tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45843246464573817572024-02-21T09:54:11.763-06:00My Three SonsOur adventures in adoption and homeschoolingMommaLlamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727067626990325247noreply@blogger.comBlogger1111125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584324646457381757.post-12820809957221503462013-02-14T15:59:00.001-06:002013-02-14T16:00:43.664-06:00Life is weird...If you've known me in real life, you would more than likely have heard me use the phrase (more than once). It's sort of my go to phrase when I really don't know how to respond, or the response in my head wouldn't be suitable for the audience outside of my head. Well, that's sort of where I've been... in the weird part of life.<br />
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I stepped away from my blog back in August to get the school year underway. It was a big school year start, Bobcat was starting the 7th grade and lots of things in our daily life were being switched around to change up our school year.<br />
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It was a great start. The subjects were working, co-op was going well... I felt really good about how things were unrolling. But I still wasn't making time to blog... there was still just too much on my plate to spend time here... to collect my thoughts in sentence format. So where's the weird part??? This will take a few turns, but it will all get out on this page with time.<br />
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For the first time since October I redid the calendar in our school room... you know the kind with the changeable months and dry erase markers. October was shaping up to be a fun month... we were about to leave for a camping trip after co-op on the 18th. Nearly every day since I've come into this room, our office, and seen that calendar and couldn't bring myself to change it. It contained all the dates for what was supposed to happen, but it lacked the ONE thing that did happen.<br />
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Two weeks ago, for the first time since October 18th, I listened to a voice mail that I hadn't deleted. I just bought a new phone, and was selling that one. I knew that was the last time I would hear that message. I had never deleted it before because it was like a little snap shot of what my life was like at 11:01, and how everything changed at 11:02.<br />
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It's weird, when we are faced with a tragedy, what we choose to do... or not do.<br />
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At 11:02, October 18, 2012, my phone was on silent and I was about to head into my classroom to teach co-op. I didn't feel it buzz in my pocket. At 11:05, I decided to see if Daddio had responded to a picture of Bubba I sent him, after his first Mass he got to serve at. That's when I saw that I had a voicemail from my mother's home. At first glance I decided not to even check it. I would just check it in an hour after my class... but the class before wasn't quite done, so I stepped around the corner so I could quickly listen to it. The voice in the message identified himself as a police officer and that it was an emergency. He wanted me to call the home number immediately... and in the background I could hear my mother screaming.<br />
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My father had been killed in a car accident that morning on his way to work. The call came right after the officers arrived at my mother's home.<br />
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Life has been weird since then. I've had to do things, that at 33 I really hadn't planned on. I've had to say things to loved ones, that at 33 I never thought I would be saying. Today, as I erased the calendar, I cried, because I was replacing it with February. As I filled in all the birthdays I chose to put my father's birthday on there... next week my dad would have be 58. Life is weird.<br />
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<img align="left" src="http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/vv78/mudduckstudio/Stephanie%20Hightower/siggycopy-1.png" style="border: 0;" />
MommaLlamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727067626990325247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584324646457381757.post-48957051774870344032012-08-06T12:21:00.001-05:002012-08-06T12:21:10.440-05:00Yooo Hooo, Communion rail, where are you?First let me say, before I even begin my little tirade, that I recognize that my protestant brothers and sisters do not worship or believe the same things as Catholics... I'm writing this as a CATHOLIC to those who choose to also call themselves Catholics! Okay, PSA out of the way!<br />
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Appropriate attire: Mass is not poker night with your guy pals, it's also not Ladies Night at the local pub... it is <b>Holy Mass</b>... you are attending the wedding feast of Our Lord. Tank tops, sleeveless, strapless, one shoulder ensembles, cargo shorts (shorts on anyone who receives communion is really not appropriate), flip flops, hooker boots, track suit, yoga pants... the list goes on, are NOT appropriate for Mass. Do you remember the phrases <i>Sunday Best</i>, or <i>Church Clothes</i>??? Here's another question for you... would you wear the previously list to WORK? Most likely not, it would be unprofessional, and most companies have a very specific dress code... so if it isn't okay at work, why would a person think it is perfectly suitable to wear during Mass... during the reception of Our Lord, BODY, SOUL, AND DIVINITY!?! It is truly beyond me.<br />
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Reception of the Holy Eucharist: Here's what I see in Mas... what I try to block out, why I attempt to cover my eyes with my scarf... people snatching the host out of the EM's hand, sticking one hand out all willy nilly, dropping the host (or causing the EM to drop the host because of no where to place Our Lord), not even paying attention, or acknowledging (proper response... AMEN) the EM/priest/deacon, people walking away with it in their hand and actually consuming it (had a friend next to chase down someone this week, and Daddio has gone after one at another Mass)... YOU CONSUME immediately! <br />
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So that is why I think a communion rail would help elevate so many abuses by the laity!<br />
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First (and maybe my favorite) it would eliminate EM's! (yay!!!) Next up, proper poster for reception are achieved (on the knees... also exceptionable but frowned upon in the US is to genuflect prior to reception)... hey do you even remember what you are doing up there? <span style="color: red;">RECEIVING OUR LORD</span>! It's not snack time, or intermission! Plus with the acolyte putting the patent under your chin it reinforces the proper etiquette to receive on the tongue! <br />
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I'm sure to some Catholics I sound harsh... but I challenge you to really think about what is happening in Mass. Do you really believe that the Eucharist (the Source and Summit of our faith) is <b>truly</b> Jesus Christ, Body - Blood - Soul - Divinity? Do you realize that if you do not believe this, and still take the Eucharist you are committing sacrilege? If you are not participating in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and receive with serious sin, you are committing an even bigger sin? I'm not condemning you, you are doing it to yourself.<br />
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Maybe you lack the knowledge of these things, you aren't well versed in the faith. There's an easy (several actually) remedy for this! Read (the Catechism of the Catholic Church has all the info right there), go meet with your pastor, go through RCIA (you might not need any of the sacraments, but you do need to be taught the faith)... but <i>YOU</i> have to do it. Just because you went through CCD as a kid, doesn't mean you have an adult understanding... you need to learn and understand your faith.<br />
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For those who don't believe in the Real Presence (and they've bothered to read up on what the Church teaches and think that 2000 years of wisdom and the Holy Spirit got it wrong)... <i>why are you there</i>? You SHOULD NOT RECEIVE is first on the list... and maybe one of the other 35,000+ Protestant denominations is right for you. No, I don't want to see Catholics abandon their faith, but non-believers shouldn't create more sin for themselves or others...<br />
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Are you all in, or not!?! The Catholic Faith isn't a list of choices, you can't pick and choose which parts of the faith are going to make up your profile.<br />
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Okay... I think I'm done (maybe)...<br />
<img align="left" src="http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/vv78/mudduckstudio/Stephanie%20Hightower/siggycopy-1.png" style="border: 0;" /> MommaLlamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727067626990325247noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584324646457381757.post-74984170842256707842012-05-15T11:14:00.001-05:002012-05-15T11:19:45.231-05:00Vacation Destination<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Okaloosa Island, Florida!
I don't remember my exact words when I opened the door to the condo and
saw all the way through to the outside, but I'm pretty sure it was
something that was not quite as lady like as I would normally have it!
The kids were out of earshot... so Parent of the Year award is not in
jeopardy!</div>
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One of the really great features of where we stayed was the chair and umbrella service. Every morning these men would come by and set it all up... we didn't have to haul, or set up anything. We would just walk down, set out our towels, and all day we were in the shade! </div>
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Then there is the sand. It's WHITE! Seriously!!! We had to keep sunglasses on at all times, otherwise it was WAY TOO BRIGHT! Daddio is convinced that the slight sunburn he had on his legs was from the reflection from the sand, not from being out! It was intense, and nothing like anything we've ever seen before!<br />
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Well this is what you came for, right? A picture tour of the beach!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdICXjIBPjAvETs9jETB0Xb2WClgbXatBFLu4aTBOj1O6IQpjif4nFbOyKfB4y8txz_hJl2QsUrscRPc91QqFO1ISH0pTUZv1ZNd-7CcWdUnUfOi-7kCPKdMAV-HCWSrSqzdieT2TK03Ff/s320/P5064708.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from our balcony!
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUSIVhLapeuFVrrtOZYR0FKvHFcW06v-b7LTFWjmF35Jfx5g_50q3kqvOPxVsBhOMlvnJ8p-fa34wEhYBQXz4zQjqVhDbML0JmEIqHa2O1smnZozFFVAWBFSuBfE4x9wuf-iGqDELmjXy/s1600/P5064704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUSIVhLapeuFVrrtOZYR0FKvHFcW06v-b7LTFWjmF35Jfx5g_50q3kqvOPxVsBhOMlvnJ8p-fa34wEhYBQXz4zQjqVhDbML0JmEIqHa2O1smnZozFFVAWBFSuBfE4x9wuf-iGqDELmjXy/s320/P5064704.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Also a view from our balcony looking straight down into the pool!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRO7jPdsT8cIqcPCd2gRFvMzQ4MxFTpaVapzxjLhdbgYsxBqtABEhZsXPWhH1zCbZHBBZSU7XR06IEG_BctQonwlzLKM8qeqbTmBCchEds8OXwcmQB_8WCDd_q8zj3ygT387XlqW4q3fOe/s1600/P5064716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRO7jPdsT8cIqcPCd2gRFvMzQ4MxFTpaVapzxjLhdbgYsxBqtABEhZsXPWhH1zCbZHBBZSU7XR06IEG_BctQonwlzLKM8qeqbTmBCchEds8OXwcmQB_8WCDd_q8zj3ygT387XlqW4q3fOe/s320/P5064716.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our condo building. We were in the unit in the bottom right hand corner.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddsvXQB5m93UjtSDmm-tATp55HVv1Ytp1jsIxEwDf3FhxzOZTBU8ob8KC9aUHsq6E1ZK8xgHACW_elrgA9ec5sUO5YRN3MbOEK1TAUqHxwEj8DeRZteWZwSZMmG0Bo1Hf7ZMylSkXrIEL/s1600/P5064745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddsvXQB5m93UjtSDmm-tATp55HVv1Ytp1jsIxEwDf3FhxzOZTBU8ob8KC9aUHsq6E1ZK8xgHACW_elrgA9ec5sUO5YRN3MbOEK1TAUqHxwEj8DeRZteWZwSZMmG0Bo1Hf7ZMylSkXrIEL/s320/P5064745.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The water was so amazing!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcoVw69irQYRTci69i6yiCKv09dzY1DX726U-sqUTyRNSVLWs0hyphenhyphenTf-t14Wj_sK5u4O3GANgo07kgbDhPk1V1FCCGwUKhE8x7mRsgs4YUlemMPHl_L7s2vt-gtFkZB1P3IjU5dCTfthgam/s1600/P5064757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcoVw69irQYRTci69i6yiCKv09dzY1DX726U-sqUTyRNSVLWs0hyphenhyphenTf-t14Wj_sK5u4O3GANgo07kgbDhPk1V1FCCGwUKhE8x7mRsgs4YUlemMPHl_L7s2vt-gtFkZB1P3IjU5dCTfthgam/s320/P5064757.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now, the important aspect of this picture is SNOOKER! This is the first year he was totally a daredevil in the water!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFV2qmw6p_a4GeNkQF4wOft3GmbkDqhRFejUEA3LgRjRhbm4UXGclnsBD1QczreGkX6767xcO6SXkb6ngOY5igQrOoMX6yBOlnEjm9w05d07tkcLY6tQcNzcyLSoajL1LUW24yNkpYAwjE/s1600/P5064796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFV2qmw6p_a4GeNkQF4wOft3GmbkDqhRFejUEA3LgRjRhbm4UXGclnsBD1QczreGkX6767xcO6SXkb6ngOY5igQrOoMX6yBOlnEjm9w05d07tkcLY6tQcNzcyLSoajL1LUW24yNkpYAwjE/s320/P5064796.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5FhGRX0J3eS1qduJfhmTElGRQTBCZnb1j9iUbCzMnLl1x8JcKiX9w0e4997u5BEP0jEy9W8ydsneaszQM1vKMDxAKx6sVbDov1urJ4NJurMA7tRN3CW2iajR-oIF0-pMuc_N_U6Oh2czy/s1600/P5064810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5FhGRX0J3eS1qduJfhmTElGRQTBCZnb1j9iUbCzMnLl1x8JcKiX9w0e4997u5BEP0jEy9W8ydsneaszQM1vKMDxAKx6sVbDov1urJ4NJurMA7tRN3CW2iajR-oIF0-pMuc_N_U6Oh2czy/s320/P5064810.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surfing is in our near future!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMV324cu21dMCmtZGWaBWq1L6iW9CtxXYonbcMSksrrSa8tVuwamCLpR0AuY4vLrKs114EprRmMBDaZc7rPazK5e9CZliloPq2MsP4jfTS-kRhluUWWj-OGKk_Tuec5elxVeu1t9AWsLn/s1600/P5064830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMV324cu21dMCmtZGWaBWq1L6iW9CtxXYonbcMSksrrSa8tVuwamCLpR0AuY4vLrKs114EprRmMBDaZc7rPazK5e9CZliloPq2MsP4jfTS-kRhluUWWj-OGKk_Tuec5elxVeu1t9AWsLn/s320/P5064830.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bubba practicing his Dead Man float...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUW5P5jZe8oe527zn8ZkAbz6pzekCQRWhyphenhyphenI5F4MdF5g5yvl3dOtQ6nnkyn6peE4xRKy3t1yKG3UFgg6OFQ7HOHu04APEbSGDHI5uzHoqvKFSg0HLkbqOtpOPSrY4BeflbugfRlhUP-5Cuw/s1600/P5064835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUW5P5jZe8oe527zn8ZkAbz6pzekCQRWhyphenhyphenI5F4MdF5g5yvl3dOtQ6nnkyn6peE4xRKy3t1yKG3UFgg6OFQ7HOHu04APEbSGDHI5uzHoqvKFSg0HLkbqOtpOPSrY4BeflbugfRlhUP-5Cuw/s320/P5064835.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was so fun watching the boys actually SWIMMING in the water. It was so clear, and pretty deep where we were that they really enjoyed exploring the area!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dmN1J60uko8Q8FC7cO0clZp-WhidyiIFTAXjuf2njQYjt_YHG9Aeeh0tGGvm2DeLxpwPZB-asItRujKejDrOlaqgThZItDFmwgXyeawoFhQnLbbHGM8DLuI7lgCv_JvPARsx62kbHgEm/s1600/P5094860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dmN1J60uko8Q8FC7cO0clZp-WhidyiIFTAXjuf2njQYjt_YHG9Aeeh0tGGvm2DeLxpwPZB-asItRujKejDrOlaqgThZItDFmwgXyeawoFhQnLbbHGM8DLuI7lgCv_JvPARsx62kbHgEm/s320/P5094860.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bubba and Daddio. Those two spent a great deal of time snorkeling!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIp5W1CQR_4Z9lAl1kIjyEkeG-702HHJluiToc1Uyn6EBse42AvbAhJ4cpnePNayBGFl4NKSqexRxCrXM04TnslHTedqGeoWbMi3M017wBtaLRZgnrOWJv4aHus0Zr97Dqho5S-d9GSorX/s1600/P5094868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIp5W1CQR_4Z9lAl1kIjyEkeG-702HHJluiToc1Uyn6EBse42AvbAhJ4cpnePNayBGFl4NKSqexRxCrXM04TnslHTedqGeoWbMi3M017wBtaLRZgnrOWJv4aHus0Zr97Dqho5S-d9GSorX/s320/P5094868.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The really cool part of this shot is not only Bubba and Daddio... but the dolphin in the background. We had a pod that would swim by several times a day! In this one, they are just on the other side of the sandbar... that's were Bubba and Daddio are headed!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEA2nG4KX2MTylLyQWFI_VuVh2AvSdpF-qeuT5JF0K7mVA6nVQflfJug-CqS7g01bhl_YaujSx9_mXAQyOkiC7iPZuNWk_c3tu-OeBPtnOzKd8g5YHxMiwpwziOC3VOPa3kMTKV6iIWlhk/s1600/P5094893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEA2nG4KX2MTylLyQWFI_VuVh2AvSdpF-qeuT5JF0K7mVA6nVQflfJug-CqS7g01bhl_YaujSx9_mXAQyOkiC7iPZuNWk_c3tu-OeBPtnOzKd8g5YHxMiwpwziOC3VOPa3kMTKV6iIWlhk/s320/P5094893.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A boy and his net! He tried like the dickens to catch a fish... sadly crabs were all he managed!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEMfaHbOSyybd8eWPZeHNFZ7uGGtBbMti3MUs8r5Cpohy7FFU1m1FgMsJDILS7LCUXFEM0o91MJM4xP4kHW-GC1Zq-sTsrjJoMTjDwogpVEFSQn2zqsEiw5T08FdDQEkmpXwdBK3sngca/s1600/P5094924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEMfaHbOSyybd8eWPZeHNFZ7uGGtBbMti3MUs8r5Cpohy7FFU1m1FgMsJDILS7LCUXFEM0o91MJM4xP4kHW-GC1Zq-sTsrjJoMTjDwogpVEFSQn2zqsEiw5T08FdDQEkmpXwdBK3sngca/s320/P5094924.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most mornings started out as green flag days. The water was as calm as a swimming pool!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSd8KC9mZRwXPWI8FMfbAMfHkMMHlfPI-ACQXgv0WXuhuxt27xK2uorHEIJ_0dEHtZFJtKaZV1SOXLNjMkOUxqykBHoDtHZbKzN5q1xuXhFYDrP2hFJ0tYcoeucr6vjwHImEEsZzh6qx0K/s1600/P5104933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSd8KC9mZRwXPWI8FMfbAMfHkMMHlfPI-ACQXgv0WXuhuxt27xK2uorHEIJ_0dEHtZFJtKaZV1SOXLNjMkOUxqykBHoDtHZbKzN5q1xuXhFYDrP2hFJ0tYcoeucr6vjwHImEEsZzh6qx0K/s320/P5104933.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is exactly how it looked... none of these shots have been adjusted one bit!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXnvDVrXd_qH7p8NhDl6e4aJtN4fgYo2tqwwaq1h8AJXfxvLrH9g-mqnnp-wyt9aCFr5IcvwVtpn49mvYFF2Cs49QVY5vPQlHikDYZp1qSkyn0BQ1EGkMp3s65TJr4GsQkYKwkmcs3lJa8/s1600/P5104944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXnvDVrXd_qH7p8NhDl6e4aJtN4fgYo2tqwwaq1h8AJXfxvLrH9g-mqnnp-wyt9aCFr5IcvwVtpn49mvYFF2Cs49QVY5vPQlHikDYZp1qSkyn0BQ1EGkMp3s65TJr4GsQkYKwkmcs3lJa8/s320/P5104944.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well, I figured if I put in a few shots of Daddio, I better add one of me... otherwise he might choose one!</td></tr>
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<img align="left" src="http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/vv78/mudduckstudio/Stephanie%20Hightower/siggycopy-1.png" style="border: 0;" />MommaLlamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727067626990325247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584324646457381757.post-16934777851177270732012-05-15T10:37:00.001-05:002012-05-15T11:19:55.450-05:00Vacation, leg threeNext up is Alabama. Now I felt sort of bad for Mississippi... we drove right though, not stopping even once. It was lovely from the car window!<br />
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Saturday morning we woke up, hit <a href="http://cafedumonde.com/">Cafe Du Monde</a>, then headed out. We would be reaching our final destination today, but saw online about the <a href="http://www.ussalabama.com/">USS Alabama</a> and the SR-71 they had on static display. Naturally we had to stop!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03bVret4zLYmfR7ixjkptca4aribiD4Xwl1hXpVSQbXGAX1MsZz9q9XUsLSYdrIZi5o8fz9F1EJY6EWEsnhEHri0HAClWlOPxwQgMB63T1iEMEQI2ONvBcG-RFbn3l9YwngvxXxqR2HeN/s1600/P5054695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03bVret4zLYmfR7ixjkptca4aribiD4Xwl1hXpVSQbXGAX1MsZz9q9XUsLSYdrIZi5o8fz9F1EJY6EWEsnhEHri0HAClWlOPxwQgMB63T1iEMEQI2ONvBcG-RFbn3l9YwngvxXxqR2HeN/s320/P5054695.JPG" title="USS Alabama" width="240" /></a></div>
Wow! That thing is HUGE! We were able to tour both the battleship, the submarine, and the static display before we were all pooped out and needed to eat lunch! If you are driving through this area, and your kids can manage stairs (lots and lots of them), it's worth the stop! <br />
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<img align="left" src="http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/vv78/mudduckstudio/Stephanie%20Hightower/siggycopy-1.png" style="border: 0pt none;" />MommaLlamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727067626990325247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584324646457381757.post-9115804316345854532012-05-15T10:28:00.000-05:002012-05-15T11:20:05.618-05:00Vacation, leg two<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9D86FgNudLhCqZG0KtJ8fkDfkiM5vwJw5zbH2WtTTD15LAebLIn-6KNnAKE5PMsrsYl07bvmVC9rkq20UFAGSH_JCUr99-CTymOpFblff54v1uh2-ySFhzBU4_bZ2nARhi7FeW-oJ2mIR/s1600/IMG_1715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9D86FgNudLhCqZG0KtJ8fkDfkiM5vwJw5zbH2WtTTD15LAebLIn-6KNnAKE5PMsrsYl07bvmVC9rkq20UFAGSH_JCUr99-CTymOpFblff54v1uh2-ySFhzBU4_bZ2nARhi7FeW-oJ2mIR/s200/IMG_1715.JPG" title="NOLA, Cathedral" width="149" /></a>Friday morning we set out for NOLA! It was an easy drive, and we arrived just a lunch time (score!). We found a great parking spot down south of the French Quarter, on the river... and went to Landry's for lunch... <i>Heaven, I'm in Heaven</i>... oh how I love good seafood! The city beckoned, and we obliged!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHP8uYxtwKH38KRd6qH3W7nafDJr3auCHwyFWZ-Bm2UsgvscjLUAc4I6Q8-y3l4QJFX2-LJ8CY8OKikOlNBUZbbQYZCpCfPheCtKIF9Jv6attgusuqauOmta7wGuWpvVgkLyRtzHyggvBf/s1600/IMG_1718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHP8uYxtwKH38KRd6qH3W7nafDJr3auCHwyFWZ-Bm2UsgvscjLUAc4I6Q8-y3l4QJFX2-LJ8CY8OKikOlNBUZbbQYZCpCfPheCtKIF9Jv6attgusuqauOmta7wGuWpvVgkLyRtzHyggvBf/s200/IMG_1718.JPG" width="200" /></a>After a little discussion we decided that the best way to see the most we could would be to take a carriage ride! It really was a lot of fun. Belle, and noble... ahh, mule was a doll, and the carriage driver was funny! We were taken through each block, with all sorts of things being pointed out to us... even Brad and Angelina's home, the home that the IRS took back from Nick Cage, and the bar that stayed open through Hurricane Katrina.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrpa3h3honcCaTU0Xn5j7woR66XJF9fRLmr8XlQSnDDR3nBR5_rxIKSxT3nTEitiF4j1S-Zb_cf3_bvBmSvX4oaja5Hl6MNsYQxB4-X23OOc9Vwkxx-CtRbAUJwrrQ9zuxU2FmT2JHPFWS/s1600/IMG_1774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrpa3h3honcCaTU0Xn5j7woR66XJF9fRLmr8XlQSnDDR3nBR5_rxIKSxT3nTEitiF4j1S-Zb_cf3_bvBmSvX4oaja5Hl6MNsYQxB4-X23OOc9Vwkxx-CtRbAUJwrrQ9zuxU2FmT2JHPFWS/s200/IMG_1774.JPG" width="200" /></a>Oh, and I had no idea that there was an <a href="http://ursulineneworleans.org/">Ursuline Convent and school</a> down there, but boy was that a pretty sight in the city!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBY1TmCedJFuj013J1nVcjowKjqdcRa9L7woWbk6_qCM2mrND7OSqv84K51l4NRZ4AbvPd-PHoKg2TjOeV5lmpQwI-SfmG26JDVphuyNpX3cbPVKxwlND6jN2qvnaX_i6rSkasXrtfEJu/s1600/IMG_1782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBY1TmCedJFuj013J1nVcjowKjqdcRa9L7woWbk6_qCM2mrND7OSqv84K51l4NRZ4AbvPd-PHoKg2TjOeV5lmpQwI-SfmG26JDVphuyNpX3cbPVKxwlND6jN2qvnaX_i6rSkasXrtfEJu/s200/IMG_1782.JPG" title="Ursuline Convent and Academy" width="200" /></a>After the carriage ride, we did a little more exploring on foot. We really wanted to take a peak inside <a href="http://stlouiscathedral.org/">St. Louis Cathedral</a>. It's the oldest cathedral, and second oldest church... anyone know the oldest church???? It's in St. Augustine (we saw it on a travels to Florida a few years ago). I'm thinking I should make us a passport of all the Catholic hotspots we've hit over the years!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9E5ImJdijaZ-xNpdXYrKRvU2VY3KXj60JZt3NUSeBuKio9yiekRPMkBwvmlAMdZney_-lIfuNSRHBzRnUoHm1Q69cpqcAwR2pvq-rlhb1OcWkTumU-2Wsr-NyZk8B8whKxheWLJYDmEN/s1600/IMG_1828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9E5ImJdijaZ-xNpdXYrKRvU2VY3KXj60JZt3NUSeBuKio9yiekRPMkBwvmlAMdZney_-lIfuNSRHBzRnUoHm1Q69cpqcAwR2pvq-rlhb1OcWkTumU-2Wsr-NyZk8B8whKxheWLJYDmEN/s200/IMG_1828.JPG" title="St. Louis Cathedral" width="149" /></a>Anyhooooooo, it is so beautiful on the inside, and out! We were able to go in, spend some quiet time in prayer, and have a look around. WOW! Just outside of the cathedral (not shown in the picture) is a section of street that is closed off. Now, if you've never been it is little shocking and annoying (in my opinion)... but there are fortune tellers and crap all set up right there... just outside of the doors! YUCK!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKz_BH-s1v2GQtjn843vSRYMVivaZGKERHH1i83ytj2O68K3NVTSatIYiEYqeFeIXNDXBGRYKuKF9te40TQVjM0d2H5E41vjHsxJwL85KXakee-5lIX0H3eId41tPf3YW9MyOj0TiJkZDs/s1600/IMG_1880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKz_BH-s1v2GQtjn843vSRYMVivaZGKERHH1i83ytj2O68K3NVTSatIYiEYqeFeIXNDXBGRYKuKF9te40TQVjM0d2H5E41vjHsxJwL85KXakee-5lIX0H3eId41tPf3YW9MyOj0TiJkZDs/s200/IMG_1880.JPG" title="Cafe Du Monde" width="149" /></a>Well, that pretty much rounded out our NOLA time... oh wait, there's one more thing you must have when you are in the French Quarter... beignets. Now, growing up (in Louisiana), my mom would make them... but I never had the originals from <a href="http://cafedumonde.com/">Cafe Du Monde</a>... <i><b>Heaven, I'm in Heaven</b></i>... Powdery Sugar Wonderfulness!MommaLlamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727067626990325247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584324646457381757.post-9374128131345292922012-05-15T10:00:00.000-05:002012-05-15T11:20:19.261-05:00Vacation, leg one<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0N_SCFonRFJCpUmVYPx390MMHAODN4foLM4IfMPgry_gvejhZdspSZV8dyl6S7hcdCkSZRJ6WW7fHuaJDYzc5HXkX7OASS2S5S0VBc5eT48Zyavem4xAsy9cfGTTkNn0Xr0jCcYaXp5Y/s1600/P5034581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0N_SCFonRFJCpUmVYPx390MMHAODN4foLM4IfMPgry_gvejhZdspSZV8dyl6S7hcdCkSZRJ6WW7fHuaJDYzc5HXkX7OASS2S5S0VBc5eT48Zyavem4xAsy9cfGTTkNn0Xr0jCcYaXp5Y/s200/P5034581.JPG" title="The Big Thicket" width="150" /></a>Every January we start planning our summer vacation. It is always a bittersweet event... I mean, it is super exciting to starting making plans, but it is oh so painful to wait until May before we can get on the open road. This year we decided it was time to venture beyond our comfort zone, we saw a great deal in Florida on a condo on the beach and <span style="font-size: large;"><b>BAM</b></span> booked it! I'll admit I was slightly skeptical on just how beautiful the beach and ocean looked. Trust me, we've seen pictures and then arrived to something lovely but not really what the pictures would lead you to believe. Well, I'll stop there because I'm not sharing that part just yet, and start the journey with you. Oh yes, it was a journey!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje258tZlsxQAHmyvIWIBJwE4pJnmN8NPUgZJmHiLgJFAub1MH4WJSgV_XFohw-Hpnoa2-luOvhLOfGRgPxA3IdPGIhFUPq392AUI4GqJqvVBTdISfCmLs2m1OkXPuzpTwC9_E3__aaNa-Q/s1600/P5034535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje258tZlsxQAHmyvIWIBJwE4pJnmN8NPUgZJmHiLgJFAub1MH4WJSgV_XFohw-Hpnoa2-luOvhLOfGRgPxA3IdPGIhFUPq392AUI4GqJqvVBTdISfCmLs2m1OkXPuzpTwC9_E3__aaNa-Q/s200/P5034535.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
We decided to break up the trip a little since we would be crossing 5 states. I'm originally from Louisiana, with family still there. So on Thursday we headed out and spent the evening with my cousins.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCWdmpI1g3juIreJnLlDrhyphenhyphen7U6qlryI7zocU9mNqLcyZx1HDuZMfWG0IKoNXlY7vc9DQXpOBlhfilMrrfENnePNV6cO27C4SzFdk_7xF-Cg32X0R-eFapql8swuclSIhN0XbWsB3n-5lg/s1600/P5034536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCWdmpI1g3juIreJnLlDrhyphenhyphen7U6qlryI7zocU9mNqLcyZx1HDuZMfWG0IKoNXlY7vc9DQXpOBlhfilMrrfENnePNV6cO27C4SzFdk_7xF-Cg32X0R-eFapql8swuclSIhN0XbWsB3n-5lg/s200/P5034536.JPG" width="200" /></a>Thanks to our giddiness to get on the road, we were making good time. When we saw the sign for <a href="http://www.nps.gov/bith/index.htm">The Big Thicket National Park</a>, it was a no brainer, we need to pull over and check it out. They have a lovely main office, gift shop, and movie about the park and it's origins. Naturally we wanted to see more. We spoke with a park ranger about all the different hiking trails, and found one that we thought would be a nice 2 mile hike! Wow! I highly recommend this park. Honestly I can't wait until we can get back down there again and hit other trails they have. To be able to traverse all of the different ecosystems that are found in one place is really something special.
The trees were so cool, and we even found wild black berries. YES, we picked a few and the boys tried them. SO AWESOME!!!! Then it was back in the car for the last few miles to get to our evening stop.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszA2as1dmmIpb-tFnpMBbAzeRFwpKwWego8GlmetMuj0PK37wUelmR27gZ_HvNEur-37PSyc7xGpDBGr12sgLmBJV17HWN_ZyHJwmkLJdyAsuE7IHgX7AhLW00UcK1aoN6_wUTjTtwA-9/s1600/P5034583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszA2as1dmmIpb-tFnpMBbAzeRFwpKwWego8GlmetMuj0PK37wUelmR27gZ_HvNEur-37PSyc7xGpDBGr12sgLmBJV17HWN_ZyHJwmkLJdyAsuE7IHgX7AhLW00UcK1aoN6_wUTjTtwA-9/s200/P5034583.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
My cousin's place is just perfect for boys! They have a large property with cows, chickens, a horse, and a pond... and all of our kids play so well together! The boys had a blast! I had a lot of fun too, catching up... and once again found out just how tasty I am to local mosquitoes! In just a few minutes outside I wound up with about 30 bites on my legs (a week and a half later I still have about half of them that I'm trying NOT to scratch). Oh well, it was worth it :-).<br />
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<img align="left" src="http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/vv78/mudduckstudio/Stephanie%20Hightower/siggycopy-1.png" style="border: 0;" />MommaLlamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727067626990325247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584324646457381757.post-9230234162210292542012-04-18T11:16:00.001-05:002012-05-15T11:20:31.616-05:00The wheels of the busHomeschooling has been a bit of a challenge this year. It just seems that we've had to deal with one storm after another... be it in our household or in our extended family... nothing has gone all that smoothly. Looking back on all the years we've been doing this, 7 if you count Bobcat's kindergarten, this has been maybe the most tumultuous. We've probably considered and reconsidered the direction for next year more than a dozen times, and not in a playful way... in a serious "I think we've done all that we can do from here, it's time that they learn from someone else" way!<br />
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I have my list of <b><i>Why We Homeschool</i></b> hanging in my computer desk, and I look at it frequently. Sometimes I see different objectives on there and think that homeschooling at the moment is actually working against those, or that my own reaction is nothing like the Holy Family (so a massive fail on that agenda). They fact is, we've been going through growing pains I think. As a parent trying to navigate the road of "is he ready to do this on his own," and the child so much desiring more freedom whether he is mature enough to handle it or not. Then you add in the additional extended family drama adding stress to Daddio and me... Yep, the perfect storm.<br />
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Who knows, maybe it is summer vacation (Praise God for our beach getaways) that seems to bring everything back into perspective. We're on the homeschooling train, and we will have ups and downs... we knew that going in, and we've relearned that every year. The reasons we wanted to homeschool still apply, and overall are being accomplished. The boys have made great progress this year in areas that seemed to fall behind last year. We're all maturing in this process, just at different rates... the long view is what is needed in times of struggle!<br />
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In just a few weeks we are headed back to the beach... 8 days of sand and surf (and beer for the grown-ups). All will be right with the world again, and we will all be ready to face the challenges of next year!<br />
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<img align="left" src="http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/vv78/mudduckstudio/Stephanie%20Hightower/siggycopy-1.png" style="border: 0pt none;" />MommaLlamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727067626990325247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584324646457381757.post-35646547305761530892012-03-29T09:54:00.000-05:002012-03-29T09:54:28.460-05:00The Stations as a mother, and other Lenten thoughts...Over at <a href="http://www.creativeminorityreport.com/2012/03/when-her-baby-died.html">Creative Minority Report is this great post from a guest poster</a>... and what a wonderful post it is. Her words are my thoughts, and my agony as a mother. I can remember the first time I heard a priest talk about Mary's heart pleading and the Heavenly Father answering <i>her</i> prayers. Christ didn't <i><b>NEED</b></i> Simon, Christ didn't <i><b>NEED</b></i> Veronica... Mary did, we DO.<br />
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I needed to read this post this morning. Life is tough. Families are made up of people... sinners, some trying and some not. Suffering is just part of it. Are you choosing to sin? Are the sins of others causing your suffering. What are you doing with it? Are you offering it up? Are you holding on to it to let it fester and work against you? Have you chosen to repent, or live in denial?<br />
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The truth is, you know the answer within you. Walk the Stations if you have the least bit of doubt.<br />
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It's hard to walk the Stations, it's supposed to be hard. It is supposed to be reflective... it's supposed to be a visual reminder of what we are uniting our sufferings too. It's what <b>HE</b> came for, and we are who <b>HE</b> came for, and that is what <b>HE</b> had to do for us! It's the heart of our faith. He <b>SUFFERED</b> and <b>DIED</b> for us... so that we <i>might</i> LIVE!<br />
<br />
That last part, <i>might live</i>... I didn't really get that until I was a grown up and really came to grips with the reality of sin... every sin is DEATH, a little bit of death to your soul... yes He died for us, but are we really choosing LIFE, the life He died to give us? Or are we a slave to sin, hoping that He will look the other way at the end of days...<br />
<br />
Being a grown up is tough, sometimes it really isn't a whole heap of FUN, and easy is rarely part of the package. It's about the choices we make. It can feel simple to make the <i>immediate gratification</i> choice, but in the long run is that really the decision that will allow your soul to be free and alive in Christ?<br />
<br />
As people of God, we must take the long view... the big picture if you will! Our reward is not here, and it's not now... for our treasure awaits us in heaven, and our happiness is in Christ!<br />
<br />
<img align="left" src="http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/vv78/mudduckstudio/Stephanie%20Hightower/siggycopy-1.png" style="border: 0;" />MommaLlamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727067626990325247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584324646457381757.post-47242946521134867092012-03-14T16:27:00.002-05:002012-03-14T16:27:52.442-05:00Seriously...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLjbKyaq18AX8Z5x63WtNoVDgbF175_Ahz7fJz8VAW-4OAo7_TcqBkRxJeUGwCagkjtATzcloc9wsHud_YGm4Dcf8HeB-_Z0o0qm8lAiklqZm3-Er1yXuD1Kk5Ju1xhuWWi81rxxgtlzL/s1600/P3144344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLjbKyaq18AX8Z5x63WtNoVDgbF175_Ahz7fJz8VAW-4OAo7_TcqBkRxJeUGwCagkjtATzcloc9wsHud_YGm4Dcf8HeB-_Z0o0qm8lAiklqZm3-Er1yXuD1Kk5Ju1xhuWWi81rxxgtlzL/s200/P3144344.JPG" width="200" /></a>I know you know the phrase, no good deed goes unpunished... boy has today felt like that. While trying to make a cheesecake, I had pressed in my graham cracker crust and was going to pick it up (the spring form pan) and move it over by the stove, when I picked it up the bottom of the pan fell out and out went the crust all over the floor... that's the kind of day it has been!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-aWCWH8xA7oYugvPX1hBkXCLOi5jW1TANIyQEA_fAYstvxz0jJWzasKjNY_I1_cM9kSwzNOuSLf5ZCAqLGGRV-FcuUgTC0lBCCAqynj2rprcX1jPbiXKYmjiCQkjjhb-rNdYvnXqNXZt/s1600/P3144345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-aWCWH8xA7oYugvPX1hBkXCLOi5jW1TANIyQEA_fAYstvxz0jJWzasKjNY_I1_cM9kSwzNOuSLf5ZCAqLGGRV-FcuUgTC0lBCCAqynj2rprcX1jPbiXKYmjiCQkjjhb-rNdYvnXqNXZt/s200/P3144345.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
Thankfully I had enough ingredients to redo the entire crust, but by the time I cleaned it all up and set to making a new one... well tic toc goes the clock! And to show you just how befuddled I was... usually when I cook, I'm a clean as you go kind of gal, because I rather dislike all the clean up at the end...<br />
<br />
Oh well, dinner won't have a lot of clean up so I suppose I will survive :-)...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiETHbdJqf0YYqYkGTeEvj-CBRvplI9rcTq3VlDbpsClSYSIT5i62wHtuJmo65z2Pt50Hn8lRo_oCHARvT8nE9I8OGjLALRGxO7qEtbmub60BahRi9ODfGwoT_sJK_cTxiBEnnNfDAdnZZ/s1600/P3144348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiETHbdJqf0YYqYkGTeEvj-CBRvplI9rcTq3VlDbpsClSYSIT5i62wHtuJmo65z2Pt50Hn8lRo_oCHARvT8nE9I8OGjLALRGxO7qEtbmub60BahRi9ODfGwoT_sJK_cTxiBEnnNfDAdnZZ/s200/P3144348.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lepeecOhWWDc0EAakIcMbd4Lj-6oh9FU_aiuyv0w2rMdfQBztup7XblgRULtGpHMsZMJ2AFBAQWI_12UbAUn9q1_E4HfkS621O4NX7P-eU-X_zvdAFRyjfeuleDe7x0NrbnDymiGxHR-/s1600/P3144346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lepeecOhWWDc0EAakIcMbd4Lj-6oh9FU_aiuyv0w2rMdfQBztup7XblgRULtGpHMsZMJ2AFBAQWI_12UbAUn9q1_E4HfkS621O4NX7P-eU-X_zvdAFRyjfeuleDe7x0NrbnDymiGxHR-/s200/P3144346.JPG" width="200" /></a>Okay on to better things, our lovely beds are a bloomin! Even the camillia which usually is all done by the start of March has to decided to continue blooming! She's a beaut!<br />
<br />
Next up are the long beds (I only got one good shot of the very front one, maybe later I will try to grab a better one of the one closest to the house) with irises, tulips and daffodils. The daffodils are on their way out, while the tulips and irises are just making their appearances!<br />
<br />
Happy Spring!MommaLlamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727067626990325247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584324646457381757.post-24188192166748808822012-03-07T10:03:00.001-06:002012-03-07T10:03:56.705-06:00Not dead, yet!I'm alive... we're all alive... but we've all been busy in one way or another! For me, I've been trying to get as much rest as possible to get over this nose pain. The boys are headlong into the final stretch of the school year (and we are all ready for the BEACH!!!). And Daddio, well, he has been busy running. Two weeks ago he competed and completed his first half-marathon! Wow, I can't say enough how totally impressed I am with his accomplishment! Not only did he complete it, he ran it really WELL (keeping a 10 min pace, he's awesome)!<br />
<br />
In the coming weeks I hope to have some time to type out my thoughts and progress of planning Bobcat's upcoming 7th grade year. I know, I'm fairly shocked as well. Actually, I really try not to think about it because I just don't feel prepared and like any homeschooling parent I wonder how ready he is!<br />
<br />
<img align="left" src="http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/vv78/mudduckstudio/Stephanie%20Hightower/siggycopy-1.png" style="border: 0;" />MommaLlamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727067626990325247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584324646457381757.post-88810972952728703122012-02-17T09:53:00.001-06:002012-02-17T09:55:41.843-06:00The worst is over and I'm headlong into recovery. At least that is what the doctor told me yesterday as he clipped the stitched and pulled out the splints!<br />
<br />
Okay, going into this surgery everyone told me it was no big deal... I would be up and about in no time, feelin fine. I really thought this because typically I bounce back pretty quick, I rarely let anything slow me down! This surgery has been different.<br />
<br />
To give you a brief run down on the gist of it... here goes:<br />
<br />
I went to the hospital on the 6th. Naturally my blood pressure was a little high, I get a little edgy! The intake nurse was kind enough to blow out two veins on my left arm and not able to start an IV (nearly two weeks later that arm is still black and blue... nice). Then she proceeded to tell me that "this is day surgery so YOU need to wake up, don't curl up in a ball and pretend you are still asleep, WAKE UP and LEAVE!" Nice bedside manner, right?! Some waiting, then say adios to Daddio and taken to the holding pen. This is where the anesthesia team gets ya goin! Thankfully the nurses here where able to get the IV in on the first go! Oh and they put this sweet patch behind my ear and for the first time in 32 years I did not immediately get sick upon waking up! YEAH!!<br />
<br />
Enter drugs... sleepy... don't even remember them rolling the bed beyond the doors!<br />
<br />
I remember waking up post-op, and looking toward the end of the bed to a nurse standing there doing paperwork. In a very nice voice she tells to me to close my eyes and rest, that I was going to be in that spot for another 45-60 minutes and there was no need to wake up. WHAT? What a relief! So I closed me eyes... from time to time they would flutter open, and I could make out the same nurse standing there... but I would close them again... who knows how long (well, Daddio does I guess), I was in a private room. The oxygen mask had been taken off, but the blow up leg thingy-ies were still inflating and deflating (those were kind of weird but kind of massagy too). I had a new nurse at this point and she brought me water and crackers... and Daddio! Boy was I glad to see him...<br />
<br />
Surprising, all of the nurses that I came in contact with post-op were not trying to shuffle me out of the door as I thought would happen based on the foreboding comments of the intake nurse. Praise GOD! They were kind, and gentle... and one in particular was so caring during that quite humbling experience of redressing before you leave!<br />
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The car ride home was pretty painful, we were in Daddio's little Mazda... I could feel every crack in the pavement as we drove home... thankfully I was still really sleepy and just closed me eyes and tried to sleep.<br />
<br />
What does it feel like... like you've been punched in the face. Since that day all the way to this day... that's what it feels like. Pain meds help, but I could still feel it. My eyes even hurt... it was just weird. Unfortunately on top of all of it, I was having a reaction to the pain meds and the anti-biotic and had to take loads of benadryl to keep the reactions manageable. I slept a lot, which was nice.<br />
<br />
Fast forward a week and half or so...<br />
<br />
Yesterday I went in and had the splints removed... wow (not a real pleasant experience but no one cried or puked so I would say it was successful)... air going into both sides of my nose, strange! I can't really smell yet. Every now and again I pick up a little bit of a scent... but not everything is back up and functioning yet. I'm not allowed to blow my nose for 6 weeks (but I can sniff, which is annoying)... there are still a bunch of dissolving stitches in there they don't want messed up. I can't take a bath for another 3 weeks (showers only for some reason). No lifting for 4 weeks, no stooping for another 2 weeks... weird stuff like that. I can finally get my contacts in without my eyes feeling weird, but my nose hurts too much to wear glasses yet. Everything is itchy in there... my cheeks (well the sinus cavities) are still sort of numbish, as well as the roof of my mouth feeling a little strange and sore. My front lip doesn't work very well, so straws are still my best friend for drinking... and yawning... oh good heavens, not a great idea! So it would seem that I have another 4 weeks at least of things not feeling or working quite right, and I guess that is what has thrown me. I really didn't expect more than a few days of not feeling great, and then being the healthy person I was before the last sinus infection started.<br />
<br />
End rambling now :-)<br />
<br />
Well, I've been sitting up for a while now, and am starting to feel a lot of unwanted throbbing... so back to recline I go!<br />
<br />
<b>
<img align="left" src="http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/vv78/mudduckstudio/Stephanie%20Hightower/siggycopy-1.png" style="border: 0pt none;" />
</b>MommaLlamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727067626990325247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584324646457381757.post-77112476242601348612012-01-26T13:50:00.001-06:002012-01-26T13:50:30.890-06:00Cheesey SouffleMy first souffle! Of course, I was make a large batch and really didn't know how full to fill the little ramekins (she uses larger ones on her recipe, which I didn't notice until after I began mixing everything)... they did rise to the top, but soon after settled in! They were so cute... so puffy... so TASTY! I highly recommend this recipe for <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/claire-robinson/parmesan-cheese-souffle-recipe/index.html">Parmesan Cheese Souffle</a>!<br />
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<br />MommaLlamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727067626990325247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584324646457381757.post-38794271006875040692012-01-18T10:10:00.003-06:002012-01-18T12:40:27.580-06:00The nose knowsWell, the nose is supposed to know... unfortunately mine never got the memo. <i>What memo</i>? You know, the memo about being normal and not always having a sinus infection and all that jazz... yeah we missed that one! I've been fighting a nasty and frustrating sinus infection since September, which brought on bronchitis at times and fluid in the ears. I've had a handful of okay days in there, but mostly really crappy days. I've been to several appointments, tried several meds... one gave a little relief, while two caused me to have unpleasant reactions to say the least, oh then there was the shot with two steroids (not pleasant), a handful of nose sprays, the netti pot (sometimes 4-5 times a day, even with the threat of the dreaded brain bugs), tons of over the counter meds, allergy testing, CT scan, and finally a consult with an ENT (who stuck a camera down my nose, not one of my funnest moments).<br />
<br />
The one phrase the allergist used to sum it up: "You have anatomical abnormalities that cause you to have recurrent and long term sinus infections!" Yeah, I didn't need a medical degree to figure that one out either! So off to the ENT we went because that was really the only other person that could do anything about my situation. As it turns out surgery is the way to fix my <i>anatomical abnormalities</i>... oh JOY!<br />
<br />
In a few weeks I will go under the knife and wake up to a straightened septum and smaller something or others that need to be smaller (thanks to a laser), and 10 days after that I will be breathing a lot better! Yeah!<br />
<img align="left" src="http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/vv78/mudduckstudio/Stephanie%20Hightower/siggycopy-1.png" style="border: 0;" />
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<br />MommaLlamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727067626990325247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584324646457381757.post-76296819454651813602012-01-18T09:48:00.000-06:002012-01-18T12:38:29.812-06:00Thangs and Stuff<i>Thangs and stuff</i>, that is how Snooker will answer the question, "What have you been up to, today?"... and that, my friends, is what I've been up to all these weeks of not posting. Life has been busy this school year. Starting in September I began teaching twice a month at our homeschool co-op. I enjoy it for the most part, but it is somewhat time consuming on my brain. I'm working with 12 students (including Snooker and Bubba)... 6 boys and 6 girls, who for the most part have never picked up a needle. So coming up with the projects, and working out the directions, at times has been a real brain puzzler.<br />
<br />
Our own school year has been a little rocky. In some ways I wish I could say the problems are all new, but in all honesty, it's the same old problems just at a slightly higher level. I'm sure the even more seasoned homeschoolers out there will chuckle at that statement. I mean, for real, what was I expecting... that somehow their personalities would change and suddenly what they hated before they would love and that they would find new things to complain about... ha ha ha... not a chance. Same old, same old! Thankfully Daddio has once again stepped in and taken over the forever old reluctance in the math department! I can't even begin to imagine our homeschool running without his help and support... I would be in the loony bin FOR SURE without him (or in a quiet house all day because they are away at school, hmmmm don't tempt me :-)!<br />
<br />
So schooling has been stressful... what could be the only other <i>thang</i> that could be more stressful that that? Obedience of course! The last few months have been fraught with bizarre and frustrating behavior. In all honesty, I have no idea where most of it has come from. Although, Daddio reminds me regularly not to ask <b>WHY</b>, because there is no good answer... they are boys and that's what they do... we must just try to find ways to persuade them not to do really stupid things. Yeah, that's work, NOT! How bizarre you might ask?! Well, 3am pantry raids, picking up pre-chewed gum off the street and putting in their own mouth, getting into his allergy pills and taking far too many, deciding not to get up to use the restroom (not a fun one to find out about), eating Nutella with their hands hidden in the corner of their room, stashing large sums of half eaten granola bars in their book case and then the pillow case (Daisy the dog found those for me, some need bomb smelling dogs... we have a food stash finding dog!)... the list goes on and on really!<br />
<br />
Let's see what else has been keeping me busy... oh yeah, the holidays and my business. Turns out if you have a shop on Etsy and products people want to give as gifts you will do quite nicely for yourself! It is a lot of fun having a shop and creating products, but it has also been very time consuming. Along with the sewing for my shop, we decided that all of the extended family gifts would be hand made (my hands would be doing all the making). So between all the custom orders for the shop, and tons of gifts for the family, I WAS BUSY! I can honestly say that I'm glad that is done! Now that I know how it works, I will be far better prepared for it! On a side note, while it is so exciting to see my goods here in the continental US, I've also had sales in London and Australia! Boy, I was super pumped going to PO to ship those!<br />
<br />
So that's it in a nut shell.<br />
<img align="left" src="http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/vv78/mudduckstudio/Stephanie%20Hightower/siggycopy-1.png" style="border: 0;" />MommaLlamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727067626990325247noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584324646457381757.post-83117443095603795932011-10-21T13:53:00.002-05:002011-10-21T14:14:22.158-05:00Hi, All! <br />
<br />
I'm
hosting a quick and easy online party and I would love to share some
great gift ideas with you. My friend, Anne Dering, is an Independent
Demonstrator with Uppercase Living (a home decor company) and they have
just launched two fun catalogs. Uppercase Living is a company
whose mission is to uplift and inspire others through beautiful vinyl
decor and meaningful jewelry. Anne's website is <a href="http://www.uplift-and-inspire.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yiv1371783900ecxyiv1775520489yshortcuts" id="yiv1371783900ecxyiv1775520489lw_1319059286_1">www.uplift-and-inspire.com</span></a><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;">
<br />
<br />
The
Blume Jewelry line of Uppercase Living blends inspiring messages with
artisan jewelry. Shop for any mood, any personality - elegant, graceful,
or bold. Shop for any lady in your life - including something sweet and
pretty from our children's collection. Each gorgeous collection can be
found here: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/blumejewelry" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yiv1371783900ecxyiv1775520489yshortcuts" id="yiv1371783900ecxyiv1775520489lw_1319059286_2">http://tinyurl.com/blumejewelry</span></a><br />
<br />
<br />
The
Holiday Edition Catalog features exclusive hip and heartfelt products
that will bring good cheer to every gathering. From decorations to
gifts, from Halloween to Christmas, you can shop from this great catalog
here: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/holidaycatalog2011" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yiv1371783900ecxyiv1775520489yshortcuts" id="yiv1371783900ecxyiv1775520489lw_1319059286_3">http://tinyurl.com/holidaycatalog2011</span></a><br />
<br />
<br />
When
you shop, associate your order to my online party. To do this, when
you're ready to check out, click on the button "Associate With Open
House". This button is found in the top below my friend Anne's picture. A
drop down list will appear. Find the button for my online party and
select it (Stephanie H.). Then, check out! :) Your order will be sent directly to you.<br />
<br />
A virtual copy of all the Uppercase Living catalogs can be found here: <a href="http://annedering.uppercaseliving.net/CatalogPreview.m" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yiv1371783900ecxyiv1775520489yshortcuts" id="yiv1371783900ecxyiv1775520489lw_1319059286_4">http://annedering.uppercaseliving.net/CatalogPreview.m</span></a> <br />
Simply click on the button "2011-2012 Catalog" to see the options for the Blume jewelry and the Holiday catalogs.<br />
<span id="yiv1371783900ecxyiv1775520489yui_3_2_0_36_1319073730775614">Other
fun information: You will
receive one exclusive free gift if you spend $60, two gifts if you
spend $80 and three gifts if you spend $100. This quick and easy party
will be a fun way to find something beautiful and meaningful for
yourself AND the special people on your Christmas List!! My party begins
now and will end at midnight <span class="yiv1371783900ecxyiv1775520489yshortcuts" id="yiv1371783900ecxyiv1775520489lw_1319059286_5"><span class="yiv1371783900ecxyiv1775520489yshortcuts" id="yiv1371783900ecxyiv1775520489lw_1319063484_0"><span class="yiv1371783900ecxyshortcuts" id="yiv1371783900ecxlw_1319208823_0"><span class="yiv1371783900yshortcuts" id="yiv1371783900lw_1319210416_3"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1319221977_0">on October 28th</span></span></span></span></span>. <span style="color: red;">You will definitely have all your orders back with enough time for wrapping your Christmas gifts.</span></span></div>
<img align="left" src="http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/vv78/mudduckstudio/Stephanie%20Hightower/siggycopy-1.png" style="border: 0;" />MommaLlamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727067626990325247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584324646457381757.post-73648764596411752972011-10-03T16:16:00.001-05:002011-10-03T16:17:56.612-05:00What to do...Have you answered the same question a million times (regarding some homeschooling thing)???? Yeah, me too. So what do I do? I make the 6th grader help the 4th grader. Genius, I know. I figure, it will reinforce what he should already know, he has far more patients with his younger brother at this stage of the day, and I can take 5 minutes to get a drink of water (cough me head off) and re-collect me thoughts!<br />
<br />
So there you have it, solving the world's problems one day at a time :-)!<br />
<br />
<img align="left" src="http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/vv78/mudduckstudio/Stephanie%20Hightower/siggycopy-1.png" style="border: 0pt none;" />
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<br />MommaLlamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727067626990325247noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584324646457381757.post-10277459935274724212011-09-14T09:16:00.000-05:002011-09-14T09:16:45.807-05:00Tasty and stuffedThis weekend we were looking to try something different and tasty... off to the 5 Ingredient Fix list to see what looked like it would hit the spot. Stuffed Pork Chops and Rice Pilaf, of course! And boy was is GOOD!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-O83_CF8p5yxU1R24cbgV77UVXjnp_jKhvt-ksQzyOXouFXp0AEjCcDOOuwcs8ljhViN45OPUQYyFY7bK1oXU4DvCUWxeqqT9jHUT1VCFMDE_jCKUkhftuOMZ_kG-swlVvBO_wdzqrkR/s1600/P9103775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-O83_CF8p5yxU1R24cbgV77UVXjnp_jKhvt-ksQzyOXouFXp0AEjCcDOOuwcs8ljhViN45OPUQYyFY7bK1oXU4DvCUWxeqqT9jHUT1VCFMDE_jCKUkhftuOMZ_kG-swlVvBO_wdzqrkR/s320/P9103775.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/claire-robinson/stuffed-pork-chops-recipe/index.html"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Stuffed Pork Chops</b></span></a><br />
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<h2 class="kv-ingred">Ingredients</h2><ul class="kv-ingred-list1"><li class="ingredient">1/4 cup chopped <a class="crosslink" href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/prune/index.html">prunes</a> </li>
<li class="ingredient">1/4 cup toasted slivered almonds, chopped, plus more for <a class="crosslink" href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/garnish/index.html">garnish</a> </li>
<li class="ingredient">3 tablespoons lemon olive oil </li>
<li class="ingredient">4 <a class="crosslink" href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/pork/index.html">pork loin</a> rib chops, 1 1/2 inches thick </li>
<li class="ingredient">Course salt and freshly ground black pepper </li>
<li class="ingredient">2 ounces goat cheese</li>
</ul><h2>Directions</h2><div class="instructions"> <div class="instruction"> In a bowl, mix the prunes and almonds with 1 tablespoon of lemon <a class="crosslink" href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/olive-oil/index.html">olive oil</a>. </div><br />
Cut a pocket on the side of each <a class="crosslink" href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/pork/index.html">pork chop</a> from the fat side to the bone. Season the outside of each chop with salt and pepper, to taste. Stuff each chop with 1/2-ounce of <a class="crosslink" href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/goat-cheese/index.html">goat cheese</a>, pushing it to the bottom of the opening, then stuff with the prune mixture. Secure with toothpicks. <br />
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Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons lemon olive oil in a large shallow <a class="crosslink" href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/dutch-oven/index.html">Dutch oven</a> over medium-high heat. Sear the chops on both sides until golden brown. Add water to come 1/4 of the way up the side of chops. Cover and simmer until the chops are cooked, about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove chops to a serving platter and <a class="crosslink" href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/simmer/index.html">simmer</a> the liquid and any <a class="crosslink" href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/stuffing/index.html">stuffing</a> drippings until reduced to a thick sauce. Pour the sauce over the chops and serve garnished with toasted almonds. <br />
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<a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/claire-robinson/rice-pilaf-recipe/index.html"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Rice Pilaf</b></span></a><br />
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<h2 class="kv-ingred">Ingredients</h2><ul class="kv-ingred-list1"><li class="ingredient">1 cup low-sodium <a class="crosslink" href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/broth/index.html">chicken broth</a> </li>
<li class="ingredient">1 cup water </li>
<li class="ingredient">1 to 2 tablespoons <a class="crosslink" href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/olive-oil/index.html">olive oil</a> </li>
<li class="ingredient">1/2 cup chopped <a class="crosslink" href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/scallion/index.html">scallions</a>, white and green parts </li>
<li class="ingredient">1 cup long-grain <a class="crosslink" href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/rice/index.html">white rice</a> </li>
<li class="ingredient">Salt and freshly ground black pepper </li>
<li class="ingredient">1/2 cup toasted chopped <a class="crosslink" href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/walnut/index.html">walnuts</a></li>
</ul><h2>Directions</h2><div class="instructions"> <div class="instruction"> Bring the broth and water to a boil in saucepan over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low and keep hot. </div><br />
In another <a class="crosslink" href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/saucepan/index.html">saucepan</a>, heat oil over medium heat. Add the scallions and cook for about 3 minutes. Stir in the rice, season with salt and pepper, to taste, and cook for another 2 minutes. Pour in the hot broth mixture and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a <a class="crosslink" href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/simmer/index.html">simmer</a> and cover the saucepan. Cook until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender, about 20 minutes. Stir in walnuts and taste for seasoning, adjusting as necessary. Transfer the pilaf to a serving bowl and serve. <br />
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*Go... go now, get what you need to make this... and ENJOY!!!*<br />
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<img align="left" src="http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/vv78/mudduckstudio/Stephanie%20Hightower/siggycopy-1.png" style="border: 0;" />MommaLlamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727067626990325247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584324646457381757.post-23034969925498468022011-08-15T15:11:00.005-05:002011-08-15T15:27:31.633-05:00Ring, Ring, Ring<p>"Hello, yes, <span style="font-style: italic;">Paddy Wagon people</span>, I'm ready for pick-up!"</p><p>Parenting is like living in an insane asylum! Every day you have no idea what to expect from your ward. They could be perfectly normal, or they could be living in fantasy land that day, or the naughty/angry personality has shown up (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">un</span>-invited). Okay, some of you wonderful, loving, ultra patient parents are probably reading this thinking that I'm off my rocker for sure this time, and what business do I have parenting with such thoughts.</p><p>Well, to your first thought... YEP! To the second notion... I question that myself!</p><p>So what spurred on these thoughts today, of all days... Anybody notice it is Monday?! I dislike Mondays; the only Mondays that are good Mondays are Mondays at the beach otherwise I bite my thumb in their direction!</p><p>This Monday started off like any other Monday, up and breakfast in a quicker pace than usual because the boys have gymnastics (just the summer at this time) at 8:00am! Snooker is NOT A MORNING PERSON! After he finally finished his breakfast, got dressed and all the other stuff they do in the morning, he knew he needed to do stretches. I asked about one of them, he lied about it, I told him he needed to do it... then hit the restroom before we left. As he walked away from he muttered under his breath (I should mention here he has a terrible back-talk habit)... "You just <span style="font-style: italic;">Shut-UP</span>!"</p><p><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Daddio</span> relayed the morning's events to a co-worker, and<span id="yui_3_2_0_5_131343966675477" style="font-family:Garamond;font-size:100%;"><span id="yui_3_2_0_5_131343966675476" style="font-size:12pt;"> she said, <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">“<span style="font-style: italic;">How old was he? Notice how I used the past tense because I already assume he’s dead</span>…”</span></span></span></span></p><p>Oh, Mondays... why must you be so cruel!?!
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<br />MommaLlamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727067626990325247noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584324646457381757.post-5993116588292429472011-08-09T18:27:00.003-05:002011-08-09T18:40:48.275-05:00A few more new favorites!So I've posted about our new obsession with 5 Ingredient Fix... oh how we love that show. Here are a handful of recipes we've tried, and LOVED!
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<br />First up <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/claire-robinson/grown-up-farmhouse-grilled-cheese-recipe/index.html">Grown-Up Farmhouse Grilled Cheese
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.foodnetwork.com/FOOD/2009/07/15/GrownUpFarmhouseGrilledCheese_s4x3_lg.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 455px; height: 372px;" src="http://img.foodnetwork.com/FOOD/2009/07/15/GrownUpFarmhouseGrilledCheese_s4x3_lg.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>
<br /><h2 class="kv-ingred">Ingredients</h2> <ul class="kv-ingred-list1"><li class="ingredient">8 thin slices pancetta </li><li class="ingredient">8 slices brioche, about 1/2-inch thick </li><li class="ingredient">4 ounces sharp white <a href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/cheddar/index.html" class="crosslink">Cheddar</a>, thinly sliced (recommended: Farmhouse) </li><li class="ingredient">1 large heirloom <a href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/tomato/index.html" class="crosslink">tomato</a>, cut into 4 slices </li><li class="ingredient">Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper </li><li class="ingredient">3 tablespoons butter, room temperature</li></ul> <h2>Directions</h2> <div class="instructions"> <p class="instruction"> Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Set a rack on a rimmed baking sheet. </p> <p> </p> <p>Lay the <a href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/pancetta/index.html" class="crosslink">pancetta</a> slices on the rack on the baking sheet and bake until <a href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/crisp/index.html" class="crosslink">crisp</a>, 15 to 18 minutes. </p> <p> </p> <p>Meanwhile, set your toaster to a low setting and toast the brioche slices, (they should be slightly dry but not brown). </p> <p> </p> <p>Lay 4 slices lightly toasted brioche on a work surface and cover the slices with half the <a href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/cheese/index.html" class="crosslink">cheese</a>, followed by a slice of tomato. Season each sandwich with a pinch of salt and a healthy grind of black pepper. Top each with 2 pancetta rounds and the remaining cheese. Lay the remaining <a href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/brioche/index.html" class="crosslink">brioche</a> slices on top and press down lightly. Butter the top of each sandwich with 1/2 tablespoon butter. </p> <p> </p> <p>Heat a large <a href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/griddle/index.html" class="crosslink">griddle</a> pan over medium heat. </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/melt/index.html" class="crosslink">Melt</a> the remaining tablespoon <a href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/butter/index.html" class="crosslink">butter</a> on the griddle pan and add the sandwiches, buttered side up. Cook until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is beginning to melt. Flip the sandwiches, press lightly, and continue cooking until golden and toasty. Transfer to a cutting board and slice the sandwiches with a serrated knife, on the diagonal. Arrange on a serving platter and serve immediately.
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<br /></p><p>Then we had a little dinner party over here a few weekends ago and served <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/claire-robinson/rosemary-pork-tenderloin-recipe/index.html">Rosemary Pork Tenderloin.</a>
<br /></p></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.foodnetwork.com/FOOD/2009/05/18/0067497-01_Rosemary-Pork-Tenderloin_s4x3_lg.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 470px; height: 352px;" src="http://img.foodnetwork.com/FOOD/2009/05/18/0067497-01_Rosemary-Pork-Tenderloin_s4x3_lg.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>
<br /><h2 class="kv-ingred">Ingredients</h2> <ul class="kv-ingred-list1"><li class="ingredient">1/3 cup Dijon mustard </li><li class="ingredient">2 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper </li><li class="ingredient">1 tablespoon freshly chopped rosemary leaves, plus 4 sprigs rosemary, with hard woody stems </li><li class="ingredient">5 large garlic cloves, 2 cloves minced, 3 cloves smashed </li><li class="ingredient">2 pork tenderloins, about 1-pound each </li><li class="ingredient">4 slices maple bacon</li></ul> <h2>Directions</h2> <div class="instructions"> <p class="instruction"> In a small bowl, whisk together the Dijon mustard, fresh ground black pepper, chopped rosemary, and minced garlic and mix well. Rub the mustard mixture over the surface of the tenderloins and wrap in plastic wrap. Marinate in the refrigerator for 1 hour. </p> <p> </p> <p>Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. </p> <p> </p> <p>Place rosemary sprigs and smashed garlic in the center of a roasting pan. Remove the plastic wrap from the tenderloins and top each with 2 slices of maple bacon. Tie with kitchen twine to secure bacon strips. </p> <p> </p> <p>Place the roasting pan in the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer, inserted in the tenderloins, registers 160 degrees F. Remove from oven when desired doneness is reached and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes on a cutting board. Remove kitchen twine, slice and serve with your favorite sides. Garnish with the rosemary sprigs and garlic. Enjoy!
<br /></p><p>Then it was Daddio's birthday last week and he requested fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and this delicious side dish: <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/claire-robinson/grandma-moores-creamed-corn-recipe/index.html">Homemade Creamed Corn</a>
<br /></p> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.foodnetwork.com/FOOD/2009/07/15/GrandmaMooresCreamedCorn_s4x3_lg.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 473px; height: 355px;" src="http://img.foodnetwork.com/FOOD/2009/07/15/GrandmaMooresCreamedCorn_s4x3_lg.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>
<br /><h2 class="kv-ingred">Ingredients</h2> <ul class="kv-ingred-list1"><li class="ingredient">6 slices bacon </li><li class="ingredient">8 large cobs fresh corn, preferably white, shucked and cleaned </li><li class="ingredient"><a href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/salt/index.html" class="crosslink">Kosher salt</a> and freshly cracked black pepper</li></ul> <h2>Directions</h2> <div class="instructions"> <p class="instruction"> In a large skillet, (seasoned cast iron does well here) cook the bacon over medium-high heat until crisp. Turn off the heat and transfer the bacon to a paper towel lined plate. Reserve the <a href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/drippings/index.html" class="crosslink">drippings</a> in the pan. </p> <p> </p> <p>On a cutting board, cut the stalk ends of the corn cobs to make a flat surface; stand them up and shave the <a href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/corn/index.html" class="crosslink">corn</a> from the cobs with a sharp chef's knife. Return the skillet to medium-low heat, and add the corn kernels. With the back of the knife, firmly scrape the cobs over a shallow plate to extract as much liquid (<a href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/milk/index.html" class="crosslink">milk</a>) as possible and add it to the skillet. </p> <p> </p> <p>Season corn lightly with salt and pepper and cook until broken down and creamy, about 30 to 45 minutes, stirring often; add water if the pan gets too dry. </p> <p>Serve warm or at room temperature. </p> <p> </p> <p>Note: <a href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/crisp/index.html" class="crosslink">Crisp</a> bacon can be crumbled over the creamed corn when serving or reserved for another use. If you have bacon drippings on hand, use 1/4 cup for this recipe.
<br /></p><p>*This particular menu had me on my feet cooking for several hours... it was a huge job... but well worth it! The creamed corn was a huge hit!
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<br /></p><p><img style="border:0;" src="http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/vv78/mudduckstudio/Stephanie%20Hightower/siggycopy-1.png" align="left" /></p>MommaLlamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727067626990325247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584324646457381757.post-37673588172511202432011-08-09T18:24:00.003-05:002011-08-09T18:27:22.006-05:00Chicken and GreensSorry that I left you hanging, there... waiting to find out about this recipe that I posted on last!
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<br />It was SO GOOOOOOOOOOD! The chicken was so tender and flavorful! The greens where full of flavor and a wonderful texture and firmness!
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<br />I highly recommend it... go out, by the ingredients and make it this week!
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglsAtPTCfZ84Fu1SqN8a_8rw9VoJU-86Rh6F5OqGsbfr9jSxbOxnlWJzLugjPiIDCBzsHXfcpVa7fAvu1yopM44GXE8-1wlRceN9ywrw7T5mXb785tPmGBEFA3gu8s1nJpXmDtUW3sMeTQ/s1600/P7283442.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglsAtPTCfZ84Fu1SqN8a_8rw9VoJU-86Rh6F5OqGsbfr9jSxbOxnlWJzLugjPiIDCBzsHXfcpVa7fAvu1yopM44GXE8-1wlRceN9ywrw7T5mXb785tPmGBEFA3gu8s1nJpXmDtUW3sMeTQ/s320/P7283442.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639001175251559730" border="0" /></a>
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<br /></p><p><img style="border:0;" src="http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/vv78/mudduckstudio/Stephanie%20Hightower/siggycopy-1.png" align="left" /></p>MommaLlamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727067626990325247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584324646457381757.post-26824875753968402212011-07-28T15:49:00.004-05:002011-07-28T16:02:04.060-05:005 Ingredient FixI have a new favorite TV show... can you guess what it is? I'm sure you are either thinking it is food or crafting (based on the majority of my posts... it seems like)... it's FOOD! The show... <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/5-ingredient-fix/index.html">5 Ingredient Fix</a>! It's genius I tell you... everything she prepares on the show has 5 ingredients or less (salt and pepper are not included in the count). So far EVERY SINGLE EPISODE we've seen has left us starving and desperate to try!<br /><br />Well today I woke and decided that I could wait no longer! I spent some time on the recipes list trying to find things that I already had all or part of the makings for. Not a lot of luck. I had chicken... hmmmm, well, okay, what would I need to buy to make some sort of chicken? Oh, and we need a side dish...<br /><br />What did I pick?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Citrus Garlic Chicken</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9an2YPIEq-yAvmR4XHfCuSUprCzPwzKduTlJP40BdoiYid-7T-Hfb62AAgFg8phJwvl7lckJvsJWMNUr0uNlWPJBY6HWcLx_tTk0rePOlorEuKrMwagY9P-ivr_iLDvUzC62QStJakrz/s1600/P7283437.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9an2YPIEq-yAvmR4XHfCuSUprCzPwzKduTlJP40BdoiYid-7T-Hfb62AAgFg8phJwvl7lckJvsJWMNUr0uNlWPJBY6HWcLx_tTk0rePOlorEuKrMwagY9P-ivr_iLDvUzC62QStJakrz/s320/P7283437.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634509380527924434" border="0" /></a><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> 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style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-outline-level:2"><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Ingredients</span></b></p> <ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">4 large bone-in, skin on chicken breasts, about 3 pounds</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">4 large whole chicken thighs, about 2 pounds</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" 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line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">4 large cloves garlic, peeled and smashed</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for seasoning</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">Freshly cracked black pepper</span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-outline-level:2"><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Directions</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Put the chicken in a large nonmetalic bowl. Put the orange and lime zests in a small bowl and add the fruit juices. Whisk in the olive oil, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, and a generous grind of black pepper. Pour the marinade over the chicken and toss until well coated. Marinate for 20 to 30 minutes but no longer than 45 minutes.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Put a rack on a rimmed baking sheet. With tongs, remove the chicken pieces from the marinade and arrange them on the rack leaving space between each piece. Drizzle a small spoonful of the marinade over the top of each chicken piece; season well with salt and pepper, to taste. Roast until the chicken is cooked through and the juices run clear when meat is pierced with a knife, about 45 minutes.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Transfer the chicken to a serving platter. Cool slightly before serving or let stand until room temperature before refrigerating for later use. </span></p> <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">-AND-<br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Nutty Greens with Bacon</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisq0CD5bLuf29efpMc8l-w_wbYpLFJFKpWYSh4CQ9GX4uLZ0nrWmVgIxHRygg8CsGu5s-y6S_yftNARC6K-OJitxw_Yzw3H2aFyk7PbXp-GAy1OgfOUtxNjWi1Qp0oKEfJJq1Udb3KyYPj/s1600/P7283439.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisq0CD5bLuf29efpMc8l-w_wbYpLFJFKpWYSh4CQ9GX4uLZ0nrWmVgIxHRygg8CsGu5s-y6S_yftNARC6K-OJitxw_Yzw3H2aFyk7PbXp-GAy1OgfOUtxNjWi1Qp0oKEfJJq1Udb3KyYPj/s320/P7283439.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634509093033785986" border="0" /></a><!--[if gte 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mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-outline-level:2"><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Ingredients </span></b></p> <ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><a href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/salt/index.html"><span style="color:blue">Kosher salt</span></a> </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">1 pound haricots verts, trimmed </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">3 slices bacon </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">4 ounces <a href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/blue-cheese/index.html"><span style="color:blue">blue cheese</span></a>, cut into small chunks (recommended: Shropshire) </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">1 1/2 cups toasted whole pecans, coarsely chopped </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper</span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-outline-level:2"><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Directions</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Bring a large pot of salted water to a <a href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/boil/index.html"><span style="color:blue">boil</span></a> over high heat. Add the haricots verts and cook for about 2 minutes. Remove the <a href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/beans/index.html"><span style="color:blue">beans</span></a> from the water and immediately place in a bowl of ice water. Remove the haricots verts from the ice water and set aside in a medium bowl. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In a large saute pan, over medium heat, cook the bacon until <a href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/crisp/index.html"><span style="color:blue">crisp</span></a>. Remove the bacon and place on paper towels. Add the beans to the bacon <a href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/drippings/index.html"><span style="color:blue">drippings</span></a> and cook over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the blue cheese and toss just until it starts to <a href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/melt/index.html"><span style="color:blue">melt</span></a>. Break the cooked bacon into bite-size pieces and add to pan. <a href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/finish/index.html"><span style="color:blue">Finish</span></a> by stirring in the toasted chopped pecans. Season with the freshly ground black pepper and just a tiny <a href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/pinch/index.html"><span style="color:blue">pinch</span></a> of kosher salt. Serve immediately.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">--------------------------------------------<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">I'm super excited for tonight... oh and I made chocolate pudding for dessert...YUM! I'll let you know how it all turns out!<br /></span></p> <p><img style="border:0;" src="http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/vv78/mudduckstudio/Stephanie%20Hightower/siggycopy-1.png" align="left" /></p>MommaLlamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727067626990325247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584324646457381757.post-44850806188994859252011-07-17T07:36:00.002-05:002011-07-17T07:58:07.602-05:00This means war!<p>Generally I'm not a confrontational person. I won't say anything, I will simply let things fester! Oh how I let them fester, until one day I can't take it any more and ... <span style="font-weight: bold;">boom</span>! Granted this is a character fault I've been working on, and it has gotten better over the years... but it is still a thorn.</p><p>Now, when I'm having to deal with businesses, this can be tricky. Years past, I simply burned bridges and damned things to hell, never to return to said businesses... but I've learned patience, and that generally the people I'm dealing with are morons whe have no clue and the IQ of my 8 year old and really can't be held responsible. So you have to find the right channel in order to get things done... CORPORATE!</p><p>Enter in my current issue... medical bills. Ever since the boys came home, this is a monthly battle for one reason or another... but it all boils down to dr/lab not billing the boys' secondary insurance! I end up spending HOURS per phone call trying to get it resolved... even though they take all the information the day of the appointment (or even before that)... even when we've been there before and all they do is make another copy of the same info... I still end up getting bills that were never filed correctly. It is infuriating. Usually I just make the calls... set my cell on speaker and keep on doing the boys school work, or cleaning house, or folding laundry... whatever, you get the picture. This year I decided to try a few new things.</p><p>I'm currently in a stalemate over an appointment back on the second week of January. Every time we use this office, and this lab we have this problem. I know, I haven't learned... but this is Bobcat's endo, and I just didn't want to switch because I knew that we would be tapering off the visits because he was seeing his gastro to take care of the CD. Now I finally resolved the bill with the office after 3 very long waiting phone calls, and then one very to the point email which made it to the director of billing who called to apologize. Sweet, taken care of. I used the same approach with the lab... but to no avail. This morning marked the 5th bill, and the 5th time I contacted them. The first three times were by phone. Each wait time to get an operator was well over an hour! So on the four time I went to their website and left a message on their inquiry form (June 15th) with my phone number and the list of dates I had already spoken to them. NO RESPONSE! This morning, I did the same thing.</p><p>After I hit send, my blood was boiling and the wheels in my brain where just a' spinnin! I think a new plan of attack needs to be waged... THIS IS WAR! Since they won't listen, or respond to my once a month calls/emails... I will now log on to their site EVERY MORNING, and send the same inquiry simply adding on the new date to the list. Surely this will get some response, right?</p><p>If I had a nickel for every minute I've had to spend on the phone for insurance billing issues in the last 7 years with the boys... I would be able to buy the beach house of my dreams!<br /></p><p><img style="border:0;" src="http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/vv78/mudduckstudio/Stephanie%20Hightower/siggycopy-1.png" align="left" /></p>MommaLlamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727067626990325247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584324646457381757.post-90380513365859160922011-07-12T11:34:00.002-05:002011-07-12T11:43:20.818-05:00Tryin' somethin' new!<p>I'm stepping out on a limb this summer, and trying something new... there is little risk (I guess), and the opportunity to have a little fun. Well, fun for me that is :-).</p><p>First, I've started up a second blog. Why??? Well, this blog really is meant to chronicle our life... not my ever growing need to sit behind a sewing machine! So, I've decided to carve out a little world of crafting next door at: <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://sewnescape.blogspot.com/">Sewn Escape</a>! This way for those who come here to find out about adoption, homeschooling, our Catholic faith within our family... all the normal stuff we write about here... that's what you will find. If you aren't interested in all the crafty stuff, you won't be bogged down by weeding through the posts that aren't for you.</p><p>If you like that sort of thing... <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://sewnescape.blogspot.com/">come on over</a>!</p><p>My second project, which sort of goes hand in hand with the first, is I've decided to open my own Etsy shop, <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/HoneyBeesShoppe?ref=pr_shop">Honey Bee's Shoppe</a>.</p><p>So there you have it... Momma Llama's summer o' fun!<br /></p><p><img style="border:0;" src="http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/vv78/mudduckstudio/Stephanie%20Hightower/siggycopy-1.png" align="left" /></p>MommaLlamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727067626990325247noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584324646457381757.post-52037102860253868702011-07-06T07:14:00.002-05:002011-07-06T07:49:45.257-05:00One Eye Open<p>After the shocking (but somewhat completely expected, after the initial accusations in March) news broke on (ex) Fr. Corapi, I didn't think the day could sink any lower... WRONG! Food, glorious food, strikes an unhappy note in the house.</p><p>If you've read this blog for any length of time you will know that Bobcat has Celiac Disease. The long of the short of it is that he can't have gluten (a protein found in wheat primarily). Back before he was diagnosed, we had no idea. He didn't have the most common signs, at least to our untrained eye, and his long time suffering was something that he thought was just normal. Even after the initial diagnosis before the biopsy I was quite skeptical that he had it... to me it just didn't make since.</p><p>Here's the thing about CD, it just doesn't seem real on paper. Every symptom could easily be associated with something else, and no two CD suffers are the same (regarding symptom presentation). Even though we now live in this world of gluten-free eating, I can totally understand outsiders <span style="font-style: italic;">not understanding</span> the struggles or even the need for it. And in some ways the fad to be GF just because (while it helps with labeling food) takes away the seriousness of it for those who actually suffer.</p><p>So what's the biggest problem for CDer's needing to be GF? Contamination (or cross-contamination)! Here at the house, obviously, we are able to control the environment and be very selective about what we buy and how I cook. I would say that 99% of the time when I serve a meal it is ALL GF. There are occasions when this isn't the case, and last night was that sort of situation. We were having sloppy joes. I bought regular buns for everyone else, and had GF bread for Bobcat. When I went to fix Bobcat's portion, Daddio thought I went a little heavy on the sauce, and so I scooped some out and put into another boy dish. Well, when I did that some of the GF bread ended up in the other dish... along with the wheat bun... so at a glance you saw GF bread, not the bun (we do ours "open face" style and eat with forks...).</p><p>You see where this is going, right?! While I was busy working on getting cups filled and other plates made, I wasn't the one passing out the food dishes, and never saw that Bobcat's dish didn't end up in front of him... I also don't sit across from him, so I didn't notice his dish while he ate.</p><p>So what happens to a boy with Celiac Disease who eats a regular bun????? When it hits his digestive track his body freaks out! Poor kid was SICK! And we're not talking the "my tummy doesn't feel well because I ate too many sweets", oh no, it is more like the "<span style="font-style: italic;">MUST GET RID OF ALL TOXIC MATERIAL UNTIL THERE IS NOTHING LEFT THAT COULD POSSIBLY HARM ME, AND THEN SOME MORE JUST IN CASE!</span>"</p><p>The lesson here for us is that he still has CD, and he does have a violent reaction (it's been two years since the last time he contaminated himself... vanilla wafers can be a really strong temptation when no one is looking)... To anyone stumbling on to this post, when someone says they have CD and need to be GF, BELIEVE THEM!</p><p>As for me... today is going to be low key. When a mom has a sick kiddo, we sleep with one eye open listen for the horrid sound... which means I've had little sleep! Bobcat is a little on the dehydrated side, and his stomach hurts (all those muscles are currently on strike, and I know how he feels having had that sort of a reaction a few times in the last few years due to medications it turns out I'm allergic to). So he will most likely be spending time on the couch snoozing, reading, and hydrating. The other two knuckleheads are going to try their best to stay calm for the day... TRY being the operative word!</p><p>Fun times...<br /></p><p><img style="border:0;" src="http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/vv78/mudduckstudio/Stephanie%20Hightower/siggycopy-1.png" align="left" /></p>MommaLlamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727067626990325247noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584324646457381757.post-35159713300981982982011-06-29T15:23:00.009-05:002011-06-29T16:14:56.112-05:00Sew much to do...When I start titling posts in a corny manner, you've lost the battle for sanity :-)<br /><br />Over the weekend we had a very rare treat... NO KIDS! My MIL took the boys over night Saturday so that we could play an out of town concert with our band. That afforded us a date night Saturday night after the long drive home (we saw a movie that started at 10:15pm... CRAZY), and a leisurely Sunday. We went out to breakfast, and then went shopping just for fun (well, and for groceries... but that wasn't the fun part, okay it sort of was fun to be able to actually shop for groceries instead of attempt to follow your list, while throwing things in the buggy in a sort of careless manner while answering a million questions and telling boys to get out of other shopper's way!).<br /><br />Anyway... after all the practical stuff, we ended up at Tuesday Mornings. Mostly we were in search of a little 'Thank You' gift for my MIL for keeping the boys... but of course, one must always keep an eagle eye out for the perfect thing you never thought you needed ;-).<br /><br />Who knew they would have a stash of fabric... NOT THIS GIRL! But lo and behold they had a little crafty section that had jelly rolls a few fat quarter bundles. I found a great fat quarter bundle for $5 (8 fat quarters where in the package)... and, well, I just couldn't pass it up. Here is a shot of the fabrics included:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYzw0MJtj9B7n_6sug1KKN6odsJsH5qcLc-CPRV2FiIO6DcWG8PiB86jzB-A0j0dsa6bJc4_ozyM3rLBhP3Szq-tAGZ_BLDsJPbFG3hRUqgYOFwLbn0pnbc281uokdSrYSRvd7cWMdqkps/s1600/P6293306.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYzw0MJtj9B7n_6sug1KKN6odsJsH5qcLc-CPRV2FiIO6DcWG8PiB86jzB-A0j0dsa6bJc4_ozyM3rLBhP3Szq-tAGZ_BLDsJPbFG3hRUqgYOFwLbn0pnbc281uokdSrYSRvd7cWMdqkps/s320/P6293306.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623744008929383858" border="0" /></a>If you've stumbled across my blog as of late you will know the love I have for pouches, purses and the like... and my new love for sewing them (thanks to great patterns I've found online). Today was a day to sit at the machine... I <span style="font-style: italic;">NEEDED</span> it. The boys and I have gone round and round lately, my hands needed an activity and the boys needed to go outside and play (which they asked to do right after they got their dishes put away from breakfast)... prayer granted!<br /><br />What to sew, which pattern to follow, which fabrics would I pull together... <span style="font-style: italic;">did I have any more zipper</span>s??? I spent some time looking through my Pinterest account, and finally decided that while I really liked the <a href="http://www.noodle-head.com/2010/04/gathered-clutch-tutorial.html">Gathered Clutch from Noodlehead</a>, it wasn't exactly what I wanted. I wanted something larger so that my wallet would actually fit in there (I'm not one for always taking things apart from one purse to the next... I just want to take my wallet and notebook out, and transplant it to the next bag, I'm less likely to wander off without something I actually need). After a lot of looking and figuring I decided to alter the gathered clutch pattern, and work from the <a href="http://www.madebylex.com/2010/12/how-to-ruffle-fabric-with-your-sewing-machine.html">tutorial on gathering here</a> (my last two were not gathered, but pleated because I became irate with how I was gathering).<br /><br />I enlarged the dimensions so that the pre-sewn numbers were 11x8, and also made a little wrist strap. Here is a shot of the inside panel with the card holder. I really love that yellow material (even though I am not a huge fan of yellow... I really like the butterflies that have the pink flowers from the outer fabric in them).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGRndnViVJx0ER_yokErCzSCSmVn5AzMoHN7aHLHy_YHarpiDAqi9bdn4HPh8Gf4sK4wQHIU9X_AxheNDUo698YLjmyuPDN4X7MCly8VLQ9Ze38uG_u3cW-LgVq5ohUwdUwyS1iaKCDhj/s1600/P6293307.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGRndnViVJx0ER_yokErCzSCSmVn5AzMoHN7aHLHy_YHarpiDAqi9bdn4HPh8Gf4sK4wQHIU9X_AxheNDUo698YLjmyuPDN4X7MCly8VLQ9Ze38uG_u3cW-LgVq5ohUwdUwyS1iaKCDhj/s320/P6293307.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623743999552621602" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovY8WCS9Erkji8nNZS4D4N1BbYldbFiCNfpM69aFQ7ptBlNXqluGUKdWSF56IyH67TdoW65f5xQ_V5DXdcPcOS1U0aKypvc83MHEM8cp2NGEBeZ3atv3MYptuJH9_dH2oxd7xjIuDRHsw/s1600/P6293309.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovY8WCS9Erkji8nNZS4D4N1BbYldbFiCNfpM69aFQ7ptBlNXqluGUKdWSF56IyH67TdoW65f5xQ_V5DXdcPcOS1U0aKypvc83MHEM8cp2NGEBeZ3atv3MYptuJH9_dH2oxd7xjIuDRHsw/s320/P6293309.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623742909674936754" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6zenYF8isMzoiXmnUVeBGo4x15oqPoxAyk4ErrMhzKcmFLMsdXZeWz5baRrP66sXEJbd610ozCig2Q03OfpbIWuMTAFVd2h1P0LuyamvauLY9qrebugpn08WAgq7EmcsFKBMU0dd01qH/s1600/P6293308.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6zenYF8isMzoiXmnUVeBGo4x15oqPoxAyk4ErrMhzKcmFLMsdXZeWz5baRrP66sXEJbd610ozCig2Q03OfpbIWuMTAFVd2h1P0LuyamvauLY9qrebugpn08WAgq7EmcsFKBMU0dd01qH/s320/P6293308.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623742918351948178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTjh9odmO8W7PqfVXzOGO4ojmaJ7rr-Gfq0RZEetqb5nt0yEgBal1MFxhFU-H7obkWUpcv_2wFyF0m6NycNTWwoWtVYZx6PZlgrx4k80VA2qLcn8RSCqZSefcCTeMbV_iLzvvypNTTv3m3/s1600/P6293310.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTjh9odmO8W7PqfVXzOGO4ojmaJ7rr-Gfq0RZEetqb5nt0yEgBal1MFxhFU-H7obkWUpcv_2wFyF0m6NycNTWwoWtVYZx6PZlgrx4k80VA2qLcn8RSCqZSefcCTeMbV_iLzvvypNTTv3m3/s320/P6293310.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623742351469348850" border="0" /></a>The other big change I made in this bag is that I notched the corners so that it would have a flat squared off bottom. It's cool, with the wallet inside it actually stands up!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ8d2EcctPEJjNWLS-Zf7P9rI8dRqRNms0xCY1ftmthJmZPLMsUavonvL42vL25Wxa1zTqmVPsTnLKUs5qjhgYzT0G-zGBUHAXTfwL2AUH9hEukK7G40IpFkBPSsGb-OUBjT7Z5177eWSi/s1600/P6293311.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ8d2EcctPEJjNWLS-Zf7P9rI8dRqRNms0xCY1ftmthJmZPLMsUavonvL42vL25Wxa1zTqmVPsTnLKUs5qjhgYzT0G-zGBUHAXTfwL2AUH9hEukK7G40IpFkBPSsGb-OUBjT7Z5177eWSi/s320/P6293311.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623742049109469522" border="0" /></a>I am totally digging this little clutch...<br /><br /><center><a href="http://sewmuchado.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy351/jdsmit21/SMAbuttonWDIWargylecopy-1.jpg" border="0" /></a></center><br /><br /><img style="border:0;" src="http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/vv78/mudduckstudio/Stephanie%20Hightower/siggycopy-1.png" align="left" /><p></p>MommaLlamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727067626990325247noreply@blogger.com3