tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34094244686728836362024-03-04T23:30:44.001-08:00Learning RanchLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15433047679523884634noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409424468672883636.post-11332947640902369912012-03-29T10:13:00.000-07:002012-03-29T10:13:18.926-07:00Wow Where Has The Time Gone!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can't believe last time I blogged was over 2 months ago! So much has happened and life has been very crazy in those 2 months. Little Miss is teething and crawling, I have fibromyalgia which really sucks when you live in a moist, cold state. I have been working hard as a mom. My hubby is working lots and hard. I guess to me it feels like it's been busy and crazy but it's really been the normal daily, boring life of a SAH mom. :) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">There are two excepts to the normal daily grind; in the last two months we celebrated my hubby's 30th birthday and we also celebrated our anniversary. Hooray for us! I have a little one getting into trouble so I must run! I must say though I am SO excited for Spring & Easter. I think Easter is my favorite holiday after Christmas. Have a wonderful day and I will try to write a little more frequently!</span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15433047679523884634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409424468672883636.post-10971832123714338332012-01-23T10:53:00.000-08:002012-01-23T10:53:36.436-08:00Today I Feel Like I Woke Up In Oz.<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As many of you are aware, Washington has been hit this last week with a <em>HUGE</em> snow/ice/wind storm (which seemed to have lasted the whole week)! We were very fortunate not to have lost power or had a tree land on our home, though we have several close calls. It is amazing to me how much damage weather can cause. Here are some photos in front of our house of the damage:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkEOMEkANuTJyfQPvlmO5z_bc7fiMvhvltAZw7ILdnfcJe5mrgHhrUpl1PuPi0_IqlmMah-JVWWjmpWqwTbS74u_oHsnsLPW9tF5mu8jtioPzs6Ly5_eeAa_HGb-oAX33bKeDmOLSgqKV/s1600/trees+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkEOMEkANuTJyfQPvlmO5z_bc7fiMvhvltAZw7ILdnfcJe5mrgHhrUpl1PuPi0_IqlmMah-JVWWjmpWqwTbS74u_oHsnsLPW9tF5mu8jtioPzs6Ly5_eeAa_HGb-oAX33bKeDmOLSgqKV/s320/trees+011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsT1I8ZnYi0i0usUy0Wiy8EEd2taLtdLmhr5OuHLxUo4syHi0-O1cV-cZZVqyVb20P-uETgaB9Re_BV4fH9WQmoYOSYOBj3IFegxR8n771yNd3KOgYYAzrRVEoStr_5Gv3iOiPUHytWI_4/s1600/trees+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsT1I8ZnYi0i0usUy0Wiy8EEd2taLtdLmhr5OuHLxUo4syHi0-O1cV-cZZVqyVb20P-uETgaB9Re_BV4fH9WQmoYOSYOBj3IFegxR8n771yNd3KOgYYAzrRVEoStr_5Gv3iOiPUHytWI_4/s320/trees+012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrFKgPwYMp8VjGX7hX09Mqie9U0toBIYwXMHARF28xomi4mihnBDdouhTQg5Zx1Zop5X6kizteb3sGkc_mtXu6uAtE8N43eYlh89vl47yNIth8Yo2LKritRNJRulDgA4lc__egIJlloTs/s1600/trees+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrFKgPwYMp8VjGX7hX09Mqie9U0toBIYwXMHARF28xomi4mihnBDdouhTQg5Zx1Zop5X6kizteb3sGkc_mtXu6uAtE8N43eYlh89vl47yNIth8Yo2LKritRNJRulDgA4lc__egIJlloTs/s320/trees+013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ZW0aUra3skd-LXmFLX-z9rX1eK2mYbiD0LqJAKlLZCNXy0XKRbvNG2loeqUV7ZzLldcqZwrnBELRYwXMh3FIcjQFYudbxrzkWJWyFbswrnT0e-VxxVAUB3HuPMl9EQpoa68e-A1Re5tO/s1600/trees+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ZW0aUra3skd-LXmFLX-z9rX1eK2mYbiD0LqJAKlLZCNXy0XKRbvNG2loeqUV7ZzLldcqZwrnBELRYwXMh3FIcjQFYudbxrzkWJWyFbswrnT0e-VxxVAUB3HuPMl9EQpoa68e-A1Re5tO/s320/trees+014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As you can see it's been a close call! I am so thankful for our friends up here helping us out including our home teacher Travis! Luckily the storm is over and clean up is being. One thing I'm not liking is living in a place that we can't clear away the branches ourselves (which means it will be here a few days). This has been a very interesting experience; not leaving home because impassable roads, falling branches, falling ice chunks & even if you got out where would you go with the power out to over 250,000 people around you? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">But with all the bad there has been good. My hubby was home pretty much all week. We found Little Miss has her first tooth and she is crawling! It has been fun watching movies and making dinner together as a family. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Now with hubby back to work it seems like last week was surreal except when I look outside and then I feel like I am in the land of Oz.</span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15433047679523884634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409424468672883636.post-33083930580338734612012-01-08T16:41:00.000-08:002012-01-08T16:41:20.520-08:00New Start To A New Year<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As you probably have noticed, I have changed a few things with my blog. Firstly I am now going with the name on my blog; Learning Ranch because I love learning and I think it will be easier to share names with my actual website name. I have also changed my background and have gotten rid of my blog button. The button may come back at some point but right now I am too busy (and lazy) to make a new one. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Things have been crazy the last month with Christmas, traveling, and one sick baby and then all of us. I am very excited about the beginning of this new year and feel it is a unwritten chapter just begun. I feel empowered and capable of accomplishing my goals. I feel alive and excited. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Normally I am not into the whole New Year's resolution but I decided to make some goals for this coming year anyway. Here are some of my goals;</span><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Make more things homemade. (This includes food, household products, and crafts.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Work on getting out of debt.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Go through the temple and be sealed to my amazing husband this SPRING! (I plan on talking about my faith on here soon. I am LDS or Mormon.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Start some family traditions!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Help out people more.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Listen better.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">And be ME more.</span></li>
</ul><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I hope you all have had a wonderful Christmas and have thought about goals for the New Year! Let's all make a fresh start! Here are some picture's from Christmas! :) Enjoy!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5qfdAnoP5dRELzsL4Wvnyu_i-mVX8xsTA6EQkW5ht03B_vvR8qZZIkdmGjIFpIogOJCCotia3dKH7CoPt17n8YNtRM5s-RlmAAwp_nOm9cpYPpuVOczeRQ2XdKOdT-0-6yacyPoOQ3lU/s1600/utah+083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5qfdAnoP5dRELzsL4Wvnyu_i-mVX8xsTA6EQkW5ht03B_vvR8qZZIkdmGjIFpIogOJCCotia3dKH7CoPt17n8YNtRM5s-RlmAAwp_nOm9cpYPpuVOczeRQ2XdKOdT-0-6yacyPoOQ3lU/s320/utah+083.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">{Me & hubby}</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCcxytGS50VBX-1O0HLAwPYAWSsmKcK9xS4-5_0kEw2uUMd4vdyaO8xPfbexranHnlkqjbECTWgdF-oEyGSQyKvO0vVvG5XsfTMjZ3H_9tOqYx_ELges61lzQgAyEvkDJtYTdNdhL8HM-/s1600/utah+025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCcxytGS50VBX-1O0HLAwPYAWSsmKcK9xS4-5_0kEw2uUMd4vdyaO8xPfbexranHnlkqjbECTWgdF-oEyGSQyKvO0vVvG5XsfTMjZ3H_9tOqYx_ELges61lzQgAyEvkDJtYTdNdhL8HM-/s320/utah+025.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">{Little Miss}</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMtwHe6yKUc80Ncca75xjhgONYykX4WBdbNVC7MXiZsiChlfUVJcANCbtiRqUTATNxnBmA7OHZiLYOJ3gUYKLviiSYkEh9505aRmm_uzWdDxjWCLDaHrTia7jJFLNViJmhUMDmBoX3H9Wv/s1600/Troy+%2526+Family+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMtwHe6yKUc80Ncca75xjhgONYykX4WBdbNVC7MXiZsiChlfUVJcANCbtiRqUTATNxnBmA7OHZiLYOJ3gUYKLviiSYkEh9505aRmm_uzWdDxjWCLDaHrTia7jJFLNViJmhUMDmBoX3H9Wv/s320/Troy+%2526+Family+013.JPG" width="269" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">{Our hooligans}</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4JFpx9k2B9TJZ_zm6-UDHz41ic2X2r1YhBZubKfUmOniMetrayuTfk44xv7Y_TXe_89myr7hkTFTLPbBrR1I1Z-yPauq8o6BSKaG8Ii0fL3OONzVBSv7h3CwUn8LMFh9cRh1_dF8ezEZW/s1600/Troy+%2526+Family+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4JFpx9k2B9TJZ_zm6-UDHz41ic2X2r1YhBZubKfUmOniMetrayuTfk44xv7Y_TXe_89myr7hkTFTLPbBrR1I1Z-yPauq8o6BSKaG8Ii0fL3OONzVBSv7h3CwUn8LMFh9cRh1_dF8ezEZW/s320/Troy+%2526+Family+018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">{Silly family!}</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfxG0asMPodZyUnhwrWwfEvx_CTvQZsgb7s5heYBCI2N7_m6RBz0VVwVx5VAdD4oTUF8C0uWBJ8CU7eioyrXlqP-8ceHDPpb-E1-bSrG5iSsAyksZePlGkkb0GGhtoobDhJgWO1cCLfOo/s1600/Troy+%2526+Family+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfxG0asMPodZyUnhwrWwfEvx_CTvQZsgb7s5heYBCI2N7_m6RBz0VVwVx5VAdD4oTUF8C0uWBJ8CU7eioyrXlqP-8ceHDPpb-E1-bSrG5iSsAyksZePlGkkb0GGhtoobDhJgWO1cCLfOo/s320/Troy+%2526+Family+023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQo4zK-UJDY_r7xTLV6m3as1xxy-z7txjPFfgolP1BLNNvuF5NCG5EtvTbHrfu6g0V2LfC3LPeRRTpxHFMrYNFXrPxI8xBqZIBBsub_OBfpYwNw4flbQ7wdoY07Ls-QmYHuB85F_djpQxj/s1600/Troy+%2526+Family+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQo4zK-UJDY_r7xTLV6m3as1xxy-z7txjPFfgolP1BLNNvuF5NCG5EtvTbHrfu6g0V2LfC3LPeRRTpxHFMrYNFXrPxI8xBqZIBBsub_OBfpYwNw4flbQ7wdoY07Ls-QmYHuB85F_djpQxj/s320/Troy+%2526+Family+022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">{My family whom I love so much!}</span></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15433047679523884634noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409424468672883636.post-8203768255724687872011-12-06T22:31:00.000-08:002011-12-06T22:35:12.602-08:00Ok I Lied!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been looking at old pictures of me and I have decided it is time to get back into shape and I am going to blog about it! Hooray! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVg7Age6vF_hzm9dCxyxbI5Vj-273-3itS6f_F79fIhhJ_d6AGja4LcJvxC8E9Vcc6Xu2CTkIEeWTooJnI7OI9ZZpz5AbvW0iqsdSVkMa-VYbiWADwN-kSGuD9BdwdjQO8KmIcASm2K7ta/s1600/0meme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVg7Age6vF_hzm9dCxyxbI5Vj-273-3itS6f_F79fIhhJ_d6AGja4LcJvxC8E9Vcc6Xu2CTkIEeWTooJnI7OI9ZZpz5AbvW0iqsdSVkMa-VYbiWADwN-kSGuD9BdwdjQO8KmIcASm2K7ta/s320/0meme.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">{Before}</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRSnGZgjX7Tx9qbkOZp5Gyn8buYXDA0sp7OPCr6BSDepWqoRc1RNMD1258A2gbx7PtsYXDavAe53NmXba3bgAlqVFkjpWOzbeqcJLlN_QyUJnLJXJZdQXr8d26dphust60fIbpZ6TssuF/s1600/1114111533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRSnGZgjX7Tx9qbkOZp5Gyn8buYXDA0sp7OPCr6BSDepWqoRc1RNMD1258A2gbx7PtsYXDavAe53NmXba3bgAlqVFkjpWOzbeqcJLlN_QyUJnLJXJZdQXr8d26dphust60fIbpZ6TssuF/s320/1114111533.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">{Now}</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">New drive and encouragement! The goal; to be back in a size 4 pant by summer time! As of tonight I am giving up;</span><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">soda</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">chips</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">cookies</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">ice cream</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">pizza</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">corn dogs</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">fast foot</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">french fries</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">fish sticks</span></li>
</ul><span style="font-family: Verdana;">These foods make me sick and unhealthy! Here is what I will eat instead;</span><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">carrots</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">yogurt</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">oatmeal</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">milk</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">apples</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">whole grains</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">salad</span></li>
</ul><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I want to be healthy again so bad. And I can do it! We will see how it goes...</span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15433047679523884634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409424468672883636.post-9682771232370124432011-12-06T17:52:00.001-08:002011-12-06T17:52:06.173-08:00Taking A Break From Blogging<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I won't be blogging for awhile. I need a break from having one more thing to worry about. Also have a ton going on this holiday season. Wishing you all a happy holidays and Merry Christmas!</span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15433047679523884634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409424468672883636.post-12578593117307218312011-12-05T09:49:00.000-08:002011-12-05T09:49:50.758-08:00Why Stay At Home Moms Rock!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have heard a lot lately why being a working mom is so great and I think it's about time someone says why staying at home is great. <strong>I am not saying working moms are horrible and should stay home. I understand that it is an individual choice. I am just sharing why I love staying home with my kiddos.</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I love being at home with my daughter. We have so much fun together. I am not the perfect mom. Here is a list (and they are all true) of why I love staying at home with my kids:</span><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I can stay in my comfy warm jammies all day (I do this more than I like to admit).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I can nap when baby naps.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I always have time for crafts.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">More time to clean the house.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I can help out others more.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I get to greet my hubby home for lunch and after work!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I get to see Little Miss achieve all her big and small milestones.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I get to raise her the way we want and not hope she learns what I want from a daycare.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">No one can care and love my baby like me which makes me feel good when I am stressed.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I can cook and bake all day long.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I get to chat with people who I would otherwise have little time to talk to.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I can focus on my family more.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Even when money is tight, we are happier for me being at home taking care of things.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I actually have more me time and can develop myself as a person.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">No work stress!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">No commute.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">No work drama.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I can kiss and soothe baby's ouchies.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I am covered in "baby-loving"</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I am relearning how to see the little wonders in life.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I get a workout just carrying baby.</span></li>
</ul><span style="font-family: Verdana;">There are 100s of reasons why being a stay at home mom rocks! I think we need to validate stay at home moms who sacrifice their wants for their children. Again I am not saying working moms are selfish or horrible but I do think we should praise both sides of the fence. I grew up with my mom working. She had to help provide for our family while my dad went back to college. She sacrificed what she wanted to take care of our family. It was hard growing up with her gone and exhausted all the time but she still loved me and taught me many invaluable lessons. Being a mom is tough period. Any mother who puts her wants aside to care for her family should be acknowledged. Thanks to all the moms who have influenced my life; working or staying at home, you guys are great!</span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15433047679523884634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409424468672883636.post-2270533544779574192011-12-03T20:01:00.000-08:002011-12-03T20:01:35.456-08:00Out Fishing<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ok I haven't been out fishing but I have been dealing with a very cranky daughter and a husband getting ready for military stuff plus add in all the holiday decorating, card sending, picture taking and you have my life right now. I am also working on a wall hanging quilt as my present to my husband. Here it is all laid out ready to be sewn:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_S9RByzyrSsl0_ck_qxKKTAPEJckPNajJiT2IjSn50Q5PS_D_9NfDC1AkYcvKQXqHWqwG4Z5-rSlHlyx7B_qp8XTDS5hXaiSfyefkirmZH-HLnMTyaYKOWEVjVZY_sFpIRw2ksudrZ08s/s1600/1202112133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_S9RByzyrSsl0_ck_qxKKTAPEJckPNajJiT2IjSn50Q5PS_D_9NfDC1AkYcvKQXqHWqwG4Z5-rSlHlyx7B_qp8XTDS5hXaiSfyefkirmZH-HLnMTyaYKOWEVjVZY_sFpIRw2ksudrZ08s/s400/1202112133.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">{Bet you can't tell what colors our room are!}</span></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15433047679523884634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409424468672883636.post-42432752836142614832011-11-29T11:16:00.000-08:002011-11-29T11:18:33.707-08:00And The Winners Are...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Congratulations to Kimberly W for winning $20 for Spoil Me Rotten Momma and to Heather Smith for winning $20 for CBK Vinyl. (Check your email!) These winners were chosen at random by Rafflecopter. Thank you everyone who entered! Let me know if you are, as readers interested in more giveaways and what I can do to make them easier and better for you. (I have some ideas too.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Remember I am going to be going a drawing for a $25 gift card to Applebee's once I get 100 followers. And a $50 gift card to Olive Garden when I have 500 readers! </span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15433047679523884634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409424468672883636.post-62221900425463548572011-11-28T16:12:00.000-08:002011-11-28T16:13:50.366-08:00More To Do With Cardboard: Quick & Simple Garland<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I (once again... are we seeing a theme here?) found this beautiful garland on <a href="http://pinterest.com/anderton/">pinterest</a>. However it was just a picture (but oh what a picture I wish it looked like that at my house) and had no instructions on how to make it, but I realized it would be very easy and made up my own! And here is how I did it (can I just say cardboard rocks!?!):</span><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Star, Christmas Tree, & Heart Template (I just used ones off of Microsoft Word's clip art)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Cardboard</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Scissors</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Marker</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Razor Cutting Tool</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Hole Punch</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Checkered Ribbon (I used red & white 3/4 inch ribbon)</span></li>
</ul><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I started out finding the tree, star, and heart templates and then making them as big as I wanted them to be. After printing them off I cut them out and traced them onto cardboard (I used a leftover corn dog box). After tracing the shapes I used my razor to cut through the cardboard. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzxVqVkQs9w-a6am_HydYr4fZ7qtusOdy1FCD-pMQmEGIudVhAZOeTXYg1p57ysxmUUuspKYwPeYqsLZ7LF_bYBxXrODqbZoqyPK8GKrLvYnbZ_rB8Dj2RqCaKad_OhyB6y6b5docgQfl/s1600/1120111939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzxVqVkQs9w-a6am_HydYr4fZ7qtusOdy1FCD-pMQmEGIudVhAZOeTXYg1p57ysxmUUuspKYwPeYqsLZ7LF_bYBxXrODqbZoqyPK8GKrLvYnbZ_rB8Dj2RqCaKad_OhyB6y6b5docgQfl/s320/1120111939.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Once I cut out as many shapes as I wanted (I ended up with 16), I hole punched where I wanted each shape to have the ribbon go through. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNgJlnw9Y1TqZAVH2fp0QqZeijSOQGdFVUsaL5nNX1HO944fD6MlnuLbeXyyUZobjf8E841Tllo4XmTfJj6TiIVKviK-BrbFWKJuzR4DksyZDmnTCk2CfdS11KrWW-cOxPL5tW6GLFYdx/s1600/1120111940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNgJlnw9Y1TqZAVH2fp0QqZeijSOQGdFVUsaL5nNX1HO944fD6MlnuLbeXyyUZobjf8E841Tllo4XmTfJj6TiIVKviK-BrbFWKJuzR4DksyZDmnTCk2CfdS11KrWW-cOxPL5tW6GLFYdx/s320/1120111940.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxvKblFk7TZdwR2VQJTYPCl6bo-xqx-GNZTsGXt0Xdm7LAwQonhBahWIcp6vrhLbVNywu9b-SCCjruwxQu7Ea_D_O4nGRqsFKua4P2PNh4YFvC6iwOYrVkp2s-A7jq96YM4eVT6zVG4DS/s1600/112011oo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxvKblFk7TZdwR2VQJTYPCl6bo-xqx-GNZTsGXt0Xdm7LAwQonhBahWIcp6vrhLbVNywu9b-SCCjruwxQu7Ea_D_O4nGRqsFKua4P2PNh4YFvC6iwOYrVkp2s-A7jq96YM4eVT6zVG4DS/s320/112011oo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">{Ribbon was bought at Joann}</span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Then threaded the ribbon through each hole spread out as long as you want and hang up! *<em>Hint: If you are looking to a fast way to thread the holes, make a pointed edge with you ribbon similar to this </em><strong>></strong><em>.*</em></span><br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Inspiration:</span></div><div align="center"><div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/204562008044082791/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="275" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/204562008044082791_WfexMqQq_c.jpg" width="254" /></a></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://weheartit.com/entry/5336934" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">weheartit.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/anderton/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Laura</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div></div><div align="center"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">My Results:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-QUQmgi5oj-7m6TzHVzZ3ozp77kYf4QPyTGaWKrXJFIeVPmhemq76CPfWLQISkD3ZS_cCDqa8edstQ4vz-rjJPoGGUsPE3jzI4yvrJE_LXqg1GV31PU3xI412loitqOKeRarBD0sOuO0/s1600/1120112038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-QUQmgi5oj-7m6TzHVzZ3ozp77kYf4QPyTGaWKrXJFIeVPmhemq76CPfWLQISkD3ZS_cCDqa8edstQ4vz-rjJPoGGUsPE3jzI4yvrJE_LXqg1GV31PU3xI412loitqOKeRarBD0sOuO0/s320/1120112038.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I loved how it turned out. I just taped it up in my kitchen since certain rooms in my house have horrible lighting (thanks to living in the Northwest and on a military base which equals old housing). Let me know what you think!</span></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15433047679523884634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409424468672883636.post-25367522672894924862011-11-28T08:20:00.000-08:002011-11-28T08:20:02.378-08:00Pajama Time!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Little Miss and I both have colds so today we are having pajama day! A day we lounge in our warm jammies and watch movies, read books, eat, and nap! Feel free to join us. This is how I look:</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/204562008044098060/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/204562008044098060_XGIEfHdj_c.jpg" width="270" /></a></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?q=pajamas+fireplace&um=1&hl=en&biw=1203&bih=582&tbm=isch&tbnid=p0UTl4SFhsu3nM:&imgrefurl=http://www.myfakepregnancy.com/2010/11/new-arrivals-at-gap-maternity.html&docid=TOSjrhUcuk9BGM&w=453&h=505&ei=6FZsTp2iBMapsAKynpy3BA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=379&vpy=130&dur=1773&hovh=237&hovw=213&tx=118&ty=111&page=2&tbnh=131&tbnw=118&start=21&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:21" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">google.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/anderton/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Laura</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ok THAT is how I wished I looked. I am more along this line except add a hoodie and pink fleece pants. :P I'm a mom, that's my excuse and I am sticking to it!</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/204562008044098075/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="275" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/204562008044098075_kgqoo1Zh_c.jpg" width="207" /></a></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?q=sweats&hl=en&safe=active&sa=X&biw=1280&bih=685&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=CL11F-vmLeS6qM:&imgrefurl=http://www.posh24.com/photo/424357/celebrity_style_everybody_loves_sweats&docid=PDyS_WetfiG2TM&imgurl=http://photos.posh24.com/p/741855/z/eva_longoria/celebrity_style_everybody_loves_sweats.jpg&w=968&h=1290&ei=P8_BTtH8M6Xn0QG7uZjdBA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=945&vpy=273&dur=1168&hovh=259&hovw=194&tx=102&ty=123&sig=104387034869502132965&page=3&tbnh=144&tbnw=115&start=42&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:12,s:42" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">google.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/anderton/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Laura</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><u>REMINDER:</u></strong><span style="font-size: small;"> Last day to enter my giveaway! I will be drawing tomorrow! Enter before it's TOO LATE!</span></span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15433047679523884634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409424468672883636.post-37373849829915743972011-11-27T21:10:00.000-08:002011-11-27T21:10:27.751-08:00Ok About The Rafflecopter: Still Going Another 27 Hours!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">OK I had no idea the Rafflecopter was set for Eastern Time nor that it wasn't set through Monday. Go ahead and leave a comment of the things you have done. I am so sorry it didn't work the way I thought it was going to. (Should asked my guru blogger Karina!)</span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15433047679523884634noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409424468672883636.post-24752361705683391912011-11-27T17:13:00.000-08:002011-11-27T17:13:28.970-08:00ONLY 30 HOURS LEFT!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are only about <span style="font-size: x-large;">30</span> hours left until my giveaway is over. I will be honest; been disappointed with the turn out. Only <span style="font-size: large;">4</span> people have entered! Can you imagine your odds if it even was <span style="font-size: large;">10</span> or <span style="font-size: large;">20</span>? All you have to do is follow me or do one of the other items (there are <span style="font-size: x-large;">5 </span>total). Completely easy! Check out my Rafflecopter which makes it even easier to do! </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am so happy to be offering this as giveaway. The Applebee's gift card is still happening, once I reach <span style="font-size: large;">100</span> followers. To add to that if I get<span style="font-size: x-large;"> 500</span> followers (yes, I am ambitious) I will be giving a <span style="font-size: x-large;">$50.00</span> gift certificate to Olive Garden! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">To end here is a picture of Little Miss with Santa (bet you can't guess where we got the picture done)! Great way to start off the Christmas season (officially):</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFSISig-1KDijI0NirR2KyTqke0EdN-ir-59w91Kr_9N2gHpGhyphenhyphenq1pdj3snBXPpmRYKETDjzjWMQICYWjWyAaAkG6vhZRp-lqniJUuEe5wDza475c35HVvvPbPrYMZ1FUM19BUtigSY3s/s1600/IMG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFSISig-1KDijI0NirR2KyTqke0EdN-ir-59w91Kr_9N2gHpGhyphenhyphenq1pdj3snBXPpmRYKETDjzjWMQICYWjWyAaAkG6vhZRp-lqniJUuEe5wDza475c35HVvvPbPrYMZ1FUM19BUtigSY3s/s320/IMG.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15433047679523884634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409424468672883636.post-73668918235669570912011-11-26T17:28:00.000-08:002011-11-26T17:28:56.321-08:00You Made WHAT With Cardboard!?!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Along with adhering to my goal of being more crafty (and I make working on growing out my hair, just throwing that out there). As I may have mentioned (but to lazy to verify) I am not only trying to be crafty and do so on a <em>very </em>tight (ok non-existent) budget. Cardboard however is in great supply (thanks to drinking soda and baby diapers). Once again I took an idea and ran a completely different direction with it. </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/204562008044089158/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/204562008044089158_szONvaCo_c.jpg" width="167" /></a></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://mydesigndump.blogspot.com/2010/04/diy-antlers.html" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">mydesigndump.blogspot.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/anderton/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Laura</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here is the original & it had the deer template too!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So here is my latest project (made from a diaper box):</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">The No Animals Were Harmed In The Making: Deer Head!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Supplies Needed:</span><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Cardboard (boxes work great!)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Sharp razor cutter thing (What are those things called anyways?)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://www.chroniclebooks.com/blog/2009/02/19/chronicle-craft-sneak-peek-project-and-book-giveaway/">Deer Template</a> (From <a href="http://www.chroniclebooks.com/blog/">Chronicle Books Blog</a>)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Tape</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Scissors</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Wire or something to hang it up with (I used the hooks for Christmas decorations)</span></li>
</ul><span style="font-family: Verdana;">It really was pretty easy to do just time consuming, hand hurting. I started out by printing out the template and taping the extra long parts together. I cut wide and taped the template on my cardboard. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip07OCCdXK8Fcp0_i3C3W3D-pwPfm8oUecSngscZip03_ooJXbZNg5LKIpoMNwovsBGvJWHlclBUPML8_8zYl34V8aBywTQiWuws5L3Zf6fBAZnaCajKEA3DYP1OSYebrlnkJwLIrr_lzU/s1600/1122111313a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip07OCCdXK8Fcp0_i3C3W3D-pwPfm8oUecSngscZip03_ooJXbZNg5LKIpoMNwovsBGvJWHlclBUPML8_8zYl34V8aBywTQiWuws5L3Zf6fBAZnaCajKEA3DYP1OSYebrlnkJwLIrr_lzU/s320/1122111313a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I proceeded to carefully cut along the lines and cut out all the pieces.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh36b8R9IkeMc_3r_gmMdxCsLQk0ZuHfgwPKlJ4INiSs0dw6QbFQXJzoTa0IJgvy4Kcf3qfiY1elKQyn7eegWyPQKwdVfKVdsf-UJrqr8n1C-G83u3XdG0tn-e8vD9fxjzEfr3wzeKMGSQV/s1600/1122111516a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh36b8R9IkeMc_3r_gmMdxCsLQk0ZuHfgwPKlJ4INiSs0dw6QbFQXJzoTa0IJgvy4Kcf3qfiY1elKQyn7eegWyPQKwdVfKVdsf-UJrqr8n1C-G83u3XdG0tn-e8vD9fxjzEfr3wzeKMGSQV/s320/1122111516a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Then it is pretty self explanatory. Add each piece where it goes and you have the finished head.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrL074jKvsmEf7ddaQSniNL5r2x4pWwVI7uYJV1ew76pZq5YbKWOPeA-aEkpE6FcBFRMbT0EEzLQmaVllZmzZpMVFm0Bdugz-cDEUFVnS5-NTFYoujqNX-yjyqvOLc6KLZ3wm6yTDNnt_/s1600/1122111517a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrL074jKvsmEf7ddaQSniNL5r2x4pWwVI7uYJV1ew76pZq5YbKWOPeA-aEkpE6FcBFRMbT0EEzLQmaVllZmzZpMVFm0Bdugz-cDEUFVnS5-NTFYoujqNX-yjyqvOLc6KLZ3wm6yTDNnt_/s320/1122111517a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Then all I did was take a pin and pin a couple holes and feed the hook through and bend to make a hanger. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39-Q2sDy1nPDXCxbnRjQGl34DLeXjgpioJPFnbT1xgg1oxYtCBV68RQJTo_yTWCOjlBscTKmry12ZrBodXIwRPxi43zwbjxzIX0cG6byDruT1sloWh3Cm85YPhDvD45tleLVu8lLlHTWe/s1600/downsized_1126111525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39-Q2sDy1nPDXCxbnRjQGl34DLeXjgpioJPFnbT1xgg1oxYtCBV68RQJTo_yTWCOjlBscTKmry12ZrBodXIwRPxi43zwbjxzIX0cG6byDruT1sloWh3Cm85YPhDvD45tleLVu8lLlHTWe/s320/downsized_1126111525.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Lastly I decorated it for Christmas. :) </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOT5jvNI-ZOyRs62W1XMJgpII4osl2X40He0rinW9vjtyZOp9xXZOZmJBqQBba4peT4zOfRrv6JlrW38H1GudmSRZKNGtLUzj-fUr5AqNHszxGd1rmWVkhB3PK4SRPk-8jGHdIP7bZN-VV/s1600/downsized_1126111526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOT5jvNI-ZOyRs62W1XMJgpII4osl2X40He0rinW9vjtyZOp9xXZOZmJBqQBba4peT4zOfRrv6JlrW38H1GudmSRZKNGtLUzj-fUr5AqNHszxGd1rmWVkhB3PK4SRPk-8jGHdIP7bZN-VV/s320/downsized_1126111526.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">My hunting hubby grudgingly likes it (since he hasn't gotten to hunt this year or last). I love these types of projects because there are about a million ways to do your own! Hope you all enjoy! I had a blast doing it (more then I probably should of). Don't forget to enter my giveaway it ends only in a couple days! Also remember 100 followers and I will be giving away to $25.00 gift card to Applebee's.</span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15433047679523884634noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409424468672883636.post-46704695490506769272011-11-23T18:16:00.000-08:002011-11-23T18:16:51.910-08:00Taking A Break<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/204562008044091253/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="275" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/204562008044091253_6gbQBBpI_c.jpg" width="220" /></a></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://beckieandbrad.blogspot.com/2010/11/thanksgiving-printable.html" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">beckieandbrad.blogspot.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/anderton/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Laura</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Taking a break from blogging today and tomorrow. Hope ya all have a Happy Thanksgiving! Don't forget to enter my giveaway! And remember once I get 100 followers I will be giving away $25.00 gift card to Applebee's!</span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15433047679523884634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409424468672883636.post-4756449965039893372011-11-22T16:41:00.000-08:002011-11-22T16:41:40.035-08:00Finally Got Rafflecopter!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This will make entering even easier for the giveaway! For those entered already you can enter here or just leave your entries as is and I will count them! I have had to wait for Rafflecopter to invite me to use it which just happened today! Super excited!</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><script id="rafl-script" type="text/javascript">
RafflecopterSettings = {
raffleID: 'YjgwZGI2ZGM5NGU1YTllZDc1NjkyZDUyODhkNGQ4OjE='
};
</script><br />
<script src="https://rafflecopter.ssl.dotcloud.com/static/js/widget/rafl-widget.js" type="text/javascript">
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<noscript></noscript>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15433047679523884634noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409424468672883636.post-80225354687559057912011-11-22T09:08:00.000-08:002011-11-22T09:17:31.013-08:00Just For Fun<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/204562008044088510/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/204562008044088510_DDEqk1s7_c.jpg" width="209" /></a></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://loricraig.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/category/copics/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">loricraig.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/anderton/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Laura</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have decided that just for the heck of it; once I have a 100 followers I am going to be giving away a $25 gift card to Applebee's! </span> <br />
<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/204562008044088490/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/204562008044088490_DgtuCuK3_c.jpg" width="401" /></a></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?q=applebees&hl=en&safe=off&biw=1341&bih=576&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=uODzOlAdoPK6NM:&imgrefurl=http://ifthethunderdontgetya.blogspot.com/2011/04/paul-krugman-attacks-applebees-salad.html&docid=Ir06GI497yZ4vM&imgurl=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60r2jeaPcB_bCg5kmbG2Iu5HkWjk_tKD6_aAFkvmVIX_BgzS-Ad_iE3D35MhkxWb5FogcpzMjQaxrx-oh3CwBbNzgHRJIwakER5oK27FVN0MNt-i6k9qLBNsmnVfXnP-5ZdaxUnnZU7oQ/s1600/Applebees.jpeg&w=1280&h=960&ei=8NW5TtzYJ8GkiQKo4YHNBA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=640&vpy=198&dur=295&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=124&ty=65&sig=104857513023293387081&page=1&tbnh=163&tbnw=211&start=0&ndsp=10&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">google.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/anderton/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Laura</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
It is my way of saying thank you to you as followers for reading my blog! It makes me feel great knowing someone is out there listening and I'm not just writing to the wall! So tell your friends to start following and we'll see how soon we can have that giveaway!Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15433047679523884634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409424468672883636.post-85236992060526836772011-11-21T13:39:00.000-08:002011-11-21T13:39:55.751-08:00UPDATE ON GIVEAWAY!!!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The giveaway for Spoil Me Rotten Momma is for only the products Sue makes (they are the pictures I have shown). Sorry for any confusion!</span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15433047679523884634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409424468672883636.post-61597699139768510192011-11-21T08:47:00.000-08:002011-11-21T08:49:40.815-08:00Christmas Before Thanksgiving<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">**Make sure to enter My First Giveaway which runs through November 28th!**</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/204562008044024093/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="275" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/204562008044024093_MXPUnRUC_c.jpg" width="220" /></a></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://adventuresofabettycrockerwannabe.blogspot.com/search/label/Printable" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">adventuresofabettycrockerwannabe.blogspot.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/anderton/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Laura</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Every year we hear the same argument of whether we should celebrate Christmas before Thanksgiving is even over. I read my friend's opinion on it at <a href="http://www.karinaschallenge.com/">Karina's Challenge</a> and wanted to add my two cents but realized (1) my opinion would make one long comment and (2) I have my own blog for a reason! So here are my two cents;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I love Christmas! It is by far my favorite holiday. As I posted in an earlier post, I love everything about it. Right now I have a hard time with Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving was always a big holiday growing up. In fact it always meant lots of family. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFewKRM7gSEYWOgvzdmD9kOM3XzoOjjxmp98maJJylrJPY6toCrmk3QLOb9diNGaPiR30rzqS9uljd6IlTMF5fABOoZpGJNX7EgPVF7nghAcS2XCHey9KT1BpJFhAIBIKkXJ5QvDxED4lE/s1600/Fam+050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFewKRM7gSEYWOgvzdmD9kOM3XzoOjjxmp98maJJylrJPY6toCrmk3QLOb9diNGaPiR30rzqS9uljd6IlTMF5fABOoZpGJNX7EgPVF7nghAcS2XCHey9KT1BpJFhAIBIKkXJ5QvDxED4lE/s320/Fam+050.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">{My family Christmas 2010. Only missing our two boys, Little Miss was in my belly & my dad was taking the picture.}</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Fast forward to last year. Last year was my first Thanksgiving away from this tradition of relatives-overload. And guess what! I found I hated it. Therefore, as this time of year came around I have been less than enthusiastic about the up coming holiday. In fact I would skip it (not because I'm not thankful but I believe you should be thankful every day not just one day, however that is another story), but my husband wants to celebrate it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Now some of you probably are thinking "Why not just go home for Thanksgiving if spending it with family means so much to you?" Good question. Anyone in the military want to answer? In the military (like probably other workplaces) you only get so many days off. True we get more than the average bear (name that movie!), but once we use them there is no getting them back (right away) and going without permission or without pay like some. We opt to go home for a longer stretch for Christmas. </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/204562008044064277/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="275" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/204562008044064277_KM9RjRat_c.jpg" width="184" /></a></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.everythingfab.com/search/label/Decorating?updated-max=2011-01-24T14%3A41%3A00-05%3A00&max-results=20" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">everythingfab.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/anderton/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Laura</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Which brings us to another reason I like to celebrate Christmas early; once I get home I don't get to enjoy Christmas. When we go back we are so busy trying to see all the family and more importantly trying to spend as much time as we can with our boys, we don't get to sit back and soak in Christmas. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">This is why my tree is already up and decorated and why I listen to Christmas music and don't mind the overshadowing of Thanksgiving. I miss family more during this time of year then any other time. I am looking forward to introducing Little Miss to mash potatoes, pureed turkey, and some pumpkin pie without the crust. And I do hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving! I will be looking forward and grateful for it almost being time to go home for Christmas and see our boys!</span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15433047679523884634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409424468672883636.post-41369633698256252972011-11-20T13:22:00.000-08:002011-11-20T13:22:24.071-08:00Now For What You All Have Been Waiting For... My First Giveaway!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am super excited to be starting my first giveaway ever! Thanks to my two friends Sue (of Spoil Me Rotten Momma) and Karina (of Karina's Challenge & CBK Vinyl) for helping out and both donating $20.00 certificates to their respective shops! Here is a little on each shop and what they offer;</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Spoil-Me-Rotten-Momma/227979827214284#!/pages/Spoil-Me-Rotten-Momma/227979827214284"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Spoil Me Rotten Momma</span></a> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">is owned by Sue, her sister-in-law and her sister-in-law's friend. They offer a whole range of products for little girls to women. Sue specializes in signs. Sue is an Army wife and has 3 little kiddos. We went to high school together and she was stationed here with me till a couple months ago. She helped me ease into being a military wife and is so creative I miss having her here to sneak ideas off of! Here are a few examples of her work:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCMbrdOCsP-konMBBNQqufv0mV0zgq9mKrkAwXhe1TWMQHtcBpp_KVyuAtDo7jfOzy1nd7MJtBKoIVkUQwFchXOjw89Ap6WOoQl_sRfkP2hpZjn1iNtWscNQ2-3L3jMaVpFRm5zXSoEGS/s1600/321210_285393494806250_227979827214284_1259657_838497094_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCMbrdOCsP-konMBBNQqufv0mV0zgq9mKrkAwXhe1TWMQHtcBpp_KVyuAtDo7jfOzy1nd7MJtBKoIVkUQwFchXOjw89Ap6WOoQl_sRfkP2hpZjn1iNtWscNQ2-3L3jMaVpFRm5zXSoEGS/s320/321210_285393494806250_227979827214284_1259657_838497094_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3te60wMhlp4d_5PWNAZwp0cpa3CF8j7YbrGRXWdIZAtovddIFHB9zwY2ARSo2r7TBmMhw2LVmkYGbClYRDdSKz-rL1ajxey4HOO7nvddWJbTZSOWJfyCJTMqGdhuSLRqX5uNv7UAz9SP4/s1600/302687_303528522992747_227979827214284_1330142_1011286550_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3te60wMhlp4d_5PWNAZwp0cpa3CF8j7YbrGRXWdIZAtovddIFHB9zwY2ARSo2r7TBmMhw2LVmkYGbClYRDdSKz-rL1ajxey4HOO7nvddWJbTZSOWJfyCJTMqGdhuSLRqX5uNv7UAz9SP4/s320/302687_303528522992747_227979827214284_1330142_1011286550_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH44-Csktvkz3yzhm_VZdeFQnsc2Q5dUg2HC4UBov_w4tth410RionXbqzbfQyhHq1pVhCkjIF2dgoRx4SvLcHxxAcxWEl0EPboyUWMDhdC8CbiLD8wuEvRieUUEpQ_n_t95m4DbzN5_cM/s1600/312125_285390214806578_227979827214284_1259644_65763167_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH44-Csktvkz3yzhm_VZdeFQnsc2Q5dUg2HC4UBov_w4tth410RionXbqzbfQyhHq1pVhCkjIF2dgoRx4SvLcHxxAcxWEl0EPboyUWMDhdC8CbiLD8wuEvRieUUEpQ_n_t95m4DbzN5_cM/s320/312125_285390214806578_227979827214284_1259644_65763167_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/CBK-Vinyl/298560416830255#!/pages/CBK-Vinyl/298560416830255?sk=wall"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">CBK Vinyl</span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">is owned by my dear friend Karina. She does a lot of amazing vinyl work. She is also an avid blogger and is the inspiration for me starting my own blog and knowing how to do anything on it. She is from Brazil but now lives in Utah with her husband and little boy. (I also went to high school with her plus she lived a block over from me too.) She is crafty and trendy. Her awesome blog is called <a href="http://www.karinaschallenge.com/">Karina's Challenge</a>. And is definitely worth checking out. She always has giveaways going on and great ideas! Here is a sample of her work:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_Pt0SMxC6d71au1GTlzojFbMkxM-mXEX68ldGE5TAFWfzeSD91ZPKa5Wvglnbgrd9usVANmmDSNH08EgpuXKv1RYuGiI_2MN469ayJOVo0YIzRrc6oAmJexeAgmHvoLYjg4StNH2-zif/s1600/home_sweet_home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_Pt0SMxC6d71au1GTlzojFbMkxM-mXEX68ldGE5TAFWfzeSD91ZPKa5Wvglnbgrd9usVANmmDSNH08EgpuXKv1RYuGiI_2MN469ayJOVo0YIzRrc6oAmJexeAgmHvoLYjg4StNH2-zif/s320/home_sweet_home.jpg" width="234" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfhBlpWKNhHWfhbXZtyvY427Y9nLSK09yyUrfOD8NpFFdD0uM6wJRIcCCU4QmJ4Hu8bHV-QjUCd0zgHT7Ilk3fX6cGwbOe1d0lpflA6kiomPgA7Fy-M2wGuaOkQJU4maEpqDIAFVl2BL_/s1600/il_570xN_194480954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfhBlpWKNhHWfhbXZtyvY427Y9nLSK09yyUrfOD8NpFFdD0uM6wJRIcCCU4QmJ4Hu8bHV-QjUCd0zgHT7Ilk3fX6cGwbOe1d0lpflA6kiomPgA7Fy-M2wGuaOkQJU4maEpqDIAFVl2BL_/s1600/il_570xN_194480954.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAzvDGeUB8Wx0iZuFjc3rySqALO6OKV60lcGSE1xfHoXwzELMAgsgjjYbwPirDcsE45Ei4h4V_9MLZiLQI_3upCdPWTi9vR0dYWvZxWlghAhAWMXWoi_dBCJOSwPZo0NU_yU_PyZLB-EUV/s1600/il_570xN_197362620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAzvDGeUB8Wx0iZuFjc3rySqALO6OKV60lcGSE1xfHoXwzELMAgsgjjYbwPirDcsE45Ei4h4V_9MLZiLQI_3upCdPWTi9vR0dYWvZxWlghAhAWMXWoi_dBCJOSwPZo0NU_yU_PyZLB-EUV/s1600/il_570xN_197362620.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So here is how it will work:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">There will be a number of ways to enter and a number of chances! </span><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Follow Dream Ranch on Google Friend, leave a comment letting me know you are following.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Follow <a href="http://www.karinaschallenge.com/">Karina's Challenge</a>, leave me a comment letting me know yo are.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Follow Learning Ranch on Twitter, leave a comment letting me know you are following.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Spoil-Me-Rotten-Momma/227979827214284#!/pages/Spoil-Me-Rotten-Momma/227979827214284">Spoil Me Rotten Momma</a> on Facebook, tell them Dream Ranch sent you and leave me a comment letting me know you liked them.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/CBK-Vinyl/298560416830255#!/pages/CBK-Vinyl/298560416830255?sk=info">CBK Vinyl</a> on Facebook, tell them Dream Ranch sent you and leave me a comment letting me know you liked them.</span></li>
</ul><span style="font-family: Verdana;">That's <strong>5 </strong>chances to win! There will be two winners; one for Spoil Me Rotten Momma and one for CBK Vinyl. Good luck all and if this sees lots of success I'll will plan another one for next month! This giveaway ends <em><strong>November 28th at 12 PM!</strong></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">**Disclosure: Dream Ranch is not responsible for fulfillment of these prizes. I will do my best to make sure each winner gets their prize. Facebook has no affiliation or responsibility for this giveaway. Any questions or concern, please contact me at <a href="mailto:learningranch@gmail.com">learningranch</a>**@gmail.com</span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15433047679523884634noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409424468672883636.post-9177884942300741482011-11-19T20:31:00.000-08:002011-11-19T20:33:32.895-08:00My Crafty Goal & Stars<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have set a goal for myself to find a way to be crafty once a week. I am by no means a crafty-type. In fact I am a very logical, play with numbers-type. However I love working with my hands (hence my love of writing and blogging). Therefore I decided it was high time I start being more "artist" and to add good measure to use things I have laying around the house. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;"><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Confession 1</span>:</u><span style="font-size: small;"> We drink a lot of soda in our house so I had soda boxes a-plenty! (Came in really handy for this craft.)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;"><u>Confession 2:</u><span style="font-size: small;"> I didn't come up with this idea, though I changed it completely and then ran with it. Here is what inspired me:</span></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"></div><div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/204562008044082801/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/204562008044082801_jKOQazDf_c.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://eliksiiri.blogspot.com/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">eliksiiri.blogspot.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/anderton/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Laura</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;"><u>Confession 3:</u><span style="font-size: small;"> I am completely proud of myself for how well it turned out and thinking of the changes.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">So here are the instructions for my version of the craft pictured above.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">What you will need:</span><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Scissors</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Mod Podge</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Marker</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Star Template (I just used the one on Microsoft Word & enlarged it)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Cardboard</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Newspaper</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Glitter</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Hole punch</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">String or thread</span></li>
</ul><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong><u>How To:</u></strong> Print and cut out star template. Trace star onto cardboard, repeat as many times as you desire. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGEUDfk9vxAcKdlpOkjT_syNAN33cz-LH37hfV0AiYNFlqkZi_MwEJ887tZQL51HLGW52D-25DFniu-E3gFCptcyG18rcQ-FTwwQYSI4XKJd7esUwkK3WuW7IeGNrtUIYiZj6gM1vMExM/s1600/downsized_1119111030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGEUDfk9vxAcKdlpOkjT_syNAN33cz-LH37hfV0AiYNFlqkZi_MwEJ887tZQL51HLGW52D-25DFniu-E3gFCptcyG18rcQ-FTwwQYSI4XKJd7esUwkK3WuW7IeGNrtUIYiZj6gM1vMExM/s320/downsized_1119111030.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzIjvktpqI1qyeBTjFQ18WcK4V0JZ8_98jLHGQ70gHxKAgpPEZsL1W-KsscBXg81WoOYZtio6IbQCGH4duw2T4uZxo8jlAWXTEANC1sZPRG53INo4U_drdiEfBEpwJNcgT9ez9mLOaP3n/s1600/1119111038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzIjvktpqI1qyeBTjFQ18WcK4V0JZ8_98jLHGQ70gHxKAgpPEZsL1W-KsscBXg81WoOYZtio6IbQCGH4duw2T4uZxo8jlAWXTEANC1sZPRG53INo4U_drdiEfBEpwJNcgT9ez9mLOaP3n/s320/1119111038.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Cut out stars from cardboard. Mod Podge newspaper onto each side of star. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCcmxYK57RhtWMOvDjg2PmAi9gv-FII6nBxcfU4TiR77Lu2zmPe6gfpjBbm7XPQJtYrNW9Dl_COdyK4arvCeVpb8oXVkhCQJX-Rog4AvMS84WFeG43DtvCI6xN_SQOXQpXkHpOEnFc8jpj/s1600/downsized_1119111039a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCcmxYK57RhtWMOvDjg2PmAi9gv-FII6nBxcfU4TiR77Lu2zmPe6gfpjBbm7XPQJtYrNW9Dl_COdyK4arvCeVpb8oXVkhCQJX-Rog4AvMS84WFeG43DtvCI6xN_SQOXQpXkHpOEnFc8jpj/s320/downsized_1119111039a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZ2Ajl5iFDE5lXYVWkuaBmsqJgyXJmA6x02KPdrm9ibhQHueJQFPuDIgPR4dxFbK8BfoKBkabIrM5eJATV8s_Cp-uk_ey2jWP3wnvEy4GaGPC5Pusl7-25bz1R29qBrS29R1f_P6tzuTA/s1600/downsized_1119111042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZ2Ajl5iFDE5lXYVWkuaBmsqJgyXJmA6x02KPdrm9ibhQHueJQFPuDIgPR4dxFbK8BfoKBkabIrM5eJATV8s_Cp-uk_ey2jWP3wnvEy4GaGPC5Pusl7-25bz1R29qBrS29R1f_P6tzuTA/s320/downsized_1119111042.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Cut out excess amount of newspaper. Allow to dry and repeat on other side of star. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUIUbI_TbE0pYfuWtx7ePiZ-i-E-ntgpTZBcwXL_RDklzi6J6sV9MQJGi2dTJ_bjcWmnNcpUajAyNPIsuefEXR-Fpx6h5S4a2ZRUjj_YpoObwVm3q2cI9jec7uFs0lg5zrS-Ki2B3o_NN/s1600/downsized_1119111145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUIUbI_TbE0pYfuWtx7ePiZ-i-E-ntgpTZBcwXL_RDklzi6J6sV9MQJGi2dTJ_bjcWmnNcpUajAyNPIsuefEXR-Fpx6h5S4a2ZRUjj_YpoObwVm3q2cI9jec7uFs0lg5zrS-Ki2B3o_NN/s320/downsized_1119111145.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">After allowing both sides to dry, apply more Mod Podge to outside and apply glitter liberally on one side. Allow to dry and repeat on other side. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg67vAifACwddqDi_Og5efPqWwymsdIIp5KQhlzEuLuof8XHlO8LTdsIHIR9OgE7MxfG2L5sjHoKiGFg-eGIH0ynb5yac11niUIGz-18woiyBKG83oWo9W0k2YeLkM2jXU3-bmAgX6ULzBu/s1600/1119111602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg67vAifACwddqDi_Og5efPqWwymsdIIp5KQhlzEuLuof8XHlO8LTdsIHIR9OgE7MxfG2L5sjHoKiGFg-eGIH0ynb5yac11niUIGz-18woiyBKG83oWo9W0k2YeLkM2jXU3-bmAgX6ULzBu/s320/1119111602.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Hole punch each star. String each star through hole and tie knot at the far end. Hang up stars from ceiling.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Easy enough but it took me <em>hours</em> to get all the stars done but here is the end result in Little Miss' room above her changing table/dresser. I love it!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGTFeBwuwd7bfjs1FnKGkmApZQ5TjSUKgMalW31Fc9zNopa3c7M05xwbAzlm0jip3cB0h9RV_9rLK9kCljxgnV5Ay1H9V0CcqyyJ3jruhwgE_asQNWiRH-fbTToTcAT605wnNZZqBbF61/s1600/downsized_1119111936b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGTFeBwuwd7bfjs1FnKGkmApZQ5TjSUKgMalW31Fc9zNopa3c7M05xwbAzlm0jip3cB0h9RV_9rLK9kCljxgnV5Ay1H9V0CcqyyJ3jruhwgE_asQNWiRH-fbTToTcAT605wnNZZqBbF61/s320/downsized_1119111936b.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15433047679523884634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409424468672883636.post-62121678108156603972011-11-19T09:45:00.000-08:002011-11-19T09:45:20.673-08:00Check Back Tomorrow!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tomorrow will be the start of My Very <strong><span style="color: red;">F</span><span style="color: orange;">I</span><span style="color: yellow;">R</span><span style="color: lime;">S</span></strong><span style="background-color: white; color: cyan;"><strong>T </strong><span style="color: black;">Giveaway! Those helping me out with this giveaway are two wonderful gals who not only did I go to high school with but I count among my close friends! They are both crafty and make beautiful products! I have bought from one and plan on buying from the other soon! So check back tomorrow for the start of this awesome giveaway!</span></span></span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15433047679523884634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409424468672883636.post-41990558192327826272011-11-18T12:06:00.000-08:002011-11-18T12:06:58.887-08:00All About Baby<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Little Miss is such a joy in our lives! I don't know what I do without her! I don't if I have ever explained why we call her Little Miss. Well her name is I guess considered a Southern name and she is just like a Southern belle! She is sweet as cream but watch out for that temper! She is stubborn, demanding but has the most winning smile I have ever seen! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Q2anyDK5S5h-1_Vw5f9OORDNZtSjfMtTKnnZJHXi8yB9CxMGi2OsRoOLW6wogf_344xwI5PBG0qarESut_MFY58S_NMiLBXhEMnhJedlet8GEEdbdB81Qozuci69Kkab0M-8gqT2IB-g/s1600/downsized_0709110922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Q2anyDK5S5h-1_Vw5f9OORDNZtSjfMtTKnnZJHXi8yB9CxMGi2OsRoOLW6wogf_344xwI5PBG0qarESut_MFY58S_NMiLBXhEMnhJedlet8GEEdbdB81Qozuci69Kkab0M-8gqT2IB-g/s320/downsized_0709110922.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">{Baby at 3 months}</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">It's hard to believe she is already 6-1/2 months! On the 15th we had her 6 month appointment, she is now 26-3/4 inches (77%) and 15 lbs 12 oz (38%). She is so much hair and is so long people think she is a year instead of 6 months.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh515tq2PCOR8Uq2kS-_TsxVfrl352tk_PZgwuPYG_y7HeebU9DD1gEa3J8J5_A44yF4WR8WuJ8nCJGwKEKbtvb54n_yMlUZ8_dzkfInOXFLq3SlE92PNJ20JDAVmZoFe4DXpWnl76WFV6E/s1600/downsized_1118111125c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh515tq2PCOR8Uq2kS-_TsxVfrl352tk_PZgwuPYG_y7HeebU9DD1gEa3J8J5_A44yF4WR8WuJ8nCJGwKEKbtvb54n_yMlUZ8_dzkfInOXFLq3SlE92PNJ20JDAVmZoFe4DXpWnl76WFV6E/s320/downsized_1118111125c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">{Baby today}</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">She has always been active (I say she came out kicking) and now thanks to being able to roll everywhere, she gets into everything! I had to clean the carpet the other week thanks to someone smearing sweet potato baby food across the floor! She is a handful but so sweet you can't stay mad at her. I don't remember life before her. She seems to always have been part of my life. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIy5-l_3nYhYZcH_pbDIwWoBh_tSucypJ7par-COp8ooZ5Kb3Ked4AT6EsemFImJy_1tCQZrjyM5zWM8fkXF9-Ll4D0Z80x-DQ1O7TocTEqvXc-7mGbJQAwOTUSIrAhA4sdkr7Jt1NiN0Q/s1600/0615111240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIy5-l_3nYhYZcH_pbDIwWoBh_tSucypJ7par-COp8ooZ5Kb3Ked4AT6EsemFImJy_1tCQZrjyM5zWM8fkXF9-Ll4D0Z80x-DQ1O7TocTEqvXc-7mGbJQAwOTUSIrAhA4sdkr7Jt1NiN0Q/s320/0615111240.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">{Baby at 2 months}</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Little Miss we had a rocky beginning together but we made it through and you have thrived and progressed into a inquisitive baby who loves exploring and seeing everything and everyone. How grateful I am for you in my life! I pray I can always be the type of mother you need because I know you are the daughter I need!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhhacVKJCk40opgFkNizWLNkf1f6-TeVt6WrVYzvACZ0NjLZm1BsPIcpr0rgxVhRbRDiEccszwOqiQJWHGZtBlWfY5lXdHJYUQSxWxUEdUIrdSy2UWjYYOzC5081yHmgQDJPJDiIDIecn/s1600/Baby+Savanna+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhhacVKJCk40opgFkNizWLNkf1f6-TeVt6WrVYzvACZ0NjLZm1BsPIcpr0rgxVhRbRDiEccszwOqiQJWHGZtBlWfY5lXdHJYUQSxWxUEdUIrdSy2UWjYYOzC5081yHmgQDJPJDiIDIecn/s320/Baby+Savanna+001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">{Baby's first photo}</span></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15433047679523884634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409424468672883636.post-55999757369819974522011-11-17T13:20:00.000-08:002011-11-17T13:21:07.555-08:00Supporting Our Military Wives<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq32hYg2sXuh48jjRSa20P7jcFio4tIEEcSn1uE_6YScQ4CjOrq_JI2J-LNI-2I0AolRpzk18NB2m9zUK9XaIaOEgjPkGVeBWgxy80W7gA90p5uvGUoTeTCI0HK5ZBGVYV_CjpQSkZ_cyb/s1600/military.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq32hYg2sXuh48jjRSa20P7jcFio4tIEEcSn1uE_6YScQ4CjOrq_JI2J-LNI-2I0AolRpzk18NB2m9zUK9XaIaOEgjPkGVeBWgxy80W7gA90p5uvGUoTeTCI0HK5ZBGVYV_CjpQSkZ_cyb/s320/military.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am an Army wife. So I know how much military wives appreciate support from the community, their friends and families. I realized last night no one has a page on Facebook where we can go and find military wife owned businesses. For example, my friend Sue is a co-owner of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Spoil-Me-Rotten-Momma/227979827214284">Spoil Me Rotten Momma</a>, she is also the wife of a sergeant in the Army. She has three kids and still finds time to do this business on the side. I mean how amazing is she! (She is also helping me with my first giveaway coming soon to my blog!)</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I know how tight things can get being a military wife. We really get paid very little and the military is very good at finding excuses to dock pay. And heaven help you if you try to figure out why and how much they plan on/end up taking! </span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana;">So after thinking it all over last night I decided I want to help out my sisters! These women move every 3-4 years! Just think how hard it is to find employment in the current job market and imagine trying to find a <em>new </em>job every 3-4 years! Many military wives turn to starting small businesses to help out their families. Let them know we support them as they try to find creative and alternative means to provide for their families! Please "Like" <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Support-Military-Wives/279301552114731">Support Military Wives</a> on Facebook. Thank you so much for all your love and support!</span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15433047679523884634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409424468672883636.post-9500319870823414772011-11-16T17:13:00.000-08:002011-11-16T17:13:26.624-08:00Tiny Prints Talent Search Contest<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am so excited to share that <a href="http://www.tinyprints.com/">Tiny Prints</a> is holding a <a href="http://tinyprints.promotionexpert.com/talentsearch/index.html">Talent Search Contest</a>. The grand prize is $1000 cash <em>AND </em>$500 gift certificate for Tiny Prints. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Entry runs until NOVEMBER 21st. All you have to do is submit a photo in one of the following categories:</span><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Cutest Baby (From ages 0-24 months)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Cutest Kid (From ages 25 months-10 years)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Cutest Family</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Cutest Couple</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Cutest Pet</span></li>
</ul><span style="font-family: Verdana;">After the 21st, the voting will be begin. To enter you can either go to their <a href="http://www.facebook.com/tinyprints">Facebook</a> page or click on the above link (Talent Search Contest). Good Luck!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">**Disclaimer: Dream Ranch is not responsible for any entries submitted to Tiny Prints. Tiny Prints has not paid me to advertise their giveaway.**</span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15433047679523884634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409424468672883636.post-90288380628394921522011-11-15T10:15:00.000-08:002011-11-15T10:17:42.357-08:00I'm Dreaming Of A White... Sweater<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Living up here in the "Great Northwest" has it's challenges. For example the cold seems to seep into your very soul thanks to humidity. I know everyone from Utah is going "It gets cold here too!" But folks it's not the same! I am sorry but it's not. Now you East coasters probably can say "I hear ya!" So this is what I am imagining and dreaming of while I am all wrapped up in a blanket and waiting for the temperature to go up (btw my house is set at 73 because I am tired of always being cold). <em>*Note: In my dream the boots would be gray and I'd have cream colored thermals under the pants!*</em></span><br />
<div style="height: 400px; position: relative; width: 400px;"><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/warm_toasty/set?.embedder=3000085&.svc=copypaste&id=39495003"><img alt="Warm & Toasty" border="0" height="400" src="http://embed.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/cid/39495003/id/tFRPX7UP4RGqjav7azKixA/size/e.jpg" title="Warm & Toasty" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/warm_toasty/set?.embedder=3000085&.svc=copypaste&id=39495003">Warm & Toasty</a> by <a href="http://learningranch.polyvore.com/?.embedder=3000085&.svc=copypaste">learningranch</a> featuring <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/gap_sweaters/shop?brand=GAP&category_id=19">gap sweaters</a></small></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15433047679523884634noreply@blogger.com0