tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39394974498928946192024-02-06T22:12:28.191-08:00Cubical MouseStephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689010969712719831noreply@blogger.comBlogger174125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939497449892894619.post-9682491419942344142012-11-27T18:23:00.001-08:002012-11-27T18:23:48.914-08:00GoodbyeI am ending this blog and moving to another website. If you wish to follow me, email me and I'll let you know the URL. Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689010969712719831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939497449892894619.post-58598266176217421392012-11-26T07:18:00.000-08:002012-11-26T07:18:25.344-08:00Thanksgiving WeekendWe had a lovely Thanksgiving. Matt and I went to my mom's for lunch, and then we went over to Mom & Dad Cuff's for dinner. Trinity was home from grad school, and she brought her new boyfriend, Cody. He was nice. <br />
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On Friday, I went to the Black Friday sale at Jo-Ann's, and since flannel was less than $2/yard, EVERYONEGETSPAJAMASFORCHRISTMAS! It was pretty exciting! I got roughly two-thirds of the Christmas gifts, so that was a raging success.<br />
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I don't think we are going to decorate with a tree this year. We are decorating our windows, and I got some cinnamon pinecones, but other than that, eh. I need all the space in the living room for ALL THE SEWING I am doing for the next four weeks. Matt is washing all the fabric today. What a nice husband!<br />
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On Saturday, Gina and I went to Ferndales to look at wedding dresses, and she found her dress. Exciting!! She looks fabulous in it, and she will be a gorgeous bride!<br />
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This week, not much is happening. I'm hoping to really buckle down and get all these Christmas presents made!Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689010969712719831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939497449892894619.post-53902503704908681672012-11-05T07:19:00.003-08:002012-11-05T07:19:46.966-08:00Weekend Happenings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em> Jocelyn and Me</em></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">Jocelyn</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This weekend was quite relaxing! On Friday night, we drove out to Riverside for a belated Halloween party. We picked up Jocelyn and Jacob on the way. Jocelyn was a medieval adventuress. I reprised my Snow White costume. It was very fun - we met a few new people and had some delightful conversations.</span><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">knitting my gauge test swatch</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Matt had gaming on Saturday, so I spent the day learning how to knit in the round and listening to NPR. Knitting on circular needles is more difficult than straight, because I hold my right needle under my arm, and I can't do that on circular needles. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm finally using up all the fabric I have purchased and never used! I sewed two skirts last week, and I have two skirts cut out and ready to assemble for this week. I'll post pics in a day or two. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">On Sunday, Matt and I spent most of the day lounging and watching HBO's <em>John Adams</em> (we've never seen it). In the evening, we had our final new member class, plus evening church. We are joining th echurch next Sunday, and I am really excited! I have some fabric I've been holding onto for awhile, so I'll make a new dress for the occasion.</span>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689010969712719831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939497449892894619.post-50066261174383525212012-10-29T11:39:00.001-07:002012-10-29T11:39:53.652-07:00Halloween 2012Matt and I went with Gina and Chris to Club Bang for 80's dancing. They had a $5 cover, so it was really cheap, which was awesome! <br />
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I was Snow White, and Matt was the huntsman (Disney version). I had a lot of the fabric already, so we didn't spend much on the costumes.<br />
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It was a really fun night! It was awesome to get out and have fun - haven't done it in awhile. :). It made me feel less "old and married" than I have been feeling lately.<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjad7-9w6cGYmjozh99yhb3YoXtkRHGr8jKn9gxJNY7RdQgZ0eTYwBAugQ3P3RvIF9KYGPhlNgLmHQ2lu48HfmUN-T-ju-akWI2hKmJfhgIrt-f2j1k1WL-PXdknCuYCsq_2gUrOMkfTC/s640/blogger-image-1648465541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjad7-9w6cGYmjozh99yhb3YoXtkRHGr8jKn9gxJNY7RdQgZ0eTYwBAugQ3P3RvIF9KYGPhlNgLmHQ2lu48HfmUN-T-ju-akWI2hKmJfhgIrt-f2j1k1WL-PXdknCuYCsq_2gUrOMkfTC/s640/blogger-image-1648465541.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_80yiz4_tsHOsl09_SvrPvWzs7KMH21Va9XpY3h5TXBRq91AyTdqSswW-zZJ1q5z9Sxc8wN5oAuoUwykFw6R4fLge3BjPV9_Exb1nzJrbTRm9cuGFYmwTemncp_5fB0dj9AuMRNa1fdpZ/s640/blogger-image-611338093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_80yiz4_tsHOsl09_SvrPvWzs7KMH21Va9XpY3h5TXBRq91AyTdqSswW-zZJ1q5z9Sxc8wN5oAuoUwykFw6R4fLge3BjPV9_Exb1nzJrbTRm9cuGFYmwTemncp_5fB0dj9AuMRNa1fdpZ/s640/blogger-image-611338093.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0TbiUqGtWscovk9x_yLBqz4PVkweuuoBpg4g7AYyEVieYa7zehoO2RWoKptHBWaeSov2uRCZCJjMnYcX0XKjOjw-h8G6pxNhg8JHUa49a20KoChaHMKvyt1ngdQmnD5_ecwwYAvRtoUEA/s640/blogger-image--256853874.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0TbiUqGtWscovk9x_yLBqz4PVkweuuoBpg4g7AYyEVieYa7zehoO2RWoKptHBWaeSov2uRCZCJjMnYcX0XKjOjw-h8G6pxNhg8JHUa49a20KoChaHMKvyt1ngdQmnD5_ecwwYAvRtoUEA/s640/blogger-image--256853874.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63ng9l3K8GWLGSNTZKuw4j50CW3pCYyxI4pACkf6HX930gZ-I2Bx578y_X6hox15YRGEP26hx0YmaGX37YT-bUA8iVnRqUiCyfczYe7PA36rQdZa74L52BSPWK0OYg18pkHXtFc5M41oj/s640/blogger-image-179777959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63ng9l3K8GWLGSNTZKuw4j50CW3pCYyxI4pACkf6HX930gZ-I2Bx578y_X6hox15YRGEP26hx0YmaGX37YT-bUA8iVnRqUiCyfczYe7PA36rQdZa74L52BSPWK0OYg18pkHXtFc5M41oj/s640/blogger-image-179777959.jpg" /></a></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689010969712719831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939497449892894619.post-7616982105295718142012-10-15T08:01:00.004-07:002012-10-15T18:02:27.989-07:00Weekend Events<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>Eating Pie</em></span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">On Saturday, Gina and I scrapbooked at my apartment. I got afew random pics from 2008 – 2010 done, as well as apple picking 2011, Knotts2012, my bachelorette last November, the Renn faire from 2011, and applepicking from 2012. I want to do our wedding photos, but first I need toprint them out, organize them, and actually find binders for it! <o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We decided to go to an 80’s club in Downey, and we got pieat a Stox across the street from it. But we did not stay at the clublong. It was boring. Matt was gaming all day on Saturday, and hegot home around 2 AM. <o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">On Sunday, we went to church in the morning. We havebeen attending Our Savior Lutheran in Arcadia. We went to the churchinformation meeting on Sunday evening – you have to go through it to become anew member. We learned how the Missouri Synod differs from the ELCA (theELCA believes that the Bible contains God’s word, but the Missouri Synodbelieves that the Bible <u>is</u> God’s word). We also learned how thechurch views salvation – by faith alone. <o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It was interesting – when I went to Gethsemane, I was taughtthat when we went to heaven, God would tell everyone everything you did, goodand bad. So I was told, “Don’t do anything you wouldn’t want everyoneelse to know, because we will all know in heaven.” But on Sunday, PastorSonnerberg explained that no, because of grace, only the things we did forJesus would be mentioned. The umbrella of grace means that all the sinswe commit are forgotten. That was actually very interesting. <i>Sidenote:</i> this is why I do not like Sunday School very much – it is too easyfor people who do not know the Bible well to impress wrong information onchildren/teens. <o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Afterwards, we went to the cheap movie theater near ourhouse ($1.50/movie on Sundays!) and saw <i>Expendables 2</i>. It wasn’tas good as the first one, but it was entertaining.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"></span>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689010969712719831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939497449892894619.post-37579876650099440422012-10-12T09:34:00.001-07:002012-10-12T09:34:43.568-07:00Easy Apple CobblerI have a few food posts coming up that I've been neglecting!<br />
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We made this about two weeks ago when Dave and Sharon came over. We used the last of the apples from apple picking. I sliced them, stuck them in a pan, and sprinkled chunks of butter on them. Then I mixed together 1 cup oats, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup white sugar, and 1/2 cup flour, mixed it together, and sprinkled it on top of the apples. I baked it at 350 for about 1 hour.<br />
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When it comes out, it looks like the topping isn't done, but it is! The apples are soft, and the topping is buttery and crumbly! Delicious! <div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgo0gxbN7XQ731Z-2Pkpp-z1yHN_CvUFo-sYogJqEzjkLDkdCx3n5ruE3uAYmgHX9jiyuR9gY8ftXBACKJFT-1bDdtijouFxZ-Pb767s-0WbvRN-144JXZbEWZ-WJcyOMOX_Ful6TlwTH/s640/blogger-image-88819057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgo0gxbN7XQ731Z-2Pkpp-z1yHN_CvUFo-sYogJqEzjkLDkdCx3n5ruE3uAYmgHX9jiyuR9gY8ftXBACKJFT-1bDdtijouFxZ-Pb767s-0WbvRN-144JXZbEWZ-WJcyOMOX_Ful6TlwTH/s640/blogger-image-88819057.jpg" /></a></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689010969712719831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939497449892894619.post-83943995401045969072012-09-26T20:54:00.001-07:002012-09-26T20:54:02.590-07:00Grocery ShoppingGrocery shopping took almost 4 hours, from the time I picked Matt up to when we finished putting away all the food. Correction - Matt is dividing up the meat, so it's technically not put away yet.<br />
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Since we have to pay Matt's traffic ticket from May, and our electric bill was about four times the normal amount, I didn't have a lot of money for food. I decided to get enough food for four weeks, since my next paycheck is going towards rent. <br />
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I had about $150 for one months worth of food for two people. That's not a lot. Normally we spend about $250 a month on food. (Matt is addicted to energy drinks, so that eats a lot into the budget.) <br />
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I got our basics - milk, eggs, sugar (we make Kool-Aid instead of buying soda or juice), 20 lbs potatoes (cheaper than pasta, and I hate rice), frozen veggies (on sale at Lucky for $0.88/lb), fruit, a few boxes of pasta, and cans of soup (Lucky had then on sale). <br />
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I know that meatless dinners save a lot of money. But Matt likes meat! Sausage (for homemade pizza) was on sale at Lucky for .88 cents, so I got 4 of those. Smart & Final had chicken breast on sale for $0.99/lb, so a pack of that was less than $5. They also had pork cushion on sale. It was my most pricy meat - about 10 lbs for $17. But it was boneless, so that's ok. But Superior had whole chickens for $0.69/lb, so we got 4 whole chicken for less than $9. Along with smoked sausages (lunches for Matt), and some more cheese, that pretty much rounded out our shopping trip.<br />
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I'm pretty stocked up on baking supplies, so that should last us a month. I will pick up some more milk, bread, ice cream, and fruit next payday anyway - less than $20. <br />
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Yes, Matt did get energy drinks, but at Big Lots, so they are cheap.<br />
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Anyway, I'm pretty happy we spent in our budget and got so much meat. Matt should not complain!!<br />
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Sharon and Dave are coming for dinner tomorrow. Guess what we are having? Roast whole chicken! Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689010969712719831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939497449892894619.post-30540111553148862242012-09-24T15:12:00.001-07:002012-09-24T15:12:03.044-07:00Quiet Weekend<div class="Section1"> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia">I came down with an inner ear infection about two weeks ago, and it seemed to be going away (thanks to antibiotics). But on Thursday and Friday night last week, I kept waking up with intense pain in my ear. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia">So on Saturday morning, Matt took me to Urgent Care. Turns out my infection went to my outer ear. Ouch! I got different antibiotics, ear drops, and pain meds. I don’t like the ear drops – they make my ear super itchy. But I love the pain meds! It is hydrocodone with acetaminophen. I get super drowsy, my arms get tingly, and everything is funny. Oh – and there is no pain whatsoever. Yay!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia">Other than that, things are pretty quiet. We are waiting for the results of Matt’s apprenticeship examination. If he passed, he should get an interview. But the program doesn’t start til January, so we have awhile to wait, anyway. Hopefully we will start getting unemployment money in a couple weeks. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia">Both Beth and Gina are engaged, and it looks like their weddings will be about a week apart next October. I’m so excited for both of them. I made Julia a quilt for her wedding with her wedding colors. Gina requested one with her wedding colors, and I think Beth would like one out of her wedding colors, so I need to start thinking about patterns. I’d like to do a double wedding ring quilt (Example: <a href="http://www.paperpanache.com/ecart/pix/DWRgal/DaggetT9.jpg">http://www.paperpanache.com/ecart/pix/DWRgal/DaggetT9.jpg</a>), but I have heard they are super difficult. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia">We are enjoying going to Our Savior Lutheran in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Arcadia</st1:place></st1:City>. The pastor is very friendly, and I enjoy his sermons. He does a small children’s sermon before the main sermon, and it is always amusing and thought provoking. The congregation sings hymns, and this past Sunday, they used hymns I did not know!! I couldn’t believe it! We are going to continue going for another month or so, and then if we still like it, we will consider becoming members. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> </div> Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689010969712719831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939497449892894619.post-65503455077813824622012-09-07T08:28:00.000-07:002012-09-07T08:29:13.526-07:00Pre-Kids Bucket List<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5bnav73CQDDr6gS5hhFWYpfB4mY6MRMhXMJqBWl7yPAaLZWTTV8MV2wgiAk8_sELoX9fZG7PU-j-GHFL5Vo4JU33Q0b9RBU85OPcsuRLuOvT50mmSS1Jxo9aRI4XCk1-VYvVaFJlLpRyX/s1600/photo-753527.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5bnav73CQDDr6gS5hhFWYpfB4mY6MRMhXMJqBWl7yPAaLZWTTV8MV2wgiAk8_sELoX9fZG7PU-j-GHFL5Vo4JU33Q0b9RBU85OPcsuRLuOvT50mmSS1Jxo9aRI4XCk1-VYvVaFJlLpRyX/s320/photo-753527.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5785457328068933394" /></a></p><div class="Section1"> <p class="MsoPlainText"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">I have a list of things I want to get done before we have kids. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"> <![if !supportLists]><font size="2" face="Symbol"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]>Purchase a second car (something cheap for Matt to putt around town in). <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"> <![if !supportLists]><font size="2" face="Symbol"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]>Purchase a washer/dryer (this one doesn’t need a vent: <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/buy/lg-electronics-36-cu-ft-doe-high-efficiency-all-in-one-washer-and-electric-dryer-in-white-wm3987hw.html"> http://www.homedepot.com/buy/lg-electronics-36-cu-ft-doe-high-efficiency-all-in-one-washer-and-electric-dryer-in-white-wm3987hw.html</a>). <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"> <![if !supportLists]><font size="2" face="Symbol"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]>Scrapbook our wedding pictures, plus all our other pictures too. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"> <![if !supportLists]><font size="2" face="Symbol"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]>Find a second couch, more chests and shelves (and finally get all our stuff out of boxes), and a new bed.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"> <![if !supportLists]><font size="2" face="Symbol"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><i><span style="font-style:italic">Paint our bedroom</span></i>.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"> <![if !supportLists]><font size="2" face="Symbol"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><i><span style="font-style:italic">Get a shower curtain and get rid of that awful sliding door.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"> <![if !supportLists]><font size="2" face="Symbol"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><i><span style="font-style:italic">Hang curtains</span></i>, sew couch throw pillows.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"> <![if !supportLists]><font size="2" face="Symbol"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]>Purchase a television (least important).<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">The italicized stuff is what I won’t do until January, when we find out if we are staying in <st1:place w:st="on">North Hollywood</st1:place> or moving elsewhere. We won’t know until we know if Matt gets into the sheet metal apprenticeship program. He had an interview at Harbor Freight earlier this week, and the manager liked him, but we won’t know for a week or so if he got a job there. It’s only part time, but it’s something.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Tomorrow, Matt is gaming, so I am determined to sew the throw pillows, at the very least. I’ve had the fabric since, oh, March, but I just haven’t sewn them. I also have some emerald taffeta that I want to sew into a circle skirt. Along with laundry and other cleaning, it should be a busy day for me!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> </div> Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689010969712719831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939497449892894619.post-83127036921607567172012-09-03T17:44:00.001-07:002012-09-05T11:04:46.884-07:00What I Baked: chocolate glazed cakeWe had Jocelyn over for dinner, and I made a yellow cake with chocolate glaze. I got the glaze from Rachel at www.heart-of-light.blogspot.com.<br />
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It's really easy. I used 3 oz of semi sweet chocolate chips, 3 oz butter, and 3 tablespoons powdered sugar. I microwaved it until melted, then whisked it together, then poured it onto the cake. It was delicious!!!<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYdfZBBZr92G-sL7MuOrCwugPkjNXhB5PZ-0uTlvaOqdfft8sBuXqiEK00duy-TBoLP02_G53O2hP5lZhEs_T-jYtLrRXi-U-2hff5ZETJxDJ5D1C9sFM4ru8FGJKg1dysHE8m61KTWYG/s640/blogger-image--1647667003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYdfZBBZr92G-sL7MuOrCwugPkjNXhB5PZ-0uTlvaOqdfft8sBuXqiEK00duy-TBoLP02_G53O2hP5lZhEs_T-jYtLrRXi-U-2hff5ZETJxDJ5D1C9sFM4ru8FGJKg1dysHE8m61KTWYG/s640/blogger-image--1647667003.jpg" /></a></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689010969712719831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939497449892894619.post-15782261564335268782012-09-03T14:09:00.001-07:002012-09-04T10:31:25.449-07:00Apple PickingOn Saturday, my family went apple picking in Oak Glen. Mom and I split a half bushel of apples - we have a lot now!!<br />
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Tomorrow, Matt has an interview at Harbor Freight for a clerk position. Then his sheet metal apprenticeship exam is on the 14th. I am praying he aces it! It would mean a better life for us, for sure.<br />
<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDfQMpEdBcnVpWxJXYpeHXO8mYGQci8bfVUzCwlxSw2BM-te7zKIJ_zOeIC1JL6jwvsEuy9rgX1yDJ1nCqzrKGHLqigkmujV9bUZaA6GyRx8f6IzPQQoe9HBPmK0h33pWEfQCUJcmpXc8B/s640/blogger-image-1826800582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDfQMpEdBcnVpWxJXYpeHXO8mYGQci8bfVUzCwlxSw2BM-te7zKIJ_zOeIC1JL6jwvsEuy9rgX1yDJ1nCqzrKGHLqigkmujV9bUZaA6GyRx8f6IzPQQoe9HBPmK0h33pWEfQCUJcmpXc8B/s640/blogger-image-1826800582.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_6BW1yfKreVI4HFaZbP-UZpx_c8hRY5pznVBSRAkkyN_5B4fxY-vn4KhtKkoSC5hgGpYN5NwbwBhnXRHzIR1FggKIpWHP3swC7knflPEAPnw-98cqh35hyphenhypheniV5CLxwUkN5uG0LYZxJj5vg/s640/blogger-image--2125426564.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_6BW1yfKreVI4HFaZbP-UZpx_c8hRY5pznVBSRAkkyN_5B4fxY-vn4KhtKkoSC5hgGpYN5NwbwBhnXRHzIR1FggKIpWHP3swC7knflPEAPnw-98cqh35hyphenhypheniV5CLxwUkN5uG0LYZxJj5vg/s640/blogger-image--2125426564.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2aVbmvNkFaYcJdnRYLvaN1hnZi0-FORTY9DrrTVk7r4s-PticzIkivWh7Tw1dTPZ0y-XpHMuFjqKczWi5CO5XIvh0-KmwVK4-IckxNxTSAY0HH94YqPt2gkWnctQJKhUgeCFDa9Ad53k4/s640/blogger-image-113777797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2aVbmvNkFaYcJdnRYLvaN1hnZi0-FORTY9DrrTVk7r4s-PticzIkivWh7Tw1dTPZ0y-XpHMuFjqKczWi5CO5XIvh0-KmwVK4-IckxNxTSAY0HH94YqPt2gkWnctQJKhUgeCFDa9Ad53k4/s640/blogger-image-113777797.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOH8Yxo44a_kR5ryvOjYJuFNb1lxgvng78wVqFFldr3wUYdidNBUBb-xHnt4bqEY8-4CYZ7gkgZsabL8oCfLtS88yehI_IJ8WOP94T3HxFDgkvPHCMU4p_eH7ZQbB15vDWKIU4Ne0UOFoS/s640/blogger-image-1108300292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOH8Yxo44a_kR5ryvOjYJuFNb1lxgvng78wVqFFldr3wUYdidNBUBb-xHnt4bqEY8-4CYZ7gkgZsabL8oCfLtS88yehI_IJ8WOP94T3HxFDgkvPHCMU4p_eH7ZQbB15vDWKIU4Ne0UOFoS/s640/blogger-image-1108300292.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMcnPCJjIjmzywFuj2YZzjWEol-ByAuIk0CSGRtDQXO_O-wQs-vJCnN0fXJ6-PJU03XXvpXxV99PNfeUgEjxa3cvWGuNTpTmn9efmh6yoHF_jBsAMrNxVv3nOPhTVt9SVS94bLV6yoedH7/s640/blogger-image-659041109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMcnPCJjIjmzywFuj2YZzjWEol-ByAuIk0CSGRtDQXO_O-wQs-vJCnN0fXJ6-PJU03XXvpXxV99PNfeUgEjxa3cvWGuNTpTmn9efmh6yoHF_jBsAMrNxVv3nOPhTVt9SVS94bLV6yoedH7/s640/blogger-image-659041109.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho37pmH-qwnRmnCAH8AbqkiQ_jN9yJiV_vikllx68Movu-M_oN3LVTCculEBeth5yfIthyphenhyphenTJojq_X5QcFW2DlMBnXJ8qZvnCqjkTJJ-qL06eiqWGSbi-ZlK0R1fKeH8EGvr3Mes93pQzmR/s640/blogger-image-1114231572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho37pmH-qwnRmnCAH8AbqkiQ_jN9yJiV_vikllx68Movu-M_oN3LVTCculEBeth5yfIthyphenhyphenTJojq_X5QcFW2DlMBnXJ8qZvnCqjkTJJ-qL06eiqWGSbi-ZlK0R1fKeH8EGvr3Mes93pQzmR/s640/blogger-image-1114231572.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAYdzjvjl5l-qef8fL82UR_w4OAzJ6PqWL8vFsoZhgq9ArvLz3900IoDN1iiyM8tpXqcYrEj0oGz275Q0H4r5ncvzMtyllRLSMn-lNIsFJ1TJFqvBZ6_gxEbpRqs4i5pC-D-LwSDPFDbN-/s640/blogger-image--546813122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAYdzjvjl5l-qef8fL82UR_w4OAzJ6PqWL8vFsoZhgq9ArvLz3900IoDN1iiyM8tpXqcYrEj0oGz275Q0H4r5ncvzMtyllRLSMn-lNIsFJ1TJFqvBZ6_gxEbpRqs4i5pC-D-LwSDPFDbN-/s640/blogger-image--546813122.jpg" /></a></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689010969712719831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939497449892894619.post-25017893158256802462012-09-03T14:07:00.001-07:002012-09-03T14:25:19.920-07:00What I Made: Circle SkirtI used Simplicity 1812 to make this cute circle skirt. I had to make the yoke smaller, because it went straight down instead of flaring out, creating an awkward line. Other than that, really simple to make and fun to wear!<br />
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http://www.simplicity.com/p-7510-misses-plus-size-skirts-and-knit-top.aspx<br />
<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4V301EmwsbSU52pAH747ZQ75DUjwiIDoCF__m-dJX_A8PBz-O_0f2McpFh1YSvL63Igm56FgfDfLJy861poEI-CTP7WUDIuoH2cLW9Ts5czJ2tVeLnQaPSVhV98knvXlbsIDKeKc9qIuV/s640/blogger-image-2002660773.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4V301EmwsbSU52pAH747ZQ75DUjwiIDoCF__m-dJX_A8PBz-O_0f2McpFh1YSvL63Igm56FgfDfLJy861poEI-CTP7WUDIuoH2cLW9Ts5czJ2tVeLnQaPSVhV98knvXlbsIDKeKc9qIuV/s640/blogger-image-2002660773.jpg" /></a></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689010969712719831noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939497449892894619.post-65348857110859878192012-08-19T00:58:00.003-07:002012-08-19T01:08:10.495-07:00Happenings in Mouse World<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is the first post I've actually typed on a computer in a long time. Usually, I send the post remotely via email. So this will be a really long post.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">FYI - I have to add a picture of me, since Facebook is posting a maternity pic from below, and everyone will think I'm pregnant! I'm not!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpWTkKNdeDhujDNibnQ1yHdmNQYdwVj53rJXos7u9aFhyphenhyphenz-Xiy6KbadrxJkR2hKhrNk9jezyI5HHBkI8evBwsPDtei5VsSt-mHROXNB4molX548_ocujvfDE1imluBu6O1qUCc789nYxu/s1600/image008-728899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpWTkKNdeDhujDNibnQ1yHdmNQYdwVj53rJXos7u9aFhyphenhyphenz-Xiy6KbadrxJkR2hKhrNk9jezyI5HHBkI8evBwsPDtei5VsSt-mHROXNB4molX548_ocujvfDE1imluBu6O1qUCc789nYxu/s1600/image008-728899.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Currently, I'm battling a cold. But I slept practically all day, so I can't sleep now. Sad!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Which is bad, because I'm supposed to take my basal temperature at 4:15, and its midnight. Oh well - probably won't be that accurate. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Basal temperature? What? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hmmm.... well I got my IUD taken out on Thursday, and so I'm <a href="http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/3ebf3d">charting my temperatures</a> to determine when I'm fertile and when I'm not. I had to get the IUD taken out because I was having some unpleasant side effects, and anyway, we are hoping to get pregnant in the late autumn or early winter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">YAY!!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Matt is having trouble adjusting to the emotional aspect of becoming a father. So we are waiting until he is more comfortable with the idea. Me - I've been waiting for this for almost seven years. A lot of mistakes in my life were made because I tried to rush this. But I'm ready - so ready. Financially, we are okay. We would be better if Matt got into the apprenticeship this January, but even if he doesn't, we will be okay. Emotionally, I am SOOO there. I want more than anything for next year, <a href="http://cubicalmouse.blogspot.com/2011/09/fun-filled-weekend.html">when we go applepicking with Mom and Dad</a>, to bring along Baby Cubical Mouse. And I really want to have a baby before Beth and Gina have their weddings. I'd rather not be ready to pop at their weddings. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I did manage to drag myself out of bed around noon. We ran to a couple thrift stores. Matt needs work clothes, and we're not going to pay a ton of money for clothes that will get ruined by oil. While we were shopping, I found a two pairs of jeans and a pair of capris that fit my legs perfectly, but are too small in the waist. (That is my perpetual problem with jeans - my butt is a size bigger than my thighs.) They will be perfect to convert to maternity jeans!! I found a <a href="http://stakerfamilycircus.blogspot.com/2010/01/my-first-tutorial-maternity-jeans.html">couple</a> <a href="http://modestmaven.blogspot.com/2009/11/converted-maternity-pants-tutorial.html">tutorials</a>, but I think my best option is to get some jersey from Joann's, take the waistband off the jeans, and convert them to very high waisted maternity jeans, like <a href="http://www.motherhood.com/Product.asp?Product_Id=992810378&MasterCategory_Id=MC30">these at Motherhood Maternity</a>. I'll add an elastic band at the top, too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Speaking of maternity clothes, I've been searching all over the internet for tutorials. Unlike about ten years or so ago, maternity patterns are not available in plus sizes, and actual maternity clothes are very rare and very expensive. So far, the cutest (and best) ones I've found are:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://homemadebyjill.blogspot.com/2010/03/big-tee-to-maternity-tee-refashion.html">This rouched shirt tutorial</a> from Homemade by Jill:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-RSYYD0mulSdCmcAoFMYpSUCko104hoINjyojMMyV5wpNooO4L7EvaxlErPE_VvVmqZpABbPwbKIQRbptx0Ks0zxxH4LhvvjR0UJ-wNMWwS8L-fWP-geGHJ3eJu2N-8ioYXNZWgSSYCQ/s1600/big+tee+to+maternity+tee+refashion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-RSYYD0mulSdCmcAoFMYpSUCko104hoINjyojMMyV5wpNooO4L7EvaxlErPE_VvVmqZpABbPwbKIQRbptx0Ks0zxxH4LhvvjR0UJ-wNMWwS8L-fWP-geGHJ3eJu2N-8ioYXNZWgSSYCQ/s320/big+tee+to+maternity+tee+refashion.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I love this <a href="http://diymaternity.com/tops/how-to-make-a-maternity-calendar-shirt-with-miranda-of-one-little-minute/">countdown shirt</a> from DIY Maternity:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjh2PXfWtmPoNpWS_TVhekS6YXlOXpykvQWqMh2q7dS9xmsi4OvQgAvkxu6fx1JXShsWtBgJ3gRepDHJts_jdOVeyRg_c_7Hsh0HjJ4OQNrLNNj_WNn5pXHpkmeIrDXH2FZRtiGExvW0nv/s1600/Week-22-matched-b.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjh2PXfWtmPoNpWS_TVhekS6YXlOXpykvQWqMh2q7dS9xmsi4OvQgAvkxu6fx1JXShsWtBgJ3gRepDHJts_jdOVeyRg_c_7Hsh0HjJ4OQNrLNNj_WNn5pXHpkmeIrDXH2FZRtiGExvW0nv/s320/Week-22-matched-b.png" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm a huge fan of this <a href="http://doityourselfdivas.blogspot.com/2011/10/diy-perfect-maternity-dress-revamped.html">empire dress that uses a T shirt for the top</a>, from Do it Yourself Divas, but I would make it shorter, since I'm not a fan of maxi dresses:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK4HpfVtejQg-L97EGODDEsu2P5X7TD8IIZ21jD7G72ctxkM9Du22r9YTgGEgA2pEl2lbAXzQxFq_kcoJuVQRLoEt1YaKAFOxWr6jnhCy3WkseCjHkMioKvSAz2o-rfgak2rmC-MnJ4u8S/s1600/IMG_5201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK4HpfVtejQg-L97EGODDEsu2P5X7TD8IIZ21jD7G72ctxkM9Du22r9YTgGEgA2pEl2lbAXzQxFq_kcoJuVQRLoEt1YaKAFOxWr6jnhCy3WkseCjHkMioKvSAz2o-rfgak2rmC-MnJ4u8S/s320/IMG_5201.jpg" width="212" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://versusmag.blogspot.com/2011/04/empire-waist-dress-tutorial-with-guest.html">This one</a> is almost the same, but uses a woven shirt and jersey fabric for the skirt (opposite from the one above), from Versus:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFytk2ix2dYlKSglCyEjYnn3dIIqLukWeSqW8ADrYyZDmWRH2XgKCnuvPDbXwg6w1qFdyYbj2BGCICzO1axOdUYEXRdTMeO_kDwKWd35pDU9loWWuZUDYZQ2VZMUcpx9W7Xtt7NJGnSMmY/s1600/Recently+Updated96.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFytk2ix2dYlKSglCyEjYnn3dIIqLukWeSqW8ADrYyZDmWRH2XgKCnuvPDbXwg6w1qFdyYbj2BGCICzO1axOdUYEXRdTMeO_kDwKWd35pDU9loWWuZUDYZQ2VZMUcpx9W7Xtt7NJGnSMmY/s320/Recently+Updated96.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I like <a href="http://diymaternity.com/tops/the-deep-vee-nursing-maternity-tunic/">this tutorial</a>, but it uses a men's shirt, so I would have to get, like, a 3XL men's shirt for it to work! (From DIY Maternity)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieH7SHOBkdoCJ6vgweffNm9hcIP3s4wPs8TSpHK0Ey_QDmgKH7eptyz9gQAR9p5YSVfvh3C1v6zBJWHMQjP2KTwyV7xlWQuZdLw1KaVjd_E8qpy9_zMGjKjiwqDkALsbgV5BEk6BjP60vR/s1600/Deep-v-finished-1-600x602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieH7SHOBkdoCJ6vgweffNm9hcIP3s4wPs8TSpHK0Ey_QDmgKH7eptyz9gQAR9p5YSVfvh3C1v6zBJWHMQjP2KTwyV7xlWQuZdLw1KaVjd_E8qpy9_zMGjKjiwqDkALsbgV5BEk6BjP60vR/s320/Deep-v-finished-1-600x602.jpg" width="318" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm not a huge fan of maternity skirts, mostly because they slip all over the place, but <a href="http://diymaternity.com/pants-skirts/the-easy-maternity-skirt/">this one</a> from DIY Maternity could work!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgQApWDz6hyaFa7stbl_Oep0QPSEAo1sb_hysshZJcbLSrB_5Xk0Ckcxg-Pmz7ofmIGQ6vyn28xfXXc2ZGfS6mSUdOTO5ILcfvJxm991ooom0Cw2oqm4cK66D-DP8RmTBzrJSHQU4cTFY/s1600/Easy-maternity-skirt-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgQApWDz6hyaFa7stbl_Oep0QPSEAo1sb_hysshZJcbLSrB_5Xk0Ckcxg-Pmz7ofmIGQ6vyn28xfXXc2ZGfS6mSUdOTO5ILcfvJxm991ooom0Cw2oqm4cK66D-DP8RmTBzrJSHQU4cTFY/s320/Easy-maternity-skirt-11.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So that is what I have found. I'm not going to actually make anything until it's time, but I'm glad all these other ladies before me have figured out the DIY clothes!!</span></div>
Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689010969712719831noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939497449892894619.post-39591184350747480752012-08-14T06:52:00.001-07:002012-08-14T06:52:47.635-07:00Happy Birthday Mr. Cubical Mouse!<div class="Section1"> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia">I saw one of my favorite bloggers at work last week. I was fairly certain she worked here, but until I saw her last week, I wasn’t certain. I wanted to go say hi, and that I love her blog, but I wasn’t sure how she would take it. So I didn’t say anything.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia">I think Matt and are going to focus our apartment finding efforts on <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Hollywood</st1:place></st1:City> and Palms. <st1:place w:st="on">Hollywood</st1:place> 2 bedroom apartments are around 1300 – 1400, and we’ll be lucky to find something in Palms for 1500. I really want hardwood floors and lots of natural light. Hollywood/Koreatown apartments tend to have hardwood floors. I really want a short commute to work, especially when we have little Cubical Mousies. I don’t want them to languish in day care anymore than is necessary. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia">Matt’s birthday is today. He is 26. A very handsome 26! </span></font><font size="2" face="Wingdings"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings">J</span></font><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Georgia"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> </div> Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689010969712719831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939497449892894619.post-69266217790211964212012-08-13T08:31:00.001-07:002012-08-13T08:31:58.615-07:00Weekend & Other Thoughts<div class="Section1"> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia">On Saturday, we celebrated Matt’s 26<sup>th</sup> birthday. We were to have a beach bonfire, but apparently you have to get there at 5 AM to get a pit. Oh well! We had it at my parent’s house instead. I got him a teal button up shirt, a new wallet, and fabric for two pairs of pajama shorts. I need to wash them and sew them this week.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia">It was so hot yesterday! We just lay around and didn’t do anything. Our air conditioners make it a little bearable, but I would kill for central air. In our next apartment, that is a must! <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia">Speaking of new apartments, I’ve been scouring Rent.com for potential new apartments. We want this next apartment to be our last before we buy a house (we have a 5 year savings plan for a down payment), so we need a two bedroom apartment for any little Cubical Mousies that come along. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia">We were thinking we would want a washer/dryer with the apartment, or at least hookups, but we found this washer/dryer combo at Home Depot. It’s $1600, but the dryer doesn’t need a vent, so you can just hook it up to the kitchen sink and run it. A less expensive option would be to get a portable washer and dryer separately, but this takes up less space. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia"><a href="http://www.homedepot.com/buy/appliances/laundry/lg-electronics/4-2-cu-ft-iec-capacity-front-load-washer-dryer-combo-24371.html">http://www.homedepot.com/buy/appliances/laundry/lg-electronics/4-2-cu-ft-iec-capacity-front-load-washer-dryer-combo-24371.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia">Honestly, I really want it now!!!! </span></font><font size="2" face="Wingdings"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings">J</span></font><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Georgia"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> </div> Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689010969712719831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939497449892894619.post-23771624724829140642012-08-07T09:38:00.001-07:002012-08-07T09:38:29.816-07:00Bad Mousie!<div class="Section1"> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia">I didn’t realize my last blog was weeks ago!!! Bad, bad Cubical Mouse!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia">Things are fine. Matt started a new job last Wednesday. Yay!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia">Recently, we have helped Gina move back to her parent’s house. My uncle Bob got re-married, and Matt went to the Renaissance Festival in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">San Luis Obispo</st1:City></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia">I have so many things I want to post pictures of, but until I get a new iPhone, I can’t. I promise – as soon as I get an iPhone, I’ll start posting regularly again. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> </div> Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689010969712719831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939497449892894619.post-12960243131354773262012-07-12T09:25:00.001-07:002012-07-12T09:25:03.036-07:00Cubical Life<div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'>There are good and bad things going on now. Matt’s and my relationship is doing <i><span style='font-style:italic'>awesome</span></i>. Like, seriously <i><span style='font-style:italic'>so</span></i> much better than we were during months 2 – 5 of our marriage. Our 7 month anniversary is coming up, so collectively we have had 4 bad months and 3 good months. I really hope the rest of the year goes smoothly!!!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'>But Matt is looking for a job – any job, right now. We are hoping he will start a sheet metal apprenticeship in January, but until then, he needs a job, since he was denied unemployment. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'>Since we are cutting out most unnecessary spending, we are coming up with lots of fun, free things to do. It’s summer, so there are a lot of movies or Shakespeare plays in parks. It makes this a little easier. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'>Tonight we are going to see <i><span style='font-style: italic'>Sunset Boulevard</span></i> in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pasadena</st1:place></st1:City>. It’s a free screening, and Andrew is coming with us. I love this movie. It should be really fun!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689010969712719831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939497449892894619.post-61063268685320055212012-07-11T12:55:00.001-07:002012-07-11T12:55:46.961-07:00I Will Probably Not Die Earlier Because I'm Fat<div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'>According to a new study (link below), excluding persons with diabetes and hypertension, persons with a BMI >35 do not have increased mortality due to obesity. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:11.25pt;margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:.5in;background:white'><em><b><i><font size=2 color="#403838" face=Georgia><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia;color:#403838;font-weight:bold'>Conclusions:</span></font></i></b></em><i><font size=2 color="#403838" face=Georgia><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia;color:#403838;font-style:italic'> Obesity-associated mortality risk was lower than estimated in studies employing older BMI data. Only severe obesity (but not milder obesity or overweight) was associated with increased mortality, an association accounted for by coexisting diabetes and hypertension. Mortality in diabetes was lower among obese versus normal weight individuals. <o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'>Hah! I knew it! I knew so many obese people at church that lived a <i><span style='font-style:italic'>really, really</span></i> long time. And my grandpa is 88, and he has eaten just horribly over his whole life. Since diabetes and hypertension don’t run in my family (what the heck is hypertension, anyway?), I think my mortality rate is probably normal, compared to everyone else in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">USA</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'>Link to the study:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'><a href="http://www.jabfm.org/content/25/4/422.full">http://www.jabfm.org/content/25/4/422.full</a> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> </div> Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689010969712719831noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939497449892894619.post-86876790243753389882012-07-06T12:36:00.001-07:002012-07-06T12:36:53.974-07:00What I Made<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXaGtYVhZCurjTyHg35pJn5esFIm32Kt15j6fK-MlATKQTxpXCxgPxldHzgFGC1hODHRtQODoqZJ9nGCXmchuoEHnXxpQllNcwcpHzkMlF1svlCmk_OJlJXKtcmFC7pjdutyeIbMsMyvk4/s1600/playsuit-713974.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXaGtYVhZCurjTyHg35pJn5esFIm32Kt15j6fK-MlATKQTxpXCxgPxldHzgFGC1hODHRtQODoqZJ9nGCXmchuoEHnXxpQllNcwcpHzkMlF1svlCmk_OJlJXKtcmFC7pjdutyeIbMsMyvk4/s320/playsuit-713974.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5762142791263795378" /></a></p><div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'>I’ve been wanting a bikini for some time, but plus size bikini’s tend to be quite expensive. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'>I had some cherry fabric, and I remembered this playsuit from Bettie Page. It’s super cute.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'>(<a href="http://www.bettiepageclothing.com/separates/what-catch-skirt">http://www.bettiepageclothing.com/separates/what-catch-skirt</a>) <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'>I got a McCalls shorts pattern (below), and I altered a dress bodice pattern to make a cute bikini top. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'>Then I made the shorts a little more high waisted, and I whipped those up.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'>Not pictured is a matching button up skirt to go over the shorts. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'>Unfortunately, I got a horrible sunburn on my back! Ouchie!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'>Here is the pattern for the shorts: <a href="http://mccallpattern.mccall.com/m2447-products-705.php?page_id=103">http://mccallpattern.mccall.com/m2447-products-705.php?page_id=103</a> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> </div> Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689010969712719831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939497449892894619.post-27500235053675877292012-07-06T12:31:00.001-07:002012-07-06T12:31:17.220-07:00Birthday<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Df1crM_HD1npZWoqW-iuetvMUsp4yAEuiEanPzsf-R2tLue5HXuzV3Tdzk_8FtbRpILx7jr5VyrRjgJqMR7k5gzHwU6RBrJ0OOosFDOiL8TJyAzZO2gdmb3qBF0vKBxaiKoDXyQ5nuvI/s1600/bday+dress+5-777220.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Df1crM_HD1npZWoqW-iuetvMUsp4yAEuiEanPzsf-R2tLue5HXuzV3Tdzk_8FtbRpILx7jr5VyrRjgJqMR7k5gzHwU6RBrJ0OOosFDOiL8TJyAzZO2gdmb3qBF0vKBxaiKoDXyQ5nuvI/s320/bday+dress+5-777220.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5762141343821074514" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bqff-9zSKC2cqtgCOEsow4RRUkQQOtiSjUeJYoOwb1NfckP5x5oZrGK4qJKZgLP8MXW0MlnEBSldK7exLMGYYc0UzL0ePRlD2YO-9KtIcYZb0WUIkx8-hZUSNbo6DCZBCsCjJujfUBG6/s1600/bday+dress-779025.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bqff-9zSKC2cqtgCOEsow4RRUkQQOtiSjUeJYoOwb1NfckP5x5oZrGK4qJKZgLP8MXW0MlnEBSldK7exLMGYYc0UzL0ePRlD2YO-9KtIcYZb0WUIkx8-hZUSNbo6DCZBCsCjJujfUBG6/s320/bday+dress-779025.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5762141351140537586" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV-owAV0TBhaGCi9TtNGH2DaGtJelIITLs6nVKQoUEVqUTKi3TJZxQJ8FHOdAHfsGVzDFqR3_1jArlz3u_4ErnV8pACw-KpB8z_MN5yBC12esDxROpcLTzB4RdTVfOkIHZ06eqH6W5N_jq/s1600/bday+dress+2-781474.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV-owAV0TBhaGCi9TtNGH2DaGtJelIITLs6nVKQoUEVqUTKi3TJZxQJ8FHOdAHfsGVzDFqR3_1jArlz3u_4ErnV8pACw-KpB8z_MN5yBC12esDxROpcLTzB4RdTVfOkIHZ06eqH6W5N_jq/s320/bday+dress+2-781474.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5762141360634886962" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdTcjF6FOecccM6n_EzY985_3ZZwZ38yTZJpKj601wdIH2-oqSzJ0Ku4Eoh6KypxJgH4zWPC0l1tJPsJX7ethPOF52ltJDNXtobJNqa8rc3T4g1RJlkkuL_yK4Zr7tQYEQkSMbvRXfO1a7/s1600/bday+dress+3-782958.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdTcjF6FOecccM6n_EzY985_3ZZwZ38yTZJpKj601wdIH2-oqSzJ0Ku4Eoh6KypxJgH4zWPC0l1tJPsJX7ethPOF52ltJDNXtobJNqa8rc3T4g1RJlkkuL_yK4Zr7tQYEQkSMbvRXfO1a7/s320/bday+dress+3-782958.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5762141369601114754" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMxJHGt82NitVOjFzzdbMR3ncnl-1GjkGT3COXdJ_JHi2dKxL5yRhIYtKIcf9bLZ7pNZorVABv-MN-huOSsHeXtAen5BNHtmjAaP_D-8J-1-K7uvPkmHGxNruSsjQnx05v8Dq066eDKsx/s1600/bday+dress+4-785267.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMxJHGt82NitVOjFzzdbMR3ncnl-1GjkGT3COXdJ_JHi2dKxL5yRhIYtKIcf9bLZ7pNZorVABv-MN-huOSsHeXtAen5BNHtmjAaP_D-8J-1-K7uvPkmHGxNruSsjQnx05v8Dq066eDKsx/s320/bday+dress+4-785267.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5762141407315292962" /></a></p><div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'>My birthday was a few weeks ago. We went to Bottega Louie in downtown LA, then to the lounge at the Bonaventure.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'>This is the dress I made. I used Simplicity 1873, made the back a scoop back, and added petal sleeves. The dress was really simple to make. I think Matt’s vest actually took longer!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'>I made Matt’s vest with navy brocade and a navy lining fabric. I used gold buttons, and I got him a gold tie in the fashion district. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'>Here is the link for the dress: <a href="http://www.simplicity.com/p-7446-misses-miss-petite-dresses-cynthia-rowley-collection.aspx">http://www.simplicity.com/p-7446-misses-miss-petite-dresses-cynthia-rowley-collection.aspx</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'>Here is the link for the vest: <a href="http://mccallpattern.mccall.com/m2447-products-705.php?page_id=103">http://mccallpattern.mccall.com/m2447-products-705.php?page_id=103</a> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> </div> Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689010969712719831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939497449892894619.post-81808412826995883952012-06-26T12:54:00.001-07:002012-06-26T12:54:25.716-07:00Thin is a Scam<div class=Section1> <p style='background:white'><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Georgia'>Awesome blog post about NOT losing weight for your wedding… I love this part about how being thin is a scam!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p style='margin-left:.5in;background:white'><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Georgia'>…I've got no plans to lose weight [for my wedding]. My reasons aren't terribly interesting; they mostly amount to "stupid WIC is stupid". Why should I look unnaturally perfect on my wedding day? Does anyone expect [my fiancé] to be preternaturally beautiful, and do up his hair, and whiten his teeth, and to have been working out seven days a week for the six months preceding his wedding? No, they do not. And I always object to societal standards which require me to do more work than dudes.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p style='margin-left:.5in;background:white'><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Georgia'>I also object to the idea that the less of me there is, the better it looks. Fat and beauty aren't mutually exclusive. Beauty shouldn't be an obligation.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p style='margin-left:.5in;background:white'><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Georgia'>Having said all that, I admit I'm not totally content with my body—who is? Body hatred almost seems like a <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/jun/10/body-image-anxiety-eva-wiseman?newsfeed=true" jQuery161032573673628427835=3><font color=black><span style='color:windowtext; text-decoration:none'>condition of femininity</span></font></a>. I've come out of this particular round of Society vs. Women relatively unscathed, if only because I had the good luck to more or less fall into the narrow bracket of permitted sizes in my culture. I've never been <em><i><font face=Georgia><span style='font-family:Georgia'>thin</span></font></i></em> by that culture's standards, though—except for once, and that just reinforced the fact that it's all bullshit…<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p style='margin-left:.5in;background:white'><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Georgia'>…The privilege of being thin changed the way I thought and acted, in ways that surprised me. For the first time I understood Kate Moss's inexplicable line that "nothing tastes as good as skinny feels." I mean, I still believe she said it 'cos she's probably never had <a href="http://www.chillipanmee.com/2010/01/chilli-pan-mee/" jQuery161032573673628427835=4><font color=black><span style='color:windowtext; text-decoration:none'>chilli pan mee</span></font></a>, but—unlike Kate Moss I hadn't made a career out of being conventionally attractive, and yet I found myself checking myself when I was eating because I didn't want to lose the ground I'd gained.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p style='margin-left:.5in;background:white'><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Georgia'>I knew it was all a scam, is the thing. The job of the patriarchy is to plant brainweasels in your head, yeah? The brainweasels are to distract you so you're too busy worrying about stupid things like your waistline to object when dudes keep hogging all the money and power. Thinness is a total con job. It's an impossible goal—you want to be thin because you want to feel beautiful, but as Meg [<st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Keene</st1:place></st1:City>] points out in [<i><span style='font-style:italic'>A Practical Wedding</span></i>], pretty is<em><i><font face=Georgia><span style='font-family:Georgia'> </span></font></i></em>not an emotion. And it's a dumb reward. Being thinner didn't make me better at anything except wearing size S clothes. It didn't make me kinder to people, or more diligent about writing. It didn't make anyone love me more.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p style='margin-left:.5in;background:white'><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Georgia'>And yet it made a difference. A completely fictitious, societally enforced, brainweasel-based difference—but a difference nonetheless. How freaky is that?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p style='margin-left:.5in;background:white'><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Georgia'>…I'm gonna be "fat" for my wedding. It will make no difference whatsoever.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p style='margin-left:.5in;background:white'><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Georgia'>Because it won't. Strive to lose weight if that's what floats your boat, but remind yourself, when you're being bombarded by evil brainweasels bearing body image angst: it won't make you smarter. It won't make you kinder. It won't make anyone love you more.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p style='background:white'><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Georgia'>Read more: <a href="http://apracticalwedding.com/2012/06/being-fat-for-my-wedding"><font color=black><span style='color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'>http://apracticalwedding.com/2012/06/being-fat-for-my-wedding</span></font></a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689010969712719831noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939497449892894619.post-6577027911849127162012-06-18T16:04:00.001-07:002012-06-18T16:04:12.918-07:00Body image and bikinis<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPpkaavvFzZkufYVxLko6D1vuMZ_XkGGDMaLoFgINzd2UoTag4QixLoQHFc3OcPFs905jKOcXdIwgDW_DGPjz7r6e1eFz-oO3ihxRZf1-R19dV23IfodxGdfm_1QtRlHRBnWJypTHwkCJ/s1600/fluvia-the-bikini-addict1-752919.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPpkaavvFzZkufYVxLko6D1vuMZ_XkGGDMaLoFgINzd2UoTag4QixLoQHFc3OcPFs905jKOcXdIwgDW_DGPjz7r6e1eFz-oO3ihxRZf1-R19dV23IfodxGdfm_1QtRlHRBnWJypTHwkCJ/s320/fluvia-the-bikini-addict1-752919.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5755516683426000322" /></a></p><div class=Section1> <p style='line-height:135%;background:white'><font size=2 color="#333333" face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:135%;font-family:Georgia; color:#333333'>I came across this awesome blog post the other day. The link is at the bottom.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p style='margin-left:1.0in;line-height:135%;background:white'><font size=2 color="#333333" face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:135%; font-family:Georgia;color:#333333'>Summer’s arrival makes me realize how much most women I’m surrounded by (who mostly happened to be big like me) dread wearing a bathing suit. They probably would have an easier time going to a battle ground in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:place></st1:country-region> than wearing a bathing suit in public. And you don’t have to tell me the list of reasons for such fear/hate/dislike/no-way-in-hell type of thinking. I could say chances are if you’re a fat girl, you know the ordeal of how terrifying that moment can be. But unfortunately stepping out in your bathing suit seems to be a terrifying ordeal all across the board for women of all sizes (thank you dear media/Hollywood/fashion world!).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p style='margin-left:1.0in;line-height:135%;background:white'><font size=2 color="#333333" face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:135%; font-family:Georgia;color:#333333'>When you take those covers off and everything is out there for the world to see, people at the beach often don’t hesitate to stare, almost as if to say “how dare do you think you can be happy with THAT body?”. It’s a sad but true fact and not unlikely to happen.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p style='margin-left:1.0in;line-height:135%;background:white'><font size=2 color="#333333" face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:135%; font-family:Georgia;color:#333333'>But that’s what I do. I get to the beach; I take my clothes off and enjoy the sun quite comfortably (SPF30 all the way!) in my bikinis, go for a swim, a walk, catch up with my friends and enjoy my family. I suppose I’m that type who really couldn’t care less about the stares at the sight of my size 18 frame, flaunting all my roundness in my collection of 2 piece bikinis. Yes, you read correctly. I have 2 full drawers of bikinis. I’m quite ok with letting all hang out under the sun, without the hang ups about it. Why shouldn’t I?..<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p style='margin-left:1.0in;line-height:135%;background:white'><font size=2 color="#333333" face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:135%; font-family:Georgia;color:#333333'>…If I had limited myself to do the things I’ve always wanted due to other’s opinion in regards of my body size, I would have not achieved most things I have in my life so far. And to me that’s just absurd, senseless and flat out unacceptable. Mind you I had a pretty hefty list of things I would not achieve according to others rules. And without even trying, I’ve far surpassed that list.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p style='margin-left:1.0in;line-height:135%;background:white'><font size=2 color="#333333" face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:135%; font-family:Georgia;color:#333333'>People will always have their own opinions about things. Most of the times those opinions aren’t the nicest either. Especially when it comes to other peoples looks. If you’re tall, you’re too tall, if you are short, you’re too short; if your butt is too big you’re fat, if it’s too small if you’re not curvy enough, if you have small boobs you look like a boy but if you have too much you should have a breast reduction. Let’s not even go into cellulites, stretch marks and hair texture. There’s no ending to that list until you say so. I often think that the ones working hard to insert so many insecurities inside women’s minds are often the most bitter and unhappy ones to begin with. After all, misery loves company.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p style='margin-left:1.0in;line-height:135%;background:white'><font size=2 color="#333333" face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:135%; font-family:Georgia;color:#333333'>It seems that even though we’re all different and very aware of that, we struggle quite a lot to live with the differences w/o been so bashful and a bitter critic of one another. Everybody is desperately trying to shove themselves inside a uniform mold, like sheep in a heard, lacking the ability to lead for themselves, or have some courage to say “hey, I’m going to be ME and if you don’t like, look the other way”.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'>I couldn’t have said it better. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'>Next summer – bikini. No matter what size I am.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'><a href="http://fluvialacerda.blog.com/2011/06/22/summer-time-letting-all-hang-out-without-the-hang-ups/">http://fluvialacerda.blog.com/2011/06/22/summer-time-letting-all-hang-out-without-the-hang-ups/</a> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> </div> Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689010969712719831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939497449892894619.post-89839479137094349192012-06-17T13:29:00.001-07:002012-06-17T13:29:41.230-07:00SIX MONTHSLongest six months of my life. Best and the worst.<br />
<br />
Marraige is a lot harder than I thought it would be.<br />
<br />
But at the end of the day, Matthew is still the love of my life. And that's what matters most.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689010969712719831noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939497449892894619.post-42933019468448473092012-06-15T17:07:00.001-07:002012-06-15T17:07:49.066-07:00Money<div class=Section1> <p><font size=2 color=black face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia;color:black'>Matt doesn’t want me to get a second job, but I really, really want to.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p><font size=2 color=black face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia;color:black'>Right now, I get off work at 3:30 PM, and I have to wait for him to pick me up from work (can't take public transportation - the system in LA is super horrible, and the shortest commute is 2 hours anyway, and we can't move until our lease is up in 5 months). Usually he picks me up about 5 - 5:15. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p><font size=2 color=black face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia;color:black'>I keep thinking, if I got a second job, maybe 20 hours a week, he could just pick me up later. And the $400-500 extra could go towards saving for a second car, paying my student loans, and me getting my own spending money. I really miss having my own money. Having to justify every expense, not being able to buy a latte or lunch when I want to... It sucks. It makes me really angry.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p><font size=2 color=black face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia;color:black'>But he doesn't want me to get a second job. Because then I'll be tired. Well I'm tired anyway when we get home at 6:30, so I don't see how getting home at 9:30 after working a 4-5 hour shift will be THAT much worse! <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p><font size=2 color=black face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia;color:black'>I don’t know what to do, but I’m tired of waiting, bored, for nearly two hours, just so he can pick me up. And I’d love to be able to save for my own car. I’d really like to have money in my wallet, instead of being hungry, unable to buy food because dear husband didn’t feel like he needed to give me any spending money. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p><font size=2 color=black face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia;color:black'>I hate this dependency. I’m angry, and frustrated. I keep thinking I’d be better off single. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p><font size=2 color=black face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia;color:black'>To be honest, what I would really rather do is split the bills 50/50. Cuz you know what? I’d have $1000 spending money each month. (Not that I’d spend it all. I really would like my own car.) If we did that, though, Matt’s salary would barely be able to cover his portion of the bills. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p><font size=2 color=black face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia;color:black'>Maybe if I gave him part of my paycheck, it would work. Like an allowance. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p><font size=2 color=black face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia;color:black'>Yeah he wouldn’t go for that either. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p><font size=2 color=black face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia;color:black'>But this…this is just not working at all. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> </div> Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689010969712719831noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939497449892894619.post-62648283337466818762012-06-14T09:19:00.001-07:002012-06-14T09:19:22.241-07:00Thursday Reflections<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqcUcxIJpiCH1zwgGXsK9MKG3Nyc2okkmuCWyk4xb4J66wZCJtQpVD_BTxoWogjn79noPT8qu433C5k807m_c5JkRgkc7SrFkT9MMROoOGwWQSLF5hvH5lN12b0yAYD9s159E6VSQ3R_UE/s1600/4-762242.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqcUcxIJpiCH1zwgGXsK9MKG3Nyc2okkmuCWyk4xb4J66wZCJtQpVD_BTxoWogjn79noPT8qu433C5k807m_c5JkRgkc7SrFkT9MMROoOGwWQSLF5hvH5lN12b0yAYD9s159E6VSQ3R_UE/s320/4-762242.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5753928011659177762" /></a></p><div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'>I read the <i><span style='font-style:italic'>best</span></i> post on A Practical Wedding today. In it, Meg says:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p style='margin-left:.5in;background:white'><font size=2 color=black face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Georgia;color:black'>… I found it so hilarious when I was asked a question by a young 20-something in the Co-Lab workshop that went vaguely like this: "How do you balance work and play in your 20s? Because I want to really LIVE in my twenties, before life's all over." And I laughed and blinked, and then realized "Oh, that was a real question, because that's actually what we're taught." And then told her, "I'm 32. Trust me, the living doesn't stop after your twenties. And honestly, it mostly gets way better as you get older."<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p style='background:white'><font size=2 color=black face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Georgia;color:black'>This gives me so much hope. Life doesn’t stop at 30!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p style='background:white'><font size=2 color=black face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Georgia;color:black'>See, I’ve been reading about fertility after age 35, and how it gets much harder to have babies. And I was freaking out, because I want babies so very much. But Matt hasn’t gotten his act together yet with his career. So by the time he does get his act together, and we save up enough money to buy a house, we’ll be, oh, maybe 35 or so? You know, when <i><span style='font-style:italic'>having babies becomes impossible?</span></i> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p style='background:white'><font size=2 color=black face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Georgia;color:black'>No, no, Stephanie. Having babies is not impossible after 35. Besides, my insurance covers fertility treatments. And my legal insurance covers adoption. So I can calm down and enjoy and live the heck out of my 20’s, and stop worrying about future babies, houses, and husbands with careers not figured out. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p style='background:white'><font size=2 color=black face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Georgia;color:black'>Tonight we are seeing Lindsay and the All Nighters at the <st1:place w:st="on">Edison</st1:place> downtown. I’m going to wear a cute little red dress and really, really enjoy myself. I’m going to enjoy being young and 24 and not together yet, and have a fabulous night with my husband and my friends. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Georgia;color:black'>Read more: <a href="http://apracticalwedding.com/#ixzz1xmhamaMA"><font color="#003399"><span style='color:#003399'>http://apracticalwedding.com/#ixzz1xmhamaMA</span></font></a></span></font><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Georgia'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Georgia'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> </div> Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689010969712719831noreply@blogger.com0