tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39654443545912420792024-03-13T01:02:25.360-05:00The Bets Week EverFor me to share a little bit about my daily life ... and the Bets Week Ever!Betshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676656976575891075noreply@blogger.comBlogger583125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965444354591242079.post-84890261268367123942012-12-12T22:26:00.004-06:002012-12-12T22:26:48.620-06:00Yes, clearly I HAVE forgotten about this blog!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_5_1355032550420_461" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The top 19 Reasons Betsy Has <u>Not</u> Posted On This Blog In Exactly <u>Six</u> <u>Months</u>:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">1.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> I</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_38_1355032550420_435" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">t's not always possible to pick the "Bets Week Ever" things every week.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> L</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_38_1355032550420_434" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">ots of things happening with lots of friends - new jobs, new last names, new babies, new area codes - and I wanted to be there supporting all of them!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">3.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> I </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_38_1355032550420_438" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">did battle with a bat! Enough said. {Actually, it was three bats!}</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">4. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">K</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_38_1355032550420_439" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">ansas has been taken over by a Secretary of State who is trying to figure-out how to prevent people who weren't born here from reading this blog. I object because my Mother was born in Texas and my sister was born in Missouri.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">5</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. El</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_38_1355032550420_440" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">ections! Exciting Everywhere <u>Else</u>!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">6. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">T</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">rips to see BFFs ... Colorado, Arkansas, Ohio!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">7. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">fternoon walks with Minnie. We've seen lots of wildlife, and lived to talk about it.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">8. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">K</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">U plays more than one Division 1 sport and they need my support. Sadly, none of the teams play during the Fall.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">9.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> I</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">t almost never rained and I was waiting for an old-fashioned rainy day to stay inside and post.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">10.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> N</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">ew school year with 25 great children ... and none of them read blogs!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">11. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">G</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">eorgia has kept me busy.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">12.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> P</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">resident Obama asked me to do my part and keep the economy going. After a new refrigerator, air conditioner, garbage disposal and car, my 'blogging' engine ran out of fuel.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">13. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">no longer needed to be studying for my National Board Certification, so used my free time to watch the programs on my DVR.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">14. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">C</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">ooking up a storm!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">15.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> T</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">EAM Tailgate needed a chaperone on too many Saturdays.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">16. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">U</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">nusual weather patterns. It's getting blamed for everything else, why not my lack of new posts on this blog!?!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">17. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">R</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">iting and Rithmetic are full-time responsibilities, even if 'cursive' is going away.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">18. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">E</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">llen is doing so many things and I want to be there when I can.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">19.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> S</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">o, if you read the first letter of </span><u style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">each</u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: 15px;"> of these 19 Reasons Betsy Has Not Posted To This Blog In Exactly Six Months ... You will get a clue.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">I. LIKE. TAKING. PICTURES.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Or, go to <a href="http://www.theviewacrosstown.com/" id="yui_3_7_2_38_1355032550420_394" rel="nofollow" style="color: #234786; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span class="" id="lw_1355372428_0">http://www.theviewacrosstown.com/</span></a> and see what I've done in the<b> last <u>180</u> days</b>!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">My thanks to my "ghostwriter" who is so OCD that he finally sent me this rough draft. Obviously he should have spent more time with his own book project. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">{Thanks, Dad! I guess you don't like the fact that I haven't updated this blog more often. I hope at some point, I'll be back here more regularly!}</span></i></span></span>Betshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676656976575891075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965444354591242079.post-78422205542951677052012-07-12T19:25:00.003-05:002012-07-12T23:55:17.687-05:00No. I haven't forgotten about this blog.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I post pictures and daily happenings in so many other places, that sometimes I forget about this blog. In case you aren't sure where to find those other postings ... here they are: <a href="https://twitter.com/betsymck" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/betsy.mcknight" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://instacanv.as/betsymck" target="_blank">Instagram</a>,<a href="http://www.theviewacrosstown.com/" target="_blank"> The View Across Town</a>. </div>
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I've already had a very full summer, and I just haven't found the energy to sit down and share about any of it. Or, I think you don't care. Or I know I've already shared the pictures a million times in other places. But, I find myself with a 2.5 hour layover in Cleveland (on my way to visit Julie) and I figured now would be as good a time as any to get an update on here. If you're lucky, there might be more than one blog post! ;) </div>
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Last week sometime, Ellen begged to go to the <a href="http://www.nelson-atkins.org/" target="_blank">Nelson-Atkins Museum</a> to see the <a href="http://www.lifewiththelunds.blogspot.com/2012/04/friday-funday.html" target="_blank">mummy in the Egyptian</a> area there. I do enjoy spending time in any museum, I've always enjoyed looking at the art, but lately, I've liked spending time there just to take pictures of the beautiful building, AND art, AND the people. It's pretty great for people watching. So, Mom, Molly, Ellen & I all got packed up in the car ... excited to see the mummy. Well, that promptly turned into a very frightening experience, and Ellen almost refused to even walk through the exhibit. We were able to get her to cover her eyes as we walked by the one and only mummy, so the adults could roam around to enjoy the art. </div>
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I wanted to share some of my favorite pictures from the few hours we were there. If you haven't been lately, the <a href="http://www.nelson-atkins.org/art/exhibitions/WorldsFairs/" target="_blank">World's Fairs exhibit</a> is pretty fantastic (and interactive at times, too), and there until August 19th. If you can't get to the Nelson, hopefully this photo wrap-up will be a bit of a virtual visit :)</div>
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I don't know any details about this piece, but it was huge & all along a big wall in the Bloch Building. So bright & fun. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIi0xG50ooJ-v7Q8vrjAKIOgy0Dm8-26S9z84weCzwz9Sdan_dNTzatYX6MQ4eUxXIVhrYOpFiGX1_kn-9Cz5gQNPfPfLbDxlVb0NSPyqXRm6rXyS3XaUXS4BhJSSm4duhEHC6w5M7dp1N/s1600/IMG_9063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIi0xG50ooJ-v7Q8vrjAKIOgy0Dm8-26S9z84weCzwz9Sdan_dNTzatYX6MQ4eUxXIVhrYOpFiGX1_kn-9Cz5gQNPfPfLbDxlVb0NSPyqXRm6rXyS3XaUXS4BhJSSm4duhEHC6w5M7dp1N/s320/IMG_9063.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Lots of texture in the American Art exhibit. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8wV9Y_1qX6EQOSUU-EMtsC4EgamZOHPmwE1q_vM_mtf4u0ZTK16AUFSgZryKnMRUOIZyle5o9kNKRs8FZXkDp2w4VXjwGAgcl35_-4XM_K4kcYCSiwgaHlwGM5ptqy3nFnZX07JxDnnBn/s1600/IMG_9056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8wV9Y_1qX6EQOSUU-EMtsC4EgamZOHPmwE1q_vM_mtf4u0ZTK16AUFSgZryKnMRUOIZyle5o9kNKRs8FZXkDp2w4VXjwGAgcl35_-4XM_K4kcYCSiwgaHlwGM5ptqy3nFnZX07JxDnnBn/s320/IMG_9056.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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These people startled me when I came around the corner. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qJjEkv4Atid3BsI560r5vvRPJrFKepcIVTUIaVxdI5VWdmVTtdWSshAX0J4yZwB_ji7ftWlK_YL_Uc8OyKwPoIt6FXkvwLzdKtBo_ITt79sWhYWq3co6C6vXS5MkP-poJ2r0p1gptrtE/s1600/IMG_9059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qJjEkv4Atid3BsI560r5vvRPJrFKepcIVTUIaVxdI5VWdmVTtdWSshAX0J4yZwB_ji7ftWlK_YL_Uc8OyKwPoIt6FXkvwLzdKtBo_ITt79sWhYWq3co6C6vXS5MkP-poJ2r0p1gptrtE/s320/IMG_9059.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Pretty hallways.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyraQlF4FWORwPtGaZwPSBD05vr6I-m2OXCSmGxI8XBEXdgjStpv-gCtaQV6lv7WmZpO1aXC_bzph8j3L81BbnhEq1RRt2Q-RhOQjkTPE5ldfXfY9-WFxKwiAcoaqklH0MSjKyeIKJyQM/s1600/IMG_9002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyraQlF4FWORwPtGaZwPSBD05vr6I-m2OXCSmGxI8XBEXdgjStpv-gCtaQV6lv7WmZpO1aXC_bzph8j3L81BbnhEq1RRt2Q-RhOQjkTPE5ldfXfY9-WFxKwiAcoaqklH0MSjKyeIKJyQM/s320/IMG_9002.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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The HUGE sarcophagus before the mummy. Ellen was okay to look at this, just not the wrapped up remains in the next room.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4GnegaB17Uw84u8EHfAbkBty4hngYmR3edLyzGQEVjL0n7_f_q5jPgHMFHvkGUpL05BrZtRrWvvBygWZqjqAHujJ-AjbJW9HDRXer6LAv-O8IM2CoglQ8wMG_ro1HAPdUV_0eo9BG4JiE/s1600/IMG_9005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4GnegaB17Uw84u8EHfAbkBty4hngYmR3edLyzGQEVjL0n7_f_q5jPgHMFHvkGUpL05BrZtRrWvvBygWZqjqAHujJ-AjbJW9HDRXer6LAv-O8IM2CoglQ8wMG_ro1HAPdUV_0eo9BG4JiE/s320/IMG_9005.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I like this carved sculpture. Again, not sure of the details & history.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3twYVp9IABkHsZPAOsuYsfS89V1ZSY14GulhnzlrYgijXcBWLefutxVu-NN7x0zv1mE_FqYvlOY3q2nKjWqTz5YdKHharYhTnlZNrZo3m7RU0OCTqDRq6d0Uu97DtH297D1HotImS5VEy/s1600/IMG_9012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3twYVp9IABkHsZPAOsuYsfS89V1ZSY14GulhnzlrYgijXcBWLefutxVu-NN7x0zv1mE_FqYvlOY3q2nKjWqTz5YdKHharYhTnlZNrZo3m7RU0OCTqDRq6d0Uu97DtH297D1HotImS5VEy/s320/IMG_9012.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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This room makes you feel like you are outside. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnQSt50XJfsXMWZ05cTvCFrcLYHWjgkpHCpuEbG_rQ_3UrSg8DLwGu_7_Uao6UT_ebYWU-ZCX-rlQyIFT7d0LYBBhvF_EUX7hh-r8ZL6BsfBr5_7YO7H693CTPg3C3KwYWYHtEbNHoboW/s1600/IMG_9013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnQSt50XJfsXMWZ05cTvCFrcLYHWjgkpHCpuEbG_rQ_3UrSg8DLwGu_7_Uao6UT_ebYWU-ZCX-rlQyIFT7d0LYBBhvF_EUX7hh-r8ZL6BsfBr5_7YO7H693CTPg3C3KwYWYHtEbNHoboW/s320/IMG_9013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Hello there, Buddha.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQyYJGA72utTznc8Gv_FfvQiZIrz1TNbejFzQl1r8HtwttLcisRrqVyCEhQdajVvTtP155qegp7nO6i26alSAHRFmsjp0UNz6NAFRuGi5ZKkwfFrxiBcx1SLlpX9qec79dF-dgUAkab4J/s1600/IMG_9021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQyYJGA72utTznc8Gv_FfvQiZIrz1TNbejFzQl1r8HtwttLcisRrqVyCEhQdajVvTtP155qegp7nO6i26alSAHRFmsjp0UNz6NAFRuGi5ZKkwfFrxiBcx1SLlpX9qec79dF-dgUAkab4J/s320/IMG_9021.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Ellen remembered this "Chinese bed" from the last time she was here. It took a lot of convincing before she realized she couldn't climb in.</div>
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World's Fair exhibit. Thanks for the tickets, Mom!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVedZ2Q_4kwjTT8U9yxc8B23zBNo72HlFLqk5t_5PsdawAKXxgi4HE3IBdi0WZo3dAqCqvhXicd6SAGt4w57oAQduEkxG_jknMKsZoghc2OAOSbiAxILMYcMiY0Jyr6FRLDuasJwUBLh8/s1600/IMG_9026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVedZ2Q_4kwjTT8U9yxc8B23zBNo72HlFLqk5t_5PsdawAKXxgi4HE3IBdi0WZo3dAqCqvhXicd6SAGt4w57oAQduEkxG_jknMKsZoghc2OAOSbiAxILMYcMiY0Jyr6FRLDuasJwUBLh8/s320/IMG_9026.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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"Ellen, do you want your picture with a lion?" </div>
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She ran ALL the way up that ramp, away from Molly, in the Bloch Building. They have great floors & ramps for running :)</div>
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"Trying" on jewelry in the World's Fair exhibit. Pretty fun way to do this. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuAvffoZ18tYyTQ43daXUOX5_i8JcOmMJ7BwExhCaqff05AmjossKAQBB6frW2MfoWdAyL_7uFfodZVUfVplTAO2Qr4GwDKSjMwmrEcqdKqv3-BIez4ooQMSMtTLXNiOY8lk3Ixl61dMT/s1600/IMG_9048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuAvffoZ18tYyTQ43daXUOX5_i8JcOmMJ7BwExhCaqff05AmjossKAQBB6frW2MfoWdAyL_7uFfodZVUfVplTAO2Qr4GwDKSjMwmrEcqdKqv3-BIez4ooQMSMtTLXNiOY8lk3Ixl61dMT/s320/IMG_9048.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Overall, it was a great trip. Next time, I'd like to go out on the grounds for <a href="http://thebetsweekever.blogspot.com/2010/05/biggest-front-yard-ive-ever-been-in.html" target="_blank">another photo walk</a>. That was a lot of fun last time we did that.Betshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676656976575891075noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965444354591242079.post-38256385627149698902012-05-12T11:13:00.000-05:002012-05-12T11:13:01.548-05:00Best JobThis is for all the wonderful Moms in my world. Thanks for all you do, the love you give, and the support you provide!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/NScs_qX2Okk" width="640"></iframe>Betshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676656976575891075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965444354591242079.post-22860441997749025002012-04-26T17:40:00.001-05:002012-04-26T17:40:37.274-05:00New shoes every day?Molly shared this article on Twitter. I just got around to reading it today after work. Fascinating!<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f3535; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 29px; line-height: 36px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f3535; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 29px; line-height: 36px;">Imagine Having To Buy A New Pair Of $60+ Shoes Every Single Day</span><br />
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By <a href="http://www.refinery29.com/author/connie-wang" rel="author" style="color: #2f3535; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"><span itemprop="author">Connie Wang</span></a></div>
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<span itemprop="articleBody">The new short film "Pointe Shoes" documents the New York City Ballet and its relationship with the thousands of pointe shoes that outfit its dancers. Oftentimes custom-made and tailored specifically to each ballerina's tastes, needs, and shape, the perfect pointe shoe is imperative to a dancer's success, and includes a whole slew of rituals. Says principal dancer Megan Fairchild, "I always sew (on) a new pair of shoes for each performance. First, I step on the box, and I break the shank a little bit each way. And then, I like to put a little rosin on the tops and the bottoms and on the heel of the shoe."</span><br />
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Most interesting: All that breaking-in makes the shoes unwearable for more than a day, for top-level ballerinas, which means the company needs to supply a new pair of $67.50 pointes every single day. That adds up to nearly half-a-million dollars spent on pointe shoes each year. Now, we're no prima ballerinas here by any means, but with all our advancements in modern technologies, what's holding us back from creating a pointe shoe that lasts just as long as a pair of soccer cleats or running shoes? Watch the five-minute-long video, below, and imagine what your life would be like, if you could talk your boss into buying you a new pair of shoes every day.</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="400" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/36031564?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ff9933" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="576"></iframe><br />
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From <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/24/pointe-shoes-new-york-city-ballet_n_1449449.html">Huffington Post</a>.Betshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676656976575891075noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965444354591242079.post-28268471792932923812012-04-09T21:48:00.001-05:002012-04-09T21:52:19.029-05:00Making time to take lots of pictures, but no time to write about them<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5G_bXk9QBo1cMcJy04SvhbM_skW5g3DKGVkIfgA5-kH_2ydGBfo6qDbnE7c6Oq50EWWh0L45iR5eJlrkT5t2Dr10ee5uZDOsjWs9Mxq3BkHCn8m0BXeBlD5kp73fe8y2VWLMt6Hxvibnf/s1600/IMG_5416.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5G_bXk9QBo1cMcJy04SvhbM_skW5g3DKGVkIfgA5-kH_2ydGBfo6qDbnE7c6Oq50EWWh0L45iR5eJlrkT5t2Dr10ee5uZDOsjWs9Mxq3BkHCn8m0BXeBlD5kp73fe8y2VWLMt6Hxvibnf/s576/IMG_5416.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729598921541020002" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibG5DjsKFqdJ6LTOqiOIbUEMopPGHPSGhDgeHg9pzWC5zJekSYAXaYX5hfp0stniC-JI3tt-gR8p30o__bAL-KZ8nj7-q_8Ed_9Tclqzvswnye157ACtbkOkCE7CtWitdHiI3jDpibi1dh/s1600/IMG_5415.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibG5DjsKFqdJ6LTOqiOIbUEMopPGHPSGhDgeHg9pzWC5zJekSYAXaYX5hfp0stniC-JI3tt-gR8p30o__bAL-KZ8nj7-q_8Ed_9Tclqzvswnye157ACtbkOkCE7CtWitdHiI3jDpibi1dh/s576/IMG_5415.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729598920358630546" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLLSyjlFhCDJcctB0fr7D62MvwK5iEY05ixFF-2c43t3K5MCWh0FWfWjJv_3oPU5SUifm6XytFVWGfZ3c5otKkHtq_v_JHXCYJ1cdBti_1hvY_QaWnNmeeA7d244KOc6H1_nIpQzIPgLF/s1600/IMG_5414.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLLSyjlFhCDJcctB0fr7D62MvwK5iEY05ixFF-2c43t3K5MCWh0FWfWjJv_3oPU5SUifm6XytFVWGfZ3c5otKkHtq_v_JHXCYJ1cdBti_1hvY_QaWnNmeeA7d244KOc6H1_nIpQzIPgLF/s576/IMG_5414.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729598918086188050" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbSQ-mU148w51_uVyv4bnUyTOUkvROOrCDfIVcOaV-9xxhdFuunIGrm8nyeHZGZDu1lm3QgYrjhvYACfxZGpN6Ie6qUFLnk5IS5l4C7f83-jPACUj_pXJfKqvDK3EcS5qIOS_G9dfBG7h/s1600/IMG_5417.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbSQ-mU148w51_uVyv4bnUyTOUkvROOrCDfIVcOaV-9xxhdFuunIGrm8nyeHZGZDu1lm3QgYrjhvYACfxZGpN6Ie6qUFLnk5IS5l4C7f83-jPACUj_pXJfKqvDK3EcS5qIOS_G9dfBG7h/s576/IMG_5417.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729598907112011538" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVUOdnD7kk-BsqxnsZ5_dOiYoKAZOO9YohrEBGJvjgmYE0Wt4_X4_rnViJgAYmx3iU5cb9Wxnl2GEkdPiyP00ielPdkGjWCe69TWmiqJgQUejzcbK5wdr6Xirt32cTJe-DUUGasHAgIdr/s1600/IMG_5413.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVUOdnD7kk-BsqxnsZ5_dOiYoKAZOO9YohrEBGJvjgmYE0Wt4_X4_rnViJgAYmx3iU5cb9Wxnl2GEkdPiyP00ielPdkGjWCe69TWmiqJgQUejzcbK5wdr6Xirt32cTJe-DUUGasHAgIdr/s576/IMG_5413.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729598906505061474" /></a>Betshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676656976575891075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965444354591242079.post-20831615123688581202012-03-02T22:54:00.003-06:002012-03-02T23:01:12.337-06:00You've gotta love Kansas weather<div>I took both of these pictures through the doors at school today. </div><div><br /></div><div>March 2nd, 10:30am: </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSY6d1pHZ-ctcAQhHpv889-dZZtKbr9GmY0ay56wmqzxqTju8C5wKWS6XXVRwa4tGgFm1EKVpFsy6T3Ne7MQwUXe-jFLWmfh5WFUdXoALJUJNBZdCrQHuqdtG4JlYJYg5YDupNV6akQf3/s1600/IMG_3685.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSY6d1pHZ-ctcAQhHpv889-dZZtKbr9GmY0ay56wmqzxqTju8C5wKWS6XXVRwa4tGgFm1EKVpFsy6T3Ne7MQwUXe-jFLWmfh5WFUdXoALJUJNBZdCrQHuqdtG4JlYJYg5YDupNV6akQf3/s576/IMG_3685.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715530015467108946" /></a><br /><div>March 2nd, 1:45pm:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0VqfDM8wt2CXY40BBkdX3z9JmbhP53jciZSbK-vuxZayRMYeKmXxH9PoOjDdFMS3zuoAnvDli1mh3NCMfKA7li1agmhUILVkovWRVzGV1UJLhZI0U7Mpe7Xopha1H_A_pb9JGYSj0hFXR/s1600/IMG_3686.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0VqfDM8wt2CXY40BBkdX3z9JmbhP53jciZSbK-vuxZayRMYeKmXxH9PoOjDdFMS3zuoAnvDli1mh3NCMfKA7li1agmhUILVkovWRVzGV1UJLhZI0U7Mpe7Xopha1H_A_pb9JGYSj0hFXR/s576/IMG_3686.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715530009891469122" /></a><br /></div><div>What a difference a few hours makes! </div>Betshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676656976575891075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965444354591242079.post-68598054281868816232012-02-22T22:24:00.002-06:002012-02-22T22:42:26.375-06:00Who needs winter anyway?<div>Typically, one of my favorite things about living in Kansas is we get to experience 4 completely different seasons. Well ... this year, winter has hardly shown up. We had 2 days of very light snow, that quickly melted. The weather has been uncharacteristically warm, and sunny, and pleasant. By this time of year, I'm normally wearing my pajamas inside out, sleeping with a spoon under my pillow and doing all kind of praying for snow days. Not this year! If our district doesn't use any snow days, the students' last day is May 24th! Can you believe it? That would mean that my summer would actually start before Memorial Day. I don't remember the last time that happened! </div><div><br /></div><div>Minnie and I've been enjoying many, many trips to the dog park this winter. Today, I rushed home from work so we could get a nice walk in at the park before dark. It was a beautiful day! See for yourself: </div><div><br /></div><div>65 degrees. At 6:00pm. On February 22nd. I approve. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNgS0Gx1Cub7r3cU7uRZgmPcGirwaFgDXllbEobc071YEUjgevS2An4j0Mzbzr7OCqX0qxRdaHGTwNmFvBSXQe1Pvphuhd7UAhVPNA6kyjQfJIoYEAcUEJwFwX95TLcIETU57LO1t4E4U/s1600/IMG_3326.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNgS0Gx1Cub7r3cU7uRZgmPcGirwaFgDXllbEobc071YEUjgevS2An4j0Mzbzr7OCqX0qxRdaHGTwNmFvBSXQe1Pvphuhd7UAhVPNA6kyjQfJIoYEAcUEJwFwX95TLcIETU57LO1t4E4U/s576/IMG_3326.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712183707901683554" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The sun makes everything look pretty out there.</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7A6ooKP5-RMlsNLnbjsgCDQYAuwEUnD2OW4CbtEnfNTPq07xk5lWxQ69ZkyouJaZx4i2VW4oMfqb3IK1n-fK-en5C4VXETqcjxp3-4BYLCsBvzCLP9UvC-6vUC1wP3MDYEqui92YNZLq/s576/IMG_3314.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712183694566880370" /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Can you see the dogs in this one? </div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMujiNjQ23T6NcDYcYr5FWIjWg-tsD9PEKUWUC2Gl5vRJ1wsInxHfJFvpIOF751Ua59MnhLmQ3iH0-fqAvFl6TeMpaOkRZRl9pK1o3uQjOFrGBuvraHEh-Z4mwIy1BhG7AHtwzt72_XIG/s576/IMG_3317.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712183690708882306" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">She's one happy girl!</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwiasIL1yhpesM7Gvv5TwRzoUjMkNx7Pl4BWABpvcKpxQCr0INQDsTgPpspdHvsBYMPHCawBjMozsePlEThSObtv-NXudaGXxyGR_h1_rMb9pzOOIa9_0DRLC_hP3dyptIJtTl-x7kByb_/s576/IMG_3321.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712183680510471250" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A striped sunset through the trees.</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqsBaNF3NZrABwRLstOdYTJM4svxTGD964lmfWAsr3sh7I1bOAwSznLDg63pSvIjdcMKCY0L9p63MVVMoD2Zz-jui_rHVxr6QDLUu_f8TzNhRR6P8DYzUEVsZvUowcLViyKCReNcnk3qJc/s576/IMG_3324.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712183704157400626" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I need your help. No more wishing we'd get some snow this winter. Keep crossing your fingers for more days exactly like today! </div></div>Betshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676656976575891075noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965444354591242079.post-55133593539994822412012-02-15T19:59:00.003-06:002012-02-15T20:12:21.216-06:00Art by students<div>These illustrations are currently hanging on the walls at school. The presidents went up first, and then I saw the other famous faces. I can't stop looking at them ... and think they are a great way to have groups of children take part in one piece of art. Enjoy!</div><div><br /></div><div>Barack Obama:</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg34u1VPv8i4NBSqM5sZVrGrE3YI8Fv3-khspAMoFi0VkTAAYLPgjxy6_CD1JRkgB4eImaIuD2mGyNOXZ2NEDqWj3FvpMdovqbx4H4p8NcQVq8yivhRRKeL4KgzoDqNZwbVbUvE8tuhZwG/s1600/IMG_2650.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg34u1VPv8i4NBSqM5sZVrGrE3YI8Fv3-khspAMoFi0VkTAAYLPgjxy6_CD1JRkgB4eImaIuD2mGyNOXZ2NEDqWj3FvpMdovqbx4H4p8NcQVq8yivhRRKeL4KgzoDqNZwbVbUvE8tuhZwG/s576/IMG_2650.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709548681852332178" /></a><br /><div>Abraham Lincoln:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHhEOyXaMKrkObFui7IJDGY9B-rqE5eS3xOs0tdeti2GEn8JZUhesicZor9LaZTcetUmvc8sKOsPdU4rQfpXvoPxkpVsCiLS_zZTGGQ6K6k1KcFUqbIrsTtDHM-TyqaS6cwU0Aq68XbUZ/s1600/IMG_2651.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHhEOyXaMKrkObFui7IJDGY9B-rqE5eS3xOs0tdeti2GEn8JZUhesicZor9LaZTcetUmvc8sKOsPdU4rQfpXvoPxkpVsCiLS_zZTGGQ6K6k1KcFUqbIrsTtDHM-TyqaS6cwU0Aq68XbUZ/s576/IMG_2651.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709548678651568402" /></a><br /></div><div>Kate Middleton:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9FPUIiOWa6P1vwizx9Z_x-QozhEeVX9YdIxa2-XuamIYDgUcCl3Rqf3rzlkK4MJ5Puo50OccQcZagerhX4oNPCJ0CQ9ew0CqhSkfGLY_eVyDV8IE_FXZQMiPh0LQZG3fBwmm4Hhb31EvT/s1600/IMG_3020.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9FPUIiOWa6P1vwizx9Z_x-QozhEeVX9YdIxa2-XuamIYDgUcCl3Rqf3rzlkK4MJ5Puo50OccQcZagerhX4oNPCJ0CQ9ew0CqhSkfGLY_eVyDV8IE_FXZQMiPh0LQZG3fBwmm4Hhb31EvT/s576/IMG_3020.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709548192090027602" /></a><br /></div><div>George Washington:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnZEhWc_qatZazNbMp_Jw4X3LR5qdSDGcSKNqKpbA1-5vPjcUzmG9Z3YvHTf_4GAg9cS-AFwTmo3wnR8ssNeJqrS1i4VjanK1AkCurkIgOAzFqa3c09CLTuiuOGjjwkj7iv2ypYgN7FLX/s1600/IMG_3017.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnZEhWc_qatZazNbMp_Jw4X3LR5qdSDGcSKNqKpbA1-5vPjcUzmG9Z3YvHTf_4GAg9cS-AFwTmo3wnR8ssNeJqrS1i4VjanK1AkCurkIgOAzFqa3c09CLTuiuOGjjwkj7iv2ypYgN7FLX/s576/IMG_3017.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709548189640508818" /></a><br /></div><div>Justin Bieber:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3QCYBMHbzwEOPMGprsUMkovDJbddAtpGoQzcwDxIlHRQPnryt8t1tD11NxB3MEGGLXCMLOiRjMgLu1DXgS_o-504q6DFHqltrRqlFziEET7Kp3xO4cPUQNlWI8Oq2K2zanaji4S0TKh1/s1600/IMG_3022.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3QCYBMHbzwEOPMGprsUMkovDJbddAtpGoQzcwDxIlHRQPnryt8t1tD11NxB3MEGGLXCMLOiRjMgLu1DXgS_o-504q6DFHqltrRqlFziEET7Kp3xO4cPUQNlWI8Oq2K2zanaji4S0TKh1/s576/IMG_3022.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709548183843291106" /></a><br /></div><div>Martin Luther King, Jr.:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3Ij2UdXiXPhXdjgrgdbBJLP9a_p1MSqNbkQmfTa7Fuj35pxHkanmGd0thrtqWy2ZCLcBx4apLbp5jH9tTtcumU99-casAXWg4JfPcSNWPemEqnpta2wuTmM_ARwi328KrsEKzVHeL0VU/s1600/IMG_3018.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3Ij2UdXiXPhXdjgrgdbBJLP9a_p1MSqNbkQmfTa7Fuj35pxHkanmGd0thrtqWy2ZCLcBx4apLbp5jH9tTtcumU99-casAXWg4JfPcSNWPemEqnpta2wuTmM_ARwi328KrsEKzVHeL0VU/s576/IMG_3018.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709548174363363474" /></a><br /></div><div>Elvis Presley:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UfmTlv83npwU_w-xW61sYxh4lysBoMK0YoHJIWKM2826N2BheDml04vlYqV944st3R75CGaW863JDco-INIPNUJcKcBlq4kcXp93OAU7sFdNEwUn8kUCje7mn4lif5O_o3tMNGH2e7Bo/s1600/IMG_3021.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UfmTlv83npwU_w-xW61sYxh4lysBoMK0YoHJIWKM2826N2BheDml04vlYqV944st3R75CGaW863JDco-INIPNUJcKcBlq4kcXp93OAU7sFdNEwUn8kUCje7mn4lif5O_o3tMNGH2e7Bo/s576/IMG_3021.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709548165328710002" /></a><br /></div>Betshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676656976575891075noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965444354591242079.post-69843283834672925882012-01-18T20:43:00.006-06:002012-01-18T21:20:51.243-06:00Did you think I forgot about you?<div>Clearly, I rarely have/make time for this blog anymore. How in the world did I post something more than just a picture for 365 days in a row my first year here? Some days I can easily post my picture on <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.theviewacrosstown.com">The View Across Town</a> and other days I'm running around my house with my iPhone taking pictures of things at 11:30pm.<div><br /></div><div>To share a little bit more of what I have been doing ... this post will serve as a way to catch up through photos. Here are some of my 2nd favorites from the first few weeks of 2012 that weren't picked for the other blog. Enjoy!</div></div><div><br /></div><div>A visit to Park Place on January 1st for a post-holidays family brunch. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJ_9T7a48mv1UCq2szJ3ltpOWJdVlhQM8mQh5G5XXD9fuhtlvd8aF0GgCVPp_jRiLmRNupXlahleN4R8Cj9MJZclfFOCJGdIyBXgPnSeMHeuzMxLPYboVmhT-h5GCSD1QObs8BK-o7vw_/s1600/IMG_1973.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJ_9T7a48mv1UCq2szJ3ltpOWJdVlhQM8mQh5G5XXD9fuhtlvd8aF0GgCVPp_jRiLmRNupXlahleN4R8Cj9MJZclfFOCJGdIyBXgPnSeMHeuzMxLPYboVmhT-h5GCSD1QObs8BK-o7vw_/s400/IMG_1973.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699172399231845426" /></a><br /><div>And then a family dinner that night at Molly & Erik's. This little one went around the entire table taking dessert orders (with the short-order cook, Molly, in the kitchen). She did a great job! Her reward was her own bowl of ice cream with a Girl Scout cookie on the side (that she didn't know existed until this night).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQowajAVqRhkOTEj6TZcvZPb9aPL7u_quzZSzpYdYLb2YZ0Wyw6OmKTOsisSZoj-h1wrgG2sIZZgJfZDW_O8Kuotj7l8SFss15xfbCoJbCIh_WmKhdUrKEtaNDSGTAwkAkIdr2kLmTcdK/s1600/IMG_2012.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQowajAVqRhkOTEj6TZcvZPb9aPL7u_quzZSzpYdYLb2YZ0Wyw6OmKTOsisSZoj-h1wrgG2sIZZgJfZDW_O8Kuotj7l8SFss15xfbCoJbCIh_WmKhdUrKEtaNDSGTAwkAkIdr2kLmTcdK/s400/IMG_2012.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699172386843756978" /></a><br /></div><div>The first day back to work was tough, but I did get to go out to lunch with my fabulous teammates! Have you been to Unforked yet? It's awesome!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgH33jhmVcPuQHwSTJ1Do_zSGtjB4VbODh0FYfeijg4Wifp05zyKE7i7xdS45q_B2_vyPETrOC7v2ajdC0IO304erpsZwrcQMdi_SbzaQmOaxs_tcO5lozt41L9xxoPuoNl1A44S6qu0k/s1600/IMG_2031.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgH33jhmVcPuQHwSTJ1Do_zSGtjB4VbODh0FYfeijg4Wifp05zyKE7i7xdS45q_B2_vyPETrOC7v2ajdC0IO304erpsZwrcQMdi_SbzaQmOaxs_tcO5lozt41L9xxoPuoNl1A44S6qu0k/s400/IMG_2031.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699172384239816530" /></a><br /></div><div>Playing around with the new iPhone lenses I got for Christmas from Mom. I love this macro shot.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTXImjTvMRcTi949xCGe9oBdruoedvrPOz0Iw69xw7ZzDElLLahHsabdAIvH6kHX-JlcgG8Suz4nn5vbDN0ir_x1T-KzDk66BoWACsEGxBGWAw-TX7FNRn9VFPlYK9dDV0PeZ1lT9-Jum/s1600/IMG_2075.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTXImjTvMRcTi949xCGe9oBdruoedvrPOz0Iw69xw7ZzDElLLahHsabdAIvH6kHX-JlcgG8Suz4nn5vbDN0ir_x1T-KzDk66BoWACsEGxBGWAw-TX7FNRn9VFPlYK9dDV0PeZ1lT9-Jum/s400/IMG_2075.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699172379082500994" /></a><br /></div><div>A profile shot of my silly schnoodle.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdI7v4yFWR19-d0ckCk5rDZaiSBWxBCkZ1NfOCT0uGqSrUfIvl8JgIAeceZah6A4gpe97z_JxQ8X-z3Y7TC99Ger00t2GJ8zE2ek_vsFL-HzVeOArAgXIKoEPhtObiZP84D9cGgITBYIY/s1600/IMG_2095.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdI7v4yFWR19-d0ckCk5rDZaiSBWxBCkZ1NfOCT0uGqSrUfIvl8JgIAeceZah6A4gpe97z_JxQ8X-z3Y7TC99Ger00t2GJ8zE2ek_vsFL-HzVeOArAgXIKoEPhtObiZP84D9cGgITBYIY/s400/IMG_2095.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699171449614421250" /></a><br /></div><div>I love my Instagram app more and more each day. This was a quick shot I took when out walking Minners.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00YhKOaeaTfS2Aw456Cl9byawZnkKbgJpDs_HMI0KJ2sC-vXMRpmqHzN9n_eHzOMXW58Qf1BCqqbRv19RFPdiXO7cI1utYW_ZjxnChAOhHji9AjCugOuACXpCbGDFSAbHxpZXX3psRw7Y/s1600/IMG_2103.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00YhKOaeaTfS2Aw456Cl9byawZnkKbgJpDs_HMI0KJ2sC-vXMRpmqHzN9n_eHzOMXW58Qf1BCqqbRv19RFPdiXO7cI1utYW_ZjxnChAOhHji9AjCugOuACXpCbGDFSAbHxpZXX3psRw7Y/s400/IMG_2103.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699171446931951394" /></a><br /></div><div>Looking at her Momma!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFs36o80KJe3ZvCCPQgP6ZmwGQ-X70_jh-0vAq1u7spgFhtRC04XhDwuYFkUGn0cqPKepqXQwjWrBtUbC4M8RK4QCIWKXxfw7a_JmK1DqO1b80OliUQnRc5DmlmD5MLjks_tQoPRuLwQjA/s1600/IMG_2139.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFs36o80KJe3ZvCCPQgP6ZmwGQ-X70_jh-0vAq1u7spgFhtRC04XhDwuYFkUGn0cqPKepqXQwjWrBtUbC4M8RK4QCIWKXxfw7a_JmK1DqO1b80OliUQnRc5DmlmD5MLjks_tQoPRuLwQjA/s400/IMG_2139.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699171436667375538" /></a><br /></div><div>Staying up too late on a school night. It's always hard to get back in bedtime routine after a break from school.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUbhsGiVWzJfROwlX7K3SvZ3O5not0it0rIhHW4a9dMHhcXpGrsgUiLEh0jju20AU72E09r_MTW45myVMM5IhVm4clPj8FsvGScbHdwkEG3o-IfTC4rBp6hU4t8hw3WxOMVM99h5jvxjQ/s1600/IMG_2211.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUbhsGiVWzJfROwlX7K3SvZ3O5not0it0rIhHW4a9dMHhcXpGrsgUiLEh0jju20AU72E09r_MTW45myVMM5IhVm4clPj8FsvGScbHdwkEG3o-IfTC4rBp6hU4t8hw3WxOMVM99h5jvxjQ/s400/IMG_2211.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699171428955555186" /></a><br /></div><div>I like this one because I love to take pictures like this of the sky with beautiful clouds. Here is the same scene ... in a paint by numbers kind of way :)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-ofrGXHPC_Pa4HxI1UD1f9ISGgNUWBF3-BtX680KrCOIsTDuiZXzV5D-IPEWmfGZs3GXPBV4hFQ1qPm5pu7I6BAxJHca9NkndVXgl0se2EmJkl1yOFA7Xc7RH5rbhfq7vQLCpySqDkDW/s1600/IMG_2242.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-ofrGXHPC_Pa4HxI1UD1f9ISGgNUWBF3-BtX680KrCOIsTDuiZXzV5D-IPEWmfGZs3GXPBV4hFQ1qPm5pu7I6BAxJHca9NkndVXgl0se2EmJkl1yOFA7Xc7RH5rbhfq7vQLCpySqDkDW/s400/IMG_2242.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699171424750114930" /></a><br /></div><div>We FINALLY got a little bit of snow. It didn't last long, not that I'm complaining. It's always very pretty ... but walking a dog in the snow is one of my least favorite parts of winter.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Kpn2PbwL3VkF5p8NSNd47umdjnM0WxgtXu8p7OXWYeW6fWC-_1dj4o3Jx6NykhQHLjwWCkgFJigp-xHqg1EFxko1agVc-AvVzexRIenLAvsifqLo7e-cAX6dLso5FVRv5kdTnti7y2Zy/s1600/IMG_2271.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Kpn2PbwL3VkF5p8NSNd47umdjnM0WxgtXu8p7OXWYeW6fWC-_1dj4o3Jx6NykhQHLjwWCkgFJigp-xHqg1EFxko1agVc-AvVzexRIenLAvsifqLo7e-cAX6dLso5FVRv5kdTnti7y2Zy/s400/IMG_2271.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699170730023134098" /></a><br /></div><div>A new "portrait" taken against my favorite piece of art in my condo. Jill says it makes for the perfect photo studio background.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1tIZMHhe8pKQAhS8cZl3KFjTrGgf06LoOg2GAsJLXQyvxpWiEhqafAboqxbWKT-hUSlPm-inG-tfvkSJldp48nKaCwTkbtaGIocDLATUMbSC17VRHRDBvw3oggZ7xyqKUXdPJua2Ljoj_/s1600/IMG_2309.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1tIZMHhe8pKQAhS8cZl3KFjTrGgf06LoOg2GAsJLXQyvxpWiEhqafAboqxbWKT-hUSlPm-inG-tfvkSJldp48nKaCwTkbtaGIocDLATUMbSC17VRHRDBvw3oggZ7xyqKUXdPJua2Ljoj_/s400/IMG_2309.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699170732242400722" /></a><br /></div><div>Wearing flip flops. In January. In Kansas. Love it! See? I told you the snow didn't last long.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVELZqHI_0NT3uT-1UULsjhA9M5o-0VrVG5voTuVJsYcwHmUZwnDzdStCQOMtD5gatjM2zXQWFtQ8xIbP_ZrnBfL0fqsQ7dTclBe_2_7-bZE-K0JSLyTOrypp6esF6KxmpNE3rcaNsEmZX/s1600/IMG_2318.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVELZqHI_0NT3uT-1UULsjhA9M5o-0VrVG5voTuVJsYcwHmUZwnDzdStCQOMtD5gatjM2zXQWFtQ8xIbP_ZrnBfL0fqsQ7dTclBe_2_7-bZE-K0JSLyTOrypp6esF6KxmpNE3rcaNsEmZX/s400/IMG_2318.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699170727253623586" /></a><br /></div><div>A perfect day to head to the dog park. We've been close to 10 times this "winter".<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXmU-Wn3cejBej-OuUtvcNFwcKlMNxLBD-CP0L44yabYfINaIWB01N17JeXv5wxU4X30LbsyUAQBhvPUVVJtv1dqKGcAwdpiEQAIygt-CJqePHNKCkEpxsOJ1xIJPvVn2I7J2B5DT-I2i/s1600/IMG_2327.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXmU-Wn3cejBej-OuUtvcNFwcKlMNxLBD-CP0L44yabYfINaIWB01N17JeXv5wxU4X30LbsyUAQBhvPUVVJtv1dqKGcAwdpiEQAIygt-CJqePHNKCkEpxsOJ1xIJPvVn2I7J2B5DT-I2i/s400/IMG_2327.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699170724138707714" /></a><br /></div><div>Here is a photograph that's very close to the painting 5 pictures up. Such a great day to be outside!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmORLba4sTWiCAJiAWkRFTpZTBWEgVmxNeFOUZpM5wFwEmlzYtYLt8BilA4ayj-sATO4I8RTOzNuBuXbRR8O0SZMomd9-4ufZUsgTw1D2Bv2h8lrXgRIhtNwiuWfBroSQK_LoDy3kP9Ak/s1600/IMG_2334.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmORLba4sTWiCAJiAWkRFTpZTBWEgVmxNeFOUZpM5wFwEmlzYtYLt8BilA4ayj-sATO4I8RTOzNuBuXbRR8O0SZMomd9-4ufZUsgTw1D2Bv2h8lrXgRIhtNwiuWfBroSQK_LoDy3kP9Ak/s400/IMG_2334.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699170714902609666" /></a><div><br /><div>I hope to get back to sharing things on this blog more often. I realize I may have lost many of my regular readers since it's been a while. Keep coming back ... you never know what I'll post next!</div><div><br /></div></div></div>Betshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676656976575891075noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965444354591242079.post-5031704158985179852011-11-27T20:32:00.008-06:002011-11-28T22:03:59.921-06:00I now have letters after my name!<div>They don't mean much to the average person, but they mean a TON to me! After a very, very long road ... I am proud to say I am now a <b>N</b>ationally <b>B</b>oard <b>C</b>ertified <b>T</b>eacher. I waited a while to write this post, because I went on quite a roller coaster ride the weekend I received my scores. This is a lengthy post ... but not nearly as long as the journey I've been through :)</div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioeaMsIMt8BQlZONbT5RjmDPxNUs92AffDpGJLX7J5uK_rIoK7udvU0mAnN0UgQXzj9WbPH9Mip1uZ3FUTqvTCrhg37aLT_qLNakRtexLwP4MbczTzGHAZZX1JYOkPb1o_LqXcYvvxsMcn/s1600/IMG_0838.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioeaMsIMt8BQlZONbT5RjmDPxNUs92AffDpGJLX7J5uK_rIoK7udvU0mAnN0UgQXzj9WbPH9Mip1uZ3FUTqvTCrhg37aLT_qLNakRtexLwP4MbczTzGHAZZX1JYOkPb1o_LqXcYvvxsMcn/s576/IMG_0838.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679870327359273234" /></a><br /><div>This entire process started almost 20 months ago. In February of 2010, I went to meetings that my district provided to learn about the National Boards process. At that point, I was still unsure of whether or not I was going to go through with the process. I had to make a final decision by July. I took a few months to think about it and did sign up that summer. In early August, I received information from a mentor in Emporia who runs a center to help teachers through the NBCT process. I went to a <a href="http://theviewacrosstown.blogspot.com/2010/09/why-is-hotel-carpeting-always-so-ugly.html">weekend workshop</a> in September of last year and learned even more about what I would be expected to do, how to start the planning and I met other teachers from around the state who would become a great source of support. </div><div><br /></div><div>I spent many days and hours last year working on my Boards. I <a href="http://theviewacrosstown.blogspot.com/2011/01/over-300-just-in-time-for-me-to-road.html">drove to Emporia</a> almost once a month for work days with other teachers. My teammates were supportive and often helped to calm me down during particularly rough days. I seemed to live at<a href="http://theviewacrosstown.blogspot.com/2010/12/in-case-you-were-wondering-this-wasnt.html"> Panera</a> at night and on the weekends to work on my laptop. My paraprofessionals in the room helped during video taping of lessons. My friends understood when I was too tired or busy to get together to hang out. I received <a href="http://theviewacrosstown.blogspot.com/2011/01/somebody-in-ohio-loves-me.html">care packages</a> in the mail from friends and my family treated me throughout the process. My parents helped by watching <a href="http://theviewacrosstown.blogspot.com/2011/03/were-both-exhausted.html">Minnie</a> for me during busy weeks. I had friends to help with the technology pieces of my portfolios. I had a mentor in Emporia and one in the district who answered phone calls & emails late at night, read through my <a href="http://theviewacrosstown.blogspot.com/2011/03/1-of-42-pages-so-far.html">paper</a>s and watched countless videos and gave endless emotional support. I met an amazing teacher who was working towards the same certificate as I did. We spent days upon days sitting at her dining room table, <a href="http://theviewacrosstown.blogspot.com/2011/03/thats-lot-of-words.html">typing away</a> and studying for the exam portion of the Boards. She is now a wonderful friend. I spent almost my entire <a href="http://thebetsweekever.blogspot.com/2011/03/my-assistant.html">spring break</a> working on my laptop to complete everything on time. By the time I finished & sent off my <a href="http://theviewacrosstown.blogspot.com/2011/03/d-o-n-e.html">NBCT box</a> on March 30th, I was drained! Then, the studying for the exams started. Lisa & I took our 3-hour exam in June, just a few days after the school year was over. </div><div><br /></div><div>And then ... I got to <a href="http://theviewacrosstown.blogspot.com/2011/06/year-long-journey-packed-up-in-one.html">pack everything up</a> in June ... and wait. At some point, I forgot about getting my results. Then the emails started coming. People began asking if I had passed. Mom went to Emporia again with me for a celebration lunch (on having completed the work) and a workshop on understanding our scores and what to do if you don't pass this first time around. We learned that the candidates would all get an email about a week out from the day they will <i>definitely</i> post scores. That email came on Friday, November 11th. I immediately put in for a personal day, because I'd decided that I didn't want to see my scores at school and wanted to celebrate my hard work (regardless of my scores) with a day off from work. </div><div><br /></div><div>I woke up about 2 weeks before with a ridiculously stiff neck. After many, many trips to the chiropractor, I realized my neck pain is part to blame from a spine that is curved the wrong way ... but I think another major part is based on stress. This is always a stressful time of year. This month was no different. Because of this, I didn't make the appointment for the massage I really wanted on the 18th. I did make plans for lunch with Mom & Dad for after I found out my scores. NBPTS told me on Twitter scores would be posted for sure before noon. </div><div><br /></div><div>I went to the doctor that morning and was home by 9:00 where I promptly parked on the couch & refreshed, refreshed, refreshed my computer on the NBPTS site. Things quickly went sour ... the site crashed. I couldn't seem to log on. Neither could anyone else I knew that was looking for scores. I kept emailing Mom & Dad, texting Molly, and responding to texts from friends at work ... "I haven't heard anything yet. Site seems to be down. Waiting patiently. Should know before noon." At 12:30, I was frustrated and decided just to head to lunch with Mom & Dad. I was nervous and upset and could barely eat or concentrate. While I was there, I received an email from them saying the site was down, but we should check back at 4:00pm for scores. I did, and the site was still down. The next email said to check at 6:00pm. I pulled myself together to head to dinner with family around 6:00. Still no scores. By the time I left dinner, I had received the last email for that day saying scores would not be posted on Friday, and they weren't sure when they would be up. </div><div><br /></div><div>So ... I attempted to sleep that night. I had hardly slept in weeks, waking up with bad dreams about me getting scores that weren't high enough to pass. I didn't sleep very well that Friday, but I tried to keep myself busy the next day. I had dinner with friends, and when I got home, I read the latest email from NBPTS stating the scores would be posted by 6:00am Sunday morning. Before I went to bed, I decided I would try to sleep in and then I'd check the scores whenever I woke up. I had waited long enough ... what was a few more hours? </div><div><br /></div><div>Early in the morning, my phone rang. It was my friend, Lisa, who went through the process with me. I answered and heard, "Betsy! The scores are online." I told her I was trying to sleep in, but wanted to know how she did. The great news was that she had passed! I asked her what time it was. She told me 6:50am and said she would wait on the phone with me while I checked my scores if I wanted. I decided that I wanted to check them by myself, and so I stumbled downstairs in my pj's and flipped on the lights. I logged in. I was confused. What was this pop-up screen that wouldn't go away? I just wanted to see my scores on the window that was hidden! Why wouldn't it close or minimize? </div><div><br /></div><div>Then, I read that window: "What name would you like printed on your official certificate?" WHAT!?!? What did this mean? Oh, my goodness! I immediately started crying. I saw my score {A 307 out of 400, for those who care. A 275 is passing.} and could hardly see straight. I called Mom & Dad at 7:00am and they were both THRILLED for me! Then, I called Molly & woke her up. Then, a call back to Lisa. And then ... I was on a high until I finally went to bed around 11:00pm that night. I cannot believe I passed. Only 40% of teachers pass on their first try to become a NBCT. I started this journey with 14 other teachers in the district. 2 of us finished. Both of us passed. I am happy. I am relieved. I feel better. I am sleeping better. I am proud. I am a Nationally Board Certified Teacher. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJM6xB9jQDkI_uUhYVEg5xH4znFFdGCHNTu_W5bGrFTD-eqiZufRr4-pMhuivOXGmF_zVr1rQXkDc3pZwlyml-ievwIx74jGTXOtvX-flKVDHmBRN620xm_mUpMcRUn3RX1QTTkxawgdpH/s1600/IMG_0837.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJM6xB9jQDkI_uUhYVEg5xH4znFFdGCHNTu_W5bGrFTD-eqiZufRr4-pMhuivOXGmF_zVr1rQXkDc3pZwlyml-ievwIx74jGTXOtvX-flKVDHmBRN620xm_mUpMcRUn3RX1QTTkxawgdpH/s576/IMG_0837.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679870326865703826" /></a><br /></div>Betshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676656976575891075noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965444354591242079.post-82670217775405556752011-11-27T20:19:00.004-06:002011-11-27T20:24:37.606-06:00It's time ...... for this year's annual <a href="http://thebetsweekever.blogspot.com/2008/12/day-late.html">Christmas</a>/dog/<a href="http://thebetsweekever.blogspot.com/2010/12/dont-let-me-go-here.html">shopping</a> video. This one is really sweet ... and a tear-jerker, too!<div><br /></div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5vb8kGLfhpM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><div><br /></div><div>Minners got her hair cut yesterday and when I was waiting to pick her up, I saw a group of 5 dogs that were there, looking for their forever homes. If you are looking for a dog to join your family this year, you should check out the adoption events at your local PetSmart. Such cute babies! </div>Betshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676656976575891075noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965444354591242079.post-17168111192734670312011-10-30T21:11:00.006-05:002011-10-30T22:06:00.011-05:00Let's play catch up<div>Well ... I finally did it! I upgraded from my crappy, no-internet, likes-to-make-phone-calls-from-my-purse, simple cell phone to the newest iPhone 4S. I was waiting until the iPhone came to Sprint because I wasn't willing to change carriers since I've been with Sprint for 10+ years and I was due for a phone upgrade.<div><br /></div><div>I've had an iTouch as long as I've had my MacBook Pro, so I already knew about lots of the cool apps that are out there. What I wasn't expecting to love so much was the camera on this phone and all the fun photo apps that are out there. I got this phone on October 17th and I will tell you that I've only picked up my point & shoot or my DSLR camera 2 times since then.</div><div><br /></div><div>The pictures (and video) are so clear on my phone ... sometimes better than what I can take with my Canon cameras. It's easy to carry around with me and it's fast to get started when I want to take a picture quickly. In October, I've taken more pictures than the last two months, and I would bet that most of them have been since I got my new phone.</div><div><br /></div><div>I wanted to share some of my 2nd favorite pictures that didn't make it onto <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.theviewacrosstown.blogspot.com">The View Across Town</a>. Enjoy!</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Taken with the Instagram app. You can turn the camera around so it takes the picture from the front of the phone instead of the back. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY9wM-wg7Cb8i6d5JxbbYig-jXxn1qFhasz6LTex_HRYT-2JgLW2CH3W3QntvQBoG4UOLJIAuuUSKvZKjkUx2tKdELHhQ6JXJ_KaMuavP-bXFdtwbYFjUlFwssTb9vkfyI0GrsDhyphenhyphensA0fE/s1600/IMG_0046.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY9wM-wg7Cb8i6d5JxbbYig-jXxn1qFhasz6LTex_HRYT-2JgLW2CH3W3QntvQBoG4UOLJIAuuUSKvZKjkUx2tKdELHhQ6JXJ_KaMuavP-bXFdtwbYFjUlFwssTb9vkfyI0GrsDhyphenhyphensA0fE/s400/IMG_0046.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669482875604481442" /></a><br /><div>Instagram allows you to change all the filters right from your phone to give your pictures a unique look. This app was one of the main reasons why I wanted to get an iPhone. It's free, but it would have been worth it if I paid for it, too!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHtgE3Ucq0WeGsOlcZZ22aK5YxqyTqf3e9eFPabtGpnXeJ-udTJdOTzGVPI8khJPEChL4qYsX0xZF09yE2E5OjcOuyho1I6s6lFy2vd-wTd8tflk5GzOHrkfpkrk7oZNbQJTodXWwzB9R/s1600/IMG_0012.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHtgE3Ucq0WeGsOlcZZ22aK5YxqyTqf3e9eFPabtGpnXeJ-udTJdOTzGVPI8khJPEChL4qYsX0xZF09yE2E5OjcOuyho1I6s6lFy2vd-wTd8tflk5GzOHrkfpkrk7oZNbQJTodXWwzB9R/s400/IMG_0012.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669482868551483634" /></a><br /></div><div>The main camera is clear and allows me to keep track of things in my classroom. This day was beyond hectic. I shared this picture of our schedule with my classroom parents via my Twitter account.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRXQmk1bOOBh8XtzTVDoxo4Dfg7Hr_1skO4girqeI36F9K2EGC7_NNeQW-LqlBUvpvdC4KO8erEQtT3wy5CVJroeLfCVY4t0KggtJvoRsBYYdFuHiBnfaWpiFV3EFPjNxHxlcTrkNDzmW/s1600/IMG_0017.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRXQmk1bOOBh8XtzTVDoxo4Dfg7Hr_1skO4girqeI36F9K2EGC7_NNeQW-LqlBUvpvdC4KO8erEQtT3wy5CVJroeLfCVY4t0KggtJvoRsBYYdFuHiBnfaWpiFV3EFPjNxHxlcTrkNDzmW/s400/IMG_0017.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669482857398506642" /></a><br /></div><div>Erik asked me to bring my camera to his <a href="http://teamtailgate.blogspot.com/2011/10/tailgate-for-cause.html">TEAM Tailgate</a> a few weeks ago to take pictures for the blog. I only brought my iPhone and I was very pleased with the pictures. They helped to raise over $6,000 this day for Jamie's Wish charity.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlHrCFeaiX2HttiP7CjDIaleE82hqvFM_SljKdFyzQ6BJ_1fgRU9GRIZf5Ph6hPOiUXG_OwxQc0DGROwPACI8vEGspDpeHCKLTdRNtZE0Z3tzAf3DPuaRNHrd90dAc8w0fbQ-Pw-zeR5d/s1600/IMG_0068.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlHrCFeaiX2HttiP7CjDIaleE82hqvFM_SljKdFyzQ6BJ_1fgRU9GRIZf5Ph6hPOiUXG_OwxQc0DGROwPACI8vEGspDpeHCKLTdRNtZE0Z3tzAf3DPuaRNHrd90dAc8w0fbQ-Pw-zeR5d/s400/IMG_0068.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669481874408852354" /></a><br /></div><div>Instagram takes great pictures, even at night. Doesn't this tree look creepy?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_kH9Iv7F2yy1zK-Riqi1o8ys3jiB4bFBB7yK5jRdfZdLQj_toSlo-6IZJSLUbOEkJb35mJm8of9sMp9GeoTLPnHSbdK-KKoVXf4ZIxhzDYeUk-CCIxVK5DArBaEdtFey6XKFcH3kn86_L/s1600/IMG_0103.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_kH9Iv7F2yy1zK-Riqi1o8ys3jiB4bFBB7yK5jRdfZdLQj_toSlo-6IZJSLUbOEkJb35mJm8of9sMp9GeoTLPnHSbdK-KKoVXf4ZIxhzDYeUk-CCIxVK5DArBaEdtFey6XKFcH3kn86_L/s400/IMG_0103.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669481877462175970" /></a><br /></div><div>YUM! Apple cider donuts at the Louisburg Pumpkin Patch. Instagram allows me to share pictures right then on Twitter if I want with my followers. I HAD TO share this one :)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVTNSB-Pd2rGuzG56A4MlXndJ7r4fW-R_YQxDF5m_P_0I5au0gDfV8YufWiPrXxsWqsUgDOlcisN2XO8FlsqGEPobA0x9wD37r7prScljhr-DyrD7JdUfNIEUaVN7MeKYsyAM52IrQ3l0/s1600/IMG_0122.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVTNSB-Pd2rGuzG56A4MlXndJ7r4fW-R_YQxDF5m_P_0I5au0gDfV8YufWiPrXxsWqsUgDOlcisN2XO8FlsqGEPobA0x9wD37r7prScljhr-DyrD7JdUfNIEUaVN7MeKYsyAM52IrQ3l0/s400/IMG_0122.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669481867370195026" /></a><br /></div><div>It even has a tilt-shift feature, which makes some parts of your picture clear & other parts blurry. Can you see the horizontal line that is focused across the middle?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1p7YmX0my92v_IpI8Q819xakSMApS_uQoJUXKyVoDfaJjlj374IwtrINs_aj1ABCOemjaJEy3KA8tIvdQETZDgIysBArfpOrbe6MTPH6hwGTz6LVTSJmfycVsuDfiLkNL3uraOCsz5Ab/s1600/IMG_0134.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1p7YmX0my92v_IpI8Q819xakSMApS_uQoJUXKyVoDfaJjlj374IwtrINs_aj1ABCOemjaJEy3KA8tIvdQETZDgIysBArfpOrbe6MTPH6hwGTz6LVTSJmfycVsuDfiLkNL3uraOCsz5Ab/s400/IMG_0134.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669481864286050146" /></a><br /></div><div>I've been used to carrying my PowerShot with me each time Minnie & I go for a walk. Now, I can just bring my phone (which also tracks the length of our walks). This picture is just as great as the ones I've taken with my camera.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzq5OWJrFB3S5C40x4G5aYY1elGLqJOmIGi7KwHRnT9SY4lMchqveNvOpyMohp7_uNj6SjrxgVKFXuisiMhobm1-31lUGKrFx8uTgde3lHhi7Elk-tLIYvUqpnKCEreZ0050X86d55OU2c/s1600/IMG_0143.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzq5OWJrFB3S5C40x4G5aYY1elGLqJOmIGi7KwHRnT9SY4lMchqveNvOpyMohp7_uNj6SjrxgVKFXuisiMhobm1-31lUGKrFx8uTgde3lHhi7Elk-tLIYvUqpnKCEreZ0050X86d55OU2c/s400/IMG_0143.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669481860683712594" /></a><br /></div><div>This collage was made with the Diptic app. I'm not sure if I paid for it or not, but it's worth it! You can make a collage in many different shapes and number of pictures. I made this one as Minnie and I cooled down after our walk. Amazing!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoeyabrF4Kue4H6ogz4pPJSPpFQZ7nKozPJ6EmOebH4zt62FwTW7XQsBCh5SXJjHIpeYOU_NrL0nU3qe2pJZ40ca71aTvgVBubhzqCh1Zn9uQMbzuTUa9YMU-EikgQ__AyXezU9vFuURGf/s1600/Picture+3.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoeyabrF4Kue4H6ogz4pPJSPpFQZ7nKozPJ6EmOebH4zt62FwTW7XQsBCh5SXJjHIpeYOU_NrL0nU3qe2pJZ40ca71aTvgVBubhzqCh1Zn9uQMbzuTUa9YMU-EikgQ__AyXezU9vFuURGf/s400/Picture+3.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669480485704528738" /></a><br /></div><div>Taken at school. The 4th grade team is going to be "Rock, Paper, Scissors" for Halloween this year. We painted these shirts on conference day last week. The backs of our shirts have pictures of our objects. Fun!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT_ebT4Zqqu6lvvVgjIvAqYR0buNrVFYShOqgZjBn2ojVX53QVmb42c_bvdTGbpqLF7HWblcCPnOKzllNdZxSdta0SllBxs4Cgjt46cC3oY2-vPnBtj55M6gBDRufLg56Rc63NHC229I4q/s1600/IMG_0196.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT_ebT4Zqqu6lvvVgjIvAqYR0buNrVFYShOqgZjBn2ojVX53QVmb42c_bvdTGbpqLF7HWblcCPnOKzllNdZxSdta0SllBxs4Cgjt46cC3oY2-vPnBtj55M6gBDRufLg56Rc63NHC229I4q/s400/IMG_0196.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669480478011071922" /></a><br /></div><div>I took this picture at the Dollar Tree this weekend. I found these miniature cones in the teacher section at the store and wanted to share the find with my teacher friends on Twitter. Such a quick & easy way to share ideas.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDozWSvvk0Ogs8X0dTNz7aLRi_7YjP4IrYPc9QOJ-BgQOyGoVJOEMF16VKqc3HjIlJA_hNwi7DIHDuwMnMpKevN0KKtf5pFjoEWw-LaP859-l1M8VU02WEEYxdCTCM5LnLnbqm_6fVCHfz/s1600/IMG_0210.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDozWSvvk0Ogs8X0dTNz7aLRi_7YjP4IrYPc9QOJ-BgQOyGoVJOEMF16VKqc3HjIlJA_hNwi7DIHDuwMnMpKevN0KKtf5pFjoEWw-LaP859-l1M8VU02WEEYxdCTCM5LnLnbqm_6fVCHfz/s400/IMG_0210.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669480464079497074" /></a><br /></div><div>Brought my phone to take pictures of Ellen getting ready for her Halloween parade at school. She is a bee keeper this year. Molls had to put her hair up so it would fit under her bee keeper hat.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QXcr_u01arojsrR4wZa79fboeLhhf1DgYJ4i4AxuB5H6JDRO0Ybd8jYqffJEIJZ9RVmrzOR6AbCKqc4pXSNWI22NH2GxTdaC3Ard60jW-U9ASiGQm-Xab_kh9zZd0oJHBuF4P8TrnFNG/s1600/IMG_0221.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QXcr_u01arojsrR4wZa79fboeLhhf1DgYJ4i4AxuB5H6JDRO0Ybd8jYqffJEIJZ9RVmrzOR6AbCKqc4pXSNWI22NH2GxTdaC3Ard60jW-U9ASiGQm-Xab_kh9zZd0oJHBuF4P8TrnFNG/s400/IMG_0221.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669480460444526802" /></a><br /></div><div>The best spot in the world for pet portraits! Still takes a great picture, even with my phone!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkL-xqOtZPrTO_uCjomemTufu5EIdSwQerf1mihFv59SOKmqKoJwGKMIzTp-Jw4POKxvxZidnv4mmTAfnmnN1lPNfZjgg_x5465rHjdiXUHjIrryMfaUrB2E-v-QwxgkB-ilJqewKTObKn/s1600/IMG_0254.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkL-xqOtZPrTO_uCjomemTufu5EIdSwQerf1mihFv59SOKmqKoJwGKMIzTp-Jw4POKxvxZidnv4mmTAfnmnN1lPNfZjgg_x5465rHjdiXUHjIrryMfaUrB2E-v-QwxgkB-ilJqewKTObKn/s400/IMG_0254.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669480455542339970" /></a><br /></div><div>I took this one with the MovieFXCam app (free until November 1st). You can take video or pictures with many different effects. This one is called "Seventies Film". I love the way the sunlight looks in this one.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirhdWdaReY5RRAmQWE5niGIdGbnT54wC4ZYIaFSGx6CB04W-6FQQOG_Rbabgmzz6owPjKNt9BeyWODH-edQYyxHI4UqW09nIZshR7TZdvj2aUqJ8ORYX_sfMZHCPItgjsgFMK1RzIkf9Eh/s1600/IMG_0264.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirhdWdaReY5RRAmQWE5niGIdGbnT54wC4ZYIaFSGx6CB04W-6FQQOG_Rbabgmzz6owPjKNt9BeyWODH-edQYyxHI4UqW09nIZshR7TZdvj2aUqJ8ORYX_sfMZHCPItgjsgFMK1RzIkf9Eh/s400/IMG_0264.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669476263259095554" /></a><br /></div><div>Same app, but this effect is "Thermal Vision". Doesn't Minners look funny?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKUduUNsMj7SN4h7fVOoHoY3jxq8n6zRaiTmGcOc9ALgjJG5z2ygH-NQilHyG6kjGN_y2P5A2ekh_s5NZxLZwJfx66CXEzj6-2deqLeT-40fWosjDDCsh1Zff3GB1kVB7o-HYkNUq1vewE/s1600/IMG_0262.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKUduUNsMj7SN4h7fVOoHoY3jxq8n6zRaiTmGcOc9ALgjJG5z2ygH-NQilHyG6kjGN_y2P5A2ekh_s5NZxLZwJfx66CXEzj6-2deqLeT-40fWosjDDCsh1Zff3GB1kVB7o-HYkNUq1vewE/s400/IMG_0262.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669476258650028354" /></a><br /></div><div>This one is in the same "Seventies Film" effect. Keifer is one of our neighborhood dog friends. He's pretty fast, so most of the pictures I took of him were a bit blurry. This is the one time when I think my DSLR would do better because it has a fast shutter speed.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQkzq_2JU_2c26DhYYsRIZLxfnKrIMRiF606RIhuO_s_UyY97_9l8mQojweufSI5fNyg726LKctGHnv3ishgq4Yxp4fjOl1mHGpGFV-kbr5ETN3LoGDfObS_jXLkypDOc4L3z5zx47M3w/s1600/IMG_0270.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQkzq_2JU_2c26DhYYsRIZLxfnKrIMRiF606RIhuO_s_UyY97_9l8mQojweufSI5fNyg726LKctGHnv3ishgq4Yxp4fjOl1mHGpGFV-kbr5ETN3LoGDfObS_jXLkypDOc4L3z5zx47M3w/s400/IMG_0270.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669476248996128322" /></a><br /></div><div>Minnie loves her Auntie Mitzi. I was able to share this Instagram picture with Mitzi via Twitter after I took it.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-SQOroMO3hR8KgFFFIxDgN1O-LsPrcZvlAADrzVWizHgfq722KdD1RLGJgmwQ_yhk3nWZ2yVpYn0jdIaVu2-5rcFX9wudf0D-nqzXxlWZL-oUk-n1Mf4jMH4BMa4wBOc54g3t0bbM_rUc/s1600/IMG_0276.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-SQOroMO3hR8KgFFFIxDgN1O-LsPrcZvlAADrzVWizHgfq722KdD1RLGJgmwQ_yhk3nWZ2yVpYn0jdIaVu2-5rcFX9wudf0D-nqzXxlWZL-oUk-n1Mf4jMH4BMa4wBOc54g3t0bbM_rUc/s400/IMG_0276.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669476247740255458" /></a><br /></div><div>Had to share a picture of one of my grocery store finds with the Instagram app. I love this filter because the apples look so yummy!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDI9yLhVo-UWSLUgMpGUd60QGTWSBPhI79Uyeazi81M9UF0ddV3F7G8HKcpyMfY6iRis90wo4fMlXDRYJ1Nvf_3FZblMt4K1R2U75GquVRptkeu0eIyQSAchF2fA45rMQZqPvOAtG2zrrZ/s1600/IMG_0288.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDI9yLhVo-UWSLUgMpGUd60QGTWSBPhI79Uyeazi81M9UF0ddV3F7G8HKcpyMfY6iRis90wo4fMlXDRYJ1Nvf_3FZblMt4K1R2U75GquVRptkeu0eIyQSAchF2fA45rMQZqPvOAtG2zrrZ/s400/IMG_0288.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669476242243954978" /></a><br /></div><div>What are YOUR favorite apps? I also have 360 (for panoramic pictures) and Pro HDR, but I haven't played around with those as much.<br /><br /></div>Betshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676656976575891075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965444354591242079.post-44939293802080487582011-10-05T21:06:00.005-05:002011-10-10T21:06:51.263-05:00I'm actually excited about grocery shopping!<div>I've never been a fan of grocery shopping. Do you remember when I diagnosed myself with <a href="http://thebetsweekever.blogspot.com/2009/02/ive-self-diagnosed-myself-with-grocery.html">Grocery Store Sensory Overload</a>? It's a real thing. I promise. I have a hard time planning a menu for the week and sticking to just the things on my list. </div><div><br /></div><div>When Trader Joe's opened here, I thought for sure I wouldn't care or become a shopper there. The first time I went, Jill & I went just to look around. I was annoyed by the crowds, but it was still new at that point and everyone was super excited about TJ's. </div><div><br /></div><div>Then, I asked Molly if they'd meet me at the Ward Parkway TJ's to do some shopping and give me suggestions of what to get. 4 weeks later, I'm completely hooked! For someone who used to typically hate my grocery store trips that happened every 3-4 weeks, I'm now excited about going once a week to get what I need for lunch and dinner. I thought I'd share a few of my favorites (so far). </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Chocolate-covered banana bites - $1.99.</b> These are in the frozen section and stay frozen. Just take out & enjoy as-is. <a href="http://www.whatsgoodattraderjoes.com/2011/03/trader-joes-gone-bananas.html">They are pretty filling</a> and usually, I can get over a chocolate craving with just one or two of the bites.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93TJg__tC4c4lmqGtbmWvWVQo2pUd706k9AFtkiCBJSbvGno1G2pdGTXxwi9CSDx5BAjBR572axGgpb1DFxqhXtUGQGWAJzrnZj5s5CtnIckaeK3nrYOBNsn6JcQHkEEtsxVLNC0dW2e3/s1600/IMG_6612.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93TJg__tC4c4lmqGtbmWvWVQo2pUd706k9AFtkiCBJSbvGno1G2pdGTXxwi9CSDx5BAjBR572axGgpb1DFxqhXtUGQGWAJzrnZj5s5CtnIckaeK3nrYOBNsn6JcQHkEEtsxVLNC0dW2e3/s400/IMG_6612.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660209201082194706" /></a><br /><div><b>Bananas - $0.19/banana.</b> Pretty cheap for bananas! They also carry organic bananas for a little bit more money. I love bananas, but I got burned out on them after peanut butter banana sandwiches for SEVERAL meals in a row.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEgrFcs3vtwqDbA42_891Uua_r0XZ489SW_Wk8O_aIpd4ORzHyJ0nr9YilzHhTpF43mxoA9TrkeiyygjVsXGcPTfqsL38KRm03SuVszkd7VGU9jSGEQlH5pnB2fJ7FTVrDhnRZtr8DLHma/s1600/IMG_6611.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEgrFcs3vtwqDbA42_891Uua_r0XZ489SW_Wk8O_aIpd4ORzHyJ0nr9YilzHhTpF43mxoA9TrkeiyygjVsXGcPTfqsL38KRm03SuVszkd7VGU9jSGEQlH5pnB2fJ7FTVrDhnRZtr8DLHma/s400/IMG_6611.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660208952758826578" /></a><br /></div><div><b>Mini heirloom tomatoes - $3.49.</b> So yummy! The last time I was there, they didn't have the heirloom tomatoes, but had regular cherry tomatoes for the same price.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRB-PwO36Z5SfAGNuyQZ5g5fy1TfEvqfMQj9xqK9XogqIcQE1yP1O91VDyQE-8Mkxn11_PoGGsRmMlfCiSW3_NwS6_7vz3xE-JAyYHE_IgrLgHF3FQ2Ec-M_e8jqzStLlpOzdQhtCf7VYU/s1600/IMG_6609.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRB-PwO36Z5SfAGNuyQZ5g5fy1TfEvqfMQj9xqK9XogqIcQE1yP1O91VDyQE-8Mkxn11_PoGGsRmMlfCiSW3_NwS6_7vz3xE-JAyYHE_IgrLgHF3FQ2Ec-M_e8jqzStLlpOzdQhtCf7VYU/s400/IMG_6609.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660208941526003154" /></a><br /></div><div><b>Whole wheat slim sandwich bread - $2.49.</b> These taste just as good as the Thomas' whole wheat slims I was buying at my other grocery store, but a bit cheaper. One of my coworkers told me today that all the bread from TJ's should be kept in the fridge (and they recommend that) because there aren't any preservatives. Just an FYI for you.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfwwkhMDI80XWII3eUkYvQQcSd7QjCz13BEQ6n4KBlwiyeK6KxIF-FAlNbFrG4KBefamNDSvJvXMzBosBw3KFit0_8ZmHXIN9L23A8R3urXk1DUj8T9SzdPQ_OtzovSAVU1AEB2iOdym8/s1600/IMG_6610.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfwwkhMDI80XWII3eUkYvQQcSd7QjCz13BEQ6n4KBlwiyeK6KxIF-FAlNbFrG4KBefamNDSvJvXMzBosBw3KFit0_8ZmHXIN9L23A8R3urXk1DUj8T9SzdPQ_OtzovSAVU1AEB2iOdym8/s400/IMG_6610.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660208938138179890" /></a><br /></div><div><b>Half-gallon of fat free milk - $1.99.</b> I normally drink fat free skim milk, but TJ's didn't carry it. this milk is significantly cheaper than the price of a half gallon at Walmart where I normally shop. I have a hard time drinking my entire 1/2 gallon, so sometimes I have to pour out half of it. I don't feel nearly as guilty when the milk is less than $2.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBwkvOqR4k8eZNVZzq1eVUXBN9tJ35BYDlrG9IDOydaR2hxX1W2JOlF5sX6JOQyNiheC7p0yDECZaraNSMeiZ_GY3qp7gVy16iIThbGeDeLLQjWpgw5bNuoka1s34ZMFBLD0BmnZ7HzT4q/s1600/IMG_6607.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBwkvOqR4k8eZNVZzq1eVUXBN9tJ35BYDlrG9IDOydaR2hxX1W2JOlF5sX6JOQyNiheC7p0yDECZaraNSMeiZ_GY3qp7gVy16iIThbGeDeLLQjWpgw5bNuoka1s34ZMFBLD0BmnZ7HzT4q/s400/IMG_6607.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660208929787397554" /></a><br /></div><div><b>Organic brown rice - $3.49.</b> There are three 10 oz. packages inside this box. It's found in the freezer section. So far, I've only made one of the packages, but when I mixed it with a bag of organic frozen veggies ($1.69), it was a great "side" to add to my lunches.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOqw79NEwlRiwOT6zUOhGUYj72skR-0EkGB_MXWH-dcRQitDBENMwtRRRVdE_V4B5EcFb3yeUZSgS81KN3xBf3nUqglFOis3EA5HxnsKK4HGmN-vPDq0yhyphenhyphenNnXqr7cyKRwKf3ez2lqx1sr/s1600/IMG_2396.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOqw79NEwlRiwOT6zUOhGUYj72skR-0EkGB_MXWH-dcRQitDBENMwtRRRVdE_V4B5EcFb3yeUZSgS81KN3xBf3nUqglFOis3EA5HxnsKK4HGmN-vPDq0yhyphenhyphenNnXqr7cyKRwKf3ez2lqx1sr/s400/IMG_2396.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660208920180582242" /></a><br /></div><div>Turkey meatballs - $2.99. Frozen & fully cooked. This is next up on my list of things to make with pasta for some easy lunches for school. I haven't tried them yet, but Molly has and they are getting great reviews.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_CjWW9asjcCX-ePlIiX5IbeXtMJUDVMm_mKImE1au8fA9Ag1DtrS2wcIy0VjmlZqbnU01JrFlkKtC6UiUM7zG1KCRNQmijJL5spvx04rYG7uXEv_Qbhe3hONwCtGBb0sd6CAUgdqTei7/s1600/IMG_2393.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_CjWW9asjcCX-ePlIiX5IbeXtMJUDVMm_mKImE1au8fA9Ag1DtrS2wcIy0VjmlZqbnU01JrFlkKtC6UiUM7zG1KCRNQmijJL5spvx04rYG7uXEv_Qbhe3hONwCtGBb0sd6CAUgdqTei7/s400/IMG_2393.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660196764880190050" /></a><br /></div><div><b>Chicken & vegetable potstickers - $2.99.</b> These can be cooked quickly in the microwave and they are super yummy.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8esLqIn1NqkdqB7oM9hh3CQqGuAek7s-DzcaL3I-Yyy1sR1gbkevoN4uu460HIcapls4cCXSVToIyMs3MfcaABnvkgVdqs3-ZeXwe8REfnEmOTnTrPMM7GaQ6E9FnThThUJNzRyllRGs6/s1600/IMG_2392.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8esLqIn1NqkdqB7oM9hh3CQqGuAek7s-DzcaL3I-Yyy1sR1gbkevoN4uu460HIcapls4cCXSVToIyMs3MfcaABnvkgVdqs3-ZeXwe8REfnEmOTnTrPMM7GaQ6E9FnThThUJNzRyllRGs6/s400/IMG_2392.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660196754858593458" /></a><br /></div><div><b>Kashi Go Lean Crunch cereal - $2.99.</b> I didn't actually buy this at TJ's. I'm sorry I didn't, because the day before I bought it at Walgreen's when doing some quick shopping for $4.99. Ugh. I'm still getting over the lack of taste, but attempting to like it because of the high amount of protein it has.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOb_-d9rOmhKqQlC_Da8MhMBlrWiBeuDu0yexJDkYbc1-r-xT12UDEEfMrpMi6bO9neRTSIiMs0-v7tBUaUunMNyLcgA6SK_hfhgnXekTRk-FMQAFjdj1j_GgIt6ijID4aw21R7R8sI6X/s1600/IMG_2391.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOb_-d9rOmhKqQlC_Da8MhMBlrWiBeuDu0yexJDkYbc1-r-xT12UDEEfMrpMi6bO9neRTSIiMs0-v7tBUaUunMNyLcgA6SK_hfhgnXekTRk-FMQAFjdj1j_GgIt6ijID4aw21R7R8sI6X/s400/IMG_2391.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660196745314060034" /></a><br /></div><div><b>Organic fruit wrap - $0.49/each.</b> I'm a hugh fan of fruit snacks and roll-ups. I used to buy the fruit wraps at Whole Foods, but I rarely shop there. Target's Archer Farms brand has great fruit wraps, too. I really like <a href="http://www.whatsgoodattraderjoes.com/2011/08/trader-joes-organic-100-natural-fruit.html">these</a>, even though they are a bit expensive.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfD_inQcPlwt1jP1uN4I2UdA7v5gZVAYSAGzmQ2TRyFkxkFmJyJ_RcY6fEBGR2rZE80jVmqiOZzk7sdztz1UdOhLT0Pu3PdTtVJjyVZE0onSzvHIEHICuDOFr3i57mcL7dFQvAH1W8MwpH/s1600/IMG_2390.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfD_inQcPlwt1jP1uN4I2UdA7v5gZVAYSAGzmQ2TRyFkxkFmJyJ_RcY6fEBGR2rZE80jVmqiOZzk7sdztz1UdOhLT0Pu3PdTtVJjyVZE0onSzvHIEHICuDOFr3i57mcL7dFQvAH1W8MwpH/s400/IMG_2390.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660196738818599682" /></a><br /></div><div><b>Quinoa duo with vegetables - $3.99</b>. Have you ever tried to shop for quinoa at your grocery store? Of course, my Walmart didn't carry it. When I finally found some in the organic section of a Hen House, a small container cost a small fortune! I left it on the shelf. This is found in the frozen section and it's already pre-cooked. You just need to quickly warm it up in the microwave or a skillet. I got about 3 portions out of this bag and I added a little bit of cheese to it for some flavor and to tone down the spice. I'm sure most people wouldn't think it's too spicy, but I noticed it had a kick to it.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpyfNedRCTHk0o-mh6T-u8P4duJhI9UuFy7JY7EhTYFGPABAlWKMOAicIu-TK7u3ZTJ_kVeUVLcFOqOD7HujWlYo7k4dlTmrJ-5669RGAxksGX2c8HqjTbZXWX1sHXkds2m5nOBJdD6hF_/s1600/IMG_2389.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpyfNedRCTHk0o-mh6T-u8P4duJhI9UuFy7JY7EhTYFGPABAlWKMOAicIu-TK7u3ZTJ_kVeUVLcFOqOD7HujWlYo7k4dlTmrJ-5669RGAxksGX2c8HqjTbZXWX1sHXkds2m5nOBJdD6hF_/s400/IMG_2389.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660196727197045970" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm also now a fan of the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Whats-Good-at-Trader-Joes/176989568999337">What's Good at Trader Joe's FB page</a>, with the hopes that I'll get some other new ideas. With a little bit of searching, you can find plenty of blogs & twitter accounts where people share suggestions of what to buy at TJ's and what foods reviewed well (or not so well). </div><div><br /></div><div>I hope you can find a few things to get next time you're there ... or maybe this will entice you to take your first trip to Trader Joe's. Let me know what you like to get when you are there! </div>Betshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676656976575891075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965444354591242079.post-64459613212039006972011-09-17T21:00:00.005-05:002011-09-24T13:04:54.784-05:00Apparently I'm a dumpster diver now<div>Do you remember the last time I "inherited" some new furniture from the dumpster in my neighborhood? I ended up with a <a href="http://thebetsweekever.blogspot.com/2009/07/crafty-project-for-my-classroom.html">great piece of furniture</a> that I still use in my classroom. </div><div><br /></div><div>The new project started Friday when I got home from work. I took Minnie out for a walk in the cold and saw a leaning bookshelf sitting in one of our dumpster carports. I looked around to see if anyone was in the middle of moving and just rested it there. Nope. It was in the trash. </div><div><br /></div><div>I came home and texted Molly to ask for advice. Should I pick it up? I've always wanted one, but wasn't sure I had the spot for it in my condo. I didn't think I could carry it and was almost sure it wouldn't fit in my car. Molly replied to say, "Take it and decide later!" So, I hopped in my car and drove it around the development to see if the shelf was still there. I put the shelf in my back seat, but had to drive back to my building with the back door open because the shelf was so big. </div><div><br /></div><div>Mom came over this afternoon to help me find the perfect spot for this shelf. The office seemed to be the best option. Last summer I had <a href="http://thebetsweekever.blogspot.com/2010/06/whatcha-think.html">rearranged the office</a> to make room for a new dresser. It was still a mess and we had to move things to make it all work. </div><div><br /></div><div>Here are the finished products! The bookshelf was already painted this gray blue color. Thanks, friendly neighbor! I also hung that brown frame that Jilly gave me for my birthday a few years ago. I'm embarrassed it took me this long to get it hung. It is filled with baby pics of Ells because I don't seem to print pictures out anymore :(</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKc0ChyphenhyphenQO7y1xGt1SszbxJ6n1tFTBqEcxA7nRrQ7GNwjWW13DMQk9AqBL1rsSyJTyQpjtluMNuda-_ZQQciyZw9QTBLCy73qqqvo0tTM81I0rRQ9Y51KnWNRbdxantTArW954ON7U4hRXV/s1600/IMG_2315.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKc0ChyphenhyphenQO7y1xGt1SszbxJ6n1tFTBqEcxA7nRrQ7GNwjWW13DMQk9AqBL1rsSyJTyQpjtluMNuda-_ZQQciyZw9QTBLCy73qqqvo0tTM81I0rRQ9Y51KnWNRbdxantTArW954ON7U4hRXV/s400/IMG_2315.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653514277431424850" /></a><br /><div>Got rid of the tiny bookshelf on that right-hand wall and moved the brown dresser over there. That small bookshelf is now sitting out at the dumpster. I hope someone else can use it! The top of the desk is cleaned off, too. This couch is Minnie's spot during the day, hence the dog bed & towel.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-95lU4Lcp9JOyD_bfzmq6rSgKIPLG-5QA9xQ3mnNN-1EdJM0TG4LHWYCzqU7NoJCswTb4i9NzTQY3bt9leWxgspiF29sqgYXeZm8sY9AGf7ZaG1BpP3vEEcLo3OTohwQvbZz5n6B4FH0/s1600/IMG_2312.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-95lU4Lcp9JOyD_bfzmq6rSgKIPLG-5QA9xQ3mnNN-1EdJM0TG4LHWYCzqU7NoJCswTb4i9NzTQY3bt9leWxgspiF29sqgYXeZm8sY9AGf7ZaG1BpP3vEEcLo3OTohwQvbZz5n6B4FH0/s400/IMG_2312.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653514269392759634" /></a><br /></div><div>After Mom left, she told me to get to work & finish organizing. So, I tackled the GIANT piles of filing I've been putting off for months. I hate to file papers, both at home and at work! I sat in that tiny open space for about 2 hours to get all these bills and papers put away.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBBIlc4XgsGxddFt8SPpIT3jc0npqER86jI_nz-K6LiuQ4b-SvmGBSJVX4KE-GQ82F99ikMi61ryJNmKuyGyMnV2lHbz0bYh5muCOMyP7yOnx6NrHYs2L7k3re0pyRxZeue_toMtSWyu1N/s1600/IMG_2309.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBBIlc4XgsGxddFt8SPpIT3jc0npqER86jI_nz-K6LiuQ4b-SvmGBSJVX4KE-GQ82F99ikMi61ryJNmKuyGyMnV2lHbz0bYh5muCOMyP7yOnx6NrHYs2L7k3re0pyRxZeue_toMtSWyu1N/s400/IMG_2309.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653514260874704194" /></a><br /></div><div>Mom did a GREAT job of organizing and decorating the shelf for me. I love the way it looks.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirx_kch0Yh8fEnuiM-8q1TZcElhuBkzwTl4JWsA7ejvWr_lwAZKBYdFszdDy85EpB9QxV3bC6S1uPSArzbg_cxgp8ZjstVR-Xbp1972CCjvgrcXugfpSjSefsAJFOmtuLR_z14Njw93mM2/s1600/IMG_2308.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirx_kch0Yh8fEnuiM-8q1TZcElhuBkzwTl4JWsA7ejvWr_lwAZKBYdFszdDy85EpB9QxV3bC6S1uPSArzbg_cxgp8ZjstVR-Xbp1972CCjvgrcXugfpSjSefsAJFOmtuLR_z14Njw93mM2/s400/IMG_2308.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653514249943131842" /></a><br /></div><div>I can still access my printer on the bottom shelf for the occasional time that I need to print something. Most of the other items came from on top of my desk or around my condo.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDu8ccQxdtlKjk8bzL_vU4j2TLDOZTNzAs4mcyOg36jTD4CZNqK9sRnk8mhxdDER_T0QOs1QMEuo6IpTxL4mkIdsEEXpO8UWMhKcVEhsfSQHr7hYrTyHesHnAbcBmwAfQpaz1FomwgSc95/s1600/IMG_2307.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDu8ccQxdtlKjk8bzL_vU4j2TLDOZTNzAs4mcyOg36jTD4CZNqK9sRnk8mhxdDER_T0QOs1QMEuo6IpTxL4mkIdsEEXpO8UWMhKcVEhsfSQHr7hYrTyHesHnAbcBmwAfQpaz1FomwgSc95/s400/IMG_2307.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653514241435174706" /></a><br /></div><div>This is the cleanest my office has been in years! I'm hoping it will stick :) Not bad for a zero dollar makeover!</div>Betshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676656976575891075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965444354591242079.post-77315112336291735722011-09-06T21:05:00.006-05:002011-09-06T21:55:02.082-05:00Light, easy dinner<div>Looks good, no?</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqoDdn9HikVN8dBCPSUTQQ5O_0ur9OaWpPtRLQNGd6EEYYW1FBBsa8Dv6RmDNyjVs4xZnx1DcQxzIDexy0kZgBUZ_GVEX5BlSg7jM-dJ-kTfXJQnm46gRnwgvHiYlbt653BVDum4pO2jjJ/s1600/IMG_6257.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqoDdn9HikVN8dBCPSUTQQ5O_0ur9OaWpPtRLQNGd6EEYYW1FBBsa8Dv6RmDNyjVs4xZnx1DcQxzIDexy0kZgBUZ_GVEX5BlSg7jM-dJ-kTfXJQnm46gRnwgvHiYlbt653BVDum4pO2jjJ/s576/IMG_6257.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649434330449111010" /></a><br /><div>I don't think my prep time every matches that on the recipe. I must be slow and/or not very efficient. I left out the following items ... I'm sure you aren't surprised: hot sauce (would have added, but didn't want to buy it just for this), cilantro, shallot. I also used a box of Garden Delight tomato, carrot & spinach pasta instead of the whole-wheat pasta. It came in a 12oz. box, so I added left over penne pasta in my cabinet to get the pound. You'd be fine with just the 12oz. box!</div><div>** UPDATE: Clearly my eyes only see what they want to when it comes to my favorite carbs. I honestly never saw that the recipe called for just 1/2 of a 1lb. box of pasta until Molly pointed it out to me. No wonder it made so much! Stick with just half the box, or the 12oz. box for more pasta in the gazpacho. **<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4JBQQXZUDDgNxpl-3rN76ZX20f9cWlTcxNa1rxBEzdzbRLNw6o2SjjA6H-GY9x3_jPZXQIL-Czaa3cLtHBwPC28gRcFnAwxPOT7Y3cFc-eYGUZCowOeSSHwJkyLaH4QhodBmsLb_R4XlU/s1600/IMG_6258.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4JBQQXZUDDgNxpl-3rN76ZX20f9cWlTcxNa1rxBEzdzbRLNw6o2SjjA6H-GY9x3_jPZXQIL-Czaa3cLtHBwPC28gRcFnAwxPOT7Y3cFc-eYGUZCowOeSSHwJkyLaH4QhodBmsLb_R4XlU/s576/IMG_6258.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649434323703843778" /></a><br /></div><div>Cooked pasta. So pretty looking!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1wV-xfgu2gy9rvGCeI9DKG2Nz5eZ4OOiLnuLDn-aRJekY2Zqu2eA507fjYda2fBgbVvB_sTrsX-KvAb-ov3LptYQDUyS9bkwOqmyDfaN2C4iG7SX-pI69E2JgvvgetBOsmSAUnBjxntf/s1600/IMG_6251.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1wV-xfgu2gy9rvGCeI9DKG2Nz5eZ4OOiLnuLDn-aRJekY2Zqu2eA507fjYda2fBgbVvB_sTrsX-KvAb-ov3LptYQDUyS9bkwOqmyDfaN2C4iG7SX-pI69E2JgvvgetBOsmSAUnBjxntf/s576/IMG_6251.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649433757265439746" /></a><br /></div><div>Diced veggies. I used a whole cucumber. I also used an orange bell pepper instead of yellow because it looked better at the grocery store. I forgot to add the cherry tomatoes until after I mixed the pasta in this.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfi3sM42pfJBI8Nz4NLCa0BRTMZS8LoTqTqPbU7fAsrTGRI4OnevkNYFOzfCiyx2krH7bzcregtAokjtNlkmTNcYawRNV_ZmaP8SVDY50zasYnJ1UmrGTx5QsgMP6lpkzfbpSUparbSbX-/s1600/IMG_6255.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfi3sM42pfJBI8Nz4NLCa0BRTMZS8LoTqTqPbU7fAsrTGRI4OnevkNYFOzfCiyx2krH7bzcregtAokjtNlkmTNcYawRNV_ZmaP8SVDY50zasYnJ1UmrGTx5QsgMP6lpkzfbpSUparbSbX-/s576/IMG_6255.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649433749626193842" /></a><br /></div><div>Easy dressing. I thought this wouldn't be enough, but it was plenty. The final (gazpacho) product is less soup-y & more pasta salad-y.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdCVnHkNfiEtXuF9TveDDrMY6X8ny1eKqyI5O2SXVTFXZSqGTTMVty6XEwIy71_Jc5Y33BEfouxby9Nbmptej9MBSG7egrBpScR2hhv9ACTsin17cW-I6Uj7R75UR_6pDjE-IbZjEVL7ab/s1600/IMG_6256.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdCVnHkNfiEtXuF9TveDDrMY6X8ny1eKqyI5O2SXVTFXZSqGTTMVty6XEwIy71_Jc5Y33BEfouxby9Nbmptej9MBSG7egrBpScR2hhv9ACTsin17cW-I6Uj7R75UR_6pDjE-IbZjEVL7ab/s576/IMG_6256.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649433745813949602" /></a><br /></div><div>My portion for dinner. This made a HUGE amount! I ate this bowl, gave some to a neighbor, packed some for Mitzi & Brenda & me for lunch tomorrow, and have 2 more portions left for future meals.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinbyJoCIiQOjnLBumiSxmQAUPNKtlhtPFz14npWbdbsVfXLBzDqHVFcCWPnbWnvgxAgPTe7WBa0Fu1V2kploPKK5aWq25giqLxOu0mXIsA-HYTy1HOLOpcEGD6-muk8ObpoGZB-cY5UM6u/s1600/IMG_6259.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinbyJoCIiQOjnLBumiSxmQAUPNKtlhtPFz14npWbdbsVfXLBzDqHVFcCWPnbWnvgxAgPTe7WBa0Fu1V2kploPKK5aWq25giqLxOu0mXIsA-HYTy1HOLOpcEGD6-muk8ObpoGZB-cY5UM6u/s576/IMG_6259.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649433739352626434" /></a><br /></div><div>Oh, and I dirtied up just about every utensil and bowl in my kitchen!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLvAKsAytw9wy0j0DCAPcO-1tlUGsZxIeimSPD7XsojWmJ7uh7wXbIGrty6D4Xx3xXxoQMnLlVoUsGCKurUSR3fC7upVvmQwCyNiHtFkOPS10DE5ZnBWMtmB9eH9dAzsaDCg0yWBUpRdW/s1600/IMG_6266.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLvAKsAytw9wy0j0DCAPcO-1tlUGsZxIeimSPD7XsojWmJ7uh7wXbIGrty6D4Xx3xXxoQMnLlVoUsGCKurUSR3fC7upVvmQwCyNiHtFkOPS10DE5ZnBWMtmB9eH9dAzsaDCg0yWBUpRdW/s576/IMG_6266.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649433732048496242" /></a><br /></div><div>Enjoy!</div>Betshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676656976575891075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965444354591242079.post-76098886654062758652011-09-01T21:04:00.004-05:002011-09-01T21:09:30.524-05:00This puts things in perspectiveToday, I got an email at work from our school counselor. She found this post from a teacher in Joplin, MO. I immediately opened her email and then started crying at my desk during the day. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. <div>
<br /></div><div><div style=" ;font-family:'Arial Black', sans-serif;font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:Bookman Old Style, serif;font-size:130%;color:#1F497D;"><i>This is from the journal of a teacher in Joplin, Missouri as the school year is beginning. It kind of puts many things into perspective.</i></span></div><div style=" ;font-family:'Arial Black', sans-serif;font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman, serif;font-size:100%;"> </span></div><div style=" ;font-family:'Arial Black', sans-serif;font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>This may end up being my last tornado journal update. You want to know why? Because for the first time in 87 days, I have been able to breath today. I have been able to feel almost normal today. My kids were able to sleep and have something to wake up for today. We didn't have to spend our summer days wishing the pools hadn't been destroyed. We didn't have to wish we could go to our favorite parks, only to remember that they are no longer there. We didn't have to do anything that revolved around the tornado. We got to get up and go to school!</span></div><div style=" ;font-family:'Arial Black', sans-serif;font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:Bookman Old Style, serif;font-size:100%;color:#1F497D;"> </span></div><div style=" ;font-family:'Arial Black', sans-serif;font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>With the help of donations from around the world, these kids came back in style! Every child received a backpack with Joplin Eagles and our eagle logo on the front that was filled with school supplies appropriate for the grade. Every high school student--whether they were going back to school at the mall campus or the old middle school--received a laptop in the backpack. They will do all of their learning via the computers since the textbooks were destroyed. There is a coffee bar set up in the mall campus that the business classes will run. A theater in Branson adopted the drama department. Barry Manilow sent a truckload of instruments for the band. Amazon donated truckloads of books. As we walked into our building this morning, members of a local church greeted every child and teacher with smiles, high fives, handshakes, and snacks! Media outlets, both local and national, filmed at the various school locations, focusing on the more innovative spots like the high school in the mall and the middle school in an old warehouse. These children will not be disappointed with the facilities that were amazingly constructed over a few weeks’ time. It took a lot of time and effort from many people. We had volunteers from around the country putting together furniture, stocking libraries, cleaning new desks, filling all of those backpacks. There is even a health club in the new high school because there was not space for a traditional gym. Talk about getting the job done!</span></div><div style=" ;font-family:'Arial Black', sans-serif;font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:Bookman Old Style, serif;font-size:100%;color:#1F497D;"> </span></div><div style=" ;font-family:'Arial Black', sans-serif;font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>As a teacher, the best part about today was seeing the kids. There were some physical injuries from the tornado that were still visible. There will be even more emotional scars that will pop up in the days to come. Several former students wanted to tell me their stories today. One boy crawled out of his house after the tornado was over to find an arm in his front yard. Another 7th grader found a child when he was helping to clear the rubble near his home-the child hadn't survived. Another talked about coming up from his basement to find that there was nothing left of his house and how disorienting that was for him. I was lucky enough to be trained by Dr. Arshad Husain and his staff of trauma psychiatrists and psychologists in a Teachers As Therapists program. I have to admit that it seemed a little weird to me that our town needed this type of training as I knew his team works with children experiencing major trauma. I had to admit that we did indeed need his help. Today, though, the tears were mostly from joy and pride and, yes, that hope we talk about around here all the time. It finally feels like we are healing. Never underestimate the role that a school system plays in a community. It was a huge step for our town to get back to normalcy.</span></div><div style=" ;font-family:'Arial Black', sans-serif;font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:Bookman Old Style, serif;font-size:100%;color:#1F497D;"> </span></div><div style=" ;font-family:'Arial Black', sans-serif;font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>We had our Welcome Back session on Monday for all Joplin Schools employees. It had all of the usual things you would expect--the cheerleaders, the band, the speeches. It also had a lot of things we didn't expect--the entire sidewalk heading into the auditorium lined with people from the community shouting "thank you" and holding up "good luck" signs, a copy of the USA Today on every seat that featured a front page story about our schools and one of our students, the governor praising our school and city efforts since the tornado, and even a video with celebrities like Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Charles Barkley, Sugarland, and Lady Antebellum wishing us good luck and shouting, "Go Eagles." There were boxes of Kleenex scattered around the seats because this was no ordinary Back to School session. This one made everyone in that room proud to be an Eagle and proud of our town! Even though it is still going to be awhile before we can truly get things back to normal, we are headed in the right direction. When you have hope, nothing is unreachable!</span></div></div>Betshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676656976575891075noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965444354591242079.post-8480779924883728802011-08-28T19:34:00.007-05:002011-08-28T20:42:45.642-05:00Crafty time + Crayons = Happy Girl<div>I saw this project on one of my <a href="http://megduerksen.typepad.com/whatever/2011/08/you-knew-i-was-going-to-make-one.html">favorite blogs</a> and knew that I HAD to make it. Apparently this melted crayon art is all over <a href="http://pinterest.com/">Pinterest</a>, which I have yet to play on because I know I'll never leave my laptop. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>Last weekend, I headed to Wal-Mart for a deal on Crayola Crayons, because they are the only acceptable brand of crayons. If you are a parent who shops for school supplies, please don't send your kid to school with Rose Art supplies ... they just don't do the trick! <a href="http://www.unravelingthestash.com/">Jill</a> came with me because she saw the link and also wanted to make some art for her classroom! </div><div>
<br /></div><div>We each bought a box of 64 and an additional box of 48 for this project. We picked out the pretty colors ... who knew there are so many versions of brown in a box of crayons? </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJeoosllw3FIqsJdXfl7dmGNp2F7QXaXFesNbMHnWMOyG9gdEPtifp_uW9ATqLU2vRipt8czv36kSGsPjREAoN_cDNCYfNtf5X4QoVn99-vV_5h4wOutw09_VsCnp5NYgxQaL77ZzsnK5/s1600/IMG_6076.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJeoosllw3FIqsJdXfl7dmGNp2F7QXaXFesNbMHnWMOyG9gdEPtifp_uW9ATqLU2vRipt8czv36kSGsPjREAoN_cDNCYfNtf5X4QoVn99-vV_5h4wOutw09_VsCnp5NYgxQaL77ZzsnK5/s576/IMG_6076.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646071615305031906" /></a>
<br /><div>Jill went with blues, purples, white and a few reds. I went with a rainbow of colors, primarily pink. Are you surprised? After we picked out enough crayons, we carefully hot-glued them to the canvases. I had canvases left over from a previous crafty project that I ended up hating. The canvases were about 18x24 inches. We used painter's tape to line them up straight when gluing. About 1/4 inch was left between the top of the crayons and the edge of the canvas.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrB9Xkac3vhUkHjpF2Aoh3n3G3hlP14p2ckQNKdSUMK_PKG-8I2Tfkx-hufLuxv1DzzR5DIm3aKOOjR9bWAIcnnCJP-B1uNZSUYzCjmgBrewOWXtgjPQZQeSjd5wdc0ABBDz0ZhLsFNq9/s1600/IMG_6086.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrB9Xkac3vhUkHjpF2Aoh3n3G3hlP14p2ckQNKdSUMK_PKG-8I2Tfkx-hufLuxv1DzzR5DIm3aKOOjR9bWAIcnnCJP-B1uNZSUYzCjmgBrewOWXtgjPQZQeSjd5wdc0ABBDz0ZhLsFNq9/s576/IMG_6086.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646070744868844850" /></a>
<br /></div><div>LOTS of crayons ... glued on our canvases. At first, I thought I wanted to glue my crayons with the color names facing out, but Jill & I decided that the Crayola label facing out added some interesting graphics to the art.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFN0U0uu2Kl49ti2L0Jm2VEltdFnVUzLWc1XTnHhmr5VucAoA4txENZv8V9tGNnNK9bScuPv5BW4idDQ30a5z3XqRDUQUKkO6OSfNK5-tVdjs-T7uXvNbhx9GnDIZvBQ_I4iZsG0ohJXNV/s1600/IMG_6091.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFN0U0uu2Kl49ti2L0Jm2VEltdFnVUzLWc1XTnHhmr5VucAoA4txENZv8V9tGNnNK9bScuPv5BW4idDQ30a5z3XqRDUQUKkO6OSfNK5-tVdjs-T7uXvNbhx9GnDIZvBQ_I4iZsG0ohJXNV/s576/IMG_6091.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646070734761480722" /></a>
<br /></div><div>And here comes the hard part. Get a friend to hold your canvas upright. Use your hair dryer on HIGH heat and LOW air flow to heat up the crayons. The papers will start to glisten & then you'll see the tips of the crayons start to drip, drip, drip onto the canvas. I started on one side and melted about 8 crayons at a time. They will start to melt, and you can get them to melt more or less depending on how much you put the hair dryer on them. The entire canvas took about 35-45 minutes to get it looking the way I wanted it.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiynJjKgEYaa8vH0J6EtgdoAVoXlpaRiwcA7Yc95wz_phzkcnk8DTpLpfpWaXdGhoAl9OX_wqK2gs_V-FjrYUHeJ2yOkl5tJ_fvj_emfSsW04P4YTqL8NRJJ_TsD6oSaVehBMU2cKzQCfa1/s1600/IMG_6096.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiynJjKgEYaa8vH0J6EtgdoAVoXlpaRiwcA7Yc95wz_phzkcnk8DTpLpfpWaXdGhoAl9OX_wqK2gs_V-FjrYUHeJ2yOkl5tJ_fvj_emfSsW04P4YTqL8NRJJ_TsD6oSaVehBMU2cKzQCfa1/s576/IMG_6096.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646070732493428034" /></a>
<br /></div><div>Then, it was Jilly's turn. This was when she said to me, "Betsy. Even your hair dryer is pink!" :) Her crayons were glued onto the canvas vertically, so she wanted them to drip a bit more/longer than mine did. We realized it is boring to be the "holder" of the canvas, but it is a lot of fun to watch the crayons melt right before your eyes.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4CCB9TeVP4V5G4YUPZqb_CCJdBOl8IPOkFfR_Fu4K-DLtX6rnVk6M6qS58aDkiciYo9f0CzdT_RPcxZGKXly9NGdAfHLAIGsUNapyaC2tFvFMJnXERwXAZ1UqCp3GUJ1rPfDBf-bM-ieL/s1600/IMG_6103.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4CCB9TeVP4V5G4YUPZqb_CCJdBOl8IPOkFfR_Fu4K-DLtX6rnVk6M6qS58aDkiciYo9f0CzdT_RPcxZGKXly9NGdAfHLAIGsUNapyaC2tFvFMJnXERwXAZ1UqCp3GUJ1rPfDBf-bM-ieL/s576/IMG_6103.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646070723467470866" /></a>
<br /></div><div>My finished product! I'm pretty pleased with it. That brown-looking crayon in the middle of the oranges is actually gold. It didn't look as pretty as I thought it would :( Oh well! It's the first time I've done this.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpntuMXEU7O2vZd4XoDdMEzKj61YjTcXKG6N0nJDruVAQVw44hEpHxg52Y4cBdnIYrF1yHsjpa_T9y2fEevXhyphenhyphen_2ghZo4SpTAkaWhyMnjY8imPz9HZbpSPuqSOFWg12Nr1gbX9Y_OgH1o/s1600/IMG_6101.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpntuMXEU7O2vZd4XoDdMEzKj61YjTcXKG6N0nJDruVAQVw44hEpHxg52Y4cBdnIYrF1yHsjpa_T9y2fEevXhyphenhyphen_2ghZo4SpTAkaWhyMnjY8imPz9HZbpSPuqSOFWg12Nr1gbX9Y_OgH1o/s576/IMG_6101.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646070712834256386" /></a>
<br /></div><div>I took it to school on Monday and hung it up in my room. My students oooooh'd and aaaaah'd over it. Lots of fun & I have a feeling a few of them might tackle this project at home, too! </div>Betshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676656976575891075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965444354591242079.post-37058002378793089372011-08-02T20:40:00.002-05:002011-08-02T20:48:21.498-05:00I still love him<div>Do you remember when <a href="http://thebetsweekever.blogspot.com/2008/09/molly-says-she-loves-him.html">I wrote a few years ago about how much we loved Matt Damon</a>? Well, he's back ... and not afraid to say what he's thinking. </div><div><br /></div><div>Matt recently attended a<a href="http://popwatch.ew.com/2011/08/02/matt-damon-defends-teachers/#more-151622"> Save Our Schools rally</a> in Washington with his Mom who is a teacher. He had this to say when a reporter accused teachers of not being driven to do a good job. </div><div><br /></div><iframe width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WFHJkvEwyhk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><div><br /></div><div>Watch out! I love watching the reporter's wheels start to turn as Matt defends the great teachers in this country!</div>Betshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676656976575891075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965444354591242079.post-81025650408137803742011-07-30T10:49:00.003-05:002011-07-30T10:57:06.034-05:00Road Trip!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigR6rtgrbpj9mSoNJXaozFeaBjrRw_PVL1t7JH0Jr_q8GuNUdZPlf7pWj8Vtx-m6OYtuh_nl0W2BlZtVsow45ecYUm_Y-HH5mj57LNqe_molgk8VLLwePB2LLQvOJhgyZcD0rcVV3QN4OQ/s1600/IMG_5749.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigR6rtgrbpj9mSoNJXaozFeaBjrRw_PVL1t7JH0Jr_q8GuNUdZPlf7pWj8Vtx-m6OYtuh_nl0W2BlZtVsow45ecYUm_Y-HH5mj57LNqe_molgk8VLLwePB2LLQvOJhgyZcD0rcVV3QN4OQ/s576/IMG_5749.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635173261085716354" /></a>Early yesterday morning, Kristin & I got in the car and headed out for a drive. To Denver. We came here to visit Emilie and pick up Julie at the Denver airport on the way to join in the fun. <div><br /></div><div>Teacher Invasion, as Emilie calls it. </div><div><br /></div><div>The last few summers, we've had plans to get together in the summer for fun, laughs, adventure, food, drinks, and relaxation. Last year it was Chicago. This year, Denver. Emilie assures us she won't be living in <i>another</i> new town next year for us to head to :) </div><div><br /></div><div>I haven't taken a big road trip like this since the last time Julie & I headed to Denver for a job fair about 8 years ago. It was a blast! I don't normally like being in the car for extended periods of time, but when I'm driving, it's not so bad. So, I hopped in the driver's seat. Kristin was a great co-pilot and we made lots of memories! We made great time, with minimal stops, so we even had time to stop at Prairie Dog Town. For those of you not familiar with this tourist stop, I'll just tell you that their current claim to fame is a 6-legged cow. Oh, and the extra legs come out of the cow's neck. Just wait until I share pictures :) </div><div><br /></div><div>The first night was a blast, and being able to walk & sit outside without breaking into a sweat is enough to make me love this city. I can't wait to see what today brings us!</div>Betshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676656976575891075noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965444354591242079.post-60483757884644417382011-07-20T22:04:00.003-05:002011-07-20T22:11:47.452-05:00Happy Girl<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUJIovSrlT3u6QUJxlybOWqZ7VwC_h-tl6mAGj_ea1ypG8xAEKV7cYQBXm7ofeRUWt-u_Hg-KC2pXT8DLG8fOcdgnyQsTQqfytjZnn-j78TnKvIcFDqiHkVtlGIDS67akpR5K0dlJ3oxf/s1600/IMG_5524.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUJIovSrlT3u6QUJxlybOWqZ7VwC_h-tl6mAGj_ea1ypG8xAEKV7cYQBXm7ofeRUWt-u_Hg-KC2pXT8DLG8fOcdgnyQsTQqfytjZnn-j78TnKvIcFDqiHkVtlGIDS67akpR5K0dlJ3oxf/s576/IMG_5524.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631636403527774562" /></a>She was probably looking at the tiny squirrel in our neighborhood that keeps climbing <i>just</i> out of her reach on the tree trunks. Now every time we go outside, Minnie sits at the bottom of the trees, looking up like she might be able to catch it. Or play with it. You know how much Minnie likes other animals :)<div><br /></div><div>I was so happy we could get outside for a quick photo shoot today. And quick means less than five minutes in this 100+ degree heat. It's brutal out. Too hot to do much more than lay on the couch inside. We needed to get outside to do something, even if it was quick. I wanted to post this picture of a smiley Minnie because I picked the more <a href="http://theviewacrosstown.blogspot.com/2011/07/and-some-people-say-that-dogs-dont-have.html">serious picture of her</a> for my photo blog today. She definitely shows lots of different emotions ... that's one of my favorite things about her! </div><div><br /></div><div>Hope you are all staying cool ... people AND animals. Don't leave your pets out in this extreme heat. Just think about how hot you are and then imagine wearing a fur coat every time you went outside. Now I've got to get back to my DVR. The Closer and Rizzoli & Isles are waiting for me. </div>Betshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676656976575891075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965444354591242079.post-8425258427593013452011-07-16T18:05:00.005-05:002011-07-17T12:37:36.084-05:005 days and 500+ picturesI've been home from Carmel, CA for almost a week. I've been putting off this blog post because I wasn't sure how I could possibly sum up the trip or share my 500+ photos. Well, thanks to my friend, <a href="http://www.unravelingthestash.com/">Jilly</a>, I put the following slide show together! I know it's probably too long for the majority of my readers, but I wasn't sure I could narrow my pictures down any further. <div><br /></div><div>*<iframe width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/J6FHj_1VZgc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br />*</div><div><br /></div><div>We fit a lot in the 5ish days we were there: hiking, wine, window-shopping, walking along the beach, cards, trip up to Big Sur, food, visit to Pebble Beach Golf Course, wine, 17-Mile Drive, laughs, Monterrey Bay Aquarium, wine, more cards and fun. </div><div><br /></div><div>What a wonderful trip & get-away during the Kansas heat. I hope I get to go back again someday! </div>Betshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676656976575891075noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965444354591242079.post-46208782673018744612011-07-03T00:01:00.003-05:002011-07-03T00:23:14.255-05:00Craftpalooza<div><a href="http://www.wichitawelches.blogspot.com/">Kathryn</a>, <a href="http://www.unravelingthestash.com/">Jill</a> & I planned to have a crafty weekend. Jill worked on her dishcloths for her giveaway <a href="http://www.unravelingthestash.com/?p=204">contest</a>. Kathryn came to create a cookie sheet calendar similar to the one <a href="http://theviewacrosstown.blogspot.com/2009/03/this-newest-craft-project-just-might-be.html">I made</a> a few years ago. Here is a picture review of the process! </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYx2nK7dqXZ2f4AgG30wR4oXAzp_x78aNV0V1xknpFR77aVJGkPmN5k8sX8xaQRFWQqQYZMkPq53o4Hn5lg2tZ83vJoZtklZg5AN5K-JuVVb0-d-NQhA2zwr0PcRigFV1C8AfL2iT8M5C/s1600/IMG_4754.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYx2nK7dqXZ2f4AgG30wR4oXAzp_x78aNV0V1xknpFR77aVJGkPmN5k8sX8xaQRFWQqQYZMkPq53o4Hn5lg2tZ83vJoZtklZg5AN5K-JuVVb0-d-NQhA2zwr0PcRigFV1C8AfL2iT8M5C/s320/IMG_4754.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624988058321525890" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKlQ5eKghWZxXPz3d5lQD-03kPel_e1F8PASiNF3tXen6EjJGEpt5GsFwTwv9dMuBHuhjRMn18PUFBCPBbWGMWTMN_LcoK0MAsG3U76EOk1NL7KuKkIo53Yurdgq1ucVXxUHABQQsO7ZUo/s1600/IMG_4755.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKlQ5eKghWZxXPz3d5lQD-03kPel_e1F8PASiNF3tXen6EjJGEpt5GsFwTwv9dMuBHuhjRMn18PUFBCPBbWGMWTMN_LcoK0MAsG3U76EOk1NL7KuKkIo53Yurdgq1ucVXxUHABQQsO7ZUo/s320/IMG_4755.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624988056755411938" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8u9fRtVT4Vc1oH9UcMkra219MZr3DNZm7oESY33bi-uNnGE9cQMZy71Q2MCv_RWDwMGExigp8OixKqe8N7tbbdAaV_UMl_arGA9sG3839pwJZb2DeVXOJg7IGfCKPeAWL4rPNywz7oant/s1600/IMG_4758.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8u9fRtVT4Vc1oH9UcMkra219MZr3DNZm7oESY33bi-uNnGE9cQMZy71Q2MCv_RWDwMGExigp8OixKqe8N7tbbdAaV_UMl_arGA9sG3839pwJZb2DeVXOJg7IGfCKPeAWL4rPNywz7oant/s320/IMG_4758.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624988049121561858" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1-zNAL1ffHPUgmFuV9AkZWIILgTY_DZZ3dPzqyvJkK3t05GVVd9Cer6V-vT63W-cuUKSRnss2IW3i8_pdQ7-IWDCYG9RI6B6EnKQlFkeyrNh_4DPiuYLDn0Vpv4QaJhNZOHFZ4wBsxU8/s1600/IMG_4761.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1-zNAL1ffHPUgmFuV9AkZWIILgTY_DZZ3dPzqyvJkK3t05GVVd9Cer6V-vT63W-cuUKSRnss2IW3i8_pdQ7-IWDCYG9RI6B6EnKQlFkeyrNh_4DPiuYLDn0Vpv4QaJhNZOHFZ4wBsxU8/s320/IMG_4761.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624987511198689458" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNsQ9o4CYsjddpwSElPDuh_w95t_T20Ez9W1S6OfMCnb-7qrxgWEvelwx1TzOIPOmLEvI1XC9ufvQI-Zo27BwfMeXlU7TNTZ3nQwN1kzNR-xY2jVsCbFZ7kLY08B73H6lx_Mj_aFirvY7B/s1600/IMG_4763.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNsQ9o4CYsjddpwSElPDuh_w95t_T20Ez9W1S6OfMCnb-7qrxgWEvelwx1TzOIPOmLEvI1XC9ufvQI-Zo27BwfMeXlU7TNTZ3nQwN1kzNR-xY2jVsCbFZ7kLY08B73H6lx_Mj_aFirvY7B/s320/IMG_4763.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624987495229879042" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBTL-ZKWL_k7grCgIQ4tf9FoDc0gR1FnC0H88EYuclXHIC-FuyV3chfaPFJgmF-jbOKi8A3ZjGkm8AZjsIKUCgB9HSkf9AstDGgzDTEikvUbDFLxIZ1Qdw1X6T0AyZ0AZW-EMN8Itx39n/s1600/IMG_4767.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBTL-ZKWL_k7grCgIQ4tf9FoDc0gR1FnC0H88EYuclXHIC-FuyV3chfaPFJgmF-jbOKi8A3ZjGkm8AZjsIKUCgB9HSkf9AstDGgzDTEikvUbDFLxIZ1Qdw1X6T0AyZ0AZW-EMN8Itx39n/s320/IMG_4767.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624987493099903730" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1wI0ox6L1tyuQ1rSYfzWZQkmwiTvumlUUZzYHPWpVf8yDBWj3zFCRK5KqgyiiT7bzmpt376-iWZvZRlMuN8vFd5t0tGy1dicRChqaJBMvVy6yZtiHSECYOo_JWo_1K05x79aau7rKVtp/s1600/IMG_4768.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1wI0ox6L1tyuQ1rSYfzWZQkmwiTvumlUUZzYHPWpVf8yDBWj3zFCRK5KqgyiiT7bzmpt376-iWZvZRlMuN8vFd5t0tGy1dicRChqaJBMvVy6yZtiHSECYOo_JWo_1K05x79aau7rKVtp/s320/IMG_4768.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624987485743608482" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRDf8iMm124CWk6bJfzJQhR8waJvsw36DOZw4i6aMHGDdfVHJ_zy8GsW-C6SKyWpuZIrsWs-A6JTRVjZG39qjxLNPuN-0veiv5hBKEFg0U_4OmnJBUcL8srzEjrjwsTYMoj48mIIoiI9D/s1600/IMG_4765.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRDf8iMm124CWk6bJfzJQhR8waJvsw36DOZw4i6aMHGDdfVHJ_zy8GsW-C6SKyWpuZIrsWs-A6JTRVjZG39qjxLNPuN-0veiv5hBKEFg0U_4OmnJBUcL8srzEjrjwsTYMoj48mIIoiI9D/s320/IMG_4765.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624987482545444706" /></a>Ta da! All done! It took me an ENTIRE Spring Break to complete <i>my</i> calendar and with our hard work, we finished Kat's in just under 4 hours. We even have an idea for our next crafty project. Love craft time with the girls :)Betshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676656976575891075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965444354591242079.post-16966592143859021692011-06-25T23:00:00.002-05:002011-06-26T15:34:55.393-05:00Telling stories<div>The last few days, I've been helping Molly & Erik at their new house. When I say "helping", I don't actually mean that I've scraped old wall paper from the walls, or pulled bags of weeds from the flower beds. I've helped by entertaining Ellen since there isn't much she can do in a big, empty house that is a construction zone right now. </div><div><br /></div><div>To stay busy, we've picked up sticks in the front yard, watched bunnies in the backyard, colored in coloring books and told stories. Ellen has turned into quite the story teller. She remembers her favorite books well and has started <a href="http://theviewacrosstown.blogspot.com/2011/06/teacher-ellen-reading-for-her-student.html">"reading" to us</a> when we come to visit. </div><div><br /></div><div>This weekend when Ellen & I were coloring, she wanted to know about the story in her Fairy Tale coloring book. It was Hansel & Gretel and I did my best to retell what I remembered about the tale, using the blank pictures to help me. Ellen was fascinated with the witch and she's decided since last Halloween that ALL witches are "scawey". I agree, Ells. 100%. Oh, and clowns, too :)</div><div><br /></div><div>Here she is retelling our version of Hansel & Gretel. I'd say she's ready to run her own classroom! Sit back and enjoy the story.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jiiBbBYLlt0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Not bad, huh? She insisted on watching herself on my camera multiple times that day. She likes to smirk at herself in videos, which is worthy of <i>another</i> video, too. If only I had multiple cameras and pairs of hands.</div>Betshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676656976575891075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965444354591242079.post-66848150155590349102011-06-21T09:31:00.002-05:002011-06-21T09:31:00.546-05:00Barbie, I love you ... but what happened!?!?<div>When I was little, I LOVED playing with my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31024825@N07/galleries/72157623284752814/">Barbies</a>. I dressed them up. I sang to my <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dby9yb_NgQU&feature=related">Barbie & the Rockers</a> cassette tape. I brushed & braided their hair. I made a <a href="http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$(KGrHqIOKocE12TZ4GqbBNvNegYc6w~~_1.JPG?set_id=8800005007">Barbie mall</a> with my childhood friend, Sarah. I took their heads off to swap bodies and then was very sad when they never went back on the bodies correctly. I had favorite Barbies: <a href="http://www.1000barbies.com/036/SUC50572.JPG">Peaches & Cream Barbie</a>, <a href="http://badmommymoments.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/rocker.jpg?w=400&h=512">Rocker Barbie</a>, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30981385@N04/3255614966/in/gallery-31024825@N07-72157623284752814/">Crystal Barbie</a>, <a href="http://wfmu.org/MACrec/barbie2.html">California Barbie</a>, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/barbiecreations/4949426911/in/photostream">Jewel Secrets Barbie</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25712847@N04/2478943792/in/photostream">Tropical Barbie</a>. I played with her <a href="http://www.franshouseofdollsandtoys.com/barbie%20pg%2019%20-%20%20miscellaneous%20not%20dolls.htm">canopy bed, shop, Corvette and pool party accessories</a>. I still have most of my Barbies and her clothes in Mom & Dad's basement. </div><div><br /></div><div>In a recent trip to Target, I found myself strolling through the aisle of dolls and Barbies. I immediately started to oooh & ahhh over the pretty clothes & hair found on current-day Barbies. I also like to look at the fancy Barbies that should really be kept in their boxes. I saw the <a href="http://shop.mattel.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11213117">Happy Birthday, Ken doll</a> and couldn't get over how beautiful her dress was! Mattel also came out with a line of Barbies called <a href="http://www.poshglam.com/nobody-does-the-lbd-better-than-barbie/">Back to Basics Barbies</a>. Her dresses are <a href="http://www.target.com/Barbie-Back-Basics-Doll-2/dp/B002TRLUOC/ref=sr_1_34?ie=UTF8&id=Barbie%20Back%20Basics%20Doll%202&node=1038576%7C1287991011&searchView=grid5&searchSize=90&keywords=Barbie&searchPage=3&searchNodeID=1038576%7C1287991011&sr=1-34&searchBinNameList=subjectbin%2Cprice%2Ctarget_com_primary_color-bin%2Ctarget_com_size-bin%2Ctarget_com_brand-bin&searchRank=target104545&frombrowse=0&qid=1308375283">simple LBD</a>s (little black dress), but you can choose to buy a set of accessories to add to her dress. These dolls are really pretty. Some others in this collection come in <a href="http://shop.mattel.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11213111">simple jeans</a> and a <a href="http://www.target.com/Barbie-BARBIE-BASICS-MODEL-01/dp/B004NDSVDI/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&searchView=grid5&keywords=Barbie&fromGsearch=true&sr=1-17&qid=1308375283&rh=&searchRank=target104545&id=Barbie%20BARBIE%20BASICS%20MODEL%2001&node=1038576%7C1287991011&searchSize=90&searchPage=3&searchNodeID=1038576%7C1287991011&searchBinNameList=subjectbin%2Cprice%2Ctarget_com_primary_color-bin%2Ctarget_com_size-bin%2Ctarget_com_brand-bin&frombrowse=0">white t-shirt</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm okay with all of those dolls. Then, I came across a new line of <a href="http://shop.mattel.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=3748552&cp=3719989&f=PAD%2FGeneric+Brand%2FBarbie%3A+I+Can+Be">I Can Be ... Barbies</a>. I thought, "Oh! How nice! Barbie in different jobs to show girls that they can do many different things when they get older." <i>Then</i>, I looked a little closer. You should, too. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Teacher Barbie: </b></div><div>Why is her skirt so short? Why is her shirt ruffly and satin? Does her computer have a picture of herself on it? Oh, and the glasses? Stereotypical image of every teacher. At least Barbie can be beautiful in glasses ... right? </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYIs57VpcxEwkD4JFcxt8SzpiAkBYppz6u2lLS4m3VtDWh5pPUtDYYH1wOqpXUBcxfhcL3xIy8ANB1jvJjnJN9h4wqwC-3TIfpREQdYkGFezBQoFyJM3xCLAnOvJxF-06DcMYlWpV65Vh/s1600/IMG_1294.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYIs57VpcxEwkD4JFcxt8SzpiAkBYppz6u2lLS4m3VtDWh5pPUtDYYH1wOqpXUBcxfhcL3xIy8ANB1jvJjnJN9h4wqwC-3TIfpREQdYkGFezBQoFyJM3xCLAnOvJxF-06DcMYlWpV65Vh/s400/IMG_1294.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619383327138951170" /></a><br /><div><b>Kid Doctor Barbie: </b></div><div>Are we not allowed to call them "pediatricians"? I don't know too many doctors that wear pink capri pants and a fitted white coat, but I'll let it fly. At least she's not showing too much skin. However, I don't think her heels are very practical, and I'd like to think that a doctor would carry more equipment with them other than a stethoscope and a big brush.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNMNosHIONZ0J_DNEiFVUmnBr0CiaCkMQXO5I2SQorwqeda1dndT0GKMjAmQoRdAiwSzudupENS8x_88pnMNDB2TGMW4OEpNpWussfUtVrLPXXMo7ni68PBZS6VDI5baVJJ5PRFeNxzxc/s1600/IMG_1295.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNMNosHIONZ0J_DNEiFVUmnBr0CiaCkMQXO5I2SQorwqeda1dndT0GKMjAmQoRdAiwSzudupENS8x_88pnMNDB2TGMW4OEpNpWussfUtVrLPXXMo7ni68PBZS6VDI5baVJJ5PRFeNxzxc/s400/IMG_1295.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619383317116421970" /></a><br /></div><div><b><a href="http://www.target.com/Mattel-Barbie-Pediatric-Doctor-Play/dp/B0043VY73S/ref=sc_pd_gwvub_1_title">Doctor Barbie: </a></b></div><div>This one also seems to be a "kid doctor" ... so I don't know why they are different. For the same price, you get the Barbie and her small patient. The small girl apparently GROWS, but I'm not sure how that happens. Now that I'm comparing this outfit to the "kid doctor" outfit ... I'm suddenly very okay with the pink capris. Doctor Barbie is actually wearing a satin coat, mini-skirt and shiny pink tights with her white heels. VERY impractical. Grrrr.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij82hyqCLOsI3aIMsLDN8tYsU5VPxaoB4i5zqMO2BjdewgBydffQPRVthviNY5GBhU79-o_Ybyy3i3kwRUm8oheQjx4AJVw-qG4Mxhdd5ut-B8wd6H5_pchnPQfjb2kYTa8hWDKev4QHVE/s1600/IMG_1296.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij82hyqCLOsI3aIMsLDN8tYsU5VPxaoB4i5zqMO2BjdewgBydffQPRVthviNY5GBhU79-o_Ybyy3i3kwRUm8oheQjx4AJVw-qG4Mxhdd5ut-B8wd6H5_pchnPQfjb2kYTa8hWDKev4QHVE/s400/IMG_1296.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619382913794093106" /></a><br /></div><div><a href="http://shop.mattel.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11213083#showDetails"><b>Lifeguard Barbie</b></a><b>: </b></div><div>She gets a free pass for her skimpy outfit for her job since she spends her time by the pool. I didn't notice until I got home and looked at the pictures that her lifeguard chair acts as a catapult so she can dive in to save the swimmers. The description on this link says: Your daughter can play out her dream of being a stylish, heroic lifeguard. Yes! That's just what all girls want to be. Stylish AND a hero!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77u8qfae63G37crcVk8V0EhYAvcPXmtdanJo8nTcSLi-3tYjKydsz5UD5D4t9FCWOvwenoMH9GswnSc-MVT0I5lpriimPD6LZ1DBUBtYW0sIBf0ST5l8lTCiziakfMjeBfzeoHhAXLRqi/s1600/IMG_1297.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77u8qfae63G37crcVk8V0EhYAvcPXmtdanJo8nTcSLi-3tYjKydsz5UD5D4t9FCWOvwenoMH9GswnSc-MVT0I5lpriimPD6LZ1DBUBtYW0sIBf0ST5l8lTCiziakfMjeBfzeoHhAXLRqi/s400/IMG_1297.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619382907302817298" /></a><br /></div><div><b>Snowboarder Barbie: </b></div><div>Her outfit is pretty cute, minus the mesh, see-through shirt she has under the cropped snow jacket. But look! She won some sort of an Olympic medal. Way to go, Barbie!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5FDe02RuWpKrLTU1kV6-yDm77tZwWM7rE8uJn41BF4d9gooAjtvLlHtqKaps7yStCD75kLYavMzm0GAM9NF4QSvY_jX_gw3QCiamL2g8K5TNC_uDOovvvBA7aKjhzDUC1Hf0c00Mo-JmK/s1600/IMG_1298.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5FDe02RuWpKrLTU1kV6-yDm77tZwWM7rE8uJn41BF4d9gooAjtvLlHtqKaps7yStCD75kLYavMzm0GAM9NF4QSvY_jX_gw3QCiamL2g8K5TNC_uDOovvvBA7aKjhzDUC1Hf0c00Mo-JmK/s400/IMG_1298.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619382899884683026" /></a><br /></div><div><a href="http://shop.mattel.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11213075"><b>Pet Vet Barbie</b></a><b>: </b></div><div>Again, can't we just call her "veterinarian"? There is another one online called the <a href="http://www.target.com/Barbie-Can-Be-Kitty-Playset/dp/B003FZAAMU/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&searchView=grid5&keywords=Barbie&fromGsearch=true&sr=1-15&qid=1308375164&rh=&searchRank=target104545&id=Barbie%20Can%20Be%20Kitty%20Playset&node=1038576%7C1287991011&searchSize=90&searchPage=1&searchNodeID=1038576%7C1287991011&searchBinNameList=subjectbin%2Cprice%2Ctarget_com_primary_color-bin%2Ctarget_com_size-bin%2Ctarget_com_brand-bin&frombrowse=0">Kitty Care Vet Barbie</a>. She has more equipment with her, like a slide for the cat to slide from the scale INTO the bathtub. Right. I think this one has the same tights as the Doctor Barbie.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqboz5qivIOXUHm21tTCBfCcS-7ZtGlrTdUusJ57LStpe9y3k-9LNMaegb_r_hhyphenhyphen-Oy4_ULK_BO5-RCqwyyzW-j6b0Jbb2nxS5AbLeZBSHC38KwczEuHYaI2OBy__1_8KGg6cXny7H_l2/s1600/IMG_1299.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqboz5qivIOXUHm21tTCBfCcS-7ZtGlrTdUusJ57LStpe9y3k-9LNMaegb_r_hhyphenhyphen-Oy4_ULK_BO5-RCqwyyzW-j6b0Jbb2nxS5AbLeZBSHC38KwczEuHYaI2OBy__1_8KGg6cXny7H_l2/s400/IMG_1299.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619382897019020818" /></a><br /></div><div>I found many more I Can Be ... Barbies online. <a href="http://www.target.com/Barbie-Can-Dentist-Doll-Play/dp/B002MUAO7U/ref=sr_1_29?ie=UTF8&searchView=grid5&keywords=Barbie&fromGsearch=true&sr=1-29&qid=1308375283&rh=&searchRank=target104545&id=Barbie%20Can%20Dentist%20Doll%20Play&node=1038576%7C1287991011&searchSize=90&searchPage=3&searchNodeID=1038576%7C1287991011&searchBinNameList=subjectbin%2Cprice%2Ctarget_com_primary_color-bin%2Ctarget_com_size-bin%2Ctarget_com_brand-bin&frombrowse=0">Dentist Barbie</a>. <a href="http://www.target.com/Barbie-Can-Babysitter-Doll-Play/dp/B002MUAO84/ref=sr_1_30?ie=UTF8&searchView=grid5&keywords=Barbie&fromGsearch=true&sr=1-30&qid=1308375283&rh=&searchRank=target104545&id=Barbie%20Can%20Babysitter%20Doll%20Play&node=1038576%7C1287991011&searchSize=90&searchPage=3&searchNodeID=1038576%7C1287991011&searchBinNameList=subjectbin%2Cprice%2Ctarget_com_primary_color-bin%2Ctarget_com_size-bin%2Ctarget_com_brand-bin&frombrowse=0">Babysitter Barbie</a>. C<a href="http://www.target.com/Mattel-Barbie-Computer-Engineer-Play/dp/B0042ESG9W/ref=sr_1_31?ie=UTF8&id=Mattel%20Barbie%20Computer%20Engineer%20Play&node=1038576%7C1287991011&searchView=grid5&searchSize=90&keywords=Barbie&searchPage=3&searchNodeID=1038576%7C1287991011&sr=1-31&searchBinNameList=subjectbin%2Cprice%2Ctarget_com_primary_color-bin%2Ctarget_com_size-bin%2Ctarget_com_brand-bin&searchRank=target104545&frombrowse=0&qid=1308375283">omputer Engineer Barbie</a> (who has a totally cute outfit that I approve of). <a href="http://www.target.com/Mattel-Barbie-Can-Chef-Play/dp/B0040JG2D6/ref=sr_1_37?ie=UTF8&id=Mattel%20Barbie%20Can%20Chef%20Play&node=1038576%7C1287991011&searchView=grid5&searchSize=90&keywords=Barbie&searchPage=3&searchNodeID=1038576%7C1287991011&sr=1-37&searchBinNameList=subjectbin%2Cprice%2Ctarget_com_primary_color-bin%2Ctarget_com_size-bin%2Ctarget_com_brand-bin&searchRank=target104545&frombrowse=0&qid=1308375283">Chef Barbie</a>. <a href="http://shop.mattel.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4379098">News Anchor Barbie</a>. <a href="http://shop.mattel.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4379007">Ballroom Dancer Barbie</a>. <a href="http://shop.mattel.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11529385">Architect Barbie</a> (I also approve of her cute outfit). And <a href="http://shop.mattel.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4379008">Pizza Chef Barbie</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>One of the last Barbies I saw before I left the aisle was this pretty, <a href="http://shop.mattel.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11213091">Princess Barbie</a>. I really liked her. Although, when I took a closer looks, I noticed something about her outfit. She has a pretty ballroom skirt on. And no top. No seriously. Look. She has glitter painted on her top, but that's it. I guess you can't change her clothes ... but you <i>could</i> cover her up with a cute cardigan :)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC8tE3wT_Nkw9TjmkpF5gMuS-VwSt-bBZx4yl1aocl9KOaWR1XdPsUAHfhUb4ib-ZhCogJ1XqMllp6FmDaigx-2yabS2LOaje8q2LFWLVkzbK_8es6rkomjM55NJ8nZTpP35tJoA99m4DM/s1600/IMG_1300.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC8tE3wT_Nkw9TjmkpF5gMuS-VwSt-bBZx4yl1aocl9KOaWR1XdPsUAHfhUb4ib-ZhCogJ1XqMllp6FmDaigx-2yabS2LOaje8q2LFWLVkzbK_8es6rkomjM55NJ8nZTpP35tJoA99m4DM/s400/IMG_1300.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619382892133701314" /></a><br /></div><div>Enough of my rant. I took these pictures on June 2nd and I just now got around to writing about them. I knew I had something to say about each of the outfits, but this post actually turned into a trip down memory lane. When looking for links for the top of this post, I had a lot of fun remembering all the fun I had with MY Barbies. I played for hours and refused to give them up, even though I haven't played with them for years. Jill was here as I flipped through literally hundreds of pictures online and we talked about which accessories we each had. She had Barbie's Dream Apartment and I had Barbie's Dream Shop. After hours of looking, she said, "I could go to my Mom's house to get my Barbies so you could see them ... and maybe we could play! Ha!" </div><div><br /></div><div>I appreciate the attempt to open up every occupation to little girls. I just think that there is a long way to go. Slowly but surely, Mattel makes changes to make Barbie more PC for little kids. Her body has changed to be a more realistic shape (so they say) and the names on the dolls are no longer "Blonde Barbie", "Hispanic Barbie" and "Black Barbie". You might find her fictional history interesting ... and definitely read the controversies listed on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbie">this page</a>. I learned a lot about the company. </div><div><br /></div><div>As much as I made fun of some of these Barbies, I hope that she's still around when I have kids. I hope that Ellen wants to play Barbies some day with me and I'll be interested to see how much more she's changed by that time. </div>Betshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676656976575891075noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965444354591242079.post-2743959919962050662011-06-18T10:07:00.000-05:002011-06-18T10:07:01.381-05:00Just 16 months ago ...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqq8HBZQbdctoKpz7Kdg917VyE4C28u1KdzeXRCx4CJfeE3lvTnEnHQjVW7xHdUxYNKr0L9wqORlEwiJ69TbEhkiOOYwK97UXVk2rpCbqYsw11CEiYYiTgiKzDn-UQ7yzTq8TDUkFV0Rp2/s1600/IMG_2712.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqq8HBZQbdctoKpz7Kdg917VyE4C28u1KdzeXRCx4CJfeE3lvTnEnHQjVW7xHdUxYNKr0L9wqORlEwiJ69TbEhkiOOYwK97UXVk2rpCbqYsw11CEiYYiTgiKzDn-UQ7yzTq8TDUkFV0Rp2/s576/IMG_2712.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619035898141522738" /></a>... these two love birds were announcing their engagement! And today ... THEY'RE GETTING MARRIED! Many changes have happened in their worlds in the last 16 months, but the one thing that never changed was Kristin & Matt's love for each other. If anything, their love has only grown stronger!<div><br /></div><div>I can't wait to be there tonight to help you celebrate the start of your marriage together! I know it is going to be a fabulous party ... you wouldn't have it any other way! <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">I love you both very much. </span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Congrats, Mr. and Mrs. Zender!</span></div>Betshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676656976575891075noreply@blogger.com0