my eyes rested on page four, where an add in the bottom right of the page caught me eye, and got me get all sappy. It asked, “Did you meet your sweetheart on SEPTA”? For the record, no I didn’t. Ben and I actually met while bustin' a move at <a href="http://www.the700.org/" target="_blank">The 700 Club</a>, BUT I loooooove the idea of SEPTA romances! (For you non-Philly folks, SEPTA stands for <span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authorit</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">y</span>). Instead of our eyes meeting on the dance floor, I’m starting to wish I could begin our love story with the phrase, “As he reached for his ticket, his hand grazed mine….”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I hope some of you reading this met your Mister or Miss Right on the rails (or the bus, or the trolley, or the subway)! Please tell me about it and more importantly submit your story to <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_223069392" target="_blank">SEPTA</a><a href="http://www.septalovestories.org/" target="_blank"> Love Stories! </a> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The fourteen winning couples will get a free ride on a decorated Market Frankford line train, with a great view of the Mural Arts Program’s <a href="http://muralarts.org/tour/love-letter-train-tour" target="_blank">“Love Letter.”</a> Then you’ll get to go to a champagne reception in downtown Philly. Submissions and votes are open until February 6</span><sup style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">th</sup><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">! Good luck you crazy kids!!!!!!!!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> *Marcie </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>carewearsharehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12744460474804263661noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906403759848355904.post-86401087105328702452012-01-16T18:28:00.000-08:002012-02-01T18:16:25.839-08:00Thank You and Best Wishes to Kia!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPOtSwGBc76DfVltDFEe_MEwx3bNKiGH4yueQp3Aj1DK3gbBJGiiRqneH9gXbgp4oE5ANF3cJiePYCbZhveNIpxfMpnHD64ulksIn2I_4E-vEqdcblnevRRz8okDN1mKfWY0oDT9GZhzC/s1600/Kia+and+Maya.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPOtSwGBc76DfVltDFEe_MEwx3bNKiGH4yueQp3Aj1DK3gbBJGiiRqneH9gXbgp4oE5ANF3cJiePYCbZhveNIpxfMpnHD64ulksIn2I_4E-vEqdcblnevRRz8okDN1mKfWY0oDT9GZhzC/s640/Kia+and+Maya.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">N</span>ine months ago my friend Kia and I decided to create a blog about our friendship and mutual love of Philly and fashion, and it's been fun! Making plans and going on “Fashion Fieldtrips” around town we had allot of good times and laughs. Kia’s toddler Maya added to the fun with her smiles and giggles. A few weeks ago Kia let me know she has decided to move on to other projects in her life, and I want to wish Kia and her family the best! I suspect Kia and Maya will still show up in some posts (actually, as I have yet to published all of our “Fashion Fieldtrips” I know for a fact these gals will appear again ;) So thank you again to my friend and former partner for your ideas and your work! I look forward to having coffee with you soon! </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> With Kia’s retirement I will be taking on a new partner, my long-time friend, Melissa! We look forward to expanding the mission of CareWearShare so you can plan on reading more ever so witty posts meant to promote a sound, stylish, and sustainable life! Thank you!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> *Marcie</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span>carewearsharehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12744460474804263661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906403759848355904.post-52858901525919353822012-01-05T19:59:00.000-08:002012-02-01T18:17:01.111-08:00Tips From the Working Gal Who Forgot to Wear Pants!<div class="MsoNormal" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-47SfKd6MBqE/TwZ2-ohLVEI/AAAAAAAAAWs/qmYVr61gTCM/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-47SfKd6MBqE/TwZ2-ohLVEI/AAAAAAAAAWs/qmYVr61gTCM/s640/photo.JPG" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Boyfriend's pants: good for work, obviously great for going out afterward ;) </span><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">N</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ow, I am fully aware in neither of these pictures am I looking my best. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Actually, quite the opposite!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> But I’m trying to make a point here, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">another public service announcement if you will: L</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">ooking your professional best at work whilst maintaining a carefree and fun-loving persona during your free time is tough. If you’re a “live life to the fullest” working gal or guy employed in a “professional” environment you may have some mishaps. You may perhaps forget to wear pants….</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> Well, it’s not so much that I forgot to wear pants, as pack pants. Earlier this week I was excited to see my friend Malorie upon her return from Uganda, where she was employed by <a href="http://www.invisiblechildren.com/" target="_blank">Invisible Children</a> (a fantastic organization working to end the use of child soldiers in armed conflict and ultimately to help end civilian targeted warfare). My sister, boyfriend, and I met up with Malorie and our college friends Tory and Jeremy at the <a href="http://victorybeer.com/brewpub/" target="_blank">Victory Brew Pub</a>. Now, this pub (with a great beer selection but sadly very wanting in its Gluten Free selection) is located about an hour from Philly, and this girl has to be up at six for work the next morning. This being the case, I packed a bag so I could stay downtown, and get more sleep. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> After a great time with Mal I dropped my sister off and retreated to Ben’s. I opened my backpack so as to hang my clothes for work the next day, and guess what I saw! Or to my absolute horror, guess what I didn’t see! Look at the photo above! It was PANTS! I neglected to bring pants. A shirt I had, even tights were there. But pants? Nope. At one o’clock Tuesday morning I was faced with the grim visualization of me at work attired in nothing more than a maroon cowl-neck, black tights, and sensible shoes.<o:p></o:p></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">This was not an option. My mind raced and I looked over at my slim and trim boyfriend. Idea time! Borrow Ben’s pants!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S9MEj38wYUw/TwZ3SEvXpEI/AAAAAAAAAW4/_oPt5SFBZxA/s1600/photo-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S9MEj38wYUw/TwZ3SEvXpEI/AAAAAAAAAW4/_oPt5SFBZxA/s640/photo-1.JPG" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times-Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A nice little back shot. You too could look this good, but if this isn't your style read on for help!</span></span></span></span></span></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I think given the circumstances I looked pretty darn OK. However, this situation is obviously not ideal. In order to help others avoid the fate of wearing men’s chino’s pulled up past their belly button,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #f4cccc;"> I have compiled a list of preventative measures for the young professional who just might forget to wear pants to work….</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #660000;">1.</span></span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">(Suggested my mother, Patti) Leave a work appropriate outfit at work! Specifically, keep tights, a basic skirt that that works with most tops, a basic shirt, and a pair of pants! Do leave your favorite stuff at work because you’ll miss those if they’re out of rotation. Just leave something that fits and matches allot in your wardrobe! While you’re at it, leave a tooth brush and paste, too! This really is the ultimate solution, but I’d like to offer some additional backup options. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #660000;">2.</span></span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Make friends with reliable and generous people at work who are of your same relative size. Even better, make friends with others who are your size and share your sense of style. Get their phone number. When sans pants, make use of this number.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #660000;">3.</span></span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Find a significant other who is your same general size/build. Obviously same sex couples have the clothing sharing advantage here, but heteros can make it work, too. Just understand that the clothes probably won’t fit perfectly, but employ belts and a good sense of humor. Be thankful you’re not wearing tig</span></span><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16pt;">hts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>carewearsharehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12744460474804263661noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906403759848355904.post-12612656765424963152011-12-29T08:33:00.000-08:002012-01-27T23:11:04.846-08:00The (Un)Toy Story!<div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipobXnE8ALDFyarUziF4pZKKBds9qTS8IxjHd_KaJSn5CfQW9wjqR7yNgDz0otMZQ8t3rVnzigY6oHhGt5D-WlnhPnxI9_wSv6GP5WB1Wc0nrmk6JjhRicO_87xezX7eracmIy31Fk_kA5/s1600/photo+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipobXnE8ALDFyarUziF4pZKKBds9qTS8IxjHd_KaJSn5CfQW9wjqR7yNgDz0otMZQ8t3rVnzigY6oHhGt5D-WlnhPnxI9_wSv6GP5WB1Wc0nrmk6JjhRicO_87xezX7eracmIy31Fk_kA5/s640/photo+%25283%2529.JPG" width="478px" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span> know this is not a mommy blog but I have a bad mom confession to make any way: I hate toys, all toys! They either have millions of pieces, are ginormous, expensive, or kids are only interest in them for about five seconds {this may be an exageration, but you get the idea}. I also live in a 1000sq foot row home, which gets cluttered very easily. Add to this the fact that I tend to get stir crazy staying in one place all day,and you can see why I need to find some alternatives! So instead of buying Maya lots of stuff, I take her out of the house to encourage creative play :) We go to different local jaunts like the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%EF%BB%BF%20%EF%BB%BF%20http://www.philadelphiazoo.org/" target="_blank">Philadelphia Zoo</a>, our local branch of the <a href="http://www.freelibrary.org/" target="_blank">Philly Library</a>, or other <a href="http://www.nileguide.com/destination/philadelphia/best/things-to-do/kid-friendly-41" target="_blank">kid friendly places</a>. Sometimes we just stay home and she writes on my couch with a black gel pen, true story.{</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: large;">Don’t get me wrong Maya does have some toys, but I try to get her classics or very well made stuff that will stand the test of time}. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13rB42SRboTg0n2HVlWRhO2weUgSUSVk5bKL915zPUxwomr4ZjqFgBoW936CIaUZmlZsoLbxlmO-XzAuLF90Dh6O7FnIs3ABt5zTgn3zcmmyoxVJE-ekYiH60fZEIxxD3OA79vYWmMHW3/s1600/photo+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13rB42SRboTg0n2HVlWRhO2weUgSUSVk5bKL915zPUxwomr4ZjqFgBoW936CIaUZmlZsoLbxlmO-XzAuLF90Dh6O7FnIs3ABt5zTgn3zcmmyoxVJE-ekYiH60fZEIxxD3OA79vYWmMHW3/s640/photo+%25282%2529.JPG" width="476px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"High Horse" get it? ;)</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: large;">So anyway let me get off my high horse... This week as part of her Christmas gift, Maya and I went to the <a href="http://www.pleasetouchmuseum.org/" target="_blank">Please Touch Museum</a> for the first time ever, and Maya loved it! I think we will be treating ourselves to a membership! </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">Last year we were diehards and braved the elements to play outside. This year mama is a wimp and we need places where we can stay warm and dry. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><span style="font-size: large;"> So here are some pics. And here's another confession:<span style="font-weight: normal;"> though I do care about conservation and </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">conscientious c</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">onsumption, I also wanted you guys to see my cutie's outfit ;)After all, this is technically a fashion blog, right?!</span></span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIzE2w5rgOXJ1qJd6Pkm6Q7xyOaoWF49WpZghBtQ84tPab5VchDQkuliIyeknu2CPOtDWA7bBPtXtJen7Pw9-mwocFF5Z7YYp6bMVaFxgVU_PHftzbu9JHzsvx6HGVc8mju_j_daRPQ_JH/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIzE2w5rgOXJ1qJd6Pkm6Q7xyOaoWF49WpZghBtQ84tPab5VchDQkuliIyeknu2CPOtDWA7bBPtXtJen7Pw9-mwocFF5Z7YYp6bMVaFxgVU_PHftzbu9JHzsvx6HGVc8mju_j_daRPQ_JH/s640/photo.JPG" width="478px" /></a></div><br />
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<h2 style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"> * <span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: x-large;">Kia</span> </span></h2>carewearsharehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12744460474804263661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906403759848355904.post-24534190487778377402011-12-21T14:01:00.000-08:002012-02-01T18:19:23.553-08:00Sugar Body Scrubs! Last minute gifts you can make in a hurry! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" aria-busy="true" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowboxCaption" class="spotlight" height="426px" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/310583_10150961852980322_551800321_21644612_534501268_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640px" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easy to make sugar body scrubs! *Phot by my friend Anyelis</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span>s Christmas is fast approaching, I wanted to do just a few more posts on some last minute ideas. At the beginning of November one of my girlfriends, Anyelis, hosted a sugar scrub making party. </span><br />
<span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" aria-busy="true" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowboxCaption" class="spotlight" height="266px" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/312038_10150961851690322_551800321_21644597_62563227_n.jpg" width="400px" /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Now, I certainly love a party, and this was a good one. Anyelis gathered some friends, created a facebook page, where we divided who would bring what ingredients and what toppings for our ice cream desert. </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Introductions were made, and we set to work creating yummy smelling scrubs to give as Christmas gifts. You probably don’t have time to get a party together before you light the Yule log, but you can still whip these bad boy scrubs together before the 25<sup>th</sup>! The whole process can take you way less than an hour, and you probably have allot of the ingredients already. Anyelis found a good recipe and great instructions for making and decorating at <a href="http://www.maybematilda.com/2011/04/baby-shower-gift-homemade-sugar-scrub.html" target="_blank">Maybe Matilda</a>. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img alt="" aria-busy="true" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowboxCaption" class="spotlight" height="212px" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/379886_10150961852105322_551800321_21644599_976625072_n.jpg" width="320px" /></span></div><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">If you have mason jars, excellent, but if not you can recycle any nicer looking glass containers and lids which may at one time have contained, oh let’s say pickles or spaghetti sauce ;) I believe the jar I used once housed specialty goat cheese. Just wash thoroughly and remove any paper labels. Next you whip up your scrubs, for which several bloggers have their own recipes but Rachel from Maybe Matilda recommends:</span> </span></span><br />
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</div><div style="background: white; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: #b5cea8 0.25pt solid; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0.75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #B5CEA8 .25pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">- 3 cups white sugar</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0.75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #B5CEA8 .25pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">- 1 cup + 2 Tbsp. good quality oil (I used olive oil, but you can use any nice, non-smelly oil)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0.75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #B5CEA8 .25pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">- 10 drops of yummy-scented essential oil per jar (I went with mandarin, peppermint, and lavender)</span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Rachael-</span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><img alt="" aria-busy="true" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowboxCaption" class="spotlight" height="425px" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/302686_10150961852890322_551800321_21644609_1613636039_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640px" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Body Scrub Party! Beautiful and yummy smelling presents you can make in a flash! </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">At the party we went to town and created various scrubs with lots of different scents and colors. You can avoid chemicals by purchase organic food coloring from local natural food stores or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&keywords=natural%20food%20coloring&rh=n%3A16310101%2Ck%3Anatural%20food%20coloring&page=1" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, but since this the pre-Christmas time crunch if you just use any old food coloring have laying around I’m not going to tell…. Mixing is simple; just use a little bit of the coloring at a time to get a hue you like.</span> <br />
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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;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: large;"><img alt="" aria-busy="true" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowboxCaption" class="spotlight" height="424px" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/319991_10150961852530322_551800321_21644606_187487894_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640px" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mirelis, Nilda, Carolina, Anyelis, Katie, and Lina decorating their jars. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: large;"> You can also add cocoa powder for a sweet chocolate smell and rich brown color. Anyelis also suggested we add vitamin E. Next, decorate, decorate, decorate those containers! Go all out! Have fun, and have a Merry Christmas! </span></div></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> *Marcie</span> <br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </div>carewearsharehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12744460474804263661noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906403759848355904.post-75467986492871592132011-12-20T07:18:00.000-08:002012-02-01T18:21:40.001-08:00Homemade Couture for your Christmas Giraffe!<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgius3y9ZhlIdcFGMWd-Kq_phCY3xgdfGLMf0hdIH5IOdaL25BrABeIDDP4qN_hzaLQ0OP6cR4_l6jioeiqr8FOm0ivyCbMX5fyBEnX4a-g9F_Vq_qaDaYxT72cHDHCU8rkmp5ib15QABsb/s1600/giraffe+close+up.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640px" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgius3y9ZhlIdcFGMWd-Kq_phCY3xgdfGLMf0hdIH5IOdaL25BrABeIDDP4qN_hzaLQ0OP6cR4_l6jioeiqr8FOm0ivyCbMX5fyBEnX4a-g9F_Vq_qaDaYxT72cHDHCU8rkmp5ib15QABsb/s640/giraffe+close+up.JPG" width="480px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Gerald Giraffe looking swanky in his upcycled duds! </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span>ack in 2010 when I found out one of my closest girlfriends, Sarah, was pregnant, I was thrilled for her and her husband Joe! They are such kind and also funny people (the two characteristics I value most ;) and I knew any baby of theirs would be equally awesome. Shortly after I heard the news I was in my favorite Fair Trade shop, <a href="http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/products/toys-games" target="_blank">Ten Thousand Villages</a>, when I saw an adorable giraffe doll I thought would be perfect for the soon to be born baby {unfortunately, they no longer make this Giraffe, but they still have other great toys}. Sarah and Joe decided to wait until the birth to find out the sex of the baby, but I had this feeling the little one was a girl. This being the case, I purchased the giraffe in a dress. But it became apparent I chose incorrectly! Little baby boy Christian was born in January, and when it came time to give him his Christmas gift I wanted to make this Geraldine Giraffe into a Gerald, I it occurred to me this transformation would be a good submission for the DIY round up from the <a href="http://ethicalfashionbloggers.com/2011/12/16/christmas-upccycled-and-diy-round-up-21st-dec/" target="_blank">Ethical Fashion Bloggers</a>!</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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8aIO06buiP50uyENf9Z8THixb_pvMGe1ZtNBkzEa4hj0aydUXYDKnWq8U7YhYwnPxmcOVcyZ-HUIdDlNol9Ros7o0_QsUYFlh6CUdWaOGZqYvLfdMxO_mbPxDxqq06hEgADLsGeMRaX4/s1600/overalls+back+view.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640px" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8aIO06buiP50uyENf9Z8THixb_pvMGe1ZtNBkzEa4hj0aydUXYDKnWq8U7YhYwnPxmcOVcyZ-HUIdDlNol9Ros7o0_QsUYFlh6CUdWaOGZqYvLfdMxO_mbPxDxqq06hEgADLsGeMRaX4/s640/overalls+back+view.JPG" width="480px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overalls back view</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I tend to keep scraps of fabric I like from old clothes or projects I done {my sister calls it hoarding, I prefer to think of it as being prepared}. I pulled out the legs from some stretchy jeans I made into shorts last summer and the top of an old shirt of mine I had cut, and I set to work creating the adorable little ensemble you see before you! Now, for doll clothes you can buy patterns, and I certainly recommend them for complicated work. However, I’m adventurous, so I lay the giraffe over my fabric, left myself room for the seam, and cut from there. To get the crotch of the pants correctly cut (you have to curve them) I grabbed a pair of my own and looked at it as a guide for the shape. </span></div> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6dTtQVj4TOHJYc6ZiuKBVEOvDvfQHXhfI-FrlP47eoelTeFNsOqvo7EfkfZuuzz0lj-UEGtgQLKa3_PtMi5yR5KIejBr7pJRfh-l7u0HGyqTuA-LV4hJSERDbYQSBmgnVYF6mObJDD__/s1600/sewing+machine.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6dTtQVj4TOHJYc6ZiuKBVEOvDvfQHXhfI-FrlP47eoelTeFNsOqvo7EfkfZuuzz0lj-UEGtgQLKa3_PtMi5yR5KIejBr7pJRfh-l7u0HGyqTuA-LV4hJSERDbYQSBmgnVYF6mObJDD__/s320/sewing+machine.JPG" width="240px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My very old <a href="http://www.kenmore.com/kenmore-sewing-machines-accessories/c-1040031" target="_blank">Kenmore </a>sewing machine!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">When making clothes for a stuffed animal, I recommend using stretchy fabric as these little guys tent to have more than their share of curves. For instance, Gerald Giraffe is extremely curvy about the hips, but a well-tailored pair of overalls hides that quite nicely! Sewing human sized clothes in stretchy fabric with a typical sewing machine is not ideal, as the stitches here can rip from human movement. You’ll want a <a href="http://sewing.about.com/od/sergersoverlock/ss/serger.htm" target="_blank">serger</a> machine for that, but for a stuffed animal whom we don’t expect to be independently mobile, using your normal sewing machine and a zigzag stitch is more than fine. To hold up Gerald’s cute little overalls I used part of a brown ribbon, which was wrapped around box of chocolates.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFruxW78WD1_fHzvE6t6yzlS5O1cvU0YTRAslplvcg-YsW0zIIWv2ZF6OSMWsUsd3AjJv4wOawtBjXx08PiUxq3TvKd1GE6uZqabm81SGqi7nIPHm5k3W8aRsuOfTVPHE2B8BR_hGNwR6/s1600/use+christian+loving+doll+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640px" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFruxW78WD1_fHzvE6t6yzlS5O1cvU0YTRAslplvcg-YsW0zIIWv2ZF6OSMWsUsd3AjJv4wOawtBjXx08PiUxq3TvKd1GE6uZqabm81SGqi7nIPHm5k3W8aRsuOfTVPHE2B8BR_hGNwR6/s640/use+christian+loving+doll+2.JPG" width="480px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at those chubby cheaks!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I was very lucky to be able to visit Sarah, Joe, and Christian this past weekend, and I’m very happy to report he is very fond of his new Giraffe! Go Auntie Marcie!</span> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwTt7EZoWO9dM7ceOz_39ID3N4ru9TIhS9Yt4fEy4ZglL80MKTGLK_cwEl1qDSPKLCN9l1gNI4ULhXO1ySZE3w6B_h1gFOdKbzth5O4Fa6fAa36y6NJZpiGpK86wgKi_7lJ5rNVrHyWCwI/s1600/Use+C+and+giraffe+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640px" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwTt7EZoWO9dM7ceOz_39ID3N4ru9TIhS9Yt4fEy4ZglL80MKTGLK_cwEl1qDSPKLCN9l1gNI4ULhXO1ySZE3w6B_h1gFOdKbzth5O4Fa6fAa36y6NJZpiGpK86wgKi_7lJ5rNVrHyWCwI/s640/Use+C+and+giraffe+2.JPG" width="480px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christian, a beautiful and bright baby boy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>carewearsharehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12744460474804263661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906403759848355904.post-11988620300215882052011-12-16T13:50:00.000-08:002012-02-01T18:23:46.762-08:00Christmas Gift Ideas: Picture this, Sari Scarves, and Wraps that Rock!<div style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Gifts: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>For friends and family:</u> Framed Photos</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u>For someone with a baby</u>: The Sleepy Wrap </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>For people like people:</u> Asha imports sari fabric accessories and home fabrics</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpmmpnJcY9eDkeSsB4mxWUTXDBS0opl3IKPL7h1zJkSHZ-n8wJTA5bT2Xnzm6qZvd71Td4M0Jzd5Q_DAYvtdcG8qNeM5G00r63hAJGqbJlZoYmak2hpERcjVVsZwSL6M-qjJp_bNcmsa8/s1600/Zoe+outside.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640px" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpmmpnJcY9eDkeSsB4mxWUTXDBS0opl3IKPL7h1zJkSHZ-n8wJTA5bT2Xnzm6qZvd71Td4M0Jzd5Q_DAYvtdcG8qNeM5G00r63hAJGqbJlZoYmak2hpERcjVVsZwSL6M-qjJp_bNcmsa8/s640/Zoe+outside.JPG" width="480px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zoe, at MomentuM, a fairtrade shop in downtown Boulder CO</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span>he back story: In November I was extremely grateful for the opportunity to Colorado and visit my brother </span><a href="http://www.ajbdesign.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Andrew</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">, sister-in-law, </span><a href="http://www.thespunkycoconut.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Kelly</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">, and the kids, Zoë, Ashley, and baby Ginger. And, I got to hang out with my old seminary roommate, Robin, and her husband Ben, too! They all live near Boulder, which is a great city for laidback and ethical fashion. </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> And this dear friends, brings us to gift idea one, framed photos of family and friends. Before I flew out to visit my family in C.O. my mom asked me to please take a family photo of the Andrew, Kelly, and the girls so she could frame it. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Because of the health issues my dad had this summer, my parents haven’t been able to go out to visit the Colorado Brozyna’s and meet the new baby, Ginger. So, we duly obliged, and I’ll be printing this photo for mom and my great aunt, Vivian, for Christmas. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidms8oPBw0p-7kJ9iopAHJRj2CwOc3xZ74IVApK6TXXfdTkm9wumeo3RkqBRabMYChfWGJbJIG2DlVzhPtde6jyJD7TAhNfpkPvuLkdChwzDOqIyDzLIjaDgtSPB86bCq0znB7rnk8xoFC/s1600/familyphoto.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidms8oPBw0p-7kJ9iopAHJRj2CwOc3xZ74IVApK6TXXfdTkm9wumeo3RkqBRabMYChfWGJbJIG2DlVzhPtde6jyJD7TAhNfpkPvuLkdChwzDOqIyDzLIjaDgtSPB86bCq0znB7rnk8xoFC/s1600/familyphoto.JPG" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In this age where the vast majority of us are using digital cameras it’s so easy to take a beautiful photo only to have it perpetually remain in the digital world. There are millions of lonely desks, walls, and pianos simply crying out for some updated photos! Why should computers have all the fun? Let’s jazzy up our physical living environments with some printed paper and frames! Bring a smile to those you love and let them remember the good times ;)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_qLk61sOvFboHK2SOZLxlSeOTfYK_gbMSo02lnjCB__r0RvJ64t5CGRqWNDnDQPsOGObZFVHl5pz4YaiOTZYw9bosh7ZutRv8W8w-__TqN_LJ2z9aCRCoB1RfWgGhgkzN5XyxgQBkN4_/s1600/broz+with+dino.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_qLk61sOvFboHK2SOZLxlSeOTfYK_gbMSo02lnjCB__r0RvJ64t5CGRqWNDnDQPsOGObZFVHl5pz4YaiOTZYw9bosh7ZutRv8W8w-__TqN_LJ2z9aCRCoB1RfWgGhgkzN5XyxgQBkN4_/s320/broz+with+dino.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another one I need to print!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">I’m a last minute Betty, so I have yet to get this photo printed, but I’ll be taking my USB to </span><a href="http://www.ritzpix.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Ritz Camera</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">. This is a good place to have either film or digit prints made. You can of course also take them to many drugstores for printing, but check online first to see who has them in store. Also, remember many no longer develop film. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Additionally, if you haven’t waited to the absolute last minute, as I seem to have, you can digitally send your photos to </span><a href="http://www.kodak.com/ek/US/en/Home.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Kodak </span></a><span style="font-size: large;">online and they will main prints back to you. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwXVhuI0s4k0CN_Ai_u8hPBiu0KZQAn_B6sABFLVDWUi09lV1O1tmCed5VGcshzNmwqNS_BeFYkjN0MMZ_gNwu-s7xEotoKSwSHzolXeu5glTMIUEeX2gXEicZYB5K57r03t8oK87fAvw/s1600/Kelly+and+wrap.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640px" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwXVhuI0s4k0CN_Ai_u8hPBiu0KZQAn_B6sABFLVDWUi09lV1O1tmCed5VGcshzNmwqNS_BeFYkjN0MMZ_gNwu-s7xEotoKSwSHzolXeu5glTMIUEeX2gXEicZYB5K57r03t8oK87fAvw/s640/Kelly+and+wrap.JPG" width="480px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kelly, Ginger, and Ashley looking sassy</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">My trip to Colorado also inspired my second gift suggestion, the </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sleepy-Wrap-Classic-Carrier-Months/dp/B001BXBC0W" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Sleepy Wrap</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">. My sister-in-law, Kelly received one and she says it is simply the best baby wrap/carrier she has ever owned, and she’s on baby number three, so she’s tried quite a few over the years! Kelly was saying it is extremely comfortable and versatile, allowing you to wrap it different ways to safely suite the needs of you and your baby. Additionally, it comes in a myriad of colors, so you won’t get bored looking at it, which is important as parents wear it daily! One of Kelly’s favorite colors is orange, and here you can see her, Ginger, and Ashley looking cool and hanging out in downtown Boulder!</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMphFfOQStUsgwYBGjJ9QtmS286Gjl2GQrKrNsSYPFbktOizVMSzVEMuKsPZ3FHUNUss8QlBMoctCm1uB7IGgXiHo8z9qWxp5vOGKk6NKa9MxQImi0nAkkbJt0H3ygiLCBwNpUtmhPuPRE/s1600/cute+hats.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMphFfOQStUsgwYBGjJ9QtmS286Gjl2GQrKrNsSYPFbktOizVMSzVEMuKsPZ3FHUNUss8QlBMoctCm1uB7IGgXiHo8z9qWxp5vOGKk6NKa9MxQImi0nAkkbJt0H3ygiLCBwNpUtmhPuPRE/s320/cute+hats.JPG" width="240px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute hats at MomentuM in Boulder</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<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 class="product-image image-zoom image-lightbox" href="http://www.greenheartshop.org/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/500x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/f/s/fscas01_a.jpg" id="main-image" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Fair Trade Recycled Sari Scarf Eco Scarves"><img alt="Fair Trade Recycled Sari Scarf Eco Scarves" height="320px" src="http://www.greenheartshop.org/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/398x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/f/s/fscas01_a.jpg" title="Fair Trade Recycled Sari Scarf Eco Scarves" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Asha Imports Sari Scarf</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">We also went to Boulder’s awesome fair-trade home goods and accessories shop, <a href="http://ourmomentum.com/" target="_blank">MomentuM</a>. They write, “<span lang="EN">The products in our store support fair trade, environmentally friendly production, independent artists and organic farming.” If you’re heading to Boulder, be sure to check it out. And for the rest of us, soon we’ll be order from their website. </span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span lang="EN">My favorite product from the store is my gift suggestion three, a recycled sari scarf/table runner.</span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span lang="EN">I purchased one of these beauties made by <a href="http://www.ashaimports.com/" target="_blank">Asha Imports</a> {Asha means “hope”}. They are fairtrade and recycled, so what’s not to love?! You can order them from a couple websites, including the <a href="http://www.greenheartshop.org/" target="_blank">Green Heart Shop</a>. Enjoy! </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span lang="EN"><br />
*Marcie</span></span></span></div>carewearsharehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12744460474804263661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906403759848355904.post-24052438052263839772011-12-14T13:15:00.000-08:002012-02-01T18:24:44.833-08:00Kick-Ass Christmas-Craft Party and Gifts!<span id="goog_118914035"></span><span id="goog_118914036"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQoLiJRF8CN8YyVqA2X9LnUlLAg_MM8Fz3FB_2TJvOXjPTxhXawQ7eMv9xZHkYSRdNPa_is_14ojJ-DE3CbtCj-78zdcb5GHETodWeqbfab33FkGRmiFTCOuZaYKfG3awM0ThEydRmzMK/s1600/finished+elves%2521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640px" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQoLiJRF8CN8YyVqA2X9LnUlLAg_MM8Fz3FB_2TJvOXjPTxhXawQ7eMv9xZHkYSRdNPa_is_14ojJ-DE3CbtCj-78zdcb5GHETodWeqbfab33FkGRmiFTCOuZaYKfG3awM0ThEydRmzMK/s640/finished+elves%2521.JPG" width="480px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our gang of elves, created 10/12/11!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span id="goog_1972604468"></span><span id="goog_1972604469"></span>O</span>ne of the things I love most about the Holidays is the parties! Christmas, New Years, and my birthday, which is Christmas Eve. Spur of the moment I decided to through myself an early party. You don’t need to plan for weeks and weeks, so it’s not to late to put together a holiday get together of your own! My friend Nate holds weekly screenings of VHS movies (and here’s the <a href="http://www.whyvhs.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">blog</a>), and this month has been showing Christmas flicks. He gathers friends, gets some food, and pops in a tape, and presto -instant party! All you need is good friends, some food, and maybe something to do. We have time before Christmas, so what are you waiting for?! </span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqRyGAUMJRUOPUtIA1gY5TUe6z5ZytJfoAXRAwa9iGf_avAqGMGKDgGr5XnVs3oUQSRgFDoHK7FCYAEzl3epdw1YJclh-GM446o5USvVsCXB2IsHWkOxpsXHpfAfdenfjBPFFNjX7pQrmD/s1600/all+the+girls.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480px" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqRyGAUMJRUOPUtIA1gY5TUe6z5ZytJfoAXRAwa9iGf_avAqGMGKDgGr5XnVs3oUQSRgFDoHK7FCYAEzl3epdw1YJclh-GM446o5USvVsCXB2IsHWkOxpsXHpfAfdenfjBPFFNjX7pQrmD/s640/all+the+girls.JPG" width="640px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nathelie, Nikki, Mekissa, me, Miriam, Jess, and Brie</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span>his past weekend I had a small birthday and Christmas party, affectionately named, “Marcie’s Kick-Ass Holiday Craft and Birthday Party.” Seeing as there are parties every weekend in December, I do concede it’s a tough time of year to get people to come to a party, but you just have to invite lots of folks! A little under half of who got invites were able to come, and I am so thankful they did! For this little gathering the wine flowed freely, the Christmas records spun constantly, and hands were busy making awesome crafts.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXOjPNcQCAJ3RG1-uxLfzFhS4fNtVBt9zGdWiTVWfdxak1pbT6sOBAIGtWOW0qlXwiIPAq_YL-KA4suq2HynzhAY5OfpLKpO7yxhjT1ynXvOvTQkYarvR_QalO3rffSP985Pp9J_PTWFQ/s1600/the+gang+at+work.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300px" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXOjPNcQCAJ3RG1-uxLfzFhS4fNtVBt9zGdWiTVWfdxak1pbT6sOBAIGtWOW0qlXwiIPAq_YL-KA4suq2HynzhAY5OfpLKpO7yxhjT1ynXvOvTQkYarvR_QalO3rffSP985Pp9J_PTWFQ/s400/the+gang+at+work.JPG" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">busy bees!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">The inspiration for these awesome <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/how-to/pinecone-elves" target="_blank">pinecone elves</a> came from Martha Stewart’s 2009 December Magazine, but my mommy tells me they’ve been around since the 70’s. Kia, Maya, Mark, Steve, Jess, Nathalie, Miriam, Phil, Brie, Melissa, and Nikki make totally bitchin’ pinecone elves and pipe cleaner decorations! </span></div><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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1dICLy_6S8u9-sEL1eMoG0NVS-Ze2DnZ-8CJe-frCHYSnYzAXrS-FreKYr30Ox-pzEUUF4Hr9Yt1MTfhI_aqN7Z4NROaW6OM_nVUvV4Nk6qcx4pRqlLm_cXxoS4iXCfa2KOzv3O_LT1j/s1600/Steve+and+his+stars.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1dICLy_6S8u9-sEL1eMoG0NVS-Ze2DnZ-8CJe-frCHYSnYzAXrS-FreKYr30Ox-pzEUUF4Hr9Yt1MTfhI_aqN7Z4NROaW6OM_nVUvV4Nk6qcx4pRqlLm_cXxoS4iXCfa2KOzv3O_LT1j/s320/Steve+and+his+stars.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve and his many stars! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc_RxUwO4y5qRrIAexEJK0eKmZBBw-MRkYANqagJFLOoUq8BBE7aL0kfS2r62vfDtnQFXvHOD4RkI4RAJ-cebXS9xa-te_FsvBTFOkGRAd6i2bVGHxTaWrRtt16g2BVw1_KUl5-4_EwVkc/s1600/elves+in+progress.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc_RxUwO4y5qRrIAexEJK0eKmZBBw-MRkYANqagJFLOoUq8BBE7aL0kfS2r62vfDtnQFXvHOD4RkI4RAJ-cebXS9xa-te_FsvBTFOkGRAd6i2bVGHxTaWrRtt16g2BVw1_KUl5-4_EwVkc/s320/elves+in+progress.JPG" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All dressed up with no where to "snow"</td></tr>
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-family: Courier; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The pipe cleaner stars are so simple! Just three take metallic pipe cleaners, cut in half, so you have six pieces, and twist in the middle! Add a ribbon, and poof (!) Christmas cheer!</span> <span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Also, they are</span> <span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">super easy to bend and twist into the shape of other Christmas symbols! T</span></span><span style="font-size: large;">hese elves are super easy, and kids just need a little help with the glue gun for the pinecones. Both of these crafts make sweet whimsical gifts for the holidays! </span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HVCEMgnfRbBQefhtCggh-VFF9KcRbc4mhyphenhyphenLrjv1sQaKzFIGHBREyRJ5_kmD3AfQpWBm4OREIqvtpCmJLDi9qReLHnTXHcN8dE2crDy_FCNzr5OFpPpwAHHrMis-hiQe53FR2L6_sBSZv/s1600/Marcie+Kia%252C+Kitchen+Christmas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400px" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HVCEMgnfRbBQefhtCggh-VFF9KcRbc4mhyphenhyphenLrjv1sQaKzFIGHBREyRJ5_kmD3AfQpWBm4OREIqvtpCmJLDi9qReLHnTXHcN8dE2crDy_FCNzr5OFpPpwAHHrMis-hiQe53FR2L6_sBSZv/s400/Marcie+Kia%252C+Kitchen+Christmas.JPG" width="300px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marcie, Maya, Kia, and yes, this is my kitchen!</td></tr>
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Kia and I recently joined the <a href="http://ethicalfashionbloggers.com/" target="_blank">Ethical Fashion Bloggers</a>, a group of fashion bloggers concerned with social, environmental, and all around sustainability in the world of looking stylish. Ceri, the organizer recently put out a call for Christmas/Holiday party outfits, so Kia and I submitted this pic. Because the main activity of this party was making Christmas crafts, we went low key and casual for our attire. I am proudly wearing a tunic dress I sewed last year using a <a href="http://www.simplicity.com/p-1542-misses-dresses-cynthia-rowley-collection.aspx" target="_blank">Simplicity</a> pattern, leggings from <a href="http://store.americanapparel.net/women-leggings.html" target="_blank">American Apparel</a>, and knee high leg warmers I found in my grandma’s closet! My hat is from <a href="http://www.krochetkids.org/" target="_blank">Krochet Kids International</a>, a fair trade non-profit that employs women in Uganda and Peru so they can support their families. </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">It was given to me as a birthday gift last year by my good friend, Malorie. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRqGVc2MOZpnLvJ_efbMrz6ELZMgf_B9_8Mk0smGIbANZv-PZJFvM16og5jGNhbUI_kOpCZAViXK4jKVFdANjcnGFK3pYWg-9H8Wv5yxdSCWKK8GPZSECPveh-_y4PbyFQcbc0lHcbO_9n/s1600/kia+and+Maya+making+stars.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300px" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRqGVc2MOZpnLvJ_efbMrz6ELZMgf_B9_8Mk0smGIbANZv-PZJFvM16og5jGNhbUI_kOpCZAViXK4jKVFdANjcnGFK3pYWg-9H8Wv5yxdSCWKK8GPZSECPveh-_y4PbyFQcbc0lHcbO_9n/s400/kia+and+Maya+making+stars.JPG" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kia and Maya making stars</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Kia’s daughter, Maya, is attired in a tunic dress, much like mine as great minds do think alike, from the Salvation Army thrift shop. Her leggings and shoes are hand me-down favorites. </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Kia is sporting a fair trade scarf from <a href="http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/products/personal-accessories/scarves" target="_blank">Ten Thousand Villages</a>, and her favorite denim jacket, which she has proudly owned for about a decade! Her long maxi skirt is from a fashionable Philadelphia second hand shop, <a href="http://www.buffaloexchange.com/" target="_blank">Buffalo Exchange</a>.</span> <span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and Haoppy Holidays with however many parties you like!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpEl8YOGX0aVMZiRZBBl2I5EQm6OxwrXj4E7gtfswlHvty3vvBqjVLny6t2iNRQmkxgZPQKuLxVF0Tdg8Uz6tCKI4YDbCGlvW-tvm8xXdEPv0PfPQ93z7ufdE8-z-WuE6DDR7z1_Bw7Qo/s1600/one+with+the+boys.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300px" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpEl8YOGX0aVMZiRZBBl2I5EQm6OxwrXj4E7gtfswlHvty3vvBqjVLny6t2iNRQmkxgZPQKuLxVF0Tdg8Uz6tCKI4YDbCGlvW-tvm8xXdEPv0PfPQ93z7ufdE8-z-WuE6DDR7z1_Bw7Qo/s400/one+with+the+boys.JPG" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phil, Jessica, Stephen, Mark, Nikki, Melissa, and Miriam just starting to get their craft on!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">*Marcie</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: large;"> </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><img height="72px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc_RxUwO4y5qRrIAexEJK0eKmZBBw-MRkYANqagJFLOoUq8BBE7aL0kfS2r62vfDtnQFXvHOD4RkI4RAJ-cebXS9xa-te_FsvBTFOkGRAd6i2bVGHxTaWrRtt16g2BVw1_KUl5-4_EwVkc/s320/elves+in+progress.JPG" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 548px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 2488px; visibility: hidden;" width="96px" />carewearsharehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12744460474804263661noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906403759848355904.post-3009655800338043732011-12-05T18:41:00.000-08:002012-02-01T18:25:25.175-08:00Tis the Season to CHILL OUT(!) and Escape the Vortex of Materialism!<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJW5pPV1wJrOouPB3BQPS0Aj-GrKmSE1V6AMjkvD3AMe9K0pf-X4XgQSCGecJCZc8Xd4-8SOfu7a6oVtGYikoH1T-CxpnjUgabmpMNXtt5G3yMQdzkAPPnKt9QAi7X1x-wkLCyYRLo0csj/s1600/snowin+october+%252711JPG.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJW5pPV1wJrOouPB3BQPS0Aj-GrKmSE1V6AMjkvD3AMe9K0pf-X4XgQSCGecJCZc8Xd4-8SOfu7a6oVtGYikoH1T-CxpnjUgabmpMNXtt5G3yMQdzkAPPnKt9QAi7X1x-wkLCyYRLo0csj/s640/snowin+october+%252711JPG.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake George, New York as seen through my parents' window. </td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">W</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ith out a doubt Christmas time is my favorite time of year. I love the snow, the lights, the cheer, the decorations, the time with family, the time for God, and the time for reflection. And I admit I have loved the presents…. preeeessssents… so many preeeessssents….. As a child the excitement of waiting for Santa and seeing what he brought me was probably the very best thing about Christmas. Seeing as I was just a wee babe, this is understandable, but it’s also a tad pretty depressing.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> Sure, giving gifts is a sign of love, and it’s wonderful to recieive these gifts and to feel special. But why do we need to many gifts to feel good? Why such expensive gifts to feel special? When did we develop this sense of entitlement? How on earth did a gift-giving traditon, which was indended to honor the Magi presenting presents to the poor and underprivileged baby Jesus, morph into this vortex of materialism? I mean sure, the little guy received some pretty snazzy gifts- gold, frankincense, myrrh- but you know his mommy probably had to sell them so the family could have food…. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> Whether you celebrate Christmas as a religious remembrance or as a more general family holiday, I think it’s time we all reined ourselves in a little. Let’s hold our horses and take some steps out of the destructive path of insatiable consumerism. Let’s stretch ourselves through showing constraint. Let’s appreciate the little things, the acts of kindness, the acts of charity. Let’s spend less and have it mean more. Let’s resist the urge to give something, anything {like inexpensive sweatshop crap or overpriced indulgences} to absolutely everyone we know just become that’s what’s done this time of year. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> Let’s realize it’s not a contest, but an opportunity – an opportunity to teach ourselves and our kids the virtues of giving to those who need it. It's an opportunity to demonstrate how to graciously receiving what we’re given. It’s an opportunity to direct our gifts to those who really need them and to celebrate love more while spending money less. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> This holiday season Kia and I will be posting fun low-key gifts, jolly party ideas, festive local shops, fair-trade options, and links to meaningful charities. We hope you have fun, enjoy the process, and find ways to help others through your purchases and time. Remember, there is nothing historic, helpful, or holly jolly about going into debt for the sake of celebrating Christmas! Quite the opposite! </span></span><o:p></o:p></div>carewearsharehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12744460474804263661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906403759848355904.post-76130569016742349702011-11-23T07:49:00.000-08:002012-02-01T18:26:15.861-08:00To loc, or not to loc. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Image from: <span style="color: green;">i552.photobucket.com/.../<wbr></wbr>hairmilk/locsbarbie.jpg</span></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> E</span>very 3 months I complete a ritual of hair doing. I’ve done this since I was 15 years old. Every 3 months I braid my hair in the same exact style; waist length braids with a part done the middle. I’m not complaining about the style, I love the style it’s my trade mark.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I am complaining about the process of maintaining the style. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> I wear extensions to create my length and it takes me at least 4 hours to take my braids out. I have naturally very tightly curled hair (AKA nappy), so it takes me an hour to wash my hair. It also takes me an hour to dry it and straighten it in preparation of re-braiding it. I then have to braid my hair, that takes 8 hours or 2 chick flicks, 4 Sex And The City episodes, and 2 hour long shows most recently Mad Men (Don Draper is so dreamy). Thankfully I only do this every 3 months or I’d shave my head bald. Now that I have a toddler it is even harder. A 2 y/o and pampering yourself for 14 hours don’t mix.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> So I have been contemplating over a year now about locking my hair. I know there is maintenance but at least I don’t have to take my hair out anymore. It is permanent but I’m fine with that, I’ve had the same hairstyle since I was 15 and I’m 33. So my only hold up is the length. I don’t have waist length hair but I love the look on me. Ah, decision, decisions. What are you doing with your hair? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">*Kia</span> </span></span></i></div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> </span></span></i><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="mediaContainer" id="mediaContainer" style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="imgEnv" id="imgEnv-fullSizedImage"></div></div>carewearsharehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12744460474804263661noreply@blogger.com1