tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43360446745130654092024-03-12T21:43:43.451-07:00Feel LOVD EverydayCasual conversation that uplifts and inspires beautifullyI am LOVDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09813001450297864639noreply@blogger.comBlogger522125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336044674513065409.post-10196470628600278242013-10-07T07:20:00.002-07:002013-10-07T07:20:28.889-07:00Gratitude Journal Monday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Start saying, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Stars are aligning for you and I can't tell you how good things are going to turn out for you, just like I've always known they would. <b>But receiving always begins with giving.</b> No matter how you fight it, there's no denying the unquestionable Law of the Universe: what ever you send out will come back to you! I wish you would just try it and see what I mean. It's a Law more true than a cloudless blue sky. It's more pure than a baby's giggle. Once you choose to accept this Law as truth, you'll have so much fun anticipating what the Universe is planning for you as you spread joy, love, and gratitude. Be thankful that you're about to get something to be thankful for. Anticipate it and it will come. As long as you're giving with a pure heart, you will be taken care of and you'll receive so many unbelievable blessings in your life. Just be thankful for the big, be thankful for the small, be thankful for the miracles, and be thankful for the simple.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">506. I am thankful for the prettiest blue I've ever seen blanketing the sky this morning.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">507. I am thankful I have the eyes to see such beauty in nature.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">508. I am thankful I have the right heart to be able to enjoy the simplicity of life, to notice the little things, and not take the basics for granted.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">509. I am thankful that I am forgiven on the days when I fall short, forgetting to look up at the sky and notice its color and enjoy its beauty.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">510. I am grateful that my heart is changing little by little each and every day and I am beginning to see all that I have, not all that I have not.</span></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Only by grace and gratitude will the heart become strong enough to change the mind."</span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">- Lilly Slater, LOVD </span></span></i></blockquote>
I am LOVDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09813001450297864639noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336044674513065409.post-66726220692986077252013-09-30T06:15:00.000-07:002013-09-30T06:15:42.588-07:00Gratitude Journal Monday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The weather is fully aware that it's Monday morning. Cloudy and gray, the rain falls, not in droplets, but in a constant mist that surrounds your entire face, hair, and body as you try to get your morning walk in. I think about how much this same mist treatment facial would cost at a ritzy spa? I knew I should have done my morning walk in a bathrobe and slippers. Maybe next time.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Happy Monday to you all! Now, let's get to some gratitude...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">501. I am grateful for ordinary days.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">502. I am thankful for the warm cup of coffee I hug between my hands this misty morning.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">503. I appreciate the good smells that hit you when you enter a home that just made apple crisp.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">504. I am grateful for the start of Autumn.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">505. I am thankful for the nice weather promised this week; upper 70's and sunny! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span>I am LOVDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09813001450297864639noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336044674513065409.post-89913571991010100382013-09-23T09:02:00.001-07:002013-09-23T09:02:25.085-07:00Gratitude Journal Monday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Maybe things didn't turn out quite the way you had anticipated. You're not alone. The majority of people in this world seldom see their plans work out as they hoped and wished they would. But, that's why they're called dreams; an intangible goal that is so sweet to the spirit it entertains us on our journey while we try to capture its reality. Sadly, there's a lot that goes into converting dreams to real life. Sometimes it doesn't matter how hard you work or how long you struggle, the dreams you've been dreaming may not be yours to hold. Some times it's bad luck, some times it's poor timing. Some times the dream is not worth the compromises that must be made to attain it. But, those are only excuses to why we aren't living our dream. The real point is, we may be chasing after the wrong dream.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Has your dream gone stale? Every so often we have to take stock and reevaluate what it is that we're so busy chasing. We need to remind ourselves that it's OK to change a dream we visioned years ago, when we were different people, not the person we've become. Change the dream to fit your new goals. Say a little silent prayer for the death of an old dream and rejoice at the prospect of trying to take hold of a new one.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lean in close, friends, because I want you to hear this. Whether or not you ever achieve your dreams just doesn't matter. What matters is the attitude you have during your chase. Don't get depressed, upset, or feel devalued because things didn't turn out the way you expected. The true dream we all should be striving for is enjoying the chase and being flexible to handle the turns, be strong when we are on the downward slope, and be humble and thankful when we find ourselves on the upswing.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I know even the most positive people get down at times when things don't seem the way they should be. This is when my declarations of gratitude get real nitty gritty, down to the most simplest of thanks. Will you join me?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">496. I am grateful for my life, just as it is.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">497. I am grateful for Super Hubby and Kiddo, just as they are.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">498. I am grateful for my parents' love.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">499. I am grateful I can pay my bills.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">500. I am grateful I have a fridge filled with good food.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://bsneeringer.blogspot.com/"><i>Happy birthday, Betty! </i></a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span>I am LOVDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09813001450297864639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336044674513065409.post-79925155773217273202013-09-19T08:00:00.002-07:002013-09-19T09:25:50.567-07:00You Will Eat Your Words<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Every so often I do a little exercise a couple months out of the year with life's good ol' instruction book, The Bible. Proverbs is perfectly sectioned into 31 chapters and if you dedicate time to reading a Proverb a day, you will receive in return a month rewarded by peace and contentment. I'm not kidding, try it. Nothing soothes the soul like a month of Proverbs.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, earlier this week on the 18th of September, I turned my well-used, broken-in Bible to Proverbs 18 and halted my inner voice on Verse 21. I read it over and over again until I was inspired to share with you its message meant for us all:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it (for death or life)." - Proverbs 18:21</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">To all of you who, like me, have eaten our words a time or two in our lives, I invite you to dwell on this Verse. Recite it over and over again until it begins to sink in deep within the caverns of our soul and roots itself into the core of our being. Until we realize the power of our words, we will not want to tame our tongue. When we speak, we are either giving life to future blessings or we are squashing them. When you speak badly of someone or something or if you fill your mouth with negativity, you are damning yourself. The worst part is, if you're paying attention, you know it. That strange weird feeling you get in the pit of your stomach is conviction, knowing that what you are speaking is not good for anyone, and especially not you.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTaZmldfCPm9QTOzxYzEery-Fc0pjvJ_qr2jVRIzcvwsB03Evn-F4hqVTXF7EKkw4G_151AvixgLvT5ujdrAJCbqEKKvHj71ptt9M1L35RcVx2PDIz8WLUGLXm-hpNTMse9pm5KYzoBk/s1600/thinker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTaZmldfCPm9QTOzxYzEery-Fc0pjvJ_qr2jVRIzcvwsB03Evn-F4hqVTXF7EKkw4G_151AvixgLvT5ujdrAJCbqEKKvHj71ptt9M1L35RcVx2PDIz8WLUGLXm-hpNTMse9pm5KYzoBk/s200/thinker.jpg" width="198" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The sour words we speak will, no doubt, deliver to us a bitter result. But, if we speak words of encouragement, the blessings will be sweet. We have free will, we get to choose. Gain control of your mouth and you can gain control of your life through the promises of God. Think about it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">To keep my mouth at bay, I use this little checklist for "THINK". I committed it to memory and when I have an opinion to share, I immediately go to this list first and it helps me to not be in a position where I might have to eat my words later. I have a sweet tooth so let's leave any bitterness at the gate of the throat, not allowing it to spill out over the tongue.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">THINK not only applies to how you speak to others, but how you speak to yourself. If you're spouting words like "I'll never be happy" or "I'll never see my dreams come true" or "I just can't do it", then, you know what? You are right. You have spoken those words and the power contained in those words make it so. When you start speaking to yourself in an inspiring and kind way, you will begin to believe that you can do the things you are speaking so positively about. The power of those words will begin to work on your mind to believe in what you desire, which will translate into seeing good results in your life. Watch those powerful words and choose them wisely. And always remember the choice we sometimes forget we have: silence.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Have your words ever gotten you into trouble? Are you ready to take control?</i> </span></span>I am LOVDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09813001450297864639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336044674513065409.post-17556957648537545742013-09-16T08:40:00.003-07:002013-09-16T08:40:24.940-07:00Gratitude Journal Monday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Good Monday to you! To refresh your memory, I like to take Monday's to rejoice in the peace and plenty of my life. 490 gratitude declarations ago, I began my Gratitude Journal. <a href="http://feellovdeveryday.blogspot.com/2011/07/gratitude-journal-monday.html">Click here</a> to see my beginnings and my reasons for getting started. My hope is for you to be inspired to begin your own Gratitude Journal.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is probably the most important post I write all week! It doesn't matter what you are going through, gratitude is the key to happiness. Gratitude is your missing puzzle piece to peace. Gratitude is the spark that ignites joy, love, and understanding. Gratitude is the root of all things good.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There may be days when getting out of bed is a challenge. You're probably sitting there at your computer right now saying, "Oh, Lilly, you don't know my problems." I may not know your specific burdens, but I do know that issues are a part of everybody's life. I know that troubles will always be in our paths, even on our bestest of days. But, stop your complaining and start saying thank you for all that is good in your life. Declaring thanksgiving and abandoning the negative perspective on your life is a natural lifter of spirits. There is power in that action!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">What if your life is peachy keen and you're sitting there thinking, "Life is good. I can't complain. I'm thankful enough, even though I don't officially declare it." Uh-oh! Don't be fooled by a complacent attitude of gratitude. You've got to record your blessings and tuck them away for when you truly need a reminder of all that you're thankful for. It's when times are bleakest that we truly forget our good fortunes and our simple blessings. It's in those times when we can't get our minds off ourselves or our problems that we must take out our Gratitude Journal and begin to be reminded of what's truly important and how the darkness we may find ourselves in will be unveiled by grace and thanks.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, you see, it doesn't matter. In bad times, give thanks as much as you would in good times. It's a habit you want to own. See how wonderfully blessed your life becomes when you make gratitude a priority in your life. I hope you give it a try. Nothing is too big or too small to declare!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">491. I am grateful for apple picking season - love those Honey Crisps!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">492. I am thankful for my family's understanding, grace, good humor and patience.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">493. I am grateful both surgeries that occurred last week on my grandmother and my father yielded successful outcomes - thank you God!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">494. I thank God for giving me the strength in the morning to get myself out of bed and spend time with Him through His Word.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">495. I am grateful we arrive to and from school safely and without too much trouble. </span></span>I am LOVDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09813001450297864639noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336044674513065409.post-87772099253006062822013-09-09T06:19:00.002-07:002013-09-09T06:19:31.968-07:00Such a Tease<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGep877pxKTPQlt95OLIjkFE17nx0TQ_p0JXA8-3oQejt4-iVUYuKLpHWWgv5vCDX1JyQ7oxo2o5nqCR1aO7VhLvkuBGJDTMCJSDyb7dVYgvQAZ1ZwkKuidf4x7bWeF7qWEVQtlficmxw/s1600/blogupdate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGep877pxKTPQlt95OLIjkFE17nx0TQ_p0JXA8-3oQejt4-iVUYuKLpHWWgv5vCDX1JyQ7oxo2o5nqCR1aO7VhLvkuBGJDTMCJSDyb7dVYgvQAZ1ZwkKuidf4x7bWeF7qWEVQtlficmxw/s1600/blogupdate.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reader, please forgive me. It's been a week since my last post. After a beautiful 2-months off during the summer, I was back last Monday. Then, the next day, crickets. The silent treatment continued throughout the week until broken by today's post. Many of you thought you were experiencing Internet problems, or perhaps your Feedburner subscription went haywire again? But, no, not this time. It's not you, it's me.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With few exception I've written a blog post every week day for the past 2 years. That's a lot of posts! Writer's Block isn't an ailment I've had luxury to use as an excuse for not posting on time. I'm filled with opinion and am willing to share with all who are willing to endure. But, I have fallen victim to time management. As Kiddo gets older, I find I have less, not more time to sit at the keyboard and type. I have and always will clean my own house, do the family laundry and ironing (yes, ironing), prepare home-cooked meals, cut the lawn (although I've wrangled Kiddo into doing it recently), and devote some time to service. 'Tis the season for college applications so I've been busy with clients from my <a href="http://www.collegedriven.com/Site/Home.html">college admissions consulting business</a>. Whew! After all that, I'm surprised I was able to be as consistent as I was these last few months!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The last month of my blogging everyday got me to start thinking about the quality of my posts. I had all this self-inflicted pressure, not to share meaningful, heartfelt, well-written and equally well thought-out ideas, but rather to just post daily. Posting everyday regardless of content became the goal and that was wrong. I began to feel the blog was an obligation and that was wrong.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY90BwplIOICYxEcVi9Ge-C4JhlvY_pRvUtgAboP7k-27rDotazy15buFJ4eqBjOegwSFJORrS9QPhwxcjAkoxHhdaZvNdPHzDzuKhwvIfNe6A4m8AswNNR_3YWV2dIdkFP5ixM2CdMo0/s1600/mediocrity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY90BwplIOICYxEcVi9Ge-C4JhlvY_pRvUtgAboP7k-27rDotazy15buFJ4eqBjOegwSFJORrS9QPhwxcjAkoxHhdaZvNdPHzDzuKhwvIfNe6A4m8AswNNR_3YWV2dIdkFP5ixM2CdMo0/s400/mediocrity.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was evident to me that I got burned out by blogging daily, hence the 2-month summer break. I re-evaluated the blog, its purpose and mine within it, and I've come to a conclusion. First, I love writing and the fact that so many visit this blog to read what I've written is as humbling as it is awesome. So, I'm not going to stop writing and sharing with you, dear reader. Second, I respect and love the people who take time out of their busy lives to sit awhile and read what I've written. Because of that, I believe the LOVD reader deserves nothing short of the best posts I can give. That may come daily for awhile, or it may come in spurts. Regardless, you will only receive my best going forward. Excellence is my new obligation.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, excellence doesn't mean perfection (thank goodness). It means going a little bit beyond what you know you can get away with otherwise. Imagine a world where everyone could do just that, go a little bit beyond. Mediocrity has become the world's new standard and I don't want it to become mine. If you're not careful, you can easily catch this contagious disease. I choose to be better than that and I choose to apply excellence to every facet of my life, including this blog. You deserve it just as much as I do.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My posts my be sporadic in the future. You don't have to point out that my blog name is feel LOVD <b>"EVERYDAY"</b>. Yeah, I know, but sometimes life is ironic like that. You don't need a blog post to feel "loved" everyday. If a post from LOVD happens to be a new one for you to read upon your visit, well all the more love to feel that day! Just know that when you read future posts, you're getting my most excellent best.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>With future posts being inconsistent, I'd hate for you to lose out on any new writings. Please consider subscribing to feel LOVD everyday so each time I write a new post, it gets delivered to your Inbox as an e-mail. If you'd like to sign-up, just enter your e-mail address in the box to the right under the heading "Feel LOVD Everyday by e-Mail". You will receive an e-mail from Feedburner to which you will have to respond to by clicking on a link for verification. That's it, just a <b>two-step process</b> and you're done! Thanks and LOVD tidings, Lilly</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Warning: the verification e-mail from Feedburner ususally ends up in your SPAM folder so check there to get the verification e-mail.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>And, if all else fails, there's always Facebook. If you "Like" LOVD, you'll know each time a new post awaits your loving attention. </i> </span></span>I am LOVDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09813001450297864639noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336044674513065409.post-91669845496358345612013-09-02T05:53:00.000-07:002013-09-02T06:27:57.298-07:00Labor Day in a Whole New Way<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYpkIASt8_tesWw4s8G36i6-2dV2RL9adFSPf0iYOTvSgQJ7nMJc0jM8PdQ-IrMnwgSa00F-9bNn2J3YKt0jEjUDaUZ9nWdLWdo2GSdZITNfz-q739oguZNx_ZZkFdj0nwPxUVeTzNKg0/s1600/summer13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYpkIASt8_tesWw4s8G36i6-2dV2RL9adFSPf0iYOTvSgQJ7nMJc0jM8PdQ-IrMnwgSa00F-9bNn2J3YKt0jEjUDaUZ9nWdLWdo2GSdZITNfz-q739oguZNx_ZZkFdj0nwPxUVeTzNKg0/s400/summer13.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Summer 2013 = Lots of friend-time, baseball, golf, sparklers, movies</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hey, LOVD readers, I'm back! My hope is that you've had a fantastic summer and there's not one item left to cross off of that seasonal bucket list of yours. My summer respite was filled with hot, sticky, and, more times than I care to admit, very rainy days where time was not part of our vocabulary and commitments to any type of schedule were scoffed at. No, this summer was brilliant in a different way that many wouldn't understand. There was no spectacular vacation of a lifetime. The days didn't consist of lounging at the local pool hours on end, not this year. Instead, we eased into the day each morning without alarm clocks, sat leisurley at the breakfast table while reading <a href="http://www.erecrex.com/">this book series</a> aloud together. We'd linger a little while longer on the back deck, soaking up the East-rising sun before heading inside to get ready for a day that promised nothing but time, rest, relaxation, and rejoicing life. Ahhh, now I know the meaning of a lazy summer. You have to experience those every once in awhile. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And so, appropriately, I'm back on Labor Day. Not for more R&R, but rather to mark the beginning of my own labor. It's time to get back to the work I love: writing, sharing, discovering, growing, connecting with you. It's time to birth some new dreams ("labor" - get it?) and breathe life into forgotten ones. The contractions are beginning. Will you stick around with me here and see what we get? Welcome back, LOVD readers.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Happy "Labor" Day!!!!</span></span><br />
I am LOVDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09813001450297864639noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336044674513065409.post-69160523664368672812013-07-01T03:00:00.000-07:002013-07-01T04:39:18.471-07:00Enjoying Summer, Family, and Friends<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUnwu-sboZb10z0K-dimtAtVQIVHTxnGXn-9GVqkbz-VUnRUzqyXOc7PsEouoi7ICHsdnhFhrmQQa_Iu9lqJPVUgmp9sL_xDS96AbcUTyNl4i3cTbpvQdm8Tffrz7AYxye1A7wjI3jz0/s286/blogbreak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUnwu-sboZb10z0K-dimtAtVQIVHTxnGXn-9GVqkbz-VUnRUzqyXOc7PsEouoi7ICHsdnhFhrmQQa_Iu9lqJPVUgmp9sL_xDS96AbcUTyNl4i3cTbpvQdm8Tffrz7AYxye1A7wjI3jz0/s400/blogbreak.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I get a little nervous around this time of year. It seems Independence Day marks the summer check point for me. There's only half of summer vacation left and I begin to reevaluate my days. I don't want summer to melt away like a popsicle in the sticky hands of a 2-year old.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There's also only so many hours in a day. I've never been good at having each foot in 2 different canoes, so, I have to cut some time-consuming activities out of my schedule, just for a bit. One of those time stealing activities is blogging so I'm taking a short term break to be TOTALLY present for my family and my friends. I will soak up the sun, read a few books sitting on the bedside, and prepare exciting meals for Super Hubby and Kiddo. I may even get used to taking some afternoon naps.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Whoever said we could have it all lied. Having it all doesn't come all at once, all at the same time. Not if you want to keep your sanity and happiness. Life is about making choices. I love blogging and I'll be back soon but, right now, I choose to balance my life with other elements. I hope you stick around and visit often. If you don't want to miss any future posts, please consider signing up via e-mail Subscription, delivering you every new post in your e-mail Inbox.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">To tie you over, re-visit my blog Series on Elements of Happiness. It's a goodie.</span></span><br />
<a href="http://feellovdeveryday.blogspot.com/2013/03/elements-of-happiness-quack-like-duck.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Elements of Happiness Part 1</b></span></span></a><br />
<a href="http://feellovdeveryday.blogspot.com/2013/03/elements-of-happiness-accept-yourself.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Elements of Happiness Part 2</b></span></span></a><br />
<a href="http://feellovdeveryday.blogspot.com/2013/03/elements-of-happiness-take-shelter.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Elements of Happiness Part 3</b></span></span></a><br />
<a href="http://feellovdeveryday.blogspot.com/2013/03/elements-of-happiness-people-pleasers.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Elements of Happiness Part 4</b></span></span></a><br />
<a href="http://feellovdeveryday.blogspot.com/2013/03/elements-of-happiness-letting-go.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Elements of Happiness Part 5</b></span></span></a><br />
<a href="http://feellovdeveryday.blogspot.com/2013/03/elements-of-happiness-thanks-giving.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Elements of Happiness Part 6</b></span></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Be back soonish and enjoy your summer days! I know I will.</span></span></div>
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I am LOVDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09813001450297864639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336044674513065409.post-78601501774203498492013-06-28T08:30:00.001-07:002013-06-28T08:37:32.888-07:00Goodbye Week. Hello Weekend. Lessons Learned: Take 101.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawXh2_Duubx7ufi5ffztpExUPUznZroTA3rZq5hyphenhyphenrmSgDONOk3jDd0jeeRiUG7EWDZQ5KNjGluG9TjjRf5JuUMr1yoKbauB1AASCaM6S4xnhpHOOs3CR2TpCc30eBa0YZOaW15UbSOi8/s1600/cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawXh2_Duubx7ufi5ffztpExUPUznZroTA3rZq5hyphenhyphenrmSgDONOk3jDd0jeeRiUG7EWDZQ5KNjGluG9TjjRf5JuUMr1yoKbauB1AASCaM6S4xnhpHOOs3CR2TpCc30eBa0YZOaW15UbSOi8/s400/cake.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Goodbye Super Hubby's birthday celebration wi<span style="font-size: small;">th<span style="font-size: small;"> all his faves like <span style="font-size: small;">ribs and an<span style="font-size: small;">gel food cake with 7-minute frosting.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Goodbye night games all this week; getting home at 10:30 after a baseball game is not fun, especially when <span style="font-size: small;">it's a loss</span>.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Goodbye lounging poolside pretty much <span style="font-size: small;">most days and n<span style="font-size: small;">ot feeling guilty about it because it's Summertime!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Goodbye feeling the pains of summer with my burnt to a<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">crisp, lo<span style="font-size: small;">b<span style="font-size: small;">ster-red</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> legs - ouch.<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Goodbye picnic in the park with $2 burgers, $1 dogs, and live music - love this c<span style="font-size: small;">ity where I live!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPoXGQ6KwakfKr3Xe4viBvQoZ1-GhHTDlQe3u6F4qR9uHPqIsCB7gAxGQly5brdAwY__8nTArqpL8Rgndlmn9xXwQIuqZxK848Mng4R1yz-1W6RJsjBnBFVfCgXBvDVplR_b6er-YifsY/s1600/IMG_0851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPoXGQ6KwakfKr3Xe4viBvQoZ1-GhHTDlQe3u6F4qR9uHPqIsCB7gAxGQly5brdAwY__8nTArqpL8Rgndlmn9xXwQIuqZxK848Mng4R1yz-1W6RJsjBnBFVfCgXBvDVplR_b6er-YifsY/s320/IMG_0851.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Happy B<span style="font-size: x-small;">irthday, Super Hubby!</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hello <span style="font-size: small;">keeping up with client obli<span style="font-size: small;">gations<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">amidst all this summertime fun.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hello low-key time at home getting <span style="font-size: small;">the yard<span style="font-size: small;"> work finished, if the weather cooperates.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hello searching <a href="http://pinterest.com/lovd/">Pinterest</a> for a new recipe<span style="font-size: small;"> I'll venture to make and we'll feast on the deck.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hello wishing we had a gas grill instead of charcoal on those days wh<span style="font-size: small;">en you need the heat high fast (but <span style="font-size: small;">the charcoal taste is so worth the extra effort).</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hello <span style="font-size: small;">itching to plan a little get together for July 4th and wondering if I<span style="font-size: small;"> really <span style="font-size: small;">have the time.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ouch!</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">My lesson learned <span style="font-size: small;">d<span style="font-size: small;">uring this <span style="font-size: small;">w<span style="font-size: small;">eek of inte<span style="font-size: small;">nse heat<span style="font-size: small;"> is when you're <span style="font-size: small;">going to be poolside ALL day, don't fo<span style="font-size: small;">rget to put sunscreen on <span style="font-size: small;">ALL parts of your body. Shoulders<span style="font-size: small;">? Check. Face? Check. Arms? Check. Back and chest? Check. Legs? Oops!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm paying for it, that's for sure. I'm in so much pain that by the end of the day, I can't even stand<span style="font-size: small;">, that's how much they are throbbing for relief.<span style="font-size: small;"> I should know better so, in the <span style="font-size: small;">wise words of <a href="http://www.anysonglyrics.com/lyrics/b/bazluhrmann/everybodys.htm">Baz Lurhmann</a>, <b>Wear <span style="font-size: small;">S</span>unscreen</b><span style="font-size: small;">!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Have a pain-free weekend and be smart, lather on the<span style="font-size: small;"> lotion!</span></span></i> </span></span>I am LOVDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09813001450297864639noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336044674513065409.post-91064443663391522402013-06-27T19:57:00.000-07:002013-06-27T19:57:18.695-07:00When Fiction Means Trouble<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNhiZLrFkWZCWBS-xdK9MlfgNDy2Cdpgz0wo3M76li4Sb9D8FxwppGwW09QOZB8LZmoyFOO3OB_gjZ7d_usOO7LPuNawh7Jt4nlx3Jp6S9sFoG_Rm4xTJFmg7s9ArBBtd-U3Z3F0UqZI/s378/cover_dogstars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNhiZLrFkWZCWBS-xdK9MlfgNDy2Cdpgz0wo3M76li4Sb9D8FxwppGwW09QOZB8LZmoyFOO3OB_gjZ7d_usOO7LPuNawh7Jt4nlx3Jp6S9sFoG_Rm4xTJFmg7s9ArBBtd-U3Z3F0UqZI/s320/cover_dogstars.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Caution: Reading fiction may cause you to lose yourself.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Disappointed by my proclamation of not being a lover of fiction, my bloggy buddy, Michele, encouraged me to give <a href="http://www.peterheller.net/the-dog-stars/">The Dog Stars by Peter Heller</a> a try. I respect Michele and I love reading <a href="http://thegreatread.blogspot.com/">her blog</a>. She's always in search of good books at the library and I hunted down her recommendation at my own borrowing institution.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I started reading. Then, I read some more. Then I sat down to read some more and was surprised to find Super Hubby home from work and I hadn't even thawed anything for dinner. I read some more and found Kiddo was going to be late to his baseball game (only happened once so give me a break). I then realized why I'm not a lover of fiction. It's that I can't be. Good books seem to take over my life. I want to turn the page and find out more. I want to see where the story is going, how it will play out, how it will end. This brief escape encapsulates my attention sometimes and I don't get a lot done, unfortunately.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The close calls were worth it, though. The book was gripping. There was even one section of the book that may have been along the lines of <i>50 Shades of Grey</i> (not that I've ever read that one, but I don't live in a hole, either). Yes, that chapter was attention grabbing to say the least.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My most favorite part of the book was a couple of lines at the beginning and I absolutely love the words so I wanted them captured here on my blog. I don't want to forget how important and meaningful these words can be.</span></span><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I thought Maybe there is a different translation for <i>meek</i>. Maybe it's not the meek who inherit, maybe it is the simple. Not will <i>inherit</i>, the earth, they already own it." - Peter Heller, <i>The Dog Stars</i></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oh, how true that is. OK, Michele, I'm ready for another recommendation! I'll keep visiting and see what you got!</span></span>I am LOVDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09813001450297864639noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336044674513065409.post-37487129508380476522013-06-26T16:25:00.000-07:002013-06-26T16:25:42.321-07:00What I Made Wednesday {Lord of the Rings/Minecraft Birthday Party}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKoIw2LrPfvxa1UyfSuabru-ogsce5c_PQKh5aT0BQgJAvAo4YJ511ROaVZwhxCGK3NgniDdf3aGysxhtjOwX030QapwmEm-AOdVnRx4dTeut_n9K7Yulks3Pv1FBRUbGI4LjbN4gpEQ8/s1600/WIMW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKoIw2LrPfvxa1UyfSuabru-ogsce5c_PQKh5aT0BQgJAvAo4YJ511ROaVZwhxCGK3NgniDdf3aGysxhtjOwX030QapwmEm-AOdVnRx4dTeut_n9K7Yulks3Pv1FBRUbGI4LjbN4gpEQ8/s1600/WIMW.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ever since Kiddo was born, we've always had his birthday party at the house, put on by Super Hubby and me, and always themed to the max. When Kiddo got to be a little older, we took birthday-themed parties to a whole new level. Each party we created whisked the party guests to an imaginary world, depending on the theme. To get a glimpse of the lengths we go to create these imaginary worlds, just check out Kiddo's birthday party from last year, <a href="http://feellovdeveryday.blogspot.com/2012/06/what-i-made-wednesday-harry-potter_20.html">click here</a>.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGVt-lMMR2x4ye1AwAF8hAF3kOLB8GV-C_rUPe53l5UQocWBu_EwN5tJj7kbEuT2JPx5im90rNg21NoQlRCpk9G21IgsnIZd5sLH-1fvVNJrqV9PRUrwOSVr2OfgXHWh0oRDFrLGDxw4/s1600/birthdays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGVt-lMMR2x4ye1AwAF8hAF3kOLB8GV-C_rUPe53l5UQocWBu_EwN5tJj7kbEuT2JPx5im90rNg21NoQlRCpk9G21IgsnIZd5sLH-1fvVNJrqV9PRUrwOSVr2OfgXHWh0oRDFrLGDxw4/s640/birthdays.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">For every party we made it easy for the kids to really get into the theme. Kiddo has always been into imaginative play and he befriended many kids of the same nature, so you can imagine how cool it was to don a Jedi uniform and pretend you were mastering Jedi skills like at the Star Wars party. Or, how about donning a pirate's sash, eye patch, and bandana as they scavaged the yard looking for doubloons at the pirate party. There has been a spy party, Ninja party, I can go on and on. As wonderful as this was, we knew it would come to an end once Kiddo turned a certain age. That age was 11. Kiddo still likes imaginative play, but he was inviting kids that perhaps could not appreciate getting into the spirit of things and dressing up and pretending to be in another world just wasn't going to go over as a huge hit.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepvUvdw7dm0KFBfI0IuOJnJoszzBXnBS9m_ejAxGjqtdVyhy5-VkXF0KNf7zVasng41lGEunTrLJDcE0LtXJoNgHyAVoe_i3CgHeMqA1ESyzTxCP6YhEbEBBsSlhmR5QSbnA6rc2JL0Y/s1600/IMG_0697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepvUvdw7dm0KFBfI0IuOJnJoszzBXnBS9m_ejAxGjqtdVyhy5-VkXF0KNf7zVasng41lGEunTrLJDcE0LtXJoNgHyAVoe_i3CgHeMqA1ESyzTxCP6YhEbEBBsSlhmR5QSbnA6rc2JL0Y/s320/IMG_0697.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The various adventure locations on the map.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, how do you have a Lord of the Rings birthday party, create a special world, and get 11-year olds to be willing participants? You create a virtual world where they adventure into a video game, all together as a Fellowship, and complete an adventure Minecraft-style!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Super Hubby has his own computer consulting firm so it didn't take that much effort to procure 8 computers, and all the other hardware we needed to make this work. To see how we prepped for the party, click posts <a href="http://feellovdeveryday.blogspot.com/2013/06/what-i-made-wednesday-elevenses.html">here</a> and <a href="http://feellovdeveryday.blogspot.com/2013/06/what-i-made-wednesday-elevenses_12.html">here</a> to get caught up. Now, on to the party itself!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The explanation of this party is beyond my comprehension so if you're really interested in replicating this party, please e-mail me directly and Super Hubby will give you all the technical details. Here's our To-Do list for the party from a technical level. Techies should get it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Minecraft <br />
Bree<br />
Dense Forest<br />
Time Portal<br />
Upgrade Beds, chests<br />
Fix mountain pass – stairs out, bridges<br />
Minas Tirith – scavenger hunt<br />
Update syntax of notes<br />
Texture pack<br />
Setup laptops<br />
Cables<br />
Mice/keyboards</span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Server<br />
spawn-animals – false<br />
view-distance- 9(far)<br />
PVP-false<br />
Add my username to ops.txt to become operator<br />
Test move command, etc</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">On a more understandable level, imagine 8 party guests, brought in to the party as Elves, following the calling indicated by the party invitation, <a href="http://feellovdeveryday.blogspot.com/2013/06/what-i-made-wednesday-elevenses.html">see it here</a>. Each has their own computer and mouse already awaiting their arrival. Each guest sits at the computer and designates their own avatar in the virtual world where adventure awaits. Thanks to a server, each guest is in the same world, at the same time. They see each other. They must work together, as a Fellowship, to complete the adventure. Contrary to Minecraft, this adventure requires no mining or crafting. It is purely an adventure.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">At designated areas, there are notes dispersed to our adventurers to help them along their journey. Because I didn't want our guests to be glued to a monitor for the entire party, we had designated stops along the way during the adventure. For instance, when they left Hobbiton, they were to all meet at the Prancing Pony in Bree. There, the elves left their computers and came upstairs to partake in meaty snacks only a Hobbit could love: salami, cheese, crackers, olives, pickles, and ham. To quench their thirst, we served <a href="http://feellovdeveryday.blogspot.com/2012/06/what-i-made-wednesday-harry-potter.html">Butter Beer</a>. (I know, it's a Harry Potter thing but it was such a big hit last year, we had to repeat it).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I purchased iced coffee glasses at the Dollar Store and embellished the glasses with border stickers. Believe it or not, I've washed these glasses in the dishwasher and the stickers have stayed put!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Back to the adventure, and through the portal, our Elves returned to their posts and continued on. They stopped at a cave; another opportunity to take a break from the computer screens. We served them <a href="http://feellovdeveryday.blogspot.com/2013/06/what-i-made-wednesday-elevenses_12.html">Lembas Bread</a> at that point.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Before the big battle, they reached the Castle in Gondolin. Here, I used our dining room and made a royal spread consisting of very Lord of the Rings-inspired foods like potatoes, steak on a stick, chicken kabobs, more <a href="http://feellovdeveryday.blogspot.com/2013/06/what-i-made-wednesday-elevenses_12.html">Lembas Bread</a>, corn on the cob, and, of course, more <a href="http://feellovdeveryday.blogspot.com/2012/06/what-i-made-wednesday-harry-potter.html">Butter Beer</a>. During the feast, we found some <a href="http://www.berghuis.co.nz/abiator/unit/hobbit/ch/riddles.html">great riddles</a> we had the kids try to figure out during dinner. Great fun!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Finally, the kids went back to their adventure for the climactic end - the big battle. They all had to work together to defeat the enemy. Afterwards, they headed to Minas Tirith for a scavenger hunt. Each floor, 5 total, had at least 4 artifacts in chests which the birthday guests could find. It was a free for all at Minas Tirith.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This 5-hour party was so cool and I know I'm not doing it any justice in describing it in my non-techie way. Everyone had a blast, it was unique, and memorable, and we still created a world, just in a virtual sort of way. So cool! Great job, Super Hubby!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>I am LOVDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09813001450297864639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336044674513065409.post-699852530774358492013-06-25T05:37:00.001-07:002013-06-25T05:37:49.804-07:00Birthday Wishes for Super Hubby<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvGG0yCrwrqeLtf6QXp9YMOYOXlKcV_PBf-xG5gL-v5G2wRbz98Xk1BjualxWSaiuuZ4pVyxObv27fcEq6lcEmahHHRxSygSpu-jqxBgc-bEY6S7sUkKhuAPFp5TVTJEoqo-7tMhHllk/s1600/bday45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvGG0yCrwrqeLtf6QXp9YMOYOXlKcV_PBf-xG5gL-v5G2wRbz98Xk1BjualxWSaiuuZ4pVyxObv27fcEq6lcEmahHHRxSygSpu-jqxBgc-bEY6S7sUkKhuAPFp5TVTJEoqo-7tMhHllk/s400/bday45.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">What do you say to a man who holds your heart? What do you do for a man who gave you the world wrapped up in one little bundle of boy? Whatever it is, it just isn't enough to express my love and devotion to Super Hubby. Happy Birthday, my sweet!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Kiddo and I love you dearly, respect you immensely, and cherish you like crazy. There won't be a big party, expensive gifts, or 45 balloons, but there will be love. Love is all we need!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I love you and consider myself the luckiest girl in the world! </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Happy birthday to my best friend.</span></span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>And, since it is a day of gifts, congrats to <b>apham17</b>! You are the winner of the Jack and the Giant Slayer Blu-Ray Combo Pack! Just shoot me an e-mail with your address and it'll be sent to you! Congrats!</i> </span></span>I am LOVDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09813001450297864639noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336044674513065409.post-19862479321543319712013-06-24T05:44:00.003-07:002013-06-24T05:44:53.844-07:00Gratitude Journal Monday<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We've hit the 2-year mark at <i>feel LOVD everyday</i>! Thanks so, so much for being here with me. My only hope when I started this blog was to reach out to those needing a bit of encouragement and inspiration on the days when you needed it. This blog also became a source of creative spark that glowed around the world thanks to many <i>What I Made Wednesday</i> projects. The power of the Internet is real and daunting all at the same time. Although my numbers don't even come close to some "professional" bloggers, I'm pretty proud, anyways.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">515 Posts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">85,436 Page Views.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">1684 Comments.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">75 Countries.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">486. I am thankful for 2-years of inspiration and finding the right words to share with you.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">487. I am thankful for the blogging community and all its wonderfully talented people.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">488. I am grateful for my brand new camera that allows me to capture moments so beautifully.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">489. I am thankful Feedburner started working again for my e-mail subscribers.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">490. I am grateful for you, LOVD reader, and your interest in visiting my blog; thanks for being here with me.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Here's to more inspiration, more creativity, and more love in the next year of LOVD!</i> </span></span> </span></span>I am LOVDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09813001450297864639noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336044674513065409.post-25272204200191300522013-06-21T07:19:00.000-07:002013-06-21T07:19:16.177-07:00Goodbye Week. Hello weekend. Lessons Learned: Take 100.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhll37DqtmRArzInLbvej0kkQ3YRDRUF7mhrSujXvClbQQfcGxrZGvaT7Qq-yAmQosaYvp2pBTOYPZnyy_hBqKa0rEZMG1PapA6OTeuWuWPiy96zlQGjY_Vx1Wzkoih3ZGAsyQKZVQkHY8/s1600/berrypick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhll37DqtmRArzInLbvej0kkQ3YRDRUF7mhrSujXvClbQQfcGxrZGvaT7Qq-yAmQosaYvp2pBTOYPZnyy_hBqKa0rEZMG1PapA6OTeuWuWPiy96zlQGjY_Vx1Wzkoih3ZGAsyQKZVQkHY8/s400/berrypick.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">My Dad and Kiddo</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Goodbye blessed week filled with summer sunshine and warmth.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Goodbye celebrating the first win <strike>finally</strike> of this summer's baseball season.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Goodbye pool time, friends time, and family time.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Goodbye Kiddo sleeping in for the first time - ever.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Goodbye good times pickin' strawberries at the patch.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hello continuing dental saga for Super Hubby.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hello hair cuts for the boys.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hello baseball team pictures, a game, and a graduation party - whew!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hello putting our picked strawberries to good use with a homemade shortcake recipe.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hello Sunday lounging and pancakes.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My lesson learned this week is something's got to give. When you're "doing summer" at home, there's a lot of things to do and see, and between it all, blogging falls pretty low on the list. I even missed this week's What I Made Wednesday. I just couldn't squeeze in the hours needed to write the post between Kiddo's baseball game, hours at the batting cage, preparing breakfast, lunch, and dinner at home, and still continuing my never-ending spring clean-up of the yard and garden beds. So, I'm not going to sweat it. If I get out a post, great! If I don't, oh well. There's just too much summer waiting for us and once it's gone, it's gone. I hope you take the time to soak up every little bit of summer, too!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Great weekend ahead! Hope yours is awesome. Happy Summer Solstice!</i></span></span>I am LOVDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09813001450297864639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336044674513065409.post-74404814710371044402013-06-20T13:51:00.004-07:002013-06-20T13:51:44.441-07:00What? It's Thursday! and a Giveaway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH2fj569nZdHZb9fSICus0Q82upjmoQlwB_JMZtoXwJ5DmFmk6AdrxQmRAk-nNWbcLFjbS5SAJgkzTSbeFkOSFpJowFOybKxnHUpJphIC9yd_5x5QS4Nwe0_41trPtHDLqzKSVj3HYpKQ/s1600/oops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH2fj569nZdHZb9fSICus0Q82upjmoQlwB_JMZtoXwJ5DmFmk6AdrxQmRAk-nNWbcLFjbS5SAJgkzTSbeFkOSFpJowFOybKxnHUpJphIC9yd_5x5QS4Nwe0_41trPtHDLqzKSVj3HYpKQ/s400/oops.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">How did Thursday happen? I thought the catalyst for Thursday coming was What I Made Wednesday. Oops, sorry! What happened? Summer happened. 'Nuf said.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Check back next Wednesday for the conclusion of the Lord of the Rings/Minecraft birthday party. To catch up, you can click <a href="http://feellovdeveryday.blogspot.com/2013/06/what-i-made-wednesday-elevenses.html">here</a> and <a href="http://feellovdeveryday.blogspot.com/2013/06/what-i-made-wednesday-elevenses_12.html">here</a>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">To make up for my lack of post, please accept this giveaway as a peace offering. Winning is easy! Just leave a comment and you'll be entered to win this awesome blockbuster movie, <a href="http://jackthegiantslayer.warnerbros.com/">Jack and the Giant Slayer</a>. You have until Monday, midnight to leave an entry! Winners to be announced <b>Tuesday, June 25</b> (Super Hubby's birthday!).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Giveaway: The Official Blu-Ray Combo Pack</b></span></span></span><br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="568" scrolling="auto" src="https://archive.partnershub.com/embeds/124/jack-the-giant-slayer/banner/jgs-bdcombo/" width="450"></iframe>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Warner Bros. is proud to announce the arrival of Jack the Giant Slayer released on DVD & Blu-ray on June 18!<br /><br />Unleashed on the Earth for the first time in centuries, the giants strive to reclaim the land they once lost, forcing Jack (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0396558/">Nicholas Hoult</a>), into the battle of this life to stop them and rescue the princess! <br /><br />The question is... are you courageous enough to rescue the princess? Are you brave like Jack? Take the quiz to find out!</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The prize will be sent via FedEx or UPS. No P.O. Boxes please.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b><br /><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Disclosure: Please note that the assets included within this message were delivered in promotion of the Warner Bros. release of the Jack the Giant Slayer Blog App. I am working with Warner Bros., and Warner Bros. supplied these materials to me for this giveaway.</span></i></span></span>I am LOVDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09813001450297864639noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336044674513065409.post-32682439312781492982013-06-18T05:44:00.001-07:002013-06-18T05:44:35.033-07:00Emergency Numbers<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When life gets a little tough to handle, why is it we grab the phone and dump our frustrations on girlfriends, mothers, sisters, anyone who will listen to our rants? Maybe it's time we turn to another? When life is throwing you a curve ball, try calling one of these numbers instead and see if it helps. The person usually at the receiving end may very well thank you for it!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Pin it, print it, use it.</b></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvKVpl-Dra3fmoCpiWipvzdxhgDGqqP7CdkA_7NlGNSjcHxJa2P7gDdVS4EL_utk0yFmrAsCWYW7KfhT4CR2qF5k3q-pdb0rOV8CShftF4RnrTD6Vn8W99kEkdCBX_DoLs4t-FYHxqR8/s1600/emergencynumbers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvKVpl-Dra3fmoCpiWipvzdxhgDGqqP7CdkA_7NlGNSjcHxJa2P7gDdVS4EL_utk0yFmrAsCWYW7KfhT4CR2qF5k3q-pdb0rOV8CShftF4RnrTD6Vn8W99kEkdCBX_DoLs4t-FYHxqR8/s640/emergencynumbers.jpg" width="436" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span>I am LOVDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09813001450297864639noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336044674513065409.post-10751484767876406142013-06-17T05:09:00.001-07:002013-06-17T05:09:56.529-07:00Gratitude Journal Monday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There will be days of gloom, days of sorrow, days of not being the awesome person God made you to be. You gotta shake it off and change your view. Perspective is a funny thing, you know. Whenever life is going pretty well, I sometimes still find something to complain about. How silly is that? I almost feel my Father uttering the parenting phrase, "If you don't stop, I'll give you something to complain about." Ok, ok, let's not go that far. I'm just fine with the way things are and I am truly blessed and, sometimes only the fear of God will make me see it. It's time I stop looking for a crisis and start thanking the Universe for not having one. That starts with gratitude.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm coming upon my 2-year bloggy anniversary. That would mean almost 2-years in keeping a Gratitude Journal. I cannot detail for you all the amazing things that have happened to me since I've started a Gratitude Journal, there just isn't enough Internet space for the entire testimonial. But, I can tell you that declaring gratitude in a purposeful way will change you as a person. Sure, there will be setbacks and days of questions and confusion and, dare I admit it, selfishness, but no matter what, there will always be progress. If you want to be the best self you can be, the self you know was meant to shine in this world, then I don't think you can achieve your full potential with the absence of gratitude. It is the foundation, the root, the catalyst, to being the person only God could have created to "go about doing good". If your mindset isn't naturally there, take time to declare gratitude on a regular basis and your heart will soon change your mind.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">You can start right here, right now. Leave a comment declaring some gratitude and see what happens. My beginnings began almost 2 years ago. <a href="http://feellovdeveryday.blogspot.com/2011/07/gratitude-journal-monday.html">Click here</a> to see my start.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">481. I am grateful for the audience that has been drawn to my blog, receiving positive messages that are delivered at just the right time to so many.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">482. I am grateful for the unchanging and steady love of God; regardless of my many setbacks or my occasional triumphs, His love is constant.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">483. I am grateful for my caring and loving family; we're tight and we're mighty, unwavering with God's grace and protection behind us.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">484. I am grateful the differences between good and evil, excellence and mediocrity, are clear and very black and white in my mind, with no gray area to confuse me and send me down the wrong path.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">485. I am grateful for choosing to follow God's light as he reveals His path for me, little by little, and reminds me I do not walk alone.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Only gratitude can give you what you seek in your own life. But you cannot receive these precious gifts until you get started on your path. Plant the seed of gratitude today and see what blossoms in your life.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Happy Monday, friend! </i> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span>I am LOVDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09813001450297864639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336044674513065409.post-75175467446103999742013-06-14T05:00:00.001-07:002013-06-14T05:00:52.510-07:00Goodbye Week. Hello Weekend. Lessons Learned: Take 99.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkd5yClEeMgd7QfArWaZ_4fDVUzZFQPfCJ5GJpOLt9oQD3dMu4YAgnalm9L2kTyhTS0OKvB8Pzs8m5GkEQNG2ipJcVMlI89VlZxd_9egQbX6fXAfp7Iammfzs2abBvpUZEsIm59SwhRKc/s1600/fathers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkd5yClEeMgd7QfArWaZ_4fDVUzZFQPfCJ5GJpOLt9oQD3dMu4YAgnalm9L2kTyhTS0OKvB8Pzs8m5GkEQNG2ipJcVMlI89VlZxd_9egQbX6fXAfp7Iammfzs2abBvpUZEsIm59SwhRKc/s320/fathers.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Goodbye rain and cool weather, preventing us from taking the plunge at our community pool.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Goodbye beginning a new chapter with a new client: thanks, Dad, for watching Kiddo while I was away.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Goodbye sportin' a new bike basket that makes the loads to the library so much easier.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Goodbye delicious meals whose leftovers transition into other meals: homemade chili one night, delicious chili dogs the next.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Goodbye watching Kiddo sprout right before my very eyes and being glad it's shorts-weather so I don't have to go buy him new pants just yet.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hello celebrating my grandmother's 90th birthday - party on!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hello hoping for warmer weather and sunshine for a birthday party at the lake for Kiddo's school-friend.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hello prayers for my brother-in-law as he sits in a hospital this weekend with renal failure and water in his lungs.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hello sending strength to my sister-in-law and nephew as they patiently wait for him to come back home. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hello honoring the awesome fathers in our lives: Super Hubby, my Dad, Pops, J.B., and Grandpa Allen - <b>HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My Lesson Learned this week is how much I don't understand the concept of a "lazy summer". Kid's have this down-pat and I wish I could learn a thing or two from them. Kids have a knack for being able to do nothing, and have it be the most entertaining thing in the world. How? If I sit down for even a moment, my mind starts racing to what needs to be done around the house. I begin making a list in my mind and nothing brings me more pleasure than the act of crossing out a task on that list. I've got to get a grip and realize that "the list" will forever be there, growing line by line until I'm put in the grave. Oh, and, surprise!, that day will come without everything being checked off before I check out. It's summertime! Time for me to just chill. It's just too bad I have to work so hard at it<b>.</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Have a relaxing weekend and Happy Father's Day!</i><b> </b></span></span>I am LOVDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09813001450297864639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336044674513065409.post-71207261666623817562013-06-13T14:06:00.001-07:002013-06-13T14:06:19.804-07:00What Technology Takes Away<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZI7r0mT_ad0dgtMRuSMei_8w9pEGKClxdKAVKJ7c8UazGKhYVl1Yh6-OwqeI3RxcHGupqIgmHukw4sWRdmtWh2H1cgBvq4BDtOYPMiZrRSUeYry74hZZSGq4v_JeoT2KHpDuW6X2Z3g/s1600/new-yorker-cover-vacation.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZI7r0mT_ad0dgtMRuSMei_8w9pEGKClxdKAVKJ7c8UazGKhYVl1Yh6-OwqeI3RxcHGupqIgmHukw4sWRdmtWh2H1cgBvq4BDtOYPMiZrRSUeYry74hZZSGq4v_JeoT2KHpDuW6X2Z3g/s400/new-yorker-cover-vacation.jpeg" width="273" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cover art: Modern Family on Vacation</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm not a huge techie of a person. In fact, despite the urgings of Super Hubby and friends, I do not own a SmartPhone of any kind. I still use them-there flip-top phones, y'all! Yet, around me the world is moving forward while I'm dragging my heals into the dirt of status quo. I can only speak for myself, of course, as Super Hubby has the latest and greatest. He has to, as a computer consultant. So, our house is filled with gadgets to which I do not know their purpose. There are remotes lying around the house that I'm not exactly sure how to use. Just to turn on our television you need two remotes and you must go through at least a series of 3 action sequences just to catch the local news channel (I feel so bad for the babysitter). And, there are electronic boxes in our home that go blinky-blinky to which I probably rely on daily and not even realize it (i.e. internet router so I can publish this daily blog).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We have some how become so dependent on our electronic devices that we deem it a personal victory, a declaration of freedom, if you will, to turn off the device for an evening. Or, dare I say it? An entire weekend! Why is this an accomplishment? Yet, we itch for the quick e-mail check, the brrinng of the text coming in, just like a crack addict on the first day of re-hab.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm beginning to despise the SmartPhone, the iPad, the iPod, because it's taken away something I'm beginning to miss these days: looking into people's eyes. Yes, that's right. Admiring the beautiful coloring and unique shapes of people's eyes. All I see now is people's foreheads, and I'm wondering as I'm speaking to their hair follicles if I'm even being heard by the person right in front of me. As much as we'd like to boast or believe, multi-tasking is not a human trait that is adopted easily. If you think you've got it down pat, you've probably been misled between the simultaneous texting, scheduling, driving, coffee drinking, and child-rearing. But, anyway, who's going to notice?</span></span>I am LOVDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09813001450297864639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336044674513065409.post-4218676900430958882013-06-12T14:02:00.001-07:002013-06-27T20:04:26.818-07:00What I Made Wednesday {An Elevenses Birthday Party: Tolkien-Style}: Setting the Scene<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sharing our birthday details is a huge undertaking. If you haven't noticed, I'm giving it to you in teeny tiny bites, like I did <a href="http://feellovdeveryday.blogspot.com/2012/06/what-i-made-wednesday-harry-potter_20.html">Harry Potter</a>. Not because I don't think you can handle all the info all at once, I do. It's that I'm not motivated enough to sit down for looooonnnnggg stretches and write it all out from beginning to end. That's precious summertime daylight I'd be wasting! Seriously, though, it's just way too daunting of a task for me. So, little batches it is. Thanks for your patience:-)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwV3BMM9IBJuCZviVK5gWwYpzJS2EBq_HhSq0cfEJT5MsU4i4wZmBPun6QMuhZXIj8FUqbOPEqHHdqWD-cDJVjXUA-W2KDDljUlUssqeXYlbDKhEpLjJZARxtEQp9rZ2rv4DNPxiOTTuw/s1600/IMG_0622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwV3BMM9IBJuCZviVK5gWwYpzJS2EBq_HhSq0cfEJT5MsU4i4wZmBPun6QMuhZXIj8FUqbOPEqHHdqWD-cDJVjXUA-W2KDDljUlUssqeXYlbDKhEpLjJZARxtEQp9rZ2rv4DNPxiOTTuw/s400/IMG_0622.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Last week, I shared with you the the all-important making of the invitations. <a href="http://feellovdeveryday.blogspot.com/2013/06/what-i-made-wednesday-elevenses.html">Click here</a> if you missed it. This week, I'll share with you the party props we made and/or used to carry the theme through.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHRAtoKY2e1V8STXh2rSQ6KHYOCjik24njnfaWNMmxDweqtPLLIZI_hcjbXaSHOvTiig7YaPkTm6b-fBbI74KdQctMO9ePmtso3n2Q-ZhjWC412qFYifE9SF7awXPffy_mpwTojn5qm0/s1600/IMG_0585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHRAtoKY2e1V8STXh2rSQ6KHYOCjik24njnfaWNMmxDweqtPLLIZI_hcjbXaSHOvTiig7YaPkTm6b-fBbI74KdQctMO9ePmtso3n2Q-ZhjWC412qFYifE9SF7awXPffy_mpwTojn5qm0/s400/IMG_0585.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oh, yes! The theme! It probably needs some explanation. Kiddo L.O.V.E.S. Lord of the Rings. Tolkien is his fave author and he is so into that kind of fantasy-type world. Additionally, if you have a tween boy in the house, you are also probably VERY familiar with an online game called <a href="https://minecraft.net/">MineCraft</a>. With me so far? What if you combined MineCraft with Lord of the Rings by creating a virtual world? A virtual adventure within MineCraft, where all the party guests work together, not against each other, but as a Fellowship to complete the mission at hand? I know what you're thinking? Yes, it would be superb, but is it possible? Not only is it possible, my friends, it's what we did for this party!!!! (You can send the Parent of the Year Award to our P.O. Box).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'll explain all the details of the party in next week's post, but I'll show you all the decor we used to set the mood in this post. We decided to combine the two themes into one so, some items will be Tolkien-based, and some items will be MineCraft-themed. It works, trust me!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The Decor</b></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX8-NCnhyvwsQoe4maq-MHQhk265ki8t3P9NoBWzXqQxoFHHzKSqC_XXVBT4hc38N9Rn1Brkaw7-DvTfs6lTR5lTT5qiRh-EYnL71soKPOhMoosxxA7nkPmLXQHmWsXqPG6Egvdd_xLk0/s1600/IMG_0681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX8-NCnhyvwsQoe4maq-MHQhk265ki8t3P9NoBWzXqQxoFHHzKSqC_XXVBT4hc38N9Rn1Brkaw7-DvTfs6lTR5lTT5qiRh-EYnL71soKPOhMoosxxA7nkPmLXQHmWsXqPG6Egvdd_xLk0/s200/IMG_0681.JPG" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We used our finished basement to set-up all the computers and equipment we needed to make this adventure come alive. To better set the mood, we replaced all of our spotlight bulbs with black lights. The effect was quite amazing and very awesome!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Super Hubby found a great number of MineCraft-themed posters online via Google images and had them printed on a large-format printer. Although the posters were adequate on their own, I mounted them to neon poster cardstock paper to help them really shine! They came out perfectly.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Super Hubby took the main characters of MineCraft and made life-size cutouts of Steve, a Creeper, and a Skeleton (sorry for the lingo non-Minecraft readers). This was a bit of a challenge to put together because the life-size figures measured over 3-feet. How do you print-out something that big? You print sections of it and piece it all together by taping the backside. (I was geometrically challenged on this task but I pulled through.) <i>If you are interested in re-creating this party and want files of these "sectioned" print-outs to do on your own, please contact me and I will send to you.</i><b> </b><i> </i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The Cake</b></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The pixels read "Happy B-Day Jack", The coconut is only in the middle!</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We continued the MineCraft portion of the party with the cake. Easy, peasy folks! I just made a brown sheet cake. Any normal person would have just used a chocolate box cake to achieve the required brown color for "dirt", but my son doesn't like chocolate. I used a white cake mix, bought some brown food coloring, and poured the entire gel right into the cake batter, resulting into successful results.<i> </i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Next, I created butter cream frosting and dyed it the same color green as the grass in MineCraft. To get the texture right, take 4 ounces of coconut, place in a plastic bag, and sprinkle a few drops of green food coloring into the coconut<i>.</i> Shake the bag until all the coconut is green. (Powdered food coloring works best, if you can find it. If not, the liquid will be fine. Just let it dry before sprinkling on the cake.) Set the bag aside.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcs2uvqLoOjG_tTmgpqdKJgwJm5CTX1Z5-9z8ggoZi_z97tyUMly0CJHu2iYohhOcGE9T86eMiqxC8TctrkpR220fdFMRS1JvaoW7JO81tQpslF2rZpOVnyZwsOQOVqgSg3M9_dYt7SYQ/s1600/IMG_0624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcs2uvqLoOjG_tTmgpqdKJgwJm5CTX1Z5-9z8ggoZi_z97tyUMly0CJHu2iYohhOcGE9T86eMiqxC8TctrkpR220fdFMRS1JvaoW7JO81tQpslF2rZpOVnyZwsOQOVqgSg3M9_dYt7SYQ/s200/IMG_0624.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6a4EEK8qprUTlGiYRuDHWAEpXssc0ihUCtdVeWtxgLnl2GUcXnWZIeTz1GIPUTv2b5WyAn_TDTPwudkEy0OsWp0fqlOpOcovIJMRispFvqNh7sEEzts8Cl2SrEBiB7KnSjqANiEdUq0/s1600/IMG_0628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6a4EEK8qprUTlGiYRuDHWAEpXssc0ihUCtdVeWtxgLnl2GUcXnWZIeTz1GIPUTv2b5WyAn_TDTPwudkEy0OsWp0fqlOpOcovIJMRispFvqNh7sEEzts8Cl2SrEBiB7KnSjqANiEdUq0/s200/IMG_0628.JPG" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">To frost the cake, take another 4 ounces of coconut and add it into the butter cream frosting before spreading it onto the cake. (This is optional as many kids do not like coconut frosting.) To please all, I frosted both ends of the cake without coconut, and only the middle with coconut. YOU WILL NOT FROST THE SIDES. Remember, you are trying to create a MineCraft block of dirt and grass! Sprinkle the top of the cake with the green colored coconut to give it the texture found in the MineCraft game. When you cut the cake, cut in perfect squares so each guest has a "block" of their own.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Finally, I bought <a href="http://starburst.com/">Starburst</a> fruit candies and took all the red cherry ones out. I unwrapped each, cut many into fourths for tiny squares, or pixels, and spelled out "Happy B-Day". For my son's name, I used the whole Starburst square because I wanted it to stand out.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Let me guess what you're thinking. Where the heck is the Tolkien part of the party? Sounds to me like it's only MineCraft! Hold your horses, because the entire adventure is ALL Tolkien inspired, from an elves point-of-view. I'll talk more about this next week.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The Sign</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Upon arriving at the party, I did make this famous Hobbit sign found at the front gate of Bilbo Baggins's home. I love how this sign turned out. Definitely a keeper. Here's how I made it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What You'll Need</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thin, but long piece of wood, already stained to your liking</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Black paint marker</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Awl or very large, sturdy pin</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Print-out of the words, enlarged to fit your wood piece (found on Google Images)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ribbon for hanging the sign</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What You'll Do</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Super Hubby found this perfect piece of wood that was already stained and already had holes for the hanging ribbon already in place. What luck?!?! Unfortunately, it was one of those types of woods that was varnished to death. If I traced over the printout onto the wood, I couldn't make any impression into the wood no matter how hard I pressed down. I had to come up with a new plan for this to work (since I'm no artist).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">To remedy this inconvenience, I taped my paper across the piece of wood and took a very sharp but strong pin. I followed the outline of the letter by poking through the paper and into the wood. It left a small hole that allowed me to just connect the dots once I removed the paper. That's how I was able to transfer the lettering onto the wood! Then it was easy. I just took my black paint pen and filled in the outline. A black Sharpie permanent marker works just as well.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What You'll Need to Know to Finish</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our piece of wood already had the holes in the corners for hanging. If yours doesn't, take a small drill bit and make your holes. Then, take a ribbon, pull it through the holes, and you're ready to hang your sign, just like Bilbo Baggins did. I wish we had a gate.</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Party Favors</span></span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLyFTrqRHa0ckJQ6eXl3QykLmmVwHhc5nvE5gdhzreYUEO5dSVo9RCsVcGGWyZ9His8pq-E-8Pd2AEHTc9hdFvDrBixqUcE4_ZY8csFka_1IjgnDxferNprTPWaxnldOouIA2sYBRZgw/s1600/IMG_0611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLyFTrqRHa0ckJQ6eXl3QykLmmVwHhc5nvE5gdhzreYUEO5dSVo9RCsVcGGWyZ9His8pq-E-8Pd2AEHTc9hdFvDrBixqUcE4_ZY8csFka_1IjgnDxferNprTPWaxnldOouIA2sYBRZgw/s320/IMG_0611.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">One of Kiddo's birthday gifts: The Ring!!!</span></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJjRoqOTHC77dRPLeAhuLtbygKQnMbFVqkA3qRiTSSk8mOHaGrZkpa4zXdaMkdrPAaGo0iD3O38nuQKcSfPk1tfYvLhJgBPn0bzmfhXI2fKQLfFvK7S2Vo9nBxwP78LLCj2fFzovm5CM/s1600/IMG_0574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJjRoqOTHC77dRPLeAhuLtbygKQnMbFVqkA3qRiTSSk8mOHaGrZkpa4zXdaMkdrPAaGo0iD3O38nuQKcSfPk1tfYvLhJgBPn0bzmfhXI2fKQLfFvK7S2Vo9nBxwP78LLCj2fFzovm5CM/s320/IMG_0574.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The take homes were simple this time around. Luckily, I was at <a href="http://www.kohls.com/">Kohl's</a> before the party and found MineCraft t-shirts. They were already on sale for $8 a piece, and, I happened to have a 30% off coupon. Woo-hoo, meant to be! I purchased 8, one for each party guest. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Then, at the <a href="http://www.dollartree.com/home.jsp">Dollar Tree</a>, I found these glow-in-the-dark mini swords (see first pic). Those were just so perfect for our elvish adventurers. And, finally, the guests had some really cool candies to choose from like marshmallow ropes, <u>RING</u> Pops, Peach Gummy <u>RINGS</u>, and, of course, Swedish <u>Fish</u> (Gollum's favorite). Are you getting the "ring" theme?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Check back for the party details on <a href="http://feellovdeveryday.blogspot.com/2013/06/what-i-made-wednesday-lord-of.html">next week's What I Made Wednesday</a>!</span></span><br />
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<br />I am LOVDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09813001450297864639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336044674513065409.post-79508602690104944422013-06-11T05:24:00.001-07:002013-06-11T05:24:07.939-07:00Staycation Adventures: Ohio Fun is Child's Play<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdt_ZPEGmbaYVlPdCiBocp283vYRKAY7VUO2mFTcLdW4pyXOZzdEqmTw9azdMeL6zzzpazVnbDR9Mgu6SQ05WWMHLhTpW5-2VmqdvBMv5gTbwtO7NDtoSem9DbU77BM1ARN2UC9Dl7pgY/s1600/IMG_6385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdt_ZPEGmbaYVlPdCiBocp283vYRKAY7VUO2mFTcLdW4pyXOZzdEqmTw9azdMeL6zzzpazVnbDR9Mgu6SQ05WWMHLhTpW5-2VmqdvBMv5gTbwtO7NDtoSem9DbU77BM1ARN2UC9Dl7pgY/s320/IMG_6385.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This road trip is for the young and the young at heart. It's for those who made playing with toys their job and their duty as a kid. This expedition is a time machine back to the days when toys didn't have to be plugged in and when quality was prided, not cut to satisfy shareholders and the bottom line. Time to gas up, pile in, and drive down to southern Ohio for a visit to 3 toy museums. Because it's only a day-trip, the drive is like child's play!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>1st Stop: Ohio Toy and Plastic Brick Museum</b></span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHw5e_hRavEXX9U4VW2wlgK9q5TieltznGrymYTQxDSgxtePerqXq_biXEHh4UKmLjif0qtJKtavdu-b4vxBXhBHlOjXl4wBPOsZJE9Gem0OhvAMRpulUudZL3KcwQsVTPs0bjNtO6CoI/s1600/IMG_6378.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHw5e_hRavEXX9U4VW2wlgK9q5TieltznGrymYTQxDSgxtePerqXq_biXEHh4UKmLjif0qtJKtavdu-b4vxBXhBHlOjXl4wBPOsZJE9Gem0OhvAMRpulUudZL3KcwQsVTPs0bjNtO6CoI/s200/IMG_6378.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Get an early start that morning and head down to Bellaire, Ohio. To get in this itinerary in just one day, you want to be sure to get to this first stop at the time they open, which is at 10:00, Wednesday through Sunday.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Because of little licensing laws, they can't exactly call it a "LEGO" museum. But, what do you call a place that wows you with complicated LEGO sculptures, mosaics worthy of holding Guinness Book of World Record records, and also owns nearly every life-sized mini-figure LEGO ever made, now retired? "Brick Museum" doesn't really do it justice. I like their alternate name: the Unofficial LEGO Museum of Bellaire, OH. Has a nicer ring to it.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSmOa04G1hct-3_C3VANkNAqnuLd0-bEAUdWhmOKJgwqXG-0GZMzZMn0ah5YioMVjqM9tkmd1jqwRgVFGhHq3wj_Npif_AaDrcysMx4q_NaVGf1Zt8QE1nRxTyUXFGMblKaofqZst_bI/s1600/IMG_6380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSmOa04G1hct-3_C3VANkNAqnuLd0-bEAUdWhmOKJgwqXG-0GZMzZMn0ah5YioMVjqM9tkmd1jqwRgVFGhHq3wj_Npif_AaDrcysMx4q_NaVGf1Zt8QE1nRxTyUXFGMblKaofqZst_bI/s400/IMG_6380.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">How many LEGO's does it take?</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxHQR2JX61ZybaKAKbccSXmuCYcE46FJhVGDAb4XPOA-iqmqL3IW9atZNelorEt9psgHaw_zrwkAoScRuBa-RMEhB_AjHHE4swMekgY20ACgy08B2P64ZEXFEBXRXDLgQ_YpxoS9JF3Q/s1600/IMG_6381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxHQR2JX61ZybaKAKbccSXmuCYcE46FJhVGDAb4XPOA-iqmqL3IW9atZNelorEt9psgHaw_zrwkAoScRuBa-RMEhB_AjHHE4swMekgY20ACgy08B2P64ZEXFEBXRXDLgQ_YpxoS9JF3Q/s400/IMG_6381.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kiddo back in 2010.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2sjuRKxfyHG5pgJJBKrN43zpfZqqHiGqdcdG8Y4ZMM7dyfOYsO2vqMohySPeH1IxUMNjVMfK1LgRk1D2CgvWztKkNOW6mtSNaAlkoNA3qwSZyhji9ECXormv1bInCqlLHFeyLAnVvBM/s1600/IMG_6383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2sjuRKxfyHG5pgJJBKrN43zpfZqqHiGqdcdG8Y4ZMM7dyfOYsO2vqMohySPeH1IxUMNjVMfK1LgRk1D2CgvWztKkNOW6mtSNaAlkoNA3qwSZyhji9ECXormv1bInCqlLHFeyLAnVvBM/s640/IMG_6383.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A mosaic made entirely out of LEGOs!</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1rMYilyeq0TEyJCuCH9V9wO-vFmtnmu2CONOnt_6CzD5A5yymRcUSAiT6UowA4Aj02Zd-XYx2Y7yV9Y1Wnjg5KBBX-Y7l9fSOReYmZLAUFMKFEJxaQmsYwx66ExK2rrKBx87AJdjnxQ/s1600/IMG_3337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1rMYilyeq0TEyJCuCH9V9wO-vFmtnmu2CONOnt_6CzD5A5yymRcUSAiT6UowA4Aj02Zd-XYx2Y7yV9Y1Wnjg5KBBX-Y7l9fSOReYmZLAUFMKFEJxaQmsYwx66ExK2rrKBx87AJdjnxQ/s400/IMG_3337.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.theplasticbrickmuseum.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Ohio Toy and Plastic Brick Museum</b></span></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Summer hours 2013: Wed-Sun, 10:00 to 5:00</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>4597 Noble Street</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Bellaire, Ohio 43906</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>740.671.8890</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Dan Brown, Founder</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Admission: $8 adults, $6 child/senior </b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">2nd Stop: Kruger Street Toy & Train Museum</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">You're going to head for the border on this one. West Virginia, here you come! Even though it's another state, it's really not that far, so don't panic.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrjcnHZyVK63oacmYRECKMcpC32hNKIuVWptWMphw8hRE_cdgD6vmbQS8OzmyRlAOKYlGArD57dLiJnqNnLRra6ZxnilVDZha22elQLI3yQX1IaqkESm8KnDg1_HDDNw0WCpT8nurKDeg/s1600/toycollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrjcnHZyVK63oacmYRECKMcpC32hNKIuVWptWMphw8hRE_cdgD6vmbQS8OzmyRlAOKYlGArD57dLiJnqNnLRra6ZxnilVDZha22elQLI3yQX1IaqkESm8KnDg1_HDDNw0WCpT8nurKDeg/s400/toycollage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">This toy and train museum brings back so many memories. They have a wonderfully amazing teddy bear collection and toys fill rooms and rooms named by theme: Transportation Room, Miniatures Room, Game Room, Doll Room, and so many more. The toys are housed in an old schoolhouse, equipped with original tin ceilings, fine woodwork from wall to floor.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdL4i4ALBHfA9ol_hBJHKqwZbFqxJ_bkGEBuAWWQd3l6BlcreAIlpHUkzpT38GGlkiqXRA4kwXRA0rZrLEbYuzQOLkOPpKOJBHkJKmCCy1-SW2KlVBGGiO4Oug0vPj0S1NeuPgserqRE/s1600/IMG_3289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdL4i4ALBHfA9ol_hBJHKqwZbFqxJ_bkGEBuAWWQd3l6BlcreAIlpHUkzpT38GGlkiqXRA4kwXRA0rZrLEbYuzQOLkOPpKOJBHkJKmCCy1-SW2KlVBGGiO4Oug0vPj0S1NeuPgserqRE/s200/IMG_3289.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZgRMuG_VU5NxJINUioM9no0ko25T6mzBbuapF9Z152CVU7HSzaLpXzqvcNSlCGwDemg-mnsWDgGgXtKa24GoRGtV0vrP6uveact1KWLQ7Nai5E-WhQCXk5x-sdUX9RJ4JL4fJQAV27Xw/s1600/IMG_3298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZgRMuG_VU5NxJINUioM9no0ko25T6mzBbuapF9Z152CVU7HSzaLpXzqvcNSlCGwDemg-mnsWDgGgXtKa24GoRGtV0vrP6uveact1KWLQ7Nai5E-WhQCXk5x-sdUX9RJ4JL4fJQAV27Xw/s320/IMG_3298.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">On our visit, the museum had a fun game you could play while on the self-guided tour (guided tours are available per request). It was a Where's Waldo search of about 7 various characters, hidden throughout the museum. Incorporating the search game is brilliant to keep kids engaged while looking at absolutely everything there is to see in each museum room. A small prize in the gift shop awaits the ones with very keen eyes! There are several hands-on activities, too! </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Challenge your young companion to a slot car race, for example.</span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">The curator of the museum was working on a brand new exhibit, KINEX, while we were there and he was nice enough to allow us a peak into his progress. WOW! Upon entering the room, you wish for an actual human shrinking machine so you could enjoy the carnival setting that is before you. So many moving constructions, so many parts, so impressive! Every detail is thought out including a series of lighting sequences that takes the room from sunset to sundown, dawn to dusk. Definitely worth the drive!</span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://toyandtrain.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Kruger Street Toy & Train Museum</b></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Summer hours 2013: DAILY, 9:00 to 5:00</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>144 Kruger Street</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Wheeling, West Virginia 26003</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>1.877.242.8133</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>James M. Schulte, Curator</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Admission: $9 adults, $7.50 seniors, $6 students (6-17), children 6 and under, FREE</b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>3rd Stop: LUNCH at TJ's Sports Garden Restaurant</b></span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs49Tz24Dij_-WW6vIBNCO6cz5v4w_5oYZ4TSyE5sqvX9BjTBd3oYwrImeBFilisor0AEWsevmQVsgJHKJfwqor1xwMcNXHt9XdW8wCLKS6izbrfe-hxhc8rq6GIiBhhLzF9m97fV_Oss/s1600/IMG_3346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs49Tz24Dij_-WW6vIBNCO6cz5v4w_5oYZ4TSyE5sqvX9BjTBd3oYwrImeBFilisor0AEWsevmQVsgJHKJfwqor1xwMcNXHt9XdW8wCLKS6izbrfe-hxhc8rq6GIiBhhLzF9m97fV_Oss/s200/IMG_3346.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Local places are the best places to explore and eat! If you're ever in a new town, ask the locals where the best place is to eat. They know, and they're usually not shy in telling you. We asked James, the Toy and Train Museum's curator, where we should get a bite to eat and he praised TJ's left and right, up and down, side to side. Enough to convince us so we went.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">What a fun place! The sports theme was really family friendly. The big screens surrounding the eating area had every imaginable sport showing. And, your table had its own TV so you could tune in to what you were interested in, including cartoons, which is where Kiddo landed on. The food is American fare and it was really delicious. Lunch hit the spot and we were off to our final destination.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-W3wx6P2iUYfjRMC4xbbVii4IAAtBCiwioKvnsWgeg4v8bEb2LLxV8vCDf_dJwI7lq7Ooz0lHs_n2_KUvCRQDld5KWYROo50Ars9vXMlrkB_rr7Pte3BW1sw88zERa_VMGpyjaArJJp8/s1600/tjs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-W3wx6P2iUYfjRMC4xbbVii4IAAtBCiwioKvnsWgeg4v8bEb2LLxV8vCDf_dJwI7lq7Ooz0lHs_n2_KUvCRQDld5KWYROo50Ars9vXMlrkB_rr7Pte3BW1sw88zERa_VMGpyjaArJJp8/s400/tjs.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.tjsportsgarden.com/"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">TJ's Sports Garden Restaurant</span></b></a></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">808 National Road</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Wheeling, West Virgina 26003</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">304.232.9555</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjEkuKuTLa83XqU9pZEZzFectBzdB5ir8GRoXj77eMCFYng3teNSlX65uCIXBQFIaiUeEcPnwtuVCrYA0Skh7-58fMOxin08QPDTIqBspF5RKZ5yyf4hg18oX8gd04-I0ym8Cb7_otGo/s1600/sockem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjEkuKuTLa83XqU9pZEZzFectBzdB5ir8GRoXj77eMCFYng3teNSlX65uCIXBQFIaiUeEcPnwtuVCrYA0Skh7-58fMOxin08QPDTIqBspF5RKZ5yyf4hg18oX8gd04-I0ym8Cb7_otGo/s200/sockem.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Final Stop: Marx Toy Museum</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">You may not recognize the Marx name, but when you see the toys, get ready to be flooded by the memories. Anyone remember Rockem' Sockem' Robots? Then you know Marx, at one time, the largest manufacturer of toys in the world. Only in business from 1919 to 1980, the Marx Company left an indelible mark on the toy industry forever. What a nice collection!</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipRr4NY3PcSuNzewXs20l2qJKWDCRe8rUXLv7C_qETQDseS-7q1u-gojTzGeKXME8yIn8rSCY4gF6XwOxpc8cm5Lak5Ghp27-o0Jm5n51mzLB3Cvv4TvEwMsZzLfMVwENMjR0VU25Xj48/s1600/bigwheel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipRr4NY3PcSuNzewXs20l2qJKWDCRe8rUXLv7C_qETQDseS-7q1u-gojTzGeKXME8yIn8rSCY4gF6XwOxpc8cm5Lak5Ghp27-o0Jm5n51mzLB3Cvv4TvEwMsZzLfMVwENMjR0VU25Xj48/s320/bigwheel.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.marxtoymuseum.com/index.htm"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Marx Toy Museum</b></span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">915 Second Street</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Moundsville, West Virginia 26041</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">304.845.6022</span> </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope you take the time to take a little trip down memory lane, introduce your kids to the toys you grew up with, and even some their grandparents grew up with. It's such a fun trip, all located in the same general area. The trip is so easy, only takes a day, and is super fun for all.<b> </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b> </span></span>I am LOVDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09813001450297864639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336044674513065409.post-80425435374264673762013-06-10T03:00:00.000-07:002013-06-17T04:24:08.250-07:00Gratitude Journal Monday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RA8IbWZloi2_9Oa_twiVMM618OTyXxlfBQ3rAoE870sgzEyhnB_HTLdvy1He-n1V0Rg-cOxgfic1OginRPPHBTtVV9pv7S0HftDE2GkE7qt5yQM3bvZWncmzEHxRbhkPhQrQ2Ek2t-c/s1600/IMG_0802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RA8IbWZloi2_9Oa_twiVMM618OTyXxlfBQ3rAoE870sgzEyhnB_HTLdvy1He-n1V0Rg-cOxgfic1OginRPPHBTtVV9pv7S0HftDE2GkE7qt5yQM3bvZWncmzEHxRbhkPhQrQ2Ek2t-c/s400/IMG_0802.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you think it, it will come. So far, the summer weather around here has been looking a lot more like the beginning of Autumn. I've been wearing fleece jackets and closed-toe shoes (of all things) since summer break began. Even the house is confused as the these "summer" days have triggered the furnace heat to come on. Oh, goddess of summer, please come soon. You don't have to wait until June 21st, do you? Days are a-wastin' and the outdoor pool is calling us. We just don't want to hear teeth chatter. We don't want to see lips turning blue. And, we don't want to wrap ourselves up in 3 towels just to stay warm during swim breaks. Come summer, do not be afraid. We welcome you like an old friend we've missed for far too long. And, I'll try to remember this post when it's 95 degrees, hot, humid, and I'm in the midst of healing a sunburn on my shoulders, wishing for Winter. It's OK summer, come anyways!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm waiting... </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">476. I am grateful for the simple gifts summer gives us.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">477. I am grateful for ice cold lemonade on a hot summer's day.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">478. I am grateful for the smell of sunscreen.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">479. I am grateful for the ice cream truck and it's little tune, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_Box_Dancer">Music Box Dancer</a>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">480. I am grateful for the char-grilled flavor of hamburgers and hot dogs - yum!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">To read my gratitude journal beginnings, <a href="http://feellovdeveryday.blogspot.com/2011/07/gratitude-journal-monday.html">click here</a>. I hope you are inspired to join me in my journey. You can begin right here, right now. Just leave a comment declaring some of your own thanks! Welcome to the club! </span></span>I am LOVDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09813001450297864639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336044674513065409.post-33759210587468919302013-06-07T06:15:00.000-07:002013-06-09T05:44:32.810-07:00Goodbye Week. Hello Weekend. Lessons Learned: Take 98.<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Goodbye first week of summer break and cleaning out Kiddo's backpack from old papers, broken pencils, and forgotten candy.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Goodbye reading <a href="http://www.finecraftguild.com/gratitude-party-70/#comment-201828">this inspiring blog post </a>and hoping you're inspired to do the same. Thanks, Rose.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Goodbye hoping the rain, rain will go away; and take these cool temperatures with you, too!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Goodbye easing into summer fun slowly by catching <a href="http://www.epicthemovie.com/">Epic</a>; not a bad movie to start the summer.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Goodbye purposefully accumulating late library fines because I just don't want to give back <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Art_of_Happiness">this book</a> even though I'm done reading it (I've never been good at sharing).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3sYpHozkHSzUrNofgEEefTL_LgsBX3Fvfq5_azeIn0q6_GYtF9Qq-shIYqBkSQRfaZMxp8pUg76tw5mmlq6DtR-kemtJY_Chzp5CVBbpB5m99sn1vcl2901wV80v-Smx4KQaIbv4q4Q/s1600/quilts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3sYpHozkHSzUrNofgEEefTL_LgsBX3Fvfq5_azeIn0q6_GYtF9Qq-shIYqBkSQRfaZMxp8pUg76tw5mmlq6DtR-kemtJY_Chzp5CVBbpB5m99sn1vcl2901wV80v-Smx4KQaIbv4q4Q/s640/quilts.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hello changing up the bedding decor, replacing winter comforters with beautifully made quilts from Grandma (we miss you and your talented hands).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hello summer evenings with the start of an all-consuming baseball season - Play Ball!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hello nightly hum of the washer and dryer as I try to get out the red dirt from Kiddo's white baseball pants after each game.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hello Super Hubby's ongoing dental surgery saga and hoping all goes well today (prayers please).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hello Kiddo attending a birthday party with a <a href="http://www.gametruckparty.com/">video gaming truck</a> in attendance; hmm, should be interesting.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My lesson learned this week is how much beauty resides in the simple. Simplicity is something I strive to achieve. I have yet to arrive. There is so much grace and peace and wisdom in this state of mind and being. Yet, the goal is difficult to get to in a complex, fast-moving, quick-paced world. So, it's time to take stock in where simplicity can blossom in my life. After much thought I've come up with 3 areas that can help anyone achieve a simpler life, while having joy runneth over the proverbial cup.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Your Schedule</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The first is your schedule. Whether you want to take ownership of it or not, you, not outside forces, control your schedule. You are the one that put that "To-Do" on your list. You said, "yes". Don't lose sight of the true controller of your calendar: that's YOU! The world won't stop spinning if you miss Cousin Ofelia's birthday party. Send a card wishing her many more and stay home with the family, take a hike, play <a href="http://www.hasbro.com/monopoly/en_us/">Monopoly</a>, or just hang out and do nothing. Ahh, doing nothing. It's really something!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Your Clutter</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">You've got to stop shopping for anything but the essentials like food and toilet paper. I'm a believer of shop therapy, don't get me wrong. But, accumulating items you truly don't need makes for a complicated, cluttered, complex life. It's another thing to clean, it's another item to take care of, it's another tchotchke that'll end up in a garage sale selling for a fraction of what you paid for it (did I mention the frustration of the buyer haggling you take off 5 cents). You need to train yourself to window shop, instead. It's much kinder on the wallet and your state of mind.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Your Surroundings</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Stay right where you are and look around you. What do you see? How do you feel? Now, get up and go open that junk drawer or that linen closet or that pantry of plastic storage containers. What do you see? How do you feel?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The state of my surroundings determine my state of mind. If my house is a mess, I feel my life is a mess. When I clean-up my house, I feel like I'm somehow cleaning up my life and I'm able to breathe a little easier and freer. It's called taking control instead of the dirt and clutter controlling us. Before you can take control of your life, "you've got to take control over that sink full of dirty dishes" (thanks <a href="http://www.joycemeyer.org/">Joyce Meyer</a>).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">How? Baby steps. If you've got a lot to clean up, just the thought can be overwhelming, so start small. Try setting aside one hour of each day. Find out what you want to tackle. Start it and finish it, however long it takes, by just working on it for one hour each day. Set the timer. When that timer dings, walk away from your work and revisit it the next day. It's not going anywhere. You'll be so amazed when that one area gets tidied up that the feeling will motivate you to move on to the next area. Before you know it, you're entire home will be cleaned-up and organized inside and out, and your life will follow suit. SIMPLIFY!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Note: get your kids involved with the clean-up. Despite their opinion on the matter, one hour per day will not ruin their summer vacation. They will survive!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Have a wonderful, simple weekend, friends.</i> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <b> </b> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span>I am LOVDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09813001450297864639noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336044674513065409.post-84023640162577595712013-06-06T11:20:00.003-07:002013-06-06T11:20:51.077-07:00LOVD's Summer Reading List<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZonHt_OCo3sqLrYwAhKhy3qERomCg7ijtMkf4TXe8XCPYVtLVHuHDd4Ys9zQjxRZyhsURR-woc4By7mDkrc9H3AFkuZvb20LAY5QHhp48AIvOda42hPy3e0_sBlG0swjOhni9HBO9VFg/s1600/summerbooks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZonHt_OCo3sqLrYwAhKhy3qERomCg7ijtMkf4TXe8XCPYVtLVHuHDd4Ys9zQjxRZyhsURR-woc4By7mDkrc9H3AFkuZvb20LAY5QHhp48AIvOda42hPy3e0_sBlG0swjOhni9HBO9VFg/s640/summerbooks.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sadly, I am not a lover of fiction - sorry. So, my summer reading lineup won't include any fictional pieces. Instead, I opt for self-help and inspirational genres (what's that say about me?). Here's what sitting on my nightstand. Hopefully, between jaunts to the pool, ice cream cones, and summer fun, I'll pick up one of these books after climbing into bed for a snooze.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you'd like to see my summer reading list for kids, <a href="http://feellovdeveryday.blogspot.com/2013/06/top-10-summer-reading-list-that-feeds.html">click here</a>!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>What will you be reading this summer?</i> </span></span>I am LOVDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09813001450297864639noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336044674513065409.post-60756993833669943782013-06-05T12:49:00.002-07:002013-06-14T05:21:17.524-07:00What I Made Wednesday {An Elevenses Birthday: Tolkien-Style} THE INVITATION<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1HapegUyFZgPJ-WKgxhupkmCiiYtBzYYrmE-ytiZNw21oh0cScVoKJHtl4Z5rW25lSt5JpUpwiHzaP2vZnUeleLvjPYLHUTEAKUamm_mAkUo65V3m73LJcY7t7qcPba1S3njXi1Y0Ps/s1600/WIMW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1HapegUyFZgPJ-WKgxhupkmCiiYtBzYYrmE-ytiZNw21oh0cScVoKJHtl4Z5rW25lSt5JpUpwiHzaP2vZnUeleLvjPYLHUTEAKUamm_mAkUo65V3m73LJcY7t7qcPba1S3njXi1Y0Ps/s1600/WIMW.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm a firm believer in the birthday invitation. It introduces the theme to your guests, it sets the scene, and it evokes excitement and mystery. The invitation is the all-important, initial first step to any party planning so you've got to get it right (no pressure).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Like last year's <a href="http://feellovdeveryday.blogspot.com/2012/05/what-i-made-wednesday-harry-potter_16.html">decade celebration</a> with a Harry Potter theme, this year's party break down will be issued in several installments because this post would read like a book otherwise. It won't have as many "chapters" as the Harry Potter theme (<a href="http://feellovdeveryday.blogspot.com/2012/05/what-i-made-wednesday-harry-potter_16.html">last year's party</a> was insanely awesome), but it will be incredibly interesting to follow nonetheless, if you choose to come along on this little journey to "there and back again".</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5HpXCR9P46Gl0j5Sohe6KvoLQYT_QnIC6rjuto7B6kARqlFercn0soJg4B4u2YMiv8t_0Hy-4VZ29SbkcNca_1KqOM-K043da1rJz-T_dJmnYpO0ML7exLBN7IH3U-mfJFduaAAJyqzw/s1600/IMG_0400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5HpXCR9P46Gl0j5Sohe6KvoLQYT_QnIC6rjuto7B6kARqlFercn0soJg4B4u2YMiv8t_0Hy-4VZ29SbkcNca_1KqOM-K043da1rJz-T_dJmnYpO0ML7exLBN7IH3U-mfJFduaAAJyqzw/s640/IMG_0400.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There are so many various races in Tolkien's classic, The Lord of the Rings, like the elves, the hobbits, the dwarves, etc. We decided to make all our guests elves and, in so doing, relating the invitation to an elvish character. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Invitations</b></span></span></span></div>
<dl><dd>"<i>Lembas. Elvish waybread. One small bite is enough to fill the stomach of a grown man.</i>"
</dd><dd>—<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://lotr.wikia.com/wiki/Legolas_Greenleaf" title="Legolas Greenleaf">Legolas Greenleaf</a> on Lembas.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNYbPdIRAkqvPvSbRgxjBNkUrm4jDHcgbL-V4qvw9n6hRGIJRLGYD7QqE0HYwXIzhXaLVlka7-Tzot58zHvNMpJqhYzFmV7EqRRKlCxDuiYmClt3teH1OtHwHoVw3GHOIaBz7UW7Sdes/s1600/lembasmovie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNYbPdIRAkqvPvSbRgxjBNkUrm4jDHcgbL-V4qvw9n6hRGIJRLGYD7QqE0HYwXIzhXaLVlka7-Tzot58zHvNMpJqhYzFmV7EqRRKlCxDuiYmClt3teH1OtHwHoVw3GHOIaBz7UW7Sdes/s400/lembasmovie.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">There are several elements to this party invitation including <a href="http://lotr.wikia.com/wiki/Lembas">Lembas</a> bread, the Mallorn leaf, writing the guest's name in Elvish, and creating the scroll with all pertinent party information. There's a lot to this invitation but we'll take it nice and slow. Ready?</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Lembas Bread</b></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">The idea behind the Lembas bread is to send it to each "elf", wrapped in a Mallorn leaf, with an invitation to an adventure, The Great Journey. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>How do you make a bread depicted in literature that no one alive has actually made, smelled, or tasted? You rely on the author's descriptions and try your hand at doing the best you can with it. But, I also had a little help from <a href="http://www.entropyhouse.com/penwiper/costumes/lembas.html">this website</a>, to which I should give proper credit.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I tried two different recipes: the one found at the <a href="http://www.entropyhouse.com/penwiper/costumes/lembas.html">website</a> and my own scone recipe. I'll admit, the scone recipe matches more to Tolkien's description of Lembas bread being dry, brittle, and a bit crumbly. But, the Lembas bread recipe I found at the <a href="http://www.entropyhouse.com/penwiper/costumes/lembas.html">website</a> was soooo much tastier. I opted for deliciousness over authenticity since the bread was going to be consumed by kids we wanted to come to the party. (You can't excite with crumbly bread, no matter how true to the story.)</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Follow the Lembas Bread recipe at <a href="http://www.entropyhouse.com/penwiper/costumes/lembas.html">this website</a> and you're good to go! (The lemon extract makes ALL the difference so use it.)</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Mallorn Leaf and Note</b></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfLaq1JrX7N956-54jcEPajroXAck6Z_7YBgz35rjdqULNihOgtlx9_iphnX5pQH84ZhgJQydbQPB0FE5tYgABFmlfstZA0aqOX23EvXF3Ixkgy443JS7lImEHgI8KW_iDNve74F4vZvc/s1600/IMG_0372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfLaq1JrX7N956-54jcEPajroXAck6Z_7YBgz35rjdqULNihOgtlx9_iphnX5pQH84ZhgJQydbQPB0FE5tYgABFmlfstZA0aqOX23EvXF3Ixkgy443JS7lImEHgI8KW_iDNve74F4vZvc/s320/IMG_0372.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Once the Lembas bread is made, it will be delivered, wrapped in a Mallorn Leaf and tied with raffia or twine. During this project I learned something new that has changed my crafting world forever! You know that foam sheet you can get at any craft store on the planet? Well, if you apply a little heat to it, it's like putty in your hands! You can shape it and bend it any which way you like without melting it and when it cools, it stays the way you shaped it. Don't believe me? Check out my Mallorn Leaf instructions...</span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4dOz-V_SmI1V8zUYOsiReFFeGn7nNJ3JVDVJ9AHTRGW9H1Ny7UVDqf5Lm1BNniaH8wY69ITsXtfrHW1mgHYl1Q0Dcx-5PjDOoXTBI_hb0yJw0Y6eU-nARGVhZyXdXFIwR8u3eGuMk-E/s1600/IMG_0363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4dOz-V_SmI1V8zUYOsiReFFeGn7nNJ3JVDVJ9AHTRGW9H1Ny7UVDqf5Lm1BNniaH8wY69ITsXtfrHW1mgHYl1Q0Dcx-5PjDOoXTBI_hb0yJw0Y6eU-nARGVhZyXdXFIwR8u3eGuMk-E/s200/IMG_0363.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What You'll Need</b></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Printout of leaf template, <a href="http://www.entropyhouse.com/penwiper/costumes/lembas.html">found here</a><b> </b></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Green foam sheet (I purchased the large one so I could get 2 leaves out of it)</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Black ballpoint pen</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">X-acto knife or scissors</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Heat source (like an electric stove)</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Raffia or twine to tie the leaf together with the invitation</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lembas bread</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What You'll Do</b></span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVs2XLptfBQtDfpAX4gbcmNMS86uvUt8CVWYdAyftnm9a0xOfLjr2vr-AyZnkLFT78WUmH4JBAJ7i1s0iuuctqRLiNdouvHZ1d7SWwRERTAfViRzmzyXsnSFTnVGPFkVkfvsmcmVQyP5w/s1600/IMG_0361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVs2XLptfBQtDfpAX4gbcmNMS86uvUt8CVWYdAyftnm9a0xOfLjr2vr-AyZnkLFT78WUmH4JBAJ7i1s0iuuctqRLiNdouvHZ1d7SWwRERTAfViRzmzyXsnSFTnVGPFkVkfvsmcmVQyP5w/s400/IMG_0361.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cut out foam leaf using template as your guide.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I made 7 invites, plus one to keep for nostalgic purposes, so I purchased 4 green foam sheets to get 2 leaves out of one sheet (so thrifty). Once you get the leaf template printed, cut out the shape and trace that shape onto your foam sheet. Using an X-acto knife for ease, or scissors if you don't have the knife, cut around the outline of the leaf.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Using a black, ballpoint pen add the veins of the leaf as indicated on the template.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvjlHeg9OU8RgFJapcm0sfuwZyjjA-WQ7ygkhO2uzelWQHxWYxVOwBdNQh1w1hiLWeFpoDIktkTlI6OIKecS9pa9fRNm0ZL4uaxgBkchNuqdhDTkQzTooAk4uXj6vqFEu3nJruvQzmhWA/s1600/IMG_0362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvjlHeg9OU8RgFJapcm0sfuwZyjjA-WQ7ygkhO2uzelWQHxWYxVOwBdNQh1w1hiLWeFpoDIktkTlI6OIKecS9pa9fRNm0ZL4uaxgBkchNuqdhDTkQzTooAk4uXj6vqFEu3nJruvQzmhWA/s320/IMG_0362.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Draw the veins using a black ballpoint pen.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">OK, here's the fun part. That leaf is flatter than a pancake right now. I really want the leaf to hold the Lembas bread securely so I'm going to apply heat to where the folds should be. I used the burner on my electric stove. BE CAREFUL! It doesn't take a lot of heat to begin to see the foam become malleable to fold. Once it begins to lose its stiffness, take it off the heat and fold it to how you would like it to bend. Allow the couple of seconds for it to cool and repeat until the folds are precisely where they should be (follow the pictures for clarification).</span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQWCsPEC4cugzivKxJ51y4ASXL6mf5CH6wl-0GLbwBofH3Oou98Ufj5Q2hwm70z7am_Zjpj9UBgpv6TzeT9CHlmgOUAW3BGfvbjYohqrR4pfILxWG4Nzi3SME1M7EbzOm7TQcOqIUvCU/s1600/leafsteps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQWCsPEC4cugzivKxJ51y4ASXL6mf5CH6wl-0GLbwBofH3Oou98Ufj5Q2hwm70z7am_Zjpj9UBgpv6TzeT9CHlmgOUAW3BGfvbjYohqrR4pfILxWG4Nzi3SME1M7EbzOm7TQcOqIUvCU/s400/leafsteps.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEVv0h3Yu8qe_XGU9886i-aanngBPrJB5jhp39HkxaKzSmxHTbHtfd_RuwG_JUZenQMFtuwh9JZhjwd9RwhwAw2tbgpzwI-2BNozOB6A8F2hJBbbQcZWoOUHDxMBkcqSXdqPB6GDhYvs/s1600/IMG_0371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEVv0h3Yu8qe_XGU9886i-aanngBPrJB5jhp39HkxaKzSmxHTbHtfd_RuwG_JUZenQMFtuwh9JZhjwd9RwhwAw2tbgpzwI-2BNozOB6A8F2hJBbbQcZWoOUHDxMBkcqSXdqPB6GDhYvs/s320/IMG_0371.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The pointy part will tuck in once the bread is inside.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What You'll Need to Know to Finish</b></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">For sanitary purposes, I wrapped each Lembas bread in wax paper. I opened up the Mallorn leaf, placed the Lembas bread in the center, and folded the leaf around the bread like so (see picture). Be sure to tuck the point of the leaf into itself.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Take a looonng piece of raffia and securely tie the leaf in place, leaving enough slack to attach the rolled up invitation (details follow).</span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJ9e5IPY88BW63ahND9SDDAAOAyaKwz1xBy_-F5Wdh6u-kjehzkJlaG0qIuJKztlHJXifrxRVoGPYTr57xrYYXDxJnY3wv5ulZN-onykQ-DI6-QxiC15RWkYhqizEkgxC8HOd0IKi0GY/s1600/elvish+name.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJ9e5IPY88BW63ahND9SDDAAOAyaKwz1xBy_-F5Wdh6u-kjehzkJlaG0qIuJKztlHJXifrxRVoGPYTr57xrYYXDxJnY3wv5ulZN-onykQ-DI6-QxiC15RWkYhqizEkgxC8HOd0IKi0GY/s400/elvish+name.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Visit this website to convert each guest's name into Elvish. This site will also show the name in Elvish writing. Kiddo's name translated in Elvish to the name, Erufael. Super Hubby found this wonderful font named, <i><b>ElvenCommonSpeak</b></i>, and used it for the note and the invite. I purchased tan-ish card stock with a slight texture for the note cards.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TiS0jLOSy3gEIXz_Tc9CwBX8DIc5DBlUKRiaBzrTbrb-u5d4G1juoRsbMTmVGd4XvqCo1eJiheYLKxuLFExChx4M4E_Tfgt-Cqn8bwuf75-pItw_VgMoceYINgDAH8_M3i1g0nzlVK4/s1600/IMG_0392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TiS0jLOSy3gEIXz_Tc9CwBX8DIc5DBlUKRiaBzrTbrb-u5d4G1juoRsbMTmVGd4XvqCo1eJiheYLKxuLFExChx4M4E_Tfgt-Cqn8bwuf75-pItw_VgMoceYINgDAH8_M3i1g0nzlVK4/s320/IMG_0392.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Attached to the Lembas bread was a note that had each guest's name and their Elvish name, as well. When they opened the card, this is what they read:</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <i>Erufael sends this Lembas Bread, Elvish Waybread, as sustenance while you await your journey. Wrapped in a mallorn leaf for freshness, "one small bite is enough to fill the stomach of a grown man." It is also offensive to evil creatures, in case you happen upon Gollum in your travels.</i></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The Invitation</b></span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7eZQLABl5kp_q23V53ZZajoFQPabyIseckraxSQF8tgTECWDiTEOoBTX3f4fhrHIkV6obEBnM8z5gf011sIx458qIMLOpZL9q3COX7hv1KxLTwhnBIwlThLIB_bYf_Sht-YP9wbTt6ks/s1600/IMG_0394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7eZQLABl5kp_q23V53ZZajoFQPabyIseckraxSQF8tgTECWDiTEOoBTX3f4fhrHIkV6obEBnM8z5gf011sIx458qIMLOpZL9q3COX7hv1KxLTwhnBIwlThLIB_bYf_Sht-YP9wbTt6ks/s400/IMG_0394.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Map of Gondolin on back of invite</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">The type of paper the invite gets printed on makes a big difference. We used a parchment paper with a grey hue to it and it turned out beautifully. The invitation served several purposes. First, it gave the pertinent information about when, why, who, what, and where. The second purpose was to set-up the adventure that awaits our journeying elves. And, lastly, the invitation contained a map necessary for the journey once they arrived to the party. That's a lot from one little invite. Here's the map on the one side of the invite. They'll need this map of Gondolin to navigate through the adventure.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mquJnu-tPIsr5pmEjVN2iNef-YHGK9uhpOAei4DZ8OekHvQYZy726Tl_VH1eH2_mdWN1BV0RQzKQIdn7zLgnEPXHwUggnYQBFiPhmFBSZvszg7l9W4ClFi9keSdXpC2S86rCAx8-FCQ/s1600/blockedinvite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mquJnu-tPIsr5pmEjVN2iNef-YHGK9uhpOAei4DZ8OekHvQYZy726Tl_VH1eH2_mdWN1BV0RQzKQIdn7zLgnEPXHwUggnYQBFiPhmFBSZvszg7l9W4ClFi9keSdXpC2S86rCAx8-FCQ/s640/blockedinvite.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">The other side of the parchment read the actual invitation in that really cool font. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></span></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Long ago in the First Age</span></span></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">past the Grey Havens</span></span></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">and far over the Blue Mountains</span></span></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">was once a great city of elves.</span></span></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Though hidden from the world</span></span></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">its secret was betrayed</span></span></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">and the city fell.</span></span></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">A gateway to the past has been opened.</span></span></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">A traveler from another time has entered the Third Age.</span></span></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Erufael has summoned you, an elf of strong character</span></span></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">to travel with him back to his homeland.</span></span></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you desire adventure, come to the Prancing Pony</span></span></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">at xxxx The Shire</span></span></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">in the village of xxxxx</span></span></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">on Saturday, the Eighteenth of May at Five in the evening</span></span></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">for a Tolkien inspired Minecraft expedition</span></span></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Celebrating Kiddo's Elevenses birthday</span></span></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">RSVP to Lilly</span></span></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bring this map, and beware green, creepy men</span></span></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>HOLD THE BOAT!</b> Did the above invitation mention <a href="https://minecraft.net/">Minecraft</a>, the hottest internet video game around? Yup! Are we combining a Lord of the Rings theme with Minecraft, somehow? Yup! Tune in <a href="http://www.feellovdeveryday.blogspot.com/2013/06/what-i-made-wednesday-elevenses_12.html">next week</a> to know how in the world we were able to make this cool party happen.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<br />I am LOVDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09813001450297864639noreply@blogger.com3